We have a Winner! William Reagan wins the free copy of Breakfast in Bridgetown, 2nd Serving.
Breakfast in Bridgetown: The definitive guide to Portland’s favorite meal, 2nd serving, is a great resource.
I know breakfast in Portland pretty darn well, and even I learned of a few spots from reading the book that are now on my must visit list. The book isn’t just a catalog of great restaurant places in Portland (though it is mostly exactly that). There’s also an article by Brett Burmeister, of Food Carts Portland, giving the rundown on food cards that offer breakfast. PortlandFood.org‘s Nick Zukin‘s contribution helps you hunt down authentic international breakfasts in Portland.
The bulk of the book is authored by Paul Gerald, host of the weekly Cascadia.fm show Breakfast in Bridgetown, and he knows how to break a fast in Portland, Oregon.
One day, sitting in the Beaterville Cafe, it occurred to me that I had never done an article about a breakfast place in Portland. Then I thought of all the options I could write about. And within a few minutes, Breakfast in Bridgetown was born — at least, in my head.
So the book and the show is really about Portland, and our lives here. I’m not a restaurant critic, and the book doesn’t have stars or any kind of rating system. For each of the places, I’ll describe it, tell you what I think, throw in what others think, try to tell you how the place fits in the Portland breakfast pantheon, and then let you decide if you want to eat there.
Find Paul Gerald on Twitter @PDXBreakfast Guy. He’s also got a blog, where you can find the weekly podcasts, at BreakfastInBridgetown.com.
The book can be found at Stumptown Scribes, Powell’s, and other places – check out the blog for details.
We have a winner – Thanks to all who participated, William Reagan was the randomly selected winner!
CONTEST!
Win a free copy of Breakfast in Bridgetown, 2nd Serving!
Leave a comment on this post indicating your favorite Portland breakfast spot. On Tuesday, December 14 at 6am I will draw a name randomly out of a figurative hat and send that person a brand spanking new copy of the book, signed by author Paul Gerald himself!
I have to choose only one favorite breakfast spot? How am I supposed to do that? Genies has the best vegetarian benedicts (their meat ones may be great too, but I have never eaten one). Gravy has the best vegetarian gravy and pretty damn good fry cakes. The Original Dinerant used to have the best homemade pop tarts ever. Utopia makes my favorite pumpkin pancakes.
Thanks for the shout out. Paul is a great guy and this book will be a fun read.
Brett Burmeister
Joe Browns on Main St. in West Van. I know, not PDX, but the place is awesome. It’s the oldest restaurant in town, probably hasn’t been remodeled since it opened, pictures of customers are on the wall, classic diner fare, and my coffee cup is never empty.
where do I begin? I haven’t lived in pdx for over 10 years (was there from 1998-2000). But I was totally smitten with J&M Cafe in SE. The “grab-a-hot-mug-of-coffee-while-you-wait-for-breakie was perfect on cold mornings. I’m a vegetarian now, but I used to live for the chorizo scramble after a night of, ahem, too many adult beverages, shall we say? I loved the brick walls, the old fashioned ice-box refrigerator…
i don’t know if i have an actual favorite as i tend to sample wildly, but i’ve had two stellar breakfasts over the last year, at St Johns Cafe and at Seasons and Regions. At Seasons, they have an amazing raspberry scone, probably surpassed the actual meal for excellence but nonetheless, good bfast place.
and i read version 1 of this book, it was great! so i look forward to seeing version 2 🙂
I’ve been to Tasty & Sons thrice within a month, so I gotta say…Tasty & Sons.
J&M Cafe has been my favorite for well over a decade, and remains so to this day. (Fingers crossed the fab cooks at The Tin Shed aren’t reading this post.)
Tough choice, but I’m going to go with Cadillac Cafe at 18th & Broadway–it’s where we always take our out-of-town guests.
There are so many great breakfast joints in Portland but lately we have been loving St. john’s cafe
Petite Provence on Alberta
Podnah’s. Only serving breakfast on weekdays – but, oh, the choices you can get!
UGH, Podnah’s is only serving breakfast on SAT/SUN – weekENDS. (Hate it when I screw it up…)
Besaw’s on NW 23rd is my favorite place to get breakfast on a regular basis. I always order the Farmer’s Hash. If I want to get out of my neighborhood I’d go to Broder on SE Clinton. The Danish Pancakes with lemon curd and lingon berry jam are awesome!
Lately I’ve really been enjoying breakfast at Kenny & Zuke’s. Their potatoes are to die for.
I choose Sanborn’s on SE Milwaukie. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried one of their many variations on the German Pancake. Yum.
http://www.sanbornsbreakfast.com/
Toss up between Bijou Cafe & Mother’s Bistro. Both have excellent breakfast.
Both are packed every Sunday.
I love, love, love Jam. The Nor’wester Scramble is my favorite–I have never gotten anything else because it is just that good.
I have two favorites….Screen Door for chicken and waffles and The Original Pancake House their famous dutch baby! Makes me hungry just thinking about it!
cup & saucer. i’ve been to 3 of 4 of them and they all rock. i most frequently visit the one in kenton. the people there are so, so nice and the food is always delicious.
I have to say that I haven’t properly done the Portland breakfast circuit, but the Arleta Library Cafe is my favorite treat — their biscuits and gravy are the best I’ve ever had. And I agree that the Original Pancake House rocks, but it’s the Apple Pancake is by far the best in my opinion!
I just had a great breakfast at Muddy’s on Alberta. Their potatoes are herby and cheesy and the lox scramble was loxxy.
I highly recommend.
Blue corn pancakes at Byways Cafe…amazing.
Monsters are going old school: The Hotcake House!
Yum! There are so many good breakfast spots in town. My current favorite is Cadillac Cafe. Thanks for the fun giveaway!
Oooh! Me, ME!
Definitely Marco’s Cafe in SW Portland.
Although the Farmhouse Cafe in the lobby of our building has some insanely good bacon…
Hard to pick just one. The Tin Shed and Bridges are two of my favorite.
Thanks for the great giveaway!