New Restaurant
I think I might have found a favorite lunch spot in Portland (hey, it's important to me!). It's called Bertie-Lou's, and it's a block up the street from my office (tres important). It's a small cafe, done up out-side and in with bright colors and fun themes. The tables come equipped with silverware, coffee cups, 4-5 varieties of hot sauce, and raspberry preserves in a squeeze bottle, oh, and ketchup too.
It's a small place, about 10 tables inside and 2 out, with about 8 counter seats. The counter is critical for an open, friendly feel to the place. From there you can chat with the cook or the server (also owner) whenever they're free, and chat with anyone else who comes up to the counter to eat or pay. Service is good. My coffee cup stayed full the entire time. Oh sure, food doesn't come out with the speed of a McDonald's or Taco Bell, but then, you can watch the man cook your food for you, so you know it's fresh, prepared with care, and worth eating. And nothing sits in the window getting cold, it gets to your table as soon as it's ready.
The establishment is open for breakfast and lunch only, which is a disappointment for any quick after-work bites, but I guess I have to take what I can get. Not every place can be Elmo's. Good things, however, include breakfast served the entire time they're open.
Other good things: yummy decaf coffee, in a bottomless cup, for $1.00!!!! REAL homefries, that means pre-boiled potatoes, cubed up, and finished on a grill with oil and a touch of seasoning to read the perfect hot, crispy, tasty goodness of non-deep-fat-fried potatoes. Actually, the place has a frier, but it's not in use.
My cheeseburger was good, good enough to order again. Although it did come with chipotle mayonaise and grilled onions, neither of which were mentioned on the menu. Now, I didn't get mad because I did the pre-emptive ask on the burger toppings (being particular about what constitutes a good burger, you see), and she did mention the chipotle mayo. With time to come to grips with that slight change, I was fine, and although I prefer raw onions on my burger, these onions were still thick cut and not so gooshy that they lost all their onion taste. I've had to find a burger that does it all, and this one is certainly good for a repeate.
I still have to try their eggs, biscuits and gravy, omelets, and an interesting assortment of starchy things (like French toast made with croissants - sounds good, eh?). And, the fruit cups are fresh, as in she cuts up the fruit in your cup just before it hits your table.
All in all, I'm very happy with the place. It just might begin to fill up the hole in my life left by Elmo's.
It's a small place, about 10 tables inside and 2 out, with about 8 counter seats. The counter is critical for an open, friendly feel to the place. From there you can chat with the cook or the server (also owner) whenever they're free, and chat with anyone else who comes up to the counter to eat or pay. Service is good. My coffee cup stayed full the entire time. Oh sure, food doesn't come out with the speed of a McDonald's or Taco Bell, but then, you can watch the man cook your food for you, so you know it's fresh, prepared with care, and worth eating. And nothing sits in the window getting cold, it gets to your table as soon as it's ready.
The establishment is open for breakfast and lunch only, which is a disappointment for any quick after-work bites, but I guess I have to take what I can get. Not every place can be Elmo's. Good things, however, include breakfast served the entire time they're open.
Other good things: yummy decaf coffee, in a bottomless cup, for $1.00!!!! REAL homefries, that means pre-boiled potatoes, cubed up, and finished on a grill with oil and a touch of seasoning to read the perfect hot, crispy, tasty goodness of non-deep-fat-fried potatoes. Actually, the place has a frier, but it's not in use.
My cheeseburger was good, good enough to order again. Although it did come with chipotle mayonaise and grilled onions, neither of which were mentioned on the menu. Now, I didn't get mad because I did the pre-emptive ask on the burger toppings (being particular about what constitutes a good burger, you see), and she did mention the chipotle mayo. With time to come to grips with that slight change, I was fine, and although I prefer raw onions on my burger, these onions were still thick cut and not so gooshy that they lost all their onion taste. I've had to find a burger that does it all, and this one is certainly good for a repeate.
I still have to try their eggs, biscuits and gravy, omelets, and an interesting assortment of starchy things (like French toast made with croissants - sounds good, eh?). And, the fruit cups are fresh, as in she cuts up the fruit in your cup just before it hits your table.
All in all, I'm very happy with the place. It just might begin to fill up the hole in my life left by Elmo's.