Creative Dining in the SW: Portland's West Cafe

I love restaurants that go beyond the focus of local features and really get innovative with their dishes. Portland's West Café in the SW neighborhood of downtown Portland is exactly this kind of place.

Like all of the fine dining I've experienced in Portland, it's classy and comfortable without being pretentious. The food has been fresh, innovative, and satisfying every single time. 

I firmly believe that brunch (or breakfast) is the best meal, and maybe that's because it's perfectly acceptable to drink champagne with breakfast if you call it brunch. Not only do they rock a classic mimosa, they also offer a few creative twists on an old favorite.

Sunday Brunch

(Sundays, 10am-2pm)

Brunch dishes are seasonal and varied. I'm a sucker for a good Eggs Benedict, especially for anything other than the classic option with Canadian bacon. West Café offers Eggs Benedict with fresh crab meat topped with a roasted garlic and tarragon aioli. It's a delicious spin on a classic brunch favorite.

If you've got a sweet tooth, the French Toast is to die for thanks to the drizzle of hazelnut liqueur that tops it off. On top of that, they've got Lemon Lavender Blintzes that I've been dying to try but have been so captivated by their Eggs Benedict that it's been hard to stray...

...except to try one of their seasonal omelets. In this case, mine was filled with fresh asparagus and cheese and drizzled with Hollandaise sauce. 

Lunch

(Monday-Friday, 11:30am-2pm)

Lunch creations are fresh and light. In addition to entrees and a great sandwich/wrap selection, their menu also boasts a long list of "Soups, Lighter Fare & Salads," which are perfect portions of flavor and freshness. 

Dinner

(Monday-Thursday, 5:30pm-9pm; Friday & Saturday, 5:30pm-10pm)

On my one dinner visit to West Café, I opted for one of the seasonal specials. In my case, I chose the vegetarian option which was peppers stuffed with wild rice, goat cheese, mixed greens, and topped with a cranberry-hoisin sauce. It was amazing, fresh, and really sang the praises of local and seasonal flavors.

Happy Hour

Happy Hour is daily, Monday through Saturday from 4:30pm until close. You can check out their menu here (scroll down through the dinner menu). 

Location

West Café is located in the corner of Portland's SW neighborhood at 1201 SW Jefferson Street. You can learn more about West Café on their iDine page here.

Comments

[Lynn Seldon]

LUV Portland...thanks for the tip!