MÅURICE

"Jazz plays while pots of pu’erh and mugs of coffee land at tables around this charming French-Scandinavian cafe in downtown Portland. Recent visits to Maurice harken back to its early days: Scones and cookies bookend savory meals of kohlrabi-topped smorrebrod or fluffy quiches with the subtle flavor of chives and fromage blanc. Meals at Maurice feel luxurious in their simplicity, thanks to its leisurely pace and minimalist plates, be it a bowl of mussels enlivened with mint or a briny brandade served with rose potatoes and baguette. Peppery cheesecakes and souffle pudding cakes fragrant with meyer lemon are a must for fika, the Swedish tradition of a coffee or tea break with something sweet on the side." - Eater Staff

"A little French, a little Scandinavian, Maurice has been a daytime oasis for over a decade. Stop into the whitewashed downtown cafe for their fika—a.k.a. coffee and a black pepper cheesecake with three-nut sablé. This spot is also the move for leisurely midday meals full of winter greens overflowing with matsutakes and warm goat cheese, open-faced Norwegian smørbrød topped with anchovies, trout roe, and black radishes, plus glasses of orange wine. But any time spent here will be a welcome break from Portland’s casual-to-a-fault lunch scene. photo credit: Brooke Fitts photo credit: Brooke Fitts Food Rundown Maurice’s menu changes daily, but they generally keep a few classic dishes and play with the components. Quiche Du Jour This is a perfectly French quiche that leans more custardy like Japanese tamago than what often passes as quiche in the US, served simply with a salad that might be tossed with celery leaves and dates. photo credit: Lani Conway Classic Norwegian Smørbrød Open-faced sandwiches on rye bread just feel more festive than your typical ham and cheese. At Maurice, there’s typically a few variations on offer like one topped with skagenröra, a dilled mayo-based shrimp salad full of cucumber slices and trout roe. Black Pepper Cheesecake Need a special treat? Maurice’s famous black pepper cheesecake is the sweet (and a little savory) solution. It’s served in individually baked rounds atop a three-nut sablé, and is garnished with seasonal fruit and flower petals so pretty it’ll take every ounce of inner strength to not post a picture." - Krista Garcia

"This elegant and charming French-Nordic luncheonette, with its white-washed walls and kitchen-side counter, is an ideal place for those who dream of leisurely brunches of oysters, quiche, and French wines. Served on delicate, Fine China plateware, the dining situation is reminiscent of something you’d find in your grandmother’s dining cabinet, holding quaintly presented portions of Norwegian smørrebrøds, clam soup, and poached egg toast. The pastry selection, otherwise known as the lauded fika, is where the restaurant shines brightest, showcasing gooey lemon soufflé pudding cakes and rich chocolate pavé. Selling out regularly, the fika is available for same-day pickup if ordered before 9 a.m." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden, Katrina Yentch, Rebecca Roland

"A little French, a little Scandinavian, Maurice has been a daytime oasis for over a decade. Stop into the whitewashed downtown cafe for fika—a.k.a. coffee and a black pepper cheesecake with three-nut sablé. This spot is also the move for leisurely midday meals full of spring greens overflowing with asparagus and walnut lemonette, open-faced Norwegian smørbrød topped with anchovies, trout roe, and black radishes, plus glasses of orange wine. But any time spent here will be a welcome break from Portland’s casual-to-a-fault lunch scene. " - krista garcia

"On a trapezoidal block kitty-corner from Portland’s beloved Powell’s City of Books, the tiny, nearly all-white Maurice manages to be both delicate and rustic at once. Waist-level counter seating is the perfect spot for an exquisite Nordic fika or French déjeuner. That means menus offering everything from rosemary and prune scones to smørbrød with summer squash and cottage cheese, paired with tea or wine." - Nathan Williams, Krista Garcia