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Cricket Café
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Food Bagels Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels [Edit]
3159 SE Belmont StPortland, OR 97214
Neighborhoods: Southeast Portland, Belmont, Sunnyside
(503) 235-9348
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:30 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
172 reviews for Cricket Café
Review Highlights
"I had an amazing omelet with perfectly crispy hash browns."
(in 23 reviews)
"also, best bloody mary i've had."
(in 13 reviews)
"The veggie sausage is some of the best around Portland."
(in 11 reviews)
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172 reviews in English
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Review from Maggie M.
Portland, OR
1/1/2012
I've only had great experiences eating here!
BUT SERIOUSLY GUYS, get the breakfast special!!
Four dollars for two buiscuit sandwiches and a cup of coffee??? Get that shit to go and eat it at a park or something. FOUR DOLLARS.
It's saved my and my friends lives before...It's saving me from my hangover right now. I love you, Cricket Cafe. -
Review from D M.
Portland, OR
2/2/2012
Good food, average service
Went with my 3 yr old and he loved it, but I was a little bit annoyed with my server.
Ordered the NYC bagel club w/hash browns. It was actually very yummy, but I thought $10 was pushing it. Got a kids meal for my son, and it was so much for him thy we had it for lunch later.
For the price, I think this place is a solid 4 stars, but the service brings it down to a 3.
Why? 1) no one took our order after initial drinks order.
2) when I got my coffee it was cold
3) was served by 4 different people. I don't even know who my official server was. You know that old saying, "if it's everyone's responsibility then no one will do it." yep, happened here.
Anyways, of you are wanting a hearty breakfast for $10+, I'd recommend this place, but I think there are cheaper and better places around.
Will I go back? most likely not... -
Review from Ev R IM I.
Portland, OR
1/27/2012
Let's just say the only reason I go here is because of the proximity. Next time I'll go to Hawthorne Cafe.
This is my 4th and last time. The service is ok, but the food is often flavorless and somewhat overpriced. I got the bacon and blue cheese omelette and it was bland and super dry. How is something with bacon and blue cheese be bland?
Anyways, i just think there are better and less expensive breakfast places around. -
Review from Sarah S.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012
Sorry Cricket, I started singing your praises the first week you opened. Remember that, when I ordered the tofu scramble and you got it wrong, and then you got it wrong again and then you gave me a card to come back and get a free breakfast and then you got that wrong? I didn't even hold it against you because I was vegan and you were pretty cheap and close to my house and the staff were pretty nice, if typical hipster douchebags.
Then I stopped being vegan, which meant that I could enjoy your Saint's Hash, easily the best item on the menu, and marvel at that delicious spicy hollandaise that was served with it. For several years I swore that this was the best breakfast dish in the city. Now, however, I cannot return to you in good conscious.
Your staff are still bitchy, the wait is still long, but now the food is more expensive, the pricing for veggie options is ridiculous (add two dollars to sub veggie for pork- wwhhaa??), and it is absurd to be penalized for being vegetarian, the hollandaise is no longer spicy, and really, there isn't anything else on the menu worth eating.
I am sure that for the people that just moved here from Minneapolis and Kansas City this places seems totally radical and tubular but seriously, it used to be and now it really isn't unless you are comparing it to Denny's or IHOP. -
Review from Andrew C.
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those times where Yelp drives me insane. I just don't know who to believe when it comes to this place. The reviews of people I've come to trust (or at least understand the tastes of) are scattered between 2's and 5's on this place and my personal experience was quite decent. As is the case with many business popular with the 21-26 crowd I often feel like I'm missing something important that should be right under my nose.
I guess what you should know coming here is that you're going to be eating diner food that, in some cases, is attempted to be classed up. Pricing is about normal for each entree that I've seen and from my one experience here the hash I ate was delicious and was a much larger portion than it appeared to be in the bowl. I didn't have the same issues with grease as other reviewers and I didn't have to wait more than about five minutes for our party of four to be seated around 11am on a Saturday.
Apparently I'm lucky that everything about my visit including the prices seemed reasonable enough to go back if a friend were to set on it. -
Review from Megan L.
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I do like this place, but the line can be disheartening at times. So I try to go when I don't have to wait soooooo long!
The staff there are super friendly and I love the options I have for bloody mary's. I have been here many times......try the Cricket Omlette, or maybe the saints hash or the biscuits and gravy....alll will fill your belly and then some!
See you next time! -
Review from Morgan R.
Portland, OR
9/8/2011
I long to wake up, meet a friend for breakfast at Cricket Cafe, eat my overpriced Sysco food among a swarm of flies, pay $2.50 for a cup of coffee-flavored water, and feel so unwelcome while doing it, I sit in fear that the server will stab me with a fork if I ask for another water refill. Assuming he/she doesn't pretend I don't exist.
If you're into the whole sadomasochistic lifestyle, this is the place for you! Just remember, your role will ALWAYS be the masochist. There's no versatility here. -
Review from A J.
Portland, OR
1/23/2012
I am really shocked by some of the 1 and 2 star ratings on this page! I have been coming to Cricket for years, and although I don't love the Miller's coffee switch that went down maybe a year ago, nothing else noticeable has changed (contrary to some of the comments on here). Firstly, the bad comments on the wait staff is completely outrageous! The servers here are a HUGE draw for me to continue returning to Cricket time and again. They are all very sweet, funny, and mellow....and pretty dang cute to boot. I myself am a server, however, so know how to treat other servers when I am in the role of patron. I think I know these folks who are saying the staff was snobby or even masochistic...they are the folks who snap their fingers, dont make eye contact, and have no patients for a busy server who may be working alone. Don't go to Cricket if that describes you. The wait can be long for weekend brunch because its a quaint little spot, and that's why I get THE TO-GO SPECIAL on those days! as stated by others, this is the most magical breakfast in Portland. 4 bucks!!! TWO egg sammies and a 12oz coffee. To my knowledge, it is a city-wide unbeatable deal, and it kept me going every weekend throughout college. Also, if you want to dine in and it's before 9am, you can get their two egg, bacon and hashbrown Bfast for 4 bucks too. And there's no way there'll be a line at that time of the morning, just a sweet server with a smile. I love you Cricket, thank you for making so many cloudy Sundays worth while.
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Review from Heather F.
Tualatin, OR
12/8/2011
Great Service, Great People, Great Chai/Coffee, Great Food!! I'm new to the area, and this will definitely be a morning staple for me! $3.99 breakfast specials, organic coffee, cage free eggs, goat cheese, soy milk, they really helped my food challenged self get a delicious breakfast! Service was fast and friendly, and the drink specials will bring me back in the evenings! Definitely will be recommending this place (interesting that I ended up here based off my roommates recommendation.. they're doin it right!) Thanks!!
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Review from Staci J.
Austin, TX
11/17/2011
I was on my way to try Pine State Biscuits when I drove right past this cute little corner store and thought I would try it if Pine State was too busy. Indeed, Pine Street was packed, so I turned right around and went back to Cricket. Mistake number one.
This place looks very quaint and cozy, but the waitstaff made me feel very awkward and unwelcome and I felt rushed the entire time. Of course, I was just one person dining, but either way, I want to enjoy a nice breakfast and it was 11 am, not even a busy hour.
I ordered some coffee and once I tried it, I realized that was mistake number two. This coffee didn't have a good flavor, was very, very weak and in my opinion, is worse than gas station coffee, which I have only had to get once in my life.
After looking over the menu, I decided to order the Breakfast Sandwiches since I saw in reviews that they were tasty. Mistake number three. Hashbrowns were greasy and yes, crispy, but were much too crispy in my opinion. I liked that the Breakfast sandwich was served with Canadian bacon, so that was a plus since it is better for you than regular bacon. It was served on a biscuit, which was really lacking. Very dense and tasted more like baking soda than a biscuit. I ended up taking the bottom off the sandwich just to eat it because it wasn't even worth the calories, and believe me, biscuits would be my main indulgence if I was going to select something to eat. Biscuits should be very tasty and light without putting anything on them (ie: butter, jam, etc.) but this definitely wasn't the case. Yuck to the biscuits for sure! Last but not least, the sandwich came with scrambled eggs, but I asked for Over Easy and they came out just right. That was a plus to the sandwich. Thumbs up for Canadian bacon and an egg cooked right, two thumbs down for a bad biscuit, which is one of the better parts of the sandwich typically. Could have gone to McDonald's probably and been more satisfied, unfortunately.
With the breakfast costing $9 and some change and the coffee costing $3, this place was definitely too expensive for what it was serving. I would have been more content with paying $5 or $6 for this meal, but to leave with tip paying $14, this was a sad day in breakfastland. There are way too many places in Portland to have a good breakfast, so count this one out and keep on truckin to Pine State and wait it out!
Just as a side note, I saw on their board (a little too late) that they have a to-go special of 2 breakfast sandwiches and a 12 oz coffee for $3.99, which would have defintely been worth it. I didn't care for the hash browns anyway and the service was lacking, so this would have been ideal for a quick meal. Speaking of service, I saw a waiter dump some dirty dishes into a tub (which was next to my table) and liquid spilled all over his hands. Did he rinse them off? Nope. He went and grabbed some food that was ready and handed it off to the table who ordered that dish. Gross. Come on, a simple rinse is better than nothing! Get it together boys. -
Review from Brittany N.
Sacramento, CA
7/31/2011 3 photos
Another fabulous breakfast spot in Portland! I got the oatmeal pancakes and they were so, so good!
It's a busy little spot where you may end up being nestled up near some strangers, but it's quite cozy and wonderful on a rainy morning. Good services, good prices, great food. Very filling and delicious! -
Review from Megan B.
Portland, OR
7/30/2011
I give three stars for the food. Filling and tasty and usually served quickly.
The -2 stars are for the service. We came in on a Saturday at about 12:30, well past the morning breakfast rush. There were plenty of empty tables. We had our order taken promptly, but that was the last thing that was prompt about our service.
Our table was across from the kitchen. We saw our food sitting for awhile before being picked up. I think we must have been sitting in some weird service vortex, because even though the waitstaff passed us by numerous times, no one ever checked to see if our meal was ok or to refill our coffees. I had to refill my own cup, twice, which admittedly wasn't that big a deal, but again it wasn't as if the place were overcrowded and the staff overworked.
It took us about ten minutes to flag down someone to finally get our check, and another ten for the waitress to pick it up.
And if our waitress reads this, please realize that your seafoam green cotton short-shorts don't leave anything to the imagination. Or maybe that's your intent. I dunno. -
Review from Clare H.
12/2/2011
Cricket cafe was one of those random, stumbled-upon, cross-your-fingers-and-hope-it's-good experiences for me. I honestly had no idea what I was in for when I walked in. I was very pleasantly surprised! This is a place I thought I would for sure see a line at, but when we got the around 10am we were sat promptly. I was so impressed by the menu and especially the drink offerings. I had this awesome bloody Mary with sake and cucumber infused vodka...something I'd expect at a place like screen door but apparently cricket cafe is the spot to go when you want high quality fancy brunch drinks without the high price tag! After that I had a pint sized mimosa (and now think that the pint size should be a standard!). Food was delicious as well and portions were very generous for the price. Two people could easily split a meal. My daughter was with me as well and enjoyed it, they seemed very kid friendly in there too so it's definitey a new Saturday morning mommy daughter date spot for us!
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Review from Michelle B.
Oregon City, OR
11/5/2011
I can kind of understand why the reviews of this place are all over the board. The food was pretty darn good, not the most amazing I've had but very solid. But the wait to get in... I'm just not sure it was worth it. The waitstaff was friendly but slow, the coffee and food was good but not great, all in all I'd recommend this place on a weekday; on a weekend... if you are going to wait in line anyway, go to pine state.
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Review from Heather S.
Portland, OR
2/16/2011
We had the biscuit sandwiches ($8.95), and the oatmeal ($5.95) with really bad (read: acidic but weak) coffee.
My biscuit sandwich was bad: the biscuits were soft, mushy, and dry: clearly, they had been microwaved warm! Appalling!!! The scrambled eggs were dry and flat. The hashbrowns were tasty, though greasy.
The oatmeal was like paste (Common Ground's is, by far, the tastier!).
Service was inconsistent: fast to take the order, but then we had to wait a good 15 minutes for the check, and, being that it was a weekday, it was pretty quiet in there. The prices were fine, given the amount of food.
I don't get the hype! This was, at best, meh. And, I'm being kind! -
Review from C T.
Portland, OR
9/24/2011
We went a couple of times and overall liked the food, yet, the service is pretty bad (attitude, ignoring guests), the coffee overpriced, and every time we were there we observed a swarm of flies circling in the middle of the place. You'd assume that at least the manager would pay attention to such things. Apparently not. Glad to read other reviews here mentioning that issue.
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Review from Mary H.
Portland, OR
6/28/2011
My sister and her fiance introduced me to this place. I come here on Weekdays, usually, and I've never had to wait for a table. My waitress is Christina most of the time, and she is so nice and energetic. She makes everyone feel really comfortable, and right at home.
As for the food, everything is fresh and tasty. American comfort food, updated. I love their oatmeal cinnamon pancakes, and the pepper bacon pairs nicely. The booze is really great, too. I always switch it up, because I'd really like to try all the cocktails they have on their menu. One of the best places to get lush with brunch. -
Review from Amanda G.
5/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Cricket Cafe is a hipster, hole in the wall slice of Heaven in the middle of Portland. I came here with a few friends over the weekend while visiting Oregon and absolutely fell in love. The staff is so friendly (and witty!), they're not the quickest but it comes with a smile and that's half the battle. I tried the eggs benedict for breakfast (it's been a little habit of mine lately) and it was delish - totally recommend it!
Little known Amanda fact: I have an obsession with the Bloody Mary. I love the garnish, I love the spice, I love the bite. I mean, seriously - what's not to love?! Well, Cricket Cafe boats a grip of wonderful spinoffs - the Bloody Maven, made with cucumber infused vodka; the Bloody Right, Dirty - which contains a gaggle of garlic stuffed olives; the Bloody Sunrise - made sweet with grenadine...I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. And, the best part: they're all SO delicious! -
Review from Kari S.
Portland, OR
7/9/2011
Breakfast is the most important, and most delicious meal of the day. Cricket cafe is not the best place in town for breakfast, but it's not the worst either. The wait was typical for breakfast joints. The coffee was alright. It didn;t make anyone pucker. I had the veggie burrito which lacked flavor but was still devoured, my partner had the rancheros hash which she loved with enthusiasm.
The server was friendly enough, though at the end of our meal we were charged for something we ordered but did not receive and didn't feel like waiting to have fixed. When we brought it to our servers attention he was very apologetic and said would take it off the bill. We then paid and waited for our change (yes we paid cash). The change never came. We waited, we made eye contact...still no change. Given we were going to leave it all for tip anyways; bringing the change is still the customary way.
Will we go back? In a pinch, likely. It's close to home, and not a bad greasy meal when you've had a few drinks the night before. Will it be in the top 3 breakfast places to go? Nope. -
Review from Bob M.
1/6/2011 6 photos
Our service was quite good, though I really hate servers that try to memorize your order to be flashy and then repeat it back to you in such a way as to make you uneasy that he might forget it. He did not, but I get nervous.
Obviously, this was a onetime visit, so all of this should be taken with that in mind. The coffee has a unique almost cinnamon note to it, which could have been a lovely thing. It would have been pleasing if it was made like a cup of coffee should be made rather than this sort of watery stuff that would have pleased my mother in law. X-ney the coffee-fey. I wanted in the worst way to have that Bloody Gary thing people have been yapping about and should have. I was seated close enough to the bottles of the hard stuff that kept whistling to me and goading me to order them. I had an aunt that used to tell me to always listen to liquor if it talks to you.
I had the big breakfast thingie, which was, for the most part, very tasty. Damn, they know where to find 'em and how to prepare, eggs! It is easy not to notice eggs, unless you get a real good one; they have 'em here.
Pancakes? Oh, yes! Just a hint of crispness to the outside, fluffy, tender insides. Real good butter, great syrup.
The hash browns were really disappointing. Crispy yes, no soft potato-y insides though. And you could have wrung it for the grease to power your bio-diesel go-cart or whatever. And understand, I like grease. Too greasy. My hash browns could have been a fun party toy just to flip to the floor by the front door and watch the fun when the next guests came sliiiiiding in on it. Maybe cook was just a little off this morning as I have read a lot of good things about those potatoes.
For a main course, he had the eggs Florentine, and that was pretty spot on. No Knorr hollandaise sauce, this was scratch and quite good. The egg yolk was just almost over cooked, but not quite, and very acceptable. Fresh spinach and, especially for this time of the year, a tasty good, fat, tomato slice.
He had a side order of bacon, which had been cooked almost beyond recognition. We ate there late-ish, 11 or so, so maybe they had been floating for some time. Ya know when it is so cooked it shatters? Yeah, like that. A shame, it seemed like it might have been real good at one point. The sausage that I had were little fat links, split and fried and quite tasty. The biscuits? I'll wager they were fine fresh; mine were a bit older than I would have liked.
Prices? A little higher than some, but it is a quality product that they are working with and for the most part, a well made breakfast. There are a lot of really, really good places for breakfast here in town, though. I'll sit tight for a few wrong notes but I am not convinced that what I found wrong this visit doesn't happen more than it should for this type of restaurant. -
Review from Karen E.
Portland, OR
12/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Service was super slow and my mushroom, bacon, spinach omelet was on the cool side, I'm sure in direct relation to the slow waiter. He was very chatty- to everyone else that was a server or bartender but only breezed by our table a couple times. We came in party of 5 at the tail end of the day, 2:30pm. So maybe he was really wiped out. We were one of the last tables to be waited on in there.
The gal that was busing the tables was hilarious to watch, like she was moving in a coma. It was so strange, her lack of energy. This gal's dress looked like it was missing pants underneath and for a job where you lean over tables, you really need to think about outfit choices. She was completely oblivious to this. We placed bets if she wore underwear or not.
All the different selections of Blood Mary's were overwhelming. I wanted the simplest one that wasn't too spicy and with help from my friends at the table I got it figured out. It was very yummy and looked great when it was placed in front of me, after a slight mix up.
The food was just not okay, I liked my drink much better. If I find myself there again I think I'll just order two of those and a side of bacon. The omelet is the kind where they cook both sides of the egg, cook the filling on the side, then put it in the egg and fold over the top THEN put cheese on top of that so it wasn't very melted. YUCK. The home fries were barely browned and were really mushy. I didn't eat them at all. -
Review from Hannah E.
Portland, OR
3/12/2011
Let me first say I give out 5 star reviews often, and 4 star reviews even more often!
However, Cricket is a frequent go to place for us.
It isn't AMAZING, or spectacular. BUT- it is a good fall back with good American Cafe breakfast.
I'm not a big fan of the lunch- but I haven't eaten much of it either. So I shall review only the Brunch.
The liquid breakfast is good- really good- and really really strong (not sure if it is the waitress who recognizes us or if they are all strong).
The bloody mary menu is yummy, and the framboise mimosa is good.
The veggie biscuits and gravy is the best around, so tasty. The goat cheese omelet thingy is really really good- I go here for this specifically.
The coffee is good.
The wait can suck- and it isn't really worth a wait. But then again, after traveling to places where waiting for food amazing is not necessary i have become spoiled and don't want to ever wait.
The service is either on or really off. I don't mind- I am never in a hurry when I go out. They are all nice, just not always on it.
It is also really crowded.
Suggestions: remove about 4-5 tables and give us some more room to eat! Be more consistent with the food & service.Listed in: Best Brunch or Breakfast In…
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Review from Suzanne W.
Beaverton, OR
4/16/2011
Definitely a Breakfast stop if you are visiting Portland! It's located in one of the best places in SE Portland off of Belmont and 32nd. The place is quaint, semi-good space, may be long lines on the weekend, best on the weekdays.
Some of my favorite breakfast dishes are the Veggie Skillet, and the simple 2 eggs any style combo with hashbrowns and toast. The veggie sausage is some of the best around Portland.
The service is alright. You do sometimes have to remind the waiters to refill your coffee mug, but that is really the only complaint that I have with the restaurant. -
Review from Ryan F.
Portland, OR
12/15/2010
For whatever reason, Cricket has my favorite coffee in Portland. So awesome.
I have a bunch of Vegan and Vegetarian friends that come visit Portland, and Cricket is pretty much my only all pleasing breakfast spot. They are so accommodating that all the vegan/vegetarian substitutions are on the menu [nice, so you don't feel like a douche asking for them.] And every version, vegan or not, is wonderful! I've never had Vegan food at a Vegan restaurant as good as the Vegan food at Cricket. Take your friends. Drink the coffee. -
Review from Lydia H.
1/2/2011
I have been to Cricket Cafe at least ten times. I find their selection of vegetarian options super and their vegetarian biscuits and gravy is to die for. I find Cricket to be the go between diner breakfast food and the more "fancy" (Screen Door etc.).
I always leave overly satisfied by the food but I feel as if the service has dwindled and the wait staff has turned very apathetic.
For the first time today my order was messed up. I was served home fries with my omelet instead of hash browns. It wasn't that big of a deal as it was quickly fixed with a humongous order of hash browns arriving at my table. But at a nearby table I noticed that one of patrons was brought an entree that she didn't order. It also seemed like some of the staff were in frantic zombie mode or something, but I have seen Cricket Cafe far busier and with better service.
The food will keep me returning, but if the service continues to dwindle I may have to find a new favorite brunch joint. -
Review from Matthew M.
Portland, OR
9/15/2011 23 Check-ins Here
Cricket Cafe is a great breakfast establishment if frequented between 7:30 am and 9:00 am. During this time frame, you beat the hipsters out of bed and you can partake in the $3.99 breakfast special. This consists of 2 eggs prepared however you want, a big pile of delicious crispy hasbrowns, 2 strips of thick peppered bacon, and 2 slices of toast (wheat, white, or sourdough). This is a great deal for some very yummy food and perfectly feeds a hangover. Single user bathroom as well in case some alcohol needs to be expelled prior to eating. After 9:00 a.m. this becomes another overcrowded, noisy, long wait time breakfast nook that populate every corner of this fair city.
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Review from Brian S.
Portland, OR
4/14/2011
Great breakfast food but mediocre service. I had the veggie scramble which is always yummy. I went on Sunday before the crowds lined up but my waiter just didn't do a good job. He brought the wrong toast, never refilled my coffee until I had to ask, took more than 10 minutes to settle my bill, and generally seemed a bit lost as to the job of server.
While I didn't have one this time, their Bloody Gary is fantastic. -
Review from Jillian F.
Portland, OR
4/9/2011
I'm a sucker for a hipster diner. What can I say? I love my vegetarianized diner classics, and this place has those. Most of breakfast plates that contain meat can be made vegetarian, which I dig.
We were eating off of the breakfast menu, but I did check out the lunch menu and there didn't seem to be any vegetarian options, however, which is a shame. Also, they could upgrade the coffee. If they did these two things I would be more RA RA about the joint.
The staff was friendly, which is a huge plus. -
Review from Benjamin R.
Portland, OR
7/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you want good food and CRAP service go here. Didn't bother to notice we were the only ones waiting to be seated until we decided to leave. We had written our names on the wait list and the three groups after us were seated (all groups of three like us) while we were waiting. Used to tolerate the crappy service because I liked the food. Not anymore.
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Review from Beau T.
Portland, OR
9/9/2011
Delicious food! The wait did seem a little long but the atmosphere and the location was great. I will definitely be returning to enjoy more of their food. :)
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Review from sue t.
Portland, OR
1/30/2011
I have never had a bad experience at the Cricket with either the service or the food. My biggest complaint has always been that I can't have a Bloody Mary in their establishment. They only have potato vodka which, as we all know, would be a little more than disastrous. This morning I asked the waiter for his advice on a different booze for breakfast. He assured me that there was absolutely nothing wrong with having tequila with my eggs. So I did. And so did two of my fellow diners. And it was a GREAT decision!
Yea, there were eggs with veggie sausage and spinach and mushrooms with wheat toast and it was all great but the highlight of this morning was definitely that Bloody Maria. -
Review from Karina J.
Portland, OR
6/23/2011
I want to give this place 5 stars, the location is great, the food is good, the cafe is cute....but I have now had the same weird experience 3 times here. I show up at 8:30am and ask for the "$3.99 before 9am Special"-eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast...and literally have had the waiter roll his eyes or look super annoyed and grab my menu away. I'm thinking if you really don't want to offer an 'early-bird special'..don't offer it. The first time this happened I thought I was just being paranoid, but the 3rd time..hmm? Again, the food is tasty, but the attitude can be a bit much.
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Review from Nick M.
12/3/2010
After wandering fruitlessly in the pre-8am desert that is the Belmont breakfast scene, we came to Cricket Cafe. We'd been here years ago, and been a little underwhelmed, but woah, they've upped their game. The food was great - really, really good. The Golden Goat was fabulous, and the mexican style was the sort of crisp, corny spice joy that we dared not even hope for.
Why not four stars? Well, because we sat in the front half of the restaurant, where a frigid gale would blow through every time someone opened the door. A curtain, perhaps? Seriously - fix that and you're perfect! -
Review from Sam O.
Portland, OR
8/1/2011
Had some breakfast here after we decided to not wait in the huge line at PSB. To me, it was a good decision as the food here was great. The coffee is quality, and everyone at the table enjoyed their food. The service was good as well.
I'd definitely recommend this place if you're in the area looking for some tasty breakfast. -
Review from Adron H.
Seattle, WA
6/9/2010
I was trying to think of what to write, and I noticed Turner's review below were Turner states, "Let's be honest folks, a bloody mary is a salad for alcoholics - we have to get our vitamin C somewhere other than a screwdriver, and the Cricket has one of the best bloodies in Portland - I like my bloody mary with lots of veggies, and the Cricket serves theirs up with celery, okra, olives, jalapenos and lemon."
So yeah, the Bloody Mary's are serious kick ass! Love em'!
The food is generally really good, a couple years ago I had been a few times and it was hit or miss. As for all the reviews about bad service - still haven't had that yet. Maybe it's because I cordially "interact" with the staff instead of being passive aggressive like the north west tends to be. Amazing how much better service you get when one involves themselves in a friendly way. All it takes is a smile or two and a whitty remark.
But I digress, this place is by far one of the coolest places in Portland for breakfast. As with many of the non-downtown places, the east side vibe of Portland can be awesome unto itself, and this establishment just adds to that awesomeness.
I however now live in Seattle and won't be visiting Cricket nearly as much, but hope to whenever visiting (which will happen pretty regularly). -
Review from Sara J.
Danville, CA
7/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Been here twice and both times did not disappoint... Had the bagel sandwich, hearty and delicious. Second time, i had this spicey hash thing and it was AWESOME!! It was spicey and filling, so dang good. I look forward to this place, every single thing on the menu looks AWESOME. sit outside if ya can, it's always nice!
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Review from Don B.
10/5/2008
What is it about people in Portland who love diners that aren't all that great? Why is it that there is a huge ass wait for this place? I don't get it.
The Cricket is obviously a local favorite, and as I scanned the crowd, I noticed that it consisted primarily of the 21-26 year age group. That should have been my first indicator.
The menu reads like somewhat schizophrenic mish-mash of diner vs. attempted-gourmet vs. north-west fare vs. bar. They have many of the usual breakfast favorites combined with some interesting options such as a blue cheese and bacon omelet. The drink list is quite long, and had I been in the mood, I may have partaken of a fine looking libation.
After a decent sized wait (for a 1-top), I was seated in a corner way up in this little elevated back room. After another decent wait, I was greeted with a "you ready?"
Me: Sure.
Her: "Whaddya want?"
Me: Uh, ok... OJ, Tea, and the hash with sourdough toast.
Her: (turns around and walks off).
Amazingly, the food came out quite quickly for how packed the place was. I was presented with an OJ, my tea, and what looked like a pretty small bowl of hash which was topped with 2 over-medium eggs and a SHITLOAD of hollandaise! On the side, one of the sorriest looking half burnt pieces of sourdough I have seen in a while.
Her (as she is setting the food down): "Anything else?"
Me: Uh, no.... (it happened so quick I forgot to ask for hot sauce).
Somewhat annoyed that I got my OJ and tea at the same time as the meal, I dove in. Wow, it was tasty, but GREASY. Woo, I feel the gut bomb coming on. Now, you are saying to yourself "gee Don, what do you expect, it said it came with hollandaise.." Well, yeah. It did. But the grease is not from the hollandaise, and they didn't have to add the extra 2 ladles of the hollandaise. Seriously. For the first time in a looooong time, I was unable to finish a small sized bowl of food. The puddle of red grease just kept staring at me from the bottom of the bowl, as if to say "Ha ha you IDIOT, you knew you should have ordered the veggie sausage instead!!" "Hey, I internally yelled back, I have had sausage hash before and it's never been this greasy!!"
Needless to say, I can see why this place is popular with those who have yet to grow into their palates. At 22, I would have waited an hour plus for that meal. Extra grease and surly attitudes is what fuels that set. Now, 10 years later, I will tip my hand and show my age to all of you. The obnoxious and pretentious inner-SE set can have this place in all of it's greasy and mediocre glory. They can revel in the curt yet smiley service. They can wait in the rain to pay $15 for a standard breakfast enrtree, juice, and tea (not counting tip).
I'll go somewhere better, cheaper, and faster next time. Or, if I want to wait, Jam on Hawthorne it is.Listed in: Mornin' Yawnin'
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Review from Amado L.
2/8/2009
If there is one Disney character that I abhor over most things, it's that effin cricket in Pinocchio. What a deplorable insect that dude was-- wearing that effin top hat, tuxedo, and big shoes! And what's up with the effin umbrella? And all that singing? It makes all the difference who you are, buddy, when you're wishing on that effin star!
Geez, did I wake up on the wrong side of the bed or what? What the hell was I talking about?
Oh, yeah. Crickets. Which brings us to discussing the unfortunately named Cricket Cafe.
This morning marked my third visit to this joint on Belmont, and each time has been a little on the meh side. I don't know if it's what I'm ordering that's been meh or maybe everything on their menu is destined to be meh. I can't even tell you what I'd had on the two previous visits-- the first one was at the behest of Li'l Bro; the second, an unfortunate retry. The food was really not that memorable, akin to most breakfast places in town that happen to know how long to keep those eggs in the pan. So, why the hell did I come back? Well, I was hungry.
This morning, I opted for their Cricket Skillet, figuring any dish named after the place has got to be something truly special. An amalgamation of eggs, sausage, potatoes, and cheese it was. A tasty treat, it really wasn't. In fact, it was a little on the bland side and, as I'd previously stated in another review, the food needs to stand on its own without much mussing over. And the one slice of artisan sourdough bread-- cut in half to give the appearance of bounty-- had a stale undertone masked only by the mere miracle of having been toasted.
The only good part was the coffee. Without investigating fully, I'd have to believe it was Stumptown.
Service was leisurely. I was one of the first customers; I'd hate to return when it's full. I ordered OJ which I never received but it showed up on my bill. My server, who was either channeling Janice Joplin or mistook a garter for a headpiece, quickly removed it from the bill with a "Sorry, babe." (Meanwhile, I can blame her for my Vitamin C deficiency today...)
That this place had received great marks is a mystery to me. Or maybe I just caught Cricket on an off day (for the third time). Or, perhaps, I was subconsciously looking for something to go all Jiminy over. I wouldn't swear them off for good. In fact, if I'd tried any one of their liquid breakfasts (read: cocktails) to accompany my dismal solid fare, I probably would've written a more positive review. Being under the influence, after all, is completely underrated. But it would be a very long time indeed before I give the Cricket Cafe another go. -
Review from Patti F.
9/17/2010
I found this place through a search of nearby breakfast places. Many people recommended, so I had to try it.
I was excited to see they have biscuits and gravy, with a vegetarian option for gravy. Although I didn't order that, I WILL.
I had the Goat cheese omelet ... YUM!!! Wow the hash browns were plentiful, they gave me a truckload. They were incredibly tasty, and I expected a ton of grease - but they were cooked crispy/tender.
Staff was friendly, quick and attentive. Didn't love the coffee, but it was fine. -
Review from Laura N.
6/21/2008
Let's dip into a long lost bag of SAT analogies...
Cricket : Belmont =
a. Bird : Mr. Belding
b. Couch : Couch
c. Teddy Ruxpin : Gresham
d. Jam : Hawthorne
I'll let you ponder on that one for a while and get on with my review...
It was the abundant "drink your breakfast" menu that pushed the Cricket Cafe from "A-Ok" to "Yay! I'm a fan." (Side note: 3-stars is above average folks!) But the overall experience was just that: A-Ok. Food was tasty, menu seemingly accompanied all needs, and service came with the SE smile and sass that I've come to not only expect, but truly enjoy.
Based on first impressions, I think I will go with D in the future.Listed in: Best Breakfast
