The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!



Diverse Dining List

Cafe Nell in Portland, OR

2/1/2023

0 Comments

 
 
Cafe on the Corner

This is the cute cafe, where my dear friend and I enjoyed a heavenly patio breakfast, beneath a 100 year old oak tree!
Picture
Actually we arrived at 10:30 and they weren't open for breakfast. We looked longingly from across the street.

Getting Ready

We crossed over to see when they would open. 11:00. 
Picture
The covered patio appeared quiet, except for spurts of activity. Staff seemed to be preparing for some kind of surprise party and we were entertained.  

The outdoor dining area was lovely with chairs that reminded me of Paris. The enclosure was classy, unlike all the quickly rigged structures, I remember being thrown up for Covid dining. The 100 year old oak added some drama and history! 
Picture
Picture
We found a cute little bench area with umbrellas and sat a moment.

Walk Time

But that used up 5 minutes. Milissa and I went on a walk to kill time. The neighborhood area in Northwest Portland, was very inviting on a summer morning.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Milissa and I had lots to talk about, so it really didn't matter whether we were at a proper table or traveling down a sidewalk.

Ready to Go

We returned at 11 and the red carpet awaited! There were curtains and strings of lights and potted bushes. We could be outside, but feel the comforts of inside dining.
Picture
We were the first diners to arrive. The surprise party was happening out of our sight. We didn't get to witness the reaction.

My Coffee Buddy

Milissa and I met through our kids 30+ years ago. We have conversed over all kinds of beverages. On this morning we were happy with our blue bottle of water and our cups of coffee.
Picture
We now live 2,000 miles apart and our coffee and converstaion has to be shared over the phone.  But on this August morning, we talked over coffee in person! It felt like we'd left our homes in Texas and Oregon and had met up at a cafe in France. 

Omelet

I was glad they had good breakfast options on the lunch menu. I ordered the Bacon, Egg and Blue Omelet. "3 free range chickens, bacon, chopped tomato and blue cheese".
Picture
The omelet and potatoes were tasty. I liked how the food was served, with  cloth napkins... little dish holding butter, jelly and catsup. It just felt nice. But the wait service was not quite as nice. We finally begged for a coffee refill. But honestly, we were caught up in our own world and were happy to be a little ignored. 

The patio never filled up, so we felt okay lingering as long as we liked. We eventually paid up, then stepped inside to take a peek around.
Picture
The red stools and red carpet and red and black chairs really felt festive and French.
Picture
Nell's describes their food as, "French inspired American classics". They've been in business on this neighborhood corner, for 13 years. I read that the last 2 restaurants in this space, were also French.
Picture
The red fireplace was extra cool. There were lots of mirrors! I'd love to see the place at night with glowing lights reflecting off the mirrors.

Heading Off

I had my buddy sit for a photo, before we walked back to her apartment. She fit right into the umbrella scene, with her black and white attire. ​
Picture
Our dining adventure was a little piece of heaven. We had lots of catching up to do and we didn't have to holler over crowds. Our table was cozy and pretty and clean and calm. The food was nice and a carafe of coffee on the table would have made it just perfect. 

I'm hoping for another dining adventure with Milissa, very soon!
​ 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
       The Dining Blog

    This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food.  Below, you can read how this started.


    On
    July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year!  (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to  join me, on some unusual dining adventures.  I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise.  Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining.  I have continued  blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned  along the way!
    ​

    Locations and types of dining adventures,  are listed further down.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    000 The Beginning!
    00 BBQ
    00 Cookbook Adventures
    00 Drive Ins
    00 Drive Ins Diners Cafes
    00 Houston Area
    00 Saloons & Taverns
    00 Tiki Time
    0 Alabama
    0 Arizona
    0 Arkansas
    0 California
    0 Colorado
    0 Florida
    0 Georgia
    0 Idaho
    0 Illinois
    0 Iowa
    0 Louisiana
    0 Michigan
    0 Mississippi
    0 Missouri
    0 Montana
    0 Nevada
    0 New Mexico
    0 New York
    0 North Carolina
    0 Oklahoma
    0 Oregon
    0 South Carolina
    0 South Dakota
    0 Tennessee
    0 Texas
    0 Utah
    0 Vermont
    0 Virginia
    0 Washington
    0 Washington D.C.
    0 Wyoming
    1 In Belize
    1 In Canada
    1 In Chile
    1 In Curacao
    1 In Guatemala
    1 In Mexico
    1 In Roatan
    1 In Thailand
    Afghani
    Argentine
    Basque
    Belgian
    Belizean
    Bengali
    Bermudian
    Bosnian
    Brazilian
    Cafes
    Canadian
    Chile
    Chinese
    Columbian
    Cornish
    Costa Rican
    Cuban
    Curacao Island
    Czech
    Danish
    Diners
    Dominican
    English
    Ethiopian
    Filipino
    French
    French Basque
    French Creole
    German
    Greek
    Guatemalan
    Honduran
    Hopi
    Houston Area
    Hungarian
    Indian
    Indonesian
    Iranian
    Iraqi
    Irish
    Italian
    Jamaican
    Japanese
    Korean
    Lebanese
    Malaysian
    Mexican
    Mongolian
    Moroccan
    Nepali
    New Hampshire
    New York
    Nigerian
    O
    Pakistani
    Palestinian
    Peruvian
    Polish
    Portuguese
    Puerto Rican
    Russian
    Salvadoran
    Scottish
    Spanish
    Swedish
    Swiss
    Taiwanese
    Thai
    Turkish
    Uruguay
    Venezuelan
    Vietnamese

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!