It's snowing today, but if I lived in St. Johns I'd walk over to John Street Cafe for breakfast. Nestled in downtown St. Johns at 8338 North Lombard, this tiny cafe is a treat for breakfast lovers.
We hit St. Johns early on a recent Sunday morning. The streets were silent, except for the sounds of crows. I have to admit it was really nice. It's easy to forget what a quiet neighborhood really sounds like (huh?!). And, the silence was a fitting contrast to the music and warm laughter that greeted us as we walked into the crowded cafe.
Once seated, we discovered that the view of the neighborhood is the cafe's most striking design element. Its oversized windows frame the surrounding neighborhood perfectly, and serve as a focal point in an otherwise simple but comfortable space. It gave me the feeling that the neighborhood was extremely important to the owners. As evidenced by the swelling crowd, the feeling is mutual.
We tried the Bacavo, an omelette stuffed with bacon, avocado and Monterey Jack and topped with melted bleu cheese. As you might guess, it was delicious. Kudos also on the roasted potatoes. Crispy is always good.
We also ordered the filbert and black currant pancake. If you love pancakes, this is definitely a must do. Slather it in butter and syrup—served warm (a very nice touch)—and dive in. The cake is massive so you may not get far. I recommend attacking it from the middle, because that's where all of the butter and syrup seemed to pool. The result: warm, ooey-gooey, cakey deliciousness.
The one shortcoming of our experience was the coffee. Kobos coffee is definitely not my favorite. Everything else, however—food, service and ambience—was fantastic.
Definitely worth a visit, whether on foot or by car.
John Street Cafe
8338 N Lombard Street
Portland OR 97203
