pearl district blog...
August 4,2006
Sip & Kranz ROCKS
by pearlgirl
If Bjork owned a coffeehouse... this would be it. Icelandic cool with quirky and personal touches. It's a thing of beauty...
Sip & Kranz occupies a south retail space in Park Place (922 NW 11th), which is adjacent to Fenouil Restaurant. Most of its walls are windows, which gives it great light. The interior walls are Robin's egg blue, which provides crisp contrast with the white shelving, counter and stools. A touch of nature is provided by the natural fiber, high-backed chairs that are scattered about the room to create cozy seating areas for a myriad of purposes: cozy tete-a-tete for two; book club meetings or simply a gathering of friends.
Like I said, the place is scattered with personal touches: a lemonade jar full of flowers (for sale, of course); board games; eye-catching artwork; children's books and a section of books for adults.
The service is great: there are ample (Pleasant!!!) folks on hand to help with coffee, pastries or juice. Sip & Kranz proudly serves and sells Stumptown Coffee-- the staff went through a lengthy training process to ensure that they meet the quality guidelines of "the holy grail" of coffee roasters. And it gets better... the pastries are from Nuvrei Fine Cakes & Pastries and there are glorious cupcakes from--where else-- Saint Cupcake (the patron saint of sweet!)...
Sip & Kranz also has a phenomenal kid's section. There is a large room just for kids-- guaranteed to make you want to play! One large wall is a blackboard; the floor is covered in soft, squishy carpet to play on; large orange bean bag chairs are tossed about the room; there are tables and chairs for art projects; books to read and a big plasma tv that plays educational (but fun!) DVDs. The room was already full of visitors, so I'd have to say it's a hit! :-)
S&K will be open 7 days a week, 7am-10pm (they are hoping to open and close one hour earlier/later). Look for a menu to be added in a month-- salads, soups, sandwiches, etc. They will also have two beers on tap and a wine list and will have a more "lounge-Y" feel after the wee ones have called it a night.
I have to say that this relaxed, family-friendly place is a much needed and welcome addition to the neighborhood. This could easily become one of the most popular places in the Pearl.
Welcome!!!
Sip & Kranz occupies a south retail space in Park Place (922 NW 11th), which is adjacent to Fenouil Restaurant. Most of its walls are windows, which gives it great light. The interior walls are Robin's egg blue, which provides crisp contrast with the white shelving, counter and stools. A touch of nature is provided by the natural fiber, high-backed chairs that are scattered about the room to create cozy seating areas for a myriad of purposes: cozy tete-a-tete for two; book club meetings or simply a gathering of friends.
Like I said, the place is scattered with personal touches: a lemonade jar full of flowers (for sale, of course); board games; eye-catching artwork; children's books and a section of books for adults.
The service is great: there are ample (Pleasant!!!) folks on hand to help with coffee, pastries or juice. Sip & Kranz proudly serves and sells Stumptown Coffee-- the staff went through a lengthy training process to ensure that they meet the quality guidelines of "the holy grail" of coffee roasters. And it gets better... the pastries are from Nuvrei Fine Cakes & Pastries and there are glorious cupcakes from--where else-- Saint Cupcake (the patron saint of sweet!)...
Sip & Kranz also has a phenomenal kid's section. There is a large room just for kids-- guaranteed to make you want to play! One large wall is a blackboard; the floor is covered in soft, squishy carpet to play on; large orange bean bag chairs are tossed about the room; there are tables and chairs for art projects; books to read and a big plasma tv that plays educational (but fun!) DVDs. The room was already full of visitors, so I'd have to say it's a hit! :-)
S&K will be open 7 days a week, 7am-10pm (they are hoping to open and close one hour earlier/later). Look for a menu to be added in a month-- salads, soups, sandwiches, etc. They will also have two beers on tap and a wine list and will have a more "lounge-Y" feel after the wee ones have called it a night.
I have to say that this relaxed, family-friendly place is a much needed and welcome addition to the neighborhood. This could easily become one of the most popular places in the Pearl.
Welcome!!!
posted at 10:55 AM
12 comments
Comments:
Anonymous - June 06, 2007 02:40 PM
S & K delivers perfect coffee drinks and yummy food - but VERY slowly. The staff is friendly, but in no hurry at all. Waiting 8 minutes for a Latte is a little to long for me. For a child friendly place they do a few things right - nice cushy play area, chalkboard walls and tv. BUT, they need to have faster service, b/c anyone with kids can't wait 25 minutes for a sandwich. Also, they need to have straws and eating utencils out on the counter for quick access. An additional bathroom would also be good considering diaper changes can take a few minutes. Overall, fun place.
Anonymous - May 24, 2007 08:18 PM
STARBUCKS ADDICTS please stay in your respective corporate rat holes when in need of your next fix. No, Sip & Kranz is not you cookie cutter neighborhood starbucks, so please act accordingly.
EVERYONE ELSE: S&K is great. They have very enticing menu options, stellar coffee, and the wait staff is definitely easy on the eyes. Now that the sun is coming out, it's the only place I want to go for coffee. With access to the square I feel like I am in the south of France ordering a drink at my favorite outdoor cafe. Go, you're going to love it.
EVERYONE ELSE: S&K is great. They have very enticing menu options, stellar coffee, and the wait staff is definitely easy on the eyes. Now that the sun is coming out, it's the only place I want to go for coffee. With access to the square I feel like I am in the south of France ordering a drink at my favorite outdoor cafe. Go, you're going to love it.
Anonymous - November 13, 2006 01:04 PM
I LOVE SIP & KRANZ Amazing!
Anonymous - September 22, 2006 08:14 AM
I am surprised that so many people love this place. I found the 4 people behind the counter slow and unresponsive. Only taking one order at a time, while the other 3 kind of wandered around. And the decor! It just clashes and looks ridiculous. The wicker chairs are cool, but totally don't work with the jetson's barstools.
I don't like having to wait 10 minutes to order, then 10 minutes for my drink. I could understand if they are short staffed, but they have so many people on staff.
Also, I don't think they realize not that many kids live in the pearl, so as the weather turns, the suburban housewives will go back to play dates in Beaverton.
I don't like having to wait 10 minutes to order, then 10 minutes for my drink. I could understand if they are short staffed, but they have so many people on staff.
Also, I don't think they realize not that many kids live in the pearl, so as the weather turns, the suburban housewives will go back to play dates in Beaverton.
Anonymous - August 07, 2006 10:12 PM
THE HOME GROWN MINTS IN THE FRESH MIXED JUICES WERE AWESOME!
THE MINT MAN DELIVERS!
THE MINT MAN DELIVERS!
Anonymous - August 07, 2006 10:07 PM
iam mot a big coffee drinker but the home grown mints in the mixed juices are out of this world!!!!
THE MINT MAN
THE MINT MAN
mike - August 06, 2006 08:20 PM
I have been there the last 3 days in a row and I must say that these folks know what they are doing. The service is consitantly perfect and warm. S & K has a relaxed majestic feel that you won't be able to get enough of.
Anonymous - August 06, 2006 02:39 PM
Have to say that this place is super chic, service is great and, of course, loved the Stumptown coffee!
Camille - January 16, 2009 09:07 AM
Sip and Kranz has now permanently closed the playroom and no longer has a liquor license.
AJ - January 16, 2009 01:55 PM
Sip & Kranz is in the process of getting their liquor license under the new ownership, which is the OLCC poilicy. They have several days/nights between now and when they will have their perminant license that they will indeed be serving alcohol.
indsaylay - May 22, 2009 10:45 AM
I don't know what Camille is talking about. I have alcohol at Sip & Kranz all the time. AJ sounds about right. I think the new owners had to get their license so everything was legal. Good for them for doing the right thing!
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I'm not a parent, but I like to bring friends with kids to this spot...they are often frustrated by the long wait for food.