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    Cafe Nell

    3.4 (762 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Cafe Nell Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE NELL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Nell

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    Allison M.

    Went for a work lunch. The staff was super friendly but the food and drinks were unremarkable. I would recommend going elsewhere. It's nice they take reservations.

    Heather O.

    My family took me to Café Nell this past weekend for my birthday, and we had an absolutely wonderful time! The food was delicious, the drinks were fantastic, and the ambiance was super chill--perfect for a celebration. Our server, Michael, was amazing--attentive, friendly, and kept us laughing throughout the evening. Even my teenage niece and nephew said they had a good time (and if you know teens, you know that's high praise!). I obviously feel the same as I am not a review person and here I am yelping. We'll definitely be back!

    Emma B.

    always love this place! amazing happy hour, great service, good food! it is such a darling place for date night or brunch!

    Keizzel C.

    Cool corner brunch spot to enjoy a meal when you're in the area. I was honestly surprised at how much space this restaurant has because they have the indoor dining area, sidewalk space, and even a back covered patio. I made reservations in advance but you probably could be okay for brunch without a reservation given the large space. I enjoyed the back area because you could enjoy the sun under some space heaters. It gave some Parisian vibes. As for the menu they have your classic brunch items like benedicts but also some new items like stuffed avocado. The menu felt generally healthy options and I liked how you could get half orders of the benedits. I ended up getting the crab benedict on a biscuit which is a twist but enjoyed it. The biscuit was fluffy and paired well with the crab cake and soaked up the sauce. I was interested in some other items but would also be keen to check it out for dinner to try their other options.

    Polenta Root Vegetable Ragu $10
    Ben C.

    Whether inside or out, the Euro neighborhood vibe is parfaite for brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks, etc. Dinner inside for an intimate date nite, sunny brunch outside to start the weekend. Either setting is so relaxing. Service is a little Frenchie too ~ poised & professional yet always attentive and truly visible they take pride in their work. Food is always tasty and the variety on the menu makes an interesting outing for the taste buds. A PDX favorite.

    Fries
    Charlie T.

    It's been a while since I visited this place. I liked that they have a great outdoor seating area that's covered. I had the French Dip and a side of fries. I enjoyed the beef from the sandwich, and the dip made the meat better. The fries were off good size to share with another person. Overall, it was a good place to go to, and i would go back for happy hour.

    Kailani S.

    First time trying this spot. Someone on the Nextdoor app recommended this place. Cute restaurant, glad we came to try it out. The way it's set up outdoor and indoors is nice. Bar area, restaurant seating area separated. We sat outside next to the heater lamp they had. ‍ the food was tasty, my friend and I ordered the chicken paillard, and my other friend ordered a burger. Drinks were good. Service was great, all of them. Bathrooms are small but cute. Great location, parking is horrible though. For my chicken dish, and two martinis I think came to $50-$55.

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    7 months ago

    We went for brunch and it was AMAZING!! We sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air. Service was great. We will be back.

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    Page 1 of 20

    Ask the Community - Cafe Nell

    Is Brunch kid friendly?

    Yes, it is child and dog friendly

    What is the purpose of the separate "tip" and "house tip" lines on the bill? Our party included people who have worked in hospitality and none of us quite understood -- just don't want to be undertipping!

    We both currently work in the restaurant industry and this is a way to tip the back of house. In Portland it's pretty common for the service staff to tip out the kitchen on top of what they tip bussers and host staff. Last time we went to Nell we… Read more

    It's getting cold! Brrrr, will there be heat lamps outside?

    Yes, we have lots of heat. And even more on the way!

    How late is brunch served on sundays?

    I believe until 3pm. We asked why they didn't have the hours posted on their website and our server explained to us that their web designer left and they don't know how to update it.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Terra Mae - Dumplings

    Terra Mae

    4.5(145 reviews)
    2.8 miKing, Northeast Portland

    This is my second time booking at Terra Mae for a special event. I booked online and got a…read morereservation at the time I wanted. I put in a special note regarding the event for my party. When we arrived, the staff made us feel welcome by bringing my guest a drink on the house for their retirement celebration. I knew the menu but tried some new things! We shared everything. My favorite item I have to order each time is the Tuna Tartar. Its favors are rich but delicate. The presentation is perfect and my guest was impressed. I got the dumplings for her but if I had to skip something I'd do those. They were good but compared to all the other items we had, they were lacking. The only thing not pictured is our wagu braised with sweet potato. That was phenomenal. It pulled apart and melted in your mouth with every bite. We ended with two very different deserts, the strawberry mochi and whipped crem brûlée type desert. Both were tasty. Price range for all plus three alcoholic drinks was $165 not including tip. We were full and happy. Great service as always and it was full, busy house tonight inside the place. I wouldn't change anything other than trying some new things next time to add!

    Came on a double date, and had made a reservation in advance which I would recommend because it was…read morea full house on a week night. My favorite items of the visit were the sake selection, the whole fried snapper (best bite - amazing), the tuna tartare with furikake chips and caviar, and the super tender beef cheek. The mushroom small plate was also pretty good! I didn't like as much the milk buns, they were just ok and I only liked 1 (rooftop grown chive) of the 3 butter shmears it came with. Wasn't woth $6 per bun. While it was a quality cut of meat, the Snake River Wagyu steak dish needed salt and the sauce below it wasn't as flavorful. Perhaps needed cracked black peppercorn, or something to punch up that flavor. I wasn't as impressed with the octopus salad either. Very scant thin tiny octopus slices on top salad greens with lots of sliced raw bell peppers. You'd think it should be called a bell pepper salad with the amount it had in it, instead of the hard-to-find octopus! I couldn't detect a flavor note of the dressing either. Other dishes we tried were lobster bao buns and the seared scallop on jalepeno grits... they were ok but lacked a little flavor. I could not taste the jalepeno on the scallop dish, and the lobster slices were fairly scant and not very succulent. We split the strawberry mochi cake for dessert and it was fun that they added Pop Rocks on top, but the mochi was too tough and dense. A chiffon cake or something light would've been a nicer alternative to end a rich dinner. Service was excellent, and each person who spoke to us or delivered a dish was beautiful & friendly. Be prepared to share dishes when you come here, about 2/3 per person. Prices are on the higher side but I think it matches with the sophisticated ambiance and quality of food. Lots of free parking in the Cascadia parking lot just outside. Will likely come again down the road, for a date night.

    Photos
    Terra Mae - Bar area

    Bar area

    Terra Mae - Sunomono

    Sunomono

    Terra Mae - Old fashioned

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    Old fashioned

    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Charcuterie and cheese board

    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge

    4.4(1k reviews)
    0.6 miPearl District
    $$

    To speak about Teardrop Lounge, I should probably start with this:…read more Ladies and gentlemen, I present my favorite cocktail bar. Not the best -- I'm not arrogant enough to claim that. I haven't been to every cocktail bar in Portland, and saying something is the best usually says more about your lack of experience than your conviction. But favorite? That I can stand behind. And I want to get that out of the way early, because of the amount of praise I'm about to pour on this place -- fully earned, completely intentional. The biggest crime here is that I only discovered it two weeks ago, after living in Portland for a year. It had been recommended to me countless times, and I ignored it. A mistake. A painful one. But now that I've found it, I don't plan on making that mistake again. I'm not typically an Old Fashioned drinker. In fact, I usually hate them. But somewhere between curiosity and too many episodes of Mad Men, I decided to try one anyway -- fully expecting to confirm my bias. Instead, it completely flipped me. Bright, almost citrus-forward in a way that felt unusual but entirely intentional. Balanced, smooth, just enough burn to remind you what you're drinking without overwhelming it. It was the first time I actually understood the appeal. I'm pretty sure I grew a few chest hairs that night. That alone would've been impressive. But it didn't stop there. The space is beautiful -- clean, intentional, but not cold. The staff are excellent: personable, engaged, and most importantly, authentic. Not scripted, not performative. The kind of people you actually want to talk to, and hopefully, eventually be on a first-name basis with. Now, all of that gets it close to a perfect score. But what pushes it over the edge -- what makes this place stick -- is the White Russian. One of the first drinks I ever had. My dad's drink. Not because of The Big Lebowski -- that came later -- but because it's just always been his thing. And at some point, it became mine too. Typically, when bars try to "elevate" a White Russian, they ruin it. They overthink it. Swap ingredients, tweak ratios, add unnecessary flair. And more often than not, it ends in disappointment. Teardrop does the opposite. They respect it -- but refine it. The coffee liqueur actually tastes like coffee. The heavy cream is properly integrated, not just dumped on top. The vodka -- whatever they're using -- is clean, present, and perfectly measured. There's a subtle complexity to it without losing what makes the drink what it is. It's the best White Russian I've ever had. No hesitation. I've gone back twice just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. It wasn't. If someone asked me what my death row drink would be -- this specific cocktail, from this specific bar, is in the conversation. Easily. Teardrop Lounge doesn't just make great cocktails. It reminds you why cocktails matter in the first place. And that's why it's my favorite.

    We came to Teardrop Cocktail Lounge while visiting Portland and were genuinely impressed…read more The cocktails were excellent -- thoughtful, well-balanced, and clearly made by people who know what they're doing. One of the best parts was how approachable the bartenders were. We asked for custom drinks based on our preferences, and both came out perfectly tailored. Creative without being weird, and strong without being sloppy. What really stood out was the price point. For the quality of cocktails, the prices felt very reasonable compared to similar craft cocktail bars in other cities. The vibe was also great -- relaxed, cozy, and not pretentious. It felt like a place where you could come for a special drink experience without feeling like you had to "perform" or order off a rigid menu. We liked it so much we actually came back a second time during our trip. Highly recommend if you're into well-crafted cocktails, friendly bartenders, and a laid-back but elevated atmosphere.

    Photos
    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Custom Created cocktails by the mixologist!

    Custom Created cocktails by the mixologist!

    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Filthy Vodka Martini from the local Timber Line distillery.

    Filthy Vodka Martini from the local Timber Line distillery.

    Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Late check out and Saturn cocktail drinks

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    Late check out and Saturn cocktail drinks

    Alma - Grilled octopus

    Alma

    4.4(29 reviews)
    2.6 miKing, Northeast Portland

    Great service, tasty food. We ordered from the happy hour menu (4:30 - 5:30 pm) and everything we…read moreordered was super tasty. My favorites were the cauliflower and the cepavi, which are 5 little meat sausages, raw onion, bread and a garlic aioli-like sauce. Also ordered the baba ganoush and fried calamari. Beautiful space.

    Don't have much experience w/ high end fancy Turkish/middle eastern cuisine much but I do think…read morethis place is worth treating urself to at least once. It is small portions and higher prices, but very tasty & worth it. The lamb kebab might've been the best or 2nd best lamb ive ever tried: perfectly seasoned and juicy. Served w/ a thin small lavash wrap, pickled onions and a little dollop of garlic sauce for dipping, keeping the other ingredients minimal to really let the meat shine. Yellow rice is tasty but expensive for $6 for a small bowl, however is still a must have side w/ kebab. The grilled octopus was also soft w/ nice char and served on a bed of some fresh chickpea/yogurt/herbs succotash. The lamb shank served on a bed of baba ganoush was very rich & tender tho it was definitely not a full shank if that's what you're expecting, it's just a little bit of the deboned meat. The clams and dessert were ok, nothing really else to say. **InKind has an offer for $30 off bill of $100 or more! I was able to download the app and use the discount in the store.

    Photos
    Alma - Dining area

    Dining area

    Alma - Kanpachi Crudo

    Kanpachi Crudo

    Alma - Bread

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    Bread

    Sad Valley - Delicious carne asada tacos from Taco Tuesday.

    Sad Valley

    4.3(47 reviews)
    2.4 miHumboldt, North Portland

    My favorite bar. The drinks are perfect, the food is great and the vibes are immaculate.read more

    Came here the other day for lunch and I'm already planning my return!…read more What acute unique " lively " place!! (Saying this for the coffin) Came in on a rainy day, the person behind the bar gave us menus and let us sit where we wanted to. The booths are so retro and cute also extremely clean! I definitely want to come back and make some photo content the place is so unique and fun to look at. When we were ready to order, we walked up to the bar. I forgot what burger it was, but had faithful in the name ordered our drinks. They made our drinks right then in there and we sat down with a number on our table. Although it was a slower day that food came out so quick and it was hot, you can tell it was made of fresh to order. The burger tasted very charbroiled. Also enjoyed that the fries had a lot of seasonings. I'm a girl who loves ketchup and I was able to eat these fries dry. Very tasty meal! Thank you who ever made that I enjoy the unique menu and fun names for everything that gets me. Excited about coming back again! Definitely want to try those slushees! Just wait for my wallet to get some meat on her and I'll be in!!! Take a trip to sad valley

    Photos
    Sad Valley - 11/17/2025 - Fabulous, even on a Monday! There's something fun mounted to every wall!

    11/17/2025 - Fabulous, even on a Monday! There's something fun mounted to every wall!

    Sad Valley - The "Faith Healer" burger that filled every seat for a week straight. Now permanently on the menu.

    The "Faith Healer" burger that filled every seat for a week straight. Now permanently on the menu.

    Sad Valley - Bought a mystery bags from vending machine in the back

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    Bought a mystery bags from vending machine in the back

    Cafe Nell - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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