Petite Provence Boulangerie & Patisserie

                                                                             

I think I have eaten here about seven times in the last two months.  This is definitely in my top five places to go for breakfast now.  For one, their lattes are beautiful (if the right person makes it) and they have great coffee.  First criterium met.  Second they have a great menu, fresh new breakfast items for the meat lover and vegetarian alike, not to mention an amazing array of bakery yummies.  And third, I love the atmosphere here.  I just feel like I'm going to step out onto the streets of Paris when I leave (which leaves me a little disappointed when I actually do leave, but it's getting better down there).

     This is a great place for a romantic breakfast with your special someone or with some friends or family or just to go yourself and watch the cute little bundled up munchkins walk in with their hip urban parents as they make a b-line for the kids cookie window.  

     They can accomodate fairly large groups by putting tables together, though it can get a bit crowded.  We have never had to wait yet for a table, which I'm sure is  soon to change, but we'll enjoy it for now.  The staff here are very friendly and the service is prompt.  You have to try one of their espresso drinks if you go, just for the beauty of it.                                    

1824 NE Alberta St Portland, OR 97211 - (503) 284-6564

4834 SE Division St Portland, OR 97206 - (503) 233-1121

Francis Restaurant

My husband and I found this quiet corner breakfast nook quite on accident.  We were heading to our default breakfast fave, Helsers, and decided to drive down the road a bit because he thought he had remembered seeing a sign that said serving breakfast.  Sure enough, a new place to try out!  Of course I was delighted, I love to find new places to add to my blog for all of you fellow breakfast lovers.  Unfortunately the excitement is usually distracted by the time I get home and it ends up at the bottom of my "computer to do" list.

Francis' is a great place to go if you are looking for a little more class in your breakfast experience.  Sometimes you roll out of bed and you just want to go someplace where you could practically wear your pajamas and nobody would really notice (i.e.Tin Shed, Gravy etc.) But sometimes, like on a date or to celebrate a birthday or what have you, you want to dress up and this is where you should go.  

Our server at Francis' was very cheery and pleasant.  Their menu  boasts of unique ingredients you wouldn't expect on your breakfast plate, such as sautéed grape leaves with garlic and kalamata olives, garnishing a goat cheese omelet with pear tomatoes.  They do not serve potatoes with their breakfasts as is the usual fare but a side of fruit instead.  They do offer potato dishes on the menu and I'm sure you could probably substitute instead of fruit if you wanted.  I prefer potatoes, but it was a fresh change.  

There is something here for everyone whether you just like your eggs and toast or you like to try new creations and unique food pairings or whether you are a more vegetarian/vegan breakfaster.  Most importantly they serve Stumptown coffee, though our waitress said they are thinking of switching to another vendor, who isn't even local!  Why in the world, when we have some of the best coffee right here in our back yard?  So if you eat here, urge them to stay local!

Francis is open for breakfast and lunch.  Their lunch menu looks scrumptious.  Take a look for yourself at www.francisrestaurant.com

This is probably not the place for a very large party.  They may be able to accommodate but I would definitely call ahead.  If you do end up trying them out don't forget to tell them you found them at portlandbreakfast.blogspot.com.

2338 NE Alberta St. 
Portland, Oregon 97212

503-288-8299

Sip & Kranz (Now Cloud Seven Cafe)

I just found this great little, well not so little, coffee shop in the Pearl district. If you have kids this is the place for you. If you don't have kids, like me, this is a great place to meet your friends that do. I have the hardest time figuring out where to get together with my friends who have small children so that we can catch up and the kids have something to do; problem solved. Sip & Kranz not only has a separate play area for the kids inside, but there is also a fountain (chlorinated) just outside their doors if you want to enjoy the sunshine while sipping your coffee, or your beer or wine in the evenings, while the kiddos play in the water.

They also offer a limited menu of breakfast items. One of which was recommended to me, their famous oatmeal made with steamed milk.

They actually made me some for free, just so

I could take a picture of it and I was full. I

was so bummed that

I didn't come with an appetite. The gal who made it was more than happy to be "forced" to eat it herself. I'll definitely be going back to try it. I'll have to pay this time but hey I don't mind

supporting a great business.

And how can I forget, they serve Stumptown. Need I say anything else...

Bridges Cafe and Catering

I don't know why but "and catering" has actually kept me away from trying this place. It's like putting "and tavern" on the end of a dinner restaurant. Not that it's a similar meaning it just gives me the same reaction and I couldn't explain to you why that is...

I loved this little cafe! It is very quaint. I went here on a weekday and there was plenty of room but I can't tell you what it's like on the weekends. Their french toast is scrumptious. They had my favorite combination that I rarely find on the menu: french toast, sausage and eggs for $8.95. Now is that so hard, really now? But you tell me if you ever see that combo on any menu. They make their own sausage, pork or veggie. I had the pork, mmm, mmm! Sorry veg heads, I'm sure the veggie is tasty. Veggie and sausage just never sounded right together to me. My friend had the eggs benedict that was recommended by our server Lee (I think that is his bike out front). It looks unbelievably good. I can never afford the eggs benedict. When I am old, I will wear purple and eat eggs benedict!

They serve K&F coffee here. It is a local roaster. I had about 4 cups, whooa that seems like so much when you actually write it down. Needless to say it was good coffee. I don't hear much about K&F Roasters? The prices were actually pretty reasonable they have something for everyone.

bridgescafeandcatering.net 2716 NE MLK Blvd. Portland OR. 97212 503.288.4169

Cricket Cafe

I have to admit, I waited too long to post this and I can't even remember what I ordered or what kind of coffee they serve.  I know I'm becoming known as the sleeping blogger.  I'll work on it!

I can remember that I wasn't incredibly impressed with this place.  The breakfastguy I think really likes this place, he'll have to post his reasons for you...hint, hint.

The prices here are on the average to high side.  The seating is somewhat scrunched and it's a bit noisy, whine, whine.  Maybe I was in a bad mood this day.  Our server was nice, so nice that she served us before the people sitting next to us who had been there long before we arrived, oops.  The food is homemade, they have yummy pastries and interesting varieties of breakfast choices.  It is definitely a fun little eclectic cafe, so go try it out and give the breakfastguy a high five!

Cricket cafe

3159 SE Belmont St
Portland, OR 97214

(503) 235-9348‎

J&M Cafe

I haven't been to J&M for quite some time and to be honest this wasn't our initial destination. We were actually heading to Bridges Cafe but if you are familiar with Bridges you are aware that we were obviously too far south. I saw the sign for J&M and decided I might as well add them to my blog so here it is.

J&M is a quaint little cafe on the corner of SE Ash St. and 6th Ave. We showed up this morning around 9:45AM and there was hardly a wait, which is unheard of on a Saturday morning but I have an idea the winter like weather in April, might have had something to do with it. We helped ourselves to an eclectic array of mugs hanging from steel sculptured roots attached to a post in the middle of the restaurant. The coffee is Stumptown, I honestly think they are taking over the Portland area, which is fine with me.

The prices here are actually quite reasonable, more so than I remember them being. I had the scrambled eggs with the homemade turkey sausage patty. Yummm... My husband enjoyed his burrito, which is great if you have a big morning appetite.

This is a great place to go if you're a solo breakfaster. There is a bar if you want to solo it with others, or there are quite a few small tables where you could enjoy your breakfast and maybe sneak in a few minutes in you favorite book or paper, that is if not too many people are waiting to be seated.

We will definitely be coming here again soon. Maybe I'll actually brave it and be a solo breakfaster one of these days. I always think about it and some things are much more romantic in thought than in actuality. But I guess I'll never know unless I try...

Utopia

I have been here before but last time was on the weekend and it was quite a bit busier.  This time I came with my parents during the week.  It was nice because it was much more laid back and we were able to get to know our server a little better because she wasn't so busy trying to make a crowd of people happy.  

I really enjoyed the food here.  My mom and I split a

scramble and my dad got the pancakes 

with ham and we were all pleased.  They serve satisfying portions and the prices are average.  Their coffee is a special 

 that Portland Roasters made just for them, the "Utopia" blend.  I think I had 3 refills, if that tells you anything. 

Utopia is located on Belmont.  It does get quite busy on the weekend and you will most likely be waiting outside but there are some beautiful flowers across the street, so go stop and smell the roses and get out of the rain for a bit.  Utopia can be found at Portland.citysearch.com

3308 Se Belmont St
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 235-7606

Mississippi Station (No longer serving breakfast)

Why wait in the rain?
Have you stood in line waiting to get into Gravy on Mississippi? Well if so, chances are you were waiting outside, freezing and getting wet. Well next time just take a little walk down the street to Mississippi Station. Now if it's Mon-Fri it's true they don't open until 10AM but on the weekends, which is usually when the wait is, they open at 8AM and there has never been a wait when I've been there. Personally I think their food is better than Gravy. I admit, they don't serve Stumptown. They used to serve Blue Gardenia (which was very good) but they switched to Tully's. It's pretty good, I'm not a big fan of Tully's, but enough about the coffee.

I had my regular scramble with sausage which was yummy (though the eggs were a little undercooked). The berry pancakes looked wonderful. The prices are a little higher than Gravy, but when you don't have to wait
and you're not sitting on the
person next to you, it's worth it.

They have patio seating as well, which would be great on a summer morning. They also have dinner with live music on certain evenings. Snag a friend and go check it out.











3943 N. Mississippi, Portland
Mississippistation.com

Call your mother...

"Call your Mother is the motto here, it is printed on the back of all their coffee mugs. So call your Mother and take her out for breakfast!

Ok, this is another favorite. This is where my husband and I went for breakfast the morning he took me to the Rose Gardens and asked me to marry him, ahhhh. I started my breakfast hobby when we were dating. That is what we did, we went on breakfast dates. I prefer morning dates to evening ones. You're not as likely to say or do something you'll regret.
On that note, let's start with the coffee. If you order the French press they serve Stumptown, if you just order the house coffee they serve Portland Roasters. Interesting I know. My take, Stumptown is a little more expensive so if you're willing to pay a little more for the French press, they're willing to give you the good stuff. If you just want to pay for a cup of coffee that they'll refill over and over...and over (in my case). They'll give you the good, not so expensive stuff. Thankfully I was with friends who bought the French press for me, knowing that I am a Stumptown snob. They know I'm cheap and I would've settled. Thanks Lattin's.

The food here is great. A little on the pricier side but worth it for the ambiance ($7-11). The frittata's are a little on the dry side, but still tasty. I love the scramble with prosciutto, sun dried tomatoes and feta.


Indulge yourself and enjoy a latte with the Stumptown signature swirl. Mmmm!

The oatmeal was enough to feed four people, and whatever you do, taste it before you add any brown sugar, it's already sweet.

You'll definitely want to show up early. They open at 9AM and the tables are usually filled the minute they open the doors. They do take reservations for parties of 6 or more I think, if you're early enough to snag one. This is a great place for bigger parties. Enjoy!
212 SW Stark St. Portland
Mothersbistro.com