Stopped by here for breakfast and had a very enjoyable experience. Lots of people were stopping in and hanging out. It seemed to be a local spot that welcomed everyone, which isn't a bad thing. I ordered their chicken fried steak and was not disappointed. The sausage gravy was plentiful and the steak itself tasted as though it was hand breaded and fried, not pulled frozen out of a freezer. I dislike places that don't offer fountain sodas with refills, so I can't do a 5 star review...but there was plenty of water. The food, however, was beyond fabulous. I would have no problem stopping in here again.
(4)
Sanjuro J.
Good place to get a bite to eat and work. Good biscuits and gravy,breakfast sandwiches, and pie. Solid wifi with lots of outlets. Friendly staff. Good coffee. What more could you ask for? Only negative has been that the A/C got kind of overwhelmed on a hot day recently, but it was still working so not a big deal.
(4)
Andrew H.
In spite of a screaming for no reason at all two to three year old that needed a good dose of reality, the pink haired do it all kept the remaining few customers on this afternoon content with their beverages and food. I was one of them on a fairly nice afternoon in the land of port. I know many have ended up here or the bar next door, but I chose here because of the windows and I wanted to be able to see outside. A bottle of Sessions and a marbled rye Reuben were the choices that looked appetizing to me. Combined, a little over $12. Not too bad for the area. The sandwich was pretty standard but how can one really get a Reuben wrong? Thousand Island, kraut, Corned beef and bread. This came with a choice of chips and I went for some jalapeño ones. It seems that breakfast is the main attraction for this place and I guess at some point I'll have to get back and give a breakfast sandwich a try. The food I had was pretty good and in spite of the little wailing banshee, I will still come back. Enjoy.
(3)
Carlos E.
The everything bagel with rosemary cream cheese was underwhelming. The barbershop style chairs at the bar were nice and what give this place 4 instead of three stars. The art on the walls was cool. My new friend in Portland had his artwork up here he tells me. The cook and the attendant seem like an adorable old couple, so I'll come back...
(4)
Melissa L.
I recently went in and had an off meal, and said something to the server about it. It turns out, that'd been prepared by the owner herself, who upon hearing about the negative (bacon) experience, sent along new and wonderful bacon! I feel bad about having commented about what was clearly an unusual event, but I appreciate how gracious the owner was. I'll continue coming here just about every weekend as long as I live in the area, to be honest!
(5)
Alex B.
I come here a lot... it's probably high time to give them the glowing review they deserve. Overall, Bare Bones Cafe (not to be confused with their bar next door) is a great place for a coffee, a casual lunch, a change of scenery while working, or even a beer/cocktail. First and foremost, these guys have reliable free wifi. Coupled with access to good food and caffeine, this makes Bare Bones Cafe a great place to hole up with a laptop for long periods of time. I've never seen this place filled to capacity, so I never feel bad about hogging a table for several hours. The food menu is centered around sandwiches (which CAN be made gluten-free). I'm a huge fan of the braised beef brisket, or the portobello olive veggie melt if I'm in a vegetarian mood. I recommend spending the extra dollar to get a side of German potato salad with a sandwich. Their soups change every day, and have always been delicious. Then happy hour sneaks up on you (3-6), at which point you'll probably have to switch over to beer or cocktails. I can't say anything about their breakfast or weekend brunch, but I'm a huge fan of Bare Bones Cafe for everything else that they do.
(5)
Cassandra C.
I can't comment on the prices of drinks because I literally just signed my copy without looking at a total but I came here for trivia most recently (uh, Thursday nights? Was that Thursday?) and it was fun! Cool bar with a couple of pinball machines and a few tvs. There were SIXTEEN teams of trivia when we were there. I've been to Bare Bones a few times in the past because I used to live over here but it's not the kind of place I'd go out of my way for. They do have other events, Bingo, off the top of my head but yeah, just kind of a regular bar. Not too noisy, not too divey or cheap. Just a nice Bell Curve bar. I had a few Old Fashioneds (weird word) and the tuna deviled eggs. They were awfully fishy, I wouldn't get them again but I LOVE deviled eggs. Just no tuna. I did find their menu kind of limited. It was okay though, a nice evening spent with friends doing trivia.
(3)
Evan R.
Came for brunch. It was acceptable, nothing outstanding. Felt like something I could make at home in 10 minutes. Pros: - house made veggie sausage was great - toast (with breakfast) wad made with above average bread - decent price Cons: - portions felt small - hash browns were frozen, big box products. - grapefruit juice from concentrate
(3)
Rachel K.
I've been coming here for a few years every week for a meetup I help host. The people who work here play the perfect mix of music, and at the right volume - it's ALMOST loud, very conducive to working here on the computer! The food is great and accommodates vegan and gluten free, and their meat-ful dairy-ful food is terrific too - their $5 oatmeal INCLUDES BACON!! They just added a giant game room in the back with pinball, pool, and comfy couches, shared with Bare Bones Bar next door. I love the breakfast sandwiches, I love the standard breakfast plates with eggs, hashbrowns, & sausage/bacon, and the biscuits and gravy is terrific. The wifi has been getting more and more reliable it seems too - I haven't dropped any connections in a long time. Hint: get on the Bare Bones Bar wifi instead of the cafe - the Bar wifi's secured. Love this place.
(5)
Erin L.
So impressed here. Was traveling alone and felt a bit out of place as it was my first day in Portland. Lady behind counter was very nice and sweet. Ordered the portobello olive melt with goat cheese and sun dried tomato. Omg. Would go back to Portland just for this sandwich! The man who made my food (I assume?) was teaching the bartender pours so he offered me a free Black and Tan which of course I accepted. Such a nice cozy atmosphere. Most people were on laptops drinking coffee but I didn't feel uncomfortable with my grub and beer and old rolling stone mag!
(5)
Beat M.
First timer. Amazing food. I had what is most likely the most perfectly prepared BLT in my life. The quality fresh ingredients blew me away. Wish I'd gotten two. And there albacore tuna deviled eggs? OUTSTANDING. I can't wait to go back and try their build your own breakfast sandwich. A+
(5)
Jens J.
I stopped here for lunch a week or so back and was very pleased with the roast turkey sandwich (with a mucho delish aioli) and soup I requested. Though the day was cloudy, cold and drizzly, Bare Bones was warm and inviting on the inside. What I like too about Bare Bones is that it has a comfortable non-pretentious ambience. Kinda like Division was before all the construction (and resultant glitzification) began taking place. But I would guess it is just a matter of time before the same forces that are transforming Division seep (or barrel) into Belmont and do the same number. Let's keep Belmont Belmont. Plenty of tables (and electrical outlets!) for those wanting to bring their laptops and use Bare Bones as a coffee house. And if all the tables are taken, there's a bar where you can sit. Overall, I would have to say that for sandwiches, quality wise, Bare Bones is just as good as Meat Cheese Bread.
(4)
Mandy H.
Omgee. The gluten free buttermilk biscuit and rosemary gravy and a sunnyside up egg.. d. Eee. L. Iish! Wifi is awesome.. lighting is good and deaf friendly.. staff is awesome! Perfect celebratory place for mine and Michelle's dona certification sendoff!
(5)
Janett A.
I'm not very productive getting work done at home. Thrilled I found a great work space with great coffee/treats and fantastic service. Compliments to barista Alex for a stellar job. My iced Americano was nice and strong. Plus, the jalapeño and cheese bagel with cream cheese was soft and toasted perfectly. There's plenty of outlets and seating. My bf and are fans!
(4)
Ev'Yan N.
Worst breakfast of my life. Absolutely horrible. Please, please don't eat a meal here. I ordered their two egg breakfast which advertised two eggs any style, hashbrowns, rustic toast, & choice of meat (bacon, veggie or pork sausage patty, or slice of ham). Here's what I got: two rubbery, over cooked & bland eggs, scrambled; one mushy-beyond-recognition veggie sausage patty that tasted like it came straight from the microwave, two freezer-burned potato patties (NOT hashbrowns!), & one piece of toast (the only decent thing on my plate). My partner, who got the smoked salmon scramble, subbing the bagel for "hashbrowns", said of the experience: "Whoever cooked this meal had little investment in the outcome. My scramble tasted like plastic, like something in it had been sitting in a plastic container for too long. It was salty, had way too many capers, & the salmon was petrified dry. This meal was a giant letdown, a complete betrayal to my senses. I really don't feel like they have any business selling food there." --Jonathan Mead We should've asked for our money back. I am ashamed that we didn't; even more so that we wasted $25 (for the meals that weren't eaten, two coffees + tip) without any kind of retribution. My only hope (in addition to not dying tonight of food poisoning) is that this review does some kind of justice. That's why I'm writing it. So please, for the love of all that is holy & true: Don't come here to eat a meal. I am scarred for life, my stomach hurts, & this place doesn't even deserve the one star that I am forced to give them.
(1)
Bob K.
Not sure how they got the 4 stars. We had a mixed greens salad which was good. A corn bacon chowder that was good but had the consistency of mashed potatoes. Braised Beef sandwich which was barely ok. It was tasteless unless you used their horseradish sauce. The sauce will blow out the back of your sinuses. Finally there was a german potato salad with bacon. It looks like they season it with a bunch of grained mustard. You could not taste the bacon and instead it was mostly a mustard taste. I also had to swap a chair as the one i had was ready to fall apart. Had to go through two other chairs till i found one safe to sit in. So the place is ok... And probably a great place to hang out and work, several tables doing that, but its not for us and we will not be back.
(2)
Estebano V.
Friendly staff. Food has improved since their early days. Solid wi-fi. My only real issue is that their kitchen ventilation / exhaust system doesn't seem to work. I was there early on a Sunday afternoon and the air was thick with the smell of bacon grease. I felt like I needed to shower after I left; it was just overwhelming.
(3)
Dustin R.
A good spot I thought, older building and the inside shows some wear (character). We had breakfast, which was good, the hashbrowns are the preformed patties, not loose like most places, but still good. The toast is awesome. Their coffees are huge cups so you get your money worth. The chairs at the bar are old barber chairs;)
(4)
Edna P.
Wonderful place, with a very rad staff. The food is prepared by a fantastic chef. If your in this area then this is the place to go! The Bare Bones Bar next door is also great. I love the Star Trek Pinball and the new artwork by local artists displayed regularly.
(5)
Deanna N.
I'd say pass on the menu. But I will say that the drinks yowza! Being the economist I am, I had a restaurant.com certificate I got for $2 for $25. My friend lurves and has come back more than once for the bloody mary which includes homemade beef jerky. I had a generous pour gin and tonic. Bar is a nice hangout and there are outside picnic tables for the summer months. This will be a summer watering-hole for me on my coupons!
(4)
Ashlee H.
Had a much tastier brunch experience recently involving banana bread and extra-extra-crispy bacon, and so I have to bump them up that final star. Also since service is always awesome, and they have a table big enough for a board game with friends. Bare Bones is awesome. I just wish I could bring myself to stop ordering the pulled pork and try the rest of the menu ...
(5)
Jason M.
Maybe it's just because I live right around corner and it's a convenient place to go, but Bare Bones has quickly become one of my favourite haunts, especially on the weekends for breakfast. It's a well-rounded cafe, with decent coffee, good food, and a nice little selection of cocktails if you need something a bit stronger than coffee. The staff is pretty cool, too. I particularly enjoy their grilled cheese and soup combo, as well as their biscuits and gravy (weekends only). Nothing fancy, but it's all I could ask for in a neighborhood cafe. I've spent many an hour reading, surfing the net, and nursing hangovers at Bare Bones, and I expect I'll be spending many more for a long time to come. The only complaint I have is that the chairs can be a little uncomfortable, but I can live with that.
(4)
Thea S.
I've liked everything I've had here : portabello & olive & sundried tomato cheese grill = all my favorite things on bread=LUV. My boyfriend loves their pulled pork sandwich. I've tried it. It is awesome. The all day breakfast sandwich special saved my life one late morning mid-hangover. They also have great specials and a great brunch menu on the weekends. ....and they have coke in a bottle. thumbs up. nice clean place SO different from Muddy Waters.
(4)
Ang H.
Ok I have now been to Bare Bobes three times and can confidently say that this place is a winner! We found BB looking for gluten free options for my mom. She has celiac disease so cross contamination is a big deal. They have a fantastic curry chicken salad which she has ordered two times. She loves it and doesn't get sick. And for those of us who don't have to deal with rotten gluten issues...brilliant sandwiches and soups. Yummy iced tea. Fun music. Helpful and friendly staff. Light and airy room. Plenty of seating-I've never had to wait. All in all, a Portland winner!
(4)
Rene S.
Good food. They do everything right here. If you are looking for humble breakfast fair done with very good ingredients then this is your place.
(4)
Dawn P.
This cafe is close to my boyfriend's place so we have walked over to get breakfast a few times and in those few times this place has always struck me as a three star joint. Not terrible and not terrific. Until this morning... It took thirty minutes to get our two egg breakfasts, but we were reading so we didn't care. When our plates arrived, my heart sunk a little at seeing the undercooked previously frozen potato patties they called hash browns on the menu. I was hungry and not in the mood to be fussy so I plowed on, uninterested. That lasted right up to the point when I opened the ketchup, which exploded so forcefully that not only did it explode all over my face, hair, sweatshirt and onto my boyfriend beside me, but the people in the back of the cafe could be heard asking what happened. I don't know what happened...what would cause the ketchup to explode and then continue to ooze up and out of its plastic bottle and be an ORANGE color!?! I'm still churning hours later, wondering just what was in that ketchup. I'd say the health department needs to visit. Once I had finished cleaning the ketchup off from me in the bathroom (it was a huge mess in my long hair) I went back to my food, still too tired to be deterred from my breakfast. The toast was fine, the veggie patty was over cooked and dry, the potato patties were cooked just enough to have been thawed out and warmed, but it was the eggs that finally pushed me over the threshold...they were raw. The sunny side up eggs were raw on the top of the white, as well as the yolk. All the while, the exploded ketchup, sat on the counter (we were seated at the bar in front of the uninterested and unconcerned server) and not one word was said to me to ask what happened, to apologize for the mishap, and when I asked her to remove the disgusting orange ketchup bottle, she took it away wordlessly. This place is terrible. Disinterested service every time, food that you could cook better at home even on your worst day, and I recommend saving your money for something halfway decent for your belly.
(1)
Nathaniel M.
Great option for coffee or cocktails on trendy Belmont. Why is it that more coffee shops don't also serve beer and cocktails? Yeah, I don't know either. What I do know is that Bare Bones Cafe does serve both and they do so very well. The ambiance leans more toward cafe than bar, which is a good thing (especially given that the Bar Bones Bar, just next door, can certainly fill that void). There are plenty of tables and free wifi for the typicaly cafe patron to have a seat, sip a coffee (Kobo's beans, which are excellent) and surf the web. Or....OR!...if you're in the mood for something more adult, just mosey on up to the bar, grab yourself a National Geographic (Yes! They still make magazines!) and order yourself a beer or one of their unique cocktails. My personal favorite was the Blood Orange & Jalepeno margarita. Only $5 during their happy hour from 3pm to 6pm. This is a great place to take your straight-edge friends who just want to indulge in caffeine (or one of their amazing sandwiches!) when you are more in the mood to sin.
(5)
Camille B.
This is hands down my favorite place to study. Almost every table is close to an outlet and the music and crowd is usually chill enough to get some work done. As an added bonus to their great food and coffee, they serve alcohol which makes writing papers WAAAY better.
(5)
Karen L.
For a place with a pig on its logo, it has some delicious veggie options. They manage to make vegetarian food super flavorful. Almost anything on the menu can be made gluten free, and gluten free is done well here. Whatever bread they're using is so good, I almost forgot it wasn't regular bread when I was mowing down on my sandwich. I've only had a few things here, but they were all super fresh, high quality ingredients at reasonable prices. Portabello & olive veggie melt (I had it GF): The flavors were perfect! It almost tasted like a pizza in pannini form (but in a good, gourmet-basil-margarita sort of way). Butternut squash and blue cheese scramble (Had it with GF toast w/ rosemary butter): Whoever designed this menu is a flavor mixing genius - everything tasted just right. They had me at rosemary butter, which might have distracted me from all the other food on my plate, but I'm pretty sure it was all great. Veggie hummus sandwich: This is a pretty solid, flavorful meal. The hummus is very garlic-y, so don't plan on macking on in anyone after lunch. It's delicious, and totally worth the garlic breath all day. I got my sandwiches with gazpacho, and the two kinds I tried were so well done, they tasted like mama's home cookin! I don't even remember the last time I had soup at a restaurant that tasted so home made, or at least obviously made from scratch. On top of the good food, the decor is really comforting, and the whole place is good vibey. I like the aesthetic, and every time I go in there is an adorable, laid back gal at the counter, so the service gets 5 stars too.
(5)
Dylan W.
Bare Bones Cafe is by far my favorite spot in Portland. The people here are sincere, the atmosphere is chill and the food is good. Try the strata for sure. Maybe not the Mexican strata, but all the other stratas are excellent. Also, what got me hooked on this place in the first place is the german potato salad. Seriously though, Bare Bones is more than the food. It feels like community, and that feeling is awesome.
(5)
Amanda K.
Can't speak to the quality of the cafe items, but the cocktails from here leave much to be desired! My friend and I saw that they had $5 cocktails for happy hour, so we decided to stop in. She ordered a cocktail concoction of berries and habanero vodka. I took one sip and immediately regretted it...they need to warn people who order this to make sure they know what they are getting themselves into! Unfortunately, the drink I opted for was not much better. It was a combination of bourbon, apple brandy, and maple syrup...the proportions just seemed off and therefore the taste was just not there for me. Hopefully we just had a bad bartender, and others who work here can make some better drinks...or maybe the food is really delicious and can make up for the drinks? I for one won't be back to find out!
(2)
Josh T.
My kids went to Traditional Taekwando next door for years so I spent many an hour at Bare Bones Cafe. The staff are always nice and helpful. The coffee is good, the menu is more than just traditional coffee shop food. The space is much more open and calm than it was under the old ownership. All around a very solid, standard Portland coffee shop which means anywhere else in the country this place would be one of the best around.
(3)
Mike I.
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(3)
Andrew A.
At first impression, the owner emitted a certain stand-offish vibe. The kind that implies, "I'm tired of this business, so don't give me any sass". However, after some pleasantries, all was okay. Conversely, there was an older man talking loudly on his phone, it would have appropriate for the owner to have said something. The place has been relatively empty during my three visits. I created a grilled cheese sandwich using the extensive ingredient choices, but it was just so-so. Size in relation to portion was small. Belmont is great, so it makes for a good people watching spot; the seats by the window are nice. Maybe something magical happens during the times when I'm not there, maybe I've missed some killer dish on the menu (can't remember what I ate the other two times.)
(2)
Megan Marie M.
WIFI = Medium (works great for only up to 5-7 people at a time) Coffee = Great Food = Good Atmosphere = Welcoming, no frills, laid back, big, quiet it is a good place to work at if there is not many other people using the wifi.
(3)
Sonora G.
Don't mind if I do! Thanks to the fine reviewers of Yelp, I stumbled on this lovely eatery just blocks from my house. I had no idea they even served food... how silly of me. This review could truly be summed up in three words: Croissant Monte Cristo; but I must doff my hat to the blue cheese and butternut squash scramble, a pair of fabulous bloody marys, and a friendly--though slightly awkward--staff :) I'm not super sweet on the whole "order at the bar" business at Bare Bones, and the space is a little funky, but the food and drink make it a solid four stars for me and my sweetie. It's definitely going into the breakfast rotation!
(4)
Windy S.
We stopped here to continue our Day Drinking Tour and have a Bloody Mary. So this review is only for the 1 Bloody Mary we consumed here. We ordered 3 Bloody Marys, the girl behind the counter warned us of the Spiciness. "Yes, Please." Just the way we like it. They came out with lots of pickled veggies and beautiful. Although we all agreed that the Spice was great, we found the mix to be a bit too sweet. Guess we side on the more saltier pallette when it comes to Bloodys. I did also notice that they do Mimosas in Pint glass for $5! In general the cocktail prices are extremely reasonable. Would love to come back and try other cocktails and some of the food!
(3)
Mo M.
I agree with Andrea G: there are plenty of awesome restaurants within a few blocks with friendlier staff and much better food. I've tried to like the cafe multiple times, but always come away with a mediocre experience. The bar is a little more in line with my expectations, but I give a resounding "meh" to both, I'm afraid.
(2)
Michele C.
Love the food, Ginger is an amazing chef! The staff is very friendly, it's a great place to hang out and get some work done. Must eat the Strada!!!
(5)
Allie K.
As promised, updating after I went over for breakfast. Really fantastic biscuits and gravy, it's not super heavy and the rosemary in the gravy is great. Also got some bacon as a side, managed to be crispy and thick at once which satisfied both me and my wife.
(5)
Mercy T.
I'm only speaking for breakfast sandwiches here. I always get the same thing: Breakfast Sandwich, which is on a locally made, chewy, amazingly delicious, grilled pressed bagel, cheese (on top and bottom), egg, sometimes bacon and sometimes the house made juicy, delicious, fat, sausage patty. The bagel is $1 extra as well as the meat. The bagels I've had are Everything, Jalapeno Cheddar and a pesto one, they are all so frikin lovely! You can also just get the regular white bread, grilled with rosemary butter with egg and cheese is so damn perfect and cheap. I don't want huge portions because I hate having leftovers and paying for it too. I just want a cheap, simple and delicious breakfast sandwich and some coffee (with one free refill). I've been coming here with my husband for almost a year now, once a week, and every time, we're just silently eating because we don't care about anything around us or each other in that moment we can only think of the hot delicious heaven in our mouths. Also, I think the owner is nice, but we don't have conversations. I just order a simple sandwich, pay and wait. I really could care less if someone is kinda a dick anyway, who cares? People can be assholes sometimes or maybe all the time. I don't think it's worth worrying about here. I just want my food to be good! And it is, so yay!
(5)
Dylan R.
Great sandwiches, everything can be done gluten free and I don't know where they are getting that gf bread but dang it's good. The veggie sausage rules. One of my favorite places for brunch on the weekends. Affordable, fresh, the brunch is amazing and you can't beat $5 bloodys and mimosas. Everyone on staff seems to be genuinely nice, real people.
(4)
Sergei S.
After walking around the east side, my gf and I really wanted a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup. A quick yelp search revealed that Bare Bones had both! Was it the the best sandwich or soup ever? No. Did it hit the spot as far as the craving goes? Yes.
(3)
Kenna H.
I'm not sure where this Mr. Hyde of a beast has been hiding that all the negative reviewers are talking about, but the owner is nothing but a peach to me every time I come in. And speaking for someone who frequently abuses the free refill rule, nags the chef for ideas on home smoking techniques and obsessively steals space on the community board you'd think I'd be the optimal customer on the next "No-Service" list. But, even though I only buy a plain coffee every couple of days and verbally hijack the owner they have been nothing but sweet to me. Although, since I started sending my boyfriend across the street to them everytime I need a hangover cure (seriously, the roast beef melt with roasted onions and portabello mushrooms RULES) they have endeared themselves to me. That being said, I think after having to dig themselves out of the stigma associated with the previous cafe that dwelt in the same spot you can understand why they might be hesitant to let tons of homeless folks hang around for too long (not saying it's right, just that that's what killed the last cafe). Bare Bones, I love the shit outta you.
(5)
Alison P.
I have been here three times now, and each time the food has been delish, and the people at the counter have been super nice and friendly. Their ham, brie and asparagus sandwich is super yum-tastic. Not a fan of delicious meat? No worries, their grilled cheese is fantastic. They put all kinds of yummy veggies in it, too. There are a few things that are holding them back from a 5 star rating, though. First, prices are a little steep in my opinion. Total for a sandwich and small side of greens was $9.70....and that doesn't include a drink. $10 lunch with no beverage makes Alison sad and thirsty. Second, my average wait time for food after I order is around 10 minutes. Luckily, I get hour lunches and work up the street. But someone on a quick lunch, and having to commute back to work might be pressed for time. Third, they don't do half sandwiches. Boo. All in all, I really like this place. The food is great and so are the people working there. If they lowered their prices just a tad, and offered halvsies on their fantastic sandwiches, I would probably hit them up for lunch more often.
(4)
Nik R.
Bare Bones - you are anything but. I've been in a couple of times, and love love LOVE the fact that you have a good selection of gluten free options. Tasty drinks. Awesome staff. Single stall, non-gendered bathrooms. Free wifi. Vegan options. They have a daily happy hour from 3-6pm - go in and try the menu! It's usually pretty quiet around then, and is a great place to grab a glass of wine, the deviled eggs with ablacore tuna and scallions (taaaaasty!), pull out the school books and hunker down for a bit of studying.
(4)
Annie G.
I like Portland for many reasons, and one of those reasons is that there's coffee shops that serve alcohol. Native Portlanders--you don't know how good you've got it. Or maybe you do, and that's why you're still living in Portland and going to places like Bare Bones Cafe. Today I discovered they serve pint-sized Mimosas for cheaper than most breakfast places. This plus the greasy breakfast sandwiches (which you can top with portabellos, bacon, etc.) is a fabulous combination for a late weekend morning (as other reviewers have said). They have a drink called the John Daley, which is like an alcoholic Arnold Palmer (made with sweet tea vodka) and perfect for warm summer evenings. I really like the staff as well. Very down-to-earth and friendly.
What a cute, comfortable little place. Has always been very accommodating when I am there with a bit of a larger group. Service has always been friendly and reasonably quick. Beverage menu is expansive and DELICIOUS! Food menu is a little more condensed and unique in its offerings but I haven't yet tasted anything I didn't like; in fact, I appreciate that they offer dishes that I don't see at a hundred other venues. I also love that most of it is fresh and handmade instead of thrown together from frozen products. Bare Bones is a great place to take just yourself and your laptop or to meet with a friend/group of friends. I would take more boisterous meetings elsewhere as the atmosphere of the cafe is very mellow, but I appreciate that atmosphere and the fact that I don't have to struggle to hear my friends talk over any background noise. Also, the art is FABULOUS! I love that I can go in there and see different paintings every time.
(4)
misty w.
Best Gluten Free sandwich! I got the ham, brie and asparagus sammy and it was epic.
(5)
Kyle P.
Really good BBQ pork Sammy . Also tried special. Love the effort here by the cook and the staff. If your in a rush might want to pass but if you want good food a smile and nice local artwork give it a try.
(4)
DeAnne D.
I love this cafe. Only been once while I was visiting town- but I hung out for hours reading my book and drinking coffee on the outdoor patio. Their veggie grilled-cheese sandwich is UH-MAZING. Staff is friendly. Highly recommend! :]
(5)
Daniel J.
A cool atmosphere, good food and drinks are found here undoubtedly, but it has been my experience that the staff can be rude, one guy in particular, behind the counter comes off rather impatient and unfriendly, but other than that, I like this place.
(3)
Chris E.
We went here because of a restaurant certificate and we weren't disappointed. First the blood orange and jalapeno infused Margarita was great. The German potato salad was excellent. The Brie Ham and Asparagus grilled Panini was...wow...delicious. The service was fun and friendly. This is a very casual, funky, local cafe. Take a window seat and enjoy the people watching.
(4)
Jessica R.
I hesitated from writing a review originally as I selfishly wanted to prevent this place from doing the proverbially "blowing up". But I've decided that the time has come to graduate kindergarten and learn to share my toys. In my quest for the worlds best biscuits and gravy I've been to Madisons, The Blue Pig, Arleta Library the lists goes on and on. While there are a few close seconds, thus far, Bare Bones is the clear and present winner. A slightly sweet corn biscuit complimented by the most wonderful light and flavorful gravy in the entire world. The dude, had the roast beef sandwich "Bomb", Also, the Egg, Bagel, Pesto, with asparagus "Amazing". The only only only thing I would change is the chairs are a little uncomfy. But Suck it up! Those biscuits are AMAZING!
(5)
Mike L.
Open and pleasing space, good coffee, small selection of sandwiches and salads but the selection is first-rate - brilliant flavours. These folks accommodate many dietary restrictions - gluten, dairy, soy. Extremely friendly and helpful counter staff. Fun mix of music.
(5)
claire w.
Two Words - YAY! FEMINISTS!" :))))))))))
(5)
maryam h.
Best turkey sandwich in SE portland, hands down. Generous portions, reasonable prices for a glass of wine and a light dinner. LOVE IT.
(5)
Tim E.
I'm a frequent patron of Bare Bones Cafe. Their sandwiches are quite delicious, and their coffee and espresso is pretty good too. Friendly service, and there is never much of a wait, which you tend to find in really good coffee shops. They have a full bar here as well, and a happy hour, but I've only gotten lunch and espresso here.
(4)
Joanna Y.
My boyfriend and I have been coming to this place since about the time it opened. This place has emerged wonderfully (and gratefully) from the soul-sucking skeleton that was the previous coffee shop. Aside from what you expect from a coffee shop (cheap coffee, pastries, yummy acme donuts) the menu also boasts AMAZING FOOD: many sandwiches including a ham, brie, asparagus and dijon sandwich which normally comes with a side of greens, but do yourself a favor and upgrade to the BEST german potato salad I have ever tasted. Also delectable is the recent special cantaloupe, goat cheese and capicola salad (includes greens). They also offer a Happy Hour from 3-6, offering great specialty cocktails for a mere $5 and more yummy food items ranging from $2-4. Also cheap beers, a comfortable environment and VERY friendly owners/staff.
(5)
John P.
This is a very limited (but still 5 star) review. I stop in once every couple of weeks to pick up a plain grilled cheese sandwich for my 12 year old. The kid just loves them. He says it is the best thing he has ever eaten. I'm going to have to try one next time and I'll let you know what I think. The service has always been excellent.
(5)
Lars J.
Excellent Cafe. My favorite in town I would have to say. The food is magical and backed by a friendly wonderful staff. My favorite at the moment is the pulled pork, but everything on their menu is worth having at least a hundred times.
(5)
Adam A.
A true cafe. Coffee, food and booze. Good tables for sitting and enjoying lunch with someone or working at a laptop while enjoying a coffee. Good food, particularly the German potatoe salad. Friendly staff.
(4)
Chip W.
I simply love this place. I'm on a brief hiatus in Portland and I would nearly move here just to have this place in my daily routine. Wonderful staff, an owner/manager (not sure which) who really cares, great coffee, killer bloodies, excellent food. What else is there? Here's a sixth star to add to my five above: *
(5)
Anthony N.
Great coffee! Great Food! Awesome Happy hour specials! Try the deviled eggs made with tuna! Local artists display scenes flirting with my attention in this mellow bare boned atmosphere.
(5)
heidi l.
YUMMY!!! yay a loaded sandwhich with chips for under ten dollars, finally. the turkey is my favorite and bare bones does not skimp on the sprouts. i ride over there for lunch every once in awhile and am so happy to be able to sneak in a beer while i wait for my take out food. the out front seating is awesome for people watching and the staff is SUPER friendly. did i mention that this place is great? glad that you took the place of muddy waters, no offense to them but i much prefer sandwhiches to chain smoking hippies...
(5)
Travis L.
Friendly service, delicious food, decent coffee, spacious, cute plants on the table.
(5)
Sue B.
I am moving out of state, and one of the places I will miss the most in Portland is Bare Bones Cafe. For awhile (and before my work schedule conflicted grrrrr) I was eating breakfast there every single morning, and still stopping in for lunch several times a week. I am in love with their breakfast sandwiches, and their portobello olive veggie melt is out of this world. The entire menu is creative and yummy (there isn't a misstep on it), and their coffee drinks are the bomb. I, personally, go nuts for their soy lattes. And, as a kicker, I love going in to joke around with and say hi to the owner (and the entire staff). There is nothing better than finding a place in your neighborhood that has great food and coffee, AND an awesome, friendly, and funny staff. Bare Bones, I shall miss you! PS. They also always have AWESOME art on the walls, and I love going in to check that out as well. The whole place gets a giant "thumbs-up" from me. It'll be one of my first stops whenever I am visiting.
(5)
Oswald K.
Hella chill atmosphere. The folks here are super amenable and personable. They play a diverse variety of quality music. The one time the music was too loud I asked for it to be turned down and they did immediately. I can't speak for the food but the mocha's are bomb.
(5)
Karen L.
For a place with a pig on its logo, it has some delicious veggie options. They manage to make vegetarian food super flavorful. Almost anything on the menu can be made gluten free, and gluten free is done well here. Whatever bread they're using is so good, I almost forgot it wasn't regular bread when I was mowing down on my sandwich. I've only had a few things here, but they were all super fresh, high quality ingredients at reasonable prices. Portabello & olive veggie melt (I had it GF): The flavors were perfect! It almost tasted like a pizza in pannini form (but in a good, gourmet-basil-margarita sort of way). Butternut squash and blue cheese scramble (Had it with GF toast w/ rosemary butter): Whoever designed this menu is a flavor mixing genius - everything tasted just right. They had me at rosemary butter, which might have distracted me from all the other food on my plate, but I'm pretty sure it was all great. Veggie hummus sandwich: This is a pretty solid, flavorful meal. The hummus is very garlic-y, so don't plan on macking on in anyone after lunch. It's delicious, and totally worth the garlic breath all day. I got my sandwiches with gazpacho, and the two kinds I tried were so well done, they tasted like mama's home cookin! I don't even remember the last time I had soup at a restaurant that tasted so home made, or at least obviously made from scratch. On top of the good food, the decor is really comforting, and the whole place is good vibey. I like the aesthetic, and every time I go in there is an adorable, laid back gal at the counter, so the service gets 5 stars too.
(5)
Dylan W.
Bare Bones Cafe is by far my favorite spot in Portland. The people here are sincere, the atmosphere is chill and the food is good. Try the strata for sure. Maybe not the Mexican strata, but all the other stratas are excellent. Also, what got me hooked on this place in the first place is the german potato salad. Seriously though, Bare Bones is more than the food. It feels like community, and that feeling is awesome.
(5)
Amanda K.
Can't speak to the quality of the cafe items, but the cocktails from here leave much to be desired! My friend and I saw that they had $5 cocktails for happy hour, so we decided to stop in. She ordered a cocktail concoction of berries and habanero vodka. I took one sip and immediately regretted it...they need to warn people who order this to make sure they know what they are getting themselves into! Unfortunately, the drink I opted for was not much better. It was a combination of bourbon, apple brandy, and maple syrup...the proportions just seemed off and therefore the taste was just not there for me. Hopefully we just had a bad bartender, and others who work here can make some better drinks...or maybe the food is really delicious and can make up for the drinks? I for one won't be back to find out!
(2)
Anna M.
I go here to work and eat. Other coffee shops don't have the food selection or menu to accommodate my long writing sessions. There is some weird racist stuff written on the walls in the bathroom though. Not cool.
(4)
k k.
Rude and fake owner. I have spent quite a bit of time here lately and by the looks of it, you'd think they would be grateful for any business. I will not be returning. Usually the owner is just rude, but today, the owner didn't address me, ignored my conversation, rang me up, laid my change on the counter and didn't even say thank you- even after i handed him my money. I've also seen the owner tell a paying customer that they couldn't finish eating their food outside. She was obviously homeless, but she wasn't dirty or causing any trouble and she was a paying customer. All customers are not created equal I guess. i don't know what his problem with me is. I was spending close to $40. a week at some point. Why did I go here you ask? it was the location and that's it. It definitely wasn't for the rude service or crappy coffee. I would never touch any of the disgusting looking donuts in the place either. If the service wasn't so rude, I would give it another half star for it's relatively sizable bathroom, which you will be spending some time in if you happen to eat any of the food.
(1)
L.A. W.
Maybe it's my fault but the restaurants logo is a pig and the coupon advertisement, how I found them, was for sandwiches so my brain, for better or worse, went directly to pulled pork and a variety of BBQ offerings. I was completely wrong. One BBQ sandwich. I was sad. It was good but I wanted BBQ pig. Again, I was sad. Server- curt to us but polite and "Hey"-ish to the people she knew. Interesting.
(2)
Joanna Y.
My boyfriend and I have been coming to this place since about the time it opened. This place has emerged wonderfully (and gratefully) from the soul-sucking skeleton that was the previous coffee shop. Aside from what you expect from a coffee shop (cheap coffee, pastries, yummy acme donuts) the menu also boasts AMAZING FOOD: many sandwiches including a ham, brie, asparagus and dijon sandwich which normally comes with a side of greens, but do yourself a favor and upgrade to the BEST german potato salad I have ever tasted. Also delectable is the recent special cantaloupe, goat cheese and capicola salad (includes greens). They also offer a Happy Hour from 3-6, offering great specialty cocktails for a mere $5 and more yummy food items ranging from $2-4. Also cheap beers, a comfortable environment and VERY friendly owners/staff.
(5)
John P.
This is a very limited (but still 5 star) review. I stop in once every couple of weeks to pick up a plain grilled cheese sandwich for my 12 year old. The kid just loves them. He says it is the best thing he has ever eaten. I'm going to have to try one next time and I'll let you know what I think. The service has always been excellent.
(5)
Lars J.
Excellent Cafe. My favorite in town I would have to say. The food is magical and backed by a friendly wonderful staff. My favorite at the moment is the pulled pork, but everything on their menu is worth having at least a hundred times.
(5)
Adam A.
A true cafe. Coffee, food and booze. Good tables for sitting and enjoying lunch with someone or working at a laptop while enjoying a coffee. Good food, particularly the German potatoe salad. Friendly staff.
(4)
Chip W.
I simply love this place. I'm on a brief hiatus in Portland and I would nearly move here just to have this place in my daily routine. Wonderful staff, an owner/manager (not sure which) who really cares, great coffee, killer bloodies, excellent food. What else is there? Here's a sixth star to add to my five above: *
(5)
Josh T.
My kids went to Traditional Taekwando next door for years so I spent many an hour at Bare Bones Cafe. The staff are always nice and helpful. The coffee is good, the menu is more than just traditional coffee shop food. The space is much more open and calm than it was under the old ownership. All around a very solid, standard Portland coffee shop which means anywhere else in the country this place would be one of the best around.
(3)
Mike I.
Edit
(3)
Jeff H.
Stopped by here for breakfast and had a very enjoyable experience. Lots of people were stopping in and hanging out. It seemed to be a local spot that welcomed everyone, which isn't a bad thing. I ordered their chicken fried steak and was not disappointed. The sausage gravy was plentiful and the steak itself tasted as though it was hand breaded and fried, not pulled frozen out of a freezer. I dislike places that don't offer fountain sodas with refills, so I can't do a 5 star review...but there was plenty of water. The food, however, was beyond fabulous. I would have no problem stopping in here again.
(4)
Sanjuro J.
Good place to get a bite to eat and work. Good biscuits and gravy,breakfast sandwiches, and pie. Solid wifi with lots of outlets. Friendly staff. Good coffee. What more could you ask for? Only negative has been that the A/C got kind of overwhelmed on a hot day recently, but it was still working so not a big deal.
(4)
Andrew H.
In spite of a screaming for no reason at all two to three year old that needed a good dose of reality, the pink haired do it all kept the remaining few customers on this afternoon content with their beverages and food. I was one of them on a fairly nice afternoon in the land of port. I know many have ended up here or the bar next door, but I chose here because of the windows and I wanted to be able to see outside. A bottle of Sessions and a marbled rye Reuben were the choices that looked appetizing to me. Combined, a little over $12. Not too bad for the area. The sandwich was pretty standard but how can one really get a Reuben wrong? Thousand Island, kraut, Corned beef and bread. This came with a choice of chips and I went for some jalapeño ones. It seems that breakfast is the main attraction for this place and I guess at some point I'll have to get back and give a breakfast sandwich a try. The food I had was pretty good and in spite of the little wailing banshee, I will still come back. Enjoy.
(3)
Carlos E.
The everything bagel with rosemary cream cheese was underwhelming. The barbershop style chairs at the bar were nice and what give this place 4 instead of three stars. The art on the walls was cool. My new friend in Portland had his artwork up here he tells me. The cook and the attendant seem like an adorable old couple, so I'll come back...
(4)
Melissa L.
I recently went in and had an off meal, and said something to the server about it. It turns out, that'd been prepared by the owner herself, who upon hearing about the negative (bacon) experience, sent along new and wonderful bacon! I feel bad about having commented about what was clearly an unusual event, but I appreciate how gracious the owner was. I'll continue coming here just about every weekend as long as I live in the area, to be honest!
(5)
Alex B.
I come here a lot... it's probably high time to give them the glowing review they deserve. Overall, Bare Bones Cafe (not to be confused with their bar next door) is a great place for a coffee, a casual lunch, a change of scenery while working, or even a beer/cocktail. First and foremost, these guys have reliable free wifi. Coupled with access to good food and caffeine, this makes Bare Bones Cafe a great place to hole up with a laptop for long periods of time. I've never seen this place filled to capacity, so I never feel bad about hogging a table for several hours. The food menu is centered around sandwiches (which CAN be made gluten-free). I'm a huge fan of the braised beef brisket, or the portobello olive veggie melt if I'm in a vegetarian mood. I recommend spending the extra dollar to get a side of German potato salad with a sandwich. Their soups change every day, and have always been delicious. Then happy hour sneaks up on you (3-6), at which point you'll probably have to switch over to beer or cocktails. I can't say anything about their breakfast or weekend brunch, but I'm a huge fan of Bare Bones Cafe for everything else that they do.
(5)
Cassandra C.
I can't comment on the prices of drinks because I literally just signed my copy without looking at a total but I came here for trivia most recently (uh, Thursday nights? Was that Thursday?) and it was fun! Cool bar with a couple of pinball machines and a few tvs. There were SIXTEEN teams of trivia when we were there. I've been to Bare Bones a few times in the past because I used to live over here but it's not the kind of place I'd go out of my way for. They do have other events, Bingo, off the top of my head but yeah, just kind of a regular bar. Not too noisy, not too divey or cheap. Just a nice Bell Curve bar. I had a few Old Fashioneds (weird word) and the tuna deviled eggs. They were awfully fishy, I wouldn't get them again but I LOVE deviled eggs. Just no tuna. I did find their menu kind of limited. It was okay though, a nice evening spent with friends doing trivia.
(3)
Evan R.
Came for brunch. It was acceptable, nothing outstanding. Felt like something I could make at home in 10 minutes. Pros: - house made veggie sausage was great - toast (with breakfast) wad made with above average bread - decent price Cons: - portions felt small - hash browns were frozen, big box products. - grapefruit juice from concentrate
(3)
Rachel K.
I've been coming here for a few years every week for a meetup I help host. The people who work here play the perfect mix of music, and at the right volume - it's ALMOST loud, very conducive to working here on the computer! The food is great and accommodates vegan and gluten free, and their meat-ful dairy-ful food is terrific too - their $5 oatmeal INCLUDES BACON!! They just added a giant game room in the back with pinball, pool, and comfy couches, shared with Bare Bones Bar next door. I love the breakfast sandwiches, I love the standard breakfast plates with eggs, hashbrowns, & sausage/bacon, and the biscuits and gravy is terrific. The wifi has been getting more and more reliable it seems too - I haven't dropped any connections in a long time. Hint: get on the Bare Bones Bar wifi instead of the cafe - the Bar wifi's secured. Love this place.
(5)
Erin L.
So impressed here. Was traveling alone and felt a bit out of place as it was my first day in Portland. Lady behind counter was very nice and sweet. Ordered the portobello olive melt with goat cheese and sun dried tomato. Omg. Would go back to Portland just for this sandwich! The man who made my food (I assume?) was teaching the bartender pours so he offered me a free Black and Tan which of course I accepted. Such a nice cozy atmosphere. Most people were on laptops drinking coffee but I didn't feel uncomfortable with my grub and beer and old rolling stone mag!
(5)
Beat M.
First timer. Amazing food. I had what is most likely the most perfectly prepared BLT in my life. The quality fresh ingredients blew me away. Wish I'd gotten two. And there albacore tuna deviled eggs? OUTSTANDING. I can't wait to go back and try their build your own breakfast sandwich. A+
(5)
Jens J.
I stopped here for lunch a week or so back and was very pleased with the roast turkey sandwich (with a mucho delish aioli) and soup I requested. Though the day was cloudy, cold and drizzly, Bare Bones was warm and inviting on the inside. What I like too about Bare Bones is that it has a comfortable non-pretentious ambience. Kinda like Division was before all the construction (and resultant glitzification) began taking place. But I would guess it is just a matter of time before the same forces that are transforming Division seep (or barrel) into Belmont and do the same number. Let's keep Belmont Belmont. Plenty of tables (and electrical outlets!) for those wanting to bring their laptops and use Bare Bones as a coffee house. And if all the tables are taken, there's a bar where you can sit. Overall, I would have to say that for sandwiches, quality wise, Bare Bones is just as good as Meat Cheese Bread.
(4)
Mandy H.
Omgee. The gluten free buttermilk biscuit and rosemary gravy and a sunnyside up egg.. d. Eee. L. Iish! Wifi is awesome.. lighting is good and deaf friendly.. staff is awesome! Perfect celebratory place for mine and Michelle's dona certification sendoff!
(5)
Janett A.
I'm not very productive getting work done at home. Thrilled I found a great work space with great coffee/treats and fantastic service. Compliments to barista Alex for a stellar job. My iced Americano was nice and strong. Plus, the jalapeño and cheese bagel with cream cheese was soft and toasted perfectly. There's plenty of outlets and seating. My bf and are fans!
(4)
Ashlee H.
Had a much tastier brunch experience recently involving banana bread and extra-extra-crispy bacon, and so I have to bump them up that final star. Also since service is always awesome, and they have a table big enough for a board game with friends. Bare Bones is awesome. I just wish I could bring myself to stop ordering the pulled pork and try the rest of the menu ...
(5)
Chris E.
We went here because of a restaurant certificate and we weren't disappointed. First the blood orange and jalapeno infused Margarita was great. The German potato salad was excellent. The Brie Ham and Asparagus grilled Panini was...wow...delicious. The service was fun and friendly. This is a very casual, funky, local cafe. Take a window seat and enjoy the people watching.
(4)
Ev'Yan N.
Worst breakfast of my life. Absolutely horrible. Please, please don't eat a meal here. I ordered their two egg breakfast which advertised two eggs any style, hashbrowns, rustic toast, & choice of meat (bacon, veggie or pork sausage patty, or slice of ham). Here's what I got: two rubbery, over cooked & bland eggs, scrambled; one mushy-beyond-recognition veggie sausage patty that tasted like it came straight from the microwave, two freezer-burned potato patties (NOT hashbrowns!), & one piece of toast (the only decent thing on my plate). My partner, who got the smoked salmon scramble, subbing the bagel for "hashbrowns", said of the experience: "Whoever cooked this meal had little investment in the outcome. My scramble tasted like plastic, like something in it had been sitting in a plastic container for too long. It was salty, had way too many capers, & the salmon was petrified dry. This meal was a giant letdown, a complete betrayal to my senses. I really don't feel like they have any business selling food there." --Jonathan Mead We should've asked for our money back. I am ashamed that we didn't; even more so that we wasted $25 (for the meals that weren't eaten, two coffees + tip) without any kind of retribution. My only hope (in addition to not dying tonight of food poisoning) is that this review does some kind of justice. That's why I'm writing it. So please, for the love of all that is holy & true: Don't come here to eat a meal. I am scarred for life, my stomach hurts, & this place doesn't even deserve the one star that I am forced to give them.
(1)
Bob K.
Not sure how they got the 4 stars. We had a mixed greens salad which was good. A corn bacon chowder that was good but had the consistency of mashed potatoes. Braised Beef sandwich which was barely ok. It was tasteless unless you used their horseradish sauce. The sauce will blow out the back of your sinuses. Finally there was a german potato salad with bacon. It looks like they season it with a bunch of grained mustard. You could not taste the bacon and instead it was mostly a mustard taste. I also had to swap a chair as the one i had was ready to fall apart. Had to go through two other chairs till i found one safe to sit in. So the place is ok... And probably a great place to hang out and work, several tables doing that, but its not for us and we will not be back.
(2)
Estebano V.
Friendly staff. Food has improved since their early days. Solid wi-fi. My only real issue is that their kitchen ventilation / exhaust system doesn't seem to work. I was there early on a Sunday afternoon and the air was thick with the smell of bacon grease. I felt like I needed to shower after I left; it was just overwhelming.
(3)
Dustin R.
A good spot I thought, older building and the inside shows some wear (character). We had breakfast, which was good, the hashbrowns are the preformed patties, not loose like most places, but still good. The toast is awesome. Their coffees are huge cups so you get your money worth. The chairs at the bar are old barber chairs;)
(4)
Edna P.
Wonderful place, with a very rad staff. The food is prepared by a fantastic chef. If your in this area then this is the place to go! The Bare Bones Bar next door is also great. I love the Star Trek Pinball and the new artwork by local artists displayed regularly.
(5)
Dawn P.
This cafe is close to my boyfriend's place so we have walked over to get breakfast a few times and in those few times this place has always struck me as a three star joint. Not terrible and not terrific. Until this morning... It took thirty minutes to get our two egg breakfasts, but we were reading so we didn't care. When our plates arrived, my heart sunk a little at seeing the undercooked previously frozen potato patties they called hash browns on the menu. I was hungry and not in the mood to be fussy so I plowed on, uninterested. That lasted right up to the point when I opened the ketchup, which exploded so forcefully that not only did it explode all over my face, hair, sweatshirt and onto my boyfriend beside me, but the people in the back of the cafe could be heard asking what happened. I don't know what happened...what would cause the ketchup to explode and then continue to ooze up and out of its plastic bottle and be an ORANGE color!?! I'm still churning hours later, wondering just what was in that ketchup. I'd say the health department needs to visit. Once I had finished cleaning the ketchup off from me in the bathroom (it was a huge mess in my long hair) I went back to my food, still too tired to be deterred from my breakfast. The toast was fine, the veggie patty was over cooked and dry, the potato patties were cooked just enough to have been thawed out and warmed, but it was the eggs that finally pushed me over the threshold...they were raw. The sunny side up eggs were raw on the top of the white, as well as the yolk. All the while, the exploded ketchup, sat on the counter (we were seated at the bar in front of the uninterested and unconcerned server) and not one word was said to me to ask what happened, to apologize for the mishap, and when I asked her to remove the disgusting orange ketchup bottle, she took it away wordlessly. This place is terrible. Disinterested service every time, food that you could cook better at home even on your worst day, and I recommend saving your money for something halfway decent for your belly.
(1)
Nathaniel M.
Great option for coffee or cocktails on trendy Belmont. Why is it that more coffee shops don't also serve beer and cocktails? Yeah, I don't know either. What I do know is that Bare Bones Cafe does serve both and they do so very well. The ambiance leans more toward cafe than bar, which is a good thing (especially given that the Bar Bones Bar, just next door, can certainly fill that void). There are plenty of tables and free wifi for the typicaly cafe patron to have a seat, sip a coffee (Kobo's beans, which are excellent) and surf the web. Or....OR!...if you're in the mood for something more adult, just mosey on up to the bar, grab yourself a National Geographic (Yes! They still make magazines!) and order yourself a beer or one of their unique cocktails. My personal favorite was the Blood Orange & Jalepeno margarita. Only $5 during their happy hour from 3pm to 6pm. This is a great place to take your straight-edge friends who just want to indulge in caffeine (or one of their amazing sandwiches!) when you are more in the mood to sin.
(5)
Camille B.
This is hands down my favorite place to study. Almost every table is close to an outlet and the music and crowd is usually chill enough to get some work done. As an added bonus to their great food and coffee, they serve alcohol which makes writing papers WAAAY better.
(5)
Andrew A.
At first impression, the owner emitted a certain stand-offish vibe. The kind that implies, "I'm tired of this business, so don't give me any sass". However, after some pleasantries, all was okay. Conversely, there was an older man talking loudly on his phone, it would have appropriate for the owner to have said something. The place has been relatively empty during my three visits. I created a grilled cheese sandwich using the extensive ingredient choices, but it was just so-so. Size in relation to portion was small. Belmont is great, so it makes for a good people watching spot; the seats by the window are nice. Maybe something magical happens during the times when I'm not there, maybe I've missed some killer dish on the menu (can't remember what I ate the other two times.)
(2)
Megan Marie M.
WIFI = Medium (works great for only up to 5-7 people at a time) Coffee = Great Food = Good Atmosphere = Welcoming, no frills, laid back, big, quiet it is a good place to work at if there is not many other people using the wifi.
(3)
Sonora G.
Don't mind if I do! Thanks to the fine reviewers of Yelp, I stumbled on this lovely eatery just blocks from my house. I had no idea they even served food... how silly of me. This review could truly be summed up in three words: Croissant Monte Cristo; but I must doff my hat to the blue cheese and butternut squash scramble, a pair of fabulous bloody marys, and a friendly--though slightly awkward--staff :) I'm not super sweet on the whole "order at the bar" business at Bare Bones, and the space is a little funky, but the food and drink make it a solid four stars for me and my sweetie. It's definitely going into the breakfast rotation!
(4)
Windy S.
We stopped here to continue our Day Drinking Tour and have a Bloody Mary. So this review is only for the 1 Bloody Mary we consumed here. We ordered 3 Bloody Marys, the girl behind the counter warned us of the Spiciness. "Yes, Please." Just the way we like it. They came out with lots of pickled veggies and beautiful. Although we all agreed that the Spice was great, we found the mix to be a bit too sweet. Guess we side on the more saltier pallette when it comes to Bloodys. I did also notice that they do Mimosas in Pint glass for $5! In general the cocktail prices are extremely reasonable. Would love to come back and try other cocktails and some of the food!
(3)
Mo M.
I agree with Andrea G: there are plenty of awesome restaurants within a few blocks with friendlier staff and much better food. I've tried to like the cafe multiple times, but always come away with a mediocre experience. The bar is a little more in line with my expectations, but I give a resounding "meh" to both, I'm afraid.
(2)
Michele C.
Love the food, Ginger is an amazing chef! The staff is very friendly, it's a great place to hang out and get some work done. Must eat the Strada!!!
(5)
Jason M.
Maybe it's just because I live right around corner and it's a convenient place to go, but Bare Bones has quickly become one of my favourite haunts, especially on the weekends for breakfast. It's a well-rounded cafe, with decent coffee, good food, and a nice little selection of cocktails if you need something a bit stronger than coffee. The staff is pretty cool, too. I particularly enjoy their grilled cheese and soup combo, as well as their biscuits and gravy (weekends only). Nothing fancy, but it's all I could ask for in a neighborhood cafe. I've spent many an hour reading, surfing the net, and nursing hangovers at Bare Bones, and I expect I'll be spending many more for a long time to come. The only complaint I have is that the chairs can be a little uncomfortable, but I can live with that.
(4)
Allie K.
As promised, updating after I went over for breakfast. Really fantastic biscuits and gravy, it's not super heavy and the rosemary in the gravy is great. Also got some bacon as a side, managed to be crispy and thick at once which satisfied both me and my wife.
(5)
Thea S.
I've liked everything I've had here : portabello & olive & sundried tomato cheese grill = all my favorite things on bread=LUV. My boyfriend loves their pulled pork sandwich. I've tried it. It is awesome. The all day breakfast sandwich special saved my life one late morning mid-hangover. They also have great specials and a great brunch menu on the weekends. ....and they have coke in a bottle. thumbs up. nice clean place SO different from Muddy Waters.
(4)
Ang H.
Ok I have now been to Bare Bobes three times and can confidently say that this place is a winner! We found BB looking for gluten free options for my mom. She has celiac disease so cross contamination is a big deal. They have a fantastic curry chicken salad which she has ordered two times. She loves it and doesn't get sick. And for those of us who don't have to deal with rotten gluten issues...brilliant sandwiches and soups. Yummy iced tea. Fun music. Helpful and friendly staff. Light and airy room. Plenty of seating-I've never had to wait. All in all, a Portland winner!
(4)
Rene S.
Good food. They do everything right here. If you are looking for humble breakfast fair done with very good ingredients then this is your place.
(4)
Daniel J.
A cool atmosphere, good food and drinks are found here undoubtedly, but it has been my experience that the staff can be rude, one guy in particular, behind the counter comes off rather impatient and unfriendly, but other than that, I like this place.
(3)
Mercy T.
I'm only speaking for breakfast sandwiches here. I always get the same thing: Breakfast Sandwich, which is on a locally made, chewy, amazingly delicious, grilled pressed bagel, cheese (on top and bottom), egg, sometimes bacon and sometimes the house made juicy, delicious, fat, sausage patty. The bagel is $1 extra as well as the meat. The bagels I've had are Everything, Jalapeno Cheddar and a pesto one, they are all so frikin lovely! You can also just get the regular white bread, grilled with rosemary butter with egg and cheese is so damn perfect and cheap. I don't want huge portions because I hate having leftovers and paying for it too. I just want a cheap, simple and delicious breakfast sandwich and some coffee (with one free refill). I've been coming here with my husband for almost a year now, once a week, and every time, we're just silently eating because we don't care about anything around us or each other in that moment we can only think of the hot delicious heaven in our mouths. Also, I think the owner is nice, but we don't have conversations. I just order a simple sandwich, pay and wait. I really could care less if someone is kinda a dick anyway, who cares? People can be assholes sometimes or maybe all the time. I don't think it's worth worrying about here. I just want my food to be good! And it is, so yay!
(5)
Dylan R.
Great sandwiches, everything can be done gluten free and I don't know where they are getting that gf bread but dang it's good. The veggie sausage rules. One of my favorite places for brunch on the weekends. Affordable, fresh, the brunch is amazing and you can't beat $5 bloodys and mimosas. Everyone on staff seems to be genuinely nice, real people.
(4)
Sergei S.
After walking around the east side, my gf and I really wanted a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup. A quick yelp search revealed that Bare Bones had both! Was it the the best sandwich or soup ever? No. Did it hit the spot as far as the craving goes? Yes.
(3)
Andrea G.
Before visiting for the first time a few months ago, I read the reviews that were rather mixed. People loved it, others hated it. My first visit was nothing spectacular...the food is nothing to rave about. I had read that the owner was a dick, but found him to be ok on my first visit. Well, I recently went back for a second visit, which was another story. Those reviews about the owner being a dick are true. I will never give my money and support this guy again. I had ordered a breakfast sandwich with a scrambled egg. He told me that the cook couldn't make a scrambled egg because they didn't have a bowl in the restaurant. (WTF--as I watch a guy eat soup at the counter IN A BOWL). He said that they only have a skillet. Ok so scramble those bits on the skillet. Everyone else does. If you don't want to sell your sandwich with a "scrambled" egg, just say so. Don't lie about it with some lame reason. Nevertheless, I was kind and made no complaints. However, his pompous attitude about everything else was really disgusting...from giving me the hot water for my tea to having to ring up my order. And this coming from me, an east coaster, where most people have an attitude. Never again. There are plenty of awesome restaurants just within 2 blocks with friendlier staff. I recommend those over this place any day.
(1)
Jessica R.
I hesitated from writing a review originally as I selfishly wanted to prevent this place from doing the proverbially "blowing up". But I've decided that the time has come to graduate kindergarten and learn to share my toys. In my quest for the worlds best biscuits and gravy I've been to Madisons, The Blue Pig, Arleta Library the lists goes on and on. While there are a few close seconds, thus far, Bare Bones is the clear and present winner. A slightly sweet corn biscuit complimented by the most wonderful light and flavorful gravy in the entire world. The dude, had the roast beef sandwich "Bomb", Also, the Egg, Bagel, Pesto, with asparagus "Amazing". The only only only thing I would change is the chairs are a little uncomfy. But Suck it up! Those biscuits are AMAZING!
(5)
Mike L.
Open and pleasing space, good coffee, small selection of sandwiches and salads but the selection is first-rate - brilliant flavours. These folks accommodate many dietary restrictions - gluten, dairy, soy. Extremely friendly and helpful counter staff. Fun mix of music.
(5)
claire w.
Two Words - YAY! FEMINISTS!" :))))))))))
(5)
maryam h.
Best turkey sandwich in SE portland, hands down. Generous portions, reasonable prices for a glass of wine and a light dinner. LOVE IT.
(5)
Tim E.
I'm a frequent patron of Bare Bones Cafe. Their sandwiches are quite delicious, and their coffee and espresso is pretty good too. Friendly service, and there is never much of a wait, which you tend to find in really good coffee shops. They have a full bar here as well, and a happy hour, but I've only gotten lunch and espresso here.
(4)
Kenna H.
I'm not sure where this Mr. Hyde of a beast has been hiding that all the negative reviewers are talking about, but the owner is nothing but a peach to me every time I come in. And speaking for someone who frequently abuses the free refill rule, nags the chef for ideas on home smoking techniques and obsessively steals space on the community board you'd think I'd be the optimal customer on the next "No-Service" list. But, even though I only buy a plain coffee every couple of days and verbally hijack the owner they have been nothing but sweet to me. Although, since I started sending my boyfriend across the street to them everytime I need a hangover cure (seriously, the roast beef melt with roasted onions and portabello mushrooms RULES) they have endeared themselves to me. That being said, I think after having to dig themselves out of the stigma associated with the previous cafe that dwelt in the same spot you can understand why they might be hesitant to let tons of homeless folks hang around for too long (not saying it's right, just that that's what killed the last cafe). Bare Bones, I love the shit outta you.
(5)
Deanna N.
I'd say pass on the menu. But I will say that the drinks yowza! Being the economist I am, I had a restaurant.com certificate I got for $2 for $25. My friend lurves and has come back more than once for the bloody mary which includes homemade beef jerky. I had a generous pour gin and tonic. Bar is a nice hangout and there are outside picnic tables for the summer months. This will be a summer watering-hole for me on my coupons!
(4)
Alison P.
I have been here three times now, and each time the food has been delish, and the people at the counter have been super nice and friendly. Their ham, brie and asparagus sandwich is super yum-tastic. Not a fan of delicious meat? No worries, their grilled cheese is fantastic. They put all kinds of yummy veggies in it, too. There are a few things that are holding them back from a 5 star rating, though. First, prices are a little steep in my opinion. Total for a sandwich and small side of greens was $9.70....and that doesn't include a drink. $10 lunch with no beverage makes Alison sad and thirsty. Second, my average wait time for food after I order is around 10 minutes. Luckily, I get hour lunches and work up the street. But someone on a quick lunch, and having to commute back to work might be pressed for time. Third, they don't do half sandwiches. Boo. All in all, I really like this place. The food is great and so are the people working there. If they lowered their prices just a tad, and offered halvsies on their fantastic sandwiches, I would probably hit them up for lunch more often.
(4)
Nik R.
Bare Bones - you are anything but. I've been in a couple of times, and love love LOVE the fact that you have a good selection of gluten free options. Tasty drinks. Awesome staff. Single stall, non-gendered bathrooms. Free wifi. Vegan options. They have a daily happy hour from 3-6pm - go in and try the menu! It's usually pretty quiet around then, and is a great place to grab a glass of wine, the deviled eggs with ablacore tuna and scallions (taaaaasty!), pull out the school books and hunker down for a bit of studying.
(4)
Annie G.
I like Portland for many reasons, and one of those reasons is that there's coffee shops that serve alcohol. Native Portlanders--you don't know how good you've got it. Or maybe you do, and that's why you're still living in Portland and going to places like Bare Bones Cafe. Today I discovered they serve pint-sized Mimosas for cheaper than most breakfast places. This plus the greasy breakfast sandwiches (which you can top with portabellos, bacon, etc.) is a fabulous combination for a late weekend morning (as other reviewers have said). They have a drink called the John Daley, which is like an alcoholic Arnold Palmer (made with sweet tea vodka) and perfect for warm summer evenings. I really like the staff as well. Very down-to-earth and friendly.
What a cute, comfortable little place. Has always been very accommodating when I am there with a bit of a larger group. Service has always been friendly and reasonably quick. Beverage menu is expansive and DELICIOUS! Food menu is a little more condensed and unique in its offerings but I haven't yet tasted anything I didn't like; in fact, I appreciate that they offer dishes that I don't see at a hundred other venues. I also love that most of it is fresh and handmade instead of thrown together from frozen products. Bare Bones is a great place to take just yourself and your laptop or to meet with a friend/group of friends. I would take more boisterous meetings elsewhere as the atmosphere of the cafe is very mellow, but I appreciate that atmosphere and the fact that I don't have to struggle to hear my friends talk over any background noise. Also, the art is FABULOUS! I love that I can go in there and see different paintings every time.
(4)
misty w.
Best Gluten Free sandwich! I got the ham, brie and asparagus sammy and it was epic.
(5)
Kyle P.
Really good BBQ pork Sammy . Also tried special. Love the effort here by the cook and the staff. If your in a rush might want to pass but if you want good food a smile and nice local artwork give it a try.
(4)
DeAnne D.
I love this cafe. Only been once while I was visiting town- but I hung out for hours reading my book and drinking coffee on the outdoor patio. Their veggie grilled-cheese sandwich is UH-MAZING. Staff is friendly. Highly recommend! :]
(5)
Anthony N.
Great coffee! Great Food! Awesome Happy hour specials! Try the deviled eggs made with tuna! Local artists display scenes flirting with my attention in this mellow bare boned atmosphere.
(5)
heidi l.
YUMMY!!! yay a loaded sandwhich with chips for under ten dollars, finally. the turkey is my favorite and bare bones does not skimp on the sprouts. i ride over there for lunch every once in awhile and am so happy to be able to sneak in a beer while i wait for my take out food. the out front seating is awesome for people watching and the staff is SUPER friendly. did i mention that this place is great? glad that you took the place of muddy waters, no offense to them but i much prefer sandwhiches to chain smoking hippies...
(5)
Travis L.
Friendly service, delicious food, decent coffee, spacious, cute plants on the table.
(5)
Sue B.
I am moving out of state, and one of the places I will miss the most in Portland is Bare Bones Cafe. For awhile (and before my work schedule conflicted grrrrr) I was eating breakfast there every single morning, and still stopping in for lunch several times a week. I am in love with their breakfast sandwiches, and their portobello olive veggie melt is out of this world. The entire menu is creative and yummy (there isn't a misstep on it), and their coffee drinks are the bomb. I, personally, go nuts for their soy lattes. And, as a kicker, I love going in to joke around with and say hi to the owner (and the entire staff). There is nothing better than finding a place in your neighborhood that has great food and coffee, AND an awesome, friendly, and funny staff. Bare Bones, I shall miss you! PS. They also always have AWESOME art on the walls, and I love going in to check that out as well. The whole place gets a giant "thumbs-up" from me. It'll be one of my first stops whenever I am visiting.
(5)
Andrea G.
Before visiting for the first time a few months ago, I read the reviews that were rather mixed. People loved it, others hated it. My first visit was nothing spectacular...the food is nothing to rave about. I had read that the owner was a dick, but found him to be ok on my first visit. Well, I recently went back for a second visit, which was another story. Those reviews about the owner being a dick are true. I will never give my money and support this guy again. I had ordered a breakfast sandwich with a scrambled egg. He told me that the cook couldn't make a scrambled egg because they didn't have a bowl in the restaurant. (WTF--as I watch a guy eat soup at the counter IN A BOWL). He said that they only have a skillet. Ok so scramble those bits on the skillet. Everyone else does. If you don't want to sell your sandwich with a "scrambled" egg, just say so. Don't lie about it with some lame reason. Nevertheless, I was kind and made no complaints. However, his pompous attitude about everything else was really disgusting...from giving me the hot water for my tea to having to ring up my order. And this coming from me, an east coaster, where most people have an attitude. Never again. There are plenty of awesome restaurants just within 2 blocks with friendlier staff. I recommend those over this place any day.
(1)
Anna M.
I go here to work and eat. Other coffee shops don't have the food selection or menu to accommodate my long writing sessions. There is some weird racist stuff written on the walls in the bathroom though. Not cool.
(4)
k k.
Rude and fake owner. I have spent quite a bit of time here lately and by the looks of it, you'd think they would be grateful for any business. I will not be returning. Usually the owner is just rude, but today, the owner didn't address me, ignored my conversation, rang me up, laid my change on the counter and didn't even say thank you- even after i handed him my money. I've also seen the owner tell a paying customer that they couldn't finish eating their food outside. She was obviously homeless, but she wasn't dirty or causing any trouble and she was a paying customer. All customers are not created equal I guess. i don't know what his problem with me is. I was spending close to $40. a week at some point. Why did I go here you ask? it was the location and that's it. It definitely wasn't for the rude service or crappy coffee. I would never touch any of the disgusting looking donuts in the place either. If the service wasn't so rude, I would give it another half star for it's relatively sizable bathroom, which you will be spending some time in if you happen to eat any of the food.
(1)
L.A. W.
Maybe it's my fault but the restaurants logo is a pig and the coupon advertisement, how I found them, was for sandwiches so my brain, for better or worse, went directly to pulled pork and a variety of BBQ offerings. I was completely wrong. One BBQ sandwich. I was sad. It was good but I wanted BBQ pig. Again, I was sad. Server- curt to us but polite and "Hey"-ish to the people she knew. Interesting.
(2)
Oswald K.
Hella chill atmosphere. The folks here are super amenable and personable. They play a diverse variety of quality music. The one time the music was too loud I asked for it to be turned down and they did immediately. I can't speak for the food but the mocha's are bomb.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Jeff H.
Stopped by here for breakfast and had a very enjoyable experience. Lots of people were stopping in and hanging out. It seemed to be a local spot that welcomed everyone, which isn't a bad thing. I ordered their chicken fried steak and was not disappointed. The sausage gravy was plentiful and the steak itself tasted as though it was hand breaded and fried, not pulled frozen out of a freezer. I dislike places that don't offer fountain sodas with refills, so I can't do a 5 star review...but there was plenty of water. The food, however, was beyond fabulous. I would have no problem stopping in here again.
(4)Sanjuro J.
Good place to get a bite to eat and work. Good biscuits and gravy,breakfast sandwiches, and pie. Solid wifi with lots of outlets. Friendly staff. Good coffee. What more could you ask for? Only negative has been that the A/C got kind of overwhelmed on a hot day recently, but it was still working so not a big deal.
(4)Andrew H.
In spite of a screaming for no reason at all two to three year old that needed a good dose of reality, the pink haired do it all kept the remaining few customers on this afternoon content with their beverages and food. I was one of them on a fairly nice afternoon in the land of port. I know many have ended up here or the bar next door, but I chose here because of the windows and I wanted to be able to see outside. A bottle of Sessions and a marbled rye Reuben were the choices that looked appetizing to me. Combined, a little over $12. Not too bad for the area. The sandwich was pretty standard but how can one really get a Reuben wrong? Thousand Island, kraut, Corned beef and bread. This came with a choice of chips and I went for some jalapeño ones. It seems that breakfast is the main attraction for this place and I guess at some point I'll have to get back and give a breakfast sandwich a try. The food I had was pretty good and in spite of the little wailing banshee, I will still come back. Enjoy.
(3)Carlos E.
The everything bagel with rosemary cream cheese was underwhelming. The barbershop style chairs at the bar were nice and what give this place 4 instead of three stars. The art on the walls was cool. My new friend in Portland had his artwork up here he tells me. The cook and the attendant seem like an adorable old couple, so I'll come back...
(4)Melissa L.
I recently went in and had an off meal, and said something to the server about it. It turns out, that'd been prepared by the owner herself, who upon hearing about the negative (bacon) experience, sent along new and wonderful bacon! I feel bad about having commented about what was clearly an unusual event, but I appreciate how gracious the owner was. I'll continue coming here just about every weekend as long as I live in the area, to be honest!
(5)Alex B.
I come here a lot... it's probably high time to give them the glowing review they deserve. Overall, Bare Bones Cafe (not to be confused with their bar next door) is a great place for a coffee, a casual lunch, a change of scenery while working, or even a beer/cocktail. First and foremost, these guys have reliable free wifi. Coupled with access to good food and caffeine, this makes Bare Bones Cafe a great place to hole up with a laptop for long periods of time. I've never seen this place filled to capacity, so I never feel bad about hogging a table for several hours. The food menu is centered around sandwiches (which CAN be made gluten-free). I'm a huge fan of the braised beef brisket, or the portobello olive veggie melt if I'm in a vegetarian mood. I recommend spending the extra dollar to get a side of German potato salad with a sandwich. Their soups change every day, and have always been delicious. Then happy hour sneaks up on you (3-6), at which point you'll probably have to switch over to beer or cocktails. I can't say anything about their breakfast or weekend brunch, but I'm a huge fan of Bare Bones Cafe for everything else that they do.
(5)Cassandra C.
I can't comment on the prices of drinks because I literally just signed my copy without looking at a total but I came here for trivia most recently (uh, Thursday nights? Was that Thursday?) and it was fun! Cool bar with a couple of pinball machines and a few tvs. There were SIXTEEN teams of trivia when we were there. I've been to Bare Bones a few times in the past because I used to live over here but it's not the kind of place I'd go out of my way for. They do have other events, Bingo, off the top of my head but yeah, just kind of a regular bar. Not too noisy, not too divey or cheap. Just a nice Bell Curve bar. I had a few Old Fashioneds (weird word) and the tuna deviled eggs. They were awfully fishy, I wouldn't get them again but I LOVE deviled eggs. Just no tuna. I did find their menu kind of limited. It was okay though, a nice evening spent with friends doing trivia.
(3)Evan R.
Came for brunch. It was acceptable, nothing outstanding. Felt like something I could make at home in 10 minutes. Pros: - house made veggie sausage was great - toast (with breakfast) wad made with above average bread - decent price Cons: - portions felt small - hash browns were frozen, big box products. - grapefruit juice from concentrate
(3)Rachel K.
I've been coming here for a few years every week for a meetup I help host. The people who work here play the perfect mix of music, and at the right volume - it's ALMOST loud, very conducive to working here on the computer! The food is great and accommodates vegan and gluten free, and their meat-ful dairy-ful food is terrific too - their $5 oatmeal INCLUDES BACON!! They just added a giant game room in the back with pinball, pool, and comfy couches, shared with Bare Bones Bar next door. I love the breakfast sandwiches, I love the standard breakfast plates with eggs, hashbrowns, & sausage/bacon, and the biscuits and gravy is terrific. The wifi has been getting more and more reliable it seems too - I haven't dropped any connections in a long time. Hint: get on the Bare Bones Bar wifi instead of the cafe - the Bar wifi's secured. Love this place.
(5)Erin L.
So impressed here. Was traveling alone and felt a bit out of place as it was my first day in Portland. Lady behind counter was very nice and sweet. Ordered the portobello olive melt with goat cheese and sun dried tomato. Omg. Would go back to Portland just for this sandwich! The man who made my food (I assume?) was teaching the bartender pours so he offered me a free Black and Tan which of course I accepted. Such a nice cozy atmosphere. Most people were on laptops drinking coffee but I didn't feel uncomfortable with my grub and beer and old rolling stone mag!
(5)Beat M.
First timer. Amazing food. I had what is most likely the most perfectly prepared BLT in my life. The quality fresh ingredients blew me away. Wish I'd gotten two. And there albacore tuna deviled eggs? OUTSTANDING. I can't wait to go back and try their build your own breakfast sandwich. A+
(5)Jens J.
I stopped here for lunch a week or so back and was very pleased with the roast turkey sandwich (with a mucho delish aioli) and soup I requested. Though the day was cloudy, cold and drizzly, Bare Bones was warm and inviting on the inside. What I like too about Bare Bones is that it has a comfortable non-pretentious ambience. Kinda like Division was before all the construction (and resultant glitzification) began taking place. But I would guess it is just a matter of time before the same forces that are transforming Division seep (or barrel) into Belmont and do the same number. Let's keep Belmont Belmont. Plenty of tables (and electrical outlets!) for those wanting to bring their laptops and use Bare Bones as a coffee house. And if all the tables are taken, there's a bar where you can sit. Overall, I would have to say that for sandwiches, quality wise, Bare Bones is just as good as Meat Cheese Bread.
(4)Mandy H.
Omgee. The gluten free buttermilk biscuit and rosemary gravy and a sunnyside up egg.. d. Eee. L. Iish! Wifi is awesome.. lighting is good and deaf friendly.. staff is awesome! Perfect celebratory place for mine and Michelle's dona certification sendoff!
(5)Janett A.
I'm not very productive getting work done at home. Thrilled I found a great work space with great coffee/treats and fantastic service. Compliments to barista Alex for a stellar job. My iced Americano was nice and strong. Plus, the jalapeño and cheese bagel with cream cheese was soft and toasted perfectly. There's plenty of outlets and seating. My bf and are fans!
(4)Ev'Yan N.
Worst breakfast of my life. Absolutely horrible. Please, please don't eat a meal here. I ordered their two egg breakfast which advertised two eggs any style, hashbrowns, rustic toast, & choice of meat (bacon, veggie or pork sausage patty, or slice of ham). Here's what I got: two rubbery, over cooked & bland eggs, scrambled; one mushy-beyond-recognition veggie sausage patty that tasted like it came straight from the microwave, two freezer-burned potato patties (NOT hashbrowns!), & one piece of toast (the only decent thing on my plate). My partner, who got the smoked salmon scramble, subbing the bagel for "hashbrowns", said of the experience: "Whoever cooked this meal had little investment in the outcome. My scramble tasted like plastic, like something in it had been sitting in a plastic container for too long. It was salty, had way too many capers, & the salmon was petrified dry. This meal was a giant letdown, a complete betrayal to my senses. I really don't feel like they have any business selling food there." --Jonathan Mead We should've asked for our money back. I am ashamed that we didn't; even more so that we wasted $25 (for the meals that weren't eaten, two coffees + tip) without any kind of retribution. My only hope (in addition to not dying tonight of food poisoning) is that this review does some kind of justice. That's why I'm writing it. So please, for the love of all that is holy & true: Don't come here to eat a meal. I am scarred for life, my stomach hurts, & this place doesn't even deserve the one star that I am forced to give them.
(1)Bob K.
Not sure how they got the 4 stars. We had a mixed greens salad which was good. A corn bacon chowder that was good but had the consistency of mashed potatoes. Braised Beef sandwich which was barely ok. It was tasteless unless you used their horseradish sauce. The sauce will blow out the back of your sinuses. Finally there was a german potato salad with bacon. It looks like they season it with a bunch of grained mustard. You could not taste the bacon and instead it was mostly a mustard taste. I also had to swap a chair as the one i had was ready to fall apart. Had to go through two other chairs till i found one safe to sit in. So the place is ok... And probably a great place to hang out and work, several tables doing that, but its not for us and we will not be back.
(2)Estebano V.
Friendly staff. Food has improved since their early days. Solid wi-fi. My only real issue is that their kitchen ventilation / exhaust system doesn't seem to work. I was there early on a Sunday afternoon and the air was thick with the smell of bacon grease. I felt like I needed to shower after I left; it was just overwhelming.
(3)Dustin R.
A good spot I thought, older building and the inside shows some wear (character). We had breakfast, which was good, the hashbrowns are the preformed patties, not loose like most places, but still good. The toast is awesome. Their coffees are huge cups so you get your money worth. The chairs at the bar are old barber chairs;)
(4)Edna P.
Wonderful place, with a very rad staff. The food is prepared by a fantastic chef. If your in this area then this is the place to go! The Bare Bones Bar next door is also great. I love the Star Trek Pinball and the new artwork by local artists displayed regularly.
(5)Deanna N.
I'd say pass on the menu. But I will say that the drinks yowza! Being the economist I am, I had a restaurant.com certificate I got for $2 for $25. My friend lurves and has come back more than once for the bloody mary which includes homemade beef jerky. I had a generous pour gin and tonic. Bar is a nice hangout and there are outside picnic tables for the summer months. This will be a summer watering-hole for me on my coupons!
(4)Ashlee H.
Had a much tastier brunch experience recently involving banana bread and extra-extra-crispy bacon, and so I have to bump them up that final star. Also since service is always awesome, and they have a table big enough for a board game with friends. Bare Bones is awesome. I just wish I could bring myself to stop ordering the pulled pork and try the rest of the menu ...
(5)Jason M.
Maybe it's just because I live right around corner and it's a convenient place to go, but Bare Bones has quickly become one of my favourite haunts, especially on the weekends for breakfast. It's a well-rounded cafe, with decent coffee, good food, and a nice little selection of cocktails if you need something a bit stronger than coffee. The staff is pretty cool, too. I particularly enjoy their grilled cheese and soup combo, as well as their biscuits and gravy (weekends only). Nothing fancy, but it's all I could ask for in a neighborhood cafe. I've spent many an hour reading, surfing the net, and nursing hangovers at Bare Bones, and I expect I'll be spending many more for a long time to come. The only complaint I have is that the chairs can be a little uncomfortable, but I can live with that.
(4)Thea S.
I've liked everything I've had here : portabello & olive & sundried tomato cheese grill = all my favorite things on bread=LUV. My boyfriend loves their pulled pork sandwich. I've tried it. It is awesome. The all day breakfast sandwich special saved my life one late morning mid-hangover. They also have great specials and a great brunch menu on the weekends. ....and they have coke in a bottle. thumbs up. nice clean place SO different from Muddy Waters.
(4)Ang H.
Ok I have now been to Bare Bobes three times and can confidently say that this place is a winner! We found BB looking for gluten free options for my mom. She has celiac disease so cross contamination is a big deal. They have a fantastic curry chicken salad which she has ordered two times. She loves it and doesn't get sick. And for those of us who don't have to deal with rotten gluten issues...brilliant sandwiches and soups. Yummy iced tea. Fun music. Helpful and friendly staff. Light and airy room. Plenty of seating-I've never had to wait. All in all, a Portland winner!
(4)Rene S.
Good food. They do everything right here. If you are looking for humble breakfast fair done with very good ingredients then this is your place.
(4)Dawn P.
This cafe is close to my boyfriend's place so we have walked over to get breakfast a few times and in those few times this place has always struck me as a three star joint. Not terrible and not terrific. Until this morning... It took thirty minutes to get our two egg breakfasts, but we were reading so we didn't care. When our plates arrived, my heart sunk a little at seeing the undercooked previously frozen potato patties they called hash browns on the menu. I was hungry and not in the mood to be fussy so I plowed on, uninterested. That lasted right up to the point when I opened the ketchup, which exploded so forcefully that not only did it explode all over my face, hair, sweatshirt and onto my boyfriend beside me, but the people in the back of the cafe could be heard asking what happened. I don't know what happened...what would cause the ketchup to explode and then continue to ooze up and out of its plastic bottle and be an ORANGE color!?! I'm still churning hours later, wondering just what was in that ketchup. I'd say the health department needs to visit. Once I had finished cleaning the ketchup off from me in the bathroom (it was a huge mess in my long hair) I went back to my food, still too tired to be deterred from my breakfast. The toast was fine, the veggie patty was over cooked and dry, the potato patties were cooked just enough to have been thawed out and warmed, but it was the eggs that finally pushed me over the threshold...they were raw. The sunny side up eggs were raw on the top of the white, as well as the yolk. All the while, the exploded ketchup, sat on the counter (we were seated at the bar in front of the uninterested and unconcerned server) and not one word was said to me to ask what happened, to apologize for the mishap, and when I asked her to remove the disgusting orange ketchup bottle, she took it away wordlessly. This place is terrible. Disinterested service every time, food that you could cook better at home even on your worst day, and I recommend saving your money for something halfway decent for your belly.
(1)Nathaniel M.
Great option for coffee or cocktails on trendy Belmont. Why is it that more coffee shops don't also serve beer and cocktails? Yeah, I don't know either. What I do know is that Bare Bones Cafe does serve both and they do so very well. The ambiance leans more toward cafe than bar, which is a good thing (especially given that the Bar Bones Bar, just next door, can certainly fill that void). There are plenty of tables and free wifi for the typicaly cafe patron to have a seat, sip a coffee (Kobo's beans, which are excellent) and surf the web. Or....OR!...if you're in the mood for something more adult, just mosey on up to the bar, grab yourself a National Geographic (Yes! They still make magazines!) and order yourself a beer or one of their unique cocktails. My personal favorite was the Blood Orange & Jalepeno margarita. Only $5 during their happy hour from 3pm to 6pm. This is a great place to take your straight-edge friends who just want to indulge in caffeine (or one of their amazing sandwiches!) when you are more in the mood to sin.
(5)Camille B.
This is hands down my favorite place to study. Almost every table is close to an outlet and the music and crowd is usually chill enough to get some work done. As an added bonus to their great food and coffee, they serve alcohol which makes writing papers WAAAY better.
(5)Karen L.
For a place with a pig on its logo, it has some delicious veggie options. They manage to make vegetarian food super flavorful. Almost anything on the menu can be made gluten free, and gluten free is done well here. Whatever bread they're using is so good, I almost forgot it wasn't regular bread when I was mowing down on my sandwich. I've only had a few things here, but they were all super fresh, high quality ingredients at reasonable prices. Portabello & olive veggie melt (I had it GF): The flavors were perfect! It almost tasted like a pizza in pannini form (but in a good, gourmet-basil-margarita sort of way). Butternut squash and blue cheese scramble (Had it with GF toast w/ rosemary butter): Whoever designed this menu is a flavor mixing genius - everything tasted just right. They had me at rosemary butter, which might have distracted me from all the other food on my plate, but I'm pretty sure it was all great. Veggie hummus sandwich: This is a pretty solid, flavorful meal. The hummus is very garlic-y, so don't plan on macking on in anyone after lunch. It's delicious, and totally worth the garlic breath all day. I got my sandwiches with gazpacho, and the two kinds I tried were so well done, they tasted like mama's home cookin! I don't even remember the last time I had soup at a restaurant that tasted so home made, or at least obviously made from scratch. On top of the good food, the decor is really comforting, and the whole place is good vibey. I like the aesthetic, and every time I go in there is an adorable, laid back gal at the counter, so the service gets 5 stars too.
(5)Dylan W.
Bare Bones Cafe is by far my favorite spot in Portland. The people here are sincere, the atmosphere is chill and the food is good. Try the strata for sure. Maybe not the Mexican strata, but all the other stratas are excellent. Also, what got me hooked on this place in the first place is the german potato salad. Seriously though, Bare Bones is more than the food. It feels like community, and that feeling is awesome.
(5)Amanda K.
Can't speak to the quality of the cafe items, but the cocktails from here leave much to be desired! My friend and I saw that they had $5 cocktails for happy hour, so we decided to stop in. She ordered a cocktail concoction of berries and habanero vodka. I took one sip and immediately regretted it...they need to warn people who order this to make sure they know what they are getting themselves into! Unfortunately, the drink I opted for was not much better. It was a combination of bourbon, apple brandy, and maple syrup...the proportions just seemed off and therefore the taste was just not there for me. Hopefully we just had a bad bartender, and others who work here can make some better drinks...or maybe the food is really delicious and can make up for the drinks? I for one won't be back to find out!
(2)Josh T.
My kids went to Traditional Taekwando next door for years so I spent many an hour at Bare Bones Cafe. The staff are always nice and helpful. The coffee is good, the menu is more than just traditional coffee shop food. The space is much more open and calm than it was under the old ownership. All around a very solid, standard Portland coffee shop which means anywhere else in the country this place would be one of the best around.
(3)Mike I.
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(3)Andrew A.
At first impression, the owner emitted a certain stand-offish vibe. The kind that implies, "I'm tired of this business, so don't give me any sass". However, after some pleasantries, all was okay. Conversely, there was an older man talking loudly on his phone, it would have appropriate for the owner to have said something. The place has been relatively empty during my three visits. I created a grilled cheese sandwich using the extensive ingredient choices, but it was just so-so. Size in relation to portion was small. Belmont is great, so it makes for a good people watching spot; the seats by the window are nice. Maybe something magical happens during the times when I'm not there, maybe I've missed some killer dish on the menu (can't remember what I ate the other two times.)
(2)Megan Marie M.
WIFI = Medium (works great for only up to 5-7 people at a time) Coffee = Great Food = Good Atmosphere = Welcoming, no frills, laid back, big, quiet it is a good place to work at if there is not many other people using the wifi.
(3)Sonora G.
Don't mind if I do! Thanks to the fine reviewers of Yelp, I stumbled on this lovely eatery just blocks from my house. I had no idea they even served food... how silly of me. This review could truly be summed up in three words: Croissant Monte Cristo; but I must doff my hat to the blue cheese and butternut squash scramble, a pair of fabulous bloody marys, and a friendly--though slightly awkward--staff :) I'm not super sweet on the whole "order at the bar" business at Bare Bones, and the space is a little funky, but the food and drink make it a solid four stars for me and my sweetie. It's definitely going into the breakfast rotation!
(4)Windy S.
We stopped here to continue our Day Drinking Tour and have a Bloody Mary. So this review is only for the 1 Bloody Mary we consumed here. We ordered 3 Bloody Marys, the girl behind the counter warned us of the Spiciness. "Yes, Please." Just the way we like it. They came out with lots of pickled veggies and beautiful. Although we all agreed that the Spice was great, we found the mix to be a bit too sweet. Guess we side on the more saltier pallette when it comes to Bloodys. I did also notice that they do Mimosas in Pint glass for $5! In general the cocktail prices are extremely reasonable. Would love to come back and try other cocktails and some of the food!
(3)Mo M.
I agree with Andrea G: there are plenty of awesome restaurants within a few blocks with friendlier staff and much better food. I've tried to like the cafe multiple times, but always come away with a mediocre experience. The bar is a little more in line with my expectations, but I give a resounding "meh" to both, I'm afraid.
(2)Michele C.
Love the food, Ginger is an amazing chef! The staff is very friendly, it's a great place to hang out and get some work done. Must eat the Strada!!!
(5)Allie K.
As promised, updating after I went over for breakfast. Really fantastic biscuits and gravy, it's not super heavy and the rosemary in the gravy is great. Also got some bacon as a side, managed to be crispy and thick at once which satisfied both me and my wife.
(5)Mercy T.
I'm only speaking for breakfast sandwiches here. I always get the same thing: Breakfast Sandwich, which is on a locally made, chewy, amazingly delicious, grilled pressed bagel, cheese (on top and bottom), egg, sometimes bacon and sometimes the house made juicy, delicious, fat, sausage patty. The bagel is $1 extra as well as the meat. The bagels I've had are Everything, Jalapeno Cheddar and a pesto one, they are all so frikin lovely! You can also just get the regular white bread, grilled with rosemary butter with egg and cheese is so damn perfect and cheap. I don't want huge portions because I hate having leftovers and paying for it too. I just want a cheap, simple and delicious breakfast sandwich and some coffee (with one free refill). I've been coming here with my husband for almost a year now, once a week, and every time, we're just silently eating because we don't care about anything around us or each other in that moment we can only think of the hot delicious heaven in our mouths. Also, I think the owner is nice, but we don't have conversations. I just order a simple sandwich, pay and wait. I really could care less if someone is kinda a dick anyway, who cares? People can be assholes sometimes or maybe all the time. I don't think it's worth worrying about here. I just want my food to be good! And it is, so yay!
(5)Dylan R.
Great sandwiches, everything can be done gluten free and I don't know where they are getting that gf bread but dang it's good. The veggie sausage rules. One of my favorite places for brunch on the weekends. Affordable, fresh, the brunch is amazing and you can't beat $5 bloodys and mimosas. Everyone on staff seems to be genuinely nice, real people.
(4)Sergei S.
After walking around the east side, my gf and I really wanted a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup. A quick yelp search revealed that Bare Bones had both! Was it the the best sandwich or soup ever? No. Did it hit the spot as far as the craving goes? Yes.
(3)Kenna H.
I'm not sure where this Mr. Hyde of a beast has been hiding that all the negative reviewers are talking about, but the owner is nothing but a peach to me every time I come in. And speaking for someone who frequently abuses the free refill rule, nags the chef for ideas on home smoking techniques and obsessively steals space on the community board you'd think I'd be the optimal customer on the next "No-Service" list. But, even though I only buy a plain coffee every couple of days and verbally hijack the owner they have been nothing but sweet to me. Although, since I started sending my boyfriend across the street to them everytime I need a hangover cure (seriously, the roast beef melt with roasted onions and portabello mushrooms RULES) they have endeared themselves to me. That being said, I think after having to dig themselves out of the stigma associated with the previous cafe that dwelt in the same spot you can understand why they might be hesitant to let tons of homeless folks hang around for too long (not saying it's right, just that that's what killed the last cafe). Bare Bones, I love the shit outta you.
(5)Alison P.
I have been here three times now, and each time the food has been delish, and the people at the counter have been super nice and friendly. Their ham, brie and asparagus sandwich is super yum-tastic. Not a fan of delicious meat? No worries, their grilled cheese is fantastic. They put all kinds of yummy veggies in it, too. There are a few things that are holding them back from a 5 star rating, though. First, prices are a little steep in my opinion. Total for a sandwich and small side of greens was $9.70....and that doesn't include a drink. $10 lunch with no beverage makes Alison sad and thirsty. Second, my average wait time for food after I order is around 10 minutes. Luckily, I get hour lunches and work up the street. But someone on a quick lunch, and having to commute back to work might be pressed for time. Third, they don't do half sandwiches. Boo. All in all, I really like this place. The food is great and so are the people working there. If they lowered their prices just a tad, and offered halvsies on their fantastic sandwiches, I would probably hit them up for lunch more often.
(4)Nik R.
Bare Bones - you are anything but. I've been in a couple of times, and love love LOVE the fact that you have a good selection of gluten free options. Tasty drinks. Awesome staff. Single stall, non-gendered bathrooms. Free wifi. Vegan options. They have a daily happy hour from 3-6pm - go in and try the menu! It's usually pretty quiet around then, and is a great place to grab a glass of wine, the deviled eggs with ablacore tuna and scallions (taaaaasty!), pull out the school books and hunker down for a bit of studying.
(4)Annie G.
I like Portland for many reasons, and one of those reasons is that there's coffee shops that serve alcohol. Native Portlanders--you don't know how good you've got it. Or maybe you do, and that's why you're still living in Portland and going to places like Bare Bones Cafe. Today I discovered they serve pint-sized Mimosas for cheaper than most breakfast places. This plus the greasy breakfast sandwiches (which you can top with portabellos, bacon, etc.) is a fabulous combination for a late weekend morning (as other reviewers have said). They have a drink called the John Daley, which is like an alcoholic Arnold Palmer (made with sweet tea vodka) and perfect for warm summer evenings. I really like the staff as well. Very down-to-earth and friendly.
(4)Sasha S.
When someone piles freshly whipped cream, topped with a thick goo of chocolate sauce atop a thickly fiendish mocha... somehow I can only give 5 stars. It is an easy place to miss, hidden next to some construction a few blocks from the Pied Cow- "bare bone" is exactly the décor... no frills. Simple service with simple decoration but divine creations- plus it was very very quiet when we arrived so it allowed us to sit and enjoy the Belmont atmosphere and people watch out a giant window. Belmont-ese people are oh so interesting, especially over a mocha that resembled a small mountain of whipped cream. It's fun to venture off the beaten path- try it... you'll see.
(5)Amber M.
What a cute, comfortable little place. Has always been very accommodating when I am there with a bit of a larger group. Service has always been friendly and reasonably quick. Beverage menu is expansive and DELICIOUS! Food menu is a little more condensed and unique in its offerings but I haven't yet tasted anything I didn't like; in fact, I appreciate that they offer dishes that I don't see at a hundred other venues. I also love that most of it is fresh and handmade instead of thrown together from frozen products. Bare Bones is a great place to take just yourself and your laptop or to meet with a friend/group of friends. I would take more boisterous meetings elsewhere as the atmosphere of the cafe is very mellow, but I appreciate that atmosphere and the fact that I don't have to struggle to hear my friends talk over any background noise. Also, the art is FABULOUS! I love that I can go in there and see different paintings every time.
(4)misty w.
Best Gluten Free sandwich! I got the ham, brie and asparagus sammy and it was epic.
(5)Kyle P.
Really good BBQ pork Sammy . Also tried special. Love the effort here by the cook and the staff. If your in a rush might want to pass but if you want good food a smile and nice local artwork give it a try.
(4)DeAnne D.
I love this cafe. Only been once while I was visiting town- but I hung out for hours reading my book and drinking coffee on the outdoor patio. Their veggie grilled-cheese sandwich is UH-MAZING. Staff is friendly. Highly recommend! :]
(5)Daniel J.
A cool atmosphere, good food and drinks are found here undoubtedly, but it has been my experience that the staff can be rude, one guy in particular, behind the counter comes off rather impatient and unfriendly, but other than that, I like this place.
(3)Chris E.
We went here because of a restaurant certificate and we weren't disappointed. First the blood orange and jalapeno infused Margarita was great. The German potato salad was excellent. The Brie Ham and Asparagus grilled Panini was...wow...delicious. The service was fun and friendly. This is a very casual, funky, local cafe. Take a window seat and enjoy the people watching.
(4)Jessica R.
I hesitated from writing a review originally as I selfishly wanted to prevent this place from doing the proverbially "blowing up". But I've decided that the time has come to graduate kindergarten and learn to share my toys. In my quest for the worlds best biscuits and gravy I've been to Madisons, The Blue Pig, Arleta Library the lists goes on and on. While there are a few close seconds, thus far, Bare Bones is the clear and present winner. A slightly sweet corn biscuit complimented by the most wonderful light and flavorful gravy in the entire world. The dude, had the roast beef sandwich "Bomb", Also, the Egg, Bagel, Pesto, with asparagus "Amazing". The only only only thing I would change is the chairs are a little uncomfy. But Suck it up! Those biscuits are AMAZING!
(5)Mike L.
Open and pleasing space, good coffee, small selection of sandwiches and salads but the selection is first-rate - brilliant flavours. These folks accommodate many dietary restrictions - gluten, dairy, soy. Extremely friendly and helpful counter staff. Fun mix of music.
(5)claire w.
Two Words - YAY! FEMINISTS!" :))))))))))
(5)maryam h.
Best turkey sandwich in SE portland, hands down. Generous portions, reasonable prices for a glass of wine and a light dinner. LOVE IT.
(5)Tim E.
I'm a frequent patron of Bare Bones Cafe. Their sandwiches are quite delicious, and their coffee and espresso is pretty good too. Friendly service, and there is never much of a wait, which you tend to find in really good coffee shops. They have a full bar here as well, and a happy hour, but I've only gotten lunch and espresso here.
(4)Joanna Y.
My boyfriend and I have been coming to this place since about the time it opened. This place has emerged wonderfully (and gratefully) from the soul-sucking skeleton that was the previous coffee shop. Aside from what you expect from a coffee shop (cheap coffee, pastries, yummy acme donuts) the menu also boasts AMAZING FOOD: many sandwiches including a ham, brie, asparagus and dijon sandwich which normally comes with a side of greens, but do yourself a favor and upgrade to the BEST german potato salad I have ever tasted. Also delectable is the recent special cantaloupe, goat cheese and capicola salad (includes greens). They also offer a Happy Hour from 3-6, offering great specialty cocktails for a mere $5 and more yummy food items ranging from $2-4. Also cheap beers, a comfortable environment and VERY friendly owners/staff.
(5)John P.
This is a very limited (but still 5 star) review. I stop in once every couple of weeks to pick up a plain grilled cheese sandwich for my 12 year old. The kid just loves them. He says it is the best thing he has ever eaten. I'm going to have to try one next time and I'll let you know what I think. The service has always been excellent.
(5)Lars J.
Excellent Cafe. My favorite in town I would have to say. The food is magical and backed by a friendly wonderful staff. My favorite at the moment is the pulled pork, but everything on their menu is worth having at least a hundred times.
(5)Adam A.
A true cafe. Coffee, food and booze. Good tables for sitting and enjoying lunch with someone or working at a laptop while enjoying a coffee. Good food, particularly the German potatoe salad. Friendly staff.
(4)Chip W.
I simply love this place. I'm on a brief hiatus in Portland and I would nearly move here just to have this place in my daily routine. Wonderful staff, an owner/manager (not sure which) who really cares, great coffee, killer bloodies, excellent food. What else is there? Here's a sixth star to add to my five above: *
(5)Anthony N.
Great coffee! Great Food! Awesome Happy hour specials! Try the deviled eggs made with tuna! Local artists display scenes flirting with my attention in this mellow bare boned atmosphere.
(5)heidi l.
YUMMY!!! yay a loaded sandwhich with chips for under ten dollars, finally. the turkey is my favorite and bare bones does not skimp on the sprouts. i ride over there for lunch every once in awhile and am so happy to be able to sneak in a beer while i wait for my take out food. the out front seating is awesome for people watching and the staff is SUPER friendly. did i mention that this place is great? glad that you took the place of muddy waters, no offense to them but i much prefer sandwhiches to chain smoking hippies...
(5)Travis L.
Friendly service, delicious food, decent coffee, spacious, cute plants on the table.
(5)Sue B.
I am moving out of state, and one of the places I will miss the most in Portland is Bare Bones Cafe. For awhile (and before my work schedule conflicted grrrrr) I was eating breakfast there every single morning, and still stopping in for lunch several times a week. I am in love with their breakfast sandwiches, and their portobello olive veggie melt is out of this world. The entire menu is creative and yummy (there isn't a misstep on it), and their coffee drinks are the bomb. I, personally, go nuts for their soy lattes. And, as a kicker, I love going in to joke around with and say hi to the owner (and the entire staff). There is nothing better than finding a place in your neighborhood that has great food and coffee, AND an awesome, friendly, and funny staff. Bare Bones, I shall miss you! PS. They also always have AWESOME art on the walls, and I love going in to check that out as well. The whole place gets a giant "thumbs-up" from me. It'll be one of my first stops whenever I am visiting.
(5)Oswald K.
Hella chill atmosphere. The folks here are super amenable and personable. They play a diverse variety of quality music. The one time the music was too loud I asked for it to be turned down and they did immediately. I can't speak for the food but the mocha's are bomb.
(5)Karen L.
For a place with a pig on its logo, it has some delicious veggie options. They manage to make vegetarian food super flavorful. Almost anything on the menu can be made gluten free, and gluten free is done well here. Whatever bread they're using is so good, I almost forgot it wasn't regular bread when I was mowing down on my sandwich. I've only had a few things here, but they were all super fresh, high quality ingredients at reasonable prices. Portabello & olive veggie melt (I had it GF): The flavors were perfect! It almost tasted like a pizza in pannini form (but in a good, gourmet-basil-margarita sort of way). Butternut squash and blue cheese scramble (Had it with GF toast w/ rosemary butter): Whoever designed this menu is a flavor mixing genius - everything tasted just right. They had me at rosemary butter, which might have distracted me from all the other food on my plate, but I'm pretty sure it was all great. Veggie hummus sandwich: This is a pretty solid, flavorful meal. The hummus is very garlic-y, so don't plan on macking on in anyone after lunch. It's delicious, and totally worth the garlic breath all day. I got my sandwiches with gazpacho, and the two kinds I tried were so well done, they tasted like mama's home cookin! I don't even remember the last time I had soup at a restaurant that tasted so home made, or at least obviously made from scratch. On top of the good food, the decor is really comforting, and the whole place is good vibey. I like the aesthetic, and every time I go in there is an adorable, laid back gal at the counter, so the service gets 5 stars too.
(5)Dylan W.
Bare Bones Cafe is by far my favorite spot in Portland. The people here are sincere, the atmosphere is chill and the food is good. Try the strata for sure. Maybe not the Mexican strata, but all the other stratas are excellent. Also, what got me hooked on this place in the first place is the german potato salad. Seriously though, Bare Bones is more than the food. It feels like community, and that feeling is awesome.
(5)Amanda K.
Can't speak to the quality of the cafe items, but the cocktails from here leave much to be desired! My friend and I saw that they had $5 cocktails for happy hour, so we decided to stop in. She ordered a cocktail concoction of berries and habanero vodka. I took one sip and immediately regretted it...they need to warn people who order this to make sure they know what they are getting themselves into! Unfortunately, the drink I opted for was not much better. It was a combination of bourbon, apple brandy, and maple syrup...the proportions just seemed off and therefore the taste was just not there for me. Hopefully we just had a bad bartender, and others who work here can make some better drinks...or maybe the food is really delicious and can make up for the drinks? I for one won't be back to find out!
(2)Anna M.
I go here to work and eat. Other coffee shops don't have the food selection or menu to accommodate my long writing sessions. There is some weird racist stuff written on the walls in the bathroom though. Not cool.
(4)k k.
Rude and fake owner. I have spent quite a bit of time here lately and by the looks of it, you'd think they would be grateful for any business. I will not be returning. Usually the owner is just rude, but today, the owner didn't address me, ignored my conversation, rang me up, laid my change on the counter and didn't even say thank you- even after i handed him my money. I've also seen the owner tell a paying customer that they couldn't finish eating their food outside. She was obviously homeless, but she wasn't dirty or causing any trouble and she was a paying customer. All customers are not created equal I guess. i don't know what his problem with me is. I was spending close to $40. a week at some point. Why did I go here you ask? it was the location and that's it. It definitely wasn't for the rude service or crappy coffee. I would never touch any of the disgusting looking donuts in the place either. If the service wasn't so rude, I would give it another half star for it's relatively sizable bathroom, which you will be spending some time in if you happen to eat any of the food.
(1)L.A. W.
Maybe it's my fault but the restaurants logo is a pig and the coupon advertisement, how I found them, was for sandwiches so my brain, for better or worse, went directly to pulled pork and a variety of BBQ offerings. I was completely wrong. One BBQ sandwich. I was sad. It was good but I wanted BBQ pig. Again, I was sad. Server- curt to us but polite and "Hey"-ish to the people she knew. Interesting.
(2)Joanna Y.
My boyfriend and I have been coming to this place since about the time it opened. This place has emerged wonderfully (and gratefully) from the soul-sucking skeleton that was the previous coffee shop. Aside from what you expect from a coffee shop (cheap coffee, pastries, yummy acme donuts) the menu also boasts AMAZING FOOD: many sandwiches including a ham, brie, asparagus and dijon sandwich which normally comes with a side of greens, but do yourself a favor and upgrade to the BEST german potato salad I have ever tasted. Also delectable is the recent special cantaloupe, goat cheese and capicola salad (includes greens). They also offer a Happy Hour from 3-6, offering great specialty cocktails for a mere $5 and more yummy food items ranging from $2-4. Also cheap beers, a comfortable environment and VERY friendly owners/staff.
(5)John P.
This is a very limited (but still 5 star) review. I stop in once every couple of weeks to pick up a plain grilled cheese sandwich for my 12 year old. The kid just loves them. He says it is the best thing he has ever eaten. I'm going to have to try one next time and I'll let you know what I think. The service has always been excellent.
(5)Lars J.
Excellent Cafe. My favorite in town I would have to say. The food is magical and backed by a friendly wonderful staff. My favorite at the moment is the pulled pork, but everything on their menu is worth having at least a hundred times.
(5)Adam A.
A true cafe. Coffee, food and booze. Good tables for sitting and enjoying lunch with someone or working at a laptop while enjoying a coffee. Good food, particularly the German potatoe salad. Friendly staff.
(4)Chip W.
I simply love this place. I'm on a brief hiatus in Portland and I would nearly move here just to have this place in my daily routine. Wonderful staff, an owner/manager (not sure which) who really cares, great coffee, killer bloodies, excellent food. What else is there? Here's a sixth star to add to my five above: *
(5)Josh T.
My kids went to Traditional Taekwando next door for years so I spent many an hour at Bare Bones Cafe. The staff are always nice and helpful. The coffee is good, the menu is more than just traditional coffee shop food. The space is much more open and calm than it was under the old ownership. All around a very solid, standard Portland coffee shop which means anywhere else in the country this place would be one of the best around.
(3)Mike I.
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(3)Jeff H.
Stopped by here for breakfast and had a very enjoyable experience. Lots of people were stopping in and hanging out. It seemed to be a local spot that welcomed everyone, which isn't a bad thing. I ordered their chicken fried steak and was not disappointed. The sausage gravy was plentiful and the steak itself tasted as though it was hand breaded and fried, not pulled frozen out of a freezer. I dislike places that don't offer fountain sodas with refills, so I can't do a 5 star review...but there was plenty of water. The food, however, was beyond fabulous. I would have no problem stopping in here again.
(4)Sanjuro J.
Good place to get a bite to eat and work. Good biscuits and gravy,breakfast sandwiches, and pie. Solid wifi with lots of outlets. Friendly staff. Good coffee. What more could you ask for? Only negative has been that the A/C got kind of overwhelmed on a hot day recently, but it was still working so not a big deal.
(4)Andrew H.
In spite of a screaming for no reason at all two to three year old that needed a good dose of reality, the pink haired do it all kept the remaining few customers on this afternoon content with their beverages and food. I was one of them on a fairly nice afternoon in the land of port. I know many have ended up here or the bar next door, but I chose here because of the windows and I wanted to be able to see outside. A bottle of Sessions and a marbled rye Reuben were the choices that looked appetizing to me. Combined, a little over $12. Not too bad for the area. The sandwich was pretty standard but how can one really get a Reuben wrong? Thousand Island, kraut, Corned beef and bread. This came with a choice of chips and I went for some jalapeño ones. It seems that breakfast is the main attraction for this place and I guess at some point I'll have to get back and give a breakfast sandwich a try. The food I had was pretty good and in spite of the little wailing banshee, I will still come back. Enjoy.
(3)Carlos E.
The everything bagel with rosemary cream cheese was underwhelming. The barbershop style chairs at the bar were nice and what give this place 4 instead of three stars. The art on the walls was cool. My new friend in Portland had his artwork up here he tells me. The cook and the attendant seem like an adorable old couple, so I'll come back...
(4)Melissa L.
I recently went in and had an off meal, and said something to the server about it. It turns out, that'd been prepared by the owner herself, who upon hearing about the negative (bacon) experience, sent along new and wonderful bacon! I feel bad about having commented about what was clearly an unusual event, but I appreciate how gracious the owner was. I'll continue coming here just about every weekend as long as I live in the area, to be honest!
(5)Alex B.
I come here a lot... it's probably high time to give them the glowing review they deserve. Overall, Bare Bones Cafe (not to be confused with their bar next door) is a great place for a coffee, a casual lunch, a change of scenery while working, or even a beer/cocktail. First and foremost, these guys have reliable free wifi. Coupled with access to good food and caffeine, this makes Bare Bones Cafe a great place to hole up with a laptop for long periods of time. I've never seen this place filled to capacity, so I never feel bad about hogging a table for several hours. The food menu is centered around sandwiches (which CAN be made gluten-free). I'm a huge fan of the braised beef brisket, or the portobello olive veggie melt if I'm in a vegetarian mood. I recommend spending the extra dollar to get a side of German potato salad with a sandwich. Their soups change every day, and have always been delicious. Then happy hour sneaks up on you (3-6), at which point you'll probably have to switch over to beer or cocktails. I can't say anything about their breakfast or weekend brunch, but I'm a huge fan of Bare Bones Cafe for everything else that they do.
(5)Cassandra C.
I can't comment on the prices of drinks because I literally just signed my copy without looking at a total but I came here for trivia most recently (uh, Thursday nights? Was that Thursday?) and it was fun! Cool bar with a couple of pinball machines and a few tvs. There were SIXTEEN teams of trivia when we were there. I've been to Bare Bones a few times in the past because I used to live over here but it's not the kind of place I'd go out of my way for. They do have other events, Bingo, off the top of my head but yeah, just kind of a regular bar. Not too noisy, not too divey or cheap. Just a nice Bell Curve bar. I had a few Old Fashioneds (weird word) and the tuna deviled eggs. They were awfully fishy, I wouldn't get them again but I LOVE deviled eggs. Just no tuna. I did find their menu kind of limited. It was okay though, a nice evening spent with friends doing trivia.
(3)Evan R.
Came for brunch. It was acceptable, nothing outstanding. Felt like something I could make at home in 10 minutes. Pros: - house made veggie sausage was great - toast (with breakfast) wad made with above average bread - decent price Cons: - portions felt small - hash browns were frozen, big box products. - grapefruit juice from concentrate
(3)Rachel K.
I've been coming here for a few years every week for a meetup I help host. The people who work here play the perfect mix of music, and at the right volume - it's ALMOST loud, very conducive to working here on the computer! The food is great and accommodates vegan and gluten free, and their meat-ful dairy-ful food is terrific too - their $5 oatmeal INCLUDES BACON!! They just added a giant game room in the back with pinball, pool, and comfy couches, shared with Bare Bones Bar next door. I love the breakfast sandwiches, I love the standard breakfast plates with eggs, hashbrowns, & sausage/bacon, and the biscuits and gravy is terrific. The wifi has been getting more and more reliable it seems too - I haven't dropped any connections in a long time. Hint: get on the Bare Bones Bar wifi instead of the cafe - the Bar wifi's secured. Love this place.
(5)Erin L.
So impressed here. Was traveling alone and felt a bit out of place as it was my first day in Portland. Lady behind counter was very nice and sweet. Ordered the portobello olive melt with goat cheese and sun dried tomato. Omg. Would go back to Portland just for this sandwich! The man who made my food (I assume?) was teaching the bartender pours so he offered me a free Black and Tan which of course I accepted. Such a nice cozy atmosphere. Most people were on laptops drinking coffee but I didn't feel uncomfortable with my grub and beer and old rolling stone mag!
(5)Beat M.
First timer. Amazing food. I had what is most likely the most perfectly prepared BLT in my life. The quality fresh ingredients blew me away. Wish I'd gotten two. And there albacore tuna deviled eggs? OUTSTANDING. I can't wait to go back and try their build your own breakfast sandwich. A+
(5)Jens J.
I stopped here for lunch a week or so back and was very pleased with the roast turkey sandwich (with a mucho delish aioli) and soup I requested. Though the day was cloudy, cold and drizzly, Bare Bones was warm and inviting on the inside. What I like too about Bare Bones is that it has a comfortable non-pretentious ambience. Kinda like Division was before all the construction (and resultant glitzification) began taking place. But I would guess it is just a matter of time before the same forces that are transforming Division seep (or barrel) into Belmont and do the same number. Let's keep Belmont Belmont. Plenty of tables (and electrical outlets!) for those wanting to bring their laptops and use Bare Bones as a coffee house. And if all the tables are taken, there's a bar where you can sit. Overall, I would have to say that for sandwiches, quality wise, Bare Bones is just as good as Meat Cheese Bread.
(4)Mandy H.
Omgee. The gluten free buttermilk biscuit and rosemary gravy and a sunnyside up egg.. d. Eee. L. Iish! Wifi is awesome.. lighting is good and deaf friendly.. staff is awesome! Perfect celebratory place for mine and Michelle's dona certification sendoff!
(5)Janett A.
I'm not very productive getting work done at home. Thrilled I found a great work space with great coffee/treats and fantastic service. Compliments to barista Alex for a stellar job. My iced Americano was nice and strong. Plus, the jalapeño and cheese bagel with cream cheese was soft and toasted perfectly. There's plenty of outlets and seating. My bf and are fans!
(4)Ashlee H.
Had a much tastier brunch experience recently involving banana bread and extra-extra-crispy bacon, and so I have to bump them up that final star. Also since service is always awesome, and they have a table big enough for a board game with friends. Bare Bones is awesome. I just wish I could bring myself to stop ordering the pulled pork and try the rest of the menu ...
(5)Chris E.
We went here because of a restaurant certificate and we weren't disappointed. First the blood orange and jalapeno infused Margarita was great. The German potato salad was excellent. The Brie Ham and Asparagus grilled Panini was...wow...delicious. The service was fun and friendly. This is a very casual, funky, local cafe. Take a window seat and enjoy the people watching.
(4)Ev'Yan N.
Worst breakfast of my life. Absolutely horrible. Please, please don't eat a meal here. I ordered their two egg breakfast which advertised two eggs any style, hashbrowns, rustic toast, & choice of meat (bacon, veggie or pork sausage patty, or slice of ham). Here's what I got: two rubbery, over cooked & bland eggs, scrambled; one mushy-beyond-recognition veggie sausage patty that tasted like it came straight from the microwave, two freezer-burned potato patties (NOT hashbrowns!), & one piece of toast (the only decent thing on my plate). My partner, who got the smoked salmon scramble, subbing the bagel for "hashbrowns", said of the experience: "Whoever cooked this meal had little investment in the outcome. My scramble tasted like plastic, like something in it had been sitting in a plastic container for too long. It was salty, had way too many capers, & the salmon was petrified dry. This meal was a giant letdown, a complete betrayal to my senses. I really don't feel like they have any business selling food there." --Jonathan Mead We should've asked for our money back. I am ashamed that we didn't; even more so that we wasted $25 (for the meals that weren't eaten, two coffees + tip) without any kind of retribution. My only hope (in addition to not dying tonight of food poisoning) is that this review does some kind of justice. That's why I'm writing it. So please, for the love of all that is holy & true: Don't come here to eat a meal. I am scarred for life, my stomach hurts, & this place doesn't even deserve the one star that I am forced to give them.
(1)Bob K.
Not sure how they got the 4 stars. We had a mixed greens salad which was good. A corn bacon chowder that was good but had the consistency of mashed potatoes. Braised Beef sandwich which was barely ok. It was tasteless unless you used their horseradish sauce. The sauce will blow out the back of your sinuses. Finally there was a german potato salad with bacon. It looks like they season it with a bunch of grained mustard. You could not taste the bacon and instead it was mostly a mustard taste. I also had to swap a chair as the one i had was ready to fall apart. Had to go through two other chairs till i found one safe to sit in. So the place is ok... And probably a great place to hang out and work, several tables doing that, but its not for us and we will not be back.
(2)Estebano V.
Friendly staff. Food has improved since their early days. Solid wi-fi. My only real issue is that their kitchen ventilation / exhaust system doesn't seem to work. I was there early on a Sunday afternoon and the air was thick with the smell of bacon grease. I felt like I needed to shower after I left; it was just overwhelming.
(3)Dustin R.
A good spot I thought, older building and the inside shows some wear (character). We had breakfast, which was good, the hashbrowns are the preformed patties, not loose like most places, but still good. The toast is awesome. Their coffees are huge cups so you get your money worth. The chairs at the bar are old barber chairs;)
(4)Edna P.
Wonderful place, with a very rad staff. The food is prepared by a fantastic chef. If your in this area then this is the place to go! The Bare Bones Bar next door is also great. I love the Star Trek Pinball and the new artwork by local artists displayed regularly.
(5)Dawn P.
This cafe is close to my boyfriend's place so we have walked over to get breakfast a few times and in those few times this place has always struck me as a three star joint. Not terrible and not terrific. Until this morning... It took thirty minutes to get our two egg breakfasts, but we were reading so we didn't care. When our plates arrived, my heart sunk a little at seeing the undercooked previously frozen potato patties they called hash browns on the menu. I was hungry and not in the mood to be fussy so I plowed on, uninterested. That lasted right up to the point when I opened the ketchup, which exploded so forcefully that not only did it explode all over my face, hair, sweatshirt and onto my boyfriend beside me, but the people in the back of the cafe could be heard asking what happened. I don't know what happened...what would cause the ketchup to explode and then continue to ooze up and out of its plastic bottle and be an ORANGE color!?! I'm still churning hours later, wondering just what was in that ketchup. I'd say the health department needs to visit. Once I had finished cleaning the ketchup off from me in the bathroom (it was a huge mess in my long hair) I went back to my food, still too tired to be deterred from my breakfast. The toast was fine, the veggie patty was over cooked and dry, the potato patties were cooked just enough to have been thawed out and warmed, but it was the eggs that finally pushed me over the threshold...they were raw. The sunny side up eggs were raw on the top of the white, as well as the yolk. All the while, the exploded ketchup, sat on the counter (we were seated at the bar in front of the uninterested and unconcerned server) and not one word was said to me to ask what happened, to apologize for the mishap, and when I asked her to remove the disgusting orange ketchup bottle, she took it away wordlessly. This place is terrible. Disinterested service every time, food that you could cook better at home even on your worst day, and I recommend saving your money for something halfway decent for your belly.
(1)Nathaniel M.
Great option for coffee or cocktails on trendy Belmont. Why is it that more coffee shops don't also serve beer and cocktails? Yeah, I don't know either. What I do know is that Bare Bones Cafe does serve both and they do so very well. The ambiance leans more toward cafe than bar, which is a good thing (especially given that the Bar Bones Bar, just next door, can certainly fill that void). There are plenty of tables and free wifi for the typicaly cafe patron to have a seat, sip a coffee (Kobo's beans, which are excellent) and surf the web. Or....OR!...if you're in the mood for something more adult, just mosey on up to the bar, grab yourself a National Geographic (Yes! They still make magazines!) and order yourself a beer or one of their unique cocktails. My personal favorite was the Blood Orange & Jalepeno margarita. Only $5 during their happy hour from 3pm to 6pm. This is a great place to take your straight-edge friends who just want to indulge in caffeine (or one of their amazing sandwiches!) when you are more in the mood to sin.
(5)Camille B.
This is hands down my favorite place to study. Almost every table is close to an outlet and the music and crowd is usually chill enough to get some work done. As an added bonus to their great food and coffee, they serve alcohol which makes writing papers WAAAY better.
(5)Andrew A.
At first impression, the owner emitted a certain stand-offish vibe. The kind that implies, "I'm tired of this business, so don't give me any sass". However, after some pleasantries, all was okay. Conversely, there was an older man talking loudly on his phone, it would have appropriate for the owner to have said something. The place has been relatively empty during my three visits. I created a grilled cheese sandwich using the extensive ingredient choices, but it was just so-so. Size in relation to portion was small. Belmont is great, so it makes for a good people watching spot; the seats by the window are nice. Maybe something magical happens during the times when I'm not there, maybe I've missed some killer dish on the menu (can't remember what I ate the other two times.)
(2)Megan Marie M.
WIFI = Medium (works great for only up to 5-7 people at a time) Coffee = Great Food = Good Atmosphere = Welcoming, no frills, laid back, big, quiet it is a good place to work at if there is not many other people using the wifi.
(3)Sonora G.
Don't mind if I do! Thanks to the fine reviewers of Yelp, I stumbled on this lovely eatery just blocks from my house. I had no idea they even served food... how silly of me. This review could truly be summed up in three words: Croissant Monte Cristo; but I must doff my hat to the blue cheese and butternut squash scramble, a pair of fabulous bloody marys, and a friendly--though slightly awkward--staff :) I'm not super sweet on the whole "order at the bar" business at Bare Bones, and the space is a little funky, but the food and drink make it a solid four stars for me and my sweetie. It's definitely going into the breakfast rotation!
(4)Windy S.
We stopped here to continue our Day Drinking Tour and have a Bloody Mary. So this review is only for the 1 Bloody Mary we consumed here. We ordered 3 Bloody Marys, the girl behind the counter warned us of the Spiciness. "Yes, Please." Just the way we like it. They came out with lots of pickled veggies and beautiful. Although we all agreed that the Spice was great, we found the mix to be a bit too sweet. Guess we side on the more saltier pallette when it comes to Bloodys. I did also notice that they do Mimosas in Pint glass for $5! In general the cocktail prices are extremely reasonable. Would love to come back and try other cocktails and some of the food!
(3)Mo M.
I agree with Andrea G: there are plenty of awesome restaurants within a few blocks with friendlier staff and much better food. I've tried to like the cafe multiple times, but always come away with a mediocre experience. The bar is a little more in line with my expectations, but I give a resounding "meh" to both, I'm afraid.
(2)Michele C.
Love the food, Ginger is an amazing chef! The staff is very friendly, it's a great place to hang out and get some work done. Must eat the Strada!!!
(5)Jason M.
Maybe it's just because I live right around corner and it's a convenient place to go, but Bare Bones has quickly become one of my favourite haunts, especially on the weekends for breakfast. It's a well-rounded cafe, with decent coffee, good food, and a nice little selection of cocktails if you need something a bit stronger than coffee. The staff is pretty cool, too. I particularly enjoy their grilled cheese and soup combo, as well as their biscuits and gravy (weekends only). Nothing fancy, but it's all I could ask for in a neighborhood cafe. I've spent many an hour reading, surfing the net, and nursing hangovers at Bare Bones, and I expect I'll be spending many more for a long time to come. The only complaint I have is that the chairs can be a little uncomfortable, but I can live with that.
(4)Allie K.
As promised, updating after I went over for breakfast. Really fantastic biscuits and gravy, it's not super heavy and the rosemary in the gravy is great. Also got some bacon as a side, managed to be crispy and thick at once which satisfied both me and my wife.
(5)Thea S.
I've liked everything I've had here : portabello & olive & sundried tomato cheese grill = all my favorite things on bread=LUV. My boyfriend loves their pulled pork sandwich. I've tried it. It is awesome. The all day breakfast sandwich special saved my life one late morning mid-hangover. They also have great specials and a great brunch menu on the weekends. ....and they have coke in a bottle. thumbs up. nice clean place SO different from Muddy Waters.
(4)Ang H.
Ok I have now been to Bare Bobes three times and can confidently say that this place is a winner! We found BB looking for gluten free options for my mom. She has celiac disease so cross contamination is a big deal. They have a fantastic curry chicken salad which she has ordered two times. She loves it and doesn't get sick. And for those of us who don't have to deal with rotten gluten issues...brilliant sandwiches and soups. Yummy iced tea. Fun music. Helpful and friendly staff. Light and airy room. Plenty of seating-I've never had to wait. All in all, a Portland winner!
(4)Rene S.
Good food. They do everything right here. If you are looking for humble breakfast fair done with very good ingredients then this is your place.
(4)Daniel J.
A cool atmosphere, good food and drinks are found here undoubtedly, but it has been my experience that the staff can be rude, one guy in particular, behind the counter comes off rather impatient and unfriendly, but other than that, I like this place.
(3)Mercy T.
I'm only speaking for breakfast sandwiches here. I always get the same thing: Breakfast Sandwich, which is on a locally made, chewy, amazingly delicious, grilled pressed bagel, cheese (on top and bottom), egg, sometimes bacon and sometimes the house made juicy, delicious, fat, sausage patty. The bagel is $1 extra as well as the meat. The bagels I've had are Everything, Jalapeno Cheddar and a pesto one, they are all so frikin lovely! You can also just get the regular white bread, grilled with rosemary butter with egg and cheese is so damn perfect and cheap. I don't want huge portions because I hate having leftovers and paying for it too. I just want a cheap, simple and delicious breakfast sandwich and some coffee (with one free refill). I've been coming here with my husband for almost a year now, once a week, and every time, we're just silently eating because we don't care about anything around us or each other in that moment we can only think of the hot delicious heaven in our mouths. Also, I think the owner is nice, but we don't have conversations. I just order a simple sandwich, pay and wait. I really could care less if someone is kinda a dick anyway, who cares? People can be assholes sometimes or maybe all the time. I don't think it's worth worrying about here. I just want my food to be good! And it is, so yay!
(5)Dylan R.
Great sandwiches, everything can be done gluten free and I don't know where they are getting that gf bread but dang it's good. The veggie sausage rules. One of my favorite places for brunch on the weekends. Affordable, fresh, the brunch is amazing and you can't beat $5 bloodys and mimosas. Everyone on staff seems to be genuinely nice, real people.
(4)Sergei S.
After walking around the east side, my gf and I really wanted a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup. A quick yelp search revealed that Bare Bones had both! Was it the the best sandwich or soup ever? No. Did it hit the spot as far as the craving goes? Yes.
(3)Andrea G.
Before visiting for the first time a few months ago, I read the reviews that were rather mixed. People loved it, others hated it. My first visit was nothing spectacular...the food is nothing to rave about. I had read that the owner was a dick, but found him to be ok on my first visit. Well, I recently went back for a second visit, which was another story. Those reviews about the owner being a dick are true. I will never give my money and support this guy again. I had ordered a breakfast sandwich with a scrambled egg. He told me that the cook couldn't make a scrambled egg because they didn't have a bowl in the restaurant. (WTF--as I watch a guy eat soup at the counter IN A BOWL). He said that they only have a skillet. Ok so scramble those bits on the skillet. Everyone else does. If you don't want to sell your sandwich with a "scrambled" egg, just say so. Don't lie about it with some lame reason. Nevertheless, I was kind and made no complaints. However, his pompous attitude about everything else was really disgusting...from giving me the hot water for my tea to having to ring up my order. And this coming from me, an east coaster, where most people have an attitude. Never again. There are plenty of awesome restaurants just within 2 blocks with friendlier staff. I recommend those over this place any day.
(1)Jessica R.
I hesitated from writing a review originally as I selfishly wanted to prevent this place from doing the proverbially "blowing up". But I've decided that the time has come to graduate kindergarten and learn to share my toys. In my quest for the worlds best biscuits and gravy I've been to Madisons, The Blue Pig, Arleta Library the lists goes on and on. While there are a few close seconds, thus far, Bare Bones is the clear and present winner. A slightly sweet corn biscuit complimented by the most wonderful light and flavorful gravy in the entire world. The dude, had the roast beef sandwich "Bomb", Also, the Egg, Bagel, Pesto, with asparagus "Amazing". The only only only thing I would change is the chairs are a little uncomfy. But Suck it up! Those biscuits are AMAZING!
(5)Mike L.
Open and pleasing space, good coffee, small selection of sandwiches and salads but the selection is first-rate - brilliant flavours. These folks accommodate many dietary restrictions - gluten, dairy, soy. Extremely friendly and helpful counter staff. Fun mix of music.
(5)claire w.
Two Words - YAY! FEMINISTS!" :))))))))))
(5)maryam h.
Best turkey sandwich in SE portland, hands down. Generous portions, reasonable prices for a glass of wine and a light dinner. LOVE IT.
(5)Tim E.
I'm a frequent patron of Bare Bones Cafe. Their sandwiches are quite delicious, and their coffee and espresso is pretty good too. Friendly service, and there is never much of a wait, which you tend to find in really good coffee shops. They have a full bar here as well, and a happy hour, but I've only gotten lunch and espresso here.
(4)Kenna H.
I'm not sure where this Mr. Hyde of a beast has been hiding that all the negative reviewers are talking about, but the owner is nothing but a peach to me every time I come in. And speaking for someone who frequently abuses the free refill rule, nags the chef for ideas on home smoking techniques and obsessively steals space on the community board you'd think I'd be the optimal customer on the next "No-Service" list. But, even though I only buy a plain coffee every couple of days and verbally hijack the owner they have been nothing but sweet to me. Although, since I started sending my boyfriend across the street to them everytime I need a hangover cure (seriously, the roast beef melt with roasted onions and portabello mushrooms RULES) they have endeared themselves to me. That being said, I think after having to dig themselves out of the stigma associated with the previous cafe that dwelt in the same spot you can understand why they might be hesitant to let tons of homeless folks hang around for too long (not saying it's right, just that that's what killed the last cafe). Bare Bones, I love the shit outta you.
(5)Deanna N.
I'd say pass on the menu. But I will say that the drinks yowza! Being the economist I am, I had a restaurant.com certificate I got for $2 for $25. My friend lurves and has come back more than once for the bloody mary which includes homemade beef jerky. I had a generous pour gin and tonic. Bar is a nice hangout and there are outside picnic tables for the summer months. This will be a summer watering-hole for me on my coupons!
(4)Alison P.
I have been here three times now, and each time the food has been delish, and the people at the counter have been super nice and friendly. Their ham, brie and asparagus sandwich is super yum-tastic. Not a fan of delicious meat? No worries, their grilled cheese is fantastic. They put all kinds of yummy veggies in it, too. There are a few things that are holding them back from a 5 star rating, though. First, prices are a little steep in my opinion. Total for a sandwich and small side of greens was $9.70....and that doesn't include a drink. $10 lunch with no beverage makes Alison sad and thirsty. Second, my average wait time for food after I order is around 10 minutes. Luckily, I get hour lunches and work up the street. But someone on a quick lunch, and having to commute back to work might be pressed for time. Third, they don't do half sandwiches. Boo. All in all, I really like this place. The food is great and so are the people working there. If they lowered their prices just a tad, and offered halvsies on their fantastic sandwiches, I would probably hit them up for lunch more often.
(4)Nik R.
Bare Bones - you are anything but. I've been in a couple of times, and love love LOVE the fact that you have a good selection of gluten free options. Tasty drinks. Awesome staff. Single stall, non-gendered bathrooms. Free wifi. Vegan options. They have a daily happy hour from 3-6pm - go in and try the menu! It's usually pretty quiet around then, and is a great place to grab a glass of wine, the deviled eggs with ablacore tuna and scallions (taaaaasty!), pull out the school books and hunker down for a bit of studying.
(4)Annie G.
I like Portland for many reasons, and one of those reasons is that there's coffee shops that serve alcohol. Native Portlanders--you don't know how good you've got it. Or maybe you do, and that's why you're still living in Portland and going to places like Bare Bones Cafe. Today I discovered they serve pint-sized Mimosas for cheaper than most breakfast places. This plus the greasy breakfast sandwiches (which you can top with portabellos, bacon, etc.) is a fabulous combination for a late weekend morning (as other reviewers have said). They have a drink called the John Daley, which is like an alcoholic Arnold Palmer (made with sweet tea vodka) and perfect for warm summer evenings. I really like the staff as well. Very down-to-earth and friendly.
(4)Sasha S.
When someone piles freshly whipped cream, topped with a thick goo of chocolate sauce atop a thickly fiendish mocha... somehow I can only give 5 stars. It is an easy place to miss, hidden next to some construction a few blocks from the Pied Cow- "bare bone" is exactly the décor... no frills. Simple service with simple decoration but divine creations- plus it was very very quiet when we arrived so it allowed us to sit and enjoy the Belmont atmosphere and people watch out a giant window. Belmont-ese people are oh so interesting, especially over a mocha that resembled a small mountain of whipped cream. It's fun to venture off the beaten path- try it... you'll see.
(5)Amber M.
What a cute, comfortable little place. Has always been very accommodating when I am there with a bit of a larger group. Service has always been friendly and reasonably quick. Beverage menu is expansive and DELICIOUS! Food menu is a little more condensed and unique in its offerings but I haven't yet tasted anything I didn't like; in fact, I appreciate that they offer dishes that I don't see at a hundred other venues. I also love that most of it is fresh and handmade instead of thrown together from frozen products. Bare Bones is a great place to take just yourself and your laptop or to meet with a friend/group of friends. I would take more boisterous meetings elsewhere as the atmosphere of the cafe is very mellow, but I appreciate that atmosphere and the fact that I don't have to struggle to hear my friends talk over any background noise. Also, the art is FABULOUS! I love that I can go in there and see different paintings every time.
(4)misty w.
Best Gluten Free sandwich! I got the ham, brie and asparagus sammy and it was epic.
(5)Kyle P.
Really good BBQ pork Sammy . Also tried special. Love the effort here by the cook and the staff. If your in a rush might want to pass but if you want good food a smile and nice local artwork give it a try.
(4)DeAnne D.
I love this cafe. Only been once while I was visiting town- but I hung out for hours reading my book and drinking coffee on the outdoor patio. Their veggie grilled-cheese sandwich is UH-MAZING. Staff is friendly. Highly recommend! :]
(5)Anthony N.
Great coffee! Great Food! Awesome Happy hour specials! Try the deviled eggs made with tuna! Local artists display scenes flirting with my attention in this mellow bare boned atmosphere.
(5)heidi l.
YUMMY!!! yay a loaded sandwhich with chips for under ten dollars, finally. the turkey is my favorite and bare bones does not skimp on the sprouts. i ride over there for lunch every once in awhile and am so happy to be able to sneak in a beer while i wait for my take out food. the out front seating is awesome for people watching and the staff is SUPER friendly. did i mention that this place is great? glad that you took the place of muddy waters, no offense to them but i much prefer sandwhiches to chain smoking hippies...
(5)Travis L.
Friendly service, delicious food, decent coffee, spacious, cute plants on the table.
(5)Sue B.
I am moving out of state, and one of the places I will miss the most in Portland is Bare Bones Cafe. For awhile (and before my work schedule conflicted grrrrr) I was eating breakfast there every single morning, and still stopping in for lunch several times a week. I am in love with their breakfast sandwiches, and their portobello olive veggie melt is out of this world. The entire menu is creative and yummy (there isn't a misstep on it), and their coffee drinks are the bomb. I, personally, go nuts for their soy lattes. And, as a kicker, I love going in to joke around with and say hi to the owner (and the entire staff). There is nothing better than finding a place in your neighborhood that has great food and coffee, AND an awesome, friendly, and funny staff. Bare Bones, I shall miss you! PS. They also always have AWESOME art on the walls, and I love going in to check that out as well. The whole place gets a giant "thumbs-up" from me. It'll be one of my first stops whenever I am visiting.
(5)Andrea G.
Before visiting for the first time a few months ago, I read the reviews that were rather mixed. People loved it, others hated it. My first visit was nothing spectacular...the food is nothing to rave about. I had read that the owner was a dick, but found him to be ok on my first visit. Well, I recently went back for a second visit, which was another story. Those reviews about the owner being a dick are true. I will never give my money and support this guy again. I had ordered a breakfast sandwich with a scrambled egg. He told me that the cook couldn't make a scrambled egg because they didn't have a bowl in the restaurant. (WTF--as I watch a guy eat soup at the counter IN A BOWL). He said that they only have a skillet. Ok so scramble those bits on the skillet. Everyone else does. If you don't want to sell your sandwich with a "scrambled" egg, just say so. Don't lie about it with some lame reason. Nevertheless, I was kind and made no complaints. However, his pompous attitude about everything else was really disgusting...from giving me the hot water for my tea to having to ring up my order. And this coming from me, an east coaster, where most people have an attitude. Never again. There are plenty of awesome restaurants just within 2 blocks with friendlier staff. I recommend those over this place any day.
(1)Anna M.
I go here to work and eat. Other coffee shops don't have the food selection or menu to accommodate my long writing sessions. There is some weird racist stuff written on the walls in the bathroom though. Not cool.
(4)k k.
Rude and fake owner. I have spent quite a bit of time here lately and by the looks of it, you'd think they would be grateful for any business. I will not be returning. Usually the owner is just rude, but today, the owner didn't address me, ignored my conversation, rang me up, laid my change on the counter and didn't even say thank you- even after i handed him my money. I've also seen the owner tell a paying customer that they couldn't finish eating their food outside. She was obviously homeless, but she wasn't dirty or causing any trouble and she was a paying customer. All customers are not created equal I guess. i don't know what his problem with me is. I was spending close to $40. a week at some point. Why did I go here you ask? it was the location and that's it. It definitely wasn't for the rude service or crappy coffee. I would never touch any of the disgusting looking donuts in the place either. If the service wasn't so rude, I would give it another half star for it's relatively sizable bathroom, which you will be spending some time in if you happen to eat any of the food.
(1)L.A. W.
Maybe it's my fault but the restaurants logo is a pig and the coupon advertisement, how I found them, was for sandwiches so my brain, for better or worse, went directly to pulled pork and a variety of BBQ offerings. I was completely wrong. One BBQ sandwich. I was sad. It was good but I wanted BBQ pig. Again, I was sad. Server- curt to us but polite and "Hey"-ish to the people she knew. Interesting.
(2)Oswald K.
Hella chill atmosphere. The folks here are super amenable and personable. They play a diverse variety of quality music. The one time the music was too loud I asked for it to be turned down and they did immediately. I can't speak for the food but the mocha's are bomb.
(5)