Latest Reviews
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Around this area, one typically thinks of NW 23rd as having the better restaurants. This quaint spot has all the charm of those restaurants, without t…
SC
Cafe Nell
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Charming cafe on a tree-lined Northwest Portland street. I loved the atmosphere. The food was also tasty. I had the Shrimp and grits which was in a fl…
Alice
Cafe Nell
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Quaint Vibe, Need to Work on the Food. Brunch was OK. Not a great way to start a review, but it does sum up the brunch. We had a very nice, quaint tab…
Steve
Cafe Nell
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Cafe Nell is open for Casual Dining. Cafe Nell serves Pacific Northwest, American and French dishes. Incorrect or missing information? Make a report, or claim the restaurant if you own it!Details
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7 Reviews on “Cafe Nell”
Around this area, one typically thinks of NW 23rd as having the better restaurants. This quaint spot has all the charm of those restaurants, without the pretentious crowd. It’s old school sprinkled with some modern touches. A generally relaxed vibe.The food is American cuisine, gravitating mostly towards Pacific Northwest. The ingredients used change with the seasons. You can expect good fish items and refreshing salads. My hash was seasoned nicely and had the perfect amount of vegetables. The meat could have cooked for a bit longer, but that’s a minor complaint. My dining companions all enjoyed their meals.The staff was cordial, patient, and mildly attentive. They move slow, so be cognizant of that if you’re in a rush. The wine was terrible and their mixed drinks weren’t any better. This is a new development, as I’ve always enjoyed their wine and mixed drinks.
Charming cafe on a tree-lined Northwest Portland street. I loved the atmosphere. The food was also tasty. I had the Shrimp and grits which was in a flavorful sauce. The bites of pancake were also good with fresh cream and raspberry. Our server was wonderful and engaging. Plus she brought our Labrador some dog biscuits! Also you are able to dine outside which my plan for my next visit.
Quaint Vibe, Need to Work on the Food. Brunch was OK. Not a great way to start a review, but it does sum up the brunch. We had a very nice, quaint table in the corner at the beautiful street window. They have the French feel down pat – cozy with tight table spacing. Pretty good street parking on an Easter weekend, but I am sure it is a little more difficult during a regular weekend.The drinks have cute names like the Mary Nell and Man Mosa, but nothing really spectacular about the preparation. Could use a little more tomato in the Bloody Mary for my tastes.The baked apple with creme fresh was very nice. Perfectly baked maintaining the texture of the apple. The traditional eggs Benedict was perfectly seasoned per my husband and you can tell the eggs were local and fresh – deep amber yellow yolks and wonderfully poached. The blue, bacon, tomato omelet was fluffy – a little light on the blue cheese, and the bacon was hard as rocks – had to be careful with the caps on my teeth! Overall, the food was fine – very traditional fare lacking some ingenuity. Feels like the menu is in a rut and aged. The prices are a tad bit high for the quality and quantity of food – there are better deals for better brunch fare. The service was fine – a little sluggish, but tolerable.Food: 32/40 – just lacks creativityService: 16/20Atmosphere/vibe/decor: 19/20Value: 14/20Total: 81/100
I find Cafe Nell to be a lovely place to enjoy a cocktail and a bite to eat. Enjoy the quaint atmosphere, cozy and warm. I’ve been there several times now and always had a great experience, excellent food and yummy drinks… Service is great, each visit, the owner has stopped by our table to check in to see how our meal was and say hello adding a touch of class… I love the place….
Drop the mic. Their Bloody Marry is out of this world…. enough said
First food prepared very nicely. For the two of us the menu was very limited. Wife needs some diabetic choices and they were very limited. My rockfish Vera Cruz was good. Service was off. Had to ask for specials and we didn’t get the full list. There are just too many other places to visit to thumbs up this place.
My favorite place in Portland…. I love coming here because of the neighborhood location, atmosphere (beautiful little brick building) and yummy food. They make the best mac and cheese in town. When I want mac and cheese I want something good!! This is cheesy, rich, gooey, with bacon, in a big dish and it is just yummy! They also have good pasta dishes, weekend brunch and the Nell Burger. I highly recommend this place. *Warning: The service here has been hit and miss – some days it is spot on and others it is so so (never bad). Service is always good in the bar.* Also, the Steak Frites are good but not the best thing on the menu.