reservations. no waiting. no kids.

actually there are kids at bluehour...but they don't come in until about 11 ;)

bluehour is a fantastic brunch spot in the more commercialized area of the pearl. this means, while it is usually packed at all hours of the evening for drinks and post-work faire during the week...it is pleasant and delicious on a sunday morning at 10 a.m. this also means, bring your wallet. bring it full. this place is a bit more pricey than our usual brunch expeditions.

armed with a relaxed attitude and some cash, you're ready for some tasty eats. today we had something of a ham scramble, the breakfast pizza, and 2 egg breakfast. everything was delicious, filling and not at all greasy. yum!

+
EXCELLENT and very attentive service.
did i mention they take reservations?
unique yet comfortable dishes. like breakfast pizza!
spacious yet warm environment.
great coffee.
a starter item, complimentary. today's was a plate of teacakes

-
serious dollar damage. although another bc member disagreed today.
the bellini tasted mostly just like champagne. peach bitters? we want more!
it's a pretty high class environment, might be awkward to show up in pajamas :(

classy cuisine all the way.

the jig is up. i'm still eating breakfast.

but sometimes i do things after breakfast. sometimes i'm in a food coma afterward. and sometimes i don't even know where to begin on the breakfast that has just occurred.

but i need to stop making excuses and just blog. right? right. breakfast blog catchup and future entries to come...very soon.

est ce que tu parle français?

oui. est saint honeré c'est parfait pour le samedi! i'm a little rusty, but today we visited st. honeré boulangerie in nw portland. and it was a magical collection of savory and sweet delights (and fabulous coffee).

très bien: the atmosphere was very open and friendly. and since i'm the only one in the group who's never been to europe, i'll trust that my company was being honest that the place was very european. even on a classic rainy portland morning, it was cozy and filled with mixed conversations, languages and meal options. i had two things, one that had this incredibly complicated name...and rightfully so with it's incredibly complex array of flavors. this dish has a flaky, pastry shell bottom, eggs, sliced potatoes, baked brie, and bacon pieces. WHOA! it's like you're eating the word "delicious." (sorry veg folk) it comes with a side salad as well. one of my friends had the same, the other had a quiche lorraine with a salad. the quiche was HUGE! she was very satisfied. i also got a strawberry tart which i shared. fresh berries and creme on a little millefois base. just amazing. a little work of art. to top it off, the place has fantastic coffee. very smooth, rich and they give you a large portion too.

je suis mal heureuse!: i really have no complaints. it was all wonderful. the food is VERY rich though and won't hit you until about 3/4 the way through your meal. take it easy or you'll feel like yammying...even though everything is SO good. also, get there at 10 on a sunday. we only waited like five minutes and at 10:30 the line was down the block.

i want to go back. now.

"can i get a coffee AND a peach mimosa...or is that bad form?"

Breakfast club unite! Today's stop was Milo's City Cafe on SE Broadway. Complaints were minimal and we had a nice time!

sweet: the waitstaff was pleasant and prompt. the atmosphere was quaint and breakfast-y. and we got little plastic miniature figurines AND umbrellas on our drinks. so my first impression becomes, this place is very cute and fun. when we got our meals, two of us savored our pepper bacon dishes. One of my friends got an omlette with peppers, pepperjack cheese and this pepper bacon. came with toast and potatoes. i very much enjoyed my two eggs over easy with sourdough and pepper bacon. the bacon is completely crusted with black pepper- so if you're not a fan of the stuff...step away from that area of the menu. SO GOOD THOUGH. and we both had fairly large portions of the breakfast meat. you'll go home pepper-baconed-out. haha. yum. the peach mimosas were delicious though we agreed, they didn't really taste peachy...but were definately a nice change from the usual O.J.

bitter: my other friend get a salmon scramble, and she usually adds a liter of ketchup to whatever savory dish she is enjoying, however she said this was way too salty already. good thing there was a mimosa nearby to quench the overwhelming thurst. whew! the wait was about 45 minutes to an hour. they told us 35 minutes. c'mon don't lie people we all know b.fast is hard to get in pdx-- shut us up with coffee. i also felt the coffee there was a little bitter. left a really dry taste in my mouth. maybe that's just me. beware.

all in all. we had a good time. survey says: nice job milo's, we'll be back to continue building our miniature plastic animal kingdom!

"i hate roses"

this morning, the breakfast club fought the most trecherous brunch obstacle...mother's day, aka: biggest brunch celebration of the year. we thought we'd beat the mobs of mommies and screaming little ones by going to a place off the beaten track. unfortunately i'd have to say the leaky roof was the worst place we've been to in pdx so far.

the dry spot: all the ladies got beautiful red roses for mother's day, even though we're not mothers. the atmosphere was adorable and the wait staff though bogged down, was really great.

the drowners: soggy eggs, soggy french toast, burnt toast and the orange juice definately had some funk to it. too bad i really liked this place.

in the end: go for drinks, not for brunch ;)

wait, where's the car?

drink and drive? not a good idea, but you can pretend when you're at the cadillac cafe in northeast portland.

we'll keep this short, because the wait there, was not. we waited about an hour for a table at the cozy little nook, with about a block full of people waiting to get in at 10 a.m. it was, in fact, worth it though. and the food comes really fast.

atmosphere: pink walls, 1980s patterned carpet, a pink cadillac (think elvis documentary-esque caddy) INSIDE the place, and a neon pink sign. very cute, very well themed. they even have a bar up front to get coffee, juice or cocktails while you wait. i should have had a cocktail.

food: delicious! they have this fabulous custard soaked frenchtoast with butter, hazelnuts, powdered sugar and syrup! YUM! and they boast the city's best chicken apple sausage. i concur. the potatoes, eggs and omlettes looked delicious and my friends and i finished all of our portions. the place also has drink specialties for brunch! from pear mimosas to kamikazes...you won't go thristy for long. coffee was delicious too.

service: fast, friendly, perfect.

the vroomvrooms: unique things. after all the places we've been, we're still being surprised. the staff here is really unorganized, but so nice amidst the mass chaos taking place!
the emergency breaks: you wait forever for your table.

trophy

our favorite brunch spot so far we decided today was gravy, hands down. decorated with colorful gravy boats adorning the walls, exposed raw wooden rafters, flowers, natural and ornate hanging lighting-- the place is quaint and very inviting. once in the door you have to put your name on a list that makes you feel like you just signed up for a five-year wait, but its only 45 minutes and SO worth it.

the food was outstanding! my two friends had salmon scrambles one with poached eggs, one with scrambled and they both ate until their stomachs hurt it was so flavorful and delicious. one had orange juice and one had a mimosa. the mimosas were generous portions and not too sweet, with just a little pulp. perfect! i had the creme brulee oatmeal with berries and house potatoes...OH. MY. GOODNESS. This oatmeal is one of the best things in exsistance. The top was crispy and sweet, and when you broke through there was a light layer of oatmeal and creme mixing with the powdered sugar and blueberries on top. under it all was a mixture of blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries with the oatmeal. the potatoes were out of this world. sauteed with onions and chives until a light brown all over. I'm drooling just writing this, how are you doing? haha.

we will definately go back.

the ups: amazing faire, pleasant staff, vibrant atmosphere, good balance of young people, parents and seniors.
the downs: 45 minute wait at least. 30minutes to get your food. but you'll see why, it's fabulous.

brunch binge

ugh. i am a poor excuse for a breakfast informant. let's catch up, shall we? over the past several weeks, there have been some disturbing, surprising and delicious breakfast discoveries.

So, briefly:
Izzys: Imagine a breakfast buffet + a pizza buffet...voila. your wildest dreams have just materialized. I found it a caloric delight, but if that's not your thing, go elsewhere. the woo-hoos: yum, dinner and breakfast finally get in bed together. the boo-hoos: the service is not so great, nor is the atmosphere or fellow brunchers if you not into screaming baby's and post-hangover misfits.

Gracies: Five star dining for anyone who's ready and willing! I am a huge fan of this little nook nestled in the heart of the Hotel DeLuxe (also home to the fabulously classy driftwood lounge and bar). The whole hotel is themed after old movies and this eatery is nothing short of perfect in it's role. The on-cues: Everything here is excellent. The service, the atmosphere, the bottomless mimosas and the array of dishes from vegetarian omlettes to peanutbutter and chocolate pancakes. The outtakes: None to speak of!

Sub Rosa: A quaint and prestine little spot with great light and clean colors. Bonus points for being down the street from Q is for choir. Awesome. the yum-yums: fantastic skillets, very flavorful and satisfying. their tea selection is also wonderful! fast and friendly service and the place wasn't even that packed (especially for that area of town). the hum-drums: small portions on the beverages and beverage refills weren't as speedy as you might like.

J&M Cafe: Will remind you of an adult version of your fifth grade camp cafeteria. very open, great parking, stumptown coffee whie you wait! cat's pajamas: fresh squeezed orange juice and a fabulous yet small selection of daily specials. the ginger butter with pecans on french toast is to die for. bummers: more than likely you'll sit at the bar if you want a seat quickly, it might take servers a little while to get to you. no mimosas.

Beaterville Cafe:quirky, funky rad atmosphere. themed after old, beat up cars, the walls, colors and menu were like mechanic meets beatnik...and then they had a wonderful breakfast. yays: large portions, fast service, strong coffee. unique menu items as well such as spinach, feta and sundried tomato scramble with home fries and toast. boos: they are popular. order fast and early or your dish might be missing some ingredients and might not be available (turkey and wheat toast = gone when we went).

the breakfast club reviews itself

i'm a little behind here. but let me go back!

one of our favorite breakfast club members volunteered a brunch at his new place, and we even invited some extras to be sort of like guest reviewers, haha. the results of chez q?

we rock. the menu consisted of bagels and a couple of spreads to start, followed by a scramble of eggs, onions and mushrooms. finally, i finished it off with my french toast and maple syrup. everyone was pleased with the dishes and the coffee to wash it down.

the atmosphere was great, q has a colorful little place and a great vinyl selection to brunch to. i have to say, in the future, i need to come up with a vegan option for our vegan friends-- as they are fans of the breakfast too :) i'll get right to work on that!

special thanks to casey for the photos! my camera is working again now finally.

"wait...the whole menu is waffles?"

ever dare to dream of a place where they only serve one delicious breakfast treat in a variety of ways? dare, friends. it exists. jáce gáce on belmont street serves a mean waffle...in about 15 different ways.

kudos jáce.
this little known, fairly new eatery is home to an art gallery as well as a rotating menu of savory and sweet waffles. as much as you might shudder at the thought of your waffle in a salsa bath with eggs and veggies on top...survey says, it's a go. one of my friends had that, the other and myself tried the yogurt and seasonal fruit waffle. big square crispy waffles with blueberries, bananas, oatmeal sprinkles and yogurt? and then be me AND add maple syrup. YUM! not too sweet, not too filling, goes well with their french press (house) coffee.
service? well, friends it's all you. this place has counter ordering and self-serve coffee, water and seating. they will bring the food to you though ;) if you order a mimosa or something else spirited...or some dressed up coffee drink, they bring those out as well.
take a look around. a new show comes through every month! and march 31st is the deadline for a collaborative project! got 2D bike art? bring it on in :) the place is like a big open warehouse but with lots of light-- and breakfast + art.

boo? hiss? well, like i said, you do serve yourself. if you don't like it, too bad. it's a little chilly in the place because it's so open. and well, if you don't like waffles...you're gonna really have to like coffee or beer ;)

we're lousy cheaters

breakfast for dinner, WHAT?! ok, ok. after arguing it for a little while...it's true! except i don't normally drink kamakazis with my breakfasts. haha.

le happy rules the school. seriously, i wanted to hug the whole building. the place, located at ne 16th and lovejoy in downtown portland, specializes in crepes and cocktails...and being amazing.
the atmosphere was dark and cozy. reds and golden yellows for the most part. wooden tables and chairs. chandeliers and table candles to light the room until about 9 p.m. when a disco ball reflected red flickers of light over the whole room. so fun! the fake flowers above the bar were overwhelming but really complimented the simple overall look but helped the knick-knacks stand out all over the room. i could also see board games and books in the back of the restaurant. How cool!
service was very helpful and not too overbearing or too nonchalant. i asked for advice twice and the waitress was very accommodating in figuring out what would be a good choice for parts of the meal.
the dish on the dishes? FANTASTIC!!!!! the foodie crepes are wholesome and so so so tasty, and not at all greasy. i had a few bites of my friend's jurassic, and it was so flavorful! so cute too! little egg right in the middle. the dessert crepes were incredibly filling and fresh tasting! i had the special (blueberry and lemon curd) and my friend had the pommes frommage (apple + cheese). All the fruit was crisp and sweet, and the accompaniments were perfect additions balanced on the palate :)
the place has a full bar, which i believe i mentioned, and a list of specialty cocktails that are unique and as we both agreed, very potent :) i had the coco de la rouge (strawberry puree + kamikaze) and my accomplice had some kind of fuchsia-colored margarita. I want to say prickly pear, but I can't remember. It was very very good, though, as previously stated, very strong ;)

the blahs? not really. don't bring your kids here, it's more of an adult playground for the tastebuds. they don't open until 5p.m. ... but they remain open until 1a.m. (weekdays) or 2:30a.m. (weekends). so, really, again, was this breakfast? ;)

this is a great place to go after an awful day, after the best day, after anything. get a cocktail, a crêpe kick back and get lost in the discoball and some depeche mode or johnny cash, both of which they played while i was there. fantastic.

photos by yz, who comments "this is the best meal i've had in portland!"

i never met a french toast i couldn't conquer...

...until today. i can barely muster the energy to blog after this breakfast, haha.
today's breakfast club pick was byways, which is a little nook in the pearl district. they have very specific hours and very specialized dishes, including blue corn pancakes (YUM!). the place has been featured on the food network, and thus attracts a crowd from early a.m. to closing time (2 p.m.). we decided to check it out.

thumbs up, byways. we would probably go back, the amaretto french toast is truly dazzling. I got the amaretto french toast (who's surprised?). we believe the pieces of texas toast soaked in amaretto and then grilled in a delicious vanilla-cinnamon-y batter and served with walnut butter and real maple syrup (insert drooling motion here). SO good. SOSOSOSOSOSOSO good. but very filling. bring two stomachs, or ask for a box. you are so overwhelmed with flavor you forget how much you're eating...and after two pieces, you are VERY full.
my friend ordered the space needle scramble, which had eggs and veggies, served with swirl rye toast and potatoes. it vanished, so i assume, it was very good :) my favorite breakfast partner came to visit this weekend too, and he ordered the sunrise special with the signature blue corn pancakes. he thought they were really good with interesting texture. lots of flavor. with eggs and bacon, it was a ton of breakfast goodness!
the atmosphere was very diner-ish. a bar with stools and little tables crammed all over. i'd like to note: best toys of any breakfast place we've hit so far: view finders! very cute and colorful decor. the staff was also very nice, although they made us sign in as if we would have to wait...and we didn't. weird. haha.
the watch-outs: this place is happenin' and there's really no place to wait or waste time unless you've got some dollars since it's in the pearl. the service is a little slow, but they do warn you! the french toast automatically takes 15 minutes extra, because of the soaking. parking sucks, you have to pay for sure. some of the food is SO good, but so overwhelming, you really could never finish it, which leaves you generally asking for a box at the end.

all in all-- pretty freaking good :)

good design. good breakfast. i should move to sweden.

today i visited broder, a scandinavian eatery specializing in delicious breakfast treats.

high-five broder! first of all, let me tell you, the location is fan-freaking-tastic-- right next to a cool little independent record store in the north end of portland near ladd's addition.

the atmosphere is super tiny, but very well designed (what did you expect?). definately a cozy, hip little spot. not a fan of the size? they have amazing lighting in the place and big window up front. with the space, they've really done a lot to open it up.

i ordered the swedish pancakes (that's Aebleskiver). i never thought i would say this, but ihop lies, i was expecting the crepe-like dish the hop used to serve as "swedish pancakes" with lingonberry jam and butter. instead i got this little creme puff looking things in a little skillet dish with the jam, lemon curd and maple syrup on the side. expecting the extremely light crepe dealies, I also ordered a fruit cup as well, which turned out to be a sliced apple in a cup of yogurt. i have to say, everything, though not what i expected, was delicious! the pancakes were fluffy and light as well, but filling with the trio of dipping options. the fruit and yogurt was a nice finisher, though I didn't need it. the yogurt was plain, but mixing with the leftover lingonberries made for a nice bite :)

my friends ordered the swedish waffles (2 BIG waffles with seasonal fruit compote, butter and maple syrup, YUM!) and pytti panna (a skillet with baked eggs, potatoes, smoked trout, and veggies). Everyone was very happy with their choices. Good textures and flavors seemed to be the comments.

the beverages are fab. you can get a cup of serve-yourself-coffee right when you walk in the door, while you wait for a table. one friend and i had stumptown coffee, which i had heard wonderful things about and was not disappointed. the place also brings you a jar of sugar cubes and little pot of creamer. my other friend had a grapefruit juice mimosa, which we all tried and agreed was different-- but very good.

the bewares: you will wait. the place is a shoebox, but totally worth the wait. drink coffee or record shop after you put your name on the list. portions are not super big. plan on not leaving busting at the seams.

Vegan-friendly breakfast oasis

Today some friends and I went to Junior's Cafe in the southeast part of Portland. There we discussed bikes, fell asleep midsentence, and I found myself asking what the hell "yupster" meant. Haha.

Alright Junior's. They have pretty slow service (only one waitress on a Saturday morning), but they give you a carafe of water, have excellent coffee and a delicious/health-friendly menu. I ordered the french toast with fresh (organic) fruit and was overwhelmed. YAYUM! The apples, cuties, raspberries and bananas with butter, powdered sugar and real maple syrup was fresh and sweet and balanced out the fluffy yet crispy toast. Perfect! I even had enough room to scarf down an egg too! The portions may sound small at two pieces per order, I tell you now, it is just perfect. My friends enjoyed some of the place's famous potatoes, which like everything else on the menu, come vegan or non. Plates were cleaned! You leave feeling refreshed, full, and not food comatose— just satisfied.

AHHHHH! It's totally true, get there early-ish because of the wait and the service slowness. Entirely worth it though. I'll go back :)