Cafe Olli
Cafe · King ·
Pastries, wood-fired pizzas, seasonal dishes, and brunch fare
Pastries, wood-fired pizzas, seasonal dishes, and brunch fare
"Already under strain from equipment repairs and a broader slowdown in business, this celebrated cafe and restaurant was hit when someone set its woodshed ablaze just after a new firewood delivery, causing about $2,000 in losses; though firefighters put it out quickly, the extinguishing chemicals ruined the wood. Owners described the incident as especially demoralizing—feeling personal amid a long run of tough circumstances—even as a suspect was later arrested in connection with the fire. In the immediate aftermath, the team had enough reserve wood to keep lunch and dinner service going, diners turned out in support, and a GoFundMe launched by co-owner Siobhan Speirits nearly met its $7,000 goal within three days, prompting gratitude for the community that showed up and donated." - Harry Cheadle
"Mentioned repeatedly for bread and pastries and noted as being owned by a couple, Siobhan Speirits and Taylor Manning. Maggie Irwin: “Cafe Olli has my favorite pastry in Portland, the monkey bread: croissant dough they roll into tiny balls and you pull apart. It has an espresso-orange glaze.” On other items: “Their chocolate croissant… It’s unmatched. The sourdough with the bitter chocolate?” Chase Dopson adds, “The chocolate banana muffin.” Maggie Irwin: “The breakfast sandwich is so good. The quality’s insane. The service — everyone is so nice to you.”" - Thom Hilton
"Portland’s all-day cafe and pizza spot, Cafe Olli, also serves one of the best chocolate cakes in town. It’s simple but decadent, with double chocolate fudge frosting sandwiched between thick disks of rich chocolate cake. On top, a sprinkling of crystallized chocolate and Maldon salt round out the flavor profile into something that diners can’t resist going back for." - Rebecca Roland
"This light-toned, window-lined Northeast Portland cafe serves bowls of cracked farro porridge, ricotta toast, and frittata breakfast sandwiches on any given morning, but on Saturdays and Sundays, the culinary team gets into broader brunch territory. Meals should start with a pastry from the case, followed by smoked brisket-accompanied eggs or French toast with a sour cream whip. And to drink, visitors choose from a long list of espresso and tea drinks, as well as wine, beer, and cocktails. Brunch runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m." - Zoe Baillargeon
"Northeast MLK’s Cafe Olli is a haven for gorgeous pastries, running the gamut of morning Danishes and evening cannelloni, breakfast porridges and after-dinner panna cotta, char-dotted pizzas and bubbling pastas al forno. Oregon produce plays a major role in dictating rotating menus, though a few dishes have become beloved constants: the simple breakfast sandwich, featuring a juicy house-made sausage patty and a fluffy milk bun; pizza pomodoro, showcasing the flavor of the hearth as much as the tomato and grain in the dough. Cafe Olli’s charm is in those fleeting seasonal portraits, from springtime green garlic cavatelli to summery beet salad dotted with Rainier cherries. Dessert, such as the restaurant’s famed thick-sliced chocolate cake, is mandatory. There’s even a gorgeous wood-fired oven at the center of the space, tying it all together." - Katherine Chew Hamilton