CAFE NELL

Great space but one of the more disappointing experiences I've had. The menu looks solid and food presentation was great. But its execution and the price it comes at with the slow service makes this a pass. Puffed scallop pastry was really good. Best thing we ate. Pesto pasta was also pretty good. But the chicken was over salted, the $4 shrimp (each) were also underwhelming, vegan risotto was over salted as well. Crab butter salad was portioned as a side salad but was fresh and vibrant. Side bread was cold, tough and not worth serving other than to fill a belly after a $190 dinner.

While visiting Portland, I went to Cafe Nell to try another breakfast place. The waitress suggested the shrimp and grits, being a local favorite that usually runs out. I have to say it was amazing flavors and matched what my palate was looking for. Great service and good atmosphere. You have to stop by

Delicious! Beautiful restaurant, good food and good service. I got the omelette and it was perfect. It’s great to have this spot in the neighborhood, will definitely be back Dinner update: Wonderful happy hour! We got a salad, two entrees, appetizer, 3 cocktails and decaf coffee for the mean price of $71, this is a perfect spot for a date night. Relaxing atmosphere with the fire, especially in the winter, and everything was delicious again! The bolognese is amazing, I recommend it for sure. Once again we’ll be back 🫶🏼

We had a reservation here for Mother’s Day for 5 people for 11am for a buffet brunch, and we did not get seated until 11:22a. The food is not worth $50 per person they are charging. They couldn’t keep up with the demand. They seemed very unprepared. They ran out of waffle batter and they had to send someone to the store to get more. It took an hour and half for the waffles we ordered. The food is cold. Max and cheese and the pesto pasta is dry. Took them an hour to refill the bacon. I overheard staff that they don’t want to bring out the bacon until the sausage is almost gone as the refill of bacon comes with the sausage on the same tray. The server is nice but she forgot to bring our beverages for about 40 minutes. I’m disappointed in this brunch as we heard great things about nell cafe. She brought our check out at 12:20p after only being there for an hour. It wasn’t enough time for us to enjoy the food as many of the food are out or cold. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE.

Went her today for Mother’s Day and would not wish that upon any mother. It was a buffet with a great menu but the food was never stocked. We were there for 2 hours and there was items that were empty when we got there and never got restocked. Our reservations were at 11 so there was no reason things should have been out when they were serving till 5. They ran out of waffle batter for over an hour! The food that was there seemed like it was just to get something out there. I mean they knew how many people would be eating as they were only serving reservations. Service had a 20% gratuity already added and service showed that they knew that. Meaning that the server never came by and seemed like we were a bother if we asked for anything. DO NOT RECOMMEND

What an utter fail. This was just a money grab. Ended up here for Mother's Day. This was not our choice, but, I should have known, when we arrived, they told us to help ourselves. I asked if we could order off their regular menu. I was told it was buffet only 😖☹️. With an automatic 20% gratuity, it was $60 per person for just food. It was a bunch of slop. The place needs a total refresh. Everything from the food and the build out was tired. This place is way past its prime. We left hungry and felt robbed.

Or visit to Café Nell was fortuitous, as the nearby restaurant we'd planned on checking out was unceremoniously closed during their posted operating hours (both online and terrestrial), for some unknown reason. We looked for something similar in the neighborhood, and this classy little bistro jumped out at us, having both an intriguing brunch menu and an adorable aesthetic. Upon arrival, and lacking a reservation, we were informed that the only available tables were inside (awesome!), and were seated immediately. Pleasantly surprised to see a variant of one of my favorite cocktails (the Rusty Nail) on the drink menu, I ordered the Kentucky Nail to go with my chicken paillard, while my wife ordered the French 75, a sort of sparkling lemon gimlet, along with the shrimp and grits; I'm still flabbergasted that she didn't order the Dungeness crab mac & cheese! In both cases, the entrées were incredible; the shrimp and grits, an elevated home-cookin' comfort classic, hit all the right notes. Meanwhile, the chicken paillard was a complex amalgam of savory, sweet and sour, unified by the acerbic mustard vinaigrette dressing drizzled over both greens and fowl, it's only weakness being there wasn't enough of it. This would be my only complaint about our dining experience here: without the presence of an included side dish, this otherwise exemplary dish seemed a little exorbitantly priced for the size of the portion, yet not enough to be a detraction. Still, those with larger appetites should plan, and order, accordingly. As gorgeous as the covered outdoor seating is, especially as it was on the warm Sunday morning in which we visited, the interior décor is no slouch, with its upscale-diner-meets-Parisian-boutique vibe. It's cute, cozy, and intimate, particularly after sunset, when the lighting manifests a moodier, duskier, more sultry ambiance. Perfect for a date night! Portioning and pricing taken into consideration, a meal at Café Nell is still a worthwhile experience. They do things differently enough to stand out among their competitors, offering some truly incredible dishes, uncommonly great (and uncommonly encountered) cocktails, and stellar service, all packaged together in a charming little corner space that wouldn't seem out of place in any of the 20 Parisian arrondissements...which is saying something, because this is ostensibly an American café. When you can stand toe-to-toe with the culinary colossus that is French cuisine and culture, you're doing something VERY right.

I sat outside with a lovely group of women friends. We enjoyed the ambience (the weather was perfect which always helps!). Our waiter was attentive, and unfortunately I forgot his name. The Happy Hour menu was good for small bites (had a small chicken empanada) and the Martinis (had two) were small but packed a punch! I would go there again.

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.

We were invited to get brunch at this place. The place looks nice. But im very angry for what I paid for. They should be embarrassed..I'm embarrassed for this place. Everything is overpriced, and very small portions. (Kid portion) Every dish is $20+ 3 pancakes, didn't come with eggs or potatoes. Huevo ranchos. There were 2 tortillas with sauce, a little bit of beans with 2 eggs on top. No seasoning, no other sides to go with it. Burger didn't come with fries. SAVE YOUR MONEY! I can't believe what we paid for this horrible experience. We all left hungry and angry. Go to Biscuits Cafe. You'll leave full and happy for what you paid for.

Went her today for Mother's Day and would not wish that upon any mother. It was a buffet with a great menu but the food was never stocked. We were there for 2 hours and there was items that were empty when we got there and never got restocked. Our reservations were at 11 so there was no reason things should have been out when they were serving till 5. They ran out of waffle batter for over an hour! The food that was there seemed like it was just to get something out there. I mean they knew how many people would be eating as they were only serving reservations. Service had a 20% gratuity already added and service showed that they knew that. Meaning that the server never came by and seemed like we were a bother if we asked for anything. DO NOT RECOMMEND

Their food is good. Really consistent, good menu for a group to share different items. However, the piece de resistance is their Mac and cheese. Once upon a time, I dated someone that had a Mac and cheese tattoo and was a self-professed Mac and cheese expert and addict. I'd like to think I'm a bit of a Mac and cheese expert myself, and this Mac and cheese beats out his favorite Mac and cheese. By far. Truly, I think it might be the best in the city.

Cafe Nell's burger used to be really good, and worth 20$, but it's not anymore. A nice bun doesn't hide what is inside...a thin, flat, tasteless, chewy and pre-made looking patty. If you are gonna charge 20$ for a burger, at least make it a hand crafted quality one.

Or visit to Café Nell was fortuitous, as the nearby restaurant we'd planned on checking out was unceremoniously closed during their posted operating hours (both online and terrestrial), for some unknown reason. We looked for something similar in the neighborhood, and this classy little bistro jumped out at us, having both an intriguing brunch menu and an adorable aesthetic. Upon arrival, and lacking a reservation, we were informed that the only available tables were inside (awesome!), and were seated immediately. Pleasantly surprised to see a variant of one of my favorite cocktails (the Rusty Nail) on the drink menu, I ordered the Kentucky Nail to go with my chicken paillard, while my wife ordered the French 75, a sort of sparkling lemon gimlet, along with the shrimp and grits; I'm still flabbergasted that she didn't order the Dungeness crab mac & cheese! In both cases, the entrées were incredible; the shrimp and grits, an elevated home-cookin' comfort classic, hit all the right notes. Meanwhile, the chicken paillard was a complex amalgam of savory, sweet and sour, unified by the acerbic mustard vinaigrette dressing drizzled over both greens and fowl, it's only weakness being there wasn't enough of it. This would be my only complaint about our dining experience here: without the presence of an included side dish, this otherwise exemplary dish seemed a little exorbitantly priced for the size of the portion, yet not enough to be a detraction. Still, those with larger appetites should plan, and order, accordingly. As gorgeous as the covered outdoor seating is, especially as it was on the warm Sunday morning in which we visited, the interior décor is no slouch, with its upscale-diner-meets-Parisian-boutique vibe. It's cute, cozy, and intimate, particularly after sunset, when the lighting manifests a moodier, duskier, more sultry ambiance. Perfect for a date night! Portioning and pricing taken into consideration, a meal at Café Nell is still a worthwhile experience. They do things differently enough to stand out among their competitors, offering some truly incredible dishes, uncommonly great (and uncommonly encountered) cocktails, and stellar service, all packaged together in a charming little corner space that wouldn't seem out of place in any of the 20 Parisian arrondissements...which is saying something, because this is ostensibly an American café. When you can stand toe-to-toe with the culinary colossus that is French cuisine and culture, you're doing something VERY right.

We went here during the Christmas weekend in 2021 and loved the brunch here, especially their french toast is a must!!!

Absolutely loved my brunch experience at Cafe Nell! The outdoor seating was perfect for a beautiful spring day. I started with an espresso martini that was absolutely delicious - definitely recommend it for anyone who likes coffee cocktails. For my meal, I went with the egg white and spinach omelet, which was light and flavorful. Overall, Cafe Nell is a great spot for a relaxed brunch with delicious food and a lovely outdoor space. I'd highly recommend checking it out!

The food is fantastic! The atmosphere feels international and fun! Really enjoyed the afternoon Paul Herman was playing outside...peaceful, easy, laidback...great way to finish off my day!

I recently returned to Café Nell to experience the $9 bartender brunch. Honestly, I have gone back and forth whether or not to post this review since... I am selfishly worried that there won't be space at the bar next time I go! TLDR; the $9 bartender brunch is perfect. Though the bar stools are not the most comfy in the world, the experience of chit-chatting with fellow diners and staff members is cozy. This restaurant section is less trafficked, so bring a book and get cozy! The bartender is very attentive, and they will keep your beverages full. As part of this price, you choose either a drip coffee or mimosa (with two fruit options), and a traditional American breakfast. You can expect two eggs any style, roasted potatoes, and either a biscuit or bread. I chose the biscuit... is there any other choice?! I also added bacon for more protein. After guzzling two drip coffees (rare for this espresso boy), I finished a book and went off into the day. I will certainly be back for brunch, and I am so glad to know that when dining alone, the $9 brunch is authentic to the quality and value of Café Nell. Is it time for Portland restaurants to battle for the best $9 brunch? I think so!

The Food, Staff, and ambiance were superb, so glad we decided to come here, and the outdoor seating was perfect!

Awesome happy hour all day Tuesday. Loves the Brussels sprouts, burger and fries. Cesar salad was just okay and same with the flatbread. I had a champagne cocktail and then a glass of the happy hour red. All and all a pretty decent happy hour and certainly wallet friendly. I will be back

The food was amazing as always, our server was knowledgeable and engaging, the place is is comfortable...not fancy, but very nice. We go here every chance we get!

We were on our bikes while we got the $5 rose email so decided to stop by. The host sat us outside and I preferred rose and my husband ordered a coffee. I told the host I wanted the steak Cesar salad.... fast forward 20 mins later our server came up and asked what do you want to ordered( wait I already preferred the salad... so I thought) anyhow had to order again. For $25 dollar steak Caesar salad I had some expectations. Salad came literally another 20 mins later, the few tiny pieces of steak were not medium rare more like all the way cooked, and the salad had zero flavor. We asked the server for salt, pepper and something spicy...... never came. I looked for the server we we could settle our check and sure he took the salad back and removed the charge but frankly I would have preferred a yummy salad. Needless to say. Our experience was quite bad. And will not come back.

We were seated immediately outside upon our arrival as we requested in our reservation. The space was nice and appeared clean. We ordered our food and had a long wait for it to arrive. The waiter apologized and said there was a large party in front of us. The food came but our drinks were either gone or ice melted and watered down. The omelette was the best thing we ordered. The huevos rancheros was small and was fairly plain tasting. The sausage scramble was decent sized but nothing special. The waiter did check on us as we were finishing our food. The food was not worth the cost We will continue to look for other brunch spots

Used to be one of my favorite spots until valentine day. A dinner with my dinner turned into watching two wave of other diners arrive, order, eat, and leave. We asked several times about our dinners and were told it would be our right away. Waited another hour and then we're getting ready to leave when they brought out a COLD oso bucco The manager comped two items off our $200 dinner bill however not worth the 2.5 hours spent waiting and looking at everyone else.

the shrimp and grits they have on the happy hour menu is one of the best things ive eaten in portland!!! thank you, cafe nell!

I had the Salmon and Apple Turnover - so f'n good! It's probably the best salmon I've had in years and the turnover was the perfect way to finish the night. I'd recommend this to anyone in the area.

Cozy and comfortable, this place delivered delightful service, meals and ambiance! There's a large fireplace inside to keep everyone warm, tasty drinks flowing from the bar, and delicious food leaving the kitchen and onto your tables. We had 3 appetizers and 7 dinners that were polished off our plates Thank you for a wonderful experience! Will definitely return here next time I'm in town! If you happen to be here, ask for Frank - fabulous server!

Came here for brunch. Really great service and strong mimosas. Food was presented well and delicious. I got the crab salad and was delighted by the meal. However I do wish the portions were a big larger for how much the dishes cost. Overall a cute brunch area especially with the outside seating during this summer weather.

I've been here several times over the years for brunch and dinner and have never been impressed. Mainly bc the food is just okay and the service is slow which is annoying bc it's pricey. What prompted this review was a dinner experience from earlier this week. First they were out of ingredients for a listed cocktail. Then they were out of crab cakes so couldn't get the appetizer or entree I wanted. The waiter recommended the linguini instead and honestly it was meh and $29. So food aside, the service was so slow and the waiter forgot my first drink and later forgot my friends drink. It took over 20 min to get the check which is crazy bc we were one of two tables in the dining room! At one point, our waiter was sitting with the other table and chatting. I just wanted to go home lol Anyways, with how expensive it all is, you'd think they'd have better service and ingredients on hand.....

Great menu, everything is amazingly delicious. The outdoor seating is lovely. The staff is a little standoff-ish at times.

Just an excellent cozy dinner at The Nell early eve last night. After a day at the Blues Fest we opted for a little fine dining instead of the food truck fare offered at The Blues. What an intimate tasty way to finish our day. We started out with some Hardy cocktails, very dry Martini, a very rusty nail and a couple of Hendricks. Being the responsible woman I stuck to a Chardonnay. Huh, wish I had any of the other options as they were exceptional. Anyways, I digress. The real star of last night was our main courses. Of course we did have a few oysters for apps first. But the mains were the highlights. Also, did I tell you how quiet it was there. Perfect for a foursome to actually get to have a fun conversation. So for the mains-all exceptionally savory, fresh and shall I say yummy? Crab salad, salmon green salad, pasta with clams, and pasta with pesto and I think sausage. ALL outstanding. Don't overlook this Oregon tradition nestled in the 23rd district. Parking was a snap and just a special place to dine with special friends. Wait staff was attentive and fast. Love this place, can you tell?

Ambiance is eclectic funky, a bit dated Service was fine and friendly Food was rather bland but not exactly bad. Bruschetta was barely toasted unfortunately. Winter veg was supposed to be in a walnut herb sauce. It was in a pesto sauce. Perhaps technically that's a walnut herb sauce, but not what was expected. The "charred polenta" was barely browned. Fries were bizarrely limp, soggy, and oily. Oh...and pretty danged pricey for what we got.

This was a really fun place for girls night! The inside of cafe is delightful and the menu was priced like happy hour. Also the waiter was very kind to a group of tipsy gals even after we accidentally broke a glass. Thank you!

I always pass Cafe Nell and think it looks so cute but it surprisingly always seems empty, maybe because I go by at odd hours. I finally decided to try it for brunch with my sister. It was completely empty inside and outside, odd for a Saturday, but we were able to snag a last minute Open Table reservation just in case. We waited 5 minutes for the hostess to arrive then got seated at a heated balcony spot. The decor and location definitely feels like a European cafe. The menu is a pretty basic, classic brunch and the prices seem exorbitant even with the ongoing inflation affecting restaurants everywhere. We were disappointed. My sister asked for a side car and was charged double digits for the small shot of baileys. While the food was good, the portions were small leaving us still hungry. The service was mediocre and our wallets took a big hit. Now I know why it was empty for weekend brunch! Cafe Nell has a lot of potential with its cute corner location but needs an improvement in service, a revamped menu that's more inline price wise. For now, I won't be returning as there's so many better brunch places to explore in Portland.

Average food, high prices, fancy decor. I got the blueberry french toast. The blueberry jam stuff on top was quite good. Nice pop of acidity, not too much, right amount of chunkiness. There was creamy lemon stuff on the plate too that was solid. The french toast itself though was definitely too soggy/mushy and that's the one thing you gotta get right with french toast. My girlfriend got the mac n cheese with crab. The cheese sauce was solid. The macaronis were cooked well I guess. Something about it wasn't satisfying though. Maybe the sauce wasn't thick enough. Maybe because it wasn't baked. I prefer baked mac n cheese. My girlfriend's mom got the veggie hash. It was fine, nothing notable. The decor felt very upper class and white tablecloth. To some people that's probably comforting and enjoyable but it wasn't for me. It felt stuffy.

Came here for Mother's Day and the experience was terrible. The buffet was always half empty, the carving station looked like feral cats had attacked it, the fruit was warm, and the service was non-existent. We normally enjoy a buffet for Mother's Day but we could have just gone to the local high school cafeteria and had a similar experience to what we had today. I had to apologize to the wife and will plan on taking her to a real restaurant to make up for it.

Bait & switch & and just stingy. Went for happy hour. Menu (inside & posted) says draft beers $5. But only Stella is available for happy hour. So we ordered a breakside for $8. Turned out to be only 12oz. We ordered fries $6 which were ok, but top few were good, rest of the cup was all small bits. Burger came with a tiny dot of aioli. Had to wait to get more. Fries came out late (1/2 way through our burger. Excuse: they hand cut them. I don't mind the prices, but don't like feeling like I'm beating cheated. Don't let the cool decor/setting draw you in.

Stopped by on a beautiful Monday afternoon in August just after 4 pm. Ample street parking, few patrons. We literally had the entire patio area to ourselves. No wait to be seated. Reservations are recommended but they do take walk-ins. Michael the waiter was friendly, responsive, knowledgeable on the menu items, and we got our water and drink orders quick. Wife ordered a Vieux Mot (gin, lemon, st. germain) but turned out to be too bitter for her liking. Stuck with good ol' top shelf margarita. For food, there are many great options. I had not had steak in a while so I went with the $32 Steak Frites which turned out good. Steak was just the right temperature and tender, however, fries were kinda burned - they type scrapped from the bottom of the oil pan Wife had the mussels and fries. Mussels were fishy - kinda going bad type of taste- not what we are used to. However, waiter said they got them same day...something was off with the mussels though. Overall, service, ambiance, background music and staff was good. Food was lacking for the reasons given above.

There is outside seating along the sidewalk, as well as an outdoor patio area (with a separate entrance), and indoor dining. Inside is quite small (probably why the additional seating outside), and the decor is old'ish. Food for brunch was quite good: highly recommend the crab mac and cheese - reasonably priced. The crabcake benedict was good, but at $35 for brunch a little more than I expected (should have gotten the dang mac and cheese!) Our server was really great - left us alone, but checked in here and there. The bar looks lively, albeit small. Check it out.

Excellent dinner at Cafe Nell. Service was amazing and our mushroom bruschetta, Beet salad and chicken fettuccine was DEVINE. We sat outside as a group under the white tent with charming white lights and a red-white striped canopy. Very special and highly recommend to all

Over promised, understaffed, and way underperformed on Mother's Day. I must start with prior to this day, I have enjoyed Cafe Nell's Happy Hour and even experienced a New Year's Eve dinner which was great. Below is my experience on Mother's Day, 2024 1. Reservations at 1115 seated at 1215 2. Not met by a server for ten minutes with no explanation of what to do or where to go. 3. Server comes tells us to walk out the restaurant down the corner to find the food. 4. Tin containers where scrambled eggs and bacon were empty. A cutting board holding a salmon carcass remained near the meat station. No salmon to be found. 5. On to the seafood station. No shrimp. No mussels. Two small bowls full of what appeared to be crab at some point. large bowls of what I assumed was at one point cocktail sauce - empty. 6. There was a waffle/omelette station with no worker to be found. 7. Salmon was brought out in this old transporting case which is what I have seen brought out to hospital patients when delivering Luke warm meals. When the cook placed the mess of a fish on the cutting board, it slopped out and just kind of melted. I was excited to eat this. I shouldn't have. The messy sloppiness came across in the bland taste to which I can only say, meh. 8. Gave multiple heads up to staff about the lack of food. Nothing was done. I asked a host who just simply said he would check on it and ran away. I noticed many other individuals with the same complaints. Especially families complaining of there wait times with reservations as we left. This was a tough experience. My wife suggested this restaurant and so we booked the reservation months in advance. We are happy that we will have a new experience to talk about with each other and laugh. So, thanks for that. We have spent a lot of money at this restaurant in the past as it's a great neighborhood restaurant with a bar. Hopefully this isn't a reflection of any new changes to management or kitchen staff and this experience was merely a one off. If any one is wondering, the wife took a nap, I took the kids to my folks,. I then made my wife a romantic Mother's Day dinner.

Great space and service with good food. The outdoor space is nice. Parking can be short, but it's Portland.

We visited the restaurant last week for the very first time. They have a decent happy hour, with a nice selection of items, and the food quality is excellent. My wife had a small salad and a burger, and I had a mushroom bruschetta followed by a pasta bolognese. Everything was tasty and the restaurant ambience was cozy, with a nice fire going nearby. I would've given five stars, but it's somewhat pricey for what you get. Even with a couple of drinks, our happy hour bill came to $94 -- before tip. Ouch!

I would probably describe Cafe Nell as just average as far as brunch is concerned. I made reservations for 10:15 on a Sunday morning recently and it took about 10 minutes to get seated - I think they were just short on staff which is no biggie...we all are and it's rough. As far as the food is concerned...horribly overpriced. I paid $16 for french toast with berry compote and creme fresh. It was two slices, and I had to order 2 pieces of bacon on the side for $5.50. Dayum! What?! As far as service is concerned the guy was great, so I don't have anything bad to say in that regard. Otherwise the actual restaurant is super cute. It gives Parisian vibes. Sit in the dining room (tent) if you can, otherwise it's a bit louder on the street.

Cafe Nell was a great find tucked into the NW Portland neighborhood. It has a great ambiance including a lovely outdoor dining area complete with heaters and shelter from the weather. The menU has many gluten free options. I enjoyed a Dungeness crab salad an an almond milk latte - both were superb. I will be back.

What a great place to have brunch! There is outdoors heated area, bar area, and patio like area. So cute! Must visit. Our waiter was amazing and was very attentive to our needs. The food was great. I would definitely come back. The ranchero was a good hit for me that morning. My friend loved her egg Benedict. To top it off the creme brûlée was yummy!

Mediocre food at an elevated price. Think of this place as a trying to be fancy Denny's. Outrageous prices for disappointing food. Atmosphere and service was fine but man. Way too expensive for the food that you get. Nothing wrong with the food but nothing to write home about either. The mascarpone pancake had an undercooked raw flour taste. The turkey burger was a turkey burger. The Nell burger was a burger with canalized onions; maybe needs some sauce added to give it a flair. The drinks were alright but man. Really disappointing iverall. The caliber of food did not match the price. 3 star food for a 5 star price.

One of my fav Portland brunch spots. Worth a try but be sure on a Saturday or Sunday to get a reservation may be turned away!

Incredibly medicore brunch. We had a late start on breakfast so we just walked to a spot on Google. Should've looked a bit further. I got the avacado shrimp and it was not memorable because it had no flavor. No spice to the shrimp so with the avacado it almost tasted like nothing. Definitely would not be high on our list to go back.

I recently went here for brunch and loved it. The food was AMAZING, especially the french toast. The service was outstanding. Our server went out of his way for us, and was extremely nice. We sat outside on their covered patio, which was pleasant. There is an option to open or close the window next to your table if you want to. The music was at a decent volume so that you can still enjoy it, but also be able to have a conversation without shouting or straining to hear. I can't say enough good things about the food and service we received. I will go back again and again :-)

I had heard great things about this place so thought of going there for brunch but I was highly disappointed in them. The good things about this place are that they take reservations which is quite rare among Portland brunch spots, they have a 20 minute grace period and the place looks cute with their outdoor seating. Other than that, the food was average, portion sizes are too small, not great coffee and the service was disappointing. I ordered a vegan hash which was okay but was not satisfying and a little bit too pricey. I did notice the drinks section of the menu was quite elaborate so I'm guessing this place would be better for drinks than as a brunch spot. But to have bad service was unexpected and I don't think I'll be going back here again.

"alot of Caucasian people feel like they're losing their country...it used to be if you were white you could earn a decent living." Quote I heard from a server (who resembled the owner) while waiting for my food. The food wasn't much better. Ordered dungeness crab cakes and frites. Was incredibly dissapointed after seeing the beautiful ambience. The $18 crab cakes were barely larger than a silver dollar and although had a good up front vibe, they left me tasting stale aquarium water. The fries were decent but,.... they're fries. Dissapointed beyond belief at this experience. Especially with the current issues in Portland. I'm asian american and the other customer was so uncomfortable afterwards she spent the rest of the dinner looking over, smiling and overcompensating her embarrassment by loudly proclaiming her love of asians and chopsticks.

I really want to like this place as it is just down the street from me. Here was my experience: Atmosphere: Lovely. I sat in the outdoor patio area. Very sweet. Service: Friendly, decent, not particularly fast but good. Food: on the plus side it was fresh. I ordered the Dungeness crab breakfast salad. It consisted of what seemed like a half a head of butter lettuce in the middle of the plate, 3 cherry tomatoes cut in half & placed around plate, a few sad slices of avocado on the side of the plate (less than a quarter of a small avocado, maybe 2 Tbs of lump crab meat and a perfectly cooked sunny side up egg on top of it all. honey-lemon dressing was good. I would never order this particular dish again, as the crab & avocado (which were the reasons I ordered this) were sad little garnishes as opposed to significant ingredients. I will give this place another shot in the future but will be careful not to order anything like a salad.

Came in to get breakfast right? Got told the wait was 40 min. We stepped aside and looked online for a reservation and saw that there was one open in 5 minutes. Walked back and told the host we made reservations and the host told us it is still a 40 minute wait because the website deems the waiting area as "seating." However that was not what we reserved. The reservation was for the interior restaurant. So if I had made a reservation days prior and showed up I would have still been waiting for however long this gentleman wanted me to? What is the point of a reservation? ‍‍‍‍‍ One star based on horrible host service No food was consumed in this review.

We love Cafe Nell. Charming ambiance, top notch staff, and consistently delicious food. New vegetarian options for dinner would be stellar. Highly Recommend!

In a word, Fabuleux! Cafe Nell has transformed their parking lot and sidewalks into a Parisian Bistro! White cane chairs, black & white canopies, strings of lights, and partitioned eating areas makes dining here a magical experience. Visually, the most beautiful place we have dined at during Covid-19. The food was delicious, served on proper dinnerware with silverware and real glasses. The muscles appetizer, each individually topped with cheese and breadcrumbs, was such a treat. As was the beet salad with goat cheese and walnuts. The clams and linguini entree was on the spicy side, cooked with ground sausage giving it heat and substance. My only complaint is that the linguini was not al dente, it was overcooked. The, roasted chicken was cooked perfectly and served along mashed potatoes and green beans. All were all outstanding. Desserts were a bit less than; we had the Creme brûlée which could have used more vanilla. And the berry crisp; the crisp was delicious but the berries had a burnt flavor. Even though the desserts were a miss, looking at the experience holistically, I'm giving them 5 stars all the way.

I have had great service and food consistently at Cafe Nell! The location is close to my work and they are very welcoming. Will definitely be back!

Such a cute and cozy little place with a lovely European style. The food is great! The service was fine. Neither great nor poor.