Cricket Cafe

We came here for breakfast. Our son ordered a burrito and said it was heavenly. I ordered the Down Under skillet, and it was delicious! My hubby got bacon and eggs and loved it. I would say they know how to cook excellently!

I’m not trying to be a jerk because honestly I loved this place and I still love the the diner feel but last time I came some of my food was undercooked and some was super burnt. The eggs were not medium. The bacon was next to raw. The hash brown casserole was beyond burnt. I couldn’t eat my food. I just paid my tab and let it go. Then my partner and I decided to give it another chance today and different meal but same experience. A few slices were completely soggy and inedible and then a few were completely burnt and inedible. I also want to caution that she is a vegetarian and both times found bacon in her potatoes. It’s strange to send out blackened food and it’s even stranger that the server didn’t check to see if I was okay with it considering my plate was mostly untouched. Anyway, I hope it gets back to the way it used to be. I don’t need service workers to be super sweet and use a customer service voice or anything but a hi and bye would be cool. Just a note that overall I have spent $100 here and all of it was inedible.

Their vegan mushroom gravy was fantastic! They know how to make a proper matcha as well.

The food was absolutely incredible, and the raspberry jam was the best part, you have to try it. The only downside was we waited a long time to order and get our food, but it was worth it. I got the pancakes and oh my gosh they were so so yummy.

The food here is tops! I ordered the lumberjack! This place can get real busy on the weekends, and the tables are almost elbow to elbow, but if you can get there when it’s slow you’re gonna have a great time!

This place is bomb! The food is so delicious, probably the best breakfast I have ever had. Vegan options are incredible, I had the Portland which is tofu, potatoes and veggies topped with vegan gravy. My hubby had a traditional breakfast and also thought it was the best ever. The housemade jam is a must, can't even describe what happened when I tried it! We were just passing through Portland but I am so jealous of the people that live here and get to go to this place routinely. The service was also excellent, the staff was incredibly kind. We sat outside with our dogs, very dog friendly. I've never had trailblazer coffee but it was really fabulous.

The French toast was so good. They have real jam and maple syrup. Coffee was delicious. Drinks were great. Nice selection of breakfast dishes. Everything was very high quality. However the gravy wasn’t a white gravy like I was expecting and I did not prefer it. It was also very noisy inside. It was hard to hear conversation over the loud music, guests, and kitchen noises. Don’t go if you are hungover lol. Maybe stay outside.

Vegan options! I got the Portland skillet and my boyfriend got the vegan scramble. The gravy on the skillet dish is so good. I think I went into another dimension for a moment.

The cutest little diner. Feels very homey and cozy. The food was great, and the service was quick. I went midweek, and it was decently busy, but I know weekends it gets jammed.

We used to come to this cafe when we lived in Portland. It was one of our go-to breakfast spots before the pandemic. We decided to visit last weekend and were disappointed. Just like everywhere else, the prices went up to avg $20 per person. However, the quality of the food went down. The potatoes were measly chopped tiny morsels on my plate as if they were trying to conserve the portions chopping the potatoes to make it look like it filled my plate, though it didn't. Not to mention, the potatoes were overly salty. The biscuit was not your normal, full sized biscuit. It was cut into how many slices, and they give you two slices. I was wondering where the rest of the biscuit was. The gravy was supposed to have sausage in it, and I tried to fish the sausage but couldn't find any. The servers did not check if the food was ok or that we needed a refill on our coffee. Also, there was a homeless man waiting outside begging for food. This was not a pleasant experience like we had remembered in the past. For the same price point, we have been spoiled with other local breakfast spots with better quality, generous portions of food and better customer service. What would it take for us to return? The owner needs to invest more in the quality of food and innovate the menu. This place is old, outpaced, dull food, bad quality, and fallen behind the Portland food scenery. Unfortunately, we won't be coming back.

The waitress was really nice, but I ordered a skillet scramble that was supposed to come with cheddar and cheddar-jack and instead had a small sprinkle of goat cheese on it. The zucchini was still raw. I won't be coming back.

First time trying Cricket Cafe. I've always passed by the unique cafe, but finally received an opportunity to dine in with friends. It is a small location. I wouldn't recommend a big party because we waited more than 30 minutes for a party of 5. The seating was tight in the booth but it was better than waiting outside in the freezing rain. I ordered an oatmilk latte and the Portland skillet. I think that the prices were affordable. You can't really find an entre for less than $15 around Portland these days. Anyway, the Portland skillet had a very unique taste and texture. It was very creamy for me and a little salty with the potatoes. It was very tiring to eat cause I got bored of the taste. Otherwise large portions and homemade jam!

The Cricket Cafe is an amazing place. The cafe is small and intimate with a great wait staff who are funny and willing to help you decide what you want when you are undecided on what to get. The food is amazing and so yummy. The breakfast I had was super good and filling. Next I am in Portland, I will be going there again.

We got here and put our name on the list for a party of 5. We waited about 20-25 minutes before being seated (faster for smaller parties), which is a reasonable wait time for a weekend brunch in Portland. There is no indoor waiting area, so be prepared for the elements if it is raining and windy. However, there are canopies outside for you to stand under while you wait. Once we got inside, it was a quaint and diner-like ambiance. There are about 25-30 seats, with additional seating outside permitting the weather. Our server was very kind, greeting us and quick to get our orders. Our group had lots of questions about the menu, and they were able to answer all of them for us. We did not wait very long before our food came out. I had a chocolate chai which was a unique take on chai. It was alright; the chai was a little watery than I would have preferred and not very chocolate-forward. As for the food, the portions were substantial for the price point. I got the Big Farm Breakfast - it came with french toast, three eggs, country potatoes, and bacon. I love a traditional breakfast, and this one is good! The bacon was thick-cut and of excellent quality. The only complaints are that the country potatoes were well-seasoned but slightly oversalted. The french toast was a little dry, and they only gave you a little tablespoon of honey cinnamon butter. TLDR: Average wait, but outside. Excellent service, and the food comes out fast. The food was overall good but well seasoned.

Pretty slow and FYI its a small place. Our food was good, I had the golden goat omelette, which was pretty darn tasty. We also have a Florentine, which was all right and the ranchero, I have to say, the golden goat had the best flavor

The food took a half hour to come out and it was incredibly mid. I got the classic breakfast and the hashbrown bar thing that came with it was not good. Our server was nice though! The ambience was p cute but we were stuck in this cramped cubicle area.

I used to love coming here and the food is good for the most part. Except for the latest "veggie scramble" which is just large chunks of bland tofu drenched in a forgettable sauce and tossed with unseasoned unsalted beans & canned corn which were COLD. Totally gross, should be taken off the menu and strange because I've had much better veggie food there before.

I had a lovely brunch experience. Pierce was such a polite and sweet server and was very attentive. My food was delicious and took into account my dairy free diet. Right after I got my food I spilled my drink all over my food and table and Al was quick to come over and help. She was so sweet and helpful. They were able to remake my food so quickly too. Lovely experience, amazing service and yummy food.

I honestly don't know how I hadn't found this gem before now. The staff was super friendly (in the best sort of way). I had the Lumberjack Breakfast. The cheesy hash browns were good. I had it with the eggs scrambled, they came out near perfect. The biscuit was tender and the bacon was nice and crisp. But the star of the show was the flavorsome pork gravy - seriously some of the best I've had. A gravy corollary - when the gravy is awful, there is alway to much and when the gravy is really good, there is rarely enough to go around - but this breakfast had the perfect amount! While the coffee did push the boundaries of being full flavored, bold and strong - it was good.

Love this brunch spot. I'm always happy with my meal here. Lots of different items that are all good, from the bowls to the burritos. Tasty brunch drinks and coffee too.

This place has become our favorite choice when we want to go out for breakfast. Great food, creative options, healthy choices and friendly staff in this cozy little corner hive of goodness.

We come here all the time for Saturday brunch. Hands down, my favorite breakfast in Portland. The two of us never wait more than 10-15 min for a table (if we even wait at all). I always get the habanero Bloody Mary. Their drip coffee and espresso are also top tier. My partner and I split the cricket omelette and it's plenty to feed us both. I'm not even being dramatic, it is THE BEST omelette we've ever had. The staff is so nice! It's quaint, chill, relaxing. A lot of other brunch spots feel rushed and chaotic on the weekends, and that is definitely not the vibe here. It's the best way to start the morning!

Went there for some random vegan lunch options. We were seated right away. Food came out in a timely manner and was delicious. The staff was very accommodating to our 2 year old walking around the little cafe exploring. They were so nice to her and making her feel comfortable in a new place. Highly recommend. We will be back!

Late Sunday breakfast today with my son. Excellent food and service. I had the Eggs Benedict with the cheesy hash browns. Fantastic. My son had pancakes with a side of bacon. Excellent. The staff kept my coffee cup topped off. Highly recommend.

The food here is simple but good. If you're looking for basic breakfast/brunch foods - scrambles, omelets, roasted veggies/meats topped with fried eggs - you've come to the right place. I got the veggie burrito with avocado added, which was pretty good, but I did feel the need to add a lot of salsa and hot sauce to give it some kick. Their home fries and hash browns are super tasty - def not your average potatoes. Prices are reasonable given the portion size. I also loved that we were able to come here around noon on a Saturday and didn't have to wait (we may have also just gotten lucky). What they do here, they do well. Not sure if this place is going to be a go-to for me though as I like to go places with a bit more variety and some adventurous menu items.

Jam on Hawthorne was packed, so We went for lunch and ate brunch. The eggs Benedict Florentine was just ok. The sauce not great. But the bowls, cheesy potatoes, biscuits and gravy were all good. And the Bloody Mary w all the toppings! Would definitely go back and try some of the different bowls and scrambles. Not an extensive menu but it works for what it is.

Always a good place for brunch. Coffee is okay but the food is excellent! Outdoor seating makes it Dog friendly.

Food was pretty good but hard to enjoy as we sat at a table just inside the door that when opened (and it was opened very frequently) brought in a super cold draft. Couldn't even take off our coats. This table should offer a discount on the colder days. The coffee was bitter and the hot cocoa was weak, more like warm chocolate milk. The orange juice was good though. Would skip this restaurant if given a chance to go back.

Love this neighborhood gem. The Chocolate Chai was to die for, as were our skillets & pancakes. Very friendly, attentive service, and cozy atmosphere.

Loved the Belmont skillet. Very cute space inside. Service was fast though there was a 45 minute wait to get in, which is normal for SE on a Saturday. Loved how I could get many different breakfast foods in one dish. I get annoyed when I have to order sides to get a taste of everything at other restaurants

This is our new favorite breakfast place after our old spot closed awhile ago. LOVE their cheesy hash browns. I definitely miss the ramekins they were served in pre-COVID, but still worth it. Great cocktails and menu specials always. Staff are also super friendly. BEST eggs benedict I've ever had. But you can't really go wrong with anything you order on the menu. Even when it's packed, you never wait that long for a table. This is now our go-to breakfast spot. Absolutely love!

Rising Sun Breakfast I ordered the rising sun breakfast which has corn tortillas on the side, and is filled with potatoes, cheese,roasted pork shoulder, poblano peppers and corn. Such an amazing breakfast. Be aware if you go you do need to have vaccine card. The service was pretty good as it was 9 am in a Friday and not too busy yet.

Good breakfast, passable breakfast drinks. A busy place so make a reservation for covid seating. I love hole in the wall breakfast places. This place will definitely get a return for another run at the skillets here. A-mazing The cheesy hash browns were ok. The French toast was pretty good but the whipped butter was the highlight for sure. Breakfast drinks were average. Nothing I loved but nothing hated. We were kind of forgotten and someone with a later reservation was seated first and they forgot to get the check until I brought it up so I cannot give them 5 stars for service.

I love cricket as a cozy little neighborhood breakfast joint. Their pancakes are so yummy, and the vegetarian gravy is delish!

Saturday brunch in Portland is not to be taken lightly. We didn't plan ahead and gambled with getting a table for 4 at 10:40am. There were about 5 groups ahead of us so we wrote our name on the list outside the door, grabbed some self-serve coffee, and waited about 35 minutes. Much better than I feared, and guaranteed quicker seating than Gravy, Screen Door, and Besaw's. Stand-outs: Hot chocolate with almond whip cream Cheesy hash browns Berry squeezable jam (located with the hot sauce in condiment box)

Restaurant confirmed my order through DoorDash. 25 minutes after the order was confirmed the restaurant cancelled it. If they are not doing delivery they need to remove themselves from delivery food sites, or if they cannot take orders, not waiting halfway through the scheduled time to cancel it so customers are aware and not waiting.

I was a big fan butayely the service sucks , they don't even answer their phones at all, and they take half of the road over illegally without a permit. This after they took over and created a dangerous situation on part of Belmont as well. So declining service, too good to even pick up the phone and bad neighbors. I am staying away.

Reopened after months of being closed while negotiating with the new management, Cricket is just as good or possibly better than before. I was crushed when I saw that Cricket Cafe was closed within a week or so of Utopia Café closing just up the street but happened by today & was delighted to see they were open again. The menu's basically the same with a few tweaks here and there. There are still vegetarian & vegan options. The staff is almost all new & they even have a new paint job inside but other than that, it feels the same. I had the Veggie Skillet which was amazing and my partner enjoyed the blueberry pancakes. Welcome back, Cricket! You were missed.

Visited from Pennsylvania for a distilling conference. Hotel room was close enough. Got this recommendation from my Uber driver. This place is awesome. Foods great. Good selection of hot sauces right at the table. If I'm ever in Portland again, I'll be back to Cricket Cafe!

I've been coming to this place for a long time for breakfast but I do love the drinks

"Fluffy Dolphins" Good! I'm vegan and Gluten-Free and this was literally one of the best breakfasts, no meals, I've ever had! My brother lives in St. John's, my aunts live in Clackamas and we're visiting from Los Angeles so we met in the middle at Cricket. I had the vegan Portland scramble and it was phenomenal! My daughter and mom shared the vegan cinnamon roll pancakes, home fries and veggie sausages - they said everything was delicious! My other daughter who is not a vegetarian had the French toast and pork sausages - again she said it was scrumptious. My brother had the vegetarian burrito and loved it! My nephew had Lumberjack with hollandaise sauce and gobbled it up! So I can say that we tried everything from vegan to vegetarian to carnivorous options and everyone was very happy. I wanted to use a different "F" word to describe how good everything was but my nephew said I could say "Fluffy Dolphins" instead. Our adorable server Bri and the best! I can't recommend this more.

Very friendly staff and warm atmosphere. All walks of life are welcome to this great restaurant. Prices are reasonable and the food is very tasty.

Cricket has always been one of our go-to brunch places. The Bloody Mary is my favorite in the city, and their food is great. I love the Rising Sun which is pork shoulder with a bunch of yummy roasted veggies, eggs and poblano sauce-served with tortillas. My husband gets the Cricket Omelet which is smothered in gravy and filled with their yummy pepper bacon, potatoes, onions and cheese. It's always a little scary to order a favorite as take-out. It doesn't always travel well. I have to say, our brunch this morning was delish! It felt almost like normal times! We got Bloody Mary kits, and each kit was enough for probably 4 Bloody Marys-including salt for the rim of the glass and garnish!!! I love the bloody Gary and my hubby gets the bloody southern sip. It was fun having them at home, and we have enough leftover to do it again another day! Thanks Cricket for being awesome! For building your Bloody Mary kits so we can enjoy an amazing brunch at home. Stay Safe...can't wait to dine with you again soon!

I've been to Cricket a few times and never had a bad experience. This place is talked highly of from the locals. Met a friend here this morning for breakfast... the service was very welcoming, friendly, and quick... and the food was delicious, as always. I like that they serve huge mimosas here... their small is almost pint sized and the large is a quart! Yes, please!

It's a charming neighborhood spot. Not pretentious, feels like it blends right in with the humble neighborhood and surrounding shops. Came here on a Saturday with some friends at 10am. There was a good number of patrons, but we got seated immediately. I did notice a pretty large wait piling up outside around 11am...good indicator this is a neighborhood favorite. The menu trended towards "diner" type options. Not bacon and eggs diner, but most of the typical diner-type brunch options. I'm a sucker for anything in a skillet, so I went for the Belmont. It was definitely a hearty meal, loaded with potatoes. Probably too much potatoes actually. Would've liked it if they were a tad more creative with the dish and flavors, but perhaps their goal is to be pretty standard, which I can respect. Overall food was par, nothing spectacular to write home about. I did really enjoy the service though. Our waitress was excellent, super attentive and accommodating. There was a never a rush to get us out of there even with the large line forming outside. She always kept our coffee filled, never had to wave her down for anything. Also really enjoyed the overall vibe of the place. Super homey, unpretentious, and just the type of place you'd roll out of bed and walk to in sweats for breakfast.

Great place for breakfast. We are staying in the area and found this great response that was just a few steps from our BnB. Try the skillet. We loved it and added bacon to it as it is a vegetarian meal. The 3 eggs with home fries or cheesy potatoes was also good. Gluten free toast with home made jam was yummy. Everything was excellent as was the service. The coffee was also good which is important to round out a good breakfast. We are definitely going back for more!

Ordered garden skillet from postmates. It's was soaking in grease. So oily it was inedible :( so much melted cheese too it was like a solid wet block of cheese and the vegan gravy tasted like playdough. So disappointing. Spent $35 and threw it away

This cafe is very friendly and relaxing place to eat with friend. Good place but need to wait on line. It's better to be there early or you can put your name on the list and go on a walk. Very nice.

Absolutely my favorite breakfast place in Portland. Don't let the reviews go you. I have no idea why it's so low. The staff is incredible: every time I've visited they've been amazing. Not only that, but the food is perfect every time. They have vegan, vegetarian and meat options galore and mimosas in 32oz Mason jars. I eat here everyday I can when visiting Portland. 5/5.

AMBIANCE: small cute cafe. Able to seat maybe 25-30 people. Homey and welcoming. LOCATION: corner off of a pretty busy street. Street parking. Keep and eye out, I missed it driving by once. SERVICE: good quick service. There are only a few tables after all, it's expected to be manageable. FOOD: good ole American food. I ordered American Lumberjack Benedict: English biscuit with 2 salt and pepper bacons on top with 2 over easy eggs and a citrus hollandaise sauce. Side of crispy hash browns. It was not exciting. Just a regular Benedict. The hollandaise sauce I was expecting for an explosion of flavors and was slightly disappointed. But it fills you so that's good. PRICING: averagedly priced. $9-11/dishes

Extremely rude sarcasm over the phone. Pancakes are burnt more often than not. Line is painfully long. Positive notes: Some great recipes and a super nice waitress. I have been here around 10 times, but no longer will be returning or recommending.

I have been coming to cricket cafe for years now. It has always been a favorite breakfast spot for my family. It's small but never had an issue getting a table and the food is always on point. The best gravy and hollandaise sauce around the SE area! I am very picky with my hollandaise sauce and this place has it down! So so good and great portions for the price! Please support and check this little breakfast heaven out! You won't be disappointed!

Cricket is back open! Whooop! I love the few additions to the menu. I ordered the Bloody Southern Sip. A bloody mary that is smokey and BBQ flavored. Best bloody mary I've ever had. My bestie had the Golden Goat Omelet and was happy with her choice. I chose the Beef Brisket Bennie. The beef could have been a bit more flavorful but the hollandaise made up for it. One of the best hollandaise sauces in the city! Smooth, buttery and lemony but not to thin or oily. Give yourself a treat and go to Cricket Cafe. You'll be so very glad you did

Vegetarian. Vegan. Meaty. There were so many options here for a diverse group of eaters. We had a couple's quarts of delicious raspberry puree mimosas, each was perfect for four to share. I took the Belmont scramble without mushrooms with a house made biscuit the side. There is some delightful raspberry jam available which is bright but not really sweet. The butter was soft and perfect for my biscuit. We bought 2 dogs and waited a bit for outdoor seating. They brought us a water dish while we waited and when we were seated. Our server was attentive and helpful. I will return here in the future. There are so many choices and I am eager for more!

My favorite little corner breakfast joint. Great food and great humans who make it and serve it to you. I love sipping on coffee and enjoying my time here--which is partly why there is usually a line waiting for me to finish my 2nd...3rd cup.

Excellent relaxed service! Accommodating even though it's small and crowded and popular. My friends got some skillet dishes which were huge! I got the Florentine Benedict with Avocado and veggie sausage. It was fresh and somewhat healthy and delicious. The cheesy baked hash browns are a must! Coffee outdoors while you wait and amazing cappuccinos!

My favorite brunch spot in Portland! They have multiple vegan options, their bloody marys are delicious, and their staff is fantastic.

This has become a go-to spot for my husband and I. They have a large menu with lots of options and unique dishes that have never disappointed. The food comes quick and the adult breakfast beverages are a must! The best part though? This little gem has awesome, friendly service and they treat you like an old friend coming over for breakfast. Go here.