Best Breakfast}Byways Cafe

Located in the Pearl District of Portland, Byways Cafe is like stepping back in time.  Although it’s only been there for ten years, you feel like it’s been there forever. With a fun and charming retro atmosphere and lots of comfort food Byways is a popular destination for Portland locals and visitors and has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

We arrived at 9:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning and had about a five minute wait.  By the time we left an hour later there were a dozen people waiting in line.

There is lots to keep you entertained while you wait for your food.  The place is decorated, rather covered in travel memorabilia and souvenirs.

Many of the items have been brought to the cafe by their customers when they return from vacation.  While we were there a man brought in a shirt from a favorite ball team of one of the cafe workers!

The menu is full of lots of down home, comfort cooking.  I ordered the Blue Corn Pancakes which is a specialty of the house.  They were served with a yummy pecan and honey butter as well as maple syrup. Yes, the pancakes are blue and they have a nice little crunch to them with the corn meal. It was a fun variation on a pancake and I loved the pecan honey butter.  My husband enjoyed a nice egg scramble with fresh fruit.  If you go for lunch I understand their burgers are the best!  They serve breakfast all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

I loved the retro counter.  There is just something about a restaurant with a counter.  It reminds me of my high school days and going to the lunch counter at Woolworths downtown on our lunch hour.

Definitely give Byways Cafe a try and enjoy stepping back into time for an hour or so while enjoying some good food.

Out to Lunch}Blueplate Counter

As promised, today I am sharing one more great Portland grilled cheese sandwich location.

First we had the food cart, The Grilled Cheese Grill.

Then there was the more upscale grilled cheese sandwich at Paragon.

Today’s featured grilled cheese sandwich location falls in between the food cart and the upscale Pearl District restaurant – it’s a lunch counter!  A real life, old fashioned lunch counter and soda fountain – Blue Plate Lunch Counter and Soda Fountain located in downtown Portland at 308 SW Washington Street.

Blue Plate has been featured on Diners,  Drive-ins and Dives.  Blue Plate is only open for lunch from 11 – to 5, so go for lunch or an early dinner.  It is a popular lunchtime spot for the downtown working crowd.

Housed in a former department store there are lots of fun architectural details to give the place some character.

The menu is limited but when it’s all good you don’t need a lot of choices.  Of course our first choice was the grilled cheese and tomato soup.  You have the option of adding bacon and tomato but we kept it pure. The tomato soup was wonderful and we licked the bowl on that one.

We also ordered some Northwest Sliders which came with a yummy basil spread and Tillamook cheese.  They also come with a side of mashed potatoes but we opted for a side salad.  The sliders were juicy and yummy and just the right size!

Both the grilled cheese and the sliders are regulars on the menu.  There are two specials each day too so check out the menu on their website.

There is also a great selection of soda fountain treats including some not so typical choices – vanilla honey sodas and the PR  Nelson Milkshake which is made of  huckleberry ice cream blended with the house made purple haze hibiscus syrup.  Next time we will go just for dessert!

And if that wasn’t enough for you – there is always the penny (10 cent) candy!

Enjoy a fun lunchtime experience downtown at Blueplate Lunch Counter and Soda Fountain!

Oregon Museum of Science & Industry {OMSI}

Located on the East side of the Willamette, OMSI was founded in 1944 and is one of the world’s leading science museums.  It is also home of the Pacific Northwest’s largest planetarium.  With 219,000 square feet of science at your fingertips the museum offers educational fun for the whole family.  Something I am embarrassed to admit I didn’t know about OMSI is that they are completely non-profit.  Committed to educating the public about science and technology, and completely dependent on financial support from you and me!  I hope you’ll put the family in the van on a rainy day this season and show your support for this amazing institution.  For more information on purchasing a membership, hours and exhibits please visit them here.

Tom McCall Waterfront Fountain

The Tom McCall waterfront park is the product of a task force compiled by Gov. Tom McCAll in 1968 to created a public open space in place of what was then, Harbor Drive.  In 1974 construction began and the park was completed by 1984 and named Governor Ton McCall Waterfront Park.

Today it is a site for tourists and a cool place to play on a summer day.  With a stunning display of water, the fountain is the centerpiece of the park.  Spending just a few minutes observing children play on a hot summer day, one can’t help but get caught up in the energy that runs through Portland.

On any given summer day you will also find plenty of vendors ranging from signature Portland eats, cycle carts, rock climbing, and tie-dye T-shirts.

Portland Central Library

The Portland Central Library is located in one of the cities most charming buildings.  Built in 1903 and designed by A.E. Doyle, this Georgian Revival edifice is a jewel that should not be overlooked!  With more than 17 miles of shelves, the Central Library is an adventure waiting to happen.  Plan to spend time exploring more than just the 2 million items available for checkout.  Take time to discover the stunning ceilings, windows and architectural details that make this library so unique.

801 SW 10th, Portland