Catherine F.
Yelp
I was in the market for a BLT with avocado in north Portland, and saw Mike N's review -- have always wondered about this place. Best bacon in town? Really?
It's in the historic Kenton hotel -- an old bar with antique woodwork, an eclectic collection of motorcycles as decor, pinball and video games, TVs, video poker. Smells a little like old stale tobacco smoke, when you walk in, but one gets used to it.
It's seat-yourself casual. I did; my waitress appeared immediately and asked what I wanted to drink. Do they have lemonade? The kind that comes out of a soda machine... I opted for Dr. Pepper, which she went off to fetch (she waited patiently while I chose). Brought back a huge glass with iced soda and a straw (I didn't have to ask -- sensitive teeth).
I ordered the BLT, of course, with avocado; the menu stated that it was made with "the best bacon in town". Aha! That's where Mike got it! Did I want the potato chips that came with that, or fries, beer-battered fries, onion rings, or a salad? Having been dietarily very naughty for a while, now, I chose the salad, with raspberry vinaigrette.
The salad arrived immediately -- it was HUGE, with thick slices of cucumber and wedges of tomato. A nice spring mix, too. The vinaigrette had a bizarre, syrupy texture... should have gone for the house-made ranch or house-made blue cheese. Tomatoes weren't local, and were largely flavorless. Still, a mighty nice salad for a side!
Sandwich showed up; the bacon was still warm, and perfectly crisped. It was on toasted white bread (meh), but I didn't ask for anything special, and choices weren't offered. The avocado was fresh, but not generously applied. The lettuce was shreds of iceberg -- pointless and annoying -- and I have no memory of the tomato. Still, for a typical, run-of-the-mill BLT, it was good, and I enjoyed it. I can do fancy versions elsewhere.
And for the soda, the salad, and the sandwich, delivered with a smile, it was only $10! AND they were open for lunch until 4 PM -- they didn't have a "foodless hour" between lunch and dinner (which is usually when I find I'm hungry).