Besaw''s Cafe, Portland, Oregon Restaurant Details

Food:

Have loved Besaws for many years since me and my husband stumbled upon it when it was on 23rd. Had our first chance to visit since they moved to the new location. The food was as amazing as it has always been. The service was great. I look forward to visiting many more times.

Food:

The staff was pleasant and diligent about checking in and keeping water and coffee full. The decor, layout, and ambience are well thought out and it was overall very clean. Wait time was reasonable, nothing to complain about. With all that going for it, the new Besaw's menu is simple/limited and food was unimpressive and bland. The old Besaw's was in my top 3 breakfast places in Portland, now it's off the list completely.

Food:

Besaw's is back???

We had lunch a week ago at the new location and this is NOT the restaurant we knew on NW 21st and grew to love. We have been regulars for years at the old location and were stunned in many ways--not all of them desirable. When we arrived we were glad to see that the restaurant had a good crowd for lunch, even still at 2:00 pm.

The two of us were seated after a wait of about 5 minutes (this was OK). The decor is attractive, but nothing like the ambience that was homey and neighborhood friendly in its previous form.

The day was quite cold and windy, so every time the door was opened the chill blew through the dining room, even though the front door is equipped with an elaborate heavy curtain to shut out the discomforting chill. There is also an overhead track to facilitate its use. However, the curtains were never used, rendering the whole area very chilly.

While we waited for over 30 minutes for our food to arrive we listed to the other 5 tables of patrons around us who all complained about their food. As each diner left, they talked about their issues and we heard sympathetic apologies from their servers.

When our food finally arrived, (we both ordered Towanda's Benedict) we were amazed by the micro amount of food. On the menu, each component of the dishes was elaborately listed. We knew Besaw's to offer appropriate-sized portions in their meals for the prices they charged. We actually had difficulty finding anything beyond the two poached eggs and a small portion of sweet potato fries. Fried chicken was named as a feature of the dish, but was the size of a casino chip. The one each fried green tomato slice was the same diameter as the chicken chip. The "spicy hollandaise" had absolutely no spice or lemon. The "greens" could not be found until the server showed us that the equivalent of half a teaspoon of some kind of vegetable matter was hidden under each egg. We both were stunned by the micro-sized for portions with the maxi-sized price: a whopping $14 each. When we discussed this travesty with our server, she apologized and reduced our bill.

The kitchen is clearly a preparation bottleneck, evidenced by the more than 30 minutes delivery time. The menu, compared to what we had learned to expect from Besaw's, was a complete train wreck in terms of over-describing ingredients. The other customers we observed were also clearly disappointed by their meals, as well.

In truth, we may return someday--most likely in 6 - 12 months to give them a chance to win back our business.

Now that I have read the article in the NW Examiner about Besaw's remake and realize that the menu has been infected by the former chef from Wildwood, who took a bulldozer to the tried and trusted Besaw's offerings, I am even less inclined to return. I wish them good luck.

Food:

The new place is beautiful and the staff was so nice. They are working out the kinks of the new location (hopefully people will be kind during the transition) but the food was delicious and we had a lovely experience. The chocolate cake was so delicious and light it was unbelievable. The mushroom pasta dish also had the BEST sauce every. I wanted to drink it :). I can't wait to go in the summer when the doors can all be opened. Welcome back Besaws, we love you!!!!

Food:

My son and I went to have breakfast and will not be returning.

First the good... the waiter remembered my name, even as we left.

Now the not so good... Very few breakfast choices.

At least 50% more like 75% over priced (six inch pancakes at $4/ea, two eggs, two slices of bacon, about 1/2 cup potatoes and no toast, $14)

Had to ask each time we wanted a coffee refill. Is it their way to say, "You have overstayed your welcome."?

Though waffles are on the menu could not get a "Plain Waffle.

As my son commented on the new location... "In 100 years this location will not have any ambiance near what the old Besaw's had." Welcome to Yuppy, Pearl District PDX.