Great place, good food, reasonable prices huge portions enough to share good food

The staff were friendly, welcoming and I enjoyed the small talk. You get large portions, but the food was too bland. The biscuits and gravy was a big no for me - the biscuit was doughy and the gravy looked and tasted uncooked as if it was poured directly from a large can. We picked thru most of our meals, and I definitely didn't want to go boxes. The lady was so nice and she offered to go boxes, I felt kinda bad for leaving nearly three 1/2 eaten meals on the table so I bagged it up. It seemed others in the restaurant were enjoying their meals. It wasn't for me. read more

The food portion and quality is excellent. The service is tentative and professional. The atmosphere is has a low key casual look and feel. Don't take my word for it. Come on in and try it for yourself. Whereas, your experience may vary. I strongly feel I will be a regular in the near future. read more

Outstanding service, food and the staff is so friendly. I had a craving for buttermilk pancakes and they came through for me. This is my second time in. I'm in town visiting family, and this place is great for comfort food. read more

Plainsman restaurant has an old school vibe, with good food and good service. Definitely worth a try.

I wish there was a way to give this place NO STARS. I count this very short experience on my list of WORST customer service experiences in my adult life. I was out with my mum and my preschooler daughter as we were looking for a quick lunch on a Sunday afternoon. I should have been tipped off by the lack of recognition after we walked in, as well as no signs to seat yourself, either. staff could clearly see us, yet it was a customer that had to inform us we seat ourselves. Once we seated ourselves, a server IMMEDIATELY came over to tell us we could not park in the parking lot. No joke! read more

This was our first time eating here but it won't be our last! The service was friendly and speedy. The food excellent! Chicken fried steak and mushroom /cheese omelette and pancakes with berry syrup- so yummy! Thank you! read more

Unfortunately this place has gone the wrong direction since changing their hours. I've been going here for 20 years and have always enjoyed it. Went in today for our normal chicken salad and side of fries. I'll just say I was very disappointed with what we received. We always try and support our local restaurants but unfortunately we are finding it harder to continue to support this one. Come on Plainsman, get back to the plainsman from a few years back. read more

What a quaint little place. Went for breakfast while my wife was in surgery. Nice people and good food.

Such a great breakfast spot, amazing food, huge portions, great prices and such sweet servers. And they stay on top of it making sure your water is filler, clearing plates. Found our new favorite breakfast spot read more

First might I say that I was server for over 20 years. The first thing the waitress told me and my husband is that the waitresses are tired and do not want to work anymore. She almost mentioned that she came from jollies restaurant and worked at her parents restaurant before that. She was very negative about working. My husband ordered the breakfast prime rib special and he liked the prime rib but the rest of the food was mediocre. I ordered the polish sausage breakfast special and the Polish sausage and hash browns were extremely greasy. No taste other than grease so I didn't eat it and with the waitress being so negative in beginning, I didn't feel that it would be beneficial to tell her about the terrible food. I have been going to this establishment for over 40 years and last time we went there were ants crawling on the table and my dinner salad was old lettuce and that was a few months ago. Thought we would try the restaurant again and decided we probably won't be back. Sad to say but all good things must come to an end. Maybe it's time for them to retire.... read more

I love grabbing breakfast/ brunch here on the weekends. The service is great and quick. The staff here is extremely welcoming and friendly , you immediately get this welcoming warm vibe of a neighborhood family restaurant.ni definitely recommend coming here for a simple brunch with your family and kids are welcome! read more

Good food... but prices are WAY more than the menus listed here. A SODA IS 4.10!!! Service is friendly. Food is always good. read more

We stumbled on this diamond in the rough. We had been out all morning looking at apartments in the Vancouver area. We were early for the next tour and needed to eat. The Plainsman reminded me of family diners/restaurants of yester year with appropriate decor. The service was great. I wish I remembered her name. Both of our meals were excellent. I am so glad that we were able to get into the complex that we did. Plainsman is just about walking distance. I am going back to Vancouver next week for job interviews. I will definitely be visiting at least once or twice or thrice. read more

I'm happy to report after subsequent visits, the Plainsman is due a review update and additional stars! It's a small hole-in-the-wall type diner with a lot of friendly regulars that know each other and the staff is very nice and a lot of fun. Solid diner coffee and good breakfast options...their breakfast menu offers a lot more than I expected for such a small place. And they have a specials board above the kitchen window, so don't forget to check that out when you walk in. Everything I've tried there for breakfast (after our first visit) has been spot-on and very good. They make their own white bread, too, which makes for some delicious thick French Toast! The portions are generous and some items you can get a half-order like with the French Toast, which is nice. They're open for lunch and dinner as well, but we haven't made it over there for those meals yet...but will definitely get around to it. I noticed some mighty fine looking homemade pies on the counter on my last visit, too, so it looks like a good option if you are just in the mood for some coffee & pie, too. read more

Love the food...love the service...love the location. Can't say enough about this great family style restaurant. Never disappointed!

For my friends birthday we went for a breakfast just after they opened. We all ordered the chicken fried steak and it was outstanding. It came with 2 eggs, hash browns and homemade toast, or three pancakes! The toast is homemade bread and the jam included with it was delightful. The gravy on the steak was amazing with bits of sausage in it. Our waitress was very kind, attentive and fast! Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This is the spot to come if you're looking for something low key with delicious simple food. They definitely don't skimp on the portions either, we were SO STUFFED after. read more

Great spot for a quick and delicious breakfast. Enjoyed the atmosphere as much as the food!

Finally, my quest for the best greasy spoon in Vancouver is over! You won't find a better breakfast in Vancouver than at the Plainsman. That is coming from someone who has traveled all over the US looking for greasy spoons - this one is one of my favorites. It's small, but has bar seating and big booths which are comfortable. They also make homemade bread and it's fantastic! Portions are HUGE as well, even the half orders. I had a Denver omelette and a side of French toast. The hash browns, which came with my omelette, were perfectly crispy and delicious. The portions of ingredients in the omelette were absolutely perfect and everything was cooked exactly enough. The flavors in the omelette were outstanding! Now, I'm not normally a big French roast person but when I saw they make their bread I had to try it. I'm a convert and I will always order French toast when I go back to the Plainsman! It was deliciously crisp on the outside; very buttery and with a hint of cinnamon which was exactly the right amount. Even as a half order it came with a side of peaches, which I thought was a nice touch. My husband has the corned beef hash and he managed to eat the whole thing. No idea how he did it. He agreed with me that this place is the best in Vancouver. We have very high standards for diners (lol) and I can't say enough good things about the Plainsman. When we got home, we immediately went into a food coma and took a three hour nap. Service was also very friendly and multiple people were around making sure our coffee and water never ran out. They were great people. The only thing I will say about this diner is that the coffee was really weak. That's not going to stop me from going but I wish they brewed it a little stronger. I will update when I return if it turns out it was just a bad brew. I'm in love! read more

See all

It's been about 10 years since I was here last. It still looks the same. Such nice friendly waitresses there. The people who come here are locals who have been coming here for years. I got the chicken fried steak with their homemade bread. My breakfast was really good and the chicken fried steak was not very greasy at all. The bread they serve it was delicious too. I will be sure to make it back here again. read more

Plainsman Restaurant - Chicken Fried Steak and eggs. - American Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

The food was too delicious I didn't get a picture of the before! I just landed here from San Jose, CA and stumbled into this lovely restaurant. The service we received from our waitress was amazing and we left with our tummies very happy. Thank you so much! read more

Plainsman Restaurant - French Toast, Bacon & Eggs - American Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

This has become one of our favorite places! We tried it for the first time not too longer after moving into the neighborhood and we've been back nearly every weekend!! It's the closest I can get to Waffle House out here on the west coast. The breakfast is literally amazing. The homemade bread makes excellent toast and even better French toast. Overall, nothing fancy, just awesome servers and home style cooking. read more

I live within blocks of this restaurant, so it was always a possibility. But each time, more disappointed. Finally, last Sunday we stopped in and waited 40 minutes for anyone to take our order at the counter bar! Then one full hour later i asked to make our order to go. Waitress pulled ticket from wheel and said, it is not even on the grill yet. So, I said cancel the order. We paid for the decaf coffee my friend had but no one ever asked me what i wanted to drink. SAD SO DAMN SAD. The place is not that big, (approx. 50 guests possible) with three or four wait staff running around like chickens. 2 - 3 cooks in kitchen.! This place has such great potential, but honestly, they need an expert in organization. Sad, very Sad. Lots of Gravy and Biscuits but lots of high prices as well. Lots of parking. Frankly the place is dirty. read more

The food is large and decent. Nothing to write home about but it'll fill you up. We've ordered it to go a couple times and were happy.

100% best breakfast in Vancouver, by far best French toast, made with their homemade toast. Chicken fried steak was incredible with homemade gravy. Service was great- it's clear why they've been in business so long. We will definitely be back! read more

Plainsman Restaurant - Chicken fried steak - American Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Delicious food for a decent price. Me and my husband both enjoyed our breakfast/lunch. If you want a cozy spot to enjoy a nice meal I'd recommend this place. I'm just upset I've lived here for 2 years and just found this spot less than 5 minutes from our home read more

I have eaten there for many years my ex and I went every Saturday for breakfast, always great food great service. I actually recommend this resteraunt to friends strangers and anyone that asks if I know a decent place to.eat. read more

Instead short jail stays police could effectively motivate criminals by threatening to force them to eat here. Food was mostly bland, falling apart with a scary hint of something I couldn't put my finger on (mold?). Never again. read more

I'll start this out by saying that even though this place has such a high star rating, I've learned my lesson. A 4 or 5 star in Vancouver is maybe a 2-3 star in Portland. Case in point, people. Upon entering through the back door I wondered if I was going to wind up in the kitchen or if the door I went through was even allowed for guests. It was, but most people probably wonder the same thing when they go in for the first time. You will probably love this place if: Your name is Pat or Larry or Barbara You have diabeetus You have been smoking for 40 years and carry portable oxygen You have a lifelong career as a trucker You play bingo every Thursday You haven't been on a date since Steve Perry was the lead singer for Journey You think going to a bar is the same thing as hanging out in the "lounge" at Elmer's You totally dig cheap native american art depicting wolves howling at the moon **bonus points if you have a matching tattoo of wolf howling at moon So to sum things up, this place is great for most of the elderly Vancouver population. Now I will give the pace a little credit. All of the food was cooked properly. What it lacked, however, was flavor or seasonings of any kind. Also, of course no vegetarian or healthy options, but this is not the kind of place you'd go for that. Seriously if you are in the couve and want this kind of food go to Elmer's, you'll be much happier. read more

Plainsman Restaurant - Typical redneck Vancouver artwork hanging on the walls - American Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Went again to this place a few months back and one of the servers was hella rude to my lady. But hey if you like rude ppl with pretty good breakfast then here ya go read more

Solid diner serving the neighborhood for 50 years. But our first time here and I brought Dad since he's likes the nostalgia. Good size menu. Scrambled eggs were good as were the hash browns. Chicken fried steak was above average, with slightly above average gravy. I prefer my gravy to have more meat in it, but it was tasty. After having it once, I'd explore the menu next time. Dad's pancake were good size and tasty with maple and marionberry syrup offered. Coffee was warm as was the service. So very nice. I'd come again. read more

Judge a book by it's cover. The Plainsman has been here for years and there is good reason why. It is consistent and well priced. It is the kind of place your grandparents probably would (and do) go to. Traditional American breakfast/lunch/dinner all for a fair price. Service speed varies depending on how busy they will be, but I have found it to be reasonable enough. The homemade bread/toast is quite good and recommend for any breakfast and a nice little addition to your experience. Check the specials on the board when you come in as they always offer a nice variety and price. The Plainsman is a nice standby for your breakfast needs. You will find no creme freche or Greek yogurt. This is a place better suited to a glob of sour creme and gravy. read more

See all

I worked here several years ago. The food is exactly the same from 10 plus years ago. Tasty. They bake their own turkeys, homemade soups, homemade bread, homemade pies. The servers are all very attentive and nice and knowledgable about the menu. I like the salad with ranch and seeds, basic, but the lettuce is always crispy and something about the ranch... Delicious. I like the hot turkey sandwich and I always order hashbrowns at breakfast, grated from whole potatoes. Rare! They have an excellent and affordable prime rib on Friday nights. I came in on a Saturday and had my french dip made form the prime rib, so good! A Vancouver staple I am still proud to dine in. Kudos!- read more

Fresh fried taters...delish! Asked for crispy and they were perfect! Biscuits were fresh under ample gravy! Not an old biscuit like some places or nuked!! Bacon was tasty and cooked perfectly crispy. And the service was top notch...my coffee cup was always getting attention! My first time here because Covid...but I will be back soon to try their pancakes! read more

3.75 out of 5. Ate here after reading a review in the local paper, The Columbian. It looks 'iffy' from the outside, but it serves up a good, decent priced meal on the inside. We'll be back. read more

Worlds greatest Cole Slaw! Bar none! That's it for now I'm waiting for my chili burger but the Slaw was worthy all by itself for my number one vote of : WORLDS BEST COLE SLAW IN THE UNIVERSE ! read more

We have been coming here from out of town for 4 years. This restaurant is a throwback to the old days where customer service was a priority. The quality of the homemade menu far exceeds that of national chain restaurants. Highly recommend this restaurant as a must stop. read more

It's not bad but nothing to write home about. I went with biscuits and gravy because it's one of my favs. Biscuit was fluffy but gravy was bland. Eggs were cooked well and bacon was done nicely. I would come back but not get the biscuits and gravy. :) read more

Plainsman Restaurant - Biscuits and gravy. - American Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

Awesome people ! Good food at reasonable prices, great quality and bang for the buck. Big hit with local AARP set, which makes for a homey Mel's Diner type vibe. Ordered the prime rib special 5:30 On a Friday night, came with scratch made garlic bread, a 10 oz center cut hunk of meat. Ordered it medium rare with a baked potato and an ice tea. Everything was awesome and arrived in 13 minutes! $19.00 plus tax totally worth it. read more

Plainsman Restaurant - American Near Me - Vancouver, Washington

See all