Portland, OR Restaurant Review: Cafe Magnolia

Cafe Magnolia, SE Portland

I’ve been to Cafe Magnolia three times now, the first time being for breakfast on my second day in Portland. It’s a generous-sized space inside, with table seating outside, and the portions of the meals offered tend to match the space itself. Generally speaking, and I think this may only be due to the fact that it’s not located directly on Hawthorne, Cafe Magnolia tends to be less than busy, making it an ideal spot for a great weekend breakfast.

Service is exceptionally friendly, the food is really delicious, and with cheap $2 happy hour pints and free coffee Mondays (featuring Stumptown coffee), the dining experience ends up being a treat. My first time, I had the biscuits and gravy for breakfast — not too heavy, not too rich, just perfect with fresh, home cooked biscuits and a savory gravy.

Next visit, I tried the BLT for lunch and matched it with a side of french fries. Being a sincere french fry enthusiast (I’m sure I’m not alone here), I’m hard on french fries — and these were by no means a disappointment. Just crispy enough, tons of garlic and salted perfectly. Similarly, in the way of potatoes, the breakfast potatoes are cooked perfectly and have a ton of flavor.

This morning, I tried the Hawthorne Scramble, which is an egg scramble that includes bleu cheese, mushrooms, spinach, carmelized onions and bacon, and it was fantastic. Large chunks of bacon and mushrooms, the spinach cooked just right, and all the flavors conspiring in service of a delicious feast.

Bottomless coffee from Stumptown Roasters as usual. Art on the walls so far has been good — I’ll have to see more of it to get a better sense of their aesthetic mission. It’s comfortable enough inside, maybe not cozy but a pretty solid setup for breakfast and lunch, or just a nice place to sit with a beer and the crossword puzzle.

Cafe Magnolia Pictures

The Hawthorne Scramble at Cafe Magnolia, SE Portland

Biscuits, Gravy and a Side of Bacon: Cafe Magnolia

Cafe Magnolia, Portland Interior 1

Cafe Magnolia, Portland Interior Sideroom

Bacon and Eggs at Cafe Magnolia

Portland, OR Restaurant Details: Cafe Magnolia

Cafe Magnolia
1522 SE 32nd Ave. (just south of Hawthorne Blvd.)
Portland, Oregon 97214
Southeast
503-203-6305
Hours: Closed Mondays. Tues-Thurs, Sun. 8am-4pm (or til close), Fri-Sat 8am-10pm.

Portland, OR Restaurant Map: Cafe Magnolia
Click here for a map of the area: Cafe Magnolia in SE Portland

The Official Cafe Magnolia Website (Click)
Cafe Magnolia on Twitter (Click)
Cafe Magnolia on Facebook (Click)

Josh Parker, Owner and Chef of Cafe Magnolia, interviewed on Breakfast in Bridgetown Podcast #11, from January 15, 2010.

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