Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Name: Besaw’s
Address: 2301 NW Savier St, Portland, OR, 97210
Telephone: (503) 228-2619
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.00

Besaw’s

2301 NW Savier St, Portland, OR, 97210

(503) 228-2619
Store is closed

Besaw’s Menu

Starters

Mixed Greens

Roasted Chioggia Beet Salad

Mixed Chicory Salad

Roasted Delicata Squash

Besaws Board

Hand Cut Pasta

Roasted Pumpkin & Kale

Mushroom Stuffed Quail

Winter Vegetable Fritto Misto

Caramelized Brussels Sprout Pizza

Mixed Greens

Roasted Chioggia Beet Salad

Mixed Chicory Salad

Roasted Delicata Squash

Besaws Board

Hand Cut Pasta

Roasted Pumpkin & Kale

Mushroom Stuffed Quail

Winter Vegetable Fritto Misto

Caramelized Brussels Sprout Pizza
Entrees

Roasted Game Hen

Seared Black Cod

Porchetta

Grilled Ribeye

Duck Confit

Butternut Squash & Leek Bread Pudding

Fried Chicken

Besaws Meatloaf

Besaws Burger

Roasted Game Hen

Seared Black Cod

Porchetta

Grilled Ribeye

Duck Confit

Butternut Squash & Leek Bread Pudding

Fried Chicken

Besaws Meatloaf

Besaws Burger
Sides

French Fries

Roasted Beets

Sauteed Chanterelle Mushrooms

Mac & Cheese

French Fries

Roasted Beets

Sauteed Chanterelle Mushrooms

Mac & Cheese

Healthy Meal suggestions for Besaw’s

Starters

Mixed Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Chioggia Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mixed Chicory Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Delicata Squash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Besaws Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hand Cut Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Pumpkin & Kale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom Stuffed Quail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Winter Vegetable Fritto Misto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caramelized Brussels Sprout Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mixed Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Chioggia Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mixed Chicory Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Delicata Squash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Besaws Board [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hand Cut Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Pumpkin & Kale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom Stuffed Quail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Winter Vegetable Fritto Misto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caramelized Brussels Sprout Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Roasted Game Hen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared Black Cod [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Porchetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Ribeye [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duck Confit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Butternut Squash & Leek Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Besaws Meatloaf [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Besaws Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Game Hen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seared Black Cod [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Porchetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Ribeye [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duck Confit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Butternut Squash & Leek Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Besaws Meatloaf [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Besaws Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Beets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Chanterelle Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mac & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Beets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Chanterelle Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mac & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Louie C.

The pancakes are super fluffy and large and the hella burrito is awesome. Naturally there is a wait (the place is popular after all) but they have a self-serve coffee bar right outside for those who are patiently waiting.
(4)
Mark L.

I am new to Portland and I saw Besaws while riding around on my motorcycle. I went the next day, Sunday. We got to the restaurant about 11.30 and the told us 30 mins. Ok, so went outside for some of their coffee which was empty and they told us it out be out in a few minutes, not quite. we ended up waiting for an hour to be seated. We had a mimosa, which was quite good, salmon eggs Benedict and the wife got the provencial benedict and of course a side of bacon. All of it was pretty good. It ended up being about 60$, for breakfast, pricey. Will not go out of my way, but might come back. On a side note, waitress was a bit cranky, but then it was busy and paper towels were empty.
(4)
Devin R.

Besaws is my favorite brunch place in PDX. It is consistently awesome and has great service. The only issue with Besaws is that there is ALWAYS a wait for brunch, sometimes it is 20 minutes and sometimes it is as much as an hour... Definitely don't miss it, but be prepared for a bit of a wait.
(5)
Angie T.

This place is amazing! The hubby and I shared the farmer's scramble and la isla burrito. Large portions and fast service even though they were packed. Their homemade catsup was delicious. Our waiter, Joshua, was witty and charming to us and all the other tables in his section. The outdoor patio was heated and covered. I can't wait to come back and try everything else on the menu!
(5)
Tasha D.

The food, coffee, drink (something lunch?), was all FANTASTIC. Also, we called ahead and they held our name on the wait list while we drove over, which I loved. Crazy wait otherwise. I thought the cinnamon roll wasn't so great (the frosting was, but the roll itself was meh). But the entrees -- I tried one of their eggs benedict, with sage and proscuitto -- and the drinks were awesome. Totally great meal.
(5)
Adam B.

Worst service ever, the server forgot our order, rushed it out to is with the salmon not even close to be cooked. Never again!
(1)
M J.

We have only been there for brunch but it's phenomenal! Their potatoes are something else, and they somehow have figured out how to make sautÃ©ed vegetables taste like something worth eating rather than choking down to get to the good stuff. Amazing food, we will definitely be back whenever we're in town!
(5)
Peter V.

what a hip place! our son lives down the street so we wandered in on a saturday evening during a recent visit to portland.bison burger, chicken/waffles and chicken scallopini w/pesto mashed potatoes were all great. wonderful service and a great vibe about this place..see you next time!
(4)
Kristina M.

We went here for my mothers birthday last night 5/6/14 We went for dinner. Walking in the place is cute. They weren't to busy and service was okay. First they didn't have the main dish that both of my parents picked this place for. So that was disappointing. So we ordered something else and then they were out of the sides she had recommended for them. The food came out relatively quick. Apt was great cheese board. I ordered a burger it was okay I think Burgerville is better!!! All the food was ok but nothing really worth coming back for. We all got a good laugh out is that one but really burgerville would have been better. Drinks were great. Then as we were ordering dessert and I tell the waitress it's my mothers birthday and they bring her out a little cakebomb dessert with a candle. We proceed order another cakebomb and two other desserts. They were great. We get the bill for our food and they charged us for the dessert the brought mom my for her birthday. Now it was only like $2.50 but it's the principal of it. We all order separate dessert after the birthday one that was a nice surprise but isn't the birthday dessert free? No we didn't say anything and just paid and left. I won't be coming back for dinner service. I would like to try breakfast just because of the good reviews for it but other then that I wouldn't recommend it for dinner. OVERALL: I wouldn't recommend. Made us pay for birthday dessert. Burgerville has better burgers. They were out of main items on the menu. Hope this helps
(2)
Maureen M.

What a charmer~ A recent weekend in Portland's Alphabet District found us at Besaw's on Sunday morning for breakfast. I loved the atmosphere-- the dark rich,wainscoted walls, the old dinette tables, the cosiness of the rooms. Yes, there was a wait. Pleasantly, Besaw's has a coffee machine set up outside (honor system) for folks waiting for a table. The hostess was friendly & patient in spite of our various "check-ins" to see where we were on the list. We ended up sitting at the bar-- more friendly staff greeted us & took our order. I had bacon & eggs which came with Besaw's delicious rosemary roasted potatoes and hearty bread. The ketchup & marmalade were homemade-- nice touch. Would I come back on future trips to the City of Roses? You bet. I'm sorry we didn't think to try them for dinner-- next time gladly~ instead of some of the trendier places on 23rd with less remarkable food.
(5)
RJ H.

Besaw's is amazing and something of an institution in NW PDX. I've eaten brunch here more than any other destination in Portland, no doubt. Of those visits, it's safe to say that 70% of the time I've ordered their House-Smoked Wild Salmon or Lox Platter with pickled egg and vegetables -- an achievement I have yet to find done better elsewhere within the city limits. Delicious! Blood Marys? Delicious! Sausages? Delicious! Anything else I've ever eaten there or eaten off someone else's plate? Delicious! That one busser? De-li-cious! I'll be back over and over and over again. I take every visitor I have here and every single one of them ends up loving it. And although this restaurant is admittedly very Portlandian in its execution of offerings -- sustainable, local, freshly harvested, everything made in house, yada yada yada and all that shit -- its Pacific Northwestish qualities are mostly an afterthought to the fact that they do good food and do it well. The menu has something for everyone. I'm ashamed I didn't write this review sooner. If you go on a weekend or at the peak of lunch hour, you're just asking for a long wait.
(5)
Jennifer C.

Came here for dinner with a friend and sat out on the patio. Some of the worst service I have ever had in Portland, which is unfortunate because every one around us seemed to be more attended to. I think we were unfortunate enough to get the server who did not want to be at work that evening. We ordered an appetizer and our dinner entrees a few minutes later. About 20 minutes go by and our entree course arrives with no appetizer and missing a biscuit. We asked for the appetizer and after another 12 minutes or so it arrives, still no biscuit, so I asked for it. My friend sent back a bland margarita and then had a second drink issue in which the wrong item was delivered. After we finished our meal we waited 15+ minutes for our server to come back and see if we needed anything else, he never came (he had been chatting at the host stand while we were waiting). We had to grab another server passing by to let her know we were finsihed. Our server delivered our bill; nothing was taken off the check and no apologies were given for the mistakes that had been made and the time we spent waiting. We spoke with a manager who said the server had been confused and didn't understand that we had ever ordered an appetizer (although he had repeated the order and said, I will put that in for you...Confused? Really?). The appetizer and the biscuit were then taken off the bill, but it didn't seem like enough for all of our troubles. All in all neither of us will be back or recommend the place to those who ask for a good place to eat. On a side note **We are both in the hospitality industry and have been for 10 years. Service this poor just should not happen, and when it does it should be addressed in a better manner.
(1)
Daryn B.

MMM MMM MMM! farmers hash is my love language. Actually, this whole place is! I visit Portland often, and this is the only place I won't leave without visiting. Keep doing what you're doing, folks!
(5)
Eve K.

Great food and friendly service. It's crowded, but still comfortable. There is a wait on weekends, but I think this place has the best brunch in the neighborhood.
(4)
Darla D.

I will try this place again but on my first visit, I was disappointed. My breakfast, the Madame something. Most of it was quite good, but the egg which was sort of rolled up over the top of the bread was so undercooked that it was actually a clear and gelatinous glob. Not just a little, it was bouncing and wiggling out the side of the plate. The server had it running down his hand and some of it dripped down my boyfriends blazer sleeve before it was plopped in front of me still bouncing in and out. I am not exaggerating, it was a nearly raw egg and none of the dripping down peoples arms was acknowledged by the server. My boyfriends rueben had no sauerkraut and was unusually small. It was dry, but he did ask for the sauce to be light. Still, no sauerkraut? That was just weird. The place was nice, the server was very nice. It was a Sunday and the place was packed, we were seated at a 4 top in the middle of the room by the bathroom door, it was loud there and hard to communicate with the couple we met there for brunch. These are people we have recently met who adore this place and we did not want to make our meal awkward by sending our plates back. I may try again on a more quiet day, this may have been so busy of a day that the staff was rushed and prone to overlook details.
(3)
Steven K.

Ordered the Legendary Meatloaf and it was quite good with a generous serving. My wife had the salmon and liked it as well. Service was very good. Ordered the squash soup for a starter and it was horrible. We'll return.
(4)
Mega B.

This place is ok. Waited an hour to get mediocre portions of mediocre food. I had ordered a bacon scramble, took about 30 minutes to get it and there was no bacon. Def didnt want to send it back and wait another 30 minutes..at least there was coffee outside for people waiting in line. I honestly dont understand what the hype is all about, there are many breakfast joints that are far better and with less of a wait.
(3)
Mark P.

Awesome Mothers Day Brunch! Everything was great partly because we went there expecting a long wait (it was an hour) which is bearable on a sunny morning since they have a help-yourself coffee stand outside for wait list folk. Food was great and they brought out our 2-yr-old's food super fast. Great ambiance, the staff managed this crazy day very well. They were attentive to my wife and our daughter which is half the success to me. The menu is the kind that makes me want to go back day after day to keep trying something new, especially when I'd see what other people ordered. I had the Huevos Rancheros which were very good (not mind-blowing good) but well executed.
(5)
Holly D.

Ok..Croque Madame..I don't care what you say it means..to me it translates to yum!. This place speaks fluent breakfast deliciousness! I wanted to jump into the gruyere cheese sauce and swim around. Ever heard of a Pullman Brioche? You will here! Wait was short early on a Saturday, service was perfect (even filled our ice water without asking!), coffee amazing...and the food...well..just the night before I was dreaming of the perfect breakfast and sure I would never find it. That was before Besaw's! Oh and the Hello Burrito...mmm.mmmm.mmmm. I don't wander up to the Alphabet District too often but they didn't even mind that I wasn't a local..they were still nice! Move over all those other breakfast places. Besaw's is here. Well done good and faithful servers!
(5)
Ladan R.

I can't rave about this place enough! It's my favorite brunch spot in Portland and that's saying quite a bit because there are a lot of good ones. Love their french toast and oatmeal pancakes. Their apple sausage, eggs and potatoes are amazing too. Basically everything is awesome. Always have excellent, attentive service as well. There does tend to be a wait on the weekends but I think that's to be expected in Portland. I usually go on weekdays if I can.
(5)
Matt K.

The morning that I was going to drive back to San Jose, decided I needed a good breakfast to give me the energy I need. Came to Besaw's at about 8:15am and didn't have to wait for a table, but sat in the "covered patio" area. There was one heat lamp that didn't seem to do anything so we dined in our jackets, haha. I ordered the avocado omelett with bacon. Delicious! Lots of avocado, and a good amount of bacon. Definitely hit the spot, maybe too much...was struggling for the first hour of driving. Next time, I'm getting a breakfast burrito!
(4)
Katherine K.

Besaw's is probably one of my top three favorite brunch places in Portland. With it's black and white striped canopy, red door, and mahogany bar - I can't decide whether I feel like I'm in a quaint diner, a cafe, or a good ole' boys drinking club. For me, that is part of the appeal. I have never been to Besaw's when it isn't bustling, but I always go early (before 9am) and have yet to have a long wait. Maybe I'm just lucky? Besaw's offers something for everyone. Want a simple, hearty breakfast ? There are several options for breakfast scrambles served with toast and roasted potatoes. Wanting something a bit more exciting or special occasion worthy? Order the Croque Madame; brioche, Gruyere, ham, topped with eggs. I have yet to leave this place disappointed with my order. In fact, I often feel guilty that when someone suggests brunch I am inclined to want to return to Besaw's for a guaranteed great meal instead of venturing out to try something new. Service has always been excellent - the waiters were attentive without hovering, and despite the fact that there is almost always a wait for a table I have never felt rushed. Obviously, this isn't something that a restaurant can help - but it is a bonus that there is a small parking lot attached to the restaurant.
(5)
Marina P.

Delicious! I love their chicken & basil sausage. Their house rosemary potatoes are just perfect. Their biscuits from scratch are buttery and crispy. I would give 5 stars, but they were out of half the things on the menu the day I was there. So I'll give 4 stars for now and hoping to change it to 5 the next time I eat here. The service was wonderful and quick. Ambiance is perfect.
(4)
jina l.

Hostess was NOT in a good mood. Didn't see her smile once &very short. So went into dining experience not so happy. Ordered croque madam & guac Sammy. Decent but nothing that'll make me want to come back for. Fries were DRY & soggy on the outside. Nasty. Overall, Didn't meet up to the hype.
(3)
Stephanie C.

I wasn't super impressed with the food after having tried Stepping Stone Cafe the day prior, but the wait here was a lot shorter and their biscuits were extremely good. The service was attentive. There isn't an abundance of seating so I really wouldn't try to bring a group of more than 8 here. All in all I've had better, but I also didn't feel like I got ripped off by eating here and that in itself says a lot.
(3)
Andrea M.

Besaw's is a beacon for weary travelers from not so far away! We needed brunch, and our hungry toddler needed it quickly. Besaw's had good Yelp reviews, and was near our hotel. It was perfect. Our kid was welcomed with crayons, the food was wonderful, and we had a great breakfast before we were on the road again. It's really nice when places treat kids like people, not wild things or problems. I truly appreciate it. The coffee is was good, too. The building appeared to have long been a neighborhood bar/ saloon. I liked the olde timey photos on the walls. Our server was friendly. A++
(5)
Matt M.

The Hella Burrito was amazing. Try it with some hot sauce. Oh and the French toast was sooo good too! My fiancee got the smoked salmon scramble with roasted garlic potatoes - awesome as well.
(5)
Sarah B.

Once gay marriage becomes legal, it's only a matter of time before we're all allowed to marry dogs, Volvos, sentient pea plants, and restaurants. And when that happens, I'll be first in line to marry Besaw's. It's so good that I'd gladly spend the rest of my days arguing with it about how best to allocate our retirement savings: By investing in rock-solid, ever-more-delicious hollandaise sauce (with a guaranteed ROI of 115%!) or taking a gamble on on the croque madame market. Despite the fact that Besaw's is, arguably, located at the hub of one of the snobbiest parts of the snobbiest city on the West Coast, the servers are all nice, the service is swell, and the experience is remarkably reasonable. I get up early on the regular just to get there before it gets slammed with the usual crowd of North-Face wearing yupsters. (Although at this particular restaurant, the yupsters are a bit more muted then at other, similar establishments - they say please, thank you, and seem to tip well. There's just something about Besaw's that humanizes the gaping maw of Mercedes-driving, technical-fabric wearing lunatics.) Everything on the menu is scrumptious. EVERYTHING. Seriously, just close your eyes and point at something, and whatever comes to your table will be amazing. Even the coffee is superb. I started coming here before I moved here, and will probably come back after I move away. I seriously love this place. I think I'll buy it a big, fake diamond ring that it can wear to its expensive bikram yoga classes to make all the other restaurants jealous. Then maybe we can settle down in the West Hills and raise 2.5 gastro pubs.
(5)
Jer J.

Wait wasn't too bad I heard, for a Sunday early afternoon. It was maybe 25 minutes. I was not happy though when I had been standing there waiting to find out when the table was ready and the guy helped the guy that just walked in, completely ignoring me. Anyway, got the table. The waitress was great and nice and was super accommodating to my picky friend. We were both about to order the salmon dish when the waitress said they were out of...the salmon dish. Darn. I settled on the avocado omelette - with bacon. I ordered the fruit instead of potatoes and got the multi-grain bread. It was good, exactly what the description was, nothing more, nothing less. The bread was really good. The fruit side was actually impressive and surprising - kiwi, apples, pineapple, grapes. I also ordered a shot of espresso, which was sour tasting. I think it was overpriced, as $15.50 for that seemed really high. Honestly wouldn't come back here there are so many places in Portland and even around there that seems just as good if not better and without the wait.
(3)
Blake M.

Love this place. Great breakfast and dinner options. Breakfast = biscuits and gravy. Dinner = chicken and waffles!
(5)
Molly W.

What a great atmosphere in the fall. Had the braised brisket in tomato sauce with feta cheese and penne. Wow! Can't wait to come back for the meatloaf!
(5)
Julie C.

Somehow not as awesome as it used to be, but very, very, very good. Things I love: -the ham steak with the two-egg breakfast -I discovered the Aardvark hot sauce here -Forest mushroom omelette (add swiss cheese for extra deliciousness) -Prosciutto scramble -The. Breakfast. Burger - messy, greasy, and delicious. This is serious. hangover. food. -The bloody mary -you can sub sauteed veggies or fruit in place of the potato and toast to pretend you're eating lower carb -For your wait outside (you *will* wait, even if it's snowing outside because all of Portland eats here for breakfast, apparently), you can drink Stumptown coffee. This might be the best thing, ever. Things I'm less pleased about: I used to love the maple-glazed steak and eggs, but it's gone now. The server remarked they took off the menu because it was "too heavy for breakfast." Umm, this coming from the same menu with a butter-soaked Croque Madam, and bacon-soaked breakfast burger....who are you trying to kid? The extensive tea menu is gone! And frankly, my list of less pleasing things is short. Besaw's is Portland's breakfast place.
(4)
Taylor W.

Went here for Breakfast and got the burrito. Was really looking forward to having the Eggs Benedict because I had heard great things. However, it is only a weekend special .... bummer. Was no super impressed with my burrito and I have definitely had better. Portion size was great though and would definitely give this place another shot. Probably on a Saturday to get the eggs Benedict. Restaurant was neat inside with some good energy. Kind of small though and would not recommend for really big groups.
(3)
Lucy D.

This place is awesome. I came here while vacationing in Portland with my boyfriend. This place was just a few blocks from our hotel, so we decided to walk over and try their breakfast. It was so good that we looked over their dinner menu and decided to come back later that night. Great atmosphere and great service. I intend on coming back next time I'm in town.
(5)
Sharece B.

I love this place. I discovered it here on Yelp and decided that this is where we were going to eat before heading over to Pittock Mansion for the day. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was super impressed. The interior of this place is classic. It's an amazing place to go for brunch mid-morning. We sat outside on the back patio and enjoyed the beautiful lights and breeze. I ordered the avocado omelette with bacon. It was good. If you LOVE AVOCADO, I think it's probably heaven, but if you're like me, you probably will want to have something a little different. Next time, I'd go for an omelette with more bacon, less avocado, but then again, I'm a meat eater. The omelette came with potatoes and toast. Their breakfast potatoes were perfect. The seasonings were such that I ate every bite. And the toast was delicious, especially with some of their butter and jam to top it off. They have a great selection of breakfast beverages, but to keep with the cottagey feeling, I ordered Earl Grey, which could have been better. I'm not sure what tea they carry, but this wasn't my favorite variety of Earl Grey. Besaw's is a great restaurant. When I'm over on 23rd, I definitely plan on eating here again.
(5)
Leigh F.

I've been here twice already and I cannot WAIT to try everything on the menu. The breakfast burger is a vegetarian nightmare but makes me pretty happy I started eating meat again so I could try that. Today I had the croque Madame and I would easily put it on my list of top ten last meals to choose from. It was that good. Coffee is Stumptown which is awesome. I really thought their dragonfly chai would be amazing but mine was mostly milk, I wouldnt get it again. Lastly, when they're busy they are pretty quick to seat you so don't be afraid to go in if there are people waiting by the door. I would totally bring my kids here if I had some, they have a kid friendly menu. Dress seems to be "Sunday best" from what I can tell but I always just wear something casual.
(5)
Lauren G.

Great location but I always want the food to be better than it is. I mean, it's fine, but nothing amazing. Friendly service though and who can argue with the location.
(3)
Teresa R.

This place was pretty packed for a Monday at 11 AM. I wondered, do people work? Couldn't find a hostess in site, so I wrote my name down with party of 3. We had to wait for a table of 3, but not that long. My friends ordered the breakfast burger, huevos rancheros, and I had the two eggs with bacon and rosemary potatoes. My friend loved her huevos rancheros, so that gains this place a star. As for the breakfast burger, the presentation was beautiful. They had, what i thought was a perfectly sunny side up egg, sitting on top of the burger (which does not come with bread.. therefore I would rename this "protein style breakfast burger").. about that egg.. it was over hard. There was no yolk at all, although it appeared to look like it would run, when you poke it... FAIL on their end. I had the two eggs with bacon and rosemary potatoes. I can already smell the rosemary on those potatoes, which I knew would be over powering. Sure enough, the rosemary was very overpowering and the potatoes were not even crispy. it was a hit and miss with my bacon. They use a center cut bacon. One of my pieces were very crunchy and the other, not crunchy. GRRRRRRRRRR... lastly, our waiter was no where to be found. We had to ask which ever wait staff that walked by for water. Because our waiter was no where to be found, I literally had to get up, ask for our check, and then go back up with my friend's card to pay. The music they played was late 90s RNB- Usher- Destiny's Child, TLC , etc.. the music definitely did not fit the atmoshere... Will not come back and will not recommend to anyone.
(2)
Shaneldon W.

Oh my the chicken and waffles are delectable. A one of a kind treat. They haven't been around for 110 years for no reason. For brunch you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The Eggs Benedict is one of the best in town. All of the ingredients are fresh and it's an overall great, cozy environment. Expect a long wait, but just know it's worth it.
(5)
Dennis K.

I found out after having a poor-to-mediocre brunch that another friend agrees; if there was ever magic, it's gone. French fries instead of home fries in the farmer's hash, and on the eggs benedict plate. Potatoes are fundamental, and my litmus test, and this was an abject failure. The food was not hot, the eggs were a little dry, the coffee was so-so. You know you won't be back when the English muffin and jam are the best part of the meal.
(2)
Don B.

It does seem a little silly that it's taken me over 10 years of living in PDX to finally do breakfast at besaw's. But to be fair, I don't live in NW and generally don't travel for classic American diner fare breakfasts. But it was a crazy hashcapade that finally brought me to Besaw's doorstep, and I'm glad I tried it. The menu is complete with standard breakfast fare - scrambles, omeletes, a hash, some breakfast sandwiches and various griddle items. My sampled fare was a breakfast sandwich with over-medium eggs, bacon, avocado and a roasted sun dried tomato type thing on a brioche bun with a side of taters. The sandwich was good and the eggs cooked perfectly, but the star of the show was easily the potatoes - some of the most delicious I've had in PDX - filled with cloves of sweet, delicious roasted garlic. Goddamn, those are some great potaters. My OJ was huge and tasty, but the coffee was sort of par for watery diner juice. Service was great for our very large (15 person) group - friendly, dynamic, on-point. The two cards per table thing is kind of annoying as far as a restaurant policy goes but I sort of understand. Splitting checks is an art some restaurants have yet to master. But I don't blame our server one bit. I'm sure if I lived in the hood I'd be here more often... especially with a hangover. But I'm not sure I'll be trekking across town for it on the regular. Well, maybe for those bomb potatoes...
(4)
Alena C.

Love LOVE Besaws. The cocktails are all tasty and not too expensive, and hell, if it is expensive just go across the street to THAT cheap bar. I have yet to do dinner and am waiting for someone special to ask me so I can wear pearls and get salmon all over my face.
(4)
Loon E.

Great, cute little breakfast place! Loved everything about it! Little bit of a wait, but you can just drink coffee on the sidewalk while waiting for seats to open up. You can sit inside or outside. It seemed a bit cramped inside when I went in to use the restroom. Luckily, we got seats outside. Service was awesome! We had the tall guy who looked somewhat similar to John Waters. He was fantastic! Helped give recommendations and we both ended up getting different variations of their egg benedict specials. Both were delightful! We also got a cinnamon roll to start and it was different than what I was expecting for sure! Still had a nice, lighter feel to it. Would have wished it were more doughy, but that's just me. Coffee is constantly refilled, you don't feel rushed even as you know they are eager to turn the tables over (because of the numerous people waiting on line on the sidewalk). Fantastic place! Definitely stop by this gem!
(5)
Elaine P.

I love this place. The huckleberry mimosas were divine. The fiddleheads were, well what can you say? Loved the private bathroom. Heated patio is a big plus. Be willing to wait in long lines to get in on the weekend brunch.
(4)
Leah D.

Deeeeelicious brunch. Love the bloody marys, mix is homemade. The huevos rancheros are super yummy, the mini scone bites they bring out before you eat are delicious, and the service has been fantastic each time I've been. And now that the weather is getting nicer they have tables out front! Perfect brunch spot.
(5)
John D.

A Portland classic!
(4)
Ken R.

Only been here for breakfast, but always great food and service.
(4)
Stephano G.

There's not much to say here that hasn't already been said. I've been here for breakfast and dinner a few times, and I look forward to my next trip back. This is one of Portland's older establishments and there's a reason that it is still around.
(5)
michelle g.

...and our Portland trip begin's with a bang... After a quick morning flight, and a few morning cocktails, we were drooling with excitement for some great local Portland eats. Our best man Josh promised us a weekend reserved for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Besaw's was where it all began. After finding out The Screen door was only open on weekend's, we ended up with growling tummys at Besaw's. Only a few blocks from Josh's apartment, it was a close heaven for breakfast eaters. I ordered the Breakfast Burrito, and although I had never been there before, and obviously never tried anything else on the menu, I would swear it was the best thing in that place. The burrito was stuffed full of chorizo sausage, eggs, cheddar cheese, onions and peppers, but the chipotle sour cream that was drizzled across the top was litterly the icing on my breakfast burrito. Yum. The portion was a bit large, but with two burritos on one plate, I had a delightful snack the following morning!!! A+ for Besaw's
(5)
Megan F.

We love Besaw's! Definitely five stars - I would give more if I could. Breakfast is hearty, delicious and well worth the long wait on weekends. That being said, we generally have a short wait if we can get ourselves there by 8 or 9. Inside, it is warm, loud and bustling - a great way to start the weekend. If you crave some sweetness, DO NOT miss the cinnamon roll, which is often a special. Dinner is a quieter, more intimate atmosphere, and we may like the dinner menu even more than their famed breakfast. The menu is simple, the food is fresh and the cocktails are unbeatable. The chicken and waffles weekend special must be tried at least once, and their dessert options never disappoint. Service is quick and friendly, though we never feel rushed - we can sit and enjoy as long as we want!
(5)
Cat C.

Besaw's is a pretty good place for breakfast/brunch. Pancakes, waffles and French toast are all delightful. I'm docking a star for the long wait and the strand of hair that was on my pork apple sausage.
(3)
Kelly D.

Are you kidding me! I thought for a moment I was in the meat packing disctrict in New York when I sat down and had a tall belini and killer eggs benedict at this amazing cafe in northwest portland. WOW! There typically is a 30 minute wait, but it is well worth it. Just wait outside and sip on their free coffee until they call your name!
(5)
Jordan C.

Super legit biscuits and gravy. Long line for a table but it's worth it
(4)
Fernet B.

I've been here a few times and it's always worth the wait. Great food and awesome service - the whole staff is always super friendly. LOTS of options for both herbivores and omnivores. probably carnivores, too.
(4)
Gina H.

Great food, worth the wait. We had Mother's Day brunch at the restaraunt, we were sat at a table for 4 with 5 adults, on the main isle. When we made our dissappointment known we weren't expecting anything. As soon as the people at the table next to us left they spread us out onto another table giving us more room. We were very happy about that. Then they came back a bit latter and informed us they comped out drinks for the inconvenience. They really didn't have to do anything but they went the extra mile to make sure we were happy. We really appreciated their gestures. We will definetly come back. This was our second year doing the Mother's Day brunch here and will return again! Thank you Besaws!
(5)
Kate M.

Though I was very excited about brunching at Besaw's after hearing a great review, here are a few reasons I will probably not return... projected wait time to be seated: 35 minutes, actual wait time to be seated: 55 minutes (cool if it's worth the wait, but it wasn't); time between ordering food and getting food: 60 minutes; quinoa salad super salty, avocado with multiple pit fragments in plain view on top of one meal; sandwich missing a side item; fruit plate of cubed apples and pears tasty, but presentation and variety lackluster; folks at table next to us got their food 10 before us despite having been seated 10 minutes after us; server didn't seem to care too much. On a more positive note, the ambiance, location and free-hot-beverage-while-you-wait perk are great. I hope others have a better experience.
(2)
Rob T.

Great breakfast and brunch food. Just wish the drinks were on the same level. I ordered a Bloody Mary which left much to be desired. The place has a really nice feel to it but unfortunately my friends and I were seated out back in the colder enclosed patio so it was tough to take off your jacket and relax/take everything in.
(4)
Karin K.

Great food and excellent service. Love the Benedicts for brunch and the Seasonal Mimosa is always excellent (Rhubarb!). The Breakfast sandwich is my hands down favorite. Goat cheese, egg, avacado, bacon, all on a brioche bun. We recently had a bit of an issue here over Mother's Day, and when we mentioned it to our server, we not only got a prompt apology, they fixed the problem and comped some drinks. Really amazing and more than I expected. It's always great with good food is backed by really excellent service!
(4)
Dareyn S.

I ate at Besaw's twice while I was in Portland, so it definitely isn't bad. In fact, the food is good, the staff was very friendly, and the place seemed pretty cool, especially after reading the sign on the wall letting you know that Besaw's was started by 2 French-Canadian trappers with seed money from Henry Weinhard and was the first restaurant in Oregon (maybe just Portland?) to get a liquor license after Prohibition ended. I like history like that. The reason I deducted 2 stars is that while the food is good, it's nothing special, and it is definitely a bit overpriced for what it is. I had the $11 cheeseburger, which, again, was good, but was nowhere near to being in the same league as my favorite cheeseburger (Father's Office in LA) which is $12 and made with dry aged beef and gruyere. Also had a Reuben, which was good, but also not close to being the best reuben I've had. All in all a good place, but could knock a few bucks off most items to be considered a good value.
(3)
Robyn U.

Been here a few times and have never been disappointed. Most recently, my friend and I were waited on by Josh who was witty and wonderful! He encouraged us to take our time (we were savoring moments without our toddlers) and even brought my friend a birthday treat! Great service, great food, love!
(5)
Karen K.

We had heard about this place and were hoping to get there early enough to beat the crowds, but alas, by the time we got there, it was already jamming. Thankfully, they provide all waiting customers with a fresh pot of Stumptown Coffee. Lucky for us, there were open spots to sit at the bar, which I often prefer anyway. Sitting there let us fully experience the brilliance of Besaw's on a sunny Sunday morning, which included witnessing the friendly bartender's ritualistic provision of Sunday morning libations. The food offerings were fairly standard, but nonetheless delicious. I went out on a limb and ordered medium rare maple-glazed hanger steak to accompany my eggs, toast and fruit (well worth the up-charge), and I remain thankful to this day that I did. I am not usually a beef in the morning type of person, but it was absolutely amazing. The portion was petite but the flavor was awesome. To top off our fabulous meal, we had cup after cup of strong, Stumptown coffee. The next time we are in Portland, we will definitely be eating breakfast at Besaw's.
(4)
Ninihada C.

Bit pricey, but good breakfast spot. Not my favorite by far, and actually I was a bit underwhelmed with the quality for what I expected. I would have liked to have better quality french toast, and the sausages were very greasy and I didn't like the flavor. My husband enjoyed his eggs and bacon but thought the quantity wasnt worth the price. Don't know if Id go back, Ill probably check out some other places in the area to see if I can get better price or quality.
(3)
Scott L.

Yummy breakfast here. Always good fresh Ingredients.
(5)
Anne L.

I have been to different cities and "Besaw's" remains one of my favorite places for brunch, probably because of their Salmon Eggs Benedict which is an actual Salmon fillet (and not smoked Salmon). The only downside is the really long wait, but they usually serve coffee and waffles while you're waiting to be seated.
(4)
Liz O.

What makes Besaw's special? The only answer I have to that is the story of the restaurant, and I won't blow it for you, but you can read it on the walls.. Nothing too crazy, so don't be upset if you go out of your way to make a stop here. 45 minute said wait, which turned into an hour and 10 minutes. I wouldn't mind so much, except the last time we asked when we were up (at about the hour mark), we were told we were next. The next group was called - not us. The group after that? Not us either. This went on for about three more parties - it almost became amusing, if my stomach wasn't overcoming a hurdle to get food. The bloody mary I got to drink outside while waiting did not cut it (won't ever order that again, by the way!). Food: I ordered the chicken-fried steak, which was not what I was looking for and seemed to lack flavor. I can't dock points for this though, because my boyfriend enjoyed it - so maybe I was being particular about my CFS. The biscuits and gravy were the best part, but I wouldn't wait an hour for those. Salmon scramble - everyone raved about, it wasn't bad at all - coming from someone who doesn't like salmon too much. Omelette - chicken with asparagus. Someone in our group had a bone in it. Enough said. Now, I am not the type to rate a restaurant negatively based off of a long wait - they certainly had a lot of fans (maybe for the free coffee outside??). But, the food needs to be worth the fame, and I didn't feel that it was. I'd try it again considering my experience may have been an anomaly!
(3)
Megan S.

I really love Besaw's. It's in my old neighborhood, and was one of my favorite places to take visitors. My favorite times to go are at 8-9AM on weekends, and weekday evenings, because otherwise, it's quite a wait. They've got a great American menu - breakfast selection is delicious and wide - burritos, salmon&lox, egg dishes. Their menu is spectacular, and that's why people generally think of this place as a brunch place. But they're wrong. Dead wrong. Dinner at Besaw's is wonderful. I'd actually say the evening atmosphere within the restaurant is also a little better - candles, and dark saloon-esque interior/patio lighting make for an intimate, leisurely meal with friends or family. I've had their Mac - Tillamook cheddar, I tells ya; and their bison lasagna, which is heavenly. AB. SOLUTELY heavenly. Savory, and tomatoey with just the right sauce-to-meat ratio. If you're debating on going, STOP. And just go. You won't be sorry.
(4)
M. Ben B.

Anytime you find yourself saying "mmmm" out loud while eating a buffalo burger is a good sign. Lunch today was damn good. Breakfast yesterday, eggs bene were ok, but nothing special. Service was good, but I sit at the bar so there's no wait and always a bartender. Atmosphere is the pleasant drone of busyness.
(5)
Roger M.

Back to the19th century Besaw was a local hangout for gambling and what else, beer drinking! You can sit at the same mahogany bar in a retro stool that old time hop-heads used to chug brews. Also, check out the huge veggie & herb garden out back and see why Besaw is fresh & sustainable--they can, pickle & ferment the bounty! My wife and I have eaten here 18 times - all great! Here's a summary from my food journal. Responsive & friendly servers. Excellent meat loaf. Have a dessert chef. Great grass fed burger and fries. Delicious breakfasts with free range eggs, organic beef, buy only from local farms. Hard to find a better breakfast. Like omelets and side of bacon, apple cider home-made fresh. Big tasty Burrito with chorizo, cheddar, and spinach topped with extra sour cream. Awesome prosciutto scrambled eggs with asiago cheese. Farmers hash is great-taste-a-bite with scrambled eggs, asiago cheese, bacon, asparagus, garlic and rosemary potatoes. French toast with real maple syrup. Be prepared for a long wait on weekends but you can not go wrong!
(5)
Aaron V.

I live in NW and this place is always a great neighborhood go to! They switch up their specials every month I think. The caramel apple french toast didn't disappoint!!!
(5)
Tom M.

This is another one of Portland's premier five star breakfast spots. On Sunday you have to be in by 9 o'clock or you will have to plan to wait. I'm not sure why I waited so long to try this one out but I can honestly say, we'll be back. They won't seat you without your entire party present but we got a table immediately. Oh Besaw's, you tickle my taste buds. Breakfast was excellent as I had the wild salmon scramble: Three eggs, house-smoked wild salmon, fresh herbs, cream cheese, and chives. All egg dishes are served with rosemary-garlic roasted potatoes & multigrain toast. They also offer gluten-free options for all us glutards (One who does not possess the enzymes necessary to digest gluten, a main ingredient in wheat products. One who is "glutarded" must only eat gluten-free foods, such as water, tofu, and air.) Great atmosphere with impeccable service. Lots of windows line the 23rd street wall so even on a rainy day it's pretty bright in there. Service was excellent. Thanks Besaw's for a wonderful breakfast experience.
(5)
Ed K.

I was tempted to give this place 4 stars but those mini scones they pass out while you wait totally earned them that extra star. Three of us went in for brunch on Mother's day and I was expecting a craazzzzyyy wait but was told the wait would be about 45 minutes. Okay, not bad. But it turned into more like a little over an hour. Fine. Food: I had the Croque Madam and it was awesome! I love me sauce and gooey egg yolk. The potatoes with their homemade ketchup were pretty banging too. My friends enjoyed their meals as well - I think a sage and proscuitto benedict and farmer's hash? Looked good. Service: Our server was awesome. Engaging, funny, and really brightened the experience. I loved his mustache but I never got to tell him. I hope he reads this and appreciates the compliment, haha. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Raina T.

Came here on a Sunday for brunch with my girlfriends. As expected, there were a lot of people waiting and it took about 40-45min for us to get a table. They have a little coffee station outside for people to have a cup of joe while they wait, which is nice. I ordered the bacon avocado benedict which was delicious! The eggs were cooked perfectly (always a pet peeve of mine when the eggs are overcooked on a benny) and the potatoes were great as well. I was also excited about the fact that they had aardvark sauce, which I am obsessed with! Overall a nice place to grab some breakfast before strolling down 23rd and enjoying the day!
(4)
Mason B.

I had the best salmon scrambled eggs ever! She even three in guac for me. I don't have to tell you that this place is great bc you'll see the line going out the front door. A true Portland gem in a great cozy neighborhood.
(4)
Victoria A.

I loved the atmosphere of this place! It was cute and quaint, and the waitstaff was awesome!
(5)
Martha R.

Besaw's was good, but certainly not the best breakfast I have ever had. The coffee was okay. The service was just okay. I guess (from the reviews) that I am glad that I didn't eat the corned beef hash. The Eggs Benedict and pancake were average - not enough sauce on the benedict, and the egg was slightly over-done. The atmosphere is cute, and the location is nice (though parking could be tough if you were there on a weekend). Parking on Monday was just fine, but I think that we did get a little lucky - I saw some people walking from a little longer distance. Overall it's a cute place, but if I had to wait, I'd go elsewhere. I love so many other breakfast places in Portland. This one is just about average.
(3)
Judi M.

A friend and I arrived a little early for lunch so ordered from breakfast menu which I thought was very similar to other places. It took a long time for it to get to table , but service was attentive and kept coffee flowing. It is a very crowded space and I would refuse to be seated at table in center of room. There were a lot of young parents with tiny children in huge strollers. Screaming toddlers likely to kick one in head as they are carried by does not result in good review. The food was adequate, not cheap, but plentiful.
(3)
Alison M.

I had plans to shop downtown with a friend and looked up a place to eat in advance as she is vegan and gluten free. I like an all day breakfast place with Eggs Benedict on the menu. Besaws seemed like a good place to go. We dropped in at about 12:30 and were seated right away. Unfortunately they only serve Eggs Benny on the weekend, bummer. I had the Croque Madam, it started off really good, I loved the sauce. The eggs on the menu said over medium, but my yolks were completely cooked through well, to boot there was eggshell in one of my bites. My friend enjoyed her meal, which made me happy since I picked the restaurant. The service was good, and I enjoyed the ambiance. Our food came out quickly. However, I will not go out of my way to return anytime soon.
(3)
Mallory K.

Went here for dinner on a Friday night at 6:15 and had no problem getting a table. Service was great and so was the atmosphere. Had the bruschetta for an appetizer and it was delicious. A little pricey for just 2 pieces but good nonetheless. Ordered a burger for dinner and loved it! Good flavor and portion. Had a side salad which was probably the only thing I can "complain" about. It was just field greens with vinaigrette on it. No tomato, croutons, onion, anything. I would definitely go back here though! Try it out!
(4)
Lauren W.

We decided to have brunch here on a recommendation. The walk was about 20 minutes from Jeld-Wen field and we didn't have a car. It was raining and all I was saying was "are we there yet". Nothing special on the outside but once you walk in it's whoa where did all these people come from? We barely got two seats at the bar (my husband doesn't want to wait for food too long). I had the Croque Madame - served on brioche. Oh my God, it was so good. It was served with ham, gruyere cheese. The garlic potatoes were the best part and eaten first. I had about 5 cups of coffee (10am is still early morning for me). I then finished it off with a shot of baileys in my coffee.. (it's noon somewhere!)
(5)
Lyric A.

Decent little place to grab lunch with friends. They are a little bit hipster, but this IS Portland.
(3)
Ritu K.

Been here a few times and always thought it was decent. The wait is a total pain on the weekend so on a free Tuesday we thought why not. Sadly that'll be our last trip to Besaw's. Brunch was just completely underwhelming and trying to track down a server for forgotten juice (thankfully it wasn't coffee we would have rioted) turned into an impossible feat. My pancake was undercooked and mushy in the middle (I could make mushy pancakes at home) and my husband's burrito had a ton of undercooked kale (gross) that no amount of Tapatio could drown out. Thanks but we'll head elsewhere..
(3)
H S.

I love Besaw's! They have amazing brunch and, though there is a wait on the weekends, they have coffee outside and you can wander up to take a look at what's in the garden. If you are gluten-free or want to sub in veggies or fruit for the (very delightful rosemary) potatoes, you can. I highly recommend the two egg breakfast with chicken basil sausage, gluten free bun (from Jensens) and veggies. I'd love it if they had stumptown coffee or at least something less bitter than Water Ave, but hey, I like my coffee even if it's a bit bitter.
(5)
Jovan D.

Went here for the first time and was pulverized by a huge tower of raspberry and chÃ¨vre French toast! Yum! They also have fresh squeezed mimosas! Cheers :)
(4)
Ana R.

Best brunch I had in a while. Everything is tasty.
(4)
Amanda K.

I've lived in NW for about nine months now, and I finally made it to Besaws! Awesome. It was undoubtedly the long lines/brunch waits that have scared me off until now. We ended up picking one of the busiest brunch days of the year, New Years Day, to visit this place. Picture the scene: January 1st, 2013. I'm moderately-to-severely hungover, and not functioning properly. I'm glowing from the fact that I had an awesome night, and also was awarded the ROTD for 1/1/13 on Yelp. I arrive at 1:30pm, immediately seeking coffee first, bloody mary second. "There'll be a 45 minute wait", the girl says. Fine. I wait outside, freezing, yapping on the phone to my mom about the festivities the night before. Ten minutes later, I go inside and bug the hostess about coffee, which apparently I missed the coffee offering right outside the entryway, because again, I am moderately-to-severely hungover and am missing simple social cues on this fine Tuesday. Ooops. I clutch my steaming mug of local roast while I continue to wait outside for my table, and my brunch date. Brunch date shows up, and we get down to business. Not THAT kind of business. I'm talking about straight food business. It's so rare that I order biscuits and gravy when i'm out to breakfast. It's usually too heavy, but New Years Day on a weekday seems like the best time to indulge in such an offering, seeing as I had the next few days off and can afford a calorie-laden brunch. Highlights: the biscuits and gravy, of course. The pickled bloody mary, yummmmm. The bartender who was giving my brunch date shit for wearing a Redskins stocking cap, being that he was a Cowboys fan. The leisurely service we received--not too overbearing, and he appeared at just the right times to check on our meal. Fantastic. Not sure I can withstand a 45 minute wait for breakfast again, but that seems to be the norm in PDX. I don't make it out to brunch hardly ever, since I work weekends, but if I did, i'd be walking my ass to Besaws in the early hours to get my fix.
(4)
Aylee C.

Besaws is THE quintessential breakfast spot in NW Portland. I recommend going during the week for less of a wait. Everything on the menu is fabulous from their omelettes to their huevos rancheros. Their yogurt parfait is delightful as well.
(5)
Alyssa G.

Arrogant service. I am 39 weeks pregnant and the hostess would not let me wait for our table by sitting at the unoccupied seat at the bar, while I wait for the "waiting bench" to open. She was incredibly rude and kept telling me she had people she was sitting there. I continued to stand and wait for 10 minutes while she never sat anyone on the single, unoccupied, seat at the end of the bar. I don't expect to be treated extra-special, I do expect to be treated with respect and not lied to. Especially as I am so obviously pregnant. Her discriminatory attitude will make me rethink visiting Besaw's in the future.
(2)
Natalie B.

Had a fantastic dinner while on vacation from Chicago. We were able to walk in at 7 on a Friday night. It was lively but no wait. The meatloaf was the best my husband ever had. My mac and cheese was crazy good. The cost was reasonable and the place is cute. And oh yeah, they make kale sing. Great place.
(5)
Jennifer M.

I have been hearing raves about Besaw's for a while now, and this morning I decided to finally check it out. Alone. My mistake. I get that single diners are second class diners. Some part of me even understands why. Doesn't mean I have to like it. I was offered a seat at the bar, even though I arrived only a few minutes after opening and the tables weren't full. I say "offered", though it was clearly a rhetorical offer. I don't really like sitting at bars, but decided to go with the flow for once. Regretted that. Pretty sure I got the worst seat in the house. I was seated at the end of the bar, right next to where the wait staff did things like refill waters, get cups, pull orders, and chit chat. Also, when not surrounded by people doing their jobs (they have no choice; I don't blame them), I had a great view of the bussing station where all the unfinished meals were being dumped. Appetizing. Also got bumped into a lot, by waitstaff and patrons pushing past to their tables. Instead of a nice, relaxed breakfast experience, I got frenetic activity and jangled nerves. That said, my server was friendly and attentive, when she could break through the throngs of other wait staff to get to me. The food was ok (pancakes and bacon), but certainly not good enough to salvage the experience. Bottom line is that I won't be back. I felt unwelcome. I don't think much of places that treat single diners like pariahs. I can get a much better breakfast in Portland without all the attitude.
(2)
Tera M.

Stephen was the sweetest waiter I have ever come across. The other two ladies working tonight were also absolute delights. Besaw's has the best customer service of any restaurant in Portland (not to mention the amazing food) and its a true treat to come here for dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)
Rick G.

Great place for breakfast. The biscuits and gravy were some of the best I've ever had. Great coffee too.
(5)
Jon M.

Have been going to this restaurent for years, food is great but it is incredibly crowded.? Called in to order my breakfast to pick up and was informed they dont offer take out on weekends. All I was trying to order was bacon and eggs, I was told their kitchen was inadequate. What .......????????????????? Why not .....? This is another great example of how this city is becoming very unappealing. Our family has done business on 23rd for years. This is embarrassing. This restaurant used to be good, I guess there just like every other sell out. Take care of your long term customers or we'll just go else where and tell all our millions of friends on the web. I don't know how to explain it , it's so frustrating to enjoy a hash spot for years and now I have to go find another favorite place eat my breakfast. Compleatlly disappointed in you you Besaws.
(1)
Cory S.

Had a great meal here. The chicken and waffles for dinner. The waitress was honest and told us that it would be plenty for us to share especially since we wanted to try the mac and cheese. We really appreciated her honesty because she was 100% correct. The service was quick and polite. I recommend eating outside on a nice day.
(4)
Mike M.

GOOD GRIEF, DOESN'T ANYBODY WORK IN THIS TOWN?? We tried Besaw's on a rainy Wednesday morning. We were lucky enough to get seated right away, but the line waiting for a table slowly began forming at the front of the restaurant. Now if you've been to Besaw's, you know that if you took all the customers out and just had the staff in there, it's pretty tight. But somehow this kind of crowded seemed ok...seemed sort of Portlandy....seemed kinda neighborly. At least now, after trying a couple of other times and choosing not to wait, we know what all the fuss is about. Besaw's is really, really good! Also...pear bellinis with breakfast, an awesome idea! We took my mother in law, who is from Hawaii and had never had marionberry jam before.....sorry Besaw's, I prolly owe you some jam!! I can't say we'll come down on a Saturday morning and wait an hour for a table to eat here again, but if we get lucky and have a midweek day off....absolutely! And that's not a knock on Besaw's.....I'm just not that patient.
(4)
Jenny H.

My friend took me here because he said it's his favorite brunch spot. I came with a group of 5 and we did family style sharing all the dishes, so I think I got a good idea of Besaw's food. The food was okay, nothing bad but it just wasn't very good in my opinion. The portions were pretty big and people seemed to be happy with that, but I prefer smaller portions of food I enjoy more. I tried the breakfast burrito, biscuits & gravy, pancakes, wild salmon scramble, and omelette. Nothing really stood out in my mind so I probably won't be back since there are so many other restaurants to try in Portland.
(3)
Kelly B.

My first meal in Portland: I went to Besaw's on a rainy Friday morning with two friends and we were seated right away. The space is small, but had a home-y feel. The menu is standard breakfast. I had two eggs scrambled with cheddar + hash browns and wheat toast. The hash browns had cloves of roasted garlic, which was a great surprise! A great breakfast/brunch location for a small group.
(4)
Faye F.

Came here one Saturday morning for brunch and had a bit of a wait but it's brunch, what do you expect! We sat on the back patio and it was nice there because it didn't feel too crowded like inside the restaurant. Had the wild salmon eggs and it was very delicious! I love their multigrain toast!! My friend had the farmer's hash and OMG that was really amazing! The kale and bacon bits plus the egg and cheese was so good in your mouth (YES REALLY)! Another friend of mine ordered the hella burrito and it was GINORMOUS! Their house hot sauce wasn't as good as that aardvark (? can't remember) that was on the table. So if you like spice, forgo everything else (even my beloved cholula) and go for the other one on the table. Service was quick and good, our water glasses were always filled, and they do up to 2 cards of splits for the bill; otherwise, they charge!
(4)
Jennie K.

Eggs Benny with Sage and Proscuitto? Oh. My. God. I would have eaten every single roasted potato that came with the plate had I not ordered bread pudding. Bread pudding from heaven. Bread pudding from heaven. Yes Besaws. Yes forever.
(5)
Maryanne M.

Amazing food, incredible seasonal pear mimosa, really patient and kind staff (even at brunch time on a Saturday), and we only waited 15 minutes. Pretty good for Portland brunch. Oh, and just so dang cute inside.
(4)
Amiee H.

I have to say....Besaw's was totally overshadowed by Mother's Bistro because I just went to Mother's Bistro the day before...so maybe my rating would have been higher but just because I had to compare it to something as amazing as Mother's Bistro, Besaw's got a lower rating... Food: 1) Cinnamon bun: OMG, melt in your mouth yummy! Best thing we ordered!! 2) Eggs Benedict: Not really that great. The pouched egg wasn't made just right; paring it with sun dried tomatoes and spinach just didn't hit the spot. Overall, I thought it was very bland. 3) Farmer's hash: wasn't all it was cracked up to be, it was alright, but also didn't hit the spot for me. All the ingredients sounded good together but didn't really come out tasting like I expected it to. Service: Very fast and friendly. Ambiance: Had outdoor seating and indoor seating. It's a moderate size place but felt very cozy. Nothing too fancy for decor but just enough to feel like a lazy sunday brunch place. Price: I felt like it was a bit more than Mother's Bistro and the food wasn't quiet as good...kinda disappointing. Overall: I think it was nice to try but I would still pick Mother's Bistro over this place!
(4)
Sam M.

Can this place get any better? I think not! I was invited to have brunch here one morning and I fell in love, not like puppy love, but genuine I wanna have your baby kind of love! The morning started with one of the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had, great for that Saturday morning hangover or whatever you're recuperating from. From there it continued with the excellent french toast and finished off with a Mimosa... I've also been here for happy hour and dinner, the Brussels sprouts are amazing with one of their great wine selections. Most of all though I can't say enough about the wait staff, they are wonderful and attentive. Beth (who usually works the bar) is wonderful and is always willing to talk up the gossip and genuinely is interested in conversing. p.s. a great belly up bar
(5)
Sven G.

A great hit in NW 23rd area. In short, this is a super cute place with great atmosphere, incredibly efficient and attentive service. Went for the first time there on a Sunday morning and while they were many people waiting it took only 20 minutes to get seated, while you get to lounge around outside with a cup of coffee. The menu was rich with a good number of specialties. The food arrived in under 15 minutes and when it did... everything was cooked to perfection and hitting on the taste points of all 4 of us. I was engulfed in the Croque Madame I ordered with great toast, ham and eggs and just perfect seasonings. Home made Ketchup to boot, hot sauce fixings made the meal a win. Thank you for making a quick brunch with friends into a great kick-off to a weekend day!
(5)
Renee C.

My absolute favorite breakfast place in the Portland Metro area! Great food and I love their sparkling wine with yummy things added like pear reduction!
(5)
Liz C.

Our family has been coming to Besaws since the 1940's. Thank goodness they took our Sunday Breakfast reservation for 7 people, because the line was out the door. When people are willing to stand in the rain waiting for a table, you know it's worth it. Madam Croque was incredible. Perfect eggs, nice thick bacon and those who ordered the Eggs Benedict raved. Breakfast burrito and Breakfast Hamburger were also huge and delicious. We all went away full and satisfied.
(5)
Alison P.

So disappointing. We have been coming here for 17 years and it has always been our favorite breakfast spot. It has been a while since we've eaten here since we moved away a few years ago. We ordered our usuals. Belgian waffle with a side of peanut butter and paid the additional $3 to upgrade to real maple syrup. Also the biscuits and gravy which includes an egg. The waffle was dependably delicious, but the peanut butter was very thick and pasty plus it was incredibly salty. They used to serve warm, drizzly PB. In fact, we first had this dish at Besaw's from their specials menu. I wish we hadn't opted for the fancy syrup as it was awful to all three of us who tasted it. I don't know how you get maple syrup wrong, but they did. The biscuits were light, fluffy and fantastic but they were ruined by a sour and tart (not salty) sausage gravy. It is a much different recipe than we've had in the past. The kicker was that they've redone their menu and hiked the prices up in the process. What happened?!! Time to find a new spot.
(2)
Keith M.

We came to this place with the highest of expectations. They were serving a "Julia Child" menu that we were really looking forward to enjoying. It's a good thing poor Julia wasn't around to taste this food. She would not have been pleased with what they did to her recipes. Let's start with the Nicoise salad. Somehow they managed to create the most salty salad known to humankind. The capers and anchovies combined to overpower the salad with saltiness. The only component to this salad that wasn't salty was the tuna, which had no flavor whatsoever. I have had better salads at fast food restaurants and buffets. Next, they managed to royally screw up French onion soup. Not only was it bland and watery, it was also served in a skimpy-sized portion. And I'm half convinced the cheese they used was Kraft Swiss singles. (Probably not really -- but it tasted like it!) The fish dish I ordered was also bland. It was served with sliced tomatoes and spinach, which I think I liked better than the actual fish. There really was no "happy medium" with the flavors of our dinner. Everything was either very salty, or very bland. The worst part was the dessert. It tasted ok, and I was starting to enjoy it up until the moment I took a bite and chipped my tooth on a cherry pit that had been left inside the slice they served me. (In fact, today my tooth still hurts and I am going to be making a dental appointment!) They comp'd my entire meal due to the cherry pit issue, which I appreciated. But I will never eat here again.
(1)
Anne B.

Worth the wait! Came here for brunch one morning and the wait wasn't too bad. Once we were seated the service was great. All of the food was delicious, would definitely come back.
(4)
Gehan K.

Best chicken fried steak hands down. Mmmmm the crust was oat mealy and not so much your usual fried crust. The biscuits are amazing....so of course the Tucson egg benedicts was good as well. Now their ketchup....home made...very good....way better than heinz. Next time....i must try cake pans.... G approved!
(5)
Sanjana P.

The meatloaf is to die for! Bartender is very knowledgeable! Love this place
(5)
Courtney K.

You know you have arrived at Besaw's when you come across the street corner in the Northwest where there is a crowd of people hanging out. For breakfast there is always a wait but I think it is worth it. They have coffee outside so that helps make the wait more palatable and a bit warmer in the winter months. The food is delicious and service is prompt. I've had several dishes here and have never been disappointed. One of my favorites was an egg white, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes scramble. Mmmmm. Besaw's is old as the hills which makes for a quaint atmosphere.
(4)
Terry M.

Today was not a good day for us, Besaw's. Too bad, too, as I am leaving Portland to return to the East Coast on Tuesday and wanted a last meal to remember you by. I came in for a good-bye lunch with a friend today, ordered what I thought I remembered to be a reliable menu item (the burger) but was sorely disappointed. I ordered the burger medium, it came medium well. It was seasoned well but overcooked, dry, mealy and not particularly hot. In fact, it tasted and looked like it had been cooked an hour earlier. On the upside, the side salad was good, the Bloody Mary yummy if a bit salty. I would still have given a third star for the decent meals I have had here on previous occasions over the years, but the burger was just that awful. I did appreciate the server taking 50% off the price of the burger, though when I first tried to tell her it was overcooked she got distracted and walked away to greet other guests as I was speaking to her. Could happen to anyone I suppose. So eat at Besaw's by all means, it is a Portland institution. Just stay away from the hamburger.
(2)
Ann B.

Loved their food. Their menu had plenty of options and each were very tempting. The food was delicious and I loved the decor of the restaurant
(5)
Suzanne V.

Awesome food and excellent service. This all coming from someone who manages a retail food outlet for 5+ years. I was even extra impressed with their ingenuity and freshness of the menu.
(5)
C.J. W.

I don't know what the buzz is all about. We waited more than an hour (which I don't mind doing if the food is worth it...but in hind-sight, this time it was a mistake)...the service was mediocre...the server forgot to put in our order for the hot cinnamon roll, which eventually came out cold...and the rest of the breakfast dishes were nothing special. When I go out to eat, I want to be wowed -- I want food better than I can make at home...and unfortunately this place didn't do it for me. With so many other places in Portland to try, I won't be giving this one a second chance. Sorry.
(2)
Michelle S.

A 5 for the food. Very tasty. At the table we tried biscuits and gravy, breakfast burrito, bacon hash and croque Madame, all were excellent. Very fresh and not greasy at all. The drinks ere fantastic. Cool area. 3 for the wait. We were told 45 minutes and it took 90 minutes so needless to say, I was a bit cranky. I am not sure I would have waited that long if they would have told me that from the beginning. I liked the history of the place, pretty cool neighborhood as well.
(4)
Jeff B.

This establishment has the BEST Breakfast/Brunch for the weekends!
(5)
Annie F.

Really good comfort food, without being too heavy. I had the waffle with strawberries, and it was just delicious. Everyone in my (large) party was happy. I've also been for dinner, which was fantastic. The meatloaf was my favorite dish, and the butterscotch pudding for dessert was phenomenal. The service is always great, the waitstaff is super friendly. Love this spot!
(5)
Ryan K.

The wife and I stumbled upon this place while biking through the hills in Portland. We were fixing to bike all the way to South East, but then got hungry and stopped at the first place that looked good. Luckily for us we found this place! The decor is warm and cozy, with a great wood saloon bar and big windows looking out onto the street. The place was pretty crowded which we felt was a good sign, but the wait was only 10 minutes on a Wednesday. I had the breakfast burger, which was a bunless burger with veggies, potato shavings, ham and an over easy duck egg on top. The whole combo worked together well to produce a rich, attention grabbing first impression. The pickled veggies were fine but I found myself saving them for last and then not eating them. The only downside was that I felt it to be just a BIT overpriced. In particular the coffee, which was not much special, was marked up. The server was very professional and visible when you wanted him to be.
(4)
Samantha T.

A really charming place with excellent Bloody Mary drinks. While you are waiting to be seated they offer you free Stumptown Coffee, which is also my favorite coffee. The place isn't that big but there are also sitting outside. I was there for breakfast and ordered an oatmeal pancakes that turned out great. The texture and the flavoring was just prefect. I never thought that an oatmeal pancakes can taste so good. It also had fresh berries on them which add a fruity flavor to the pancakes...
(5)
P V.

Stopped off at Besaw's for breakfast with a friend on Saturday afternoon. Place was packed but we were lucky enough to find a table outside. You can certainly see and taste the quality in their food. Service was great. Will definitely come back here for breakfast again.
(5)
Brent W.

4* for breakfast. 2.5* for dinner. Burger at dinner was ok. Mac and cheese and meatloaf were mediocre. Now I know why there is no wait at dinner time.
(3)
elaine m.

It was fine -- the service was terrific - but the food was average, at best. In a city and neighborhood with so many outstanding restaurants, this one is lacking. One one occasion, my salad came with no dressing, or at least so little that I couldn't taste it, and the lettuce wasn't fresh. Gave the place another shot -- anyone can have a bad day -- but the omelet was really average: not much flavor, boring. And my friend's food was the same. Not sure why this place is popular
(2)
Andrew S.

Nice spot. The staff was great. I had the biscuits and gravy, it was very tasty. The gravy was smooth and the scratch biscuits were fresh. Someone had the monte cristo and the Salmon omelette. This 4 star was based on Breakfast. Have not tried Lunch or Dinner yet.
(4)
Drew W.

a decent restaurant meal...fun brunch for sure! some great specials with some good standards. not an amazing spot...but a good local spot!
(3)
April M.

I can't find a reason to give Besaw's anything less than five stars. My hub and I were in Portland so I could run the marathon. Given that I staggered across the finish line alive, we had to find a place to have breakfast the next morning. We were staying downtown (any Portlander will tell you that it's the lamest part of town, but centrally located) so options were kind of bleh. I scoured Yelp for something close, and good. To my chagrin, all the "good" places were across the Willamette (damn it!) and any Portlander will tell you, "Ugh, I don't want to cross the river". I feel you, Portland, I feel you. So, all my best options being in the NE or SE part of town, we opted to hike (or more like limp in my case) a mile and a half up and across town to get to Besaw's. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive to no line and no wait; we were seated promptly at the bar (they offer al fresco dining as well on the "Newbury Street/Fifth Avenue of PDX"). Our server was extremely friendly and welcoming, immediately providing menus and water and taking our drink order. Wow! I was hungry and that menu was enticing, I wanted a little bit of everything. I would describe the breakfast choices as a hybrid of traditional American, Mexican and Southern cuisines. An interesting, and after our meals I would say a successful, marriage of styles. My man got the Scratch biscuits and gravy and I ordered the avocado omelette - yes, an omelette filled with avocado! Both dishes were perfect, although I tested his and I would say the gravy was a little on the sweet side for my liking. The rosemary potatoes were to die for, as already described by fellow Yelpers. I substituted my toast with a biscuit, which was fluffy and crisp and buttery, oh my. Topped it with my newly coveted Marrionberry jam. The biggest casualty of traveling? Finding a food you love that you know is not available back home. Pff. The omelette was relatively plain, but generously stuffed with perfectly ripened avocado and topped with a fresh pico de gallo that really brought the dish home. I could eat something like that every day for the rest of my life. So light and refreshing and filling. Coffee was good, not sure what brew they served up, but Mr. Server kept it full for me. Again, there was nothing to be found in the way of complaints! Besaw's gets a well rounded five from me. Wish I could comment on lunch, but will - and do - confidently recommend for breakfast and brunch!
(5)
Rebecca R.

I want to go back and try breakfast. My friend ordered french toast and it smelled wonderful. The roast beef sandwich was good but nothing inspired. I felt the meat was a bit dry. It came with a small green salad on the side which was nice but the dressing was lackluster. It needed a little more flavor to balance out the horseradish sauce from the sandwich. The menu was big and provided a lot of choices between lunch, brunch, or breakfast.
(3)
Joe M.

My wife and I went for Saturday lunch. Place was slammed. Staff was overwhelmed. Food arrived lukewarm. Cooks and waitresses arguing over orders. Noisy inside. Could forgive all that if the food rose to the occasion. Unfortunately it was just average. Breakfast burger cooked medium rare as ordered but kind of blah. Breakfast hash was not particularly noteworthy. We wouldn't put it on our "try again" list.
(2)
Libby S.

The staff here is really excellent. Especially the tall rocker server with long hair and glasses. He is super cute. p.s. Order the Cobb salad sometime. Phenomenal.
(5)
Shannon K.

Okay, finally a brunch that I am really happy with. On my top 10 list of reasons for moving to Portland, number 4 was because of the brunch thing and I was starting to lose faith in what I heard about the brunch culture here. My hubby and I are learning that if we want a happy Sunday brunch experience, we should get up early. We find it to be kind of fun to race the crowd rather than be part of the crowd. So we got up and drove across town to Besaw's, and we were right to arrive early because a crowd was already starting to form. I immediately liked the feel of the place, I felt like I was in an old bar that had a quaint home kitchen feel to it. We sat at the bar (which incidentally is not a good choice for short people, our legs didn't reach down) and we weren't rushed to place our orders. I ordered a side of scrambled eggs and their gluten free pancakes. I am always looking to see if I can again enjoy a plate of pancakes that won't make me feel icky like wheat ones do. If you do not expect to taste an old-fashioned pancake when eating these pancakes, then you will find that they are actually really good...maybe a touch on the dense side. I would have been happier if they were a little thinner. I always feel that restaurants are trying to make up for the gluten free thing by making their products more dense or just bigger, and it isn't necessary at all. Anyway, I was really pleased with the pancake and the eggs were really really good. That was what I was looking for, scrambled eggs done really well. My hubby had pancakes as well and also a side of their potatoes. I tried the potatoes and they were delicious! Super duper flavorful. His pancakes, he said, were really good. He said he would go back there again, so they had to be good for him to say that. We had really good service. The servers were all in really good moods and the energy of the place was definitely up and happy. Oh, and I happened to really like the music that was playing that morning, it was a mix of a bunch of 90's stuff. Overall, I really liked this place. I have a long list of other places to try but I will certainly make my way back over here.
(4)
Ainsley D.

I picked this place by yelping breakfast spots in this particular neighborhood and I was a little skeptical by the pictures (it really just reminded me of a sort of run-down pub), but it was nothing like I imagined! We sat outside in the sunshine right on the sidewalk. Their menus were cute and everything about this place (even though I didn't even see the inside) screamed adorable! I was really hoping to get the avocado benedict that I saw on yelp, but they only served it on weekends--darn! I opted for the salmon scramble instead and it was delicious! There was salmon and cream cheese, superb combination... their potatoes were seasoned absolutely perfect... and their toast, it seemed so plain and simple, but it really hit the spot. I'm eager to go back once I move to Portland.
(5)
Josh K.

The breakfast here is magical. That's pretty much all you can say. Magical breakfast elves preparing delicious food. Or something... Great ambiance, amazing food, good location. If you like breakfast (who doesn't?), you'll love Besaw's. I'm still having dreams about their French Toast and their amazing bacon. If you're in NW 23rd and it's before 3pm, just go. It will be well worth it. There will probably be a wait, but again, it's worth it. Seriously. Stop reading this dumb review and just go, already.
(5)
Ethan D.

I had heard good thing after good thing about the breakfast here at Besaw's; and judging by the number of people standing around outside waiting for a table, I had concluded that the food here MUST be really good. But is it worth the wait...? Yes that's right, Besaw's ALWAYS has a wait. But the good news is that they take care of those who are waiting by handing out free cups of coffee and occasionally free waffle samples. So if you're going to wait, chances are you'll at least get a free cup of freshly brewed Stumptown to help you through it. If you come here and there isn't a wait consider yourself very lucky. It's a very small and intimate little bistro. It is historic, classy, and beautiful inside. Besaw's is the quintessential Northwest (aka Nob Hill) District dining establishment, in my opinion. And YES, IT'S WORTH THE WAIT. Why? Because I had arguably the best Eggs Benedict of my life here. The Tuscan Benedict substituted the typical Canadian Bacon and replaced it with prosciutto and fresh sage. It was so delicious I did not want it to stop. The flavors! And the hollandaise sauce is perfect! All for a reasonable price too. If it weren't for the wait, I would come here as often as possible. My brother ordered the made from scratch Biscuits and Gravy and loved it! My best friend ordered the Mushroom Omlete and loved it! My wife ordered the breakfast sandwich and was not at all fond of it, but she later said that she expected something different. She wasn't thrilled about its being served on a bun rather than an english muffin, croissant, or biscuit. But my 5 stars is mainly for the Tuscan Eggs Benedict. The atmosphere within the restaurant is great, the service was also great given how busy they were, and it is great that they give you Stumptown coffee while you wait outside for a table. If you come here, be sure it's with a relaxed, no-hurry, patient mindset. Do not come here expecting to eat-and-run because it simply won't happen. This place is almost always at capacity. Do not expect your food to come out quickly either. Be patient. The quality is worth it, and quality isn't quick. Besaw's is the place you come to if you have a lazy Sunday to waste, not a place to come to if you have plans later that morning. So take a deep breath, sit back, sip your bloody marry, and savor each bite of food.
(5)
Matthew W.

**Breakfast Review** Besaw's is one of my favorite breakfast places in Portland. During my last visit, I had their Avacado Omelet with bacon and it was excellent. The side of potatoes was well-cooked and tasty and even the wheat toast was good. My server also introduced me to a great local hot sauce called NW Elixirs Hott Sauce #1. That made the omelet even better. If you get a chance, sit at the bar. It provides excellent people watching. The service can be a bit slow and getting in during busy times is challenging, but the food makes it worth the wait. If you're in the upper part of NW Portland, definitely check out Besaw's. It's been there since 1903 after all.
(4)
Nick F.

Love their brunch here. I always get their egg/bacon/goat cheese sandwich, with garlic potatoes. Their servers are cool. Dinner seems a bit too expensive for me, considering the amount of food isn't overwhelming, but they make a strong drink, which saves them from a 4star, in my opinion. Go here if in Portland. It's got some history behind it.
(5)
Niki S.

The line outside seemed daunting, but we still parked and checked on the wait. "Should be about 20 minutes"... which was enough time to walk up 6 blocks for a frapp then head back to have my name immediately called. Seating is a little cramped. Homemade ketchup is delicious and tangy. We split a cinnamon roll and the roll itself was a little dry, maybe not sealed from air. The frosting was a gooey blend of creamcheese though. My veggie scramble with feta and the roasted taters was well complimented by the giant oven roasted cloves of garlic and fresh rosemary. My boyfriend's breakfast burger was a good recommendation from our friendly server and the gravy bed it was on top of, was a salty yet slightly sweet mix of savory. Check this place out, they have a good mix without it being too much. Total bill with a cinnamon roll and arnold palmers was 30 even.
(5)
Eliza M.

There are some days when being a solo diner is TOTALLY WORTH IT. This day was one of those days - I walked into Besaw's, saw the line, saw the throngs of people waiting to eat, put in "Eliza, party of 1" and got seated within 5 mins. That's what I call Besaw'some. I had the two eggs, over easy, apple pork sausage, and rosemary potatoes. Throw on a nice glass of FRESH oj (at least it tastes fresh) and some scrumptious coffee and you've got yourself a great bfast. I always find rosemary to be a tad overwhelming on potatoes, but pay no mind to that - they were still good. The sourdough toast was crunchy and warm and the homemade ketchup and jam hit the spot. The staff were running around like CRAZY people but not in a bad way - in a busy way. And they were all working together quite pleasantly! I'd totally go back.
(4)
Lili M.

Came here recently on a Friday morning(ish) with a party of 12. Yes, 12. When we told the hostess she didn't even bat an eyelash, just told us it would be something ridiculously quick like 15-20 minutes for our table, and offered to get us drinks while we waited. Awesome. Next thing I know we're waiting happily for our table with our respective coffees and mimosas. We were seated pretty quickly on the adorable back (side?) patio, and were able to decide & order pretty quickly. Service was friendly and fast despite our party being on the larger -- and slightly rowdy -- side. My breakfast/brunch was AMAZING. I ordered a scramble with chÃ¨vre and avocado, plus the house potatoes and toast. Perfect portion size. Everyone in my party was equally pleased with their orders. I would definitely love to go back next time I'm in the area!
(5)
Jeff W.

There's not much to say about Besaw's, but... go here. Their breakfast/brunch is incredible. You'll most likely have to deal with a bit of a wait, but most often it hasn't been too bad for us. However, parking in this neck of the woods can be a little tricky. Their french toast is hard to beat, but everything I've had on their menu has been incredible. This is a breakfast spot I would recommend to friends/family in a heart beat. My wife and I keep meaning to try them out for dinner, but has yet to happen. I'll be sure to report back once it happens.
(5)
Matt N Gina H.

Yum & Fun! Not many breakfast do we sit and sing along with the music. What a great place to enjoy a meal and the company of everyone around you. We ordered breakfast, and enjoyed every bite of it. We didn't experience a wait, as we visited it on a Thursday morning right before the lunch crowd started to roll in. We would not only recommend it, but look forward to returning. The had some fun music playing that you could hear everyone singing along with at one point or another. I wouldn't let the thought of long lines keep you from this from this place-go when you are willing to give yourself time to wait, and if there is no wait then you have plenty of time to just sit and enjoy all that will surround you.
(5)
Luanne S.

We had a special family breakfast to celebrate a birthday. The service was great and the food was yummy and just different enough to be interesting. I had the Lox plate and it was great, daughter had a omelet with salsa, avocado, and lots of other healthy goodness. Others had pancakes, french toast, bacon, and so on. Everyone was happy. It does have a small parking lot which is a big bonus for this location.
(4)
Christ F.

Had the Wild Salmon Scramble, added rosemary potatoes to it. Yumm, would have been five stars but service was slow or under staffed..
(4)
Jason S.

I love this new place. My wife and I got hooked by a mutual friend and this is now our Sunday brunch spot. Hit and miss with the crowd...sometimes it will be packed but can sit outside for 2 within about 5 minutes...have had their avacado and bacon benedict and my last trip rocked out with my Prosciutto out with their Prosciutto scramble. Avacado and bacon benedict, things I all like...especially together...very very good! Prosciutto scramble was also delicious....lots of Prosciutto, garlic cloves and sprinkled cheese. All flavors are very complimentary! All brunch dishes come with some of my favorite garlic rosemary potatoes which are near perfect in my estimation. Garlic that is delicious because it isn't potent enough to keep the wife away, but you know it is there... Great bloody mary's and I loved my greyhound. Can get spendy with a couple adult beverages...but worth it for a sunday treat!!!! Also, get the guy outsiode with the great mustache...cheerful guy that can be a little slow, but super nice and takes care of ya!
(4)
Valeska H.

This is my favorite breakfast spot in Portland! The food is fresh, affordable and prepared quickly (also absolutely delicious!), staff is friendly and helpful. The wait can be up to 45 mins on weekends but trust me, it's worth it! Take a walk along 23rd and get a starbucks while you wait or enjoy complimentary tea and coffee offered on the sidewalk. I recommend the salmon scramble (add avocado) as well as the Breakfast Sandwich. The french toast is also a fantastic option for those of us with a sweet tooth. Parking can be problematic but behind the cafe is a parking lot with Besaw's customers only spots as well as library parking (closed on Sunday's so you can park there). If you haven't been there yet, make sure you do otherwise you're missing out!
(5)
Ellen G.

So good! All the food is delicious -- partially because they grow some of it in the garden behind the restaurant. Great, attentive service, too. The weekend brunch wait can be very long, but outdoor coffee helps.
(4)
Adam G.

Last week, I exclaimed, "Besaw's does dinner?!" Clearly, I was out of the loop on this one because I always thought of Besaw's as a great place to go for some amazing breakfast. As it turns out, this is only half the truth. They do a fantastic dinner as well! The Besaw's Board was delicious, and a refreshing break from the sometimes sparse pickings on a charcuterie board. Ranging from the crispness of apple and pear through the richness of spinach dip, with delicious honeycomb, it was a perfect way to start the meal. Oh, and the chicken & waffles is phenomenal! I couldn't finish it all despite maintaining the physique of a man pregnant with triplets! As good as the food is, though, it's pretty irrelevant to this review. You see, this family dinner could have easily become a horrible experience. Here's a list of possible issues. They were out of Buffalo Stew - Ok, this is totally unimportant since none of us were going to get it, but still, it's always a challenge when you start the meal with something not available. That said, this was one of the first things our server told us about. +1 point for being on top of the 86 board. Bowls of soup were delivered when cups were desired - This was probably our fault as much as his. We just said "I'd like the soup." but he never asked "Cup or bowl?" Apparently, it was so good, that no one thought to complain. 0 points since it was pretty much a wash. The waiter forgot to put in the order for 1 member of our party - Actually, based on the total sum experience, I don't know if it was actually his fault. He claimed 100% blame for the screw up though. +1 point for honesty, +1 point for acknowledging the issue, +1 point for actually fixing the issue. They were out of Cake Bombs - While I'd never had these things before, and wasn't planning on it then either (I'm not much of a sweet tooth), at least 3 members of my party gasped. Yes, really. People actually gasp when receiving this kind of news. +1 point for actually listening to us gripe and keeping good spirits. Then they weren't out of Cake Bombs - Turns out, they had them after all. I don't know if they found the chef's secret stash, convinced the staff they couldn't keep them for themselves, or what, but they had not the single one originally thought, but rather enough for all who so desired. -1 point for not really knowing the 86 board as well as I thought, +1 point for actually going back to check, +1 point for admitting a mistake (AGAIN!) that we never would have caught if he didn't. I want to be clear, those were a list of POSSIBLE issues, that were all handled quickly and professionally by our server. Even with all of that, we all left extremely happy. Even with all that, the experience was so good, we added a little extra tip onto the added gratuity (we were 9 people). Not only was every potential stumbling block hopped over easily, but our server kept high energy and a great attitude the entire time. Great food + top notch service = me recommending this place to others.
(4)
J P.

Completely ignored by front door staff so left after waiting to add my name to their list - which they carry around so I couldn't sign myself up for a table. Went to St Honore around the corner instead.
(1)
Joe W.

A friend recommended Besaw's for brunch while we were in Portland for the weekend. A great recommendation! The inside has typical diner feel, and the outside is more like a small cafe. We sat outside, which is less noisy and a lot more relaxing. The one complain I have is that the white canopy they use to cover the outside lets in a lot of sun (which is probably the point), which makes it slightly warm out there. Not really a big deal, though. Besaw's has a great menu complete with the standard eggs/breakfast meat combos, omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes, and waffles--all served with their delicious rosemary home fries! I'm an eggs-benedict fiend, so I appreciated the variety of eggs benedict they served. I ended up getting the tuscan, which is very similar to the classic, but with an extra salty kick. I was very impressed with the service--our server was on top of our orders, very professional, and refilled my coffee many times before it ever got half empty. I have to mention this one detail because this made me love our server even more--he was a well-kempted, tall gentleman with his silver hair slicked back a well-groomed mustache, and dressed in formal black and white--all except for his BRIGHT GREEN SOCKS! I love it! I think we paid just about $30 for three of us, which is a steal in my opinion. I'll definitely be coming back here on my next trip to PDX. Another plus is that it's really close to 23rd, where there's a lot of good shopping.
(4)
Wolf L.

This is another one of those places that I won't even try to get inside on a weekend morning. Lines down the freakin' street. Nertz to that. We were both off work this morning (a Friday) and decided to give Besaw's a try. We were seated right away, but a line started to form minutes after our butts hit our chairs. Even on a weekday this joint is jumpin'. I had to order the biscuits and gravy because everybody says they're so awesome. My wife got the Croque Madam--I'm not sure what all was on that plate, but it was a pile of food. The biscuits and gravy came with two eggs and I got them over-medium. I also got a side of bacon. Everything looked and and tasted delicious. My coffee cup was kept full we both enjoyed the atmosphere. I like Besaw's and would probably even wait in line a while for a table. That's says a lot.
(4)
Amanda O.

My in-laws came to visit from Europe and I took'em here for lunch it was really good and tasty. They have classic American staples like the mac & cheese or bake cookie that just might steal your heart. I can't wait to come again and try their brunch.
(4)
Jason G.

A young woman walked up to me, looked me up and down, and yelled directly in my face "HAVE YOU GUYS HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MENU?!" I took that as character instead of mediocre service to go along with a helping of mediocre food. I had some bland chicken sausage and a croque madame that was pretty forgetful. I felt trapped by my food (and saddened by it) and by the waitress that kept bum rushing me. I've always seen a line out here in front on the weekends, but I honestly don't get it. I love breakfast foods, they build me up! Besaws let me down.
(2)
Ursula M.

One nice thing about the long weekend wait is that they have a coffee stand outside where you can serve yourself. My husband had the huevos rancheros and liked it. I had the Farmers' Hash, and thought it was good, but the potatoes should've been browned. They were like a Northwesterner's skin at the end of winter. BLAH! It's VERY noisy and VERY crowded. A good place for occasional visits, but we won't be regulars.
(3)
Jessica R.

This place is good. My egg sandwich definitely hit the spot. All the right flavors going on. Lucky us it was actually a nice day and we were able to sit outside. The service was good. I would love to go back and try more of the menu here. Next time I am in Portland I will return to Besaw's.
(5)
Lily S.

Breakfast sandwich. It will change your life. Lots of prompt coffee warmups, even though we were sitting outside, and super friendly service. Other times I've eaten here I've gotten the huevos rancheros- super good. My dad had the huckleberry bacon pancakes and a huge, foamy cappuccino. The menu here continues to impress, and they are clearly comfortable with the offerings. There's nothing more disappointing than a gourmet special offering that exceeds the cooks' skill. Not the case here! Everything we've had is tasty, hot, and fresh.
(5)
Rebekka P.

I've come here a few times for early breakfast and was impressed each time- I think my favorite thing about this place is the atmosphere. Hard to explain why beyond that I feel really comfortable here and enjoy eating here by myself or with my boyfriend. The food is great, and Bobby the morning bartender was fantastic.
(5)
Lindsay L.

I stopped by for a quick bite at the bar a few weeks ago. Honestly, I haven't been back to Besaws since I lived in the neighborhood and it was our go-to place. This was my one and only dinner experience there. Upon entering, I grabbed a seat at the bar and was greated by the friendly bartender. At her suggestion, I ordered the hamburger/fries and had a glass of wine. The couple next to me, order some sort of appetizer board that looked wonderful. Besaws has definately jumped up a couple of places in my mind for the next time I go out for dinner. Thank you for making me feel welcome for dinner after just leaving the gym!
(3)
Alexandra H.

Had brunch here with a friend and really enjoyed the experience. The weather was incredible so we sat outside. I had the hash and my friend had the breakfast sandwich/burger. The hash had roasted rosemary red potatoes, eggs, bacon, cheese, kale and whole roasted garlic cloves and the sandwich was just what you would think with fried egg cooked to your taste. Both were great. The waiter was also awesome. He kept us happy and glasses filled without being intrusive. Would definitely recommend Besaw's and will certainly be back to try the lunch menu!
(4)
Lauren K.

My friend and I got here relatively early so there was no wait. We snagged a table outside and lounged throughout the meal. The menu options made it very hard to choose one thing but the waitress pointed out that she could do small portions if we just wanted "sample sizes" of items. Boom - instant fan, right here. Everything was delicious and we left totally satisfied. It's not the most amazing brunch I've ever had, but I'd totally recommend this place as a top option. And I'd recommend going with people who like to share; makes the experience much more robust.
(4)
Emi T.

Solid, delicious comfort food in a cozy, classic environment. The mac 'n cheese is amazing and the portion they give you is huge, especially considering how rich the dish is. I also had the Cafe Brian - which was like dessert in a cup: a latte with chocolate, vanilla, and whipped cream - it was a great pick-me-up on a rainy, dreary day. I love that they serve breakfast until 3pm, too. I will definitely be back, I will just always make sure to come during their down times so that I can find a parking space and not have to wait too long (if at all) for a table.
(5)
Basil M.

I read these amazing reviews and had high expectations. The location was extremely convenient because we had a Meeting nearby. The atmosphere was Pleasant, the wait staff was great. The food was just ok. It wasn't bad... Just not spectacular. Went with the breakfast burrito.
(2)
Molly R.

This place is always hands down amazing! LOVE the brunch, the bloody marys are delish with the pickels veggies! Also a great place to go for after dinner dessert & spanish coffee! yummm
(5)
Farhad S.

Amazing food. Didn't like the Bloody Mary but the food is amazing. These guys have that part ( the most important part of a restaurant) really figured out. Great service to boot.
(5)
robert a.

My mother always told me that we all have options in life, but based on the breakfast menus that I've found throughout Portland, those options were never particularly interesting. I've recently discovered Besaw's and suddenly it feels as though my final barrier to happiness has been torn down. I have a weakness for greasy diner food in the morning, but there's a certain degree of self-loathing involved when I paint myself into that sad, little corner. Sausage patty and hash browns? Try roasted rosemary-garlic potatoes and chicken-basil sausage. Veggie omelet? I'm not that guy anymore. Herbed chevre omelet with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. Don't get me wrong. Besaw's isn't the kind of place that you need to have a culinary degree to appreciate. It's a diner. But it's also more than that. And when I'm recommending a restaurant, "more" is an adjective that I don't throw around recklessly.
(5)
Jake C.

Food was great. Service felt blunt and direct which was surprising for portland. I was instantly reminded of being in a bigger city. It was nice. The food was incredible, maybe it was an omlet or something but yeah.
(4)
Amy B.

I just came from this place and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. The service was quick and efficient, and I didn't feel hurried at all. Next time I'm back in the area I will certainly return again!
(5)
S M.

The wait is typically long but that's because the food is good. So I eat a half meal before going and I'm always back to ravenous by the time the food gets to the table. The highest compliments to Besaw's is about their staff. So professional. Each waiter is calm, attentive, and mature, they also seem like they're having a good time there, even though they're working so hard. I find them very respectful while other places have waiters that stay at your table and talk or keep coming back to the table to talk or ask questions over and over. At Besaw's they don't bother you, but they take care of you. It's very nice. I love how they use as much local and organic food as possible. Every dish tastes fresh and homemade. The quality of ingredients really makes the food delicious. There are some days whee the food presentation is a little off, it depends on who the cook is that day. Sometimes the plates look magazine worthy, some days it looks like ground up hash breakfast scrambles that I would feed my dog, no finesse at all. It's very crowded most of the time, unless you're seated on the patio of in a back corner it can be kind of hard to have a date where you can talk.
(5)
Noey D.

I am normally a savory breakfast person but I am a pancake kinda person here. The only place I do that. They are fluffy and perfectly sweet - YUM! The other breakfast foods are delicious as well. Try the breakfast sandwich! Friendly, attentive service. Go mid-week if you can to avoid a long wait!
(5)
Daniel L.

Great atmosphere and great food. No wait mid morning weekdays. Waitstaff was a bit slow bit wasn't in a rush, so no worries. Best place I've tried for breakfast in Portland!
(5)
Travis S.

Good food, unique history of the restaurant and building...can't really go wrong here.
(4)
Priscilla L.

First off I just want to say let everyone know that all my reviews for any Portland restaurant will get 4 stars or less just because I come from California and i'm use to much faster service. However, I would like to say I came here with my family for breakfast and honestly the breakfast here was good. I love the fresh squeeze mimosa that was delicious! I got the spinach omelet and it was really good even with the goat cheese. I like the fact that if your not that hungry they have smaller portion menu and that was great for my mom since she doesn't have a big appetite. I would come back here if I live in Portland.
(4)
Sammy G.

I had the worst experience!! Our family was visiting Portland over Thanksgiving weekend and one of my friends recommended this place, so we went with great expectations. The line was long but the servers assured us that it would only be a few minutes, and that we were up next. However, we waited about 50 minute before we realized that the manager was secretly giving other people who came much later tables before us. It appears that the manager knew those people and gave them a favor. No one- waiter, manager or hostess seemed to give us a second glance. Finally, we decided to just leave after wasting 50 minutes.
(1)
Lisa V.

Our first meal in Portland: breakfast at Besaw's. I had read ahead of time that the brunching hour was a major Portland deal and that, you should pretty much expect a wait for any decent brunch place. Well, this was a Friday morning so we had no wait at all! It's a cozy cafe, so I can see how it could easily get crazy on Sundays. Hubby and I did the usual breakfast order, one sweet and one savory plate to share! I had the ample French toast and hubby, the Farmer's hash. My French toast, in all honesty, was just OK and the serving size was monstrous. The Farmer's Hash was DEEEEEELISH. After we got home, we were freshly inspired to create our own little roasted garlic scramble. Add to that the range of NW brand hot sauces...YUM. Our server was super friendly and helpful, this being our first day in Portland ever. She gave us a lot of great, touristy ideas for sightseeing with the babe. I'd definitely recommend this spot.
(4)
Chris P.

Best food ever. Breakfast burger is a must try. You can really tell they use the highest quality ingredients for their food, and it is amazing. Also had tons of options and substitutions for my gluten-intolerant girlfriend. We sat outside with our dog, but inside looks like a great atmosphere and outside was really nice. We both also tried some really great beer and cider there and there was a long list of options for wines/beers/ciders to choose from. Portland is full of awesome places to eat, I tried a lot of them while I was in town and this was a favorite.
(5)
Bobbi J.

Went to this cafe this morning for Brunch and it was wonderful! Be careful though....the place is busy and packed. Get your name on the list and take a stroll down the little neighborhood....very quaint and some cute shops. My girlfriend had the French Toast and it was so good! The best I have ever had. I had the eggs, bacon and rosmary/garlic potatoes...very good hearty breakfast. I cant wait to go back and try some more meals! Just good!
(5)
Heather W.

This place was... Okay. We went for dinner and from what I've heard breakfast/brunch is their best meal of the day. The appetizer "besaw's board" was filling and delicious, but all three of the main courses our party got were nothing special. It is priced a little high at dinner time as well. The atmosphere was nice, but our waiter looked and acted like it was the last place he wanted to be. Overall, not a place I'd recommend for dinner, but for drinks and appetizers it was nice.
(3)
Brian N.

Cute place for brunch in the NE. I was working the night shift and so there was no way I'd be able to spend Valentine's with my wife so we decided to have brunch here for V-day. Had an amazingly tasty burger that we shared. Their breakfast burger that comes w/ country gravy, which was awesome. However, we also decided to have their Pancake special which was a trio of the CRAPPIEST pancakes I've ever had. They were dense and really just seemed like an afterthought. I've had better from Bisquick--NO exaggeration. The trio meant that each pancake was made with (1) pear (2) chocolate (3) bacon. They didn't do anything special other than to put a little bit of each of the three elements into the respective pancake. Sounds great, ultimately pretty unimpressive. At least the syrup was served warm. Service didn't really come with a smile and we felt overlooked quite a bit when we were there. It's not like they were that busy; it was a weekday morning. I would've thought they'd show a little more love for a couple.
(3)
Esther Y.

Besaw's is definitely up there on my list of favorite brunch places in Portland. And thankfully they have their own parking lot, albeit a really tiny one. I have come to loathe parking in Northwest. Anyways, my friends and I were seated outside on a beautiful Friday morning, and we enjoyed a delicious brunch. I had the Farmer's Hash without cheese but with added sundried tomatoes (they made that substitution for free, but normally to add ingredients costs 50 cents to a buck). It was amazing. My friend also had a birthday coupon where she was presented with a complimentary special "nibble" (basically a truffle) with a long skinny candle. Highly recommended!!
(5)
Stacey G.

super crowded so sat on the patio. food was ok and portions were large. Staff was great
(3)
Chris P.

I can't add to the other reviews that rave about the ambiance, the food, the helpful staff. So the best answer to the long wait is go ahead and put your name in and then plan a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. Its worth it.
(5)
Chris B.

Only get three stars because breakfast is good. Dinner is quite ordinary and I would not recommend it. (I tried 4 entrees and 3 appetizers)
(3)
Mariah B.

Their brunch is worth the wait in line. Add your name to the list, then grab a cup of coffee and explore the neighborhood while you wait. (Unless you are in a big group. Go elsewhere for a group later than 4.)The benedicts are to die for. My husband loves their loose leaf tea selection. This isn't really a place for kids. It's loud and crowded... In a good way.
(5)
Talli B.

One of my favorite places for brunch in Portland. I went here for my birthday this year because I love it so much. They have amazing gluten-free french toast and their hot drinks are really superb. The vibe is really chill, if a little loud, but overall I love coming to Besaw's as often as I can.
(5)
Kim L.

What a great place to go for brunch! The croque Madame was delicious. The gruyere cheese sauce was very rich on top of a brioche bun... and the egg was poached just right. The plate was seasoned well. I'm excited to try other things on the menu. The service was fine and we didn't feel rushed at all and everyone that we saw in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying themselves too. However, I'd probably venture to go once in a while because the wait is extremely long. So if you want a spot, I recommend going early to snag a spot.
(3)
MirMack M.

Great place for breakfast. They seat groups in the covered back porch area which has heat lamps. Brunch is always busy but if you have a group make reservations and avoid the line. Their dinners are fantastic and not busy at night. I've gone many times and will go again and again.
(4)
Monica S.

NOTE TO THE READER: i am generous with my stars. if i didn't get sick, automatically the restaurant gets one star. AND: if i didn't get dissed by the waitstaff, two stars. if i could afford it, 3 stars. if the atmosphere was great, 4. if i loved the food, 5. every eating adventure has a story. i was overnight in portland waiting for an airplane. i walked around for a couple of hours looking for a bar that had great atmosphere. i was outside such a place, about to open the door and take a peek inside, when a couple rolled out, held the door open for me, and invited me to hang outside with them. (note: i wish i took note of what bar this was, since this was just the kind of place i was looking for but instead i went in, got my beer and went back outside). i took up their invitation and sat outside chatting with the couple. before they left for the night, they offered me a breakfast suggestion: Besaw's. I am poor. really poor. But sometimes when i am traveling I like to treat myself to something special. It was a chilly late october morning and I already had made my own perfect cup of coffee at the hostel, so i wasn't going to have any more. breakfast isn't part of my routine, but this day i was hungry early so i went over to NW23rd & NW Savier to find Besaw's. THE ATMOSPHERE AND PRICE: it was thursday morning and the place was packed. i immediately liked the physical atmosphere. outside, both the building and the business looked like it had been there for a long time. inside, if i remember correctly, the floor was vintage white tile, there was wood, chrome and brass. the interior felt warm and inviting. old without being intentionally trendy-retro. i looked over the menu, the average omelet, potato and toast breakfast was $10. spend-y for me, but it was an unusual menu which reads "Besaw's strives to support local, organic and sustainable farmers" -this is a turn-on to me since when i travel i like to eat the local food, in the local style. THE FOOD: i chose to sit at the bar. i ordered the forest mushroom omelette, and i didn't have to wait long for it to arrive. time to dig in! although the mushrooms didn't taste particularly wild, (and tho the menu didn't say they were, it was a flavor i was expecting) nevertheless, it was a delicious omelet, and the potatoes deserve a standing ovation. salty and herb-y. also, there was home-made ketchup and marionberry jam. i considered ordering more sourdough toast just to eat more jam! the breakfast filled me up. THE STAFF: my waitress was lively. after i finished my breakfast, i asked her about finding some good salmon for supper and she informed me that salmon is not in season, so i learned something. she suggested some alternatives. I WOULD EAT HERE AGAIN! if i find myself in portland again, and i have any extra money, i would bring my entourage with me & treat us all to Besaw's. and i would order some kind of cocktail because they looked so good. PS: i didn't mention the very beautiful waiter with the very large eyeglasses and chestnut hair, but that was just an extra and has nothing at all to do with my review of the restaurant.
(5)
Tony M.

With the first of our Arizona guests in town we wanted to make a good impression of our reputation for finding the best places to eat. We took our very good and trusting friends to Besaw's and Besaw's did not let us down. The food was delicious, the service was excellent and the vibe outstanding! Two of us had the incredible Breakfast Burger, one had the biscuits and gravy and one had the Breakfast sandwich. All were very good. Portions are generous and the prices reasonable. We will be taking more out of state visitors to Besaw's!
(5)
Jey R.

Oh Besaw.. where to start... So 4 of us decided to go to the Julia Child dinner night... huge mistake. The tiny pretentious portions where expected, as was the snoody waiter. the drinks where very strong, that's the best thing about this place was the drinks. so we start off with french onion soup.. it was covered in so much cheese and salt and was just mediocre, yet very salty... Next the nicoise salad... It was a salad of pure salt.. everything on it tasted like it came from a jar.. Not to mention the small piece of Tuna they served on this salad tasted like it came from a can of cat food. It was horrendous.. we were starving and hadn't eaten all night so we choked it down anyway. Next we get to the main course.. Boeuf Bourguignon.. and Thon a la provencale.. which is supposed to be Swordfish... It was TUNA lol The Beef Bourguignon was TERRIBLE.. it tasted like one big salty mess.. you couldn't even taste any of the wine in it, there were ingredients in there that Julia child would have never used I.e Celery, potatoes, and no mushrooms. YA wtf.. and the beef was very tough and fatty... you could tell thsi was NOT slow cooked but rushed together, not only that but our mouth's were getting sore from all the salt lol.. A can of Denty Moore beef stew would have been better! seriously it was just so bad.. The "tuna" was very bland and salty.. the guys who got it said the piece of tomato on the plate was the best part lol, NOW for the BEST PART!@@@ OMGZ so we get dessert now... Clafoutis... or what Beesaw thought was Clafoutis lol It is traditionally a puffed dessert with cherries... this tasted more like an omelet with cherries in it. and not only that .. it tasted freezer burned or something. oh ho ho but the BEST part of all is I did not eat it after 1 bite i was like eww gross no thanks... my partner however starts eating his still and then all of a sudden he cries out in pain as a cherry pit chips his tooth! OMG!! seriously.. you cant pit cherries BEFORE putting them in a dessert. oh it was such a terrible experience and not only that it was at 35$ a person.. so they didn't charge him for his meal after the whole cherry pit ordeal.. thankfully,.,, but we were still out over 200 bucks on a crappy terrible awful dining experience.. wish we would have went to Burger King instead.. would have been less salty and saved us 200 bucks!
(1)
Carly H.

They make a mean breakfast. Love their Benedict's! Expect to wait on the weekends a while.
(5)
Amanda S.

not sure what the hype is about...came here for breakfast and the wait was long and the food was only mediocre at best...the only redeeming quality is the self serve stumptown coffee (it was actually pretty good) stand right outside the front doors... my dining partners and i ordered the avocado and bacon eggs benedict yelp.com/biz_photos/0czUâ€¦ , bagels with cream cheese yelp.com/biz_photos/0czUâ€¦ , buttermilk pancakes, and croque madame yelp.com/biz_photos/0czUâ€¦ buttermilk pancakes were extremely dry...and the eggs on the eggs benedict and croque madame were completely cooked through...overall, just blah...
(2)
Elaine W.

Breakfast & Brunch are my favorite meals of the day. I haven't tried lunch or dinner at Besaw's yet, but it's definitely one of the best places to go to for early dining! Portions are generous, and the food is as visually appealing as it is delicious. (See the pic I uploaded of the plate of French toast we ordered - yum!) The ambiance of the place reminds me of the cafes I would frequent during my trips around Spain and France. The space is small and seating is a bit cramped. We were lucky enough to find a table without too long of a wait time.
(4)
Nikee W.

It was a cold Saturday morning, around 10 am and I had just dropped my scooter off to be winterized at classic scooter and cycle on 23rd. The 25 minute drive in had left me with numb fingers and toes and a grumpy disposition. I had left my "sack breakfast" on the counter in my rush out the door so I decided I had earned the right to a proper sit down meal. As I wandered down the street I noticed a little heated patio stuffed full of people, as I passed by I noticed the whole place was packed. I figured this was a good sign that the food must be good. I peeked in and saw half a dozen people waiting to be seated, which made me think I would be waiting at least 20 minutes. Lucky for me, since I was dining solo the hostess got me a seat in the bar after about 5 minutes. The first thing I really loved about this place was that during my brief wait I was able to help myself to a mug of stumptown, complete with cream and sugar. They have a little setup right out the door so that you can start in with the bottomless coffee right away. It made my brief wait almost enjoyable. The bar I sat at was cozy but had plenty of leg room for me to stow my helmet and messenger bag below my seat without kicking it every two minutes. I looked over the menu and was pleased that they served some unique hashes and scrambles as well as classics like Croque Monsieur and Benedict's. I settled on the smoked salmon scramble which was served with some rustic toast and the most wonderful roasted potatoes. The scramble was huge and warm and was well seasoned. I was half expecting more of a salmon candy kind of smoked salmon, but it was more naturally smoked and thankfully very moist. I tossed a few shakes of hot sauce in and thought it was perfect. The potatoes where roasted and salted to perfection with big fat cloves of roasted garlic. My coffee cup was never empty and the wait staff was attentive. The whole experience took me from cold, grumpy and hungry to warm cozy and ready to explore! I look forward to coming back with my husband or a group of friends, or maybe on my own next time my scooter needs some work.
(5)
Graham B.

The first time I brunch'd at Besaw's, the food was good and the service was good and the music was reggae. Thus, I kind of pushed it onto my list of options that are, well, OK in a pinch. But! I'm glad I gave this place a second chance. It does not disappoint as I had previously anticipated. The last two times I've gone, there has been a wait (both on Sunday mornings, so that's understandable). There have also been frequently emptied (and consequently filled) pots of Stumptown (decaf and regular) and tea along with cream and sugar for you that do that thing. Since this is something kind of novel (although it should be more common), many people don't know what to do with Besaw's hospitality. I've witnessed a couple fill up 16oz travel mugs from the newly filled coffee pot while I waited to fill up my little paper cup that the restaurant provides right there on the drink cart. I was shocked and appalled when, voilÃ¡, there were only about 3 more cups left in there when the hoarders had gone off for a walk while they waited. I've also seen an elderly gentleman try to get a cup of coffee from a newly emptied pot, been thwarted, and then pick up the pot and yell to the door/in the general direction of the front desk: "HEY! Can we get some more coffee out here?!!" This also produced amazement from myself and TM. But! On both of those occasions the host (who on both occasions had an exquisitely groomed moustache that I'm very jealous of) refilled the pots promptly and even brought out a personal mug of coffee for the yelling old timer. Now that's damage control. But! I haven't even told you how impressed I am with the bustling, efficient staff or the rotating specials of the day. The traditional eggs and toast and bacon/applewood sausage (SO GOOD) breakfast is great. A scramble with the sausage and peppers and pepperjack cheese along with toast and rosemary potatoes (the SeÃ±or Busy, it was a special) was delicious. Especially topped off with a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa. The waffles are also good and big (big as in Belgian, not big as in Stepping Stone pancake gastrointestinal driveby [which I also enjoy]), and on the first occasion when it wasn't raining, we waiting waifs were witness to a waffle which was waved into our watering mouths as a sample and as a companion to the coffee. I'd recommend this place as a good venue to get a nice brunch if you don't mind a little wait, since it's always busy. The prices are little higher than normal, but the food is well made and well presented. And, barring any relapses of reggae on the ol' stereo system, I'll be back here in the future with no qualms.
(4)
Melanie N.

A wonderful location for brunch in Portland. I've been here a couple times and the food has been sublime! Rich, but sublime. My suggestion to you if you'd prefer not to wait is to get here early. We arrived around 8:30-9 and were able to be seated right away. However when we were here a couple years ago and arrived around 11, we had to wait. Definitely a top spot for brunch and Portland knows it.
(4)
Jennifer C.

Sorry that this review is a couple years late. I remember having really good breakfast here. The reason I didn't want to give it a five star is for the awful bloody mary I had. I still remember how overly salty it was. Hopefully things have changed in that regard. I came here with a large group and they had no trouble seating us. It was really good service and enjoyable experience overall.
(4)
Susan O.

My favorite breakfast spot in Portland. It is so quaint. The food is the best!! The staff is great. I once took my neighbor there with her little ones. Her children were awful. The wait staff was very nice to all of us and very chill about the mess.
(5)
Kyle P.

This is one of my favorite places to eat brunch in Portland. The service is always great, the food is consistently good and their Spanish coffee is the best I have ever had. I highly recommend Besaw's.
(5)
Raymond T.

Small place but packed with excellent breakfast choices! There were many good options but I choose the proscutto and asiago cheese omlett which wsa outstanding! Good coffee, excellent service... its a small place so I can see that it could be a wait but based on my first visit, I will be back!
(4)
MISTY L.

I know this place is well know for breakfast and has long breakfast lines, but dinner is awesome! I loves the meatloaf, and have also had the crepes. Great news they have take out. I had to stay in Portland for several days due to an illness and getting takeout was here was a great high point. Cured a little of the home sick with home cook food, good health and no greasy spoon here!
(5)
Stanley T.

I've mostly gotten over my feeling of guilt regarding my 3 star review of Besaws. I've returned several times since then - they're 1 block from my house and I love the people who work there - and I've been very pleased with my recent experiences. It's time ( in my view) to give a star back. Tonight I had the hangar steak with a red wine sauce, oyster mushrooms and fingerling potatoes. Wonderful. The Malbec is my go-to wine here. Ronda had a Spring vegetable soup with oyster mushrooms as well - also great. Service was excellent as always. I have high hopes that the improvement I've noted in my recent visits is something I can count on continuing. I'm giving them a star and will be back for more.
(4)
chris m.

Hard to find much negative to say, charming ambiance, great food, friendly service and comparable prices. The service was slightly slow, as were the refills on coffee but there is no sense in getting nitpicky since we talked for days after our meal about how much we enjoyed Besaw's.
(5)
Lelay P.

There's so many reviews on this place already so let me just say I'm a fan. I took out one star for the long wait, but besides that, everything was a-okay. Good food, good price, long wait. I will come back, most likely bring a little snack so I'm not starving by the time I get a table, but I do recommend it.
(4)
Snow M.

Ugh, no. After a long wait outside, we were seated on the patio. The poor girl who was waiting on us was also being slammed by the 10 person party, complete with little children running around, sitting next to us. I felt bad for her as she tried not to look harried and annoyed but large parties can do that to you. She had some help out back but who ever that was didn't know the first thing. Coffee refills were like trying to wave down a cab in New York in the rain after dark. I ordered the french toast with organic maple syrup, Dad got salmon and eggs and Nancy got one egg and some fruit. They took forever!! I know it was brunch rush but please! The french toast came with... well.. nothing. it was just a small plate of french toast, no bacon, no fruit, nothing. The french toast was nothing to write home about, I could have made better at home. I remember they charged some ridiculous amount of money for the ounce (maybe) of all natural, organic, renewable, sustainable, gluten free, lactose free maple syrup. Oh yeah... and the french toast was cold. Should have gone to Stepping Stone just up the street.
(2)
Suzanne F.

While out running errands today, I suddenly realized I was hungry (no surprise here) & while I had something very different in mind, I wound up here at Besaw's. The woman who "greeted" me put me off somewhat. She really looked me up n' down before letting me know I could either sit at a table practically out the door, or the counter. I chose the counter. This person could use some customer relations tips... I am not someone swayed by the absurd portions that PDX is known for. Not only would I not want a 3 egg omelet, I couldn't eat all that. It seems wasteful to me...Breakfast was out. While I have not eaten a burger in years, I ordered the turkey burger with grilled mushrooms. It was one of the best burgers I have ever eaten! Toasted sesame seed bun, ultra fresh lettuce, tomato - which was ripe, I might add- onion, and those delectable mushrooms. This wonder was served with a chopped salad of crisp lettuces with a dressing I couldn't figure out, but was really good. I had a glass of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, then settled back to read my NY Times. The ambiance was terrific, old fashioned, but not stuffy. There seemed to be lots of people in there who were having an outing. I don't know if I stumbled into a tourist trap, of sorts, but I would most assuredly go back. Just as long as the same greeter is no where near the door...
(4)
Michael S.

Besaw's is where it's at! One of the best places for brunch in NW PDX. The coffee is fantastic, the food is well prepared (but be aware, any dish with garlic is overloaded with garlic) and the adult beverages are made pretty well also. There is almost always a wait if you go during the weekend so be prepared but, I assure you if you have a few extra minutes to wait it's worth it!
(5)
Jess M.

Best breakfast in the NW! This place has a lot of really good food, just be ready to wait a bit. It's medium sized and there is usually a hefty wait list on the weekends.
(5)
Shiru A.

Fanfreakingtastic. Good food, nice atmosphere, and oddly all the wait staff when I have been there are always really tall. If your new to Portland, Besaw's is nestled in a very nice neighborhood (highly walkable, lots to do in the area). Their menu is vegetarian friendly, with a great drink menu and the option of a delicious habanero hot sauce. Their eggs and meat are ethical, hormone free, and generally in line with the Portlandian mentality. Highly recommend, with only one caveat - not the cheapest place in town.
(5)
Roche H.

Great service and good food. Loved the biscuits and the gravy was good too. Meats were amazing. Make reservations though!
(4)
Doni W.

LOVE this place. Staff is always super friendly. If you're there for brunch and love mimosas, the pour is 90% champagne and just a splash of OJ -- just how I like it. I haven't tried the Bloody Mary's, but they look AWESOME. Food: mac and cheese is great, as is their house-made focaccia with olive oil.
(5)
Graham C.

I wanted to like Besaw's. I tried to like Besaw's. I went twice because I figured the first time was just an off day. It pains me to say it but it is just not very good. I loved the decor, cool historical building, old bar, whiskey with my coffee, whats not to love right. Well the service is very friendly but not very good. 3 mistakes on the last visit, and the food just didn't taste good. The first trip I had the Croque madam. Ham mornay bread and egg. Should have been easy, but it was dry. Not nearly enough of the cheese goodness. The potatoes were soggy and overly spiced. The next time I had biscuits and gravy. Once again DRY and the "house made" biscuits tasted just like Australian toaster biscuits. Why must my dreams be crushed again when I think that I have found a good breakfast spot in this city.
(2)
Olivia P.

Besaw's is a great addition to the neighborhood. It is the place to go for huge breakfast platters and delicious burgers. I've had elk burgers here before and I would get that dish again. Delicious. The servers are all very polite and helpful. The only real concern is parking and the popularity of the restaurant. It is really crowded during lunch hour. The problem isn't getting a table, which takes no time at all, but the noise, over which I could hardly hear my companion.
(4)
Lindsay N.

yes, we all know this place is amazing. so i'll keep my review short. try the greek salad. sheer perfection. and it's even accompanied with a boatload of warm pita sqaures. mmmmm and they have a fabulous selection of hot tea! right up my alley. i love you besaw's.
(5)
Glenn G.

Every Portlander needs "a breakfast spot," and this is mine. Top-notch food and coffee and great atmosphere.
(5)
Kathy T.

It was o.k. It wouldnt be a place i would go back to. Half of the breakfast was cold and we sat outside which smelled like fertilizer. No real ambiance.
(2)
John R.

So while I was visiting Portland, OR, the first time I heard the name, I was hearing "Bee Sauce." I thought, hey, that is a great name of a restaurant and different way to say, 'honey.' Then I started thinking, how many different types of sauce must they have? Sauce is in the name of the restaurant after all. I assumed they had to have at least 437 different types of sauce.... This all went on anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hours...or straight through to this Yelp review. Well I discovered that I in fact had heard things wrong. It was Besaw's. So after my epic build up and ultimate disappointment I was curious how they could possibly make up for it... Well, how bout an amazing Avocado and Ham Eggs Benedict and Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Cloves and Rosemary and a Mimosa to go with it. It was amazing. And as far as Eggs Benedict go...one of the best. So yes, this review was longer than necessary. But I can't apologize for it. Hopefully it entertained. Happy Thursday. If you are reading this on Thursday.
(4)
Hector B.

I had a mix of potatoes and vegetables. It was the perfect amount of food. Not too full. The place smells great. Just like a breakfasty place should. The wait time wasn't too bad considering how busy they were. Besides, waiting for a table is part of the "going out" experience. They got our plates out fast. Nice touch - they offer free hot coffee outside while you wait. I would go back for sure.
(4)
Susan N.

Had asked for restaurant recommendations in Portland and a friend recommended Besaw's. Had a delicious half a meatloaf sandwich (the meatloaf was uniquely flavored with peppers and wrapped with bacon) accompanied by a small spring salad and cup of roasted butternut squash soup that was very flavorful. Also has a bite of the tender fried chicken sandwich ... quite tasty. It went quite well with an Arnold Palmer (iced tea and lemonade). It's in the Alphabet District which reminded me of the Upper Fillmore area in San Francisco ... lots of shopping, restaurants, and a nice neighborhood feel.
(4)
Eric M.

Besaw's is mediocre. The cinnamon roll is phenomenal, and the coffee is good, but the rest of their offerings are less than stellar. This place never seems to know how to poach an egg, and eggshells in your meal are a common occurrence. I keep coming back for a cinnamon roll, but I always regret ordering anything else. If you don't mind the long weight, have a roll and coffee, but then move on.
(2)
Celina H.

Besaw's was one of the first restaurants we checked out when we moved here. It's very fancy with a no fuss attitude but that's not to say that they are rude, they are not rude, but they know what they like and what they don't like. The food is tasty, pancakes, bacon, e.t.c. but sadly they don't offer much of a choice for picky eaters. We went once with family from out of town and they goofed the order and made no apologies for it, so that left a raw taste but I'm still willing to give them another chance and perhaps enjoy a late breakfast there or take home some dessert. It's worth a try but you get better service when it's not too crowded.
(3)
Sandra W.

I was instructed by Hubs to add this to my list of favorite places. Apparently, I am going to have to compete with Besaw's meatloaf for a place in his heart. Meanwhile, since I don't like meatloaf, I enjoyed the veal, which was accompanied by a sweet potato cake and asparagus. The asparagus was my way of thumbing my nose at Hub's meatloaf choice. And because my dish was accompanied by grilled asparagus, Hubs didn't want to try any of my veal. According to him, the asparagus "infects" the entire dish. Too bad for him for being an asparagii discriminator. But back to the veal...it was heavenly and tender in its own very lemony and peppery pan juice. I wasn't completely sure about the potatoes at first bite, but it grew on me (well, on my taste buds anyway) and I was astonished to discover that my plate was completely clean at the end. We'll try it for brunch sometime and see if they can earn that 5th star. That is, if I can get whats-his-name out of bed before 2:00 p.m. on a Sunday.
(4)
Mary G.

Hmm. Have been back a few times and and am a bit disappointed with the quality of the food. The eggs have been consistently overcooked - what used to be over easy at Besaw's is now over medium - and the corn tortillas used in the huevos rancheros are not heated first (like for a few seconds on a cast iron pan) to make them supple and are hard, which is easy to notice when the toppings for this dish are not piled up all nicely but are messily thrown into the bowl, as was the case at my last visit. Also I am getting bored with the menu - try the lunch buffet at Mayura, just two blocks away, for a delicious and different (for most people) weekend brunch instead (opens at 11:30). I have also eaten dinner there. The single vegetarian option was a tasty pasta, but the portion was too small. I would try dinner there again if they would offer another veggie entree.
(4)
Megan H.

I've lived in NW for 7 years now and finally tried Besaw's for the first time today. I don't know what kept me away so long, probably the crowd outside? Met a friend for brunch at 10:45 today (a Monday) and was seated immediately. I was a little disappointed to see that they don't serve benedicts on weekdays but settled for the breakfast sandwich that met several of my brunch fantasies: eggs, bacon, avocado, tomato, and goat cheese wrapped with a toasted brioche bun. OK! The sandwich was tasty but I found it lacked a bit of salt and they were stingy with the goat cheese. I subbed fruit for the potatoes and was really excited about what I received. Yes, this is probably the only time I'll be writing to say I was excited about a fruit cup but this one went above and beyond the typical melon and grapes. It was a generous serving of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and apricot! Everything was actually ripe too! I don't know if I got charged for the substitution or not but I don't even care if I was because it would have been worth it. My friend's rosemary potatoes looked delicious too, I probably should have stolen one off her plate. The coffee was hot and the service was friendly, I'll be back soon!
(4)
Kelsey M.

Love, love, love it! They have coffee outside while you're waiting, which you definitely will on weekend mornings because the food's so yummy that everyone wants to come for breakfast. The hostess and waitress were super friendly to the point where I felt we were long lost friends or something, and even though they were busy, we got great service. The breakfast burritos I had were truly delicious and my boyfriend enjoyed the scramble he got. In short, we're definitely coming here again. The only downside was the annoyingly wobbly table, the uncomfortably high temperature, and large crowd in the room, but these things won't stop me from eating those epic breakfast burritos again at some point in the near future.
(4)
Stephanie S.

It's great because it's a neighborhood establishment but the food is ok. The portions are big and they have your typical American food and it's a good place if you want something totally casual. I've eaten here for breakfast and dinner but think it's a much better breakfast joint than dinner.
(3)
Brooke S.

We decided to walk further from home than usual for dinner today and were wonderfully surprised to discover Besaw's! Not only were the prices great for fine dining...The food was amazing! We shared the Besaw's board with 3 local cheeses, 2 meats, fruit, honey and house-made focaccia. Then enjoyed the asparagus/carrot soup and green salad separately. Extremely impressed with the local, organic food options and servers knowledge of what they are offering! Also, they have great wells gin with a good pour...My gin & tonic did not just taste like tonic!
(5)
Tami A.

Love this place! It's so cute and cozy. In the winter time they have a heated covered patio and in the summer they open it up. I love going here for breakfast, although there is usually a bit of a wait. They have good coffee and a nice breakfast menu, including several gluten free options. I'm a fan of the classic eggs, potatoes and toast myself. Their potatoes are good, I especially love when they serve them with whole cloves of garlic. Mmm! I have been here for dinner once as well and was less impressed. It was still good and I'll probably have dinner there again sometime though. Let me explain... My friend and I went there together, neither of us were that hungry but we wanted to grab a swanky bite and have a cocktail or two. They allow you to split an entree for a small fee (I think it was $2?) and don't make you feel badly about it. Our server was very personable and attentive, just like all the other servers I've ever had there. I ordered a pear vodka soda. Big mistake, but probably my own fault. I don't like sweet drinks at all and I didn't bother to ask first. I think they also put cinnamon in it which made it even sweeter. Next time I know- stick to a plain vodka soda or wine! My friend and I decided to split a steak from Painted Hills Farm. I don't eat meat very often, but I'd had a PHF steak at Imperial before and I ordered it medium, which was perfect. I ordered this one medium as well and it came out bloody. My friend seemed okay with it for the most part so I ate what I could of it before abandoning the rest. Also, probably my fault for not being more clear about what I wanted and not sending it back as soon as I saw it. Overall, I highly recommend this sweet little ambient space.
(5)
Aaron M.

Went to Besaw's on a Sunday morning about 10:30. I expected a wait and crowd outside which there was when I arrived. However, to my surprise we only waited 5 minutes until our name was called. We were seated promptly, greeted promptly, and our food arrived as expected promptly. Food was great. Everything was perfect. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jen K.

I don't do lines. Seriously, I don't. I've waited 15 minutes or less at many fabulous places in town famous for long lines (Apizza Scholls, Tin Shed, Mother's, Farm Cafe). Probably contributed to why I loved them all. In fact, the longest line I waited in all year was for a politician. No, not Barack, Bill. I wanted to see that famous Bill Clinton charisma in person. I was really excited when I arrived, less so after the first hour, and by hour two I was thinking he would have had to put on a party dress and do a little dance to make me happy. When he finally arrived around hour three, I noticed he was an odd orange color. So now every time I see him, I start singing "Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-doo" in my head. The point being, in my opinion very few places are worth the wait. It makes it almost impossible to have a fabulous experience if you've been waiting for an hour or more. The places above have a quality product and that little something special (service, dÃ©cor, inventive menu or a combination of all three). Besaw's is nice, but not outstanding in any of these ways. They also regularly have long lines and don't take reservations. Prices were on the high side. I would have preferred smaller portions and a dollar or two off the entrÃ©e prices. They have a kids' menu, but mine didn't rave about their meals. In fact, I'm usually great recalling what I ate, but I can barely remember what I ordered and I still have the leftovers in my fridge. Bill, by the way, was completely memorable (and not just for the hue) and I'll always remember hearing him speak. But if you see a line at Besaw's, I would walk on by...
(3)
Heather S.

Went here on a recent trip to Portland with my husband and kids (ages 4 and 8). Went on a Tuesday morning and it was packed! We ended up taking seats at the counter so we didn't have to wait since we had to check out of our hotel soon. The servers were a bit harried and it took forever to get my son's drink but once the food was ordered, it came quickly and was absolutely delicious. Kids had the typical kids breakfasts (pancakes, eggs, bacon) which they loved. I had the Farmer's Hash (bacon, eggs, potatoes, carmelized onions, arugula) which I ate for breakfast and lunch that day and wished I had more for dinner. Husband had a scramble with goat cheese, dill, sun dried tomatoes--so, so good. We'll definitely check it out again when we go back to Portland next time and make sure to give ourselves plently of time so we can handle the wait and get a real table!
(4)
Ann S.

Too noisy and pricey.
(1)
Michael G.

Besaw's is far and away one of my favorite brunch places ever. Sure, they serve delicious food for lunch and dinner, but they shine for brunch. Ambiance/service: Located in a historic building (and reputedly their same location for over 100 years) at the quiet and so-far less glitzy north end of NW 23rd, Besaw's provides you with a laid back and cozy experience. The dinning area has a beautiful all-wood interior with solid wood tables. The bar is a spectacular wooden edifice with a well-stocked liquor selection, and one of my favorite bartenders in Portland. Dude is friendly and knowledgeable, and if you get to know him, wiling to slip you the occasional bartender's special. There is also a heated and covered outdoor patio that is good most of the year, as well as seasonal outdoor seating on the sidewalk. I'd recommend the comfortable bar stools if you are solo or just a couple and want to avoid the expected long wait for brunch. The servers are uniformly friendly and attentive, and their chief is almost always there with a smile and kind word for familiar faces and new folks alike. Food: I can't praise Besaw's food highly enough. Among my favorite dishes are the farmer's hash (heaping serving of tasty, fresh goodness, enough for two meals), the tasty and more moderately-sized breakfast sandwich, and the breakfast burritos. Besaw's also has several benedict selections, always including a traditional benedict, and a veggie benedict. Their menu is very veggie friendly overall - some of my veggie friends are regulars. Whatever you choose to eat, I highly recommend a side of the breakfast potatoes (with lots of garlic and tasty herbs). Besaw's also makes one of the better Bloody Mary's I've ever had. Nicely seasoned and spiced (but not too much unless you ask) in a mason jar. As noted, Besaw's has the usual long wait for weekend brunch. Either get there early or be prepared to wait. You can, as mentioned, sit at the bar if you have a small party, but there's usually a wait for that too. But trust me, it's worth it.
(5)
Casey C.

Went for breakfast on a Sat at 9am. The wait was 20 minutes for 4 of us. The back patio door was kept open and it was only 45 deg out so it was too drafty. Wait staff was friendly and kept the coffees and waters filled. Our waitress tested out her fake British accent on us which was amusing. And the food was very good - I got the smoked salmon scramble, served with rosemary potatoes and artisan toast, $12. Water Ave coffee washed it down. Large portions, semi-cozy atmosphere, decent price.
(4)
sharon m.

BF and I went here one weekend...and of course it was crowded. Found this place through a local friend...and I'm so glad she introduced this restaurant to use. It reminded me of brunch spots in berkeley.. Absolutely everything was yummy to me. I had the Prosciutto and egg scramble and bf had something that was tasty too. All their ingredients tasted fres...i love the northwest. :)
(4)
Andrew A.

I'd eat here on any given day, but I don't understand the popularity. Some breakfast places that sport high prices and long lines at least have some signature dishes; the offerings here are standard menu fare. Again, what they have is good, but not creative or great. Uh, go for the scrambled eggs I guess.
(2)
Patrick D.

I went to brunch here on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and there was no wait for a 2-top....I suppose we were lucky because I have read that there is always a long line at this place. This being my first restaurant experience in Portland, I was impressed. The half chicken salad sandwich and chipotle potato soup were excellent. The atmosphere is warm and has an antique feel. The service was minimal but flawless. I will definitely return for brunch on a weekend...maybe the next time I have a guest in town.
(4)
Francis C.

OMG - what happened? Maybe they've quit caring because part of the place is slated for tearing down. No joke - there's a re-zoning of the area going on and they're supposed to have part of the building torn down (back I believe). I recommend not going until they get that sorted and go back to caring. I went in for breakfast and it was an UTTER DISASTER. Everything arrived ok - but the food was TERRIBLE. The potatoes were overdone to being burnt, but freezing cold. The scrambled eggs had streaks of runny in them, and the catchup bottle had gone rank. I can't go back anymore. It was terrible.
(1)
Jason L.

This place is fantastic! In addition to great service, and delicious food (I recommend the scrambled eggs with brie cheese!) They make a mean bloody mary! We arrived at 1pm on a saturday, and were given a table immediately. The quality of the food was outstanding.
(5)
Sandra C.

Their "Morning, Would?" drink is not only a clever name but a sure fire way to start your weekend brunch!
(4)
alana r.

After hearing and reading so many great things about Besaw's (it had been on my list to try for nearly a year), I was pretty disappointed. I had planned to like it! The good: The wait staff was very friendly. It's a nice atmosphere, cute place, etc. My husband liked his breakfast. The not so good: I know there are mix-ups sometimes in the kitchen. Not a big deal, but still, I had SO been looking forward to this breakfast! I ordered the spinach, chevre and sundried tomato omelet (scramble? I forget). So many things on the menu sounded good. When my dish came out, it sort of looked like what I'd ordered... but I took a bite and realized it was the salmon scramble. Now, if it had been anything else on the menu, I would have just eaten it. I've done it before, and I don't like to waste food. However, I don't care for fish, and there's no way I could eat the salmon. The waiter took care of it, realized I wanted the spinach omelet... Long story short, about 20 minutes later, I was brought an omelet with only spinach in it. And it was a very so-so omelet. No cheese, no tomatoes... I don't know, it's just that I was starving by that point and could have made something that tasted a lot better at home if I was just doing eggs and spinach. I'm also wondering how practical it is to serve a hot chai in a clear water glass? It was so hot, and since there were no handles, I had to wrap a napkin around it to drink out of. All in all, it was probably just bad luck, but given how rarely we go out to eat (and going out to breakfast, even rarer-- once a month?) I probably won't go back.
(2)
Shannon P.

Went here for the first time today. When we sat down I noticed that there was a half full creamer already sitting out on the table. I ordered a shot of espresso with cream, but when the barista brought over the rather sad looking drink, he didn't bring a new cream with him. Upon further inspection I noticed the old cream that had been left on the table had a couple floaters in it, not to mention it was room temp.... Had to get up and ask for a fresh one, which wasn't well received by the barista. I asked our waitress what the fruit on the parfait was going to be, she told me peaches, yet brought out one with a quarter of an apple on top. I did not like this place. While the waitress was friendly, it was really frustrating that the $3 espresso was mediocre and served with old warm cream that had been sitting out, and that the waitress couldn't remember what the parfait fruit was. I won't be going back to this place.
(2)
J L.

I hate to give places one star, my experience has to really hit a bad nerve, however if I would never go back to a place I consider that a one star, I don't think I would ever go back to Besaw's, but there wasn't anything that really hit a nerve, so I'll give them two stars.. =( The restaurant was cute, we liked the ambience, and I could see why based on that people like the place. However, the service was awful. Our server was unfriendly, unattentive, and brusque. It wasn't very busy it was a weekday morning but our server acted like he was too busy to deal with us. We all had coffee, but didn't have much luck getting a refill (and their mugs are small). I ordered a scramble, which turned out to be cooked like a frittata, when it was delivered to the table my husband immediately told the server I had ordered a scramble, he told us that was the scramble and took off. I don't like frittatas and this was no exception. The friends we were dining with frowned at my dish as well and said "that's a frittata" (*shrug*, now I know to always double check what a restaurants definition of a scramble is) I don't remember what dish my husband ordered but the breakfast potatoes on the side weren't cooked they tasted pretty close to raw which is unfortunate because if they had been cooked through I think they would've been pretty tasty. To top off the horrible bordering on rude service, and the blah food, they were pretty pricey for very small not so tasty portions. This place came highly recommended to our friends, and maybe we just got a bad server and a bad day with the kitchen..but it was incredibly disappointing.. and there are so many other places in Portland to try for breakfast.
(2)
Jason L.

This place is great. I used to come here often when I lived over in this hood. Now being over on the East side I don't make it here as much. However, when we got our food my first comment was "we need to come here more often." This place has great staff and the atmosphere is nice. The food really is great and I love all the different Benedict's!
(4)
Coral C.

Solid food (had the biscuits and gravy), but my side of pork sausage was horribly dry. Our server seemed to have a bit of an attitude, and barked out questions as to what we wanted. Never checked back until we were completely done with our meal, which is a pet peeve of mine. Had he come by, I would have asked for another side of sausage! The other two people with me said their meals were excellent. I'll definitely go back, hopefully this guy was just having a bad morning...
(3)
Ryan L.

I was disappointed with this place. We had French Toast, Breakfast Burger, and the Cinnamon Roll. Firstly, the service wasn't that great. I asked for hot sauce and it never came. We asked for butter and it came when we had finished our meals. The french toast was basically just toast. It had very little custard component to it at all. They charge $2 for maple syrup. The breakfast burger just wasn't fantastic. It was a piece of ground beef on toast smothered with gravy. It was ok, just wasn't great. The cinnamon roll had great frosting, but the roll itself wasn't gooey and didn't have a very cinnamon-ey taste to it. Won't go back.
(2)
Kimi N.

A former PDX'er took me here to relive some of his past. This little joint used to be his Sundays ritual with a newspaper and friends in tow. The staff was very friendly and accommodating but the food seemed less than stellar, not bad, but didn't live up to it's former expectations. He had the breakfast burrito which was OK and I had a 3 muchroom omelet served with rosemary potatoes. The desserts look delish tho we didn't try any and the atmosphere was cozy and casual. There looked to be an covered outside overflow area complete with heat lamps for busy weekend revelers. The adjacent parking lot looked like it filled up quickly but was a handy addition considering the hard to find surrounding street parking. I feel a bit guilty about the 3 star rating considering I would go back to this place, but wouldn't consider it worth any long wait if there was a crowd.
(3)
Bula W.

My husband and I wanted breakfast food on a Saturday at 1pm. There was still a lingering brunch crowd but we were still seated and attended to by the waiter very promptly. I ordered the Salmon scramble and my husband ordered the avocado omellete. Both dishes were quite delicious and we were both stuffed at the end. I wish I had room for dessert but was much too full to eat another bite. I was also able to drink 4 cups of coffee which were yummy to the tummy. We'll definitely be stopping by again especially to try the waffles & the forest mushroom omelette.
(4)
Megan R.

This is my favorite brunch place in town. Excellent GF options. Service once sitting is always excellent (on weekends). LONG wait...
(5)
Dorothy P.

This place is an institution for breakfast. I know by having to wait that I'm in for something good. Great fresh organic food...homemade breads and jams are awesome...the food has always been good here.
(5)
Amy K.

Cozy interior, fast and friendly service, quality ingredients at a decent price point. Lines can be long (especially for weekend brunch) but it goes to show how loved the restaurant is. We mainly come for brunch though we've been for regular lunch and dinner a few times and always leave in a happy food coma. Noteworthy menu items: - Wild salmon scramble - Farmer's hash - Huevos rancheros - 2 egg breakfast - Spicy bloody mary Their rosemary garlic roasted potatoes that come standard with many of the brunch items are fantastic. Love this place!
(4)
Sheldon L.

I was introduced to this place by friends of mine and I must say it is hands down the BEST place for brunch that I went to on my visit to Portland, Oregon! I highly recommend the Bloody Mary's as they are probably the best on the West Coast! I also recommend you come on an empty stomach because the serving sizes are large an filling! Great little place to walk into but from what I saw, if you can, make reservations ahead of time as this little gem fills up fast!
(5)
Kevin M.

Came here with a party of 9 &seating took awhile, however it was worth the wait. I had the Farners Hash, very good and cooked properly. Nicely prepared and food came very quickly. Price was a tad high for what I ordered, but for fresh and timely food it's not too bad.
(4)
Megan L.

I don't know what the hype is about this place. Everything was good, don't get me wrong, but I think 5 stars always piques my interest because I'm expecting to be blown away. Seeing people lined up outside the door made me think I'd be blown away. Did the food blow me away? Not so much. I think this is probably because I'm critical in my great-breakfast hunt, and if something doesn't blow me away (especially since p-town is known for its breakfasts), I'm usually disappointed about it. There was nothing that stood out at Besaws for me that I haven't seen elsewhere. Show me something unique guys, and I'll be back for seconds. Until then, I don't think I will be. There are tons of other places in Portland that offer the same dishes for less wait and price.
(3)
Paris O.

REVIEW BASED ON BREAKFAST/BRUNCH ONLY besaw has a great variety of items on their breakfast/brunch menu. they offer great bloody mary's and seasonal mimosa flavors. the covered 3 seasons patio is cozy.
(4)
Julio G.

Came here for brunch, and it was as good as the reviews say. Good cinnamon roll, good coffee (Stumptown), good eggs Benedict, some really good breakfast potatoes, but my whole world changed when I took one bite of my dish ... the prosciutto and asiago cheese scramble with garlic cloves. I never knew eggs could be like this. Imagine that you've been married to eggs for twenty years, and things are good, but you've lost "the spark." Then one day, you come home from work, and eggs surprise you by wearing a blonde wig and a maid uniform while speaking with a fake, yet sultry Italian accent, and then proceeds to try out something new read about in a Cosmo article. Simply put, these eggs rocked my world. From this day forward I will look at all omelettes and scrambles, and think longingly of that perfect sunny morning when I first tasted ... those eggs.
(5)
Mal C.

Went for Sunday brunch and was seated within 30 minutes. It was a cute space with charming history. We had a delicious avocado and bacon eggs benedict with hearty potatoes and fresh house-made ketchup. The farmer's hash was good, but I liked the benedict better. The house-made marionberry jam on our toast was a nice addition of sweet to our savory dishes. The bloody mary was served in an awesome mason jar, topped with a pepperoncini and olives. The servers were dapper in their all black outfits and old-timer flare.
(4)
Phong D.

Bring your riot gear, snack, and appetite. Without a party of 6 we were unable to make a reservation. The 4 of us waited in their cramped waiting area for their projected 35 minutes. The combination of invaded personal space, long wait time, increasing starvation, and an evil child that nearly knocked my wife down would have made Mother Teresa turn into the Hulk. Once we were seated it was a totally different experience. Our waiter was funny, kind, hard working, and informative. I had previewed their menu online the night prior and had my heart set on the breakfast burger. Sadly it is NO LONGER served on a waffle. This lean/juicy burger hides under a beautiful egg-shield like a gladiator and rides a slab of Texas toast like an emperor. I inhaled this open-faced burger and fries and was satisfied! It paired well with the Stumptown coffee. Next time I'm bringing my riot gear and snack for the long wait.
(3)
Joel S.

Excellent service (fast & attentive) & amazing menu. So much to choose from & everything sounded so good. Definitely suggest stopping in.
(5)
David W.

I had the avocado omelette with ham. Everything was very well made and the was a good mix of flavors. The habanero sauce was really good and the spiced ketchup was a nice surprise with the rosemary potatoes. No problems with service and I left very satisfied!
(5)
Nickola J.

Amazing. Loved the food, enjoyed the service, would definitely come here again.
(4)
Evelyn S.

I'm in love with the Wild Salmon Scramble. It was my first visit to Besaw's and I can't wait to go back! I had an out of town friend visiting, we had just wondered the Farmers Market at PSU and the Rose Garden in Washington Park and I was ready for lunch but wanted breakfast, suddenly Besaw's popped into my mind and I am so glad it did! My friend had eaten her way through the fresh produce, cheeses and meats at the market so she ordered something lighter, the Breakfast Parfait, she could not stop raving about how good it was and we even asked if they sold the Granola, it was that good. My birthday is a week away and I'm trying to figure out who to invite to go back to Besaw's to celebrate! Yum!!!!
(5)
Monica R.

Whether you're at Besaw's for brunch or dinner, you won't leave hungry (translation: it's hard to eat light, so don't obsess over calories). For brunch, I really like the croque madame; for dinner, my favorite is the steak. The place is beautiful inside, too, and a great place for a drink.
(4)
Tiffany B.

The old Portland saying goes....for brunch on the weekends, one must wait in line for a min 1 hour! That's just how Ptown rolls, and with so many great places to choose from, the wait doesn't seem that bad for great food. We however, were very lucky to roll in here on a Saturday around 11ish and only had a 30 min wait! Whoohoo! This cute little house has been around longer than most of us, heck, my dad used to come here back in the 70's! Well we finally said hell with the wait and just go. So glad we did! We sat in the very back on the patio, in the winter it's warm and cozy, they have it all enclosed with white linens and twinkle lights hanging all around! Perfect since we were getting our Christmas tree today, way to set the holiday spirit! The menu, looked great, lots of options....we were dying for breakfast so we started off with a couple of Mary's and a cinnamon roll. Our waiter was very eccentric and nice. My daughter couldn't decide, so she ordered the pancakes and 3 sides! I think her eyes were bigger than her stomach! I of course, spotted the Croque Madame, and looked no further. that is my all time favorite sandwich. Our waiter swears that Besaw's has the BEST on around.... Although they were very busy, service was prompt, and food came out pretty quick. If you go, and you must go, try the rosemary potatoes with sea salt...ohhhmmmyyy delishisness! We all left very full and happy...my daughter is still raving about that place! I will be back to try dinner and HH :)
(5)
Tabitha B.

Besaw's is the kind of restaurant I would open if I could. They thought of it 100 years before I did, but still. It's wonderful to go somewhere that represents so many things you love in a restaurant and the Portland food culture. They had me at house-made ketchup on every table. My husband ordered a bloody mary and the breakfast burritos, while I ordered an avocado and bacon benedict special with a mimosa. Both were accompanied by these fabulous rosemary and roasted garlic potatoes that I'd love (hint: LOVE!!) the recipe for. Topped with that homemade ketchup? I could've just eaten a whole plate of those. But then I wouldn't have gotten to eat that great benedict with bacon that was so good, it was wrong (as in, wrong that I'm not taking home a pack with me). Drinks were good, although the bloody mary was really spicy to the point where he couldn't drink much of it. Our waiter was very personable and struck up a conversation whenever he came by. Not at all pretentious, which isn't what I expect on 23rd. Being surrounded by down home canned goods and old-fashioned aesthetics gave the restaurant a warm, homey feel while still remaining sophisticated. I hope I can come back more often.
(4)
Amanda L.

I'm glad I gave Besaw's another chance for brunch. The first visit was underwhelming (rubbery eggs, lackluster salsa, etc), but given the lack of good breakfast joints in the NW/Nob Hill neighborhood, I stopped back into Besaw's mostly because I couldn't think of another option. I had a custom egg scramble with wild mushrooms, provolone and asiago, and sides of sourdough toast and rosemary potatoes. I washed it down with a fresh apple and rhubarb mimosa. I'd have to say the stand-out of the brunch for me was, believe it or not, the house-made ketchup. It was tangy, flavorful and delicious on the potatoes. How refreshing to not see a plastic bottle of high-fructose corn syrup ketchup polluting the table-top! And I do so much appreciate the fact that Besaw's has been a neighborhood fixture for a century, serving up quality ingredients like free-range local eggs and wild chicken sausage.
(4)
Brian W.

Mmmm.. tasty, tasty coffee, orange juice, and breakfast. The bloody mary was particularly good. Banana pecan pancakes were great, too. Just a smidgen let down by the french toast, it looked like it hadn't been battered long enough on one side, so it was more like half french toast and then flip it over and it was just so close to being great! Soooooo close... doh. The other killer was a lack of combos for french toast and pancakes with eggs and bacon or sausage. By the time you order it all, suddenly your side of two eggs and bacon costs more than your main course. Ouch! Yes, the eggs are great, but cut me a break here, even a $1 discount for ordering french toast, eggs, AND bacon would make me feel better!
(4)
Diana L.

Went here for brunch with some friends .. I can honestly say that I am not impressed. There's nothing that pissed me off or anything, I am giving Besaw's 2 stars because I didn't and still can't see what the hype is about this place. The food was pretty mediocre, the wait was a little long, the waiting staff were friendly .. Just a typical brunch spot. PS. I wasn't digging the homemade ketchup/tomato sauce crap on the table .. I definitely prefer REAL ketchup with brunch. Maybe would give this place another try, if there wasn't a wait or for dinner menu in the future ..
(2)
Emily L.

My husband and I just moved to Portland and we had a friend visiting so we wanted to treat her to Portland's famous brunch scene and Besaw's delivered. We were expecting a wait at 10am but we only waited about 15 min. and we really beat the rush because about 45 min later the line was around the block! However, we thought it was awesome that they have a coffee bar outside for those waiting for a table...and it's covered. Now to the important stuff.....the food was awesome!!! We got the breakfast sandwich, French toast and farmers hash. It was all delicious! the breakfast sandwich was my favorite but its messy!! We ordered latte's as well which were so yummy! To top it all off, the staff from hostess to busser was friendly, funny and efficient! We all 3 definitely recommend Besaw's
(5)
Jessica G.

YES! This is my go to breakfast spot. I have never been disappointed with anything I have tried and I have a very serious addiction to the Huevos Rancheros! Also the have amazing Bloody Marys.
(5)
erin b.

love me some besaws! A fav place to go for bfast or lunch... next up dinner. wish they hadn't dump the wi-fi... i liked going there to study and have a bite to eat... if you have a good wifi card you can pick up mcminemens
(5)
Windy S.

Went here for an early lunch and had the soup and salad. Both mediocre. I did notice that everyone around us had ordered breakfast, so I guess I gotta go back and try the breakfast.
(3)
Emilie S.

Lordy, this place is fabulous. I have never, ever been anything but deliriously happy leaving Besaw's. Breakfast served late-- their breakfast sandwich is yummy. Scram 23 too. My only complaint is that they are so busy all of the time- but that's not a fair complaint-- as it's just as much my fault as anyone else. Cobb salad, great burgers, great coffee drinks, fabulous Bloody Marys. Really nice comfort food happy hour.
(5)
Jon M.

Great place. Great food and great with kids
(5)
Shannon D.

Had a lovely breakfast outside. Well made eggs (the prosciutto ones yum) and fresh ingredients. Chocolate milk was powder + milk so that was a downer - otherwise very nice, good service, calm, peaceful
(4)
A.S. D.

Haven't eaten here since I saw a rat run through the dining area.
(1)
Jeremy A.

Sometimes the wait for breakfast can be way too long, but once you get in the food and service is great.
(4)
Stephanie K.

Ultimate hangover breakfast food! This place is perfect when you're barely awake and trying to remember all the stupid shit you did last night. The place is packed without being too loud to make your head ache even more than it is. And once you get your breakkie...it feels like the world has come to a standstill to let you enjoy this beautiful moment and meal you are about to have. Eggs are amazing and I wanted to just eat spoonful after spoonful of jam. Such good food!
(5)
Paul S.

Ate there 7am weekday. Very slow to take my order, despite one table full. Even slower delivery of one bowl of oatmeal which was blah.
(3)
Chris E.

Great little bar & restaurant in a cool neighborhood in Northwest Portland. A colleague and I did dinner here on a Tuesday evening. It's in a 108-yr-old building with an intimate space (seating for maybe 50 folks). It's noisy but not uncomfortably so. We each had the specials - Rob had scallops, I had the ribeye steak. Completely delicious. Service was proactive and delightfully friendly. Definitely will be back when client work brings me to Portland.
(4)
Stanley M.

Food very good, girlfriend thought the burger was fantastic. I really liked the environment too, great setting. I loved the pot roast.
(4)
Montrew N.

It was ok. Not what we thought after reading reviews. It's been a few days and we can't remember what we had there? It was ok. We do remember the day before at the industrial cafe...amazing burrito and pancakes with orange honey butter.
(3)
Jason B.

I think I made the wrong choice for breakfast here. Went with the breakfast burger and should have done the french toast or something. Cool little place though. Our service was a little on the slow side as it was a Sunday morning and our waiter appeared to be shaking off a hangover. I'll give it another try though.
(3)
Tani S.

There are some thing that I miss after our move from Seattle/Boston (ie. Dim Sum, Seafood) but fortunately breakfast isn't one of them. Besaw's has a nice, cozy interior with it's warm woodtones and bright patio.. The menu makes it difficult to choose and all of the dishes that we had were wonderful! I particularly enjoyed the oatmeal and the rosemary potatoes that are with most dishes... Our friend's avocado omelette was delectable with a more than generous portion of avocado. We'll definitely be going back often, so much better than Portage Bay Cafe in Seattle... Only removing one star since it is a bit of a pricy breakfast albeit good.
(4)
Jen C.

If you are looking for some of the best Eggs Benedict look no further! Every time I come here I leave satisfied and in a glorious food coma that has me already dreaming of the next time I can go. Needless to say I love this place. The staff are helpful and my favorite waiter with go-to mustache keeps me and my guests entertained. Food comes fast and is always delicious. I would recommend this place to anyone wanting to eat in a quaint neighborhood with a buzzing atmosphere.
(5)
Heather B.

Took my husband here for a belated Father's Day breakfast. The service was not overly warm which I have come to expect in Portland. The food came and looked delicious but was cold. I will spend my breakfast money elsewhere.
(1)
Kristen M.

My first run-in with Besaw's was on a Sunday in October 2009 when I had mistaken it for another restaurant and didn't really read the sign. I thought, "Wow this is the restaurant!" Only to find out I went to the wrong address. I guess I thought I was at the right restaurant since I saw a long line of customers wanting to eat there. I thought to myself that I should make a trip here one day. Fast-forward to July 2010 where I finally made my trip to Besaw's. This time I came in on a Saturday morning for brunch where the line was not as long. I just had to wait 5 minutes for a table. You can chose to either dine inside or outside under their umbrellas. Note: if you do choose to eat inside, it can be a bit noisy so trying to have good conversation with a friend could be a bit difficult. But the noise did not bother me at all. The atmosphere Besaw's gives is thriving of old school Oregon diner feel. You can tell this place has a bunch of warmth and nurturing since they use a bunch of local foods from farms in Oregon. I like how they support the local farms. So Besaw's has a little laundry list of breakfast/brunch items to choose from. I decided to have my meal on the savory side today and opted to choose from one of their special Egg Benedicts. I chose the Prosciutto-Basil Egg Benny while my friend chose the Dungeoness crab Egg Benny. Both were outstanding but if you made me choose what was better, I probably would say the Dungeoness crab. The service was excellent and water glasses were always filled. We were checked upon and food was served quite promptly. I would definitely come back to Besaw's to try out one of their other breakfast/brunch items that are available. I think it's one of the decent places to eat for brunch in Portland!
(4)
Rick K.

Brought the family here for brunch during Spring Break and was very impressed. Mamosas & Bloody Marys were outstanding and kids loved their hot chocolate. My only conplaint (& reason they got 4 stars instead of 5) is that my kids pancakes had unmixed/uncooked spots batter. My wifes farmers hash was very good, and my croque madam one of the best breakfasts I have eaten in a long time and I will go back just to eat that. This place will definitely make it into my list of top brunch spots in Portland.
(4)
Shiyala B.

A really good brunch spot. Very cute, a nice place for a date or just to go with friends!! I had a very classic breakfast... eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes. It was delicious, the eggs were cooked just right and the jam they had on the table was to die for! I will definitely be going back again add this to my favorites
(5)
Robyn T.

In Portland for the weekend and wanted a good breakfast place to start the day. With yelp help we found this place and it didn't disappoint. No wait to sit at the bar and the bartender was nice an interesting to talk to. Orange juice and coffee was good but probably should have tried the Bloody Mary with the homemade pickled veggies that went on the top and looked delish. Corned beef hash was a little dry but probably would be okay if you like runny egg yokes that you could mix all up. It comes in a small cast iron skillet making a great crust and the dish stayed hot even after I finished eating. The biscuit that came with it was my favorite part. Little butter was great but had to try the homemade jam which was very tasty. The atmosphere was great as long as you don't mind eating in a bar and being able to see into the kitchen. I will come back to eat breakfast here again!
(4)
Nate M.

I have to say that this was a tough review to give. Besaw's really has a lot going for it. The bloody mary is out of this world. Their dishes are pretty inventive. I really wanted to try the flat iron steak eggs Benedict with horseradish hollandaise, but I ended up playing it safe with the Florentine. The Benedict was really tasty and really well done. I have to give them a major ding for their hash browns though. They were deceptively awful. I looked at them and thought I had found heaven. They had rosemary and roasted garlic in them. They looked really crispy and fried hard which I like. However, my first bite was a terrible surprise. They had the consistency of crisped leather. I don't know if they are always this way. If I were to guess, I would think they had been sitting in a warming pan for at least 2 hours. I don't know what the truth is, but they should be ashamed for serving these hashbrowns.
(3)
Jed H.

This place is packed a lot of the time, but it's mainly because of hype and not worth the wait in line. It's very loud inside, to the point where you can't hear who you're with and they can't hear you order. The food is good as well as the presentation.
(3)
Jenene Y.

I was pleasantly surprised by the dinner. I had heard some much about their breakfast but my dad wanted to try them out for dinner. It was a great choice. Our waitress Josi was stellar and tentative. She overheard us saying cheers to my dad for his birthday so she brought out a cakebomb at the end of the meal for him and he really enjoyed it. My dad had the beef tenderloin and really enjoyed the flavor, no complaints from him. My husband had the veal and I am not sure if I saw him eat it. That being said, he thought it was top-notch. I opted for a salad since it was a bit warm outside. It was actually very filling. We opted to share the cookie with the salted camel ice cream. Ir was a great birthday celebration. I am giving them a five because it was a perfect dinner.
(4)
Robin M.

Love Besaw's breakfast and dinner. But they won't serve lunch before 11:30 and that is a bummer.
(3)
Stefani T.

Just went there this morning for brunch with out of town family. Found out about it thru Yelp. I liked: that we didn't have to wait because we called ahead and had our name placed on the list; free self serve coffee for those who wait; nice server, but never got his name. Didn't like: our table. It doubled as a door stop for the exit so imagine a door blocking you from the person next to you - weird, yeah. Okay: the food...sorry guys but it was hit and miss. I had the banana and nut pancakes. They were just okay, nothing to brag about. Another had the scrambled eggs with biscuits and veggie gravy - that was terrible. The taste, the presentation, you name it. No one else wanted to even try it because it looked like prison food (gray, white and cream...yum!). The best dish was probably the quesadilla, but really, how can you f-up a quesadilla?? With juice, the total came out to $40 even. Just for the record, I was moved to writing this because of all the overrated, shitty reviews I keep attempting to rely upon for my quest for good food. I know good restaurants are out in Portland, but are they all deserving of 4 and 5 stars? Only fantastic food is deserving of such ratings - we're only screwing each other when we tell everyone how amazing every restaurant in the city is, when surely that isn't the case. I'm headed to Mother's for brunch next week in downtown and I hope to write a much better review on Saturday.
(3)
Renee O.

I finally went! I've heard about besaws for what feels like forever, and made it there last weekend. The service at the hostess table. Nothing like I've ever experienced. For the worse. The hostess was so rude and scattered. (Not a good combo!) we were told the wait (for 2 people!!) would be 35 mins tops. Not bad at all for a Sunday morning. We waited an hour and twenty five minutes. Why you ask? The hostess let in her groups of personal friends in before the rest of us waiting. I was appalled and her disrespect and attitude for the customers The food was great. But I won't return due to the service.
(2)
Rebecca C.

I have walked by this place so many times since my salon is right around the corner, and it was finally this past weekend I decided to see what all the lines were about. It was a friend's birthday and we decided to give it a try. We got there right at a good time since we only had to wait about 10 minutes. The service was good, the waitress was attentive and the water glasses were never empty. My friend had the ice tea and she had to wait a little while for a refill, but nothing major. I couldn't decide what I wanted and the waitress basically explained that the gravy here had some kick that people didn't always expect or appreciate. I am so glad she steered me away. I ended up with the goat cheese and egg sandwich and my friend got the chicken fried steak with the gravy. Both meals were good, without question. But the waitress was right, the gravy was totally different from what I thought and had a bit more spice than I like from my gravy. My friend totally dug it though, eating pretty much her whole meal. My sandwich was really good, although I would have liked a more potent chevre flavor against the fatty taste of the cheese, bacon and egg. But still good overall. I would recommend the place if you're in the area, as it's worth the price and the food is good.
(4)
Guy T.

Came here on a Saturday night with friends who live nearby. One of their favs. Menu is quite limited but excellent food and locally grown food is their specialty. The staff are super fast, attentive and friendly. Prices are of great value I thought. Being from Hawaii, everything in Portland seems so inexpensive so I don't know if the prices are cheap for Portlanders. I had the lasagna with kale and loved it. Friends had a meatloaf (it was humongous) and a beautiful and large salad and a side of Kale (the leafy greens of the day).
(4)
Norievelle D.

Always amazing food. Locally and mindfully sourced ingredients are always carefully combined to please the taste buds! I've never ordered anything from this place that didn't hit the spot. The people and the service are the tops. The Besaw's family never ceases to make me feel welcome and taken care of. So much love for this place.
(5)
Diana T.

Loved how cute it was but I had high expectations with the food just average and a good latte but really expensive. Definitely not my favorite but will try again.
(3)
Dave L.

Been here once for lunch and once for dinner. I dont know what all the hype is about. There are so many more great places in Portland. I had the meatloaf for dinner. It was good but not great. Definitely nothing to write home to Mom about. What was even more disappointing was the corned beef hash I had for brunch. There isnt much corned beef in there. Thats for darn sure. They put way too much bread in there and there shouldnt be any bread in it. And they through in all these half cooked sauteed onions. Hey Besaws, heres a tip....sauteed onions should not be crunchy!!!!!! You ruined my corned beef hash with your uncooked onions and bread. Yech!
(1)
K R.

I've often had to wait for a table on the weekends, but it's worth it! My favorite place for brunch in Portland, and a go to spot when out of town friends visit. Delicious food and drinks!
(5)
Francesca F.

This spot was OK. The location and the atmosphere must be what people come back for. The wait is LONG on the weekends. The food was mediocre - the huevos rancheros were decent, the corned beef hash was NOT, the biscuit was the best part. I think lunch/dinner might be better than brunch. No chicken & waffles at brunch! Only Fri & Sat dinner for some reason....
(3)
Jenna R.

Established in 1903.. Seriously thankful for their 107 years of amazing service. Yes, I'm actually 127 years old and have been frequenting the place for over a decade. This cafe captivates you with its adorable atmosphere, wonderful aroma, and friendly staff. You walk in and everyone smiles at you.. that's pretty great. Their Stumptown coffee tastes fresh and amazing. You sit back and listen to the low jazz music playing in the background, and watch the magic happen around you. You have nice conversation, or don't, and your food arrives steaming hot and fresh. Then you consume in a spectacular fashion, as would be the only way with Besaw's breakfast. Final step: Love. Thank you Besaw's.. I'll be back, but not in the Arnold way.. unless you 'd prefer it?
(5)
James O.

Been here a few times now and always have enjoyed it. The eggs Benedict is very good, as is the biscuits and gravy. Today I tried lunch for the first time and got the Reuben. I would highly recommend it. Just so you know, there is always a line on the weekends, and it's always long...so be prepared. But it's a nice place worth waiting for. Plus they have coffee outside while you wait
(4)
Lesley R.

Cute atmosphere! The dragonfly chai is yummy. I had the huevos rancheros - so good! Get a side of rosemary garlic potatoes and try not to use the entire jar of homemade ketchup on your table. Great brunch spot before hitting the Japanese gardens.
(4)
Luke Y.

Flying into town late the night before, Besaw's was my first impression of Portland, and it was a great one. I got in before the Saturday brunch rush, so there was no line (be prepared to wait if you get there after 10AM). I dug their wood-heavy decor and the chalkboards noting their nearby restaurant garden and the local farmers' non-profit that they support. Lot of dishes sounded good and I settled on an egg scramble special with chanterelles and smoked pork shoulder, which was amazing. Almost worth the trip on its own!
(5)
Mary H.

Came here for Sunday Brunch on Memorial Day weekend. It was packed, but I was still seated in a timely manner. My server was very friendly and polite, with plenty of recommendations. And despite the fact that I was alone, and the place was crowded, he didn't make me feel rushed. The food was delicious. I ended up getting one of the specials, a waffle topped with apples and vanilla bean whipped cream. It was rich and decadent. And my cup of Stumptown coffee complimented everything nicely. One of my new favorite brunch spots.
(5)
Myra F.

Besaw's is always busy on the weekends. We waited only about 5 minutes for a table. We sat by the kitchen where the food comes out. The breakfast foods sat and sat and sat, while waiters and waiters passed by and just looked at the meals, getting colder by the minute. When I ordered my pancakes I asked if my waitress could please make sure I got them hot off the grill. She was a little surprised when I mentioned watching the meals sit for so long, but she brought my pancakes out steaming hot. They are the best pancakes in town! Now, manager....you really need to deal with the wait on the meals. Breakfasts need to be hot. I can't believe people don't complain about the cold food! Mine was perfect!
(3)
Eric S.

Hands down THE BEST breakfast joint in town! My kids beg me to spend the weekend in Portland, just so we can eat at Besaw's. Their whole menu is excellent, but I just can't help but get the same thing every time I go there...The Farmer's Hash. It's so damn good! 3 eggs scrambled with rosemary potatoes, bacon, roasted garlic cloves, caramelized onions, arugula, and cheddar cheese. Are you kidding me?!? It doesn't get any better than that! Add a steaming cup of Stumptown coffee and you've got yourself the best breakfast in the city! Get ready to wait though, the line starts early and is usually 20 minutes minimum.
(5)
Ashley S.

Freaking delicious. Do not miss out on the chicken and waffles. The waffle is cheddar chive and it is delicious. The service was great and my husband was very pleased with his elk burger. My bro in law had chicken and waffles as well and ordered a side of mashed potatoes and Mac n cheese. The potatoes were good but not my favorite and the Mac was wonderful. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Martin W.

Visited Besaw's on 17 July with my wife. We were seated quickly, the place wasn't too busy. We moved to the very nice patio, no problem. My wife had just the Mac'n'Cheese, while I started with a green, cucumber based gazpacho - unusual but very refreshing on a hot evening - and their 'legendary' meat loaf. The Mac'n'Cheese was very rich and tasty, with a hint of nutmeg, and a very generous portion. Whether the meatloaf is really legendary is difficult to say, but it wasn't too dense or heavy, nicely browned, and served with small red potatoes and carrots. Like Meriwether's a few blocks away they try to source locally. The only small issue was the coffee my wife had, it had some unexpected ingredient (maybe chicory? ) she didn't appreciate.
(4)
Jay K.

First and last ridiculously slow and unfriendly customer service experience at Besaws . Was quoted inaccurate wait time and sat at table for 30 mins and still did not have food on our table. Will most likely never return and suggest that friends go only when they have all day to wait for a table/food.
(1)
Lisa S.

This delicious gem is very close to our friend's apartment where we stay when we visit Portland. She recommended it to us last year & we went 3 times in one week! We've tried almost all of their breakfast offerings (except for the weekend-only eggs Benedict) & everything is amazing! You really cannot go wrong with breakfast at Besaw's! Maybe next time we'll try their dinner service.
(5)
Joey F.

Great spot for breakfast. High quality and worth the 20 minutes I had to wait. Our server was extremely friendly, and made the visit memorable. My buddy had the eggs Benedict and raved about it. I had a classic breakfast with eggs bacon and rose merry garlic potatoes. I would have liked them to be crispier, bust still had great flavor. This will definitely be on the regular rotation for breakfast in the future
(5)
Mindie K.

I brought the PDX Breakfast Club to Besaw's this morning. I'm a huge fan -- not only for their food, but the staff is super-awesome. They went out of their way to make sure we were taken care of, happy, and always had warm coffee in our mugs. Not an easy task for a large group like ours, but they made it seem effortless. And about the food... I ordered the prosciutto scramble -- salty goodness with asiago on top. Yum!
(5)
Susan A.

My dad and I ate here on a Monday morning. We arrived just as they opened so of course there was no waiting. I picked this restaurant based on Yelp reviews. We needed to find a Monday breakfast place since our favorite, Mother's, isn't open on Mondays. Our meal was average. My eggs (scrambled with spinach and goat cheese) were over cooked. The coffee was fine. I was happy to read Besaw's served Stumptown but the coffee wasn't bad or great just average. My dad had biscuits and gravy. It wasn't noted on the menu that the gravy is spicy - not good for his stomach. All in all an unremarkable meal. The service was good.
(3)
Suzy V.

Pretty good! Came here for breakfast, seated quickly, got to sit outside. Ordered the Farmer's Hash and it was good. I don't know if it was remarkable but it was for sure good.
(3)
cliff e.

Great place with a ton of personality. Besaw's was established around 100 years ago. Its not been gutted and re-modeled. So the character from decades past still shines through. From the architectural details to jars of (homemade?) jelly on the tables, you feel like your stepping into a unique experience. I take it that this is a bar? I have only been for breakfast. What they serve up is great. Just what you would expect from a good breakfast joint. From the coffee to the standard fare you wont be let down.
(5)
Bree C.

This must be what gambling and winning is like in Las Vegas. When you over hear a table of locals right next to you talking about the fact that the very restaurant you are sitting in, is great and a total staple, I swear it was like I heard a bunch of bells go off telling me I had won. And we were not disappointed. The hubby ordered the Salmon Scrabble which he said he loved. I got Huevos Rancheros off the servers recommendation. It was good. But the best was the side order of French Toast. I think next time I would happily just order that. Only reason it didn't get the 5th star was we both sent back our water cups. Mine still had the previous womans kiss of death n J's still had remnants of the last diners dinner. Still a good place to go!
(4)
michella s.

really cute little place that has a good breakfast selection. Their Stumptown coffee is really good. I had eggs with smoked salmon and it was really tasty - sourdough toast was crunchy and good (altho was a little burnt) If I lived in Portland, I would brunch here often. Service is consistent and nice. There was a wait, even though It was a Monday around 11AM but it's a small place and it seems there's a wait everywhere you eat in Portland.
(4)
Laura N.

Hmmmm. I REALLY want to give Besaw's 5 stars. I love the food and the overall ambiance. I don't mind the wait for a table and the free coffee outside is a generous expiatory offering. But what is up with the service? I have had so many bad serving experiences here that I am taking not one, but TWO stars off. It's that bad. Let me give you some examples: Once I ordered a veggie omelet (which strangely is not on the menu), and was charged for each. individual. vegetable. I'm not exaggerating - my 4 inch omelet WAS $19.75 -- ARE YOU KIDDING? On other visits, I'm lucky to have my water refilled, and if that happens, I'll almost guarantee it's done by the busser. The servers might actually be instructed NOT to stop by until it's time to drop the bill. The problem is, I keep going! It's like I'm in an abusive relationship with this place! The more they pull away the more I want them! I want ONE good serving experience. When that happens, I'll HAPPILY update this review. Until then... meh. 3 stars.
(3)
Keith B.

It is a smaller restaurant, so selection is smaller than you'll find elsewhere. That goes for beers and food. Fortunately, thay've made choices that are very pleasing to my pallette. Offering 5 amazing entrÃ©es for dinner is preferred over 10+ half-assed attempts. The wait staff are very friendly, and the restaurant itself is well staffed. They work hard, so even when things are crazy and you might have to wait a bit for your coffee refill, you can see that they're all working their asses off - it's really hard to mind the delay. The ONLY downside to Besaw's is that getting in for breakfast/brunch on the weekends can sometimes take a while.
(5)
Jeff M.

A Haiku Review of Besaws: Came recommended. Impeccable Service. Food is made with love.
(5)
Erica L.

This place is great! It's in a charming old building and the walls are adorned with photos of the building in the past, what it used to be, how it survived a flood, etc. There's even a Circa 1903 on the authentic wooden floors. Guess I might be crazy, but I'm a history and old building nerd. Building age aside, the food was wonderful. My companion and I arrived for brunch/lunch on a Thursday and were seated immediately. The people who run this place are over the top friendly. Over our meal we made up all sorts of fantasy scenarios how these people must all be a group of best friends and their lifelong dream was to open this restaurant. That's how happy and friendly they were. The food was awesome! We had a small mishap and ordered something we didn't realize had meat in it. They whisked it away, apologizing profusely despite it being our mistake, and had a vegetarian friendly dish back to the table in less than five minutes. The Caesar salad I had was fresh and crunchy with delicious cheese on it. I am not usually a "cleans her plate" type of girl, but I did this time. My friend had a breakfast scramble and eggs and absolutely loved it. The potatoes were seasoned with rosemary and garlic which makes them unique from the normal fried-until-brown-and-salted potatoes we usually get at breakfast joints. Will completely come back again, with friends, and let others know the awesomeness of this place!
(5)
Joey J.

I came in for breakfast last Saturday after being referred by a friend. So I got up early, got my coat and took the lady out for a good breakfast. Since this place is located in the NW Alphabet District street parking was super easy to find. We got there around 9:30am and there was a small wait. But the Besaw staff were super friendly and took our names and offered us a cup of coffee while we waited. This was definitely a plus in my book since the weather has been getting colder in these winter months. Plus it makes the wait more enjoyable knowing that you're being serviced even without a table. After we were seated our waiter was prompt and very nice. I ordered a plate of 2 pancakes and a side of the Chicken Basil Sausage while my date ordered the Prosciutto Scramble. It was all AMAZING. When I ordered my plate of pancakes I expected a small order of medium sized cakes. Oh no my friend. These pancakes were massive! They were about the size of 13" rims. They of course were not THAT big but they literally covered the entire plate and more importantly they were light, fluffy and evenly cooked. A hard feat to accomplish with a pancake of that size. The Chicken Basil Sausage forgets to mention that you'll receive 2 of them. Which is another win for any person happy to pay 6 bucks for this delectable side. The only gripe I had was with the Prosciutto Scramble that we ordered. The prosciutto di Parma and asiago cheese were on point but why the WHOLE clove of garlic? Wouldn't it be more enjoyable if the garlic was minced, roasted, then added last? Just a suggestion. All-in-all we had a fantastic time and left before the 10:30 crowd hit and the little place was packed. I am definitely a fan and will be back to try some of the other items on the menu. Thanks for such great service and the to-go box for my failed attempt of eating both pancakes in one sitting.
(4)
Kent W.

After a rough first night in my second visit to Portland, my friends had the good mind (and good taste) to take me to Besaws. I had the croque sandwich since it is consisted entirely of things I would choose to die eating. All of which were of royal quality. I also indulged and went for a pancake as well. Deliciocity ensued. It seems to be a popular spot, but we didn't have much trouble getting a table. The staff was wonderful and the liquor selection was of more than average quality. Reminded me of some lovely brunching spots in NYC. Definitely give it a shot. Do it for love. Do it for country. Do it for your tummy.
(4)
Emery S.

We sent to Besaws for the first time and LOVED it. They served yummy little scones as an appetizer and our omelets were delicious. We've been to Mother's on many occasions and decided to try someplace new. Besaws seated us within 5 minutes (we arrived at 9:30 on a Saturday) and our server was attentive and helpful. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Nick M.

This is a wonderful breakfast place - our favorite on the rare occasions when we stray from the east side. The staff are friendly, the food is great (if rather predictable northwest cooking - nothing wrong with that though), and the vibe is fun. It's not cheap, but it is great food. My only complaint is the outdoor climate-heaters....
(5)
Malea B.

This place was so good! And, the service was so fast! And, we were seated immediately! I lived in Portland for five years or so in the late 90's and not once did I stop in here. Oh, what my taste buds were missing! A good friend and I dropped in for breakfast on a recent Friday morning and the place looked PACKED. Before I was even in the door I was rehearsing a "Let's go somewhere without a wait..." type of greeting for my friend. Instead, we were shown to a table right away and had coffee and water just minutes later. Our waiter was super friendly and efficiently moved around the crowded little place and everything was fantastic. I asked a few questions about ingredients (like, do they use butter in making their potatoes...they don't!) and the waiter was able to answer confidently and knowledgeably, including giving a bit of extra information that was helpful in narrowing my decision. I strongly suggest the wild salmon scramble. I ordered without cream cheese and it was so delicious and creamy the stuff wasn't missed! The coffee was dark and strong but without being bitter. The water tasted clean and fresh too...last time I ordered water at a restaurant (somewhere in San Francisco...) it tasted like it was from the sewer. At Besaws the water was fantastic! Our food was at the table quickly and was nice and hot. The coffee was refilled as needed as was the water. This is a tightly packed place with tables rather close together but there is something about the placement of the tables that makes each one feel isolated and private. Loved this place! Can't wait to visit again!
(5)
Melanie E.

Fantastic breakfast with the best croque madam I have had (even in France!) Would definitely be back here again and again if I lived in Portland. Great grapefruit mimosa also. Friendly service.
(5)
Kira K.

Upon arriving at Besaw's for breakfast on our last day in Portland, we dreaded the line waiting to get inside. We were greeted by a young Colonel Sanders lookalike, who had a very positive attitude for a rainy Sunday morning, took our names, and told us it'd be a 20 minute wait. We chatted up some of the locals outside, who were all very nice and friendly, and drank the Stumptown coffee set up on a stand for those who were waiting. When we got inside and were seated, we were immediately served more of that delicious coffee. We settled on the Farmer's Hash (eggs, potatoes, garlic cloves, bacon, leeks, winter greens, and cheddar cheese) for me, and the Triclops (special omelet off the menu with three different kinds of cured meats) for the bf. Devoured every last bit of what was on our plates - so yummy! I'd definitely recommend Besaw's to everybody. Also, the neighborhood has some great shopping, so you can do that while you're waiting for a table.
(4)
Marie N.

We arrived early (8:30) to avoid the wait and sat in the covered patio area. I ordered the classic Benedict and my friend ordered the peach compote french toast. The poached eggs on the benedict were a little slimy for my taste but once it was all mixed together it wasn't as bad. My rosemary potatoes had about 6 huge cloves of garlic in it...i like garlic so it was fine for me but might be a little much for some folk so early in the morning. Our server was great, quick with the coffee refills and was very personable. My friend enjoyed the french toast, too. We both agreed we would return to try something different from the huge menu, including some of their brunch cocktails which looked delicious but neither of us ordered today.
(4)
Marya V.

We've only been here for brunch, but I can say the brunch food is delicious! The space is small, so the wait on weekends can be a bit long, but they have coffee and tea available to tide you over. I've enjoyed their French Toast, and my husband has enjoyed the Eggs Benedict and the various "Scrambles". The staff is always friendly and prompt. Overall, a good spot for a leisurely brunch!
(4)
Richard S.

Found this spot via the iPhone app for Yelp. We were staying not far away during a weekend getaway. The place was hopping on a Sunday morning around 9, however we were able to get in right away as two seats near the door were open at the bar. The staff was very busy, but attentive and friendly. Our breakfasts arrived in a reasonable time and were absolutely delish. I know why the place was packed - good food and good service go a long ways to success.
(4)
Alexandra G.

french toast and coffee- perfect.
(5)
Andrew S.

I came in for brunch close to 2:00 and was seated immediately. The wait staff was really friendly, and our waitress and the cooks got everything right. The yogurt parfait was excellent. Their homemade coconut granola combined with local yogurt and honey made it feel as though I were spooning bits of gold into my mouth. It was a little pricey, but not exorbitantly so for the quality of food. Everything tasted wonderfully, from the peach compote and cream waffles to the bits of wheat toast that I ordered with my soup of the day, which was a hearty potato/bacon which wasn't too creamy. I'm a huge fan of mashed potatoes, and it reminded me of it just enough to give me flashbacks of the recent Thanksgiving. I'll be back, for sure.
(5)
Adam S.

this is some of the best mac and cheese i've ever had. I've been twice and will be back. service could be better, but i've had worse elsewhere. great little restaurant with an old bar and a good vibe.
(4)
Valerie P.

Yesterday afternoon as I was casually walking around NW Portland I happened upon this very curious restaurant. I really do not know what drew me to the place, it may have something to do with the wine bottles I saw in the case as I was walking by. I nearly risked life and limb crossing the street trying to get to the joint. I was apprehensive as I never try an out of town without checking out the reviews, but I figure this is Portland and I get the impression you can never go wrong with a restaurant in this town. Anyway, I had one of the best meals in my life! I think the chef has a love affair with eggs??? Anyway I had a great Oregon wine, the Pinot Gris, the devilish eggs and the sturgeon special. I topped it off with the strawberry shortcake! This place it small and intimate and I love how the place kind of blends in with the neighborhood. Since they do breakfast, I will make it a point to go at breakfast during my next visit to the PDX.
(4)
MIzz Stephanie S.

Besaws is the bees knees. Is that what Besaws stands for? EVERY time we are in Portland it is a must stop and I have also sent people traveling to Portland who have also returned with amazing reviews. Thanks for BEing so reliably good and for BEing filled with such wonderful keepers and thanks for BEing so yummy. I cant wait to BE sitting back at our Besaws.
(4)
Pat C.

Great breakfast place. The wait on the weekend it pretty long but just get on the list, wander and return in time. Our last visit was marred by a table of folks that had too much to drink and lingered too long without noticing that they had a serious volume control flaw in their conversation level. It's hard to hold that against the restaurant though. Anyway, lots of menu choices and hearty helpings. Don't make it a regular unless you plan to spend a lot of extra time exercising since the food is so good, it is just darn hard to leave anything on your plate.
(5)
K W.

So wonderful! Went for breakfast and sat outside, it was wonderful! Drank a delicious bloody Mary and had a delicious breakfast sandwich. The service was great! All food is local and organic. I would definitely recommend eating here!
(5)
Kristi W.

My bloody Mary was bloody delicious. It was chunky with lots of veggies just like I like it. The waiter was friendly and attentive. Not really sure why others have "issues" with them. Our breakfast was well done and loved the whole roasted garlic cloves. Shout out to the Aardvark Sauce. In all, a most pleasant breakfast experience.
(5)
Angela B.

Talk about an East Coast vibe...Besaw's feels like an old cafe you would find in New York with all the charm you would expect from Small Town USA. On a weekend morning you can expect a good 30-45 minute wait. You will see all kinds of peeps standing outside waiting for a seat, from those who are dressed in their Sunday Best to the couples who look like they just rolled out of bed...so no need to worry if you have too much of a hangover to dress up for this place. Although they serve dinner, I have only dined here for breakfast. Although the food is definitely tasty, I think it's the vibe that gets people to stand in line and wait.
(5)
Darren E.

Best brunch & bloody marys in NW PDX.
(5)
Katy C.

This place was very cute and quaint, like it should have been in the opening scene of a romantic comedy. The service was good and FAST! I was with a couple friends and we had barely started to drink our stumptown coffees before our food was there! And I loved the rosemary potatoes that come with everything! The only negative is it's a little expensive, but luckily for me someone else was paying :) But my breakfast sandwich and rosemary potatoes was around $11 which is pretty expensive in comparison to a lot of other brunch places I've been in Portland. But if you're willing to fork over a couple extra dollars it's a nice place for brunch.
(3)
Afromadic A.

We decided to check out what this place had to offer and let me just say I was very disappointed. The food was tasteless and mediocre service! I don't think I will ever go back!
(1)
C P.

First visit today. A friend insisted that I try the chicken and waffles, and she was completely right! Best I've had! Service was very attentive and friendly. Weekday evening so it wasn't crowded. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Kathleen B.

Our plans to have an early Sunday breakfast at Bijou were foiled by a long wait. We were so proud of ourselves for getting to a restaurant with Baby before nine, and were completely surprised at the line. Where'd all the early risers come from? We were surprised, and frantic, to find somewhere else before Baby woke up, which left us driving around Portland without a plan B. The Pearl, we thought: it's close! But the Pearl was like a ghost town, with nary a brunch joint to be found. (Where do people in the Pearl eat brunch??) Then, before our wandering eyes did appear Besaw's. We parked! No wait! We were seated immediately! Just in time for Baby to wake up. Luckily, she and we all enjoyed our breakfast at Besaws. Baby liked the waiters' black and white outfits and smiling at our neighbors. I loved my avocado omelette, filled with perfectly ripe avocados and cheddar cheese and served with delicious rosemary potatoes. Mr. T liked his French toast. Good atmosphere, nothing earth-shattering but a very pleasant place for brunch. Glad we found it, we'll probably go back.
(4)
Keri S.

Went this morning in hopes for a short line. There was, unfortunately, a long line, but coffee and cream and even a pot of fresh brewed tea for the two of us in this town who don't drink coffee were waiting for the small city of people on the wait list. Weird thing was there were several open tables outside and when the waitress said we could sit down immediately outdoors I thought, Are these people waiting in line absolutely crazy? Waiter was very sweet, huevos rancheros were delicious and fun was had by all. Best part? Prices weren't the usual jacked-up sort that tend to come along with popular Portland breakfast destinations. I will say, however, that the last time I ate here I got the biscuits and gravy and between those and the potatoes I was completely rosemary-d out for months. Try it though. It's cute, well-priced, and the staff is warm and welcoming.
(4)
Ashley C.

It's the best breakfast/brunch place on NW 23rd. The food is amazing and the ambiance really brings you back to a quaint bistro on the corner of Paris. I went there for dinner with some friends and it was just a spectacular as breakfast. The dessert is limited, but very good. I am a repeat customer time and again.
(4)
Andleeb D.

Food was great! I went for brunch on a Saturday, so it was packed. We ended up sitting at the bar and I ordered a coffee drink- I was worried that the bartender didn't know what he was doing, as he kept reading the menu to make sure he had the right ingredients... Salmon scramble was yum and Dessert first coffee drink was great too. While you're waiting, the hostess will bring out waffle wedges- awesome!
(4)
Lana T.

I ride by this place on the bus everyday on my way to work, and it a)looks so cute and b)is open early. We all know how much I love breakfast, so any place I can make dates for before work is a-ok in my book. I looked up their website today to see if it would be friendly for a lunch date today with another vegetarian friend of mine, emily. This place was opened in the early 1900's, and was granted the first liquor license in Oregon! Financed by Henry Weinhard, a couple of gentlemen made this a local's favorite. I can see why!! I ordered a breakfast sandwich (served until 3) which had 2 eggs over hard, veggie sausage, avocado, sun dried tomato pesto and goat cheese. It came with rosemary garlic roasted potatoes on the side. Em got the pecan veggie burger, which was AMAZING. Its adorable in there, and I wanted to eat EVERYTHING on the menu. Def coming back here!!
(4)
Caroline Q.

I always love a good weekend morning breakfast with friends and family. Besaw's supports local organic farmers and hormone-free dairy products, so you know your food is fresh. As other reviewer's have written you will have to wait, should you not arrive within 30 minutes of the restaurant opening. However, Stumptown coffee is free outside the restaurant while you wait for a table. I have had the two egg breakfast with the pork apple sasuage each visit and everytime it was delicious. The sausage links look and taste more like a bratwurst. They are very flavorfull and a wonderful addition to the eggs, potatoes, and toast. My scrambled eggs were light, moist, and fluffy, and the rosemary and garlic on the red potatoes makes them taste very delightful. The toast is whole wheat and served dry which allows you to spread as much freshly made jam or butter as you desire. If I lived in Portland, I could easily eat here every weekend.
(4)
Zach B.

I had some excellent breakfast burritos here. They also serve stumptown coffee which is delicious. There was a bit of a wait but they have coffee outside which was a nice touch.
(5)
Nicolas D.

For all the self-proclaimed hype that PDX restaurants have, when I'm taking out the wife I still struggle to decide where we're going because few places have lived up to it. Besaw's is a place that I won't hesitate to go back to and back to and back to. The restaurant was established in 1903 and screams character! Other then that, the food is unique, filling & affordable. Service is accurate for the price, great wine selection and they have In-house pickling!
(4)
Neil W.

If the service weren't so gal darnd friendly, I would give Besaw's 2 stars. They were very accomidating to our group and my 1 year old. I had the biscuits and gravy, which came highly recommended from the waiter....I thought they were VERY lackluster. The other food I tried from our group was also so-so, my wife had their bacon avacado and chevre sandwich, which was insanely oversaeasoned with Taragon. Like POW in your face with taragon. All in all a decent expereience, but I wouldn't say the food is much more than above average.
(3)
Ava P.

Where do I even start? I have so many good memories here. The morning after my wedding, we had breakfast here and server gave us free mimosas and a sincere congrats. Before my sister moved, we would meet for brunch, sitting on the sidewalk during the summer. This is a place we go for a brunch date when someone will watch our kids so that we can go to brunch. (Kids are welcome - we just prefer dates w/o them :)) My 3 year old son and I have mommy-and-son dates at Besaw's. If we have out of town guests, we take them to Besaw's for brunch. It's our go-to, because we can depend on good coffee (Stumptown), good food (omelets and benedicts = amazing), good service, good atmosphere... good everything. They do lunch and dinner here as well and it's not bad at all - just that its old-fashioned-ness (NOT brand new space designed to look old fashioned, but honest to goodness, old fashioned from the 20's) lends itself really well to brunching with good company on a Portland morning. Food-wise, I'm the creature of habit, and usually get the proscuito and scallions scramble. My husband likes to mix it up, and the egg benedicts and other things he's had have been delicious.
(5)
Lanny K.

I love breakfast. I look forward to the weekend SIMPLY for breakfast and coffee and.. Yeah. Favorite meal of all time. I LOVE breakfast. I order pretty simply. I love a scramble with stuff in it. Three eggs, feta, tomatoes and spinach. Not hard, right? Wrong. Apparently this is difficult for Besaw's cook. The eggs were pretty sick. Akin to egg-product. Like egg beaters? Confirm/deny? Anyway, the mimosa was pretty much fine. Everything was fine. But I didn't enjoy my breakfast, and THAT is not okay.
(3)
Bob M.

This has it all. Great food (breakfast burger for me, wild mushroom omelet for the lady), friendly and professional service, and cool atmosphere history. The original bar is still there-- it is the oldest bar in Portland (i think) Read the plaque by the door-- theres a neat story about Weinhard selling it, prohibition, and being forced to start making food and then getting the first liquor license.
(5)
Julie G.

I searched this place on Yelp, and looking at their menu I was sold once I read the breakfast sandwich ingredients. I was a little hesitant with the prices, and wanted a small cafe with one $, but I think it was still reasonable at an average of 10 bucks a meal because the ingredients were quality. The meals were also good portions, and filling. So, we went this morning around 8:30 am. Lots of seats available, traditional, yet funky decor, really friendly servers. I had my 4 month old with me and most of them stopped by to comment on how cute she was. Service was attentive and food came out pretty quick. So, onto breakfast. My hubby had the Stumptown coffee which he was already a fan of -it was nice and fresh. We were planning on hitting Stumptown in portland, but my hubby was excited to get a fix here, and also purchase a bag for home (12 bucks). I had a mint mocha, and it was delicious. Now for breakfast I stuck with my original choice the breakfast sandwich. Ripe Avocado, sundried tomato pesto, a big lump of soft goat cheese, two eggs and crisp thick bacon. YUM, and great combo of flavors. I may re-create on our next family vacation. The server asked if i wanted my eggs over soft instead of over hard and i was like over medium forgetting this was a breakfast sandwich. I ended up taking one bite and then eating with a knife and fork but it was still good. My husband had the breakfast burrito. He really enjoyed that too. With both were Rosemary garlic potatoes. They were perfectly cooked - at looking at them I thought they were a bit mushy, but they just weren't overcooked and crispy. Overall, very pleased with our choice, and I would recommend. We hit the road again for a couple hours of travelling with full and satisfied tummies.
(4)
Kelly F.

I guess I should have read the reviews before we trekked to Besaw's Saturday morning all the way from Beaverton. But friends recommended it so we joined them on this culinary journey. Ok, it was far from that. Which was so disappointing because the smiling service was splendid, and the details were well thought out. They have fresh Stumptown coffee outside for folks who must wait for a table. And the scents coming from the chai lattes and coffee were so alluring. Perhaps that's what made our meal so disappointing. I had the mushroom omlette (I LOVE mushrooms), which was served with dill and sour cream. I thought that meant a side of sour cream. Nope...they mix the mushrooms with the sour cream and the dill in with the eggs. The entire thing was as bland as bland could be--the pungent shroom taste could not break through the sour cream. I was not about to waste precious caloric intake on this tasteless mound. I think I had three bites. Sadly even the rosemary potatoes didn't pack much punch for my tastebuds. My husband's breakfast sandwich didn't have much taste either, which is strange since it was served with prosciutto and pesto. In summary I think this place is probably best known for their drinks; my friends' bloody mary's were to-die-for and my spiked cider was de-lish!
(3)
Lisa D.

I know I am like the 50th person to review Besaw's, but damn it's good. Anyplace that has a full bar as well as honey cured bacon is more than ok in my book. Prices are pretty much the same as any other nice brekky place, around $10 per person. I also liked the incredibly nice hostess who reminds me of the progressive insurance commercial lady. This was my first time here after many a failed attempt. This place has unusually long lines most of the time which never sits well with me. When I want to have breakfast, I want it NOW. We tried it on MLK day and had no wait (hooray!). Go there if you can stand a wait, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Chrissy S.

So it's Election Day 2008. I need to find just the right spot to finish up my ballot and cast it on it's merry way. Over breakfast of course. Toast with jam is CRUCIAL to my all important civic decisions. Let's try Besaw's! Yeah all the reviews I've read are preeeetty lukewarm...But it's close! And how bad can it really be? And I bet they were just having off days...all of those times... So I get there. First off. It's a really cool little spot. The sun shines in the windows in just the right spots. The bar is cool. It has a very warm vibe overall. Ah-HA. So far so good. I am immediately approached by a very nice hostess with funky earrings and a great big smile. Table for one please. Sure sit where ever. Oh and I love your boots! You look like an Eskimo! Gee, thanks! Your server will be with you in a moment. Cool. Ah-HA again. The service isn't bad at all. ........ 15 minutes and several Measures on my ballot later... hmmm...where is my server? How long IS a moment? I see the man who is my server walk by, and i flag him down asking for advice between the Avocado Omelet and the Salmon Scramble. My gut tells me avocado (duh), he suggests salmon. Salmon it is. The food comes out fast and it's piping hot. These are both good things to Chrissy. The plate is under there somewhere but I couldn't see it. Lots of food consisting of a HUGE Salmon scramble, potatoes and toast. Now that sounds good right? WRONG! Even when they put it in front of you it looks like it will be yummy, but that is where Besaw's gets you. The potatoes are so bland and dry and boring and a thousand other adjectives in the same vein. I barely touched them after the first bite. The toast is AWFUL. How do you mess up toast??!? Ya know the huge Styrofoam rectangles they use as packing material for electronics? Yeah. It's like that with butter on it. The scramble was fine. It was ok. Not bad. Nothing special. Blah blah blah. I finish my ballot. I finish my food...well somewhat. And I sit. I sit and I soak up the history of this place called Besaw's. Pictures adorn the walls in black and white, of the glory days. I see the faces staring back at me of the first patrons and the owners back in 1903, and I wonder how their salmon scrambles were... Surely they made good toast then...? Surely. When I FINALLY got my check, payed, and left with my ballot and Eskimo boots in tact, I realized that the reviews were dead on. I wanted Besaw's to be good, but it will just remain mediocre in my heart. My theory is this...maybe Besaw's was once amazing. Maybe once. Maybe somewhere along the way, they stopped worrying about the actual food thinking that the atmosphere alone would be enough. But you can only lean on history for so long, Besaw's. And after this AMAZING election came and went, now is the time for change Besaw's. Get on it. Word.
(3)
Chris C.

The special waffle was fantastic. The wait can get long, but they do offer coffee and tea while you wait. I also commend our super friendly waiter.
(5)
T K.

We went here on a weekday, no lines, no wait. Nice atmosphere, friendly servers. Food was good, but not super. I had the smoked salmon scramble... I thought the portion was a bit small. Wheat toast was good, and the rosemary potatoes were a little bit undercooked (a few raw pieces). My eating partner had an omlette -- had bacon and avocado in it. His portion was better than mine, and probably a better deal. I'll go back again, and try something else next time.
(3)
Neill P.

I think I waited too long to go to Besaw's. From what I gather, it was a remarkable restaurant back in the day but has fallen from grace. I'm not sure the rest of Portland knows or realizes that though, since there is almost always a massive line to get in. I've dodged the lines and eaten here three times: once for lunch and twice for breakfast. For lunch, I had a salad that cost over $10 that was just 1/4 of a lettuce (not broken apart) with some sauce drizzled on it. I also had some gazpacho (sic?) soup that was really quite flavorless and reminiscent of Pace salsa. My companion had a fish dish which was also flavorless and uninspired. The breakfast food was nothing to write home about at all, and certainly not worth the price.
(2)
Chris D.

I just have eaten there for breakfast. Great food and service. Friendly staff and the wait is very minimal if you get there before 9:30am for breakfast. Was relatively easy to find parking on the street as well.
(4)
Stefanie S.

Fantastic Brunch food. Always packed and lively in the morning. Feels like a NYC brunch place. Got the avocado omelet. Will go back many times!
(5)
Matt F.

I used to go here back in the 80's when they had an awesome hot roast beef sandwich. Served open faced with mashed potatoes and lots of gravy. The previous owners must have taken that recipe with them when they sold the place. I usually go to this latest incarnation for breakfast and it is always good. This last time I had the biscuits and gravy. The fresh baked biscuits were very good but they weren't smothered in gravy as the should be, there wasn't even enough to give my scrambled eggs any love. I would have liked more sausage in the gravy or a couple on links on my plate. I pretty much chalked it up to the fact that they were trying to keep me honest on my new diet but then I thought..."how do they know I'm on a new diet?" I'm sure I will return since it is within walking distance of my folks house and most of the wait staff know my mom by name.
(3)
John R.

Great little spot for dinner. I had the butternut squash soup for a starter. Peppery and sweet. Caesar salad with grilled salmon for the entree. Great food and excellent service.
(4)
Sara G.

Every time I visit Portland I suggest we dine here. I love the food, the wait staff and best of all, the Stumptown Coffee. I've had super delicious food, including, mushroom omelet, huevos rancheros type dish, i've sampled a friends pancakes oh and the rosemary roasted potatoes.. mm mouth is watering just thinking of them. The food is so fresh and memorable that it will become a staple for you in Portland and when you visit. It's really busy on the weekends, come early and often.
(4)
LA to PDX ..

I am very excited to find such a lovely cafe in the Nob Hill area that reminded me of my former beloved Larchmont Village neighborhood in Los Angeles. Of course the food is great as other reviewers have confirmed, so I want to focus on the quality of the service. The service at Besaw's is exceptional with friendly wait staff coupled with smiles and greetings from various other employees upon arrival, during the meal, and on our way out. Why most restaurants today can't figure out that service is key, and should be their #1 priority, to achieve success. A mediocre meal prepared with love and served with great attention tastes better to me than a better made dish served to me by apathetic or self-loathing waiters. Thankfully Besaw's has both so it's a win/win for anyone lucky enough to spend time here. I look forward to coming back when the weather warms up a bit to enjoy dining al fresco on the patio. I reserved the last star simply due to the fact that the fresh focaccia sandwich I had on my visit had more bread than delicious veggie and cheese fillings which was a bit of a disappointment, but again made up for by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the spot.
(4)
E W.

Went for lunch. I wouldn't go back. Poor and slow service, mediocre food. So many other places to enjoy before trying Besaws.
(2)
Melody a.

This is a great place. I love how cozy it feels. The food is delicious. I recommend the squash soup. True, not as visually appealing as some soup, but hey its squash. But one bite and each bite thereafter was followed by a little moan from me. Sometimes there are just no words. Ohh speaking of moans. The chocolate cake. There is no one word to describe how delightful a slice of this confection tastes. I gave up easily and stuck to little satisfied moans. Quietly mind you, I did not want to be asked to leave. But yes it was that good! The food was great and varied. The ambiance is exceptional. Cozy, dark and quiet. I found the staff to be personable and friendly. And they seemed delighted when we ordered chocolate cake as our first course. I love being a grown up. You have no idea.
(5)
Lindsey K.

Oh great. Just what I need. Another amazing, homey, cozy brunch place within walking distance of my apartment. Thanks. Thanks a lot. I'm not bitter, I just wish my pants weren't so tight. I would say this is the perfect place to take your parents for a fabulous weekend brunch. Yes, the lines are long, but there is a coffee stand outside and that shit is good and strong. I have to admit, I found the hostess a tad bitchy, but our server Richard was just divine. You definitely get a feel for their history here, and that history smells like gravy and eggs. I had the apple fritter french toast with maple syrup and a sausage link ($6.50) and it was so sweet and good my teeth hurt. Is that normal? I don't care, it was worth the pain. Some of the dishes seem a little pricey, like the Eggs Benedict and salmon scrambles, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed. If I could make this restaurant a blanket, I would wrap myself up in it and hibernate all winter. And then eat the blanket, because it would be covered with sausage gravy. Ahem. Also, I saw Heath Ledger's baby there and that was weird/sad. But also the cherry on top of an amazing brunchalicious experience.
(5)
J J.

I was horribly hungover and in dyer need of a cup of coffee and some biscuits and gravy the first time I went here. What I got (seeing as it was 3pm) was a very large cup of coffee and a four or five item happy hour menu.... dang. I opted for the meatloaf sandwich and to my body's delight it fixed me right up! Delicious! Their house salad dressing which I am sorry I can't remember what it is called was amazing so just take my word for it. The mac and cheese was so so but edible. The waiter was doing a lot of running coupled with a lot of nothing. Since we were kinda siting by the kitchen it was clear from the chefs remarks that we were not the only ones who noticed it. Other than that the service was friendly and the food good. Relaxing atmosphere now I just have to make it in time for breakfast!
(4)
Scott A.

We were in Portland just for the weekend, and thanks to Yelp I found Besaw's. We drove out of downtown and over to Northwest to get there, fell in love with NW 23rd Ave. on the way, and then had the best brunch imaginable. This is the kind of fabulous neighborhood restaurant and bar that makes you decide that living in that neighborhood would be a really good thing. I had the Farmer's Hash, my girlfriend had a special egg dish, and the coffee was great. Because there was a delay with getting the food out to us (some sort of mistake getting the order into the system) they adjusted our final bill without us even mentioning it. Great service, fun atmosphere. My only regret is that they're not in Seattle where I live.
(5)
Jen g.

It was Heaven on a plate!!
(5)
David M.

Good brunch. Good lunch. Good service. Very poor dinner. Have been there several times for dinner (for the life of me I don't why I keep going back), and it is just not good. The menu isn't creative, and the food is remarkably bland; on one occasion, my dinner was almost unpalatable (so much so that the server did not charge me for the meal). There are so many wonderful places to eat dinner in Portland, this is not one I would recommend.
(2)
Sharon G.

We came here during Labor Day weekend so there was a bit of a wait. However, the staff was great and the atmosphere is great! We had the Tuscan Benedict, buttermilk pancakes and farmers hash. Yum yum yum!!!
(4)
Alejandro J.

It had a very good service, hipster atmosphere with more women than men. I had the Tortilla soup (3.5), and the SW Scramble (3.5) (special of the day) good taste but the sauce on top did not add to the flavor nor to the presentation. VG coffee. The rest of the group tried the Roast Beef and the Reuben. I was here a year ago with the kids and the food was better, while the service was worse.
(4)
scott l.

My new favorite breakfast spot. Atmosphere is as good as the food.
(5)
Wes M.

I was amazed by this place. When we arrived there was a line going out the door, and it wasn't because of a lack of space. This place was roomy and packed, and after eating there it's easy to see why. We were sat on the patio, which was heated thankfully. I got the Spinach, Feta and Artichoke omelette and my girlfriend go the Forest Mushroom omelette. Both were amazing, and surprisingly light. They came with rosemary roasted potatoes, which had the occasional clove of garlic in them. The service the whole time was amazing, the waitress was very friendly (and just a little bit silly) and made sure to check on us often. The employees actually seemed to enjoy their job which is nice to see. I'll definitely be going here more often.
(5)
Elizabeth R.

It's not much of an exaggeration to say we moved to Portland because of Besaw's. Besaw's breakfasts, to be exact, not so much their dinners. And now that we finally live within walking distance of this restaurant we literally dreamed about while living in exile in Southern California, we hear it's on the verge of being torn down. Time to eat up, I guess. Breakfast sandwiches, weekend special Benedicts, house-made granola, house-made ketchup, forest mushrooms with eggs, house-smoked salmon, fresh cinnamon rolls, amazing Bloody Mary's... There's definitely a wait if you sleep in on the weekends, but just pour yourself and coffee or order a Bloody Mary and relax.
(5)
Peter H.

I'm in absolute love with this breakfast place. I would almost consider moving up to Portland just to be closer to this joint. Honestly, the food was to DIE for!!! DO NOT PASS THIS UP!!!
(5)
Andrew N.

Love to come here for breakfast with my boo. We especially like to sit up at the bar. The weekend bartender is great and we like watching the cooks. Everything here is delicious.
(5)
Rebecca H.

It wasn't amazing or fantastic, but tasty enough. The service was pleasant and cheerful. The home fries were greasy so I didn't eat more than a few. I had the salmon scramble which was fine, not a lot of salmon but I could taste it here and there. Sourdough toast came dry with a pat of cold hard butter. My friend had the mushroom scramble, said it was ok, but she only ate a little of it. The portions weren't outrageous, they seemed just about right for the money. Most people would be able to easily finish the plate. Coffee was also good enough. There's a theme here...it's an absolutely fine place to go, but the best ever? Not by a long shot.
(3)
Lily S.

If you're in Portland and you're looking for a kick ass place for breakfast or lunch or brunch or WHATEVER, please go here. Their waffles are the best thing EVER - and that goes for just about everything (including their bloody marys) on the menu. And once I found out that a friend just BOUGHT the place, their stock went waaaaay up in my book. Just make sure you get there early to get your name on the list!
(4)
Norabel L.

We waited around an hour this morning (turned into afternoon) but I didn't mind a bit. The atmosphere was wonderful outdoors sitting on the patio with some free coffee and sunshine. Service was very nice, quick and friendly. The food was tasty. I ordered the 2 egg meal and for $8 bucks I got a huge portion of eggs, crunchy toast, FANTASTIC potatoes with whole cloves of garlic, and some tasty bacon. The place is old school and is charming with lots of natural light, and beautiful dark wood walls and ceilings. They have a row of canned fruits and vegetables above the bar that I thought were quite charming. Favorite highlight: The cute host in the fancy suit chased the street performer trumpet player down an entire block to give him some cash. Now that's classy.
(4)
Kenneth H.

I found everything at Besaw's to be perfect. The food was tasty and filling. The atmosphere pleasant and neighborhoody. The prices reasonable and fitting to the food. I must say that this place is my new base by which other breakfast spots will be judged. I do hear it gets quite crowded on the weekends, but I have stopped visiting the hot spots during those times (my visit was a little after 1 on a weekday and I was seated instantly).
(5)
Josh F.

The best breakfast place in Portland hands down. There is always a wait for breakfast (because it is so freaking good) BUT they have fresh Stumptown coffee outside while you wait. Also, today I went there and they were serving free samples of waffles while everyone waited. It is amazing how such a small gesture can go so far! Funny because when my friends and I go out to breakfast we always ponder getting coffee or juice. Not that we can't afford both. BUT it is a pain to have to spend $4.00 just on beverages. Having the free coffee outside allows me to have the best of both worlds! I get my caffeine fix outside and quench my thirst inside! My favorite items is 1) The breakfast burrito 2) The oatmeal pancakes Today my server was GREAT! I ordered something new, and didn't like it, so she came out with my favorite item (see item #1 above) in 3 minutes. I hate taking things back, but I appreciated the server was so cordial about it! She could have been rude, but instead was intent on making me happy Last, they serve the most delicious tea cookies at the table for free! They are amazing! I always take visitors here when they come to town. Love it!
(5)
Teresa and Mariel D.

Being from out of town this was a great place to try for breakfast. It was the best breakfast I had while in Portland. The service was great and the yogurt in a jar was perfection topped with a nice house-made granola and local honey. My gf had the breakfast sandwich, also AMAZING! This place was great.
(5)
Zachary S.

good stuff man. best biskits n gravy ever, and it had andooie in it. J had the oatmeal. yum I like the "about us" history on the wall that talks about the elbow rippled counters from 100 years of use. Make that 105 years of use!
(4)
Alicia H.

Very good food and drinks. They're known for their eggs benedict, but be warned that they do not serve them every day. Always a long wait to get into this place, but worth it.
(4)
Jennifer M.

One of the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had. The food was fantastic....they make a special homemade ketchup that is slightly tangy and a bit spicy. A must try. Quick service. I love the outdoor seating, especially on a sunny morning!
(5)
Chelsea A.

It was so good. just so so good. And the portions are huge; as in excessively large. As in, you will never finish the whole meal, ever. It's been a long time since I've had actually quality biscuits and gravy. And these weren't just quality, these were excellent. The service is friendly and quick; and there on top of refilling your water and coffee. Thank you! I honestly don't know if I would have given them all five stars, maybe 4.5 if I could have. But exactly what I would have taken it off for I couldn't tell you. I suppose while the food is excellent, and the diner is cute, and service is awesome I don't feel that they are spectacular. For example, I'm willing to walk all the way down 23rd to get there, however I probably wouldn't sing their praises anywhere else.
(5)
Darren M.

I went here today for brunch and had one of the best breakfast burgers of my life! It was seasoned and cooked perfectly and was served open face with a fried egg on top and rosemary potatoes on the side, which weren't as crispy as I would have liked. It is a small place and the restaurant/restrooms are cramped, but the servers and cooks a friendly and work very well in the confined space. I will definitely be returning to try more of their amazing menu.
(4)
Chris J.

The *best* breakfast experience I've ever had in Portland. The service was friendly, personable, fast and the food was delicious! VERY well done, indeed. Go around noon when there is less of a wait.
(5)
Megan G.

Mediocre. Always too busy. Barely enough room to breathe. Eggs Benedict is alright- Cricket Cafe's is better. Servers are nice; most of the people that frequent there are not. The food is greasy. The burgers are overcooked. For what you pay- might as well go to Salty's for all you can eat brunch on Sunday for $27. I really do not feel this place at all. Def not a foodie hangout. Just another Nob Hill excuse for a pretentious meal.
(2)
Gretchen H.

Adorable place! The staff was excellent, the food was good, it didn't take long for a seat, what's not to love! I don't know why there are complaints about the hostess, she was very nice to us! Maybe we have a different gauge for bitchy having lived in LA for 5 years now! ;D I can imagine it's even better coming earlier in the morning and getting an outside spot.
(4)
Joshua M.

Came back and tried their burger. It was pretty decent, and at least we got sat quickly versus my last time here. Still wanting to love this place, and still not quite there. Again our server was eating her own meal at the bar counter almost the whole time we were there, getting up periodically to check on us. Seems to me that they should just get to eat uninterrupted and get back to work before taking tables, but what do I know?
(3)
Erin S.

This place serves chicken and waffles on Fridays, and they have classic Collins cocktails. Love and Love.
(5)
Leslie H.

de-freaking-lightful little place in lovely nob hill. roasted beet sandwich and a bloody mary cured my weekday hangover with just the right amount of salty deliciousness, and the coffee was brewed to perfection. coupled with the pleasant service and comfy atmosphere, i'm looking foward to my next visit to portland so i can head back to besaw's.
(4)
Josh O.

I can see how this place could get RIDICULOUSLY packed. Definitely not the most feng shui'd environment, especially during the winter months. But the close tables and bustling wait staff definitely give the place the feel of your classic, busy diner, which is good for us down-home boys. Had I not read the wall placard outlining the history of Besaw's, I would never have guessed that the building was so old! Hell yeah first liquor license in the state!! Plenty of veggie options. Great lattes. Attentive servers and bussers. And a full bar! The place is good for families and, in our case, slacker twenty-somethings who haven't gotten up until noon on a Saturday. One more example of good eats here in NW.
(4)
Rosie T.

At 1/2 a mile walk from the hotel, this was a great place for working up to starvin marvin status and then working off the calories afterwards. They were packed on Saturday morning so we enjoyed a complimentary cup of coffee outside while we waited. So nice! When we were finally seated about 15 minutes later, the torturous smells and sights of everyone else's food made me salivating worse than Pavlov's dog. I love this place. They are organic, green, local and sustainable! Down to the food. Organic Strawberry Mountain NY Steak Benedict with horseradish hollandaise. This is 10x better than the tenderloin I had last night from Strawberry Mountain. Hollandaise is imaginative and perfectly executed. Wild Salmon Scramble with dill and cream cheese. They made it with local cage free eggs. Oh crap! I am now eating from my daughter's plate. So flavorful. Apple fritter french toast has to be reckoned with. The idea sounds good but the bread was dense and the egg mixture was rubbery. No. Coffee was excellent. Service was excellent.
(5)
Hilary C.

Being egg allergic, breakfast places usually represent a bland menu of options for me. At Besaws, the building blocks of their menu are so delectable that I could build my own for a reasonable price. Rosemary roasted potatoes with roasted garlic, sauteed spinach with roasted garlic, creamy chevre, chorizo, and bacon. super yums! The wait was about 45 min when we arrived at 11am on a Saturday. It's a bit long to wait, although they've got tea and Stumptown outside. It was totally worth the wait though. Service was prompt, attentive, accurate, and extremely pleasant. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Jessica K.

i'm not a huge fan of eating american foods at breakfast joints. why? because a single egg costs $1.50 when a whole carton of eggs is maybe $3 at most, but besaws did not disappoint. :) it is not cheap in my opinion but the friendly service and good food was worth it. the busy, homely atmosphere was also very appealing to me. the sausage i had was perfect and the house made ketchup was very nice. they also carry ardvark sauce! yummmm.
(4)
Michael P.

Tried this place for lunch and now want to go back for breakfast and dinner! One of the oldest neighborhood joints in Portland (I think I remember the menu saying they opened back in 1903 as a "drinking & gambling establishment" for loggers working on the Lewis & Clark trail. Then they added food during Prohibition!) Not much has changed since then--the place is quaint and cozy with the same beautiful mahogany bar the loggers used to sit at. The place is small though, so if you go during a prime time, be prepared to wait. The service is excellent--my coffee and water glass never got 2/3rds empty. Breakfast is served until 3pm, which made it really hard for me to decide what to have. The burgers were only 6 oz so I passed on getting one, though they are Strawberry Farm Organic and looked so phenomenal I'll try one next time. Instead, I had a wild salmon sandwich which was excellent with a side of above average potato salad. The desserts looked great as well--tiramisu, chocolate moose, and apple pie. Can't wait to go back and try dinner or brunch.
(4)
Nic M.

Amazing quaint little place! I flew up from California to visit a friend and we decided we were hungry. Her response was Chipotle and I told her I wanted to find a place original and good! So we used a nifty app that led us to a place that was closed, so we drove around the corner to find Besaw's. We walked in and were immediately greeted and seated. Our server was great and had answers for all of our questions. We had a great view of the cook doing work and watching the food getting plated. Over all the service and food was amazing! The pricing was great and I can only hope to go back someday (:
(5)
Maryam D.

"Meh," is the perfect expression for my brunch at Besaw's. I have wanted to dine here since we moved to the neighborhood months ago and went for brunch on a Saturday. I expected a wait, about 30 min, the coffee and tea while I wait was nice. So far, so good. Once seated it all went downhill. It was a busy day, from what I've seen it's a standard thing on the weekends here. So when our waitress arrived at our table all frantic and rushed it was slightly off-putting, but not a huge deal, we all of our days. Ordered the Wild Salmon Scramble with a side of pancake and my fiance got the Farmer's Hash sans the arugala. The wait was normal and a friendly man brought us our food, he hung around a couple of minutes chatting with us about how he is not an arugala fan as well, an amusing conversation! The food... salmon scramble was disappointing from the first bite. There was soooo much dill in the dish and the fish was dry and unseasoned, and there was a speck of cream cheese in the dish, which I feel would have added so much. But the worst ingredient would have to be the long, curly black hair that was cooked into the eggs!! Absolutely disgusting! As soon as I could get our waitresses attention (which wasn't easy), I asked her to come over and once she saw the hair she just grabbed my plate and yelled "oh no, so sorry!" and walked off. I felt the reaction was odd, assumed she'd come back (maybe even a manager) and apologize, ask if I'd still want the dish remade or something along those lines. But no one came by, I waited 10 min and she brought me a newly made dish and apologized and walked away quickly. The whole situation had ruined my appetite, so i ended up taking the scramble home and have yet to eat. My fiance's dish was nice. He enjoyed the large roasted cloves of garlic and crispy bacon pieces, a very flavorful dish. The buttermilk pancake was alright, too thin and dense in my opinion. I like fluffy light pancakes. So at the end we left completely disappointed and pretty grossed out. Will not be going back here.
(2)
Makenna C.

Recently tried Besaw's after debating over and over again. My room mate and I now hold it as our favorite place for a more guilt free hang-over breakfast (we live close, on SW Vista). They have a large menu with a variety of dishes filled with fresh and local ingredients. The hostesses and servers have always been friendly no matter how packed it gets too- and believe me, it does get packed, especially on weekend mornings. Luckily it is fairly large and filled with tables, and even has an "outdoor" seating area even in wintertime (it doesn't sound enticing, but they have it covered with lots of cozy heat lamps and it's actually fantastic out there). The possible long wait factor is the one star lost from Besaw's, but it's well worth it!
(4)
SaraJane L.

This place is phenomenal. I've been here two weekends in a row and both times the food was excellent. It's pretty much always packed here but SO worth the wait. Everything my friends or I have gotten has been amazing. They make rosemary roasted potatoes with whole cloves of garlic, delicious!! Everything is super fresh and the quality of the produce in their fruit bowls can't be beat. Great service, waters always refilled promptly and they're always accomodating with split checks, etc. This is definitely my new favorite brunch spot!!
(4)
Adam R.

A few of us went there for breakfast on one of the nicer days this winter and ended up with a 45 minute wait to get a table for 3. Most places you get stuck standing next to the door watching others eat but here you get outside seating with complimentary coffee. To make it even better they brought waffles out on a regular basis for us to enjoy. Once we got inside it definitely felt a little cramped but nothing too bad. Considering how busy they were the service was pretty good. I had the breakfast burritos and they were splendid. More than enough food for once person. Plan on a wait if you get there past 9am. I could imagine getting a table for more than 4 would be problematic. I hear the French toast is also good as well.
(4)
Edward J.

A real nice little French cafe with good American fusion food. I love their vegetarian quesadilla with mushroom and spicy salsa. Really delicious! I also love their breakfast choices. My friend love their smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. Everything is a bit oily and greasy, but that's just me. I'm used to eating without butter and fried oil. I tried their apple pie, its really good too! The place is very popular on the weekend, especially during brunch. The wait is about half hour. I would go during weekday. Also, they serve Stumptown coffee and dragonfly chai. sweet!
(4)
Kate M.

Perhaps I am spoiled by the abundance of good breakfast places, but I really don't get the hype about this place. The food is certainly acceptable (although on one visit the eggs on my benedict were over cooked) but it's not outstanding in the crowded field of Portland restaurants. The real issue is the service - I have found the staff to be...I don't know...disdainful, maybe? Lackadaisical? I don't expect wait staff to smiling like idiots and hanging on my every word, but some sort of greeting and occasional eye contact is always appreciated. Clearly, other folks disagree with me. The crowd outside this place weekend mornings is impressive.
(2)
April C.

this review isn't about the food - which i'd always known to be pretty good, in that predictable NW brunch sort of way - but about the very unwelcoming reception i experienced there this morning. a friend and i both woke up early and sought breakfast, at somewhere open at 7ish on a sunday. we consulted yelp. it says besaw's opens at 7 daily; i hadn't been in a while, she's a recent fan, so, great, we decide to meet there. i arrived first, so i walk in - because it's 37 degrees out - and an employee looks at me a little funny, and i see they're setting up yet and i say 'oh, i'm early, there will be two, i can just wait...' before i could even finish he gruffly informed me 'we don't open till 8' and i said, 'oh, i thought it was 7'...and with his laser-eyed glare, i was dismissed. so off i went. um, general manners aside, unless you've been vacationing on another planet or some such, you know the economy is not as swell as it once was and in the name of service, hell, even kindness, you'd think you wouldn't brush a customer off just because they're 18 minutes early. i was't demanding to be seated, i offered to just sit and wait. you'd think you wouldn't turn away business so...rudely...let alone at all. so, yelpers, they open at 8 on sunday, so you know...and don't try being early, ooooh no, that doesn't go over well. i realize it's a lame little misunderstanding, but on a freezing cold morning, it really got my day off to a crabby start. i think i walked out and said 'that was so rude; i hate people.' if it were my place of business, i would have said 'oh, sorry, we're not open for another little bit, but if you want to wait, i'll let you know when the coffee's ready...' um, nope, not at besaw's. about as warm and fuzzy as a bitchslap. hey besaw's, here's an idea: if you're not yet open...CONSIDER LOCKING THE GODFORSAKEN FRONT DOOR! an immobile door is a far friendlier, or at least benign, greeting than a gruff, dismissive, retort pre-coffee. also, if you're going to so proudly display your yelp sticker on said door, consider insuring your business info is updated on the website. but, don't worry besaw's, stepping stone cafe is just blocks away, open and ready to accept your discarded guests, and you know, they're POLITE - and with food as good as i remember yours, probably better; perhaps because it's served, well, kindly.
(1)
H. S.

I came here early in the morning on a weekday, so I didn't have to deal with the crowds mentioned in the other reviews, but wow. Wow. I wish that San Francisco had a breakfast joint this good. The food was amazing, fresh, deftly cooked and seasoned, and not in the least bland. The potatoes were like a little potato symphony. They were like (sniff) my evil Southern grandmother's potatoes. But served in a Portland diner. In an atmosphere of non-evil! Oh Besaws. Perhaps someday we'll be together.
(5)
Emily E.

The BEST eggs Benedict I have ever had. I usually shy away from the bene because I am always left disappointed. Why is it that its so damn hard for most people to get it right? Anyway...Great breakfast, great service, great atmosphere. I'll definitely be going back! ...and I managed to get the perfect parking spot, which always sets the breakfast experience off right :-) .
(5)
Griffin M.

Breakfast was great. Pancakes were very large.
(5)
Sangorama s.

Usually when I fly home from asia the first thing I want to eat when I land is a good burger. On this trip, the wife wanted to find a frozen yogurt place called Bluet that her friend mentioned so we drove on to 23rd trying to find it. Short story is that the weather was bad and we were 5 blocks off from the frozen yogurt location (didn't have the address) so we stuck our heads into Besaw's and decided to grab a bite. It was packed which is a pretty good sign. This place is not cheap but the food is pretty darn good. I got a 9 or 10 dollar burger and once I ate it, I was really ok with it. It came with a salad and like every piece of greenery on that salad was fresh - like every single stinkin piece. No wilting, no old stuff, no costco prepack looking pieces, just fresh garden looking, just living on the earth stuff. The burger was pretty darn tasty and came with a potatoe salad - a yummy one. I'm not a big potatoe salad fan but this one was really good. The rest of the family had some breakfast foods but I didn't really pay attention because I was stuffing my face w/ my burger. Again, not cheap but if you want good food this is a good place to drop by.
(4)
David S.

Besaw's is one of the oldest restaurants in PDX still operating today. I went there for brunch twice while I was visiting, and had a great experience both times. I understand the restaurant has undergone a lot of renovations recently, and the interior is quite nice. There's also some sort of heated patio in the back. The restaurant is not particularly big, so expect to have to wait if you go for brunch on weekends (though I think they accept reservations). The service was extremely friendly, and the food excellent. I got to try the salmon egg scramble: smoked salmon with dill and cream cheese with eggs, which comes with toast and a small side of greens... it was great. The second time I went, I followed the recommendation of our waitress and tried the waffle, which was delicious and came with real maple syrup. They serve Stumptown coffee. Great restaurant!
(5)
Art A.

stellar brunch! reminds me of zazie in sf w/ their delicious eggs, toast, and coffee! would definitely come back. our server was great, the food was good, and the atmosphere was kick-ass! add great weather and yesssss, it was good!
(4)
True O.

best breakfast/brunch awesome staff, very welcoming with lots of personality nice patio, dog friendly great drinks great menu, amazing fresh garden veggies. expect to wait if you arrive mid morning on the weekend, but it is soo worth it. the food is great, but it's the amazing staff and service that keep me coming back
(5)
LB F.

In OR from Chicago (we know brunch like no other) for a wedding and tried Besaw's for breakfast on a Friday morning. At 10ish, the wait was totally easy (about 10 minutes), the atmosphere is interesting and the food was delicious. The whole table ordered different things and all enjoyed their meals. The homemade ketchup, while a relatively small part of the experience, is a standout. But the one lady's bathroom with a perpetual wait near the service counter was the only distinct down-point.
(4)
Brandi M.

I'd like to give Besaw's 3 1/2 stars...considered 4 but seemed a bit too high... Been here twice: - Great vibe and attentive service. - Dinner was excellent. - Breakfast, however was a bit of a disappointment. Not bad, per se, but not fantastic. My husband had very soggy, unbrowned french toast. We'll go back for dinner again but probably not breakfast.
(3)
Al K.

Went there twice for dinner recently when I was in town. Enjoyed a tasty parsnip salad and lamb meatballs the first time. The second time I tried rabbit for the first time and it was delicious (came in a HUGE portion). The staff is super-friendly and sociable. Kinda makes you wish you lived in the neighborhood.
(4)
Adam G.

Besaw's is a NW Portland institution when it comes to brunch. For over a century the little spot tucked on the north e nd of 23rd Ave has been serving classic American breakfast. Besaw's warm and homely interior eases you into your morning. It is at its best in the spring and summer when the covered outdoor back patio is open. It's hard to beat fresh apple raspberry juice or a fresh cup of coffee as the sun begins to warm the air before a long Portland afternoon. Besaw's menu unsurprisingly mirrors the quality of their atmosphere. Their various offerings of eggs benedict and apple fritter French toast will rival any tastes around the city. They also accent their menu by taking advantage of fresh North West produce. Their omelets change with the seasons. However, one side remains a staple through out the seasons, the applewood chicken sausage. If you are a sausage person, it's the best in town. My sister always suggests Besaw's when she come up here from LA, but that probably because it's easy to end up shopping on 23rd afterward.
(4)
Alfred K.

I went to Besaw's because it was highly recommended in the NWA magazine. We arrived in town on a cold winter day and the warm, dark wood decor was just what we needed. I just loved the space and truly wanted to love the food, but I left feeling indifferent about it. I had the Salmon Benedict - salmon overcooked and underseasoned, and the benedict not all that special really. I guess I've been spoiled by all the amazing restaurants I've been to in Portland. This one only gets an A-OK.
(3)
Samuel C.

The top bistro in Portland. Breakfast is the best meal, lunch is pretty good. I visited for dinner one time and wasn't as thrilled. The place has a great feel to it and the staff are nice. The perfect place to take your lady.
(5)
Matthew M.

Amazing. Ok, so I hadn't heard that they were doing chicken & waffles until a friend told me. He had that look in his eye and I very innocently asked "want chicken & waffles"? ...we had chicken and waffles.... Three times so far. Every time, it's awesome. The chicken is very large boneless, battered chicken breast. The waffles are big, Belgian waffles. This place kicks ass. ...and oh, their other food is very good too. Been here for a date...a couple of times...and it's a good place for that. Like being here on my own, too. Have chicken and waffles, and tell them that Matt the Mouth sent you. LOL...naaw, don't do that. Just eat chicken and waffles.
(4)
Jevon P.

I love this place. It is adorable, affordable and delicious. I always have amazing service and get seated right away. It is one of the best breakfasts that I have had in all of Portland!
(5)
Paul V.

Don't get me wrong, Besaw's is seasoned in the breakfast department, and there's justification with regard to how crowded it gets due to their efficient service and great atmosphere. Having said that, the food didn't really blow me away. Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? As I've touched on, Besaw's really kills it when it comes to their atmosphere. If you're here on a weekend, it's crowded, but an efficient seating system should have you down and eating relatively quickly. From there, service is excellent and lightning quick. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Sure, brunch warrants a premium these days, especially if you're in Alphabet, but I'll admit I was a bit surprised to find my breakfast burger come in at $13.00. I mean, it's a burger, on a piece of toast, with an egg on top and some roasted potatoes on the side. Come now, that's maybe $10 no? Have a look: yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ No Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? It was certainly good, but honestly it's hard to botch a burger with an egg on top, and this was really nothing more than a sum of the parts. Standard patty, standard toast, standard potatoes, standard bacon. Pepper it up! Add some flavor to the patty! Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Portland is too good a city when it comes to food to say that I wouldn't routinely venture away from Besaw's. No Star Granted.
(2)
Leean O.

Here on business last year and this was absolutely stellar. Seating was a 15 min wait and understandably so, people love the food here. I had the epic breakfast burger and it did not disappoint! Fresh grass fed free roaming beef, perfectly balanced throughout, cooked to my ideal medium, perfect Texas toast bun and very filling. We sat out back and enjoyed some mild Portland weather gazing over other patron's plates while trying to guess what they ordered. Seeing many smiling faces leave this place while we waited was a good sign and we weren't disappointed and returned the following day for lunch. This time I had the 'Hella Burrito' which was another very tasty and well put together orchestra of flavors that all complimented each other, fresh avocado slices on top for the slam dunk, very happy camper here.
(5)
Shy A.

I hope I don't crucified for this review, I am not a fan of being the odd man out but I do not like Besaw's. I don't understand the hype. I've visited several times hoping that it was an "off morning" for them or maybe I was being cranky and snootier than usual. Nope, my original impression still holds true. They serve average food. My most recent meal there, we ordered the guac omelette-it was under seasoned and they forgot my bacon. I had to ask several times for it and once I got it, I didn't want it anymore. Biscuits and gravy were cold. Have you had cold biscuits and gravy? Yes, they are gross. Weird quality meat in breakfast burger-my bff ordered it and described the texture as "sick". So, because of this, Besaw will not be condemned with the dreaded 3 star review but a 2.
(2)
Melody L.

We had an amazing gentleman be our waiter who made our whole experience even better!!! I don't know his name but he has a boat called the "Tokyo Marine". He was pleasant, friendly, he SMILED ( a rarity in the service industry in PDX), he was attentive but not overly so.. I give this place a 5 star not only for the great service but also for the amazing food. I had the 2 eggs dish and my friend had their omelet. Neither of us were disappointed!
(5)
Mark S.

It's closing (at its current location) but it's quite sublime (and reopening somewhere nearby). Hopefully the new version will equal, or at least approach, its current incarnation.
(5)
Jenni L.

I've somehow avoided Besaw's for the past 4 years. Not because I wasn't sure of it's awesomeness, but because I hate waiting in barbaric brunch lines. Usually by the time someone has made the plan to execute a brunch and everyone has been rounded up I am already hangry and don't want to bother with anything coming between me and a plate of eggs. Least of all an hour and a half wait in front of 2 hour parking. Besaw's was pretty worth it though. Our server was top notch and super friendly. It's actually some of the best service I've had in a while. The kitchen must also be a well oiled machine because our food came out pretty quickly too. One of my friends and I both went with the Chicken Fried Steak and it was really good, with a nice crunchy oat coating; Eggs were perfect also. The breakfast potatoes were not my fav, sadly, they were on the overzealous side of salty. I'm also one of those plebeians who just does not get the homemade catsup bullshit. It's rarely good, so I'm usually just better off nixing it. Biscuits were totally decent and I gladly slathered half of one with some of the raspberry jam. Two of my other friends went with the huevos and both devoured them, so they must have been good. The other two went with respective scrambles which I was almost jealous of. Almost. To cap it off we had a fantastic table in the back patio area on one of the few truly nice days. Now that is worth waiting in line for.
(4)
Dani O.

Closing, but reopening at the end of the summer. Lots of gf, vegetarian options available. Wonderful people work here! Everyone is so nice!
(5)
Shaedyn M.

Something that I appreciate about restaurants (sometimes more than their food) is when they have positive intentions in the community, and Besaws has that. They have a featured charity, local and sustainable, they list the farmers and purveyors that they work with on the menu, along with a little blurb at the bottom of the menu that I'm just going to copy on here. Because thats how much I love it. "Besaw's strives to support local, Organic & sustainable farmers; we exclusively use cage-free eggs, & 100% hormone-free dairy products. Supporting our valued community is of the utmost importance." Need I say more? Aside from my desire to support a place that supports others, on to the food. On special was a braised goat scramble with roasted brussel sprouts, wild nettles and asiago cheese. Does that sounds amazing or what? And of course we had to try their biscuits ad gravy (still trying to beat Mother's) The service was.... odd. But I think we just had an interesting waitress. She stared blankly at us when we talked and it took her a while to respond to anything we said/asked. She wasn't very attentive, and never really asked if we needed anything. The food came out quick, but taking our order and bringing our check took quite some time. The scramble was good. Not great. It was lacking any flavor, but that was quickly fixed with their (insanely delicious) house made ketchup, which made up for flavor and herbs/spice. Potatoes were nice, and I really enjoyed their steak fry style. Cooked very well. Unfortunately, I wasn't too pleased to bite down on a few pieces of goat bone... like not at all. The biscuits and gravy were wonderful though. To even try to compare them to Mothers would be a completely unfair matchup. Mothers has a much cakier,melt-in-your-mouth, Wife's B&G's way about it, rather Besaws is biscuits for the Man. Crispy edges, heartier gravy, both extremely well executed individually.
(4)
Mary B.

I really enjoyed Besaw's. I had a Bloody Mary and the breakfast sandwich. Everything was as you'd expect it to be from this well established breakfast spot. Tasty goodness came from every bite until my plate was empty. Thick slice of bacon, egg yolk errrywhere, crispy muffin. Yummy. The side of potatoes were also delicious and seasoned perfectly with herbs. BIG cubes of potato. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. If you're looking for a breakfast/brunch place, definitely try this place. Try to go on the off-hours, though. It can get pretty busy.
(4)
J P.

We may have dropped off as regulars over the years due to the food quality. But the truth is-- no successful cornerstone business deserves to be shut out of its own future. Although the food is still mediocre (we have learned that they only have four burners in the kitchen), we support this MORE-THAN-CENTURY-OLD business in their future endeavors... We also hope they reopen soon, with the garden and kitchen of their dreams, and hopefully with the same name. Good luck, Besaws!
(3)
Brooks M.

i do truly love this place. if they don't make it themselves they source it from someone who does locally. they are never shy to let you know they can do substitutions and changes to order within their abilities which is sometimes hard to find in portland. their breakfast burrito and potatoes are my fav in the city. perfect mix of flavors! go early to beat the brunch lines and go for other meal times too! they have amazing drink specials and an awesome daytime menu.
(5)
Brett M.

The service. The ambiance. The speed of seating. THE FOOD. Everything here was amazing and places like this simply do not exist in Hawaii (where we're from). The chicken fried steak was delicious and the Rosemary potatoes! Oh, and ask for their hot sauce... I wish I asked to buy some!
(5)
Katoune B.

Came here afterwork for dinner with my coworker and BF for the first time and tried the chicken scallopine. Every bite was flavorful and tasty. I ended up killing the whole dish in like 10mins. Portion was perfect and chicken was nice and tender. The Bloody Mary was a great starter and complimented the dish well. It's too bad this place is shutting down end of next month. Cute little spot in NW and service was great. I would love to come back here again before they close.
(5)
Stacy P.

Besaw's is the quintessential neighborhood street corner cafe offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but they have arranged the tables in such away to avoid feeling cramped. If you are dining alone, the bar provides a nice stool and a friendly bartender. It the weather is nice, outside seating provides a relaxing dining experience. I prefer Besaw's dinner menu due to their selection of items. While there isn't a separate gluten free menu, the servers can assist you in providing what items can and cannot be modified. The quality of food is excellent, and they meals that they craft are tasty and filling. I enjoy the fact that they try to source most of their food from the local area and use seasonal goods while trying to avoid the use of per-processed goods. Their farm-to-fork scratch kitchen approach is what makes their meals worth a visit to Besaw's. It is important to note, while not applicable to all, they do have a 2 credit card maximum per table. If you happen to go with a group, you will need to keep this in mind. It is posted on the menu and bill, and they do enforce this policy.
(4)
Marianne S.

I've lived in Portland for most of my life and have never set foot in Besaw's until just the other day. We got there at a good time, because it seemed that the breakfast crowd was just ending and lunch was beginning. They serve breakfast until 3 pm, so we had our choice of breakfast or lunch. I got an avocado omlette with a side of rosemary and garlic potatoes with toast. The omlette was cooked perfectly and had a lot of tasty avocado inside. The jam for the toast we delicious, but my favorite part of the meal were the potatoes. They were the best I've ever had! I really liked that there was roasted garlic amongst them. The service was great, we got our food quick, and didn't have to wait for a table. I thought the menu prices were very reasonable as well. I'll be back again soon!
(5)
Deanna N.

This is a NW staple for breakfast, and 9 am on a Saturday there is a wait. Had a nice turkey eggs Benedict in honor of thanksgiving. Waitress and manager nicely comped friend breakfast when was late. Ala cart pancakes, french brioche toast and Belgian waffle sweets offered along with breakfast burritos. Patio a little overheated.
(5)
Sara W.

Always my go-to brunch spot for the weekends. Usually a wait, but is never more than 30 minutes. They have coffee outside you can sip while you wait.
(4)
Monica A.

I would say breakfast is my favorite meal...but that's not true, I love every meal. I like going to Besaw's because of the charm and they have great breakfasts. I've been thinking about eggs Benedict's lately and stopped in for breakfast a couple weeks ago. I ordered the traditional eggs Benedict and couldn't venture to a different dish. My friend, however, ordered the bacon, avocado, eggs Benedict. ....wow....it was amazing. Very well seasoned, loved the saltiness of the bacon, the gooey goodness of the oozy egg, and the seasoned guacamole with garlic and onions. I took two bites of hers, and felt pity to my classic dish. Good thing I already ate a half of mine before trying hers. I finished my delicious eggs Benedict, and tasty rosemary potatoes. I was full and happy, but secretly envious of my friend who had the exceptional bacon, guacamole, eggs Benedict. Perhaps the grass is greener on the other side.
(4)
Kim K.

Don't come starving on a weekend morning because the wait was at least an hour and you will be a hangry mess by the time you are seated, order and have your food arrive! The food was tasty and ambiance was fine, but it's just super packed and requires quite a bit of waiting! Highly recommend the eggs benny!
(3)
Jim L.

Not a great first trip for my wife. I had the huevos rancheros and a pancake.....sweet and savory yeah? The huevos were good if uninspired. The salsa was house made so fresh tasting. The pancake was good too...an interesting flavor to it...not bad, just like a bit too much baking soda...kinda mineral-y. Not a fan of the coffee either. I believe it's Stumptown and it's too bitter for my taste. My wife asked for a cappaccino but the espresso machine was broken. They tried to use regular coffee and steamed milk but it didn't work. Her breakfast was Croces Madame? It was bad. Eggs almost hardboiled on ham and a brioche of some kind. Very little sauce so the whole affair was like the sands of the Sahara in her mouth (dry, not gritty). The rosemary potatoes were overly her bed so it starts to be work to keep eating them. Probably just tried Besaw's on the wrong day....
(2)
Todd B.

a Portland institution that shall not be taken over by a couple of grey suit deuce bags from CE Johns Co- a real estate company not even based in Portland which is suing to own the name....to sell it of course. Not good for the NW community or Portland...go back ti Vancouver deuce bags with your greedy real estate tactics and get out of Oregon. You are not welcome here
(5)
Bob K.

Out of this world. Very busy. Went on a Monday morning 10:30a. There was a line starting. Had the farmers hash. Extremely tasty but a little short on the bacon. Biscuit was Uhh. Nothing special and it was flat top fried. Coffee is very good and staff was very nice and on it. But just OK.
(3)
Hana F.

I ordered and omelet that wasn't supposed to have meat in it, but it arrived with ham inside. I told the waitress and she merely nodded and left me with the food. She didn't offer to get me an omelette without ham, or a refund, or even apologize. A similar thing happened to someone else I know with bacon being added to his scramble. I've been several times but I'll never be back. Very bad service. Be careful!
(2)
Kalong W.

LOVE. THIS. SPOT. Besaw's is the epitome of Portland brunch. There's a fully stocked bar just glistening from the sunlight beaming through the wall to wall windows, serving mimosas and bloody marys, specials are written on the wood framed chalkboard, they serve stellar coffee, EVERYTHING ON THE MENU IS FRESH, DELICOUS, and LOCAL, and everyone smiles at you. This is a great place to catch up with friends before heading out for a day of shopping or running errands on 23rd street. Last time, feeling adventurous, I ordered something I couldn't pronounce, Madame-something and it was amazing! There was bacon! Oooozy egg! And perfectly thick, lightly seasoned, hot potato wedges/fries. They are so good, they even have their own hashtag: #eatbesaws Yes, go eat Besaws.
(5)
Rena J.

First off, good service and I LOVED the rosemary garlic potatoes at brunch. The toast was thick, hearty and yummy with homemade jam. The rest of the food was... Ok. I had the breakfast special, smoked salmon omelette with gruyere cheese sauce, sub with egg whites. - I know, it's covered in cheese sauce, why bother with egg whites? - I was heading to an extra fatty bbq and needed to skim a little where I could... Anyways, the omelette itself was a little bland, as in the cheese sauce needed a little more seasoning, not because I got egg whites. But I figure restaurants tend to under season eggs. My partner got the egg plate with elk sausage. The sausage was tough to break with a fork but tender enough to chew. The flavor was not memorable. The meat didn't have much flavor and there wasn't much sausage seasoning to make up for it. It was basically a tough disk of red meat. I think? My friend had French toast, he said it was ok. Perfectly fine place to go for cute brunchy ambiance with good service and great sides. I wasn't impressed with their homemade ketchup, it was more like a tomato-y sauce but it don't matter with those amazing rosemary garlic roasted potatoes!
(3)
Lucy S.

This place is a little more upscale than your typical brunch place in Portland but every time it's amazing. It can get really crowded for brunch so be prepared for a long wait. It's right along 23rd so you can just window shop while you're waiting. Brunch is great and every time I go, I wonder why I don't go more often. Dinner here is what I love the most though. The Besaw's platter is amazing. It's a little big for two people, but so delicious. The drinks are also great and well made. The rest of the food is good and it's cool to check out their garden nearby. But seriously, get the platter.
(5)
Psyche S.

This is not a bad review. I REALLY wanted to give them 3.5 stars. My La Isla Burrito was pretty good actually, and the garlic potato wedges were good. But had they been hot when they were brought to us, I would have given them 4 stars. All of our plates that included them were soggy-ish/room temp. My daughter's pancakes were so-so for the price. My son ordered the Brunch Board, and that presentation was AMAZING! But unfortunately I think he should have ordered it with lox instead of the poor quality smoked salmon. I so wanted it to be better... Oh well, now we know. Order the lox instead, and ask for the fries to be hot. Other than that, not bad at all.
(3)
Jenny S.

Even the toast and jam were incredible!
(5)
jackson h.

THIS IS BREAKFAST. First off, any place that has a line goes with out saying that its worth waiting for. Supply and demand folks. Located in a great northwest homey part of Portland, which felt like a nice quite true american neighborhood. This is place sources I believe most of its food locally and everything is fresh and you can taste it. The quality is undeniable. Once you eat at besaws, you will never want to anything less. I ordered the Crocque madame, so filling and so good! This dish is not for the faint of heart of the small stomach. Super hearty filling breakfast, and man was that brioche bread amazing! I believe my wife had the salmon egg scramble which was fantastic but I was to busy working on my plateful! Just go there already!
(5)
Gwendolyn P.

Amazing food, service, drinks, and atmosphere! Their eggs benedict is one of the best in Portland!
(5)
James P.

We stopped here for a quick breakfast bite and the food and prices were pretty good as I recall. I had a Mexican style breakfast and my wife had some eggs, bacon and toast. Everything was good and the service was good. Good stop if you are in the area.
(4)
Ryan L.

Portland has a ton of outstanding places for breakfast. Besaw's is one of the best. It's friendly, but still kind of edgy. The edge I think is a sense of pride about the food. I've noticed that "common" places with the right price that are too friendly are over compensating for average food. The food: God do the make a killer breakfast burrito. The Eggs Benny is amazing as well. Go here early or look for a different place. The hangover crew fills it up around 9.
(5)
Valerie M.

Hour wait to sit down. 45 min wait after we ordered till we got our food. Ordered the breakfast burger and farmers hash. Food was good but nothing really amazing. Would rather go to tin shed, there is a wait there as well but the hostess is happier and they will text when your seat is ready!
(3)
Edward T.

Worst brunch place in town. I've made the mistake of coming here several times only because I live 3 blocks away. Both times I was told the wait would be 20 min and both times I waited for over an hour. Food is ok at best, most items on the menu are not good. The only decent thing is the eggs Benedict which is only served once a week. The hostess was awful and incompetent. I Watched her seat friends and regulars ahead of other people in line. If it's going to be an hour tell me that it's gonna be an hour not 20 min.
(1)
Karen P.

Without a friend with a car, I may have never discovered the grandeur and glory that was brunch at Besaw's. The space is a perfect combination of restaurant and bar, and on a blustery Portland morning, the primary dining room is quite cozy. The server we had was impeccable, and most likely one of the managers, as his familiarity with the menu was unparalleled. Our coffee came out quickly, shortly followed by one Hellova Breakfast Burrito, covered in avocado slices. Fight valiantly as I may, in the end the burrito edged me out, and came home with me on my flight to Los Angeles as my late night snack. It was even better the second time around. I am so happy we happened upon what turned out to be one of the hot spots on that drag of road. I can't wait to go back and try something else!
(5)
Aimee L.

I'm giving them a 4 stars because my food was fantastic but my husband's food was less than stellar. I ordered the farmer's hash which was fantastic! My husband on the other hand ordered the biscuits and gravy which comes with two eggs. He ordered the eggs over medium which is very obvious to the naked eye when done correctly. When his meal came the eggs were literally slimy all over the plate- not even to the point of being sunny side up much less over medium. We called over the waiter who was nice and immediately took it away and returned within minutes with what looked to be the exact same eggs. Again they were slimy all over the plate - so gross that I (who actually likes sunny side up and over easy) would not even touch them. The waiter obviously didn't even bother looking at the eggs when he brought them back to make sure that my husband was getting what he should be getting. He was really nice otherwise that we couldn't give him a good tip after this - my husband wanted to eat the rest of his food. The biscuits and gravy minus the eggs by the way were terrific - so we made the executive decision that when we do come back it just will not include any kind of egg that is not scrambled as they obviously do not know how to make them. The rosemary potatoes were insanely good by the way. As for the overall service, we walked in on a weekday morning after the regular breakfast rush so the place was half empty. Well servers rushed by nobody even said hello to us or that somebody would be with us shortly. We had to try and catch someone's eye and ask for a table to get seated and then when we were looking at the menu and needed an extra minute it ended up being 10 minutes in the waiter's mind before he came back... Even though we had set our menus down and were staring aimlessly around looking for someone to take our order. :( Both the host and the waiter were nice once we did have their attention, unfortunately getting their attention and was not as easy as we had hoped and having them pay attention to what they were bringing us on our breakfast was of concern as well. Hopefully this was an exception to the rule - I think their food has improved a lot over the years so hopefully the service will improve on our next visit.
(4)
Barnali D.

This place was decent, but not worth the 45 minute wait (though waiting for brunch seems to be the norm in Portland). I enjoyed my avocado omelette and biscuit. My fiancÃ© wasn't too impressed with his meal - the pancake was mediocre at best and the fresh fruit was overripe. He did like his scrambled egg whites and the elk sausage. Besaw's didn't compare to Tasty n Alder or Screen Door, our brunch spots the previous two days, but you can't win all the time!
(3)
Jess S.

They have the best Mac and cheese I have had in portland so far. It's a bit pricey. The staff to my experience so far come off a bit pretentious. It's still on my list to make it their for breakfast or brunch.
(4)
Casey K.

We started off our Friday brunch very excited about trying Besaw's! Portland regulars have raved that this is the ultimate breakfast experience so we were jazzed to indulge. However, our very poor service, lack of attention, undercooked potato fries, and mediocre entrees deeply disappointed this foodie. Besaw's misses the mark of what it claims to be. The good: the coffee and the atmosphere The bad: service during a mild brunch rush and over sensationalized food
(3)
Hayden N.

My best friend was in town and she wanted to go to Besaw's for breakfast. I've only been here one other time, I can't recall my experience or what I'd eaten yet for some reason, I haven't been back. We went on a Thursday morning, our party of three got seated immediately, there was no wait. We were so excited for their eggs Benedict. We didn't see it on the menu and found out that eggs Benedict is only served on the weekends--we were so disappointed. It took me awhile to decide on breakfast because I didn't have a back up option in mind. I ended up getting biscuits and gravy with two eggs over easy and a side of rosemary garlic potatoes. The food is decent, but nothing I couldn't make myself, which was reason I haven't been back until this time. It's just okay food.
(3)
Jskilicious S.

Small cafe type restaurant. Very small menu for dinner. A few stand out items. The Rosemary fries are really fresh and lightly salted. The fried pickles are overly breaded and come with a cranberry mustard that in my opinion clashes with the pickles and a spicy mayo. The meatloaf is really great. Has a nice crust and dense. I'd order that again. The burger was over cooked and had little flavor. Beer selection very small. My guess is this place is more of a breakfast joint. Service was fairly slow, but friendly.
(3)
Debbie H.

Had a great experience and the food is great. My husband got a breakfast burger with grass fed beef. It is hard to find good quality meat at an affordable price. The biscuits and gravy are delicious as well. Everything is sourced locally when possible and made from scratch. They have water ave coffee, which I had never had. Overall I would highly recommend it, although rumor has it that they are moving soon, so hopefully the new location is just as good!
(4)
Danielle H.

Maybe it's a common idea that I don't know, but roasted garlic, caramelized onions and arugula in a scramble? Magic. Pure magic. Highly recommend the farmers hash. The bread they make the toast with is amazing, as is the biscuit I ordered on the side so I could try the marionberry jam on the table (also phenomenal). All around so so delicious.
(5)
Saba A.

I have been wanting to try Besaws for a while and finally got the chance yesterday for my birthday. I was underwhelmed by both the service and the food. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either and with so many great breakfast places in Portland I don't think I will go back. We ordered the lox and bagels and the Caramel Apple French toast. It took a very long time to get the drinks that we ordered but the food came up very fast which was odd that the drinks would take so long. We only ordered drip coffee and a hot tea. The lox and bagel was presented beautifully but was just regular in taste. The Caramel Apple French Toast was ok a little soggy. The reason we picked this restaurant was we needed it to be somewhere close to good Samaritan hospital so if we did not need to find somewhere close to the hospital again I probably would not come here again. Not horrible but not great.
(3)
Paul O.

I am sad, sad that that Besaw's no longer serves food which I like. I loved this place, for example, their Croque Madame was phenomenal. Today, the eggs were thrown on a super hot grill, one side burnt and the other undercooked slime. The gruyere sauce was also terrible and almost curdled. The pullman brioche was more of a sloppy Texas toast. The ham, there was nothing to like. The potatoes were a squishy oily mess. My wife had the Wild Salmon Scramble, which was not as terrible as my order, but did not impress. The service was great, the waiter confirmed our order ten minutes in, just making sure we remembered what we wanted. I hoped I could drown my sorrows in some good hot sauce, I asked for NW Elixirs, used to be a Besaw's staple. Nope, none of that anymore. The staff was very nice, the atmosphere and location are fantastic, the food is below par. .
(2)
Mandana S.

I'd like to give a shoutout to the Breakfast Burger for being the best lunch option in the area. It is possible that I may have eaten it for lunch two days in a row this week. And it's only Tuesday. Please come here for fancy brunch Sunday. Unlike the rest of the Portlandia these guys take reservations.
(5)
Mel C.

I honestly wish I could eat breakfast food all day, every day, forever so this is now my go to place! The eggs benedicts are solid, and the biscuits and gravy is not only generous but actually doesn't leave me feeling like a puddle of lard after. They are super busy but they do a great job and don't take five years to get you your grinds. The orange juice tastes like juice squeezed from the heavens for some reason. It's also always nice to find a place in the NW area that gives you good portions for your money. Tips: - I've found that the service and food quality are better on the weekends for some reason. Maybe that is when the best of the staff work? - Eggs benedicts only on SUNDAYS!
(4)
Mike I.

Chicken Fried Steak special was the worst I have CFS I have ever had. Ever. Thick oatmeal crust that was oily and near flavorless. The gravy was impressively bad. It was runny and sweet and did nothing to help the floundering CFS. The meat was tough and bland. Biscuit was the only highlight and it was a B plus biscuit. The potato fries were soggy, oily and over salted. Challah French Toast was below average. I don't even think it was made with actual challah. Oy Vey! Corned Beef Hash was the best thing I tried but it was nothing special. The portion was huge and it came in a skillet. So that is nice, i guess. Really though, look elsewhere. Not worth waiting at all.
(1)
Keith W.

Might have been the best brunch I've ever had! The elk sausage is by far the best prepared meat I have ever had. On top of all that the wait staff and pleasant. They are definitely happy to work at Beesaw's. Next time I'm in Portland I will repeat.
(5)
Linda B.

Can't beat the atmosphere of this sweet, romantic cafe... Had desert in the afternoon today. They both had extra touch of orchids on top.
(5)
Frankie C.

Bit of a wait but well worth it! One of the best brunch I have had in Portland. Croque Madame, Breakfast Plate, breakfast burger, and farmers hash all came out excellent. Will return!
(5)
Maria M.

I was so excited to spend my birthday with girlfriends here but it was TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT. I was totally ignored since I got there until my guests arrived then I have to wave our server and after that somehow forgot to send in our orders but appetizers were miraculously delivered. He ignored our table until we had to wave him down to check on our orders. So we called for the bill and left hungry. As much we understand the restaurant could be busy, it wasn't at all. I have chosen this place to celebrate my birthday because I saw great pictures on their Instagram page. I can't say anything about they food because I didn't have chance to try. I called the restaurant to complain and they hung up on me. In their Instagram page he wrote to me: Constructive criticism is what makes any endeavor great! No apology at all. I guess they have been in this business for so long that they don't care about new costumers.
(1)
Dan H.

Besaw's is another institution in Portland. The place has been around since 1903. A long time and proof that if you are serving good and quality food that you can stay in business in a food city like Portland. Sue and I wanted to get brunch on a weekend and we didn't want to wait in a long line. Besaw's does get a line, but we got here around 10 or so minutes before they opened on a weekend morning and were the 3rd and 4th people in the front door. After a glass of killer fresh OJ (squeezed in-house) I jumped into the Huevos Rancheros ($11). The menu had a lot of items I would have been interested in, but this item under the Besaw's Specialties section caught my eye and made it stay there. Spicy black beans, over-easy eggs, ranchero sauce, cheddar, chives, avocado in a whole wheat or corn tortilla. They have sour cream with this dish too, but I won't go there. This is a fairly easy dish, but one I had not had in a long time. Very good here. Everything was very fresh. The addition of some hot sauces that were brought to the table made the dish just that much better. Unfortunately we sat in the back of the restaurant so I really didn't get a chance to view the bar area all that much. The place has some homey charm to it. Comforting like a good shoe. I plan on coming back and seeing what dinner is like here.
(4)
Vanessa M.

We came here for dinner one night and sat outside under the covering. We had a round of beers and great food. The service could have been slightly better but overall the experience was pretty good. I started with the soup of the day, and we all shared a few things: fried chicken, burger, and the baked mac. All three were delicious and full of flavor. I am interested to see what their brunch is like, although I would imagine it gets pretty packed.
(4)
Abby K.

Just the breakfast we were looking for on our trip to Portland. Awesome homeade jam and ketchup on the table. I got eggs, gluten free toast and the elk sausage. Great meal
(5)
Rebecca N.

Short and sweet: brunch wonderland, cozy interior, leaning more towards restaurant than bar, brilliant service from wonderful staff. Long version: There's a reason why the line for brunch snakes around the corner of 23rd and Savier, and back again, each weekend morning. There's a reason why I'm planning to invade my next-door neighbor's flat and peer over her patio to keep a tab on that line and find a good time to run in and get on the list this Saturday. When I moved to the apartments across the street last month, Besaw's was the first stop in my search for a new default bar (my PDX Kraftwork, if you will). I'm a lightweight, so I can really only manage to become a regular and know all the bartenders' names at one - so this is a serious quest. A diagonal walk across the intersection put Besaw's at the bare minimum acceptable distance from my new domicile... And then I saw the hours. There's no way my little bird brain can remember them. 7-something a few days a week, 2-5 some other times, what? Ok, this is not my new Bar. Womp. It is, however, my new lazy breakfast place (I found my PDX Honey's without even looking! Oh sweet fate.). The savory breakfast options are dreamy - eggs cooked perfectly, the most delectable rosemary breakfast potatoes that are essentially elevated rosemary fries, and so addictive. At my last visit, I had oatmeal pancakes, which were impossibly light and fluffy yet still tasted wholesome. My friends have enjoyed their biscuits/gravy/meatymeat/saltymurder entrees as well. With a regular 7am opening time, I could even hop in here before work on weekdays! On weekends, they set up a cart outside so you can sip on some delicious coffee while waiting for a table. Service is downright fantastic. Our server noticed that my coffee was sitting untouched, as I had poured a little bit of creamer in and was blinking through bleary eyes at it, trying to figure out whether or not it was curdling. He casually whisked it away and replaced it with a fresh cup and fresh pitcher of cream, with a smile. Service was similarly fantastic when we stopped in for dinner, which was also delicious across the board. And what really sealed the deal for me was coming across Besaw's little garden nearby on Savier. Totally adorable.
(5)
Cassaundra P.

Breakfast was excellent. Dinner not great. A little pricey, but you get quality food.
(4)
Chris E.

Thoroughly enjoyed our recent Sunday Brunch at Besaw's. Lovely menu, great service, nice atmosphere. Gluten free options are always wonderful to find on a menu. Very nice to be able to make a Sunday breakfast reservation, too. Parking is a bit tricky, but that's always the case in NW Portland. Not one bad thing to say. We'll be back.
(4)
Dr. Sel M.

Simply amazing. I had the farmers hash with egg whites, no way I could ever finish it, huge portions. Coffee was a little weak but the dish I got was a definite must try
(5)
Jayson C.

Love it here. Bring all my out of towners for brunch. It's old as fertile dirt, and that's awesome. If u are patient the weekend wait is worth it. Grab a "free" coffee as you wait and get the biscuit and gravy its the best!
(5)
Haroun K.

The reputation and the decor had me convinced I was in for a great meal. In fact, it was very so-so, maybe a 2.5 star experience. I wouldn't recommend the mac and cheese. It is sort of bland, without any strong cheese flavor. And it arrived frigid. When I asked for it to be reheated, the waiter was aloof, and didn't even offer a half-hearted apology. And this is in Portland, where people apologize almost as much as Canadians! When the dish came back, it was lukewarm in spots, and still cold in others. Not good. The brussel sprouts side dish is brussel sprouts, which stand on their own merit, but nothing special was done to them. The chocolate chip cookie dessert was very middle of the road. The veggie lasagna did get high marks, however, and the beer and wine lists are quite good. Besaw's may be an institution, but that's not enough to make me want to come back for more.
(3)
Annie A.

Overrated...sure the corned beef hash was awesome, and so was the Bloody Mary, but the biscuits and gravy had to much nutmeg, and the wait staff was disappointing. We expected a wait and went prepared, what we didn't expect was that the hostess would seat friends of hers who had gotten there after we did before us, this probably didn't set the tone very well. This is probably one of the most famous brunch joints in the neighborhood so maybe my expectations were to high, but next weekend I'll probably opt for Kornblatts.
(3)
Kelli S.

Every trip here has been amazing. Highly recommend.
(5)
PJ D.

I really don't understand the hype or line that forms for this restaurant. I've been to Besaw's multiple times and I've yet to ever have anything with any flavor. It's like they don't use seasoning. Today I had bland buttermilk pancakes. Other things my table ordered looked better but they received the same complaint. After waiting 17 minutes past our reservation time for our table the service was relatively prompt and the food came out quickly. Not seating us at our reservation time, especially with two kids in our party was annoying however.
(2)
Roscoe T.

Excellent Sunday brunch. It took a while to get the five of us seated but they had complimentary coffee at a stand outside while we waited. Once seated the service was spot on and quick. My Bloody Mary was great as was everyone's cocktails. My eggs and smoked salmon were a tad dry but not enough to nick them on it, and all at the table were delighted with their entrees. This place reminds me a lot of the Buena Vista in San Francisco. Will definitely return whenever I'm in Portland.
(5)
Hannah D.

Best brunch I had in Portland! Awesome bubbles and was seated within 20 minutes outside! There was a small mix up with my name on the list but it was handled well. Our waitress had awesome cues timer service (blonde, thin). Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Erika M.

Aaaaaahhhhmazing! Cue the little angels singing. House made chorizo, homemade ketchup, buttery biscuits, delicious coffee, quality & local products, quaint lil shop & great service. Need I say more?
(5)
Martin T.

I have eaten there several times and always found the food to be really bad. The servers are inept and untrained. Just a very poorly managed place. The Hostess looks at you and expects you to begin the conversation. How about a "Hi welcome to be saws, how many in your party". Unorganized and poor customer service are the hallmarks of this place.
(1)
Danielle T.

Their breakfast sandwich is my favorite in Portland.
(4)
S M.

My go-to brunch spot. Fresh, local ingredients prepared when you order. The breakfast is very satisfying, note it is also made clean, no greasy mess here. I usually go for the benedict, the avocado bacon is delicious. They also have specials which keep the menu fresh and give you a chance to try something new. Thank you we will be back as often as we can!! Tip: Seating for 2 is abundant, I have never waited more than 15-20 mins during peak brunch hours,
(5)
Tiffany S.

Busy on Sunday morning but delish. Good Bloody Mary and the special bacon avocado Benedict were just what I was looking for.
(4)
Shayne T.

Half our table got great food and some was just ok. Pretty good food in all but not really worth the wait. Service could've been way better tho...
(3)
Mike T.

Place was real busy when we went in on Sunday for B-fast. A place with a long line and wait is always a very good sign. This was the 2nd time we've eaten at Besaws and we were not disappointed. Service was great. The wait staff was friendly. I got the french toast with berry's and a side of Elk sausage. The elk sausage was fantastic and a great compliment to the sweet french toast. OVerall a great experience. A big plus is the available complimentary coffee outside which is available as you wait. Only drawback is the coffee was not as strong as I would have liked and it would have been good to know the specials from the wait staff. They were written on a very small card on the table, which we found after we ordered.
(4)
Tadzio D.

Pleasant atmosphere and great service. Do not recommend the Biscuits and Gravy. Instead if you have a chance get the Eggs Benny with guac and bacon.
(4)
Sara E.

Food was decent and well portioned but service was iffy especially for a Tuesday morning. Stop arguing about podcasts and take our order please... And please don't automatically put me on the patio on a freezing day- maybe ask me first? Especially when there's plenty of room inside. Also forgot my side dish. I'd hesitate to return on a weekend morning when it's actually really busy.
(3)
Jennifer G.

This place was alright. The employees were a little odd, the bloodies were horrible, and food was decent.
(3)
Judy K.

Bloody Mary's from scratch, homemade everything as well as the ketchup. Had the corned beef hash with biscuit, served in a piping hot cast iron skillet, yum yum. Our server, Taylor was so sweet and service was accommodating for meal modifications. Farmers hash was also yum. On a road trip great find for brunch
(5)
Scott L.

The food is delicious, the service is great, and the pricing is pretty good as well. I really love the atmosphere and it's one of my favorite places to get breakfast in town.
(5)
Glenn C.

Absolutely scrumptious omelets. Well worth the wait. This is one of our favorite breakfast places when I visit my daughter in Portland.
(5)
Johnny L.

Besaws uses locally grown, organic vegetables and quality meats in all of their dishes. The benedicts are all delicious. I ordered the Croque Madame and was blown away with the perfect blend of eggs, ham, cheese and it was cooked to perfection. The greek yogurt with oats and honey is by far the tastiest in town! I visit Besaws every trip to Portland and plan to again and again!
(5)
Dustin S.

I had a French toast sandwhich with ham, bacon and cream cheese... It was good. Garlic potatoes were really garlic-ish. Hash was bomb, bacon was bomb. But these guys only except 2 cards per party, making a brunch with friends alittle difficult.
(4)
Chris R.

If you're here for breakfast save time from looking at the menu and just order the Croque Madame! The ham was fresh and smokey, the eggs were cooked to perfection and the house made brioche melts in your mouth! I got my rosemary potatoes well done and they came out perfect, not too crispy, so I recommend adding that into your order if you don't like mushy potatoes.
(4)
Gerald K.

The tasty food and the excellent service at Besaws is outstanding. It is uber popular but you can almost always slid into one one the historic bar stools at the counter. I usually eat breakfast....they also serve lunch and dinner. If you are on trendy NW 23rd you better eat at historic Besaws or you are just missing out on a NW icon
(5)
Lindsey M.

Just had breakfast here for the first time a few weeks ago and it was amazing! We came on a weekday morning early so it was nice and quiet. The service and food were fast! It gets crazy here on the weekends so get there early. The price can't be beat and we had great espresso too!
(5)
G N.

This is in a cute neighborhood that has a good location on a corner. The patio area is a good spot if it's nice and sunny. Portions are pretty generous and the service is great. I am a huge fan of the oatmeal/cranberry pancakes. They are HUGE and fluffy. They have a good texture and taste SO GOOD. I'm not a huge pancake person because usually they are too dense, or way to heavy, but this one tasted and felt just right. Try some of it with the jam that they have on the table. SO GOOD. I definitely wouldn't mind coming back here when I'm back in town.
(5)
Ryan W.

This place was fine. I wish they had more appealing vegetarian options. The potatoes were awesome. The wait for a table was longer than I'd be willing to wait again.
(3)
Courtney H.

After a lengthy discussion with my significant other about where to go for NYE, we decided on Besaw's. We moved to the NW about 3 months ago and wanted to go someplace nice for dinner in the neighborhood that we haven't tried yet, so were really excited about finally making it to Besaw's for a special night. I called and left a message on their voicemail the week before Christmas (per their instructions), never heard anything back, so called again later that day and spoke to a hostess who said that they absolutely had a table for 2 at 8:30pm on NYE and she took my reservation. We were set!!!!! Until the day before NYE. When I received a call from Besaw's stating they weren't actually OPEN on NYE. Everyone makes mistakes - I get that. But to not catch that there were reservations in the reservation book on one of the most difficult nights of the year to get a reservation ANYWHERE and leave your patrons in such a last minute lurch without really sounding like you even care is really atrocious. I really really wanted to like you, Besaw's.
(1)
DiNA T.

Excellent little breakfast spot in the Alphabet! Well, they serve more than breakfast but that's what we had. We both got the standard breakfast with eggs OM; I got the spicy elk sausage and biscuit and BF got the pork apple sausage and fruit. Eggs were cooked perfectly--we have been welcomed by this city with perfectly cooked eggs--which is not something we can get at home. The "spicy" elk sausage wasn't spicy at all but rather sweet, so I swapped it with the BF for the DELICIOUS pork sausage. The biscuit was divine, but the gravy was rather odd IMHO so I slathered that bad boy with some butter and jam. The service was amazing and friendly, and the atmosphere was a busy breakfast kitchen. I loved it!!
(5)
Renee L.

We live in the neighborhood and come to Besaws 1-2 times per month for the weekend breakfast/brunch. It is by far our favorite spot for breakfast. We've actually quit trying new places because the others are pricier and not nearly as delicious. All the waitstaff are wonderful, no issues. Attentive, friendly, unique, not a lot of turnover. The wait can be long on the weekends (30ish minutes for a party of 2) but we don't mind because we can drink the serve yourself coffee outside and build up an appetite. My boyfriend ALWAYS orders the 2 egg breakfast which I'm pretty sure is only $6. It comes with the best rosemary garlic potatoes, and slices of some really delicious multigrain bread. Homemade marionberry jam and house ketchup really make the meal. I sometimes get the same, but have also eaten almost everything on their menu and its all amazing. The florentine Benedict is my absolute favorite. The key are the roasted tomatoes. Highly recommended.
(5)
Shannan B.

This is the kind of place that makes Portland a foodies paradise! We got in early ( highly recommend this, there was a line as we were leaving) and the service was congenial from the get go. I wish I would have asked our server his name because he was wonderful! Our food was over the top! Well worth the price! The rosemary potatoes were incredible and try the homemade catsup, it was perfect!! I can't say enough about this little restaurant!! As our server would say " words fail to describe " !
(5)
Jacob K.

I ignorantly assume when there's a line at a place, there's a line for a reason. Besaws defies that logic. We showed up early Monday and managed to get a table for two right away, sweet. Unfortunately they don't serve eggs benedict on weekdays... wut? I ordered a belgian waffle and it was so lackluster. The private selection brand of frozen belgian waffles I buy at the store are better than this. My sister ordered the biscuits & gravy. The gravy was virtually flavorless.. thick grey matter, even salt couldn't bring it to life. Like most places on NW 23rd, the presentation of the dishes were good, the location and atmosphere of the restaurant is good, but the food embodies "meh"-ness. The menu is insanely basic and nothing pops. I looked at all the other dishes people around us had, all of it was presented well but it still looked so pedestrian. I don't see this place surviving another year.
(2)
Charles K.

Heard the food here was good so went to try it. Unfortunately I didn't even get to eat here. We were told there was a 20 min wait which was fine. We'll after 35 mins I noticed people who weren't there before us were getting seat down. I questioned the hostess who worked there. She was sitting her friends before people who had been waiting. Don't waste your money here. It's over priced and you probably won't be seated if the hostess friends show up.
(1)
Andrea P.

Food is wonderful, service exceptional and coffee pretty good! Also, had my three children with us and they were nice enough to put us in the covered outdoor area to allow my kids to be crazy loud kids! Good move!
(5)
Aubree C.

Well, I should have been warned regarding the wait when we came here for breakfast on 6/8 after reading reviews, so I partially blame myself. Our family of 3 (my husband and I plus our 5 year old) arrived at 9:30, was told it would be 25mins to wait and didn't get seated until 10:45. We would have left had we known the wait would be so long and had we not been consistently told through out our wait that we would be next. We saw many seated (w/out reservs) before us including a table of 3 that added an extra chair to a table of 2. Why weren't we offered that? My poor 5 year old was starving by the time we got seated and my husband was in such a foul mood that he barely spoke during our entire (now brunch) meal. Good selection to choose from on the menu and I chose the hash. It was good but not great and DEFINITELY NOT WORTH THE WAIT. My husband concurs with his meal as well. Good but not great. We are big foodies here and make an annual trip to Portland during the Rose fest. Our main deal while we are in town is to find some good grub. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it unless you make reservs (and even then those people had to wait to be seated) or come during the week. We will definitely not be coming back. I've had better many other places in P-town. *It IS nice that they offer you coffee while you wait however I don't find that a good enough incentive for the terrible (front end) service, not great food and horrendous wait.
(3)
Brooke C.

Really great restaurant! Unfortunately, the hostess was not the friendliest...I blame it on she was having a bad day. A little bit overpriced as far as the food goes, but I have not been disappointed with taste the 2 times I have visited.
(4)
Denni P.

Fantastic energy, great staff! ordered special Tuscan Eggs Benedict with sage and oatmeal pancakes. STOP with the great food PORTLAND, I will gain so much weight! I'm not a pancake fan but after those oatmeal pancakes I became a fan. Service was super friendly even though the servers were super busy, they made time for friendly chatter. Worth the wait! No wifi
(4)
Allison M.

My husband found this place and wanted to try it on our weekend food tour of Portland. We went on a Sunday about 10 and it was crowded with a wait but we were sat really fast, outside, lucky us. We ordered breakfast cocktails and the bartender brought them out himself announcing "party table!". The service was quick without feeling rushed and the server made excellent recommendations. I had the French toast and my husband had the chicken fried steak. Both were delicious. Being from the south we are pretty picky about our southern style food and we weren't disappointed. If you are ever in Portland go here, it is a must!
(5)
Michelangelo S.

Oh Yum Watermelon Sangria! SITREP The happy hours here at Besaw's are fantastic, with stellar drinks, nice bites and outstanding bartenders! THE SETUP Even if you only have 15 minutes - but are jone'sin for much needed chill time - Besaw's can fulfill that personal request and set you up with a great drink while you finish some texts & emails on the smartphone. If you have more time, stay awhile and get a light bite from the kitchen. THE DRINK The summer season tends to bring out some of the more "exotic" cocktail creations, and so mad props for the Watermelon Sangria, made with vodka, white wine, Cointreau, with orange & lime for that refreshing citrus kick. BARTENDERS Mad props to Cana for showing me elegance, humor, whimsy and taste with her and her delicious concoctions! THE LOWDOWN Besaw's is a great refreshing stop in Portland!
(5)
Katherine C.

Came here tonight for Portland Dining Month due to their very appetizing menu of prawns for starter (delicious!), pork with polenta and greens for entree (pork on dry side so meh), and rhubarb and oats dessert (so good!). My roomie and I also ordered the arugula salad and fried chicken and waffles entree and those did not disappoint. Our cocktails were also spot on and the service impeccable. Our only disappointment (other than the pork) was forgetting our leftovers at the table :(.
(4)
Laura W.

I went twice in the past few months and had very different experiences. Editing my review to include both. May 2015 = 2 stars I took my family from out of town here for brunch. They don't do reservations for under 6 people, so I knew it was a risk. SERVICE & AMBIANCE were TERRIBLE The hostess led us completely astray. I wish she had just told us the truth about the wait and we would have gone elsewhere and had a much better experience. A long wait is fine, but lying about it is not. Hostess said 20-30 minutes wait. We checked back every 10 minutes after that time and she said cheerfully "you're sooooo close!" One and a half hours later, we were "almost up!" and we were finally seated nearly 2 hours after putting our name down. In the meantime, there were other customers being "starred" and moved up on the list arbitrarily. This felt totally ridiculous. If Besaw's is giving preferential treatment to under 6 customers, then it should at least take reservations. FOOD Mediocre. The breakfast burger was still really nice & perfectly cooked, as was the apple pork sausage. That was all. The special peanut butter pancakes were mediocre and the elk sausage was absolutely horrendous. I couldn't even finish it. It tasted like a well cooked garlic hamburger burger instead of a gamey sausage patty like it was supposed to be. AMBIANCE Terrible. Hip hop was playing loudly in an already really busy, people-laden atmosphere (inside). I felt rushed to eat and no one at my table could hear each other talk so we just stopped speaking but the food wasn't good enough to savour without conversation. This was in direct contrast to my prior experience, which I wrote about before today: March 2015 = 5 stars We went at Sunday noon on a sunny day after a popular downtown event (the Shamrock run). SERVICE & AMBIANCE were fantastic. The wait was approx. 45 minutes. Love that they have coffee outside for you to sip. Waitress was uber friendly, cheerful. Service was great and accommodating. Outside patio is cheerful and bright! FOOD was spectacular and portions were ideal. Price just great. We got the breafast burger, salmon scramble, biscuits and gravy, and the side home cured apple sausage. All was perfectly cooked and presented. **I wouldn't hesitate to get anything on the menu, as the plates all around us came out looking spectacular. I'd go back with friends, a date, or even alone on a breakfast mission.** (this starred portion is no longer accurate) I will not go back to Besaw's. I'm upset they mislead us so terribly about the wait, and was totally disappointed with the food. The food items that I knew were good are still good, but I'm not about to wait 2 hours to taste test another item.
(3)
Brit G.

We finally made it to Besaws! I'm happy we caught it before they shut down. What a lovely little place. We were seated on the outside covered patio. Our waiter was attentive & our glasses never stayed empty for more than 5 minutes! I got the Eggplant Parmesan. The description sounded so amazing! It looked so beautifully presented when it came out. The flavor was delicious but the texture of the eggplant made me nauseous--definitely not Besaws fault! I should've have known eggplant had a slimy texture. Oh but the sauce, the cheese & fresh basil were so on point! I would definitely order something else if I catch them open. Oh! The fries are AMAZING! I'm so so sad they're closing down what a shame.
(4)
Leilani C.

On the way to a doctor appt at Good Sam, my mother and I were starved. I found Besaw's on Yelp with 4 stars and over 500 reviews and thought we surely could not go wrong...boy was I mistaken. The lunch menu was very small. A couple salads, a reuben, burger, open meatloaf sandwich and one other item, I believe. I ordered the burger and my mother ordered the open faced meatloaf, both entrees with a salad. There was an option to have root vegetable chips. I'd no idea what it meant by root vegetable and the waitress seemed too bothered to explain so I went with the safe bet - mixed green salad. The service was mediocre. When we walked in, the hostess grabbed menus and just stared. No greeting at all. I had to interject the awkward silence to tell her we'd be dining for 2. There were only 2 people in the kitchen (although I'm not sure there was room for much more) but at least 5 on the waitstaff plus the bartender. Whom I can only guess was the bus boy, brought us water. I am confused by the fact that they didn't serve ice in the water. This is not a huge deal but I very much love a glass of ice cold water and anywhere I've dined that did not serve ice, still served it ice cold. Besaw's did not. The burger bun was so porous that it immediately soaked up any condiments, which I believe was only mayonnaise. I ordered it well done and it came out very pink. The ketchup was house made and sitting in a jar on the table. It was tart and gritty and not at all what I know ketchup to be - slightly sweet and tangy. Not even 1/4 through the burger, the bun had turned to mush. The salad dressing was good, but it came pretossed and very dry so I needed an extra side - which the waitress also seemed to be bothered by. The open meatloaf was flavored well, but rather dry. The lemonade was refreshing and tasted fresh squeezed. Very good lemonade which is pretty much the reason for the 2nd star. Overall, we were both pretty disappointed in the service and food. Perhaps breakfast is better.
(2)
Jill S.

So grateful my mom and I got to experience the brunch spot before it shuts down. We went on a Saturday with no reservation - probably close to 45-50 minute wait as expected. I later looked up you can make a reservation...now I know! Good service and food. Honestly, I was starving, so the food may not actually be as good as I think it is...however with 500+ reviews, I suspect there's a reason people rave about this place. There were probably 6 different things I wanted to order (due to hunger and that they all looked yummy), I went with the Croque Madame. Rosemary garlic potatoes are the real deal. I'd come here again, only with a reservation. The food isn't worth another 45 minute wait since there's so many other cool spots to visit in the area. And...for you SFers who are in the area, I equate this place to a slightly more expensive version of Mamas in North Beach. It's a city staple, good food, must go once to say you've been, but not worth the wait (except this place you can make reservations).
(4)
Caden R.

We had a reservation for a group of 6 for 11:00 am on a Saturday. We had to wait a little bit for a table to clear so that we could be seated because it was so busy. We were seated at 11:30, which I was fine with, but just know that even if you have a reservation you might have to wait. Also, concerning groups, they will only split the check between two cards, no more. The Isla burrito is delicious. The Farmer's hash is also worth a try. The service was great, my water was refilled so many times it was as if a well was bubbling up from beneath my glass. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Would recommend!
(4)
Suzanne Z.

After hearing how Portland is a brunch town, we wanted to make sure to do a nice brunch before leaving. We had passed this place previously, and it had a line out the door. Thankfully, for a Monday morning, we were sat quickly- but it was still quite busy! A girl came by to fill water glasses. I gave her a cheerful "hello!", and she said "Hi." and quickly walked off. I was hoping she wasn't the waitress, since she seemed rushed and unhappy to be there. Our waitress was someone else, and was super nice though. I did note one other girl who was also with sort of a flat affect. The way those two rushed around without a smile made me feel a little uncomfortable. The water they poured was very room temperature too. Ick. Other than that, the experience was good. I ordered the french toast with fruit compote which was delicious and also tried a bite of my friends avocado omelette and rosemary potatoes which was fantastic. I would come back to Portland just to try that for myself!! Both of us could not finish our food. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere- I liked that it has an "exposed" kitchen, where you can see the two cooks working together. If I lived in Portland, I'd be here for all meals, and possibly a late night cocktail! Quite a feat to have a restaurant that can do all of those things well.
(4)
Afromadic A.

We decided to check out what this place had to offer and let me just say I was very disappointed. The food was tasteless and mediocre service! I don't think I will ever go back!
(1)
C P.

First visit today. A friend insisted that I try the chicken and waffles, and she was completely right! Best I've had! Service was very attentive and friendly. Weekday evening so it wasn't crowded. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Darren M.

I went here today for brunch and had one of the best breakfast burgers of my life! It was seasoned and cooked perfectly and was served open face with a fried egg on top and rosemary potatoes on the side, which weren't as crispy as I would have liked. It is a small place and the restaurant/restrooms are cramped, but the servers and cooks a friendly and work very well in the confined space. I will definitely be returning to try more of their amazing menu.
(4)
Chris J.

The *best* breakfast experience I've ever had in Portland. The service was friendly, personable, fast and the food was delicious! VERY well done, indeed. Go around noon when there is less of a wait.
(5)
Nic M.

Amazing quaint little place! I flew up from California to visit a friend and we decided we were hungry. Her response was Chipotle and I told her I wanted to find a place original and good! So we used a nifty app that led us to a place that was closed, so we drove around the corner to find Besaw's. We walked in and were immediately greeted and seated. Our server was great and had answers for all of our questions. We had a great view of the cook doing work and watching the food getting plated. Over all the service and food was amazing! The pricing was great and I can only hope to go back someday (:
(5)
Tasha D.

The food, coffee, drink (something lunch?), was all FANTASTIC. Also, we called ahead and they held our name on the wait list while we drove over, which I loved. Crazy wait otherwise. I thought the cinnamon roll wasn't so great (the frosting was, but the roll itself was meh). But the entrees -- I tried one of their eggs benedict, with sage and proscuitto -- and the drinks were awesome. Totally great meal.
(5)
Eric S.

Hands down THE BEST breakfast joint in town! My kids beg me to spend the weekend in Portland, just so we can eat at Besaw's. Their whole menu is excellent, but I just can't help but get the same thing every time I go there...The Farmer's Hash. It's so damn good! 3 eggs scrambled with rosemary potatoes, bacon, roasted garlic cloves, caramelized onions, arugula, and cheddar cheese. Are you kidding me?!? It doesn't get any better than that! Add a steaming cup of Stumptown coffee and you've got yourself the best breakfast in the city! Get ready to wait though, the line starts early and is usually 20 minutes minimum.
(5)
Jay K.

First and last ridiculously slow and unfriendly customer service experience at Besaws . Was quoted inaccurate wait time and sat at table for 30 mins and still did not have food on our table. Will most likely never return and suggest that friends go only when they have all day to wait for a table/food.
(1)
Mindie K.

I brought the PDX Breakfast Club to Besaw's this morning. I'm a huge fan -- not only for their food, but the staff is super-awesome. They went out of their way to make sure we were taken care of, happy, and always had warm coffee in our mugs. Not an easy task for a large group like ours, but they made it seem effortless. And about the food... I ordered the prosciutto scramble -- salty goodness with asiago on top. Yum!
(5)
Kate M.

Perhaps I am spoiled by the abundance of good breakfast places, but I really don't get the hype about this place. The food is certainly acceptable (although on one visit the eggs on my benedict were over cooked) but it's not outstanding in the crowded field of Portland restaurants. The real issue is the service - I have found the staff to be...I don't know...disdainful, maybe? Lackadaisical? I don't expect wait staff to smiling like idiots and hanging on my every word, but some sort of greeting and occasional eye contact is always appreciated. Clearly, other folks disagree with me. The crowd outside this place weekend mornings is impressive.
(2)
Jessica K.

i'm not a huge fan of eating american foods at breakfast joints. why? because a single egg costs $1.50 when a whole carton of eggs is maybe $3 at most, but besaws did not disappoint. :) it is not cheap in my opinion but the friendly service and good food was worth it. the busy, homely atmosphere was also very appealing to me. the sausage i had was perfect and the house made ketchup was very nice. they also carry ardvark sauce! yummmm.
(4)
cliff e.

Great place with a ton of personality. Besaw's was established around 100 years ago. Its not been gutted and re-modeled. So the character from decades past still shines through. From the architectural details to jars of (homemade?) jelly on the tables, you feel like your stepping into a unique experience. I take it that this is a bar? I have only been for breakfast. What they serve up is great. Just what you would expect from a good breakfast joint. From the coffee to the standard fare you wont be let down.
(5)
A.S. D.

Haven't eaten here since I saw a rat run through the dining area.
(1)
Jeremy A.

Sometimes the wait for breakfast can be way too long, but once you get in the food and service is great.
(4)
Kent W.

After a rough first night in my second visit to Portland, my friends had the good mind (and good taste) to take me to Besaws. I had the croque sandwich since it is consisted entirely of things I would choose to die eating. All of which were of royal quality. I also indulged and went for a pancake as well. Deliciocity ensued. It seems to be a popular spot, but we didn't have much trouble getting a table. The staff was wonderful and the liquor selection was of more than average quality. Reminded me of some lovely brunching spots in NYC. Definitely give it a shot. Do it for love. Do it for country. Do it for your tummy.
(4)
Casey C.

Went for breakfast on a Sat at 9am. The wait was 20 minutes for 4 of us. The back patio door was kept open and it was only 45 deg out so it was too drafty. Wait staff was friendly and kept the coffees and waters filled. Our waitress tested out her fake British accent on us which was amusing. And the food was very good - I got the smoked salmon scramble, served with rosemary potatoes and artisan toast, $12. Water Ave coffee washed it down. Large portions, semi-cozy atmosphere, decent price.
(4)
Marya V.

We've only been here for brunch, but I can say the brunch food is delicious! The space is small, so the wait on weekends can be a bit long, but they have coffee and tea available to tide you over. I've enjoyed their French Toast, and my husband has enjoyed the Eggs Benedict and the various "Scrambles". The staff is always friendly and prompt. Overall, a good spot for a leisurely brunch!
(4)
Richard S.

Found this spot via the iPhone app for Yelp. We were staying not far away during a weekend getaway. The place was hopping on a Sunday morning around 9, however we were able to get in right away as two seats near the door were open at the bar. The staff was very busy, but attentive and friendly. Our breakfasts arrived in a reasonable time and were absolutely delish. I know why the place was packed - good food and good service go a long ways to success.
(4)
Alexandra G.

french toast and coffee- perfect.
(5)
Kristi W.

My bloody Mary was bloody delicious. It was chunky with lots of veggies just like I like it. The waiter was friendly and attentive. Not really sure why others have "issues" with them. Our breakfast was well done and loved the whole roasted garlic cloves. Shout out to the Aardvark Sauce. In all, a most pleasant breakfast experience.
(5)
Lindsay L.

I stopped by for a quick bite at the bar a few weeks ago. Honestly, I haven't been back to Besaws since I lived in the neighborhood and it was our go-to place. This was my one and only dinner experience there. Upon entering, I grabbed a seat at the bar and was greated by the friendly bartender. At her suggestion, I ordered the hamburger/fries and had a glass of wine. The couple next to me, order some sort of appetizer board that looked wonderful. Besaws has definately jumped up a couple of places in my mind for the next time I go out for dinner. Thank you for making me feel welcome for dinner after just leaving the gym!
(3)
Alexandra H.

Had brunch here with a friend and really enjoyed the experience. The weather was incredible so we sat outside. I had the hash and my friend had the breakfast sandwich/burger. The hash had roasted rosemary red potatoes, eggs, bacon, cheese, kale and whole roasted garlic cloves and the sandwich was just what you would think with fried egg cooked to your taste. Both were great. The waiter was also awesome. He kept us happy and glasses filled without being intrusive. Would definitely recommend Besaw's and will certainly be back to try the lunch menu!
(4)
Stacy P.

Besaw's is the quintessential neighborhood street corner cafe offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but they have arranged the tables in such away to avoid feeling cramped. If you are dining alone, the bar provides a nice stool and a friendly bartender. It the weather is nice, outside seating provides a relaxing dining experience. I prefer Besaw's dinner menu due to their selection of items. While there isn't a separate gluten free menu, the servers can assist you in providing what items can and cannot be modified. The quality of food is excellent, and they meals that they craft are tasty and filling. I enjoy the fact that they try to source most of their food from the local area and use seasonal goods while trying to avoid the use of per-processed goods. Their farm-to-fork scratch kitchen approach is what makes their meals worth a visit to Besaw's. It is important to note, while not applicable to all, they do have a 2 credit card maximum per table. If you happen to go with a group, you will need to keep this in mind. It is posted on the menu and bill, and they do enforce this policy.
(4)
Paul V.

Don't get me wrong, Besaw's is seasoned in the breakfast department, and there's justification with regard to how crowded it gets due to their efficient service and great atmosphere. Having said that, the food didn't really blow me away. Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? As I've touched on, Besaw's really kills it when it comes to their atmosphere. If you're here on a weekend, it's crowded, but an efficient seating system should have you down and eating relatively quickly. From there, service is excellent and lightning quick. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Sure, brunch warrants a premium these days, especially if you're in Alphabet, but I'll admit I was a bit surprised to find my breakfast burger come in at $13.00. I mean, it's a burger, on a piece of toast, with an egg on top and some roasted potatoes on the side. Come now, that's maybe $10 no? Have a look: yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ No Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? It was certainly good, but honestly it's hard to botch a burger with an egg on top, and this was really nothing more than a sum of the parts. Standard patty, standard toast, standard potatoes, standard bacon. Pepper it up! Add some flavor to the patty! Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Portland is too good a city when it comes to food to say that I wouldn't routinely venture away from Besaw's. No Star Granted.
(2)
Robyn U.

Been here a few times and have never been disappointed. Most recently, my friend and I were waited on by Josh who was witty and wonderful! He encouraged us to take our time (we were savoring moments without our toddlers) and even brought my friend a birthday treat! Great service, great food, love!
(5)
Stephano G.

There's not much to say here that hasn't already been said. I've been here for breakfast and dinner a few times, and I look forward to my next trip back. This is one of Portland's older establishments and there's a reason that it is still around.
(5)
Ladan R.

I can't rave about this place enough! It's my favorite brunch spot in Portland and that's saying quite a bit because there are a lot of good ones. Love their french toast and oatmeal pancakes. Their apple sausage, eggs and potatoes are amazing too. Basically everything is awesome. Always have excellent, attentive service as well. There does tend to be a wait on the weekends but I think that's to be expected in Portland. I usually go on weekdays if I can.
(5)
Matt K.

The morning that I was going to drive back to San Jose, decided I needed a good breakfast to give me the energy I need. Came to Besaw's at about 8:15am and didn't have to wait for a table, but sat in the "covered patio" area. There was one heat lamp that didn't seem to do anything so we dined in our jackets, haha. I ordered the avocado omelett with bacon. Delicious! Lots of avocado, and a good amount of bacon. Definitely hit the spot, maybe too much...was struggling for the first hour of driving. Next time, I'm getting a breakfast burrito!
(4)
Adam B.

Worst service ever, the server forgot our order, rushed it out to is with the salmon not even close to be cooked. Never again!
(1)
M J.

We have only been there for brunch but it's phenomenal! Their potatoes are something else, and they somehow have figured out how to make sautÃ©ed vegetables taste like something worth eating rather than choking down to get to the good stuff. Amazing food, we will definitely be back whenever we're in town!
(5)
Peter V.

what a hip place! our son lives down the street so we wandered in on a saturday evening during a recent visit to portland.bison burger, chicken/waffles and chicken scallopini w/pesto mashed potatoes were all great. wonderful service and a great vibe about this place..see you next time!
(4)
Alfred K.

I went to Besaw's because it was highly recommended in the NWA magazine. We arrived in town on a cold winter day and the warm, dark wood decor was just what we needed. I just loved the space and truly wanted to love the food, but I left feeling indifferent about it. I had the Salmon Benedict - salmon overcooked and underseasoned, and the benedict not all that special really. I guess I've been spoiled by all the amazing restaurants I've been to in Portland. This one only gets an A-OK.
(3)
Samuel C.

The top bistro in Portland. Breakfast is the best meal, lunch is pretty good. I visited for dinner one time and wasn't as thrilled. The place has a great feel to it and the staff are nice. The perfect place to take your lady.
(5)
Celina H.

Besaw's was one of the first restaurants we checked out when we moved here. It's very fancy with a no fuss attitude but that's not to say that they are rude, they are not rude, but they know what they like and what they don't like. The food is tasty, pancakes, bacon, e.t.c. but sadly they don't offer much of a choice for picky eaters. We went once with family from out of town and they goofed the order and made no apologies for it, so that left a raw taste but I'm still willing to give them another chance and perhaps enjoy a late breakfast there or take home some dessert. It's worth a try but you get better service when it's not too crowded.
(3)
Patrick D.

I went to brunch here on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and there was no wait for a 2-top....I suppose we were lucky because I have read that there is always a long line at this place. This being my first restaurant experience in Portland, I was impressed. The half chicken salad sandwich and chipotle potato soup were excellent. The atmosphere is warm and has an antique feel. The service was minimal but flawless. I will definitely return for brunch on a weekend...maybe the next time I have a guest in town.
(4)
Jason L.

This place is fantastic! In addition to great service, and delicious food (I recommend the scrambled eggs with brie cheese!) They make a mean bloody mary! We arrived at 1pm on a saturday, and were given a table immediately. The quality of the food was outstanding.
(5)
Aaron M.

Went to Besaw's on a Sunday morning about 10:30. I expected a wait and crowd outside which there was when I arrived. However, to my surprise we only waited 5 minutes until our name was called. We were seated promptly, greeted promptly, and our food arrived as expected promptly. Food was great. Everything was perfect. Highly recommended.
(5)
Luke Y.

Flying into town late the night before, Besaw's was my first impression of Portland, and it was a great one. I got in before the Saturday brunch rush, so there was no line (be prepared to wait if you get there after 10AM). I dug their wood-heavy decor and the chalkboards noting their nearby restaurant garden and the local farmers' non-profit that they support. Lot of dishes sounded good and I settled on an egg scramble special with chanterelles and smoked pork shoulder, which was amazing. Almost worth the trip on its own!
(5)
Brandi M.

I'd like to give Besaw's 3 1/2 stars...considered 4 but seemed a bit too high... Been here twice: - Great vibe and attentive service. - Dinner was excellent. - Breakfast, however was a bit of a disappointment. Not bad, per se, but not fantastic. My husband had very soggy, unbrowned french toast. We'll go back for dinner again but probably not breakfast.
(3)
Al K.

Went there twice for dinner recently when I was in town. Enjoyed a tasty parsnip salad and lamb meatballs the first time. The second time I tried rabbit for the first time and it was delicious (came in a HUGE portion). The staff is super-friendly and sociable. Kinda makes you wish you lived in the neighborhood.
(4)
Katy C.

This place was very cute and quaint, like it should have been in the opening scene of a romantic comedy. The service was good and FAST! I was with a couple friends and we had barely started to drink our stumptown coffees before our food was there! And I loved the rosemary potatoes that come with everything! The only negative is it's a little expensive, but luckily for me someone else was paying :) But my breakfast sandwich and rosemary potatoes was around $11 which is pretty expensive in comparison to a lot of other brunch places I've been in Portland. But if you're willing to fork over a couple extra dollars it's a nice place for brunch.
(3)
Michelangelo S.

Oh Yum Watermelon Sangria! SITREP The happy hours here at Besaw's are fantastic, with stellar drinks, nice bites and outstanding bartenders! THE SETUP Even if you only have 15 minutes - but are jone'sin for much needed chill time - Besaw's can fulfill that personal request and set you up with a great drink while you finish some texts & emails on the smartphone. If you have more time, stay awhile and get a light bite from the kitchen. THE DRINK The summer season tends to bring out some of the more "exotic" cocktail creations, and so mad props for the Watermelon Sangria, made with vodka, white wine, Cointreau, with orange & lime for that refreshing citrus kick. BARTENDERS Mad props to Cana for showing me elegance, humor, whimsy and taste with her and her delicious concoctions! THE LOWDOWN Besaw's is a great refreshing stop in Portland!
(5)
Monica A.

I would say breakfast is my favorite meal...but that's not true, I love every meal. I like going to Besaw's because of the charm and they have great breakfasts. I've been thinking about eggs Benedict's lately and stopped in for breakfast a couple weeks ago. I ordered the traditional eggs Benedict and couldn't venture to a different dish. My friend, however, ordered the bacon, avocado, eggs Benedict. ....wow....it was amazing. Very well seasoned, loved the saltiness of the bacon, the gooey goodness of the oozy egg, and the seasoned guacamole with garlic and onions. I took two bites of hers, and felt pity to my classic dish. Good thing I already ate a half of mine before trying hers. I finished my delicious eggs Benedict, and tasty rosemary potatoes. I was full and happy, but secretly envious of my friend who had the exceptional bacon, guacamole, eggs Benedict. Perhaps the grass is greener on the other side.
(4)
Kim K.

Don't come starving on a weekend morning because the wait was at least an hour and you will be a hangry mess by the time you are seated, order and have your food arrive! The food was tasty and ambiance was fine, but it's just super packed and requires quite a bit of waiting! Highly recommend the eggs benny!
(3)
Marianne S.

I've lived in Portland for most of my life and have never set foot in Besaw's until just the other day. We got there at a good time, because it seemed that the breakfast crowd was just ending and lunch was beginning. They serve breakfast until 3 pm, so we had our choice of breakfast or lunch. I got an avocado omlette with a side of rosemary and garlic potatoes with toast. The omlette was cooked perfectly and had a lot of tasty avocado inside. The jam for the toast we delicious, but my favorite part of the meal were the potatoes. They were the best I've ever had! I really liked that there was roasted garlic amongst them. The service was great, we got our food quick, and didn't have to wait for a table. I thought the menu prices were very reasonable as well. I'll be back again soon!
(5)
Emilie S.

Lordy, this place is fabulous. I have never, ever been anything but deliriously happy leaving Besaw's. Breakfast served late-- their breakfast sandwich is yummy. Scram 23 too. My only complaint is that they are so busy all of the time- but that's not a fair complaint-- as it's just as much my fault as anyone else. Cobb salad, great burgers, great coffee drinks, fabulous Bloody Marys. Really nice comfort food happy hour.
(5)
Jon M.

Great place. Great food and great with kids
(5)
Basil M.

I read these amazing reviews and had high expectations. The location was extremely convenient because we had a Meeting nearby. The atmosphere was Pleasant, the wait staff was great. The food was just ok. It wasn't bad... Just not spectacular. Went with the breakfast burrito.
(2)
Molly R.

This place is always hands down amazing! LOVE the brunch, the bloody marys are delish with the pickels veggies! Also a great place to go for after dinner dessert & spanish coffee! yummm
(5)
Farhad S.

Amazing food. Didn't like the Bloody Mary but the food is amazing. These guys have that part ( the most important part of a restaurant) really figured out. Great service to boot.
(5)
Jenni L.

I've somehow avoided Besaw's for the past 4 years. Not because I wasn't sure of it's awesomeness, but because I hate waiting in barbaric brunch lines. Usually by the time someone has made the plan to execute a brunch and everyone has been rounded up I am already hangry and don't want to bother with anything coming between me and a plate of eggs. Least of all an hour and a half wait in front of 2 hour parking. Besaw's was pretty worth it though. Our server was top notch and super friendly. It's actually some of the best service I've had in a while. The kitchen must also be a well oiled machine because our food came out pretty quickly too. One of my friends and I both went with the Chicken Fried Steak and it was really good, with a nice crunchy oat coating; Eggs were perfect also. The breakfast potatoes were not my fav, sadly, they were on the overzealous side of salty. I'm also one of those plebeians who just does not get the homemade catsup bullshit. It's rarely good, so I'm usually just better off nixing it. Biscuits were totally decent and I gladly slathered half of one with some of the raspberry jam. Two of my other friends went with the huevos and both devoured them, so they must have been good. The other two went with respective scrambles which I was almost jealous of. Almost. To cap it off we had a fantastic table in the back patio area on one of the few truly nice days. Now that is worth waiting in line for.
(4)
Dani O.

Closing, but reopening at the end of the summer. Lots of gf, vegetarian options available. Wonderful people work here! Everyone is so nice!
(5)
Shy A.

I hope I don't crucified for this review, I am not a fan of being the odd man out but I do not like Besaw's. I don't understand the hype. I've visited several times hoping that it was an "off morning" for them or maybe I was being cranky and snootier than usual. Nope, my original impression still holds true. They serve average food. My most recent meal there, we ordered the guac omelette-it was under seasoned and they forgot my bacon. I had to ask several times for it and once I got it, I didn't want it anymore. Biscuits and gravy were cold. Have you had cold biscuits and gravy? Yes, they are gross. Weird quality meat in breakfast burger-my bff ordered it and described the texture as "sick". So, because of this, Besaw will not be condemned with the dreaded 3 star review but a 2.
(2)
Melody L.

We had an amazing gentleman be our waiter who made our whole experience even better!!! I don't know his name but he has a boat called the "Tokyo Marine". He was pleasant, friendly, he SMILED ( a rarity in the service industry in PDX), he was attentive but not overly so.. I give this place a 5 star not only for the great service but also for the amazing food. I had the 2 eggs dish and my friend had their omelet. Neither of us were disappointed!
(5)
Mark S.

It's closing (at its current location) but it's quite sublime (and reopening somewhere nearby). Hopefully the new version will equal, or at least approach, its current incarnation.
(5)
Tani S.

There are some thing that I miss after our move from Seattle/Boston (ie. Dim Sum, Seafood) but fortunately breakfast isn't one of them. Besaw's has a nice, cozy interior with it's warm woodtones and bright patio.. The menu makes it difficult to choose and all of the dishes that we had were wonderful! I particularly enjoyed the oatmeal and the rosemary potatoes that are with most dishes... Our friend's avocado omelette was delectable with a more than generous portion of avocado. We'll definitely be going back often, so much better than Portage Bay Cafe in Seattle... Only removing one star since it is a bit of a pricy breakfast albeit good.
(4)
Jen C.

If you are looking for some of the best Eggs Benedict look no further! Every time I come here I leave satisfied and in a glorious food coma that has me already dreaming of the next time I can go. Needless to say I love this place. The staff are helpful and my favorite waiter with go-to mustache keeps me and my guests entertained. Food comes fast and is always delicious. I would recommend this place to anyone wanting to eat in a quaint neighborhood with a buzzing atmosphere.
(5)
Heather B.

Took my husband here for a belated Father's Day breakfast. The service was not overly warm which I have come to expect in Portland. The food came and looked delicious but was cold. I will spend my breakfast money elsewhere.
(1)
Chris P.

Best food ever. Breakfast burger is a must try. You can really tell they use the highest quality ingredients for their food, and it is amazing. Also had tons of options and substitutions for my gluten-intolerant girlfriend. We sat outside with our dog, but inside looks like a great atmosphere and outside was really nice. We both also tried some really great beer and cider there and there was a long list of options for wines/beers/ciders to choose from. Portland is full of awesome places to eat, I tried a lot of them while I was in town and this was a favorite.
(5)
Priscilla L.

First off I just want to say let everyone know that all my reviews for any Portland restaurant will get 4 stars or less just because I come from California and i'm use to much faster service. However, I would like to say I came here with my family for breakfast and honestly the breakfast here was good. I love the fresh squeeze mimosa that was delicious! I got the spinach omelet and it was really good even with the goat cheese. I like the fact that if your not that hungry they have smaller portion menu and that was great for my mom since she doesn't have a big appetite. I would come back here if I live in Portland.
(4)
Leean O.

Here on business last year and this was absolutely stellar. Seating was a 15 min wait and understandably so, people love the food here. I had the epic breakfast burger and it did not disappoint! Fresh grass fed free roaming beef, perfectly balanced throughout, cooked to my ideal medium, perfect Texas toast bun and very filling. We sat out back and enjoyed some mild Portland weather gazing over other patron's plates while trying to guess what they ordered. Seeing many smiling faces leave this place while we waited was a good sign and we weren't disappointed and returned the following day for lunch. This time I had the 'Hella Burrito' which was another very tasty and well put together orchestra of flavors that all complimented each other, fresh avocado slices on top for the slam dunk, very happy camper here.
(5)
Katherine C.

Came here tonight for Portland Dining Month due to their very appetizing menu of prawns for starter (delicious!), pork with polenta and greens for entree (pork on dry side so meh), and rhubarb and oats dessert (so good!). My roomie and I also ordered the arugula salad and fried chicken and waffles entree and those did not disappoint. Our cocktails were also spot on and the service impeccable. Our only disappointment (other than the pork) was forgetting our leftovers at the table :(.
(4)
Laura W.

I went twice in the past few months and had very different experiences. Editing my review to include both. May 2015 = 2 stars I took my family from out of town here for brunch. They don't do reservations for under 6 people, so I knew it was a risk. SERVICE & AMBIANCE were TERRIBLE The hostess led us completely astray. I wish she had just told us the truth about the wait and we would have gone elsewhere and had a much better experience. A long wait is fine, but lying about it is not. Hostess said 20-30 minutes wait. We checked back every 10 minutes after that time and she said cheerfully "you're sooooo close!" One and a half hours later, we were "almost up!" and we were finally seated nearly 2 hours after putting our name down. In the meantime, there were other customers being "starred" and moved up on the list arbitrarily. This felt totally ridiculous. If Besaw's is giving preferential treatment to under 6 customers, then it should at least take reservations. FOOD Mediocre. The breakfast burger was still really nice & perfectly cooked, as was the apple pork sausage. That was all. The special peanut butter pancakes were mediocre and the elk sausage was absolutely horrendous. I couldn't even finish it. It tasted like a well cooked garlic hamburger burger instead of a gamey sausage patty like it was supposed to be. AMBIANCE Terrible. Hip hop was playing loudly in an already really busy, people-laden atmosphere (inside). I felt rushed to eat and no one at my table could hear each other talk so we just stopped speaking but the food wasn't good enough to savour without conversation. This was in direct contrast to my prior experience, which I wrote about before today: March 2015 = 5 stars We went at Sunday noon on a sunny day after a popular downtown event (the Shamrock run). SERVICE & AMBIANCE were fantastic. The wait was approx. 45 minutes. Love that they have coffee outside for you to sip. Waitress was uber friendly, cheerful. Service was great and accommodating. Outside patio is cheerful and bright! FOOD was spectacular and portions were ideal. Price just great. We got the breafast burger, salmon scramble, biscuits and gravy, and the side home cured apple sausage. All was perfectly cooked and presented. **I wouldn't hesitate to get anything on the menu, as the plates all around us came out looking spectacular. I'd go back with friends, a date, or even alone on a breakfast mission.** (this starred portion is no longer accurate) I will not go back to Besaw's. I'm upset they mislead us so terribly about the wait, and was totally disappointed with the food. The food items that I knew were good are still good, but I'm not about to wait 2 hours to taste test another item.
(3)
Brit G.

We finally made it to Besaws! I'm happy we caught it before they shut down. What a lovely little place. We were seated on the outside covered patio. Our waiter was attentive & our glasses never stayed empty for more than 5 minutes! I got the Eggplant Parmesan. The description sounded so amazing! It looked so beautifully presented when it came out. The flavor was delicious but the texture of the eggplant made me nauseous--definitely not Besaws fault! I should've have known eggplant had a slimy texture. Oh but the sauce, the cheese & fresh basil were so on point! I would definitely order something else if I catch them open. Oh! The fries are AMAZING! I'm so so sad they're closing down what a shame.
(4)
Leilani C.

On the way to a doctor appt at Good Sam, my mother and I were starved. I found Besaw's on Yelp with 4 stars and over 500 reviews and thought we surely could not go wrong...boy was I mistaken. The lunch menu was very small. A couple salads, a reuben, burger, open meatloaf sandwich and one other item, I believe. I ordered the burger and my mother ordered the open faced meatloaf, both entrees with a salad. There was an option to have root vegetable chips. I'd no idea what it meant by root vegetable and the waitress seemed too bothered to explain so I went with the safe bet - mixed green salad. The service was mediocre. When we walked in, the hostess grabbed menus and just stared. No greeting at all. I had to interject the awkward silence to tell her we'd be dining for 2. There were only 2 people in the kitchen (although I'm not sure there was room for much more) but at least 5 on the waitstaff plus the bartender. Whom I can only guess was the bus boy, brought us water. I am confused by the fact that they didn't serve ice in the water. This is not a huge deal but I very much love a glass of ice cold water and anywhere I've dined that did not serve ice, still served it ice cold. Besaw's did not. The burger bun was so porous that it immediately soaked up any condiments, which I believe was only mayonnaise. I ordered it well done and it came out very pink. The ketchup was house made and sitting in a jar on the table. It was tart and gritty and not at all what I know ketchup to be - slightly sweet and tangy. Not even 1/4 through the burger, the bun had turned to mush. The salad dressing was good, but it came pretossed and very dry so I needed an extra side - which the waitress also seemed to be bothered by. The open meatloaf was flavored well, but rather dry. The lemonade was refreshing and tasted fresh squeezed. Very good lemonade which is pretty much the reason for the 2nd star. Overall, we were both pretty disappointed in the service and food. Perhaps breakfast is better.
(2)
Jill S.

So grateful my mom and I got to experience the brunch spot before it shuts down. We went on a Saturday with no reservation - probably close to 45-50 minute wait as expected. I later looked up you can make a reservation...now I know! Good service and food. Honestly, I was starving, so the food may not actually be as good as I think it is...however with 500+ reviews, I suspect there's a reason people rave about this place. There were probably 6 different things I wanted to order (due to hunger and that they all looked yummy), I went with the Croque Madame. Rosemary garlic potatoes are the real deal. I'd come here again, only with a reservation. The food isn't worth another 45 minute wait since there's so many other cool spots to visit in the area. And...for you SFers who are in the area, I equate this place to a slightly more expensive version of Mamas in North Beach. It's a city staple, good food, must go once to say you've been, but not worth the wait (except this place you can make reservations).
(4)
Hana F.

I ordered and omelet that wasn't supposed to have meat in it, but it arrived with ham inside. I told the waitress and she merely nodded and left me with the food. She didn't offer to get me an omelette without ham, or a refund, or even apologize. A similar thing happened to someone else I know with bacon being added to his scramble. I've been several times but I'll never be back. Very bad service. Be careful!
(2)
Shaedyn M.

Something that I appreciate about restaurants (sometimes more than their food) is when they have positive intentions in the community, and Besaws has that. They have a featured charity, local and sustainable, they list the farmers and purveyors that they work with on the menu, along with a little blurb at the bottom of the menu that I'm just going to copy on here. Because thats how much I love it. "Besaw's strives to support local, Organic & sustainable farmers; we exclusively use cage-free eggs, & 100% hormone-free dairy products. Supporting our valued community is of the utmost importance." Need I say more? Aside from my desire to support a place that supports others, on to the food. On special was a braised goat scramble with roasted brussel sprouts, wild nettles and asiago cheese. Does that sounds amazing or what? And of course we had to try their biscuits ad gravy (still trying to beat Mother's) The service was.... odd. But I think we just had an interesting waitress. She stared blankly at us when we talked and it took her a while to respond to anything we said/asked. She wasn't very attentive, and never really asked if we needed anything. The food came out quick, but taking our order and bringing our check took quite some time. The scramble was good. Not great. It was lacking any flavor, but that was quickly fixed with their (insanely delicious) house made ketchup, which made up for flavor and herbs/spice. Potatoes were nice, and I really enjoyed their steak fry style. Cooked very well. Unfortunately, I wasn't too pleased to bite down on a few pieces of goat bone... like not at all. The biscuits and gravy were wonderful though. To even try to compare them to Mothers would be a completely unfair matchup. Mothers has a much cakier,melt-in-your-mouth, Wife's B&G's way about it, rather Besaws is biscuits for the Man. Crispy edges, heartier gravy, both extremely well executed individually.
(4)
Mary B.

I really enjoyed Besaw's. I had a Bloody Mary and the breakfast sandwich. Everything was as you'd expect it to be from this well established breakfast spot. Tasty goodness came from every bite until my plate was empty. Thick slice of bacon, egg yolk errrywhere, crispy muffin. Yummy. The side of potatoes were also delicious and seasoned perfectly with herbs. BIG cubes of potato. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. If you're looking for a breakfast/brunch place, definitely try this place. Try to go on the off-hours, though. It can get pretty busy.
(4)
J P.

We may have dropped off as regulars over the years due to the food quality. But the truth is-- no successful cornerstone business deserves to be shut out of its own future. Although the food is still mediocre (we have learned that they only have four burners in the kitchen), we support this MORE-THAN-CENTURY-OLD business in their future endeavors... We also hope they reopen soon, with the garden and kitchen of their dreams, and hopefully with the same name. Good luck, Besaws!
(3)
Brooks M.

i do truly love this place. if they don't make it themselves they source it from someone who does locally. they are never shy to let you know they can do substitutions and changes to order within their abilities which is sometimes hard to find in portland. their breakfast burrito and potatoes are my fav in the city. perfect mix of flavors! go early to beat the brunch lines and go for other meal times too! they have amazing drink specials and an awesome daytime menu.
(5)
Kalong W.

LOVE. THIS. SPOT. Besaw's is the epitome of Portland brunch. There's a fully stocked bar just glistening from the sunlight beaming through the wall to wall windows, serving mimosas and bloody marys, specials are written on the wood framed chalkboard, they serve stellar coffee, EVERYTHING ON THE MENU IS FRESH, DELICOUS, and LOCAL, and everyone smiles at you. This is a great place to catch up with friends before heading out for a day of shopping or running errands on 23rd street. Last time, feeling adventurous, I ordered something I couldn't pronounce, Madame-something and it was amazing! There was bacon! Oooozy egg! And perfectly thick, lightly seasoned, hot potato wedges/fries. They are so good, they even have their own hashtag: #eatbesaws Yes, go eat Besaws.
(5)
Rena J.

First off, good service and I LOVED the rosemary garlic potatoes at brunch. The toast was thick, hearty and yummy with homemade jam. The rest of the food was... Ok. I had the breakfast special, smoked salmon omelette with gruyere cheese sauce, sub with egg whites. - I know, it's covered in cheese sauce, why bother with egg whites? - I was heading to an extra fatty bbq and needed to skim a little where I could... Anyways, the omelette itself was a little bland, as in the cheese sauce needed a little more seasoning, not because I got egg whites. But I figure restaurants tend to under season eggs. My partner got the egg plate with elk sausage. The sausage was tough to break with a fork but tender enough to chew. The flavor was not memorable. The meat didn't have much flavor and there wasn't much sausage seasoning to make up for it. It was basically a tough disk of red meat. I think? My friend had French toast, he said it was ok. Perfectly fine place to go for cute brunchy ambiance with good service and great sides. I wasn't impressed with their homemade ketchup, it was more like a tomato-y sauce but it don't matter with those amazing rosemary garlic roasted potatoes!
(3)
Lucy S.

This place is a little more upscale than your typical brunch place in Portland but every time it's amazing. It can get really crowded for brunch so be prepared for a long wait. It's right along 23rd so you can just window shop while you're waiting. Brunch is great and every time I go, I wonder why I don't go more often. Dinner here is what I love the most though. The Besaw's platter is amazing. It's a little big for two people, but so delicious. The drinks are also great and well made. The rest of the food is good and it's cool to check out their garden nearby. But seriously, get the platter.
(5)
Psyche S.

This is not a bad review. I REALLY wanted to give them 3.5 stars. My La Isla Burrito was pretty good actually, and the garlic potato wedges were good. But had they been hot when they were brought to us, I would have given them 4 stars. All of our plates that included them were soggy-ish/room temp. My daughter's pancakes were so-so for the price. My son ordered the Brunch Board, and that presentation was AMAZING! But unfortunately I think he should have ordered it with lox instead of the poor quality smoked salmon. I so wanted it to be better... Oh well, now we know. Order the lox instead, and ask for the fries to be hot. Other than that, not bad at all.
(3)
jackson h.

THIS IS BREAKFAST. First off, any place that has a line goes with out saying that its worth waiting for. Supply and demand folks. Located in a great northwest homey part of Portland, which felt like a nice quite true american neighborhood. This is place sources I believe most of its food locally and everything is fresh and you can taste it. The quality is undeniable. Once you eat at besaws, you will never want to anything less. I ordered the Crocque madame, so filling and so good! This dish is not for the faint of heart of the small stomach. Super hearty filling breakfast, and man was that brioche bread amazing! I believe my wife had the salmon egg scramble which was fantastic but I was to busy working on my plateful! Just go there already!
(5)
Gwendolyn P.

Amazing food, service, drinks, and atmosphere! Their eggs benedict is one of the best in Portland!
(5)
James P.

We stopped here for a quick breakfast bite and the food and prices were pretty good as I recall. I had a Mexican style breakfast and my wife had some eggs, bacon and toast. Everything was good and the service was good. Good stop if you are in the area.
(4)
Ryan L.

Portland has a ton of outstanding places for breakfast. Besaw's is one of the best. It's friendly, but still kind of edgy. The edge I think is a sense of pride about the food. I've noticed that "common" places with the right price that are too friendly are over compensating for average food. The food: God do the make a killer breakfast burrito. The Eggs Benny is amazing as well. Go here early or look for a different place. The hangover crew fills it up around 9.
(5)
Valerie M.

Hour wait to sit down. 45 min wait after we ordered till we got our food. Ordered the breakfast burger and farmers hash. Food was good but nothing really amazing. Would rather go to tin shed, there is a wait there as well but the hostess is happier and they will text when your seat is ready!
(3)
Edward T.

Worst brunch place in town. I've made the mistake of coming here several times only because I live 3 blocks away. Both times I was told the wait would be 20 min and both times I waited for over an hour. Food is ok at best, most items on the menu are not good. The only decent thing is the eggs Benedict which is only served once a week. The hostess was awful and incompetent. I Watched her seat friends and regulars ahead of other people in line. If it's going to be an hour tell me that it's gonna be an hour not 20 min.
(1)
Karen P.

Without a friend with a car, I may have never discovered the grandeur and glory that was brunch at Besaw's. The space is a perfect combination of restaurant and bar, and on a blustery Portland morning, the primary dining room is quite cozy. The server we had was impeccable, and most likely one of the managers, as his familiarity with the menu was unparalleled. Our coffee came out quickly, shortly followed by one Hellova Breakfast Burrito, covered in avocado slices. Fight valiantly as I may, in the end the burrito edged me out, and came home with me on my flight to Los Angeles as my late night snack. It was even better the second time around. I am so happy we happened upon what turned out to be one of the hot spots on that drag of road. I can't wait to go back and try something else!
(5)
Aimee L.

I'm giving them a 4 stars because my food was fantastic but my husband's food was less than stellar. I ordered the farmer's hash which was fantastic! My husband on the other hand ordered the biscuits and gravy which comes with two eggs. He ordered the eggs over medium which is very obvious to the naked eye when done correctly. When his meal came the eggs were literally slimy all over the plate- not even to the point of being sunny side up much less over medium. We called over the waiter who was nice and immediately took it away and returned within minutes with what looked to be the exact same eggs. Again they were slimy all over the plate - so gross that I (who actually likes sunny side up and over easy) would not even touch them. The waiter obviously didn't even bother looking at the eggs when he brought them back to make sure that my husband was getting what he should be getting. He was really nice otherwise that we couldn't give him a good tip after this - my husband wanted to eat the rest of his food. The biscuits and gravy minus the eggs by the way were terrific - so we made the executive decision that when we do come back it just will not include any kind of egg that is not scrambled as they obviously do not know how to make them. The rosemary potatoes were insanely good by the way. As for the overall service, we walked in on a weekday morning after the regular breakfast rush so the place was half empty. Well servers rushed by nobody even said hello to us or that somebody would be with us shortly. We had to try and catch someone's eye and ask for a table to get seated and then when we were looking at the menu and needed an extra minute it ended up being 10 minutes in the waiter's mind before he came back... Even though we had set our menus down and were staring aimlessly around looking for someone to take our order. :( Both the host and the waiter were nice once we did have their attention, unfortunately getting their attention and was not as easy as we had hoped and having them pay attention to what they were bringing us on our breakfast was of concern as well. Hopefully this was an exception to the rule - I think their food has improved a lot over the years so hopefully the service will improve on our next visit.
(4)
Barnali D.

This place was decent, but not worth the 45 minute wait (though waiting for brunch seems to be the norm in Portland). I enjoyed my avocado omelette and biscuit. My fiancÃ© wasn't too impressed with his meal - the pancake was mediocre at best and the fresh fruit was overripe. He did like his scrambled egg whites and the elk sausage. Besaw's didn't compare to Tasty n Alder or Screen Door, our brunch spots the previous two days, but you can't win all the time!
(3)
Jess S.

They have the best Mac and cheese I have had in portland so far. It's a bit pricey. The staff to my experience so far come off a bit pretentious. It's still on my list to make it their for breakfast or brunch.
(4)
Casey K.

We started off our Friday brunch very excited about trying Besaw's! Portland regulars have raved that this is the ultimate breakfast experience so we were jazzed to indulge. However, our very poor service, lack of attention, undercooked potato fries, and mediocre entrees deeply disappointed this foodie. Besaw's misses the mark of what it claims to be. The good: the coffee and the atmosphere The bad: service during a mild brunch rush and over sensationalized food
(3)
Matthew M.

Amazing. Ok, so I hadn't heard that they were doing chicken & waffles until a friend told me. He had that look in his eye and I very innocently asked "want chicken & waffles"? ...we had chicken and waffles.... Three times so far. Every time, it's awesome. The chicken is very large boneless, battered chicken breast. The waffles are big, Belgian waffles. This place kicks ass. ...and oh, their other food is very good too. Been here for a date...a couple of times...and it's a good place for that. Like being here on my own, too. Have chicken and waffles, and tell them that Matt the Mouth sent you. LOL...naaw, don't do that. Just eat chicken and waffles.
(4)
Jevon P.

I love this place. It is adorable, affordable and delicious. I always have amazing service and get seated right away. It is one of the best breakfasts that I have had in all of Portland!
(5)
Kevin M.

Came here with a party of 9 &seating took awhile, however it was worth the wait. I had the Farners Hash, very good and cooked properly. Nicely prepared and food came very quickly. Price was a tad high for what I ordered, but for fresh and timely food it's not too bad.
(4)
Paris O.

REVIEW BASED ON BREAKFAST/BRUNCH ONLY besaw has a great variety of items on their breakfast/brunch menu. they offer great bloody mary's and seasonal mimosa flavors. the covered 3 seasons patio is cozy.
(4)
Paul S.

Ate there 7am weekday. Very slow to take my order, despite one table full. Even slower delivery of one bowl of oatmeal which was blah.
(3)
Stanley M.

Food very good, girlfriend thought the burger was fantastic. I really liked the environment too, great setting. I loved the pot roast.
(4)
Devin R.

Besaws is my favorite brunch place in PDX. It is consistently awesome and has great service. The only issue with Besaws is that there is ALWAYS a wait for brunch, sometimes it is 20 minutes and sometimes it is as much as an hour... Definitely don't miss it, but be prepared for a bit of a wait.
(5)
Angie T.

This place is amazing! The hubby and I shared the farmer's scramble and la isla burrito. Large portions and fast service even though they were packed. Their homemade catsup was delicious. Our waiter, Joshua, was witty and charming to us and all the other tables in his section. The outdoor patio was heated and covered. I can't wait to come back and try everything else on the menu!
(5)
Steven K.

Ordered the Legendary Meatloaf and it was quite good with a generous serving. My wife had the salmon and liked it as well. Service was very good. Ordered the squash soup for a starter and it was horrible. We'll return.
(4)
Mega B.

This place is ok. Waited an hour to get mediocre portions of mediocre food. I had ordered a bacon scramble, took about 30 minutes to get it and there was no bacon. Def didnt want to send it back and wait another 30 minutes..at least there was coffee outside for people waiting in line. I honestly dont understand what the hype is all about, there are many breakfast joints that are far better and with less of a wait.
(3)
Mark P.

Awesome Mothers Day Brunch! Everything was great partly because we went there expecting a long wait (it was an hour) which is bearable on a sunny morning since they have a help-yourself coffee stand outside for wait list folk. Food was great and they brought out our 2-yr-old's food super fast. Great ambiance, the staff managed this crazy day very well. They were attentive to my wife and our daughter which is half the success to me. The menu is the kind that makes me want to go back day after day to keep trying something new, especially when I'd see what other people ordered. I had the Huevos Rancheros which were very good (not mind-blowing good) but well executed.
(5)
Holly D.

Ok..Croque Madame..I don't care what you say it means..to me it translates to yum!. This place speaks fluent breakfast deliciousness! I wanted to jump into the gruyere cheese sauce and swim around. Ever heard of a Pullman Brioche? You will here! Wait was short early on a Saturday, service was perfect (even filled our ice water without asking!), coffee amazing...and the food...well..just the night before I was dreaming of the perfect breakfast and sure I would never find it. That was before Besaw's! Oh and the Hello Burrito...mmm.mmmm.mmmm. I don't wander up to the Alphabet District too often but they didn't even mind that I wasn't a local..they were still nice! Move over all those other breakfast places. Besaw's is here. Well done good and faithful servers!
(5)
G N.

This is in a cute neighborhood that has a good location on a corner. The patio area is a good spot if it's nice and sunny. Portions are pretty generous and the service is great. I am a huge fan of the oatmeal/cranberry pancakes. They are HUGE and fluffy. They have a good texture and taste SO GOOD. I'm not a huge pancake person because usually they are too dense, or way to heavy, but this one tasted and felt just right. Try some of it with the jam that they have on the table. SO GOOD. I definitely wouldn't mind coming back here when I'm back in town.
(5)
Ryan W.

This place was fine. I wish they had more appealing vegetarian options. The potatoes were awesome. The wait for a table was longer than I'd be willing to wait again.
(3)
Hayden N.

My best friend was in town and she wanted to go to Besaw's for breakfast. I've only been here one other time, I can't recall my experience or what I'd eaten yet for some reason, I haven't been back. We went on a Thursday morning, our party of three got seated immediately, there was no wait. We were so excited for their eggs Benedict. We didn't see it on the menu and found out that eggs Benedict is only served on the weekends--we were so disappointed. It took me awhile to decide on breakfast because I didn't have a back up option in mind. I ended up getting biscuits and gravy with two eggs over easy and a side of rosemary garlic potatoes. The food is decent, but nothing I couldn't make myself, which was reason I haven't been back until this time. It's just okay food.
(3)
Jskilicious S.

Small cafe type restaurant. Very small menu for dinner. A few stand out items. The Rosemary fries are really fresh and lightly salted. The fried pickles are overly breaded and come with a cranberry mustard that in my opinion clashes with the pickles and a spicy mayo. The meatloaf is really great. Has a nice crust and dense. I'd order that again. The burger was over cooked and had little flavor. Beer selection very small. My guess is this place is more of a breakfast joint. Service was fairly slow, but friendly.
(3)
Debbie H.

Had a great experience and the food is great. My husband got a breakfast burger with grass fed beef. It is hard to find good quality meat at an affordable price. The biscuits and gravy are delicious as well. Everything is sourced locally when possible and made from scratch. They have water ave coffee, which I had never had. Overall I would highly recommend it, although rumor has it that they are moving soon, so hopefully the new location is just as good!
(4)
Danielle H.

Maybe it's a common idea that I don't know, but roasted garlic, caramelized onions and arugula in a scramble? Magic. Pure magic. Highly recommend the farmers hash. The bread they make the toast with is amazing, as is the biscuit I ordered on the side so I could try the marionberry jam on the table (also phenomenal). All around so so delicious.
(5)
Saba A.

I have been wanting to try Besaws for a while and finally got the chance yesterday for my birthday. I was underwhelmed by both the service and the food. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either and with so many great breakfast places in Portland I don't think I will go back. We ordered the lox and bagels and the Caramel Apple French toast. It took a very long time to get the drinks that we ordered but the food came up very fast which was odd that the drinks would take so long. We only ordered drip coffee and a hot tea. The lox and bagel was presented beautifully but was just regular in taste. The Caramel Apple French Toast was ok a little soggy. The reason we picked this restaurant was we needed it to be somewhere close to good Samaritan hospital so if we did not need to find somewhere close to the hospital again I probably would not come here again. Not horrible but not great.
(3)
Paul O.

I am sad, sad that that Besaw's no longer serves food which I like. I loved this place, for example, their Croque Madame was phenomenal. Today, the eggs were thrown on a super hot grill, one side burnt and the other undercooked slime. The gruyere sauce was also terrible and almost curdled. The pullman brioche was more of a sloppy Texas toast. The ham, there was nothing to like. The potatoes were a squishy oily mess. My wife had the Wild Salmon Scramble, which was not as terrible as my order, but did not impress. The service was great, the waiter confirmed our order ten minutes in, just making sure we remembered what we wanted. I hoped I could drown my sorrows in some good hot sauce, I asked for NW Elixirs, used to be a Besaw's staple. Nope, none of that anymore. The staff was very nice, the atmosphere and location are fantastic, the food is below par. .
(2)
Mandana S.

I'd like to give a shoutout to the Breakfast Burger for being the best lunch option in the area. It is possible that I may have eaten it for lunch two days in a row this week. And it's only Tuesday. Please come here for fancy brunch Sunday. Unlike the rest of the Portlandia these guys take reservations.
(5)
Mel C.

I honestly wish I could eat breakfast food all day, every day, forever so this is now my go to place! The eggs benedicts are solid, and the biscuits and gravy is not only generous but actually doesn't leave me feeling like a puddle of lard after. They are super busy but they do a great job and don't take five years to get you your grinds. The orange juice tastes like juice squeezed from the heavens for some reason. It's also always nice to find a place in the NW area that gives you good portions for your money. Tips: - I've found that the service and food quality are better on the weekends for some reason. Maybe that is when the best of the staff work? - Eggs benedicts only on SUNDAYS!
(4)
Mike I.

Chicken Fried Steak special was the worst I have CFS I have ever had. Ever. Thick oatmeal crust that was oily and near flavorless. The gravy was impressively bad. It was runny and sweet and did nothing to help the floundering CFS. The meat was tough and bland. Biscuit was the only highlight and it was a B plus biscuit. The potato fries were soggy, oily and over salted. Challah French Toast was below average. I don't even think it was made with actual challah. Oy Vey! Corned Beef Hash was the best thing I tried but it was nothing special. The portion was huge and it came in a skillet. So that is nice, i guess. Really though, look elsewhere. Not worth waiting at all.
(1)
Keith W.

Might have been the best brunch I've ever had! The elk sausage is by far the best prepared meat I have ever had. On top of all that the wait staff and pleasant. They are definitely happy to work at Beesaw's. Next time I'm in Portland I will repeat.
(5)
Linda B.

Can't beat the atmosphere of this sweet, romantic cafe... Had desert in the afternoon today. They both had extra touch of orchids on top.
(5)
Frankie C.

Bit of a wait but well worth it! One of the best brunch I have had in Portland. Croque Madame, Breakfast Plate, breakfast burger, and farmers hash all came out excellent. Will return!
(5)
Allison M.

My husband found this place and wanted to try it on our weekend food tour of Portland. We went on a Sunday about 10 and it was crowded with a wait but we were sat really fast, outside, lucky us. We ordered breakfast cocktails and the bartender brought them out himself announcing "party table!". The service was quick without feeling rushed and the server made excellent recommendations. I had the French toast and my husband had the chicken fried steak. Both were delicious. Being from the south we are pretty picky about our southern style food and we weren't disappointed. If you are ever in Portland go here, it is a must!
(5)
Martin T.

I have eaten there several times and always found the food to be really bad. The servers are inept and untrained. Just a very poorly managed place. The Hostess looks at you and expects you to begin the conversation. How about a "Hi welcome to be saws, how many in your party". Unorganized and poor customer service are the hallmarks of this place.
(1)
Danielle T.

Their breakfast sandwich is my favorite in Portland.
(4)
Mason B.

I had the best salmon scrambled eggs ever! She even three in guac for me. I don't have to tell you that this place is great bc you'll see the line going out the front door. A true Portland gem in a great cozy neighborhood.
(4)
Victoria A.

I loved the atmosphere of this place! It was cute and quaint, and the waitstaff was awesome!
(5)
Cory S.

Had a great meal here. The chicken and waffles for dinner. The waitress was honest and told us that it would be plenty for us to share especially since we wanted to try the mac and cheese. We really appreciated her honesty because she was 100% correct. The service was quick and polite. I recommend eating outside on a nice day.
(4)
Josh K.

The breakfast here is magical. That's pretty much all you can say. Magical breakfast elves preparing delicious food. Or something... Great ambiance, amazing food, good location. If you like breakfast (who doesn't?), you'll love Besaw's. I'm still having dreams about their French Toast and their amazing bacon. If you're in NW 23rd and it's before 3pm, just go. It will be well worth it. There will probably be a wait, but again, it's worth it. Seriously. Stop reading this dumb review and just go, already.
(5)
Lily S.

Breakfast sandwich. It will change your life. Lots of prompt coffee warmups, even though we were sitting outside, and super friendly service. Other times I've eaten here I've gotten the huevos rancheros- super good. My dad had the huckleberry bacon pancakes and a huge, foamy cappuccino. The menu here continues to impress, and they are clearly comfortable with the offerings. There's nothing more disappointing than a gourmet special offering that exceeds the cooks' skill. Not the case here! Everything we've had is tasty, hot, and fresh.
(5)
Rebekka P.

I've come here a few times for early breakfast and was impressed each time- I think my favorite thing about this place is the atmosphere. Hard to explain why beyond that I feel really comfortable here and enjoy eating here by myself or with my boyfriend. The food is great, and Bobby the morning bartender was fantastic.
(5)
Emi T.

Solid, delicious comfort food in a cozy, classic environment. The mac 'n cheese is amazing and the portion they give you is huge, especially considering how rich the dish is. I also had the Cafe Brian - which was like dessert in a cup: a latte with chocolate, vanilla, and whipped cream - it was a great pick-me-up on a rainy, dreary day. I love that they serve breakfast until 3pm, too. I will definitely be back, I will just always make sure to come during their down times so that I can find a parking space and not have to wait too long (if at all) for a table.
(5)
Sammy G.

I had the worst experience!! Our family was visiting Portland over Thanksgiving weekend and one of my friends recommended this place, so we went with great expectations. The line was long but the servers assured us that it would only be a few minutes, and that we were up next. However, we waited about 50 minute before we realized that the manager was secretly giving other people who came much later tables before us. It appears that the manager knew those people and gave them a favor. No one- waiter, manager or hostess seemed to give us a second glance. Finally, we decided to just leave after wasting 50 minutes.
(1)
Lisa V.

Our first meal in Portland: breakfast at Besaw's. I had read ahead of time that the brunching hour was a major Portland deal and that, you should pretty much expect a wait for any decent brunch place. Well, this was a Friday morning so we had no wait at all! It's a cozy cafe, so I can see how it could easily get crazy on Sundays. Hubby and I did the usual breakfast order, one sweet and one savory plate to share! I had the ample French toast and hubby, the Farmer's hash. My French toast, in all honesty, was just OK and the serving size was monstrous. The Farmer's Hash was DEEEEEELISH. After we got home, we were freshly inspired to create our own little roasted garlic scramble. Add to that the range of NW brand hot sauces...YUM. Our server was super friendly and helpful, this being our first day in Portland ever. She gave us a lot of great, touristy ideas for sightseeing with the babe. I'd definitely recommend this spot.
(4)
Kim L.

What a great place to go for brunch! The croque Madame was delicious. The gruyere cheese sauce was very rich on top of a brioche bun... and the egg was poached just right. The plate was seasoned well. I'm excited to try other things on the menu. The service was fine and we didn't feel rushed at all and everyone that we saw in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying themselves too. However, I'd probably venture to go once in a while because the wait is extremely long. So if you want a spot, I recommend going early to snag a spot.
(3)
MirMack M.

Great place for breakfast. They seat groups in the covered back porch area which has heat lamps. Brunch is always busy but if you have a group make reservations and avoid the line. Their dinners are fantastic and not busy at night. I've gone many times and will go again and again.
(4)
Suzanne Z.

After hearing how Portland is a brunch town, we wanted to make sure to do a nice brunch before leaving. We had passed this place previously, and it had a line out the door. Thankfully, for a Monday morning, we were sat quickly- but it was still quite busy! A girl came by to fill water glasses. I gave her a cheerful "hello!", and she said "Hi." and quickly walked off. I was hoping she wasn't the waitress, since she seemed rushed and unhappy to be there. Our waitress was someone else, and was super nice though. I did note one other girl who was also with sort of a flat affect. The way those two rushed around without a smile made me feel a little uncomfortable. The water they poured was very room temperature too. Ick. Other than that, the experience was good. I ordered the french toast with fruit compote which was delicious and also tried a bite of my friends avocado omelette and rosemary potatoes which was fantastic. I would come back to Portland just to try that for myself!! Both of us could not finish our food. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere- I liked that it has an "exposed" kitchen, where you can see the two cooks working together. If I lived in Portland, I'd be here for all meals, and possibly a late night cocktail! Quite a feat to have a restaurant that can do all of those things well.
(4)
Erin S.

This place serves chicken and waffles on Fridays, and they have classic Collins cocktails. Love and Love.
(5)
Leslie H.

de-freaking-lightful little place in lovely nob hill. roasted beet sandwich and a bloody mary cured my weekday hangover with just the right amount of salty deliciousness, and the coffee was brewed to perfection. coupled with the pleasant service and comfy atmosphere, i'm looking foward to my next visit to portland so i can head back to besaw's.
(4)
Emily E.

The BEST eggs Benedict I have ever had. I usually shy away from the bene because I am always left disappointed. Why is it that its so damn hard for most people to get it right? Anyway...Great breakfast, great service, great atmosphere. I'll definitely be going back! ...and I managed to get the perfect parking spot, which always sets the breakfast experience off right :-) .
(5)
Griffin M.

Breakfast was great. Pancakes were very large.
(5)
Kyle P.

This is one of my favorite places to eat brunch in Portland. The service is always great, the food is consistently good and their Spanish coffee is the best I have ever had. I highly recommend Besaw's.
(5)
MISTY L.

I know this place is well know for breakfast and has long breakfast lines, but dinner is awesome! I loves the meatloaf, and have also had the crepes. Great news they have take out. I had to stay in Portland for several days due to an illness and getting takeout was here was a great high point. Cured a little of the home sick with home cook food, good health and no greasy spoon here!
(5)
chris m.

Hard to find much negative to say, charming ambiance, great food, friendly service and comparable prices. The service was slightly slow, as were the refills on coffee but there is no sense in getting nitpicky since we talked for days after our meal about how much we enjoyed Besaw's.
(5)
Jim L.

Not a great first trip for my wife. I had the huevos rancheros and a pancake.....sweet and savory yeah? The huevos were good if uninspired. The salsa was house made so fresh tasting. The pancake was good too...an interesting flavor to it...not bad, just like a bit too much baking soda...kinda mineral-y. Not a fan of the coffee either. I believe it's Stumptown and it's too bitter for my taste. My wife asked for a cappaccino but the espresso machine was broken. They tried to use regular coffee and steamed milk but it didn't work. Her breakfast was Croces Madame? It was bad. Eggs almost hardboiled on ham and a brioche of some kind. Very little sauce so the whole affair was like the sands of the Sahara in her mouth (dry, not gritty). The rosemary potatoes were overly her bed so it starts to be work to keep eating them. Probably just tried Besaw's on the wrong day....
(2)
Todd B.

a Portland institution that shall not be taken over by a couple of grey suit deuce bags from CE Johns Co- a real estate company not even based in Portland which is suing to own the name....to sell it of course. Not good for the NW community or Portland...go back ti Vancouver deuce bags with your greedy real estate tactics and get out of Oregon. You are not welcome here
(5)
Bob K.

Out of this world. Very busy. Went on a Monday morning 10:30a. There was a line starting. Had the farmers hash. Extremely tasty but a little short on the bacon. Biscuit was Uhh. Nothing special and it was flat top fried. Coffee is very good and staff was very nice and on it. But just OK.
(3)
Caden R.

We had a reservation for a group of 6 for 11:00 am on a Saturday. We had to wait a little bit for a table to clear so that we could be seated because it was so busy. We were seated at 11:30, which I was fine with, but just know that even if you have a reservation you might have to wait. Also, concerning groups, they will only split the check between two cards, no more. The Isla burrito is delicious. The Farmer's hash is also worth a try. The service was great, my water was refilled so many times it was as if a well was bubbling up from beneath my glass. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Would recommend!
(4)
Denni P.

Fantastic energy, great staff! ordered special Tuscan Eggs Benedict with sage and oatmeal pancakes. STOP with the great food PORTLAND, I will gain so much weight! I'm not a pancake fan but after those oatmeal pancakes I became a fan. Service was super friendly even though the servers were super busy, they made time for friendly chatter. Worth the wait! No wifi
(4)
Ritu K.

Been here a few times and always thought it was decent. The wait is a total pain on the weekend so on a free Tuesday we thought why not. Sadly that'll be our last trip to Besaw's. Brunch was just completely underwhelming and trying to track down a server for forgotten juice (thankfully it wasn't coffee we would have rioted) turned into an impossible feat. My pancake was undercooked and mushy in the middle (I could make mushy pancakes at home) and my husband's burrito had a ton of undercooked kale (gross) that no amount of Tapatio could drown out. Thanks but we'll head elsewhere..
(3)
Chris R.

If you're here for breakfast save time from looking at the menu and just order the Croque Madame! The ham was fresh and smokey, the eggs were cooked to perfection and the house made brioche melts in your mouth! I got my rosemary potatoes well done and they came out perfect, not too crispy, so I recommend adding that into your order if you don't like mushy potatoes.
(4)
Gerald K.

The tasty food and the excellent service at Besaws is outstanding. It is uber popular but you can almost always slid into one one the historic bar stools at the counter. I usually eat breakfast....they also serve lunch and dinner. If you are on trendy NW 23rd you better eat at historic Besaws or you are just missing out on a NW icon
(5)
Lindsey M.

Just had breakfast here for the first time a few weeks ago and it was amazing! We came on a weekday morning early so it was nice and quiet. The service and food were fast! It gets crazy here on the weekends so get there early. The price can't be beat and we had great espresso too!
(5)
H S.

I love Besaw's! They have amazing brunch and, though there is a wait on the weekends, they have coffee outside and you can wander up to take a look at what's in the garden. If you are gluten-free or want to sub in veggies or fruit for the (very delightful rosemary) potatoes, you can. I highly recommend the two egg breakfast with chicken basil sausage, gluten free bun (from Jensens) and veggies. I'd love it if they had stumptown coffee or at least something less bitter than Water Ave, but hey, I like my coffee even if it's a bit bitter.
(5)
Bobbi J.

Went to this cafe this morning for Brunch and it was wonderful! Be careful though....the place is busy and packed. Get your name on the list and take a stroll down the little neighborhood....very quaint and some cute shops. My girlfriend had the French Toast and it was so good! The best I have ever had. I had the eggs, bacon and rosmary/garlic potatoes...very good hearty breakfast. I cant wait to go back and try some more meals! Just good!
(5)
Heather W.

This place was... Okay. We went for dinner and from what I've heard breakfast/brunch is their best meal of the day. The appetizer "besaw's board" was filling and delicious, but all three of the main courses our party got were nothing special. It is priced a little high at dinner time as well. The atmosphere was nice, but our waiter looked and acted like it was the last place he wanted to be. Overall, not a place I'd recommend for dinner, but for drinks and appetizers it was nice.
(3)
Courtney K.

You know you have arrived at Besaw's when you come across the street corner in the Northwest where there is a crowd of people hanging out. For breakfast there is always a wait but I think it is worth it. They have coffee outside so that helps make the wait more palatable and a bit warmer in the winter months. The food is delicious and service is prompt. I've had several dishes here and have never been disappointed. One of my favorites was an egg white, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes scramble. Mmmmm. Besaw's is old as the hills which makes for a quaint atmosphere.
(4)
Deanna N.

This is a NW staple for breakfast, and 9 am on a Saturday there is a wait. Had a nice turkey eggs Benedict in honor of thanksgiving. Waitress and manager nicely comped friend breakfast when was late. Ala cart pancakes, french brioche toast and Belgian waffle sweets offered along with breakfast burritos. Patio a little overheated.
(5)
Sara W.

Always my go-to brunch spot for the weekends. Usually a wait, but is never more than 30 minutes. They have coffee outside you can sip while you wait.
(4)
Shannon D.

Had a lovely breakfast outside. Well made eggs (the prosciutto ones yum) and fresh ingredients. Chocolate milk was powder + milk so that was a downer - otherwise very nice, good service, calm, peaceful
(4)
Stephanie K.

Ultimate hangover breakfast food! This place is perfect when you're barely awake and trying to remember all the stupid shit you did last night. The place is packed without being too loud to make your head ache even more than it is. And once you get your breakkie...it feels like the world has come to a standstill to let you enjoy this beautiful moment and meal you are about to have. Eggs are amazing and I wanted to just eat spoonful after spoonful of jam. Such good food!
(5)
S M.

My go-to brunch spot. Fresh, local ingredients prepared when you order. The breakfast is very satisfying, note it is also made clean, no greasy mess here. I usually go for the benedict, the avocado bacon is delicious. They also have specials which keep the menu fresh and give you a chance to try something new. Thank you we will be back as often as we can!! Tip: Seating for 2 is abundant, I have never waited more than 15-20 mins during peak brunch hours,
(5)
Tiffany S.

Busy on Sunday morning but delish. Good Bloody Mary and the special bacon avocado Benedict were just what I was looking for.
(4)
Shayne T.

Half our table got great food and some was just ok. Pretty good food in all but not really worth the wait. Service could've been way better tho...
(3)
Ursula M.

One nice thing about the long weekend wait is that they have a coffee stand outside where you can serve yourself. My husband had the huevos rancheros and liked it. I had the Farmers' Hash, and thought it was good, but the potatoes should've been browned. They were like a Northwesterner's skin at the end of winter. BLAH! It's VERY noisy and VERY crowded. A good place for occasional visits, but we won't be regulars.
(3)
Elaine W.

Breakfast & Brunch are my favorite meals of the day. I haven't tried lunch or dinner at Besaw's yet, but it's definitely one of the best places to go to for early dining! Portions are generous, and the food is as visually appealing as it is delicious. (See the pic I uploaded of the plate of French toast we ordered - yum!) The ambiance of the place reminds me of the cafes I would frequent during my trips around Spain and France. The space is small and seating is a bit cramped. We were lucky enough to find a table without too long of a wait time.
(4)
Brett M.

The service. The ambiance. The speed of seating. THE FOOD. Everything here was amazing and places like this simply do not exist in Hawaii (where we're from). The chicken fried steak was delicious and the Rosemary potatoes! Oh, and ask for their hot sauce... I wish I asked to buy some!
(5)
Katoune B.

Came here afterwork for dinner with my coworker and BF for the first time and tried the chicken scallopine. Every bite was flavorful and tasty. I ended up killing the whole dish in like 10mins. Portion was perfect and chicken was nice and tender. The Bloody Mary was a great starter and complimented the dish well. It's too bad this place is shutting down end of next month. Cute little spot in NW and service was great. I would love to come back here again before they close.
(5)
Maria M.

I was so excited to spend my birthday with girlfriends here but it was TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT. I was totally ignored since I got there until my guests arrived then I have to wave our server and after that somehow forgot to send in our orders but appetizers were miraculously delivered. He ignored our table until we had to wave him down to check on our orders. So we called for the bill and left hungry. As much we understand the restaurant could be busy, it wasn't at all. I have chosen this place to celebrate my birthday because I saw great pictures on their Instagram page. I can't say anything about they food because I didn't have chance to try. I called the restaurant to complain and they hung up on me. In their Instagram page he wrote to me: Constructive criticism is what makes any endeavor great! No apology at all. I guess they have been in this business for so long that they don't care about new costumers.
(1)
Dan H.

Besaw's is another institution in Portland. The place has been around since 1903. A long time and proof that if you are serving good and quality food that you can stay in business in a food city like Portland. Sue and I wanted to get brunch on a weekend and we didn't want to wait in a long line. Besaw's does get a line, but we got here around 10 or so minutes before they opened on a weekend morning and were the 3rd and 4th people in the front door. After a glass of killer fresh OJ (squeezed in-house) I jumped into the Huevos Rancheros ($11). The menu had a lot of items I would have been interested in, but this item under the Besaw's Specialties section caught my eye and made it stay there. Spicy black beans, over-easy eggs, ranchero sauce, cheddar, chives, avocado in a whole wheat or corn tortilla. They have sour cream with this dish too, but I won't go there. This is a fairly easy dish, but one I had not had in a long time. Very good here. Everything was very fresh. The addition of some hot sauces that were brought to the table made the dish just that much better. Unfortunately we sat in the back of the restaurant so I really didn't get a chance to view the bar area all that much. The place has some homey charm to it. Comforting like a good shoe. I plan on coming back and seeing what dinner is like here.
(4)
Vanessa M.

We came here for dinner one night and sat outside under the covering. We had a round of beers and great food. The service could have been slightly better but overall the experience was pretty good. I started with the soup of the day, and we all shared a few things: fried chicken, burger, and the baked mac. All three were delicious and full of flavor. I am interested to see what their brunch is like, although I would imagine it gets pretty packed.
(4)
Abby K.

Just the breakfast we were looking for on our trip to Portland. Awesome homeade jam and ketchup on the table. I got eggs, gluten free toast and the elk sausage. Great meal
(5)
Rebecca N.

Short and sweet: brunch wonderland, cozy interior, leaning more towards restaurant than bar, brilliant service from wonderful staff. Long version: There's a reason why the line for brunch snakes around the corner of 23rd and Savier, and back again, each weekend morning. There's a reason why I'm planning to invade my next-door neighbor's flat and peer over her patio to keep a tab on that line and find a good time to run in and get on the list this Saturday. When I moved to the apartments across the street last month, Besaw's was the first stop in my search for a new default bar (my PDX Kraftwork, if you will). I'm a lightweight, so I can really only manage to become a regular and know all the bartenders' names at one - so this is a serious quest. A diagonal walk across the intersection put Besaw's at the bare minimum acceptable distance from my new domicile... And then I saw the hours. There's no way my little bird brain can remember them. 7-something a few days a week, 2-5 some other times, what? Ok, this is not my new Bar. Womp. It is, however, my new lazy breakfast place (I found my PDX Honey's without even looking! Oh sweet fate.). The savory breakfast options are dreamy - eggs cooked perfectly, the most delectable rosemary breakfast potatoes that are essentially elevated rosemary fries, and so addictive. At my last visit, I had oatmeal pancakes, which were impossibly light and fluffy yet still tasted wholesome. My friends have enjoyed their biscuits/gravy/meatymeat/saltymurder entrees as well. With a regular 7am opening time, I could even hop in here before work on weekdays! On weekends, they set up a cart outside so you can sip on some delicious coffee while waiting for a table. Service is downright fantastic. Our server noticed that my coffee was sitting untouched, as I had poured a little bit of creamer in and was blinking through bleary eyes at it, trying to figure out whether or not it was curdling. He casually whisked it away and replaced it with a fresh cup and fresh pitcher of cream, with a smile. Service was similarly fantastic when we stopped in for dinner, which was also delicious across the board. And what really sealed the deal for me was coming across Besaw's little garden nearby on Savier. Totally adorable.
(5)
Cassaundra P.

Breakfast was excellent. Dinner not great. A little pricey, but you get quality food.
(4)
Chris E.

Thoroughly enjoyed our recent Sunday Brunch at Besaw's. Lovely menu, great service, nice atmosphere. Gluten free options are always wonderful to find on a menu. Very nice to be able to make a Sunday breakfast reservation, too. Parking is a bit tricky, but that's always the case in NW Portland. Not one bad thing to say. We'll be back.
(4)
Dr. Sel M.

Simply amazing. I had the farmers hash with egg whites, no way I could ever finish it, huge portions. Coffee was a little weak but the dish I got was a definite must try
(5)
Jayson C.

Love it here. Bring all my out of towners for brunch. It's old as fertile dirt, and that's awesome. If u are patient the weekend wait is worth it. Grab a "free" coffee as you wait and get the biscuit and gravy its the best!
(5)
Haroun K.

The reputation and the decor had me convinced I was in for a great meal. In fact, it was very so-so, maybe a 2.5 star experience. I wouldn't recommend the mac and cheese. It is sort of bland, without any strong cheese flavor. And it arrived frigid. When I asked for it to be reheated, the waiter was aloof, and didn't even offer a half-hearted apology. And this is in Portland, where people apologize almost as much as Canadians! When the dish came back, it was lukewarm in spots, and still cold in others. Not good. The brussel sprouts side dish is brussel sprouts, which stand on their own merit, but nothing special was done to them. The chocolate chip cookie dessert was very middle of the road. The veggie lasagna did get high marks, however, and the beer and wine lists are quite good. Besaw's may be an institution, but that's not enough to make me want to come back for more.
(3)
Annie A.

Overrated...sure the corned beef hash was awesome, and so was the Bloody Mary, but the biscuits and gravy had to much nutmeg, and the wait staff was disappointing. We expected a wait and went prepared, what we didn't expect was that the hostess would seat friends of hers who had gotten there after we did before us, this probably didn't set the tone very well. This is probably one of the most famous brunch joints in the neighborhood so maybe my expectations were to high, but next weekend I'll probably opt for Kornblatts.
(3)
Kelli S.

Every trip here has been amazing. Highly recommend.
(5)
PJ D.

I really don't understand the hype or line that forms for this restaurant. I've been to Besaw's multiple times and I've yet to ever have anything with any flavor. It's like they don't use seasoning. Today I had bland buttermilk pancakes. Other things my table ordered looked better but they received the same complaint. After waiting 17 minutes past our reservation time for our table the service was relatively prompt and the food came out quickly. Not seating us at our reservation time, especially with two kids in our party was annoying however.
(2)
Roscoe T.

Excellent Sunday brunch. It took a while to get the five of us seated but they had complimentary coffee at a stand outside while we waited. Once seated the service was spot on and quick. My Bloody Mary was great as was everyone's cocktails. My eggs and smoked salmon were a tad dry but not enough to nick them on it, and all at the table were delighted with their entrees. This place reminds me a lot of the Buena Vista in San Francisco. Will definitely return whenever I'm in Portland.
(5)
Hannah D.

Best brunch I had in Portland! Awesome bubbles and was seated within 20 minutes outside! There was a small mix up with my name on the list but it was handled well. Our waitress had awesome cues timer service (blonde, thin). Highly recommend!!!
(5)
Erika M.

Aaaaaahhhhmazing! Cue the little angels singing. House made chorizo, homemade ketchup, buttery biscuits, delicious coffee, quality & local products, quaint lil shop & great service. Need I say more?
(5)
Mike T.

Place was real busy when we went in on Sunday for B-fast. A place with a long line and wait is always a very good sign. This was the 2nd time we've eaten at Besaws and we were not disappointed. Service was great. The wait staff was friendly. I got the french toast with berry's and a side of Elk sausage. The elk sausage was fantastic and a great compliment to the sweet french toast. OVerall a great experience. A big plus is the available complimentary coffee outside which is available as you wait. Only drawback is the coffee was not as strong as I would have liked and it would have been good to know the specials from the wait staff. They were written on a very small card on the table, which we found after we ordered.
(4)
Tadzio D.

Pleasant atmosphere and great service. Do not recommend the Biscuits and Gravy. Instead if you have a chance get the Eggs Benny with guac and bacon.
(4)
Sara E.

Food was decent and well portioned but service was iffy especially for a Tuesday morning. Stop arguing about podcasts and take our order please... And please don't automatically put me on the patio on a freezing day- maybe ask me first? Especially when there's plenty of room inside. Also forgot my side dish. I'd hesitate to return on a weekend morning when it's actually really busy.
(3)
Jennifer G.

This place was alright. The employees were a little odd, the bloodies were horrible, and food was decent.
(3)
Judy K.

Bloody Mary's from scratch, homemade everything as well as the ketchup. Had the corned beef hash with biscuit, served in a piping hot cast iron skillet, yum yum. Our server, Taylor was so sweet and service was accommodating for meal modifications. Farmers hash was also yum. On a road trip great find for brunch
(5)
Jenny S.

Even the toast and jam were incredible!
(5)
Scott L.

The food is delicious, the service is great, and the pricing is pretty good as well. I really love the atmosphere and it's one of my favorite places to get breakfast in town.
(5)
Glenn C.

Absolutely scrumptious omelets. Well worth the wait. This is one of our favorite breakfast places when I visit my daughter in Portland.
(5)
Johnny L.

Besaws uses locally grown, organic vegetables and quality meats in all of their dishes. The benedicts are all delicious. I ordered the Croque Madame and was blown away with the perfect blend of eggs, ham, cheese and it was cooked to perfection. The greek yogurt with oats and honey is by far the tastiest in town! I visit Besaws every trip to Portland and plan to again and again!
(5)
Dustin S.

I had a French toast sandwhich with ham, bacon and cream cheese... It was good. Garlic potatoes were really garlic-ish. Hash was bomb, bacon was bomb. But these guys only except 2 cards per party, making a brunch with friends alittle difficult.
(4)
Courtney H.

After a lengthy discussion with my significant other about where to go for NYE, we decided on Besaw's. We moved to the NW about 3 months ago and wanted to go someplace nice for dinner in the neighborhood that we haven't tried yet, so were really excited about finally making it to Besaw's for a special night. I called and left a message on their voicemail the week before Christmas (per their instructions), never heard anything back, so called again later that day and spoke to a hostess who said that they absolutely had a table for 2 at 8:30pm on NYE and she took my reservation. We were set!!!!! Until the day before NYE. When I received a call from Besaw's stating they weren't actually OPEN on NYE. Everyone makes mistakes - I get that. But to not catch that there were reservations in the reservation book on one of the most difficult nights of the year to get a reservation ANYWHERE and leave your patrons in such a last minute lurch without really sounding like you even care is really atrocious. I really really wanted to like you, Besaw's.
(1)
DiNA T.

Excellent little breakfast spot in the Alphabet! Well, they serve more than breakfast but that's what we had. We both got the standard breakfast with eggs OM; I got the spicy elk sausage and biscuit and BF got the pork apple sausage and fruit. Eggs were cooked perfectly--we have been welcomed by this city with perfectly cooked eggs--which is not something we can get at home. The "spicy" elk sausage wasn't spicy at all but rather sweet, so I swapped it with the BF for the DELICIOUS pork sausage. The biscuit was divine, but the gravy was rather odd IMHO so I slathered that bad boy with some butter and jam. The service was amazing and friendly, and the atmosphere was a busy breakfast kitchen. I loved it!!
(5)
Renee L.

We live in the neighborhood and come to Besaws 1-2 times per month for the weekend breakfast/brunch. It is by far our favorite spot for breakfast. We've actually quit trying new places because the others are pricier and not nearly as delicious. All the waitstaff are wonderful, no issues. Attentive, friendly, unique, not a lot of turnover. The wait can be long on the weekends (30ish minutes for a party of 2) but we don't mind because we can drink the serve yourself coffee outside and build up an appetite. My boyfriend ALWAYS orders the 2 egg breakfast which I'm pretty sure is only $6. It comes with the best rosemary garlic potatoes, and slices of some really delicious multigrain bread. Homemade marionberry jam and house ketchup really make the meal. I sometimes get the same, but have also eaten almost everything on their menu and its all amazing. The florentine Benedict is my absolute favorite. The key are the roasted tomatoes. Highly recommended.
(5)
Shannan B.

This is the kind of place that makes Portland a foodies paradise! We got in early ( highly recommend this, there was a line as we were leaving) and the service was congenial from the get go. I wish I would have asked our server his name because he was wonderful! Our food was over the top! Well worth the price! The rosemary potatoes were incredible and try the homemade catsup, it was perfect!! I can't say enough about this little restaurant!! As our server would say " words fail to describe " !
(5)
Jacob K.

I ignorantly assume when there's a line at a place, there's a line for a reason. Besaws defies that logic. We showed up early Monday and managed to get a table for two right away, sweet. Unfortunately they don't serve eggs benedict on weekdays... wut? I ordered a belgian waffle and it was so lackluster. The private selection brand of frozen belgian waffles I buy at the store are better than this. My sister ordered the biscuits & gravy. The gravy was virtually flavorless.. thick grey matter, even salt couldn't bring it to life. Like most places on NW 23rd, the presentation of the dishes were good, the location and atmosphere of the restaurant is good, but the food embodies "meh"-ness. The menu is insanely basic and nothing pops. I looked at all the other dishes people around us had, all of it was presented well but it still looked so pedestrian. I don't see this place surviving another year.
(2)
Charles K.

Heard the food here was good so went to try it. Unfortunately I didn't even get to eat here. We were told there was a 20 min wait which was fine. We'll after 35 mins I noticed people who weren't there before us were getting seat down. I questioned the hostess who worked there. She was sitting her friends before people who had been waiting. Don't waste your money here. It's over priced and you probably won't be seated if the hostess friends show up.
(1)
Andrea P.

Food is wonderful, service exceptional and coffee pretty good! Also, had my three children with us and they were nice enough to put us in the covered outdoor area to allow my kids to be crazy loud kids! Good move!
(5)
Aubree C.

Well, I should have been warned regarding the wait when we came here for breakfast on 6/8 after reading reviews, so I partially blame myself. Our family of 3 (my husband and I plus our 5 year old) arrived at 9:30, was told it would be 25mins to wait and didn't get seated until 10:45. We would have left had we known the wait would be so long and had we not been consistently told through out our wait that we would be next. We saw many seated (w/out reservs) before us including a table of 3 that added an extra chair to a table of 2. Why weren't we offered that? My poor 5 year old was starving by the time we got seated and my husband was in such a foul mood that he barely spoke during our entire (now brunch) meal. Good selection to choose from on the menu and I chose the hash. It was good but not great and DEFINITELY NOT WORTH THE WAIT. My husband concurs with his meal as well. Good but not great. We are big foodies here and make an annual trip to Portland during the Rose fest. Our main deal while we are in town is to find some good grub. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it unless you make reservs (and even then those people had to wait to be seated) or come during the week. We will definitely not be coming back. I've had better many other places in P-town. *It IS nice that they offer you coffee while you wait however I don't find that a good enough incentive for the terrible (front end) service, not great food and horrendous wait.
(3)
Brooke C.

Really great restaurant! Unfortunately, the hostess was not the friendliest...I blame it on she was having a bad day. A little bit overpriced as far as the food goes, but I have not been disappointed with taste the 2 times I have visited.
(4)
Liz O.

What makes Besaw's special? The only answer I have to that is the story of the restaurant, and I won't blow it for you, but you can read it on the walls.. Nothing too crazy, so don't be upset if you go out of your way to make a stop here. 45 minute said wait, which turned into an hour and 10 minutes. I wouldn't mind so much, except the last time we asked when we were up (at about the hour mark), we were told we were next. The next group was called - not us. The group after that? Not us either. This went on for about three more parties - it almost became amusing, if my stomach wasn't overcoming a hurdle to get food. The bloody mary I got to drink outside while waiting did not cut it (won't ever order that again, by the way!). Food: I ordered the chicken-fried steak, which was not what I was looking for and seemed to lack flavor. I can't dock points for this though, because my boyfriend enjoyed it - so maybe I was being particular about my CFS. The biscuits and gravy were the best part, but I wouldn't wait an hour for those. Salmon scramble - everyone raved about, it wasn't bad at all - coming from someone who doesn't like salmon too much. Omelette - chicken with asparagus. Someone in our group had a bone in it. Enough said. Now, I am not the type to rate a restaurant negatively based off of a long wait - they certainly had a lot of fans (maybe for the free coffee outside??). But, the food needs to be worth the fame, and I didn't feel that it was. I'd try it again considering my experience may have been an anomaly!
(3)
Megan S.

I really love Besaw's. It's in my old neighborhood, and was one of my favorite places to take visitors. My favorite times to go are at 8-9AM on weekends, and weekday evenings, because otherwise, it's quite a wait. They've got a great American menu - breakfast selection is delicious and wide - burritos, salmon&lox, egg dishes. Their menu is spectacular, and that's why people generally think of this place as a brunch place. But they're wrong. Dead wrong. Dinner at Besaw's is wonderful. I'd actually say the evening atmosphere within the restaurant is also a little better - candles, and dark saloon-esque interior/patio lighting make for an intimate, leisurely meal with friends or family. I've had their Mac - Tillamook cheddar, I tells ya; and their bison lasagna, which is heavenly. AB. SOLUTELY heavenly. Savory, and tomatoey with just the right sauce-to-meat ratio. If you're debating on going, STOP. And just go. You won't be sorry.
(4)
M. Ben B.

Anytime you find yourself saying "mmmm" out loud while eating a buffalo burger is a good sign. Lunch today was damn good. Breakfast yesterday, eggs bene were ok, but nothing special. Service was good, but I sit at the bar so there's no wait and always a bartender. Atmosphere is the pleasant drone of busyness.
(5)
Raina T.

Came here on a Sunday for brunch with my girlfriends. As expected, there were a lot of people waiting and it took about 40-45min for us to get a table. They have a little coffee station outside for people to have a cup of joe while they wait, which is nice. I ordered the bacon avocado benedict which was delicious! The eggs were cooked perfectly (always a pet peeve of mine when the eggs are overcooked on a benny) and the potatoes were great as well. I was also excited about the fact that they had aardvark sauce, which I am obsessed with! Overall a nice place to grab some breakfast before strolling down 23rd and enjoying the day!
(4)
Roger M.

Back to the19th century Besaw was a local hangout for gambling and what else, beer drinking! You can sit at the same mahogany bar in a retro stool that old time hop-heads used to chug brews. Also, check out the huge veggie & herb garden out back and see why Besaw is fresh & sustainable--they can, pickle & ferment the bounty! My wife and I have eaten here 18 times - all great! Here's a summary from my food journal. Responsive & friendly servers. Excellent meat loaf. Have a dessert chef. Great grass fed burger and fries. Delicious breakfasts with free range eggs, organic beef, buy only from local farms. Hard to find a better breakfast. Like omelets and side of bacon, apple cider home-made fresh. Big tasty Burrito with chorizo, cheddar, and spinach topped with extra sour cream. Awesome prosciutto scrambled eggs with asiago cheese. Farmers hash is great-taste-a-bite with scrambled eggs, asiago cheese, bacon, asparagus, garlic and rosemary potatoes. French toast with real maple syrup. Be prepared for a long wait on weekends but you can not go wrong!
(5)
Aaron V.

I live in NW and this place is always a great neighborhood go to! They switch up their specials every month I think. The caramel apple french toast didn't disappoint!!!
(5)
Tom M.

This is another one of Portland's premier five star breakfast spots. On Sunday you have to be in by 9 o'clock or you will have to plan to wait. I'm not sure why I waited so long to try this one out but I can honestly say, we'll be back. They won't seat you without your entire party present but we got a table immediately. Oh Besaw's, you tickle my taste buds. Breakfast was excellent as I had the wild salmon scramble: Three eggs, house-smoked wild salmon, fresh herbs, cream cheese, and chives. All egg dishes are served with rosemary-garlic roasted potatoes & multigrain toast. They also offer gluten-free options for all us glutards (One who does not possess the enzymes necessary to digest gluten, a main ingredient in wheat products. One who is "glutarded" must only eat gluten-free foods, such as water, tofu, and air.) Great atmosphere with impeccable service. Lots of windows line the 23rd street wall so even on a rainy day it's pretty bright in there. Service was excellent. Thanks Besaw's for a wonderful breakfast experience.
(5)
Ed K.

I was tempted to give this place 4 stars but those mini scones they pass out while you wait totally earned them that extra star. Three of us went in for brunch on Mother's day and I was expecting a craazzzzyyy wait but was told the wait would be about 45 minutes. Okay, not bad. But it turned into more like a little over an hour. Fine. Food: I had the Croque Madam and it was awesome! I love me sauce and gooey egg yolk. The potatoes with their homemade ketchup were pretty banging too. My friends enjoyed their meals as well - I think a sage and proscuitto benedict and farmer's hash? Looked good. Service: Our server was awesome. Engaging, funny, and really brightened the experience. I loved his mustache but I never got to tell him. I hope he reads this and appreciates the compliment, haha. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Martha R.

Besaw's was good, but certainly not the best breakfast I have ever had. The coffee was okay. The service was just okay. I guess (from the reviews) that I am glad that I didn't eat the corned beef hash. The Eggs Benedict and pancake were average - not enough sauce on the benedict, and the egg was slightly over-done. The atmosphere is cute, and the location is nice (though parking could be tough if you were there on a weekend). Parking on Monday was just fine, but I think that we did get a little lucky - I saw some people walking from a little longer distance. Overall it's a cute place, but if I had to wait, I'd go elsewhere. I love so many other breakfast places in Portland. This one is just about average.
(3)
Judi M.

A friend and I arrived a little early for lunch so ordered from breakfast menu which I thought was very similar to other places. It took a long time for it to get to table , but service was attentive and kept coffee flowing. It is a very crowded space and I would refuse to be seated at table in center of room. There were a lot of young parents with tiny children in huge strollers. Screaming toddlers likely to kick one in head as they are carried by does not result in good review. The food was adequate, not cheap, but plentiful.
(3)
Alison M.

I had plans to shop downtown with a friend and looked up a place to eat in advance as she is vegan and gluten free. I like an all day breakfast place with Eggs Benedict on the menu. Besaws seemed like a good place to go. We dropped in at about 12:30 and were seated right away. Unfortunately they only serve Eggs Benny on the weekend, bummer. I had the Croque Madam, it started off really good, I loved the sauce. The eggs on the menu said over medium, but my yolks were completely cooked through well, to boot there was eggshell in one of my bites. My friend enjoyed her meal, which made me happy since I picked the restaurant. The service was good, and I enjoyed the ambiance. Our food came out quickly. However, I will not go out of my way to return anytime soon.
(3)
Mallory K.

Went here for dinner on a Friday night at 6:15 and had no problem getting a table. Service was great and so was the atmosphere. Had the bruschetta for an appetizer and it was delicious. A little pricey for just 2 pieces but good nonetheless. Ordered a burger for dinner and loved it! Good flavor and portion. Had a side salad which was probably the only thing I can "complain" about. It was just field greens with vinaigrette on it. No tomato, croutons, onion, anything. I would definitely go back here though! Try it out!
(4)
Lauren W.

We decided to have brunch here on a recommendation. The walk was about 20 minutes from Jeld-Wen field and we didn't have a car. It was raining and all I was saying was "are we there yet". Nothing special on the outside but once you walk in it's whoa where did all these people come from? We barely got two seats at the bar (my husband doesn't want to wait for food too long). I had the Croque Madame - served on brioche. Oh my God, it was so good. It was served with ham, gruyere cheese. The garlic potatoes were the best part and eaten first. I had about 5 cups of coffee (10am is still early morning for me). I then finished it off with a shot of baileys in my coffee.. (it's noon somewhere!)
(5)
Lyric A.

Decent little place to grab lunch with friends. They are a little bit hipster, but this IS Portland.
(3)
Amanda K.

I've lived in NW for about nine months now, and I finally made it to Besaws! Awesome. It was undoubtedly the long lines/brunch waits that have scared me off until now. We ended up picking one of the busiest brunch days of the year, New Years Day, to visit this place. Picture the scene: January 1st, 2013. I'm moderately-to-severely hungover, and not functioning properly. I'm glowing from the fact that I had an awesome night, and also was awarded the ROTD for 1/1/13 on Yelp. I arrive at 1:30pm, immediately seeking coffee first, bloody mary second. "There'll be a 45 minute wait", the girl says. Fine. I wait outside, freezing, yapping on the phone to my mom about the festivities the night before. Ten minutes later, I go inside and bug the hostess about coffee, which apparently I missed the coffee offering right outside the entryway, because again, I am moderately-to-severely hungover and am missing simple social cues on this fine Tuesday. Ooops. I clutch my steaming mug of local roast while I continue to wait outside for my table, and my brunch date. Brunch date shows up, and we get down to business. Not THAT kind of business. I'm talking about straight food business. It's so rare that I order biscuits and gravy when i'm out to breakfast. It's usually too heavy, but New Years Day on a weekday seems like the best time to indulge in such an offering, seeing as I had the next few days off and can afford a calorie-laden brunch. Highlights: the biscuits and gravy, of course. The pickled bloody mary, yummmmm. The bartender who was giving my brunch date shit for wearing a Redskins stocking cap, being that he was a Cowboys fan. The leisurely service we received--not too overbearing, and he appeared at just the right times to check on our meal. Fantastic. Not sure I can withstand a 45 minute wait for breakfast again, but that seems to be the norm in PDX. I don't make it out to brunch hardly ever, since I work weekends, but if I did, i'd be walking my ass to Besaws in the early hours to get my fix.
(4)
Aylee C.

Besaws is THE quintessential breakfast spot in NW Portland. I recommend going during the week for less of a wait. Everything on the menu is fabulous from their omelettes to their huevos rancheros. Their yogurt parfait is delightful as well.
(5)
Alyssa G.

Arrogant service. I am 39 weeks pregnant and the hostess would not let me wait for our table by sitting at the unoccupied seat at the bar, while I wait for the "waiting bench" to open. She was incredibly rude and kept telling me she had people she was sitting there. I continued to stand and wait for 10 minutes while she never sat anyone on the single, unoccupied, seat at the end of the bar. I don't expect to be treated extra-special, I do expect to be treated with respect and not lied to. Especially as I am so obviously pregnant. Her discriminatory attitude will make me rethink visiting Besaw's in the future.
(2)
Natalie B.

Had a fantastic dinner while on vacation from Chicago. We were able to walk in at 7 on a Friday night. It was lively but no wait. The meatloaf was the best my husband ever had. My mac and cheese was crazy good. The cost was reasonable and the place is cute. And oh yeah, they make kale sing. Great place.
(5)
Jennifer M.

I have been hearing raves about Besaw's for a while now, and this morning I decided to finally check it out. Alone. My mistake. I get that single diners are second class diners. Some part of me even understands why. Doesn't mean I have to like it. I was offered a seat at the bar, even though I arrived only a few minutes after opening and the tables weren't full. I say "offered", though it was clearly a rhetorical offer. I don't really like sitting at bars, but decided to go with the flow for once. Regretted that. Pretty sure I got the worst seat in the house. I was seated at the end of the bar, right next to where the wait staff did things like refill waters, get cups, pull orders, and chit chat. Also, when not surrounded by people doing their jobs (they have no choice; I don't blame them), I had a great view of the bussing station where all the unfinished meals were being dumped. Appetizing. Also got bumped into a lot, by waitstaff and patrons pushing past to their tables. Instead of a nice, relaxed breakfast experience, I got frenetic activity and jangled nerves. That said, my server was friendly and attentive, when she could break through the throngs of other wait staff to get to me. The food was ok (pancakes and bacon), but certainly not good enough to salvage the experience. Bottom line is that I won't be back. I felt unwelcome. I don't think much of places that treat single diners like pariahs. I can get a much better breakfast in Portland without all the attitude.
(2)
Tera M.

Stephen was the sweetest waiter I have ever come across. The other two ladies working tonight were also absolute delights. Besaw's has the best customer service of any restaurant in Portland (not to mention the amazing food) and its a true treat to come here for dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)
Rick G.

Great place for breakfast. The biscuits and gravy were some of the best I've ever had. Great coffee too.
(5)
Jon M.

Have been going to this restaurent for years, food is great but it is incredibly crowded.? Called in to order my breakfast to pick up and was informed they dont offer take out on weekends. All I was trying to order was bacon and eggs, I was told their kitchen was inadequate. What .......????????????????? Why not .....? This is another great example of how this city is becoming very unappealing. Our family has done business on 23rd for years. This is embarrassing. This restaurant used to be good, I guess there just like every other sell out. Take care of your long term customers or we'll just go else where and tell all our millions of friends on the web. I don't know how to explain it , it's so frustrating to enjoy a hash spot for years and now I have to go find another favorite place eat my breakfast. Compleatlly disappointed in you you Besaws.
(1)
Jovan D.

Went here for the first time and was pulverized by a huge tower of raspberry and chÃ¨vre French toast! Yum! They also have fresh squeezed mimosas! Cheers :)
(4)
Ana R.

Best brunch I had in a while. Everything is tasty.
(4)
Mike M.

GOOD GRIEF, DOESN'T ANYBODY WORK IN THIS TOWN?? We tried Besaw's on a rainy Wednesday morning. We were lucky enough to get seated right away, but the line waiting for a table slowly began forming at the front of the restaurant. Now if you've been to Besaw's, you know that if you took all the customers out and just had the staff in there, it's pretty tight. But somehow this kind of crowded seemed ok...seemed sort of Portlandy....seemed kinda neighborly. At least now, after trying a couple of other times and choosing not to wait, we know what all the fuss is about. Besaw's is really, really good! Also...pear bellinis with breakfast, an awesome idea! We took my mother in law, who is from Hawaii and had never had marionberry jam before.....sorry Besaw's, I prolly owe you some jam!! I can't say we'll come down on a Saturday morning and wait an hour for a table to eat here again, but if we get lucky and have a midweek day off....absolutely! And that's not a knock on Besaw's.....I'm just not that patient.
(4)
Jenny H.

My friend took me here because he said it's his favorite brunch spot. I came with a group of 5 and we did family style sharing all the dishes, so I think I got a good idea of Besaw's food. The food was okay, nothing bad but it just wasn't very good in my opinion. The portions were pretty big and people seemed to be happy with that, but I prefer smaller portions of food I enjoy more. I tried the breakfast burrito, biscuits & gravy, pancakes, wild salmon scramble, and omelette. Nothing really stood out in my mind so I probably won't be back since there are so many other restaurants to try in Portland.
(3)
Kelly B.

My first meal in Portland: I went to Besaw's on a rainy Friday morning with two friends and we were seated right away. The space is small, but had a home-y feel. The menu is standard breakfast. I had two eggs scrambled with cheddar + hash browns and wheat toast. The hash browns had cloves of roasted garlic, which was a great surprise! A great breakfast/brunch location for a small group.
(4)
Faye F.

Came here one Saturday morning for brunch and had a bit of a wait but it's brunch, what do you expect! We sat on the back patio and it was nice there because it didn't feel too crowded like inside the restaurant. Had the wild salmon eggs and it was very delicious! I love their multigrain toast!! My friend had the farmer's hash and OMG that was really amazing! The kale and bacon bits plus the egg and cheese was so good in your mouth (YES REALLY)! Another friend of mine ordered the hella burrito and it was GINORMOUS! Their house hot sauce wasn't as good as that aardvark (? can't remember) that was on the table. So if you like spice, forgo everything else (even my beloved cholula) and go for the other one on the table. Service was quick and good, our water glasses were always filled, and they do up to 2 cards of splits for the bill; otherwise, they charge!
(4)
Jennie K.

Eggs Benny with Sage and Proscuitto? Oh. My. God. I would have eaten every single roasted potato that came with the plate had I not ordered bread pudding. Bread pudding from heaven. Bread pudding from heaven. Yes Besaws. Yes forever.
(5)
Maryanne M.

Amazing food, incredible seasonal pear mimosa, really patient and kind staff (even at brunch time on a Saturday), and we only waited 15 minutes. Pretty good for Portland brunch. Oh, and just so dang cute inside.
(4)
Amiee H.

I have to say....Besaw's was totally overshadowed by Mother's Bistro because I just went to Mother's Bistro the day before...so maybe my rating would have been higher but just because I had to compare it to something as amazing as Mother's Bistro, Besaw's got a lower rating... Food: 1) Cinnamon bun: OMG, melt in your mouth yummy! Best thing we ordered!! 2) Eggs Benedict: Not really that great. The pouched egg wasn't made just right; paring it with sun dried tomatoes and spinach just didn't hit the spot. Overall, I thought it was very bland. 3) Farmer's hash: wasn't all it was cracked up to be, it was alright, but also didn't hit the spot for me. All the ingredients sounded good together but didn't really come out tasting like I expected it to. Service: Very fast and friendly. Ambiance: Had outdoor seating and indoor seating. It's a moderate size place but felt very cozy. Nothing too fancy for decor but just enough to feel like a lazy sunday brunch place. Price: I felt like it was a bit more than Mother's Bistro and the food wasn't quiet as good...kinda disappointing. Overall: I think it was nice to try but I would still pick Mother's Bistro over this place!
(4)
Sam M.

Can this place get any better? I think not! I was invited to have brunch here one morning and I fell in love, not like puppy love, but genuine I wanna have your baby kind of love! The morning started with one of the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had, great for that Saturday morning hangover or whatever you're recuperating from. From there it continued with the excellent french toast and finished off with a Mimosa... I've also been here for happy hour and dinner, the Brussels sprouts are amazing with one of their great wine selections. Most of all though I can't say enough about the wait staff, they are wonderful and attentive. Beth (who usually works the bar) is wonderful and is always willing to talk up the gossip and genuinely is interested in conversing. p.s. a great belly up bar
(5)
Sven G.

A great hit in NW 23rd area. In short, this is a super cute place with great atmosphere, incredibly efficient and attentive service. Went for the first time there on a Sunday morning and while they were many people waiting it took only 20 minutes to get seated, while you get to lounge around outside with a cup of coffee. The menu was rich with a good number of specialties. The food arrived in under 15 minutes and when it did... everything was cooked to perfection and hitting on the taste points of all 4 of us. I was engulfed in the Croque Madame I ordered with great toast, ham and eggs and just perfect seasonings. Home made Ketchup to boot, hot sauce fixings made the meal a win. Thank you for making a quick brunch with friends into a great kick-off to a weekend day!
(5)
Renee C.

My absolute favorite breakfast place in the Portland Metro area! Great food and I love their sparkling wine with yummy things added like pear reduction!
(5)
Liz C.

Our family has been coming to Besaws since the 1940's. Thank goodness they took our Sunday Breakfast reservation for 7 people, because the line was out the door. When people are willing to stand in the rain waiting for a table, you know it's worth it. Madam Croque was incredible. Perfect eggs, nice thick bacon and those who ordered the Eggs Benedict raved. Breakfast burrito and Breakfast Hamburger were also huge and delicious. We all went away full and satisfied.
(5)
Alison P.

So disappointing. We have been coming here for 17 years and it has always been our favorite breakfast spot. It has been a while since we've eaten here since we moved away a few years ago. We ordered our usuals. Belgian waffle with a side of peanut butter and paid the additional $3 to upgrade to real maple syrup. Also the biscuits and gravy which includes an egg. The waffle was dependably delicious, but the peanut butter was very thick and pasty plus it was incredibly salty. They used to serve warm, drizzly PB. In fact, we first had this dish at Besaw's from their specials menu. I wish we hadn't opted for the fancy syrup as it was awful to all three of us who tasted it. I don't know how you get maple syrup wrong, but they did. The biscuits were light, fluffy and fantastic but they were ruined by a sour and tart (not salty) sausage gravy. It is a much different recipe than we've had in the past. The kicker was that they've redone their menu and hiked the prices up in the process. What happened?!! Time to find a new spot.
(2)
Keith M.

We came to this place with the highest of expectations. They were serving a "Julia Child" menu that we were really looking forward to enjoying. It's a good thing poor Julia wasn't around to taste this food. She would not have been pleased with what they did to her recipes. Let's start with the Nicoise salad. Somehow they managed to create the most salty salad known to humankind. The capers and anchovies combined to overpower the salad with saltiness. The only component to this salad that wasn't salty was the tuna, which had no flavor whatsoever. I have had better salads at fast food restaurants and buffets. Next, they managed to royally screw up French onion soup. Not only was it bland and watery, it was also served in a skimpy-sized portion. And I'm half convinced the cheese they used was Kraft Swiss singles. (Probably not really -- but it tasted like it!) The fish dish I ordered was also bland. It was served with sliced tomatoes and spinach, which I think I liked better than the actual fish. There really was no "happy medium" with the flavors of our dinner. Everything was either very salty, or very bland. The worst part was the dessert. It tasted ok, and I was starting to enjoy it up until the moment I took a bite and chipped my tooth on a cherry pit that had been left inside the slice they served me. (In fact, today my tooth still hurts and I am going to be making a dental appointment!) They comp'd my entire meal due to the cherry pit issue, which I appreciated. But I will never eat here again.
(1)
Anne B.

Worth the wait! Came here for brunch one morning and the wait wasn't too bad. Once we were seated the service was great. All of the food was delicious, would definitely come back.
(4)
Gehan K.

Best chicken fried steak hands down. Mmmmm the crust was oat mealy and not so much your usual fried crust. The biscuits are amazing....so of course the Tucson egg benedicts was good as well. Now their ketchup....home made...very good....way better than heinz. Next time....i must try cake pans.... G approved!
(5)
Sanjana P.

The meatloaf is to die for! Bartender is very knowledgeable! Love this place
(5)
Terry M.

Today was not a good day for us, Besaw's. Too bad, too, as I am leaving Portland to return to the East Coast on Tuesday and wanted a last meal to remember you by. I came in for a good-bye lunch with a friend today, ordered what I thought I remembered to be a reliable menu item (the burger) but was sorely disappointed. I ordered the burger medium, it came medium well. It was seasoned well but overcooked, dry, mealy and not particularly hot. In fact, it tasted and looked like it had been cooked an hour earlier. On the upside, the side salad was good, the Bloody Mary yummy if a bit salty. I would still have given a third star for the decent meals I have had here on previous occasions over the years, but the burger was just that awful. I did appreciate the server taking 50% off the price of the burger, though when I first tried to tell her it was overcooked she got distracted and walked away to greet other guests as I was speaking to her. Could happen to anyone I suppose. So eat at Besaw's by all means, it is a Portland institution. Just stay away from the hamburger.
(2)
Ann B.

Loved their food. Their menu had plenty of options and each were very tempting. The food was delicious and I loved the decor of the restaurant
(5)
Suzanne V.

Awesome food and excellent service. This all coming from someone who manages a retail food outlet for 5+ years. I was even extra impressed with their ingenuity and freshness of the menu.
(5)
C.J. W.

I don't know what the buzz is all about. We waited more than an hour (which I don't mind doing if the food is worth it...but in hind-sight, this time it was a mistake)...the service was mediocre...the server forgot to put in our order for the hot cinnamon roll, which eventually came out cold...and the rest of the breakfast dishes were nothing special. When I go out to eat, I want to be wowed -- I want food better than I can make at home...and unfortunately this place didn't do it for me. With so many other places in Portland to try, I won't be giving this one a second chance. Sorry.
(2)
Michelle S.

A 5 for the food. Very tasty. At the table we tried biscuits and gravy, breakfast burrito, bacon hash and croque Madame, all were excellent. Very fresh and not greasy at all. The drinks ere fantastic. Cool area. 3 for the wait. We were told 45 minutes and it took 90 minutes so needless to say, I was a bit cranky. I am not sure I would have waited that long if they would have told me that from the beginning. I liked the history of the place, pretty cool neighborhood as well.
(4)
Jeff B.

This establishment has the BEST Breakfast/Brunch for the weekends!
(5)
Annie F.

Really good comfort food, without being too heavy. I had the waffle with strawberries, and it was just delicious. Everyone in my (large) party was happy. I've also been for dinner, which was fantastic. The meatloaf was my favorite dish, and the butterscotch pudding for dessert was phenomenal. The service is always great, the waitstaff is super friendly. Love this spot!
(5)
Ryan K.

The wife and I stumbled upon this place while biking through the hills in Portland. We were fixing to bike all the way to South East, but then got hungry and stopped at the first place that looked good. Luckily for us we found this place! The decor is warm and cozy, with a great wood saloon bar and big windows looking out onto the street. The place was pretty crowded which we felt was a good sign, but the wait was only 10 minutes on a Wednesday. I had the breakfast burger, which was a bunless burger with veggies, potato shavings, ham and an over easy duck egg on top. The whole combo worked together well to produce a rich, attention grabbing first impression. The pickled veggies were fine but I found myself saving them for last and then not eating them. The only downside was that I felt it to be just a BIT overpriced. In particular the coffee, which was not much special, was marked up. The server was very professional and visible when you wanted him to be.
(4)
Samantha T.

A really charming place with excellent Bloody Mary drinks. While you are waiting to be seated they offer you free Stumptown Coffee, which is also my favorite coffee. The place isn't that big but there are also sitting outside. I was there for breakfast and ordered an oatmeal pancakes that turned out great. The texture and the flavoring was just prefect. I never thought that an oatmeal pancakes can taste so good. It also had fresh berries on them which add a fruity flavor to the pancakes...
(5)
Niki S.

The line outside seemed daunting, but we still parked and checked on the wait. "Should be about 20 minutes"... which was enough time to walk up 6 blocks for a frapp then head back to have my name immediately called. Seating is a little cramped. Homemade ketchup is delicious and tangy. We split a cinnamon roll and the roll itself was a little dry, maybe not sealed from air. The frosting was a gooey blend of creamcheese though. My veggie scramble with feta and the roasted taters was well complimented by the giant oven roasted cloves of garlic and fresh rosemary. My boyfriend's breakfast burger was a good recommendation from our friendly server and the gravy bed it was on top of, was a salty yet slightly sweet mix of savory. Check this place out, they have a good mix without it being too much. Total bill with a cinnamon roll and arnold palmers was 30 even.
(5)
Eliza M.

There are some days when being a solo diner is TOTALLY WORTH IT. This day was one of those days - I walked into Besaw's, saw the line, saw the throngs of people waiting to eat, put in "Eliza, party of 1" and got seated within 5 mins. That's what I call Besaw'some. I had the two eggs, over easy, apple pork sausage, and rosemary potatoes. Throw on a nice glass of FRESH oj (at least it tastes fresh) and some scrumptious coffee and you've got yourself a great bfast. I always find rosemary to be a tad overwhelming on potatoes, but pay no mind to that - they were still good. The sourdough toast was crunchy and warm and the homemade ketchup and jam hit the spot. The staff were running around like CRAZY people but not in a bad way - in a busy way. And they were all working together quite pleasantly! I'd totally go back.
(4)
April M.

I can't find a reason to give Besaw's anything less than five stars. My hub and I were in Portland so I could run the marathon. Given that I staggered across the finish line alive, we had to find a place to have breakfast the next morning. We were staying downtown (any Portlander will tell you that it's the lamest part of town, but centrally located) so options were kind of bleh. I scoured Yelp for something close, and good. To my chagrin, all the "good" places were across the Willamette (damn it!) and any Portlander will tell you, "Ugh, I don't want to cross the river". I feel you, Portland, I feel you. So, all my best options being in the NE or SE part of town, we opted to hike (or more like limp in my case) a mile and a half up and across town to get to Besaw's. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive to no line and no wait; we were seated promptly at the bar (they offer al fresco dining as well on the "Newbury Street/Fifth Avenue of PDX"). Our server was extremely friendly and welcoming, immediately providing menus and water and taking our drink order. Wow! I was hungry and that menu was enticing, I wanted a little bit of everything. I would describe the breakfast choices as a hybrid of traditional American, Mexican and Southern cuisines. An interesting, and after our meals I would say a successful, marriage of styles. My man got the Scratch biscuits and gravy and I ordered the avocado omelette - yes, an omelette filled with avocado! Both dishes were perfect, although I tested his and I would say the gravy was a little on the sweet side for my liking. The rosemary potatoes were to die for, as already described by fellow Yelpers. I substituted my toast with a biscuit, which was fluffy and crisp and buttery, oh my. Topped it with my newly coveted Marrionberry jam. The biggest casualty of traveling? Finding a food you love that you know is not available back home. Pff. The omelette was relatively plain, but generously stuffed with perfectly ripened avocado and topped with a fresh pico de gallo that really brought the dish home. I could eat something like that every day for the rest of my life. So light and refreshing and filling. Coffee was good, not sure what brew they served up, but Mr. Server kept it full for me. Again, there was nothing to be found in the way of complaints! Besaw's gets a well rounded five from me. Wish I could comment on lunch, but will - and do - confidently recommend for breakfast and brunch!
(5)
Joe M.

My wife and I went for Saturday lunch. Place was slammed. Staff was overwhelmed. Food arrived lukewarm. Cooks and waitresses arguing over orders. Noisy inside. Could forgive all that if the food rose to the occasion. Unfortunately it was just average. Breakfast burger cooked medium rare as ordered but kind of blah. Breakfast hash was not particularly noteworthy. We wouldn't put it on our "try again" list.
(2)
Libby S.

The staff here is really excellent. Especially the tall rocker server with long hair and glasses. He is super cute. p.s. Order the Cobb salad sometime. Phenomenal.
(5)
Nick F.

Love their brunch here. I always get their egg/bacon/goat cheese sandwich, with garlic potatoes. Their servers are cool. Dinner seems a bit too expensive for me, considering the amount of food isn't overwhelming, but they make a strong drink, which saves them from a 4star, in my opinion. Go here if in Portland. It's got some history behind it.
(5)
Shannon K.

Okay, finally a brunch that I am really happy with. On my top 10 list of reasons for moving to Portland, number 4 was because of the brunch thing and I was starting to lose faith in what I heard about the brunch culture here. My hubby and I are learning that if we want a happy Sunday brunch experience, we should get up early. We find it to be kind of fun to race the crowd rather than be part of the crowd. So we got up and drove across town to Besaw's, and we were right to arrive early because a crowd was already starting to form. I immediately liked the feel of the place, I felt like I was in an old bar that had a quaint home kitchen feel to it. We sat at the bar (which incidentally is not a good choice for short people, our legs didn't reach down) and we weren't rushed to place our orders. I ordered a side of scrambled eggs and their gluten free pancakes. I am always looking to see if I can again enjoy a plate of pancakes that won't make me feel icky like wheat ones do. If you do not expect to taste an old-fashioned pancake when eating these pancakes, then you will find that they are actually really good...maybe a touch on the dense side. I would have been happier if they were a little thinner. I always feel that restaurants are trying to make up for the gluten free thing by making their products more dense or just bigger, and it isn't necessary at all. Anyway, I was really pleased with the pancake and the eggs were really really good. That was what I was looking for, scrambled eggs done really well. My hubby had pancakes as well and also a side of their potatoes. I tried the potatoes and they were delicious! Super duper flavorful. His pancakes, he said, were really good. He said he would go back there again, so they had to be good for him to say that. We had really good service. The servers were all in really good moods and the energy of the place was definitely up and happy. Oh, and I happened to really like the music that was playing that morning, it was a mix of a bunch of 90's stuff. Overall, I really liked this place. I have a long list of other places to try but I will certainly make my way back over here.
(4)
Ainsley D.

I picked this place by yelping breakfast spots in this particular neighborhood and I was a little skeptical by the pictures (it really just reminded me of a sort of run-down pub), but it was nothing like I imagined! We sat outside in the sunshine right on the sidewalk. Their menus were cute and everything about this place (even though I didn't even see the inside) screamed adorable! I was really hoping to get the avocado benedict that I saw on yelp, but they only served it on weekends--darn! I opted for the salmon scramble instead and it was delicious! There was salmon and cream cheese, superb combination... their potatoes were seasoned absolutely perfect... and their toast, it seemed so plain and simple, but it really hit the spot. I'm eager to go back once I move to Portland.
(5)
Jessica R.

This place is good. My egg sandwich definitely hit the spot. All the right flavors going on. Lucky us it was actually a nice day and we were able to sit outside. The service was good. I would love to go back and try more of the menu here. Next time I am in Portland I will return to Besaw's.
(5)
Ethan D.

I had heard good thing after good thing about the breakfast here at Besaw's; and judging by the number of people standing around outside waiting for a table, I had concluded that the food here MUST be really good. But is it worth the wait...? Yes that's right, Besaw's ALWAYS has a wait. But the good news is that they take care of those who are waiting by handing out free cups of coffee and occasionally free waffle samples. So if you're going to wait, chances are you'll at least get a free cup of freshly brewed Stumptown to help you through it. If you come here and there isn't a wait consider yourself very lucky. It's a very small and intimate little bistro. It is historic, classy, and beautiful inside. Besaw's is the quintessential Northwest (aka Nob Hill) District dining establishment, in my opinion. And YES, IT'S WORTH THE WAIT. Why? Because I had arguably the best Eggs Benedict of my life here. The Tuscan Benedict substituted the typical Canadian Bacon and replaced it with prosciutto and fresh sage. It was so delicious I did not want it to stop. The flavors! And the hollandaise sauce is perfect! All for a reasonable price too. If it weren't for the wait, I would come here as often as possible. My brother ordered the made from scratch Biscuits and Gravy and loved it! My best friend ordered the Mushroom Omlete and loved it! My wife ordered the breakfast sandwich and was not at all fond of it, but she later said that she expected something different. She wasn't thrilled about its being served on a bun rather than an english muffin, croissant, or biscuit. But my 5 stars is mainly for the Tuscan Eggs Benedict. The atmosphere within the restaurant is great, the service was also great given how busy they were, and it is great that they give you Stumptown coffee while you wait outside for a table. If you come here, be sure it's with a relaxed, no-hurry, patient mindset. Do not come here expecting to eat-and-run because it simply won't happen. This place is almost always at capacity. Do not expect your food to come out quickly either. Be patient. The quality is worth it, and quality isn't quick. Besaw's is the place you come to if you have a lazy Sunday to waste, not a place to come to if you have plans later that morning. So take a deep breath, sit back, sip your bloody marry, and savor each bite of food.
(5)
Matthew W.

**Breakfast Review** Besaw's is one of my favorite breakfast places in Portland. During my last visit, I had their Avacado Omelet with bacon and it was excellent. The side of potatoes was well-cooked and tasty and even the wheat toast was good. My server also introduced me to a great local hot sauce called NW Elixirs Hott Sauce #1. That made the omelet even better. If you get a chance, sit at the bar. It provides excellent people watching. The service can be a bit slow and getting in during busy times is challenging, but the food makes it worth the wait. If you're in the upper part of NW Portland, definitely check out Besaw's. It's been there since 1903 after all.
(4)
Lauren K.

My friend and I got here relatively early so there was no wait. We snagged a table outside and lounged throughout the meal. The menu options made it very hard to choose one thing but the waitress pointed out that she could do small portions if we just wanted "sample sizes" of items. Boom - instant fan, right here. Everything was delicious and we left totally satisfied. It's not the most amazing brunch I've ever had, but I'd totally recommend this place as a top option. And I'd recommend going with people who like to share; makes the experience much more robust.
(4)
Lili M.

Came here recently on a Friday morning(ish) with a party of 12. Yes, 12. When we told the hostess she didn't even bat an eyelash, just told us it would be something ridiculously quick like 15-20 minutes for our table, and offered to get us drinks while we waited. Awesome. Next thing I know we're waiting happily for our table with our respective coffees and mimosas. We were seated pretty quickly on the adorable back (side?) patio, and were able to decide & order pretty quickly. Service was friendly and fast despite our party being on the larger -- and slightly rowdy -- side. My breakfast/brunch was AMAZING. I ordered a scramble with chÃ¨vre and avocado, plus the house potatoes and toast. Perfect portion size. Everyone in my party was equally pleased with their orders. I would definitely love to go back next time I'm in the area!
(5)
Jeff W.

There's not much to say about Besaw's, but... go here. Their breakfast/brunch is incredible. You'll most likely have to deal with a bit of a wait, but most often it hasn't been too bad for us. However, parking in this neck of the woods can be a little tricky. Their french toast is hard to beat, but everything I've had on their menu has been incredible. This is a breakfast spot I would recommend to friends/family in a heart beat. My wife and I keep meaning to try them out for dinner, but has yet to happen. I'll be sure to report back once it happens.
(5)
Matt N Gina H.

Yum & Fun! Not many breakfast do we sit and sing along with the music. What a great place to enjoy a meal and the company of everyone around you. We ordered breakfast, and enjoyed every bite of it. We didn't experience a wait, as we visited it on a Thursday morning right before the lunch crowd started to roll in. We would not only recommend it, but look forward to returning. The had some fun music playing that you could hear everyone singing along with at one point or another. I wouldn't let the thought of long lines keep you from this from this place-go when you are willing to give yourself time to wait, and if there is no wait then you have plenty of time to just sit and enjoy all that will surround you.
(5)
Luanne S.

We had a special family breakfast to celebrate a birthday. The service was great and the food was yummy and just different enough to be interesting. I had the Lox plate and it was great, daughter had a omelet with salsa, avocado, and lots of other healthy goodness. Others had pancakes, french toast, bacon, and so on. Everyone was happy. It does have a small parking lot which is a big bonus for this location.
(4)
Christ F.

Had the Wild Salmon Scramble, added rosemary potatoes to it. Yumm, would have been five stars but service was slow or under staffed..
(4)
Drew W.

a decent restaurant meal...fun brunch for sure! some great specials with some good standards. not an amazing spot...but a good local spot!
(3)
Rebecca R.

I want to go back and try breakfast. My friend ordered french toast and it smelled wonderful. The roast beef sandwich was good but nothing inspired. I felt the meat was a bit dry. It came with a small green salad on the side which was nice but the dressing was lackluster. It needed a little more flavor to balance out the horseradish sauce from the sandwich. The menu was big and provided a lot of choices between lunch, brunch, or breakfast.
(3)
Adam G.

Last week, I exclaimed, "Besaw's does dinner?!" Clearly, I was out of the loop on this one because I always thought of Besaw's as a great place to go for some amazing breakfast. As it turns out, this is only half the truth. They do a fantastic dinner as well! The Besaw's Board was delicious, and a refreshing break from the sometimes sparse pickings on a charcuterie board. Ranging from the crispness of apple and pear through the richness of spinach dip, with delicious honeycomb, it was a perfect way to start the meal. Oh, and the chicken & waffles is phenomenal! I couldn't finish it all despite maintaining the physique of a man pregnant with triplets! As good as the food is, though, it's pretty irrelevant to this review. You see, this family dinner could have easily become a horrible experience. Here's a list of possible issues. They were out of Buffalo Stew - Ok, this is totally unimportant since none of us were going to get it, but still, it's always a challenge when you start the meal with something not available. That said, this was one of the first things our server told us about. +1 point for being on top of the 86 board. Bowls of soup were delivered when cups were desired - This was probably our fault as much as his. We just said "I'd like the soup." but he never asked "Cup or bowl?" Apparently, it was so good, that no one thought to complain. 0 points since it was pretty much a wash. The waiter forgot to put in the order for 1 member of our party - Actually, based on the total sum experience, I don't know if it was actually his fault. He claimed 100% blame for the screw up though. +1 point for honesty, +1 point for acknowledging the issue, +1 point for actually fixing the issue. They were out of Cake Bombs - While I'd never had these things before, and wasn't planning on it then either (I'm not much of a sweet tooth), at least 3 members of my party gasped. Yes, really. People actually gasp when receiving this kind of news. +1 point for actually listening to us gripe and keeping good spirits. Then they weren't out of Cake Bombs - Turns out, they had them after all. I don't know if they found the chef's secret stash, convinced the staff they couldn't keep them for themselves, or what, but they had not the single one originally thought, but rather enough for all who so desired. -1 point for not really knowing the 86 board as well as I thought, +1 point for actually going back to check, +1 point for admitting a mistake (AGAIN!) that we never would have caught if he didn't. I want to be clear, those were a list of POSSIBLE issues, that were all handled quickly and professionally by our server. Even with all of that, we all left extremely happy. Even with all that, the experience was so good, we added a little extra tip onto the added gratuity (we were 9 people). Not only was every potential stumbling block hopped over easily, but our server kept high energy and a great attitude the entire time. Great food + top notch service = me recommending this place to others.
(4)
J P.

Completely ignored by front door staff so left after waiting to add my name to their list - which they carry around so I couldn't sign myself up for a table. Went to St Honore around the corner instead.
(1)
Jason S.

I love this new place. My wife and I got hooked by a mutual friend and this is now our Sunday brunch spot. Hit and miss with the crowd...sometimes it will be packed but can sit outside for 2 within about 5 minutes...have had their avacado and bacon benedict and my last trip rocked out with my Prosciutto out with their Prosciutto scramble. Avacado and bacon benedict, things I all like...especially together...very very good! Prosciutto scramble was also delicious....lots of Prosciutto, garlic cloves and sprinkled cheese. All flavors are very complimentary! All brunch dishes come with some of my favorite garlic rosemary potatoes which are near perfect in my estimation. Garlic that is delicious because it isn't potent enough to keep the wife away, but you know it is there... Great bloody mary's and I loved my greyhound. Can get spendy with a couple adult beverages...but worth it for a sunday treat!!!! Also, get the guy outsiode with the great mustache...cheerful guy that can be a little slow, but super nice and takes care of ya!
(4)
Valeska H.

This is my favorite breakfast spot in Portland! The food is fresh, affordable and prepared quickly (also absolutely delicious!), staff is friendly and helpful. The wait can be up to 45 mins on weekends but trust me, it's worth it! Take a walk along 23rd and get a starbucks while you wait or enjoy complimentary tea and coffee offered on the sidewalk. I recommend the salmon scramble (add avocado) as well as the Breakfast Sandwich. The french toast is also a fantastic option for those of us with a sweet tooth. Parking can be problematic but behind the cafe is a parking lot with Besaw's customers only spots as well as library parking (closed on Sunday's so you can park there). If you haven't been there yet, make sure you do otherwise you're missing out!
(5)
Ellen G.

So good! All the food is delicious -- partially because they grow some of it in the garden behind the restaurant. Great, attentive service, too. The weekend brunch wait can be very long, but outdoor coffee helps.
(4)
P V.

Stopped off at Besaw's for breakfast with a friend on Saturday afternoon. Place was packed but we were lucky enough to find a table outside. You can certainly see and taste the quality in their food. Service was great. Will definitely come back here for breakfast again.
(5)
Brent W.

4* for breakfast. 2.5* for dinner. Burger at dinner was ok. Mac and cheese and meatloaf were mediocre. Now I know why there is no wait at dinner time.
(3)
elaine m.

It was fine -- the service was terrific - but the food was average, at best. In a city and neighborhood with so many outstanding restaurants, this one is lacking. One one occasion, my salad came with no dressing, or at least so little that I couldn't taste it, and the lettuce wasn't fresh. Gave the place another shot -- anyone can have a bad day -- but the omelet was really average: not much flavor, boring. And my friend's food was the same. Not sure why this place is popular
(2)
Andrew S.

Nice spot. The staff was great. I had the biscuits and gravy, it was very tasty. The gravy was smooth and the scratch biscuits were fresh. Someone had the monte cristo and the Salmon omelette. This 4 star was based on Breakfast. Have not tried Lunch or Dinner yet.
(4)
Joe W.

A friend recommended Besaw's for brunch while we were in Portland for the weekend. A great recommendation! The inside has typical diner feel, and the outside is more like a small cafe. We sat outside, which is less noisy and a lot more relaxing. The one complain I have is that the white canopy they use to cover the outside lets in a lot of sun (which is probably the point), which makes it slightly warm out there. Not really a big deal, though. Besaw's has a great menu complete with the standard eggs/breakfast meat combos, omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes, and waffles--all served with their delicious rosemary home fries! I'm an eggs-benedict fiend, so I appreciated the variety of eggs benedict they served. I ended up getting the tuscan, which is very similar to the classic, but with an extra salty kick. I was very impressed with the service--our server was on top of our orders, very professional, and refilled my coffee many times before it ever got half empty. I have to mention this one detail because this made me love our server even more--he was a well-kempted, tall gentleman with his silver hair slicked back a well-groomed mustache, and dressed in formal black and white--all except for his BRIGHT GREEN SOCKS! I love it! I think we paid just about $30 for three of us, which is a steal in my opinion. I'll definitely be coming back here on my next trip to PDX. Another plus is that it's really close to 23rd, where there's a lot of good shopping.
(4)
Wolf L.

This is another one of those places that I won't even try to get inside on a weekend morning. Lines down the freakin' street. Nertz to that. We were both off work this morning (a Friday) and decided to give Besaw's a try. We were seated right away, but a line started to form minutes after our butts hit our chairs. Even on a weekday this joint is jumpin'. I had to order the biscuits and gravy because everybody says they're so awesome. My wife got the Croque Madam--I'm not sure what all was on that plate, but it was a pile of food. The biscuits and gravy came with two eggs and I got them over-medium. I also got a side of bacon. Everything looked and and tasted delicious. My coffee cup was kept full we both enjoyed the atmosphere. I like Besaw's and would probably even wait in line a while for a table. That's says a lot.
(4)
Amanda O.

My in-laws came to visit from Europe and I took'em here for lunch it was really good and tasty. They have classic American staples like the mac & cheese or bake cookie that just might steal your heart. I can't wait to come again and try their brunch.
(4)
Jason G.

A young woman walked up to me, looked me up and down, and yelled directly in my face "HAVE YOU GUYS HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MENU?!" I took that as character instead of mediocre service to go along with a helping of mediocre food. I had some bland chicken sausage and a croque madame that was pretty forgetful. I felt trapped by my food (and saddened by it) and by the waitress that kept bum rushing me. I've always seen a line out here in front on the weekends, but I honestly don't get it. I love breakfast foods, they build me up! Besaws let me down.
(2)
robert a.

My mother always told me that we all have options in life, but based on the breakfast menus that I've found throughout Portland, those options were never particularly interesting. I've recently discovered Besaw's and suddenly it feels as though my final barrier to happiness has been torn down. I have a weakness for greasy diner food in the morning, but there's a certain degree of self-loathing involved when I paint myself into that sad, little corner. Sausage patty and hash browns? Try roasted rosemary-garlic potatoes and chicken-basil sausage. Veggie omelet? I'm not that guy anymore. Herbed chevre omelet with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. Don't get me wrong. Besaw's isn't the kind of place that you need to have a culinary degree to appreciate. It's a diner. But it's also more than that. And when I'm recommending a restaurant, "more" is an adjective that I don't throw around recklessly.
(5)
Jake C.

Food was great. Service felt blunt and direct which was surprising for portland. I was instantly reminded of being in a bigger city. It was nice. The food was incredible, maybe it was an omlet or something but yeah.
(4)
Amy B.

I just came from this place and really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. The service was quick and efficient, and I didn't feel hurried at all. Next time I'm back in the area I will certainly return again!
(5)
S M.

The wait is typically long but that's because the food is good. So I eat a half meal before going and I'm always back to ravenous by the time the food gets to the table. The highest compliments to Besaw's is about their staff. So professional. Each waiter is calm, attentive, and mature, they also seem like they're having a good time there, even though they're working so hard. I find them very respectful while other places have waiters that stay at your table and talk or keep coming back to the table to talk or ask questions over and over. At Besaw's they don't bother you, but they take care of you. It's very nice. I love how they use as much local and organic food as possible. Every dish tastes fresh and homemade. The quality of ingredients really makes the food delicious. There are some days whee the food presentation is a little off, it depends on who the cook is that day. Sometimes the plates look magazine worthy, some days it looks like ground up hash breakfast scrambles that I would feed my dog, no finesse at all. It's very crowded most of the time, unless you're seated on the patio of in a back corner it can be kind of hard to have a date where you can talk.
(5)
Noey D.

I am normally a savory breakfast person but I am a pancake kinda person here. The only place I do that. They are fluffy and perfectly sweet - YUM! The other breakfast foods are delicious as well. Try the breakfast sandwich! Friendly, attentive service. Go mid-week if you can to avoid a long wait!
(5)
Daniel L.

Great atmosphere and great food. No wait mid morning weekdays. Waitstaff was a bit slow bit wasn't in a rush, so no worries. Best place I've tried for breakfast in Portland!
(5)
Travis S.

Good food, unique history of the restaurant and building...can't really go wrong here.
(4)
Brian N.

Cute place for brunch in the NE. I was working the night shift and so there was no way I'd be able to spend Valentine's with my wife so we decided to have brunch here for V-day. Had an amazingly tasty burger that we shared. Their breakfast burger that comes w/ country gravy, which was awesome. However, we also decided to have their Pancake special which was a trio of the CRAPPIEST pancakes I've ever had. They were dense and really just seemed like an afterthought. I've had better from Bisquick--NO exaggeration. The trio meant that each pancake was made with (1) pear (2) chocolate (3) bacon. They didn't do anything special other than to put a little bit of each of the three elements into the respective pancake. Sounds great, ultimately pretty unimpressive. At least the syrup was served warm. Service didn't really come with a smile and we felt overlooked quite a bit when we were there. It's not like they were that busy; it was a weekday morning. I would've thought they'd show a little more love for a couple.
(3)
Esther Y.

Besaw's is definitely up there on my list of favorite brunch places in Portland. And thankfully they have their own parking lot, albeit a really tiny one. I have come to loathe parking in Northwest. Anyways, my friends and I were seated outside on a beautiful Friday morning, and we enjoyed a delicious brunch. I had the Farmer's Hash without cheese but with added sundried tomatoes (they made that substitution for free, but normally to add ingredients costs 50 cents to a buck). It was amazing. My friend also had a birthday coupon where she was presented with a complimentary special "nibble" (basically a truffle) with a long skinny candle. Highly recommended!!
(5)
Stacey G.

super crowded so sat on the patio. food was ok and portions were large. Staff was great
(3)
Chris P.

I can't add to the other reviews that rave about the ambiance, the food, the helpful staff. So the best answer to the long wait is go ahead and put your name in and then plan a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. Its worth it.
(5)
Chris B.

Only get three stars because breakfast is good. Dinner is quite ordinary and I would not recommend it. (I tried 4 entrees and 3 appetizers)
(3)
Mariah B.

Their brunch is worth the wait in line. Add your name to the list, then grab a cup of coffee and explore the neighborhood while you wait. (Unless you are in a big group. Go elsewhere for a group later than 4.)The benedicts are to die for. My husband loves their loose leaf tea selection. This isn't really a place for kids. It's loud and crowded... In a good way.
(5)
Talli B.

One of my favorite places for brunch in Portland. I went here for my birthday this year because I love it so much. They have amazing gluten-free french toast and their hot drinks are really superb. The vibe is really chill, if a little loud, but overall I love coming to Besaw's as often as I can.
(5)
Monica S.

NOTE TO THE READER: i am generous with my stars. if i didn't get sick, automatically the restaurant gets one star. AND: if i didn't get dissed by the waitstaff, two stars. if i could afford it, 3 stars. if the atmosphere was great, 4. if i loved the food, 5. every eating adventure has a story. i was overnight in portland waiting for an airplane. i walked around for a couple of hours looking for a bar that had great atmosphere. i was outside such a place, about to open the door and take a peek inside, when a couple rolled out, held the door open for me, and invited me to hang outside with them. (note: i wish i took note of what bar this was, since this was just the kind of place i was looking for but instead i went in, got my beer and went back outside). i took up their invitation and sat outside chatting with the couple. before they left for the night, they offered me a breakfast suggestion: Besaw's. I am poor. really poor. But sometimes when i am traveling I like to treat myself to something special. It was a chilly late october morning and I already had made my own perfect cup of coffee at the hostel, so i wasn't going to have any more. breakfast isn't part of my routine, but this day i was hungry early so i went over to NW23rd & NW Savier to find Besaw's. THE ATMOSPHERE AND PRICE: it was thursday morning and the place was packed. i immediately liked the physical atmosphere. outside, both the building and the business looked like it had been there for a long time. inside, if i remember correctly, the floor was vintage white tile, there was wood, chrome and brass. the interior felt warm and inviting. old without being intentionally trendy-retro. i looked over the menu, the average omelet, potato and toast breakfast was $10. spend-y for me, but it was an unusual menu which reads "Besaw's strives to support local, organic and sustainable farmers" -this is a turn-on to me since when i travel i like to eat the local food, in the local style. THE FOOD: i chose to sit at the bar. i ordered the forest mushroom omelette, and i didn't have to wait long for it to arrive. time to dig in! although the mushrooms didn't taste particularly wild, (and tho the menu didn't say they were, it was a flavor i was expecting) nevertheless, it was a delicious omelet, and the potatoes deserve a standing ovation. salty and herb-y. also, there was home-made ketchup and marionberry jam. i considered ordering more sourdough toast just to eat more jam! the breakfast filled me up. THE STAFF: my waitress was lively. after i finished my breakfast, i asked her about finding some good salmon for supper and she informed me that salmon is not in season, so i learned something. she suggested some alternatives. I WOULD EAT HERE AGAIN! if i find myself in portland again, and i have any extra money, i would bring my entourage with me & treat us all to Besaw's. and i would order some kind of cocktail because they looked so good. PS: i didn't mention the very beautiful waiter with the very large eyeglasses and chestnut hair, but that was just an extra and has nothing at all to do with my review of the restaurant.
(5)
Tony M.

With the first of our Arizona guests in town we wanted to make a good impression of our reputation for finding the best places to eat. We took our very good and trusting friends to Besaw's and Besaw's did not let us down. The food was delicious, the service was excellent and the vibe outstanding! Two of us had the incredible Breakfast Burger, one had the biscuits and gravy and one had the Breakfast sandwich. All were very good. Portions are generous and the prices reasonable. We will be taking more out of state visitors to Besaw's!
(5)
Jey R.

Oh Besaw.. where to start... So 4 of us decided to go to the Julia Child dinner night... huge mistake. The tiny pretentious portions where expected, as was the snoody waiter. the drinks where very strong, that's the best thing about this place was the drinks. so we start off with french onion soup.. it was covered in so much cheese and salt and was just mediocre, yet very salty... Next the nicoise salad... It was a salad of pure salt.. everything on it tasted like it came from a jar.. Not to mention the small piece of Tuna they served on this salad tasted like it came from a can of cat food. It was horrendous.. we were starving and hadn't eaten all night so we choked it down anyway. Next we get to the main course.. Boeuf Bourguignon.. and Thon a la provencale.. which is supposed to be Swordfish... It was TUNA lol The Beef Bourguignon was TERRIBLE.. it tasted like one big salty mess.. you couldn't even taste any of the wine in it, there were ingredients in there that Julia child would have never used I.e Celery, potatoes, and no mushrooms. YA wtf.. and the beef was very tough and fatty... you could tell thsi was NOT slow cooked but rushed together, not only that but our mouth's were getting sore from all the salt lol.. A can of Denty Moore beef stew would have been better! seriously it was just so bad.. The "tuna" was very bland and salty.. the guys who got it said the piece of tomato on the plate was the best part lol, NOW for the BEST PART!@@@ OMGZ so we get dessert now... Clafoutis... or what Beesaw thought was Clafoutis lol It is traditionally a puffed dessert with cherries... this tasted more like an omelet with cherries in it. and not only that .. it tasted freezer burned or something. oh ho ho but the BEST part of all is I did not eat it after 1 bite i was like eww gross no thanks... my partner however starts eating his still and then all of a sudden he cries out in pain as a cherry pit chips his tooth! OMG!! seriously.. you cant pit cherries BEFORE putting them in a dessert. oh it was such a terrible experience and not only that it was at 35$ a person.. so they didn't charge him for his meal after the whole cherry pit ordeal.. thankfully,.,, but we were still out over 200 bucks on a crappy terrible awful dining experience.. wish we would have went to Burger King instead.. would have been less salty and saved us 200 bucks!
(1)
Carly H.

They make a mean breakfast. Love their Benedict's! Expect to wait on the weekends a while.
(5)
Amanda S.

not sure what the hype is about...came here for breakfast and the wait was long and the food was only mediocre at best...the only redeeming quality is the self serve stumptown coffee (it was actually pretty good) stand right outside the front doors... my dining partners and i ordered the avocado and bacon eggs benedict yelp.com/biz_photos/0czUâ€¦ , bagels with cream cheese yelp.com/biz_photos/0czUâ€¦ , buttermilk pancakes, and croque madame yelp.com/biz_photos/0czUâ€¦ buttermilk pancakes were extremely dry...and the eggs on the eggs benedict and croque madame were completely cooked through...overall, just blah...
(2)
Nikee W.

It was a cold Saturday morning, around 10 am and I had just dropped my scooter off to be winterized at classic scooter and cycle on 23rd. The 25 minute drive in had left me with numb fingers and toes and a grumpy disposition. I had left my "sack breakfast" on the counter in my rush out the door so I decided I had earned the right to a proper sit down meal. As I wandered down the street I noticed a little heated patio stuffed full of people, as I passed by I noticed the whole place was packed. I figured this was a good sign that the food must be good. I peeked in and saw half a dozen people waiting to be seated, which made me think I would be waiting at least 20 minutes. Lucky for me, since I was dining solo the hostess got me a seat in the bar after about 5 minutes. The first thing I really loved about this place was that during my brief wait I was able to help myself to a mug of stumptown, complete with cream and sugar. They have a little setup right out the door so that you can start in with the bottomless coffee right away. It made my brief wait almost enjoyable. The bar I sat at was cozy but had plenty of leg room for me to stow my helmet and messenger bag below my seat without kicking it every two minutes. I looked over the menu and was pleased that they served some unique hashes and scrambles as well as classics like Croque Monsieur and Benedict's. I settled on the smoked salmon scramble which was served with some rustic toast and the most wonderful roasted potatoes. The scramble was huge and warm and was well seasoned. I was half expecting more of a salmon candy kind of smoked salmon, but it was more naturally smoked and thankfully very moist. I tossed a few shakes of hot sauce in and thought it was perfect. The potatoes where roasted and salted to perfection with big fat cloves of roasted garlic. My coffee cup was never empty and the wait staff was attentive. The whole experience took me from cold, grumpy and hungry to warm cozy and ready to explore! I look forward to coming back with my husband or a group of friends, or maybe on my own next time my scooter needs some work.
(5)
Melanie N.

A wonderful location for brunch in Portland. I've been here a couple times and the food has been sublime! Rich, but sublime. My suggestion to you if you'd prefer not to wait is to get here early. We arrived around 8:30-9 and were able to be seated right away. However when we were here a couple years ago and arrived around 11, we had to wait. Definitely a top spot for brunch and Portland knows it.
(4)
Jennifer C.

Sorry that this review is a couple years late. I remember having really good breakfast here. The reason I didn't want to give it a five star is for the awful bloody mary I had. I still remember how overly salty it was. Hopefully things have changed in that regard. I came here with a large group and they had no trouble seating us. It was really good service and enjoyable experience overall.
(4)
Susan O.

My favorite breakfast spot in Portland. It is so quaint. The food is the best!! The staff is great. I once took my neighbor there with her little ones. Her children were awful. The wait staff was very nice to all of us and very chill about the mess.
(5)
Raymond T.

Small place but packed with excellent breakfast choices! There were many good options but I choose the proscutto and asiago cheese omlett which wsa outstanding! Good coffee, excellent service... its a small place so I can see that it could be a wait but based on my first visit, I will be back!
(4)
Stanley T.

I've mostly gotten over my feeling of guilt regarding my 3 star review of Besaws. I've returned several times since then - they're 1 block from my house and I love the people who work there - and I've been very pleased with my recent experiences. It's time ( in my view) to give a star back. Tonight I had the hangar steak with a red wine sauce, oyster mushrooms and fingerling potatoes. Wonderful. The Malbec is my go-to wine here. Ronda had a Spring vegetable soup with oyster mushrooms as well - also great. Service was excellent as always. I have high hopes that the improvement I've noted in my recent visits is something I can count on continuing. I'm giving them a star and will be back for more.
(4)
Lelay P.

There's so many reviews on this place already so let me just say I'm a fan. I took out one star for the long wait, but besides that, everything was a-okay. Good food, good price, long wait. I will come back, most likely bring a little snack so I'm not starving by the time I get a table, but I do recommend it.
(4)
Snow M.

Ugh, no. After a long wait outside, we were seated on the patio. The poor girl who was waiting on us was also being slammed by the 10 person party, complete with little children running around, sitting next to us. I felt bad for her as she tried not to look harried and annoyed but large parties can do that to you. She had some help out back but who ever that was didn't know the first thing. Coffee refills were like trying to wave down a cab in New York in the rain after dark. I ordered the french toast with organic maple syrup, Dad got salmon and eggs and Nancy got one egg and some fruit. They took forever!! I know it was brunch rush but please! The french toast came with... well.. nothing. it was just a small plate of french toast, no bacon, no fruit, nothing. The french toast was nothing to write home about, I could have made better at home. I remember they charged some ridiculous amount of money for the ounce (maybe) of all natural, organic, renewable, sustainable, gluten free, lactose free maple syrup. Oh yeah... and the french toast was cold. Should have gone to Stepping Stone just up the street.
(2)
Michael S.

Besaw's is where it's at! One of the best places for brunch in NW PDX. The coffee is fantastic, the food is well prepared (but be aware, any dish with garlic is overloaded with garlic) and the adult beverages are made pretty well also. There is almost always a wait if you go during the weekend so be prepared but, I assure you if you have a few extra minutes to wait it's worth it!
(5)
Jess M.

Best breakfast in the NW! This place has a lot of really good food, just be ready to wait a bit. It's medium sized and there is usually a hefty wait list on the weekends.
(5)
Shiru A.

Fanfreakingtastic. Good food, nice atmosphere, and oddly all the wait staff when I have been there are always really tall. If your new to Portland, Besaw's is nestled in a very nice neighborhood (highly walkable, lots to do in the area). Their menu is vegetarian friendly, with a great drink menu and the option of a delicious habanero hot sauce. Their eggs and meat are ethical, hormone free, and generally in line with the Portlandian mentality. Highly recommend, with only one caveat - not the cheapest place in town.
(5)
John R.

So while I was visiting Portland, OR, the first time I heard the name, I was hearing "Bee Sauce." I thought, hey, that is a great name of a restaurant and different way to say, 'honey.' Then I started thinking, how many different types of sauce must they have? Sauce is in the name of the restaurant after all. I assumed they had to have at least 437 different types of sauce.... This all went on anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hours...or straight through to this Yelp review. Well I discovered that I in fact had heard things wrong. It was Besaw's. So after my epic build up and ultimate disappointment I was curious how they could possibly make up for it... Well, how bout an amazing Avocado and Ham Eggs Benedict and Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Cloves and Rosemary and a Mimosa to go with it. It was amazing. And as far as Eggs Benedict go...one of the best. So yes, this review was longer than necessary. But I can't apologize for it. Hopefully it entertained. Happy Thursday. If you are reading this on Thursday.
(4)
Sandra W.

I was instructed by Hubs to add this to my list of favorite places. Apparently, I am going to have to compete with Besaw's meatloaf for a place in his heart. Meanwhile, since I don't like meatloaf, I enjoyed the veal, which was accompanied by a sweet potato cake and asparagus. The asparagus was my way of thumbing my nose at Hub's meatloaf choice. And because my dish was accompanied by grilled asparagus, Hubs didn't want to try any of my veal. According to him, the asparagus "infects" the entire dish. Too bad for him for being an asparagii discriminator. But back to the veal...it was heavenly and tender in its own very lemony and peppery pan juice. I wasn't completely sure about the potatoes at first bite, but it grew on me (well, on my taste buds anyway) and I was astonished to discover that my plate was completely clean at the end. We'll try it for brunch sometime and see if they can earn that 5th star. That is, if I can get whats-his-name out of bed before 2:00 p.m. on a Sunday.
(4)
Megan H.

I've lived in NW for 7 years now and finally tried Besaw's for the first time today. I don't know what kept me away so long, probably the crowd outside? Met a friend for brunch at 10:45 today (a Monday) and was seated immediately. I was a little disappointed to see that they don't serve benedicts on weekdays but settled for the breakfast sandwich that met several of my brunch fantasies: eggs, bacon, avocado, tomato, and goat cheese wrapped with a toasted brioche bun. OK! The sandwich was tasty but I found it lacked a bit of salt and they were stingy with the goat cheese. I subbed fruit for the potatoes and was really excited about what I received. Yes, this is probably the only time I'll be writing to say I was excited about a fruit cup but this one went above and beyond the typical melon and grapes. It was a generous serving of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and apricot! Everything was actually ripe too! I don't know if I got charged for the substitution or not but I don't even care if I was because it would have been worth it. My friend's rosemary potatoes looked delicious too, I probably should have stolen one off her plate. The coffee was hot and the service was friendly, I'll be back soon!
(4)
Kelsey M.

Love, love, love it! They have coffee outside while you're waiting, which you definitely will on weekend mornings because the food's so yummy that everyone wants to come for breakfast. The hostess and waitress were super friendly to the point where I felt we were long lost friends or something, and even though they were busy, we got great service. The breakfast burritos I had were truly delicious and my boyfriend enjoyed the scramble he got. In short, we're definitely coming here again. The only downside was the annoyingly wobbly table, the uncomfortably high temperature, and large crowd in the room, but these things won't stop me from eating those epic breakfast burritos again at some point in the near future.
(4)
Brooke S.

We decided to walk further from home than usual for dinner today and were wonderfully surprised to discover Besaw's! Not only were the prices great for fine dining...The food was amazing! We shared the Besaw's board with 3 local cheeses, 2 meats, fruit, honey and house-made focaccia. Then enjoyed the asparagus/carrot soup and green salad separately. Extremely impressed with the local, organic food options and servers knowledge of what they are offering! Also, they have great wells gin with a good pour...My gin & tonic did not just taste like tonic!
(5)
Hector B.

I had a mix of potatoes and vegetables. It was the perfect amount of food. Not too full. The place smells great. Just like a breakfasty place should. The wait time wasn't too bad considering how busy they were. Besides, waiting for a table is part of the "going out" experience. They got our plates out fast. Nice touch - they offer free hot coffee outside while you wait. I would go back for sure.
(4)
Eric M.

Besaw's is mediocre. The cinnamon roll is phenomenal, and the coffee is good, but the rest of their offerings are less than stellar. This place never seems to know how to poach an egg, and eggshells in your meal are a common occurrence. I keep coming back for a cinnamon roll, but I always regret ordering anything else. If you don't mind the long weight, have a roll and coffee, but then move on.
(2)
Andrew A.

I'd eat here on any given day, but I don't understand the popularity. Some breakfast places that sport high prices and long lines at least have some signature dishes; the offerings here are standard menu fare. Again, what they have is good, but not creative or great. Uh, go for the scrambled eggs I guess.
(2)
Francis C.

OMG - what happened? Maybe they've quit caring because part of the place is slated for tearing down. No joke - there's a re-zoning of the area going on and they're supposed to have part of the building torn down (back I believe). I recommend not going until they get that sorted and go back to caring. I went in for breakfast and it was an UTTER DISASTER. Everything arrived ok - but the food was TERRIBLE. The potatoes were overdone to being burnt, but freezing cold. The scrambled eggs had streaks of runny in them, and the catchup bottle had gone rank. I can't go back anymore. It was terrible.
(1)
Sandra C.

Their "Morning, Would?" drink is not only a clever name but a sure fire way to start your weekend brunch!
(4)
Tami A.

Love this place! It's so cute and cozy. In the winter time they have a heated covered patio and in the summer they open it up. I love going here for breakfast, although there is usually a bit of a wait. They have good coffee and a nice breakfast menu, including several gluten free options. I'm a fan of the classic eggs, potatoes and toast myself. Their potatoes are good, I especially love when they serve them with whole cloves of garlic. Mmm! I have been here for dinner once as well and was less impressed. It was still good and I'll probably have dinner there again sometime though. Let me explain... My friend and I went there together, neither of us were that hungry but we wanted to grab a swanky bite and have a cocktail or two. They allow you to split an entree for a small fee (I think it was $2?) and don't make you feel badly about it. Our server was very personable and attentive, just like all the other servers I've ever had there. I ordered a pear vodka soda. Big mistake, but probably my own fault. I don't like sweet drinks at all and I didn't bother to ask first. I think they also put cinnamon in it which made it even sweeter. Next time I know- stick to a plain vodka soda or wine! My friend and I decided to split a steak from Painted Hills Farm. I don't eat meat very often, but I'd had a PHF steak at Imperial before and I ordered it medium, which was perfect. I ordered this one medium as well and it came out bloody. My friend seemed okay with it for the most part so I ate what I could of it before abandoning the rest. Also, probably my fault for not being more clear about what I wanted and not sending it back as soon as I saw it. Overall, I highly recommend this sweet little ambient space.
(5)
Jen K.

I don't do lines. Seriously, I don't. I've waited 15 minutes or less at many fabulous places in town famous for long lines (Apizza Scholls, Tin Shed, Mother's, Farm Cafe). Probably contributed to why I loved them all. In fact, the longest line I waited in all year was for a politician. No, not Barack, Bill. I wanted to see that famous Bill Clinton charisma in person. I was really excited when I arrived, less so after the first hour, and by hour two I was thinking he would have had to put on a party dress and do a little dance to make me happy. When he finally arrived around hour three, I noticed he was an odd orange color. So now every time I see him, I start singing "Oompa Loompa, do-ba-dee-doo" in my head. The point being, in my opinion very few places are worth the wait. It makes it almost impossible to have a fabulous experience if you've been waiting for an hour or more. The places above have a quality product and that little something special (service, dÃ©cor, inventive menu or a combination of all three). Besaw's is nice, but not outstanding in any of these ways. They also regularly have long lines and don't take reservations. Prices were on the high side. I would have preferred smaller portions and a dollar or two off the entrÃ©e prices. They have a kids' menu, but mine didn't rave about their meals. In fact, I'm usually great recalling what I ate, but I can barely remember what I ordered and I still have the leftovers in my fridge. Bill, by the way, was completely memorable (and not just for the hue) and I'll always remember hearing him speak. But if you see a line at Besaw's, I would walk on by...
(3)
Ann S.

Too noisy and pricey.
(1)
Shannon P.

Went here for the first time today. When we sat down I noticed that there was a half full creamer already sitting out on the table. I ordered a shot of espresso with cream, but when the barista brought over the rather sad looking drink, he didn't bring a new cream with him. Upon further inspection I noticed the old cream that had been left on the table had a couple floaters in it, not to mention it was room temp.... Had to get up and ask for a fresh one, which wasn't well received by the barista. I asked our waitress what the fruit on the parfait was going to be, she told me peaches, yet brought out one with a quarter of an apple on top. I did not like this place. While the waitress was friendly, it was really frustrating that the $3 espresso was mediocre and served with old warm cream that had been sitting out, and that the waitress couldn't remember what the parfait fruit was. I won't be going back to this place.
(2)
Jason L.

This place is great. I used to come here often when I lived over in this hood. Now being over on the East side I don't make it here as much. However, when we got our food my first comment was "we need to come here more often." This place has great staff and the atmosphere is nice. The food really is great and I love all the different Benedict's!
(4)
Ryan L.

I was disappointed with this place. We had French Toast, Breakfast Burger, and the Cinnamon Roll. Firstly, the service wasn't that great. I asked for hot sauce and it never came. We asked for butter and it came when we had finished our meals. The french toast was basically just toast. It had very little custard component to it at all. They charge $2 for maple syrup. The breakfast burger just wasn't fantastic. It was a piece of ground beef on toast smothered with gravy. It was ok, just wasn't great. The cinnamon roll had great frosting, but the roll itself wasn't gooey and didn't have a very cinnamon-ey taste to it. Won't go back.
(2)
Megan R.

This is my favorite brunch place in town. Excellent GF options. Service once sitting is always excellent (on weekends). LONG wait...
(5)
Sheldon L.

I was introduced to this place by friends of mine and I must say it is hands down the BEST place for brunch that I went to on my visit to Portland, Oregon! I highly recommend the Bloody Mary's as they are probably the best on the West Coast! I also recommend you come on an empty stomach because the serving sizes are large an filling! Great little place to walk into but from what I saw, if you can, make reservations ahead of time as this little gem fills up fast!
(5)
Megan L.

I don't know what the hype is about this place. Everything was good, don't get me wrong, but I think 5 stars always piques my interest because I'm expecting to be blown away. Seeing people lined up outside the door made me think I'd be blown away. Did the food blow me away? Not so much. I think this is probably because I'm critical in my great-breakfast hunt, and if something doesn't blow me away (especially since p-town is known for its breakfasts), I'm usually disappointed about it. There was nothing that stood out at Besaws for me that I haven't seen elsewhere. Show me something unique guys, and I'll be back for seconds. Until then, I don't think I will be. There are tons of other places in Portland that offer the same dishes for less wait and price.
(3)
Julio G.

Came here for brunch, and it was as good as the reviews say. Good cinnamon roll, good coffee (Stumptown), good eggs Benedict, some really good breakfast potatoes, but my whole world changed when I took one bite of my dish ... the prosciutto and asiago cheese scramble with garlic cloves. I never knew eggs could be like this. Imagine that you've been married to eggs for twenty years, and things are good, but you've lost "the spark." Then one day, you come home from work, and eggs surprise you by wearing a blonde wig and a maid uniform while speaking with a fake, yet sultry Italian accent, and then proceeds to try out something new read about in a Cosmo article. Simply put, these eggs rocked my world. From this day forward I will look at all omelettes and scrambles, and think longingly of that perfect sunny morning when I first tasted ... those eggs.
(5)
Mal C.

Went for Sunday brunch and was seated within 30 minutes. It was a cute space with charming history. We had a delicious avocado and bacon eggs benedict with hearty potatoes and fresh house-made ketchup. The farmer's hash was good, but I liked the benedict better. The house-made marionberry jam on our toast was a nice addition of sweet to our savory dishes. The bloody mary was served in an awesome mason jar, topped with a pepperoncini and olives. The servers were dapper in their all black outfits and old-timer flare.
(4)
Joel S.

Excellent service (fast & attentive) & amazing menu. So much to choose from & everything sounded so good. Definitely suggest stopping in.
(5)
Nickola J.

Amazing. Loved the food, enjoyed the service, would definitely come here again.
(4)
Monica R.

Whether you're at Besaw's for brunch or dinner, you won't leave hungry (translation: it's hard to eat light, so don't obsess over calories). For brunch, I really like the croque madame; for dinner, my favorite is the steak. The place is beautiful inside, too, and a great place for a drink.
(4)
Tabitha B.

Besaw's is the kind of restaurant I would open if I could. They thought of it 100 years before I did, but still. It's wonderful to go somewhere that represents so many things you love in a restaurant and the Portland food culture. They had me at house-made ketchup on every table. My husband ordered a bloody mary and the breakfast burritos, while I ordered an avocado and bacon benedict special with a mimosa. Both were accompanied by these fabulous rosemary and roasted garlic potatoes that I'd love (hint: LOVE!!) the recipe for. Topped with that homemade ketchup? I could've just eaten a whole plate of those. But then I wouldn't have gotten to eat that great benedict with bacon that was so good, it was wrong (as in, wrong that I'm not taking home a pack with me). Drinks were good, although the bloody mary was really spicy to the point where he couldn't drink much of it. Our waiter was very personable and struck up a conversation whenever he came by. Not at all pretentious, which isn't what I expect on 23rd. Being surrounded by down home canned goods and old-fashioned aesthetics gave the restaurant a warm, homey feel while still remaining sophisticated. I hope I can come back more often.
(4)
Amanda L.

I'm glad I gave Besaw's another chance for brunch. The first visit was underwhelming (rubbery eggs, lackluster salsa, etc), but given the lack of good breakfast joints in the NW/Nob Hill neighborhood, I stopped back into Besaw's mostly because I couldn't think of another option. I had a custom egg scramble with wild mushrooms, provolone and asiago, and sides of sourdough toast and rosemary potatoes. I washed it down with a fresh apple and rhubarb mimosa. I'd have to say the stand-out of the brunch for me was, believe it or not, the house-made ketchup. It was tangy, flavorful and delicious on the potatoes. How refreshing to not see a plastic bottle of high-fructose corn syrup ketchup polluting the table-top! And I do so much appreciate the fact that Besaw's has been a neighborhood fixture for a century, serving up quality ingredients like free-range local eggs and wild chicken sausage.
(4)
Brian W.

Mmmm.. tasty, tasty coffee, orange juice, and breakfast. The bloody mary was particularly good. Banana pecan pancakes were great, too. Just a smidgen let down by the french toast, it looked like it hadn't been battered long enough on one side, so it was more like half french toast and then flip it over and it was just so close to being great! Soooooo close... doh. The other killer was a lack of combos for french toast and pancakes with eggs and bacon or sausage. By the time you order it all, suddenly your side of two eggs and bacon costs more than your main course. Ouch! Yes, the eggs are great, but cut me a break here, even a $1 discount for ordering french toast, eggs, AND bacon would make me feel better!
(4)
Diana L.

Went here for brunch with some friends .. I can honestly say that I am not impressed. There's nothing that pissed me off or anything, I am giving Besaw's 2 stars because I didn't and still can't see what the hype is about this place. The food was pretty mediocre, the wait was a little long, the waiting staff were friendly .. Just a typical brunch spot. PS. I wasn't digging the homemade ketchup/tomato sauce crap on the table .. I definitely prefer REAL ketchup with brunch. Maybe would give this place another try, if there wasn't a wait or for dinner menu in the future ..
(2)
Emily L.

My husband and I just moved to Portland and we had a friend visiting so we wanted to treat her to Portland's famous brunch scene and Besaw's delivered. We were expecting a wait at 10am but we only waited about 15 min. and we really beat the rush because about 45 min later the line was around the block! However, we thought it was awesome that they have a coffee bar outside for those waiting for a table...and it's covered. Now to the important stuff.....the food was awesome!!! We got the breakfast sandwich, French toast and farmers hash. It was all delicious! the breakfast sandwich was my favorite but its messy!! We ordered latte's as well which were so yummy! To top it all off, the staff from hostess to busser was friendly, funny and efficient! We all 3 definitely recommend Besaw's
(5)
Jessica G.

YES! This is my go to breakfast spot. I have never been disappointed with anything I have tried and I have a very serious addiction to the Huevos Rancheros! Also the have amazing Bloody Marys.
(5)
Kristen M.

My first run-in with Besaw's was on a Sunday in October 2009 when I had mistaken it for another restaurant and didn't really read the sign. I thought, "Wow this is the restaurant!" Only to find out I went to the wrong address. I guess I thought I was at the right restaurant since I saw a long line of customers wanting to eat there. I thought to myself that I should make a trip here one day. Fast-forward to July 2010 where I finally made my trip to Besaw's. This time I came in on a Saturday morning for brunch where the line was not as long. I just had to wait 5 minutes for a table. You can chose to either dine inside or outside under their umbrellas. Note: if you do choose to eat inside, it can be a bit noisy so trying to have good conversation with a friend could be a bit difficult. But the noise did not bother me at all. The atmosphere Besaw's gives is thriving of old school Oregon diner feel. You can tell this place has a bunch of warmth and nurturing since they use a bunch of local foods from farms in Oregon. I like how they support the local farms. So Besaw's has a little laundry list of breakfast/brunch items to choose from. I decided to have my meal on the savory side today and opted to choose from one of their special Egg Benedicts. I chose the Prosciutto-Basil Egg Benny while my friend chose the Dungeoness crab Egg Benny. Both were outstanding but if you made me choose what was better, I probably would say the Dungeoness crab. The service was excellent and water glasses were always filled. We were checked upon and food was served quite promptly. I would definitely come back to Besaw's to try out one of their other breakfast/brunch items that are available. I think it's one of the decent places to eat for brunch in Portland!
(4)
Rick K.

Brought the family here for brunch during Spring Break and was very impressed. Mamosas & Bloody Marys were outstanding and kids loved their hot chocolate. My only conplaint (& reason they got 4 stars instead of 5) is that my kids pancakes had unmixed/uncooked spots batter. My wifes farmers hash was very good, and my croque madam one of the best breakfasts I have eaten in a long time and I will go back just to eat that. This place will definitely make it into my list of top brunch spots in Portland.
(4)
Shiyala B.

A really good brunch spot. Very cute, a nice place for a date or just to go with friends!! I had a very classic breakfast... eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes. It was delicious, the eggs were cooked just right and the jam they had on the table was to die for! I will definitely be going back again add this to my favorites
(5)
Nate M.

I have to say that this was a tough review to give. Besaw's really has a lot going for it. The bloody mary is out of this world. Their dishes are pretty inventive. I really wanted to try the flat iron steak eggs Benedict with horseradish hollandaise, but I ended up playing it safe with the Florentine. The Benedict was really tasty and really well done. I have to give them a major ding for their hash browns though. They were deceptively awful. I looked at them and thought I had found heaven. They had rosemary and roasted garlic in them. They looked really crispy and fried hard which I like. However, my first bite was a terrible surprise. They had the consistency of crisped leather. I don't know if they are always this way. If I were to guess, I would think they had been sitting in a warming pan for at least 2 hours. I don't know what the truth is, but they should be ashamed for serving these hashbrowns.
(3)
Stefani T.

Just went there this morning for brunch with out of town family. Found out about it thru Yelp. I liked: that we didn't have to wait because we called ahead and had our name placed on the list; free self serve coffee for those who wait; nice server, but never got his name. Didn't like: our table. It doubled as a door stop for the exit so imagine a door blocking you from the person next to you - weird, yeah. Okay: the food...sorry guys but it was hit and miss. I had the banana and nut pancakes. They were just okay, nothing to brag about. Another had the scrambled eggs with biscuits and veggie gravy - that was terrible. The taste, the presentation, you name it. No one else wanted to even try it because it looked like prison food (gray, white and cream...yum!). The best dish was probably the quesadilla, but really, how can you f-up a quesadilla?? With juice, the total came out to $40 even. Just for the record, I was moved to writing this because of all the overrated, shitty reviews I keep attempting to rely upon for my quest for good food. I know good restaurants are out in Portland, but are they all deserving of 4 and 5 stars? Only fantastic food is deserving of such ratings - we're only screwing each other when we tell everyone how amazing every restaurant in the city is, when surely that isn't the case. I'm headed to Mother's for brunch next week in downtown and I hope to write a much better review on Saturday.
(3)
Guy T.

Came here on a Saturday night with friends who live nearby. One of their favs. Menu is quite limited but excellent food and locally grown food is their specialty. The staff are super fast, attentive and friendly. Prices are of great value I thought. Being from Hawaii, everything in Portland seems so inexpensive so I don't know if the prices are cheap for Portlanders. I had the lasagna with kale and loved it. Friends had a meatloaf (it was humongous) and a beautiful and large salad and a side of Kale (the leafy greens of the day).
(4)
Diana T.

Loved how cute it was but I had high expectations with the food just average and a good latte but really expensive. Definitely not my favorite but will try again.
(3)
Jenna R.

Established in 1903.. Seriously thankful for their 107 years of amazing service. Yes, I'm actually 127 years old and have been frequenting the place for over a decade. This cafe captivates you with its adorable atmosphere, wonderful aroma, and friendly staff. You walk in and everyone smiles at you.. that's pretty great. Their Stumptown coffee tastes fresh and amazing. You sit back and listen to the low jazz music playing in the background, and watch the magic happen around you. You have nice conversation, or don't, and your food arrives steaming hot and fresh. Then you consume in a spectacular fashion, as would be the only way with Besaw's breakfast. Final step: Love. Thank you Besaw's.. I'll be back, but not in the Arnold way.. unless you 'd prefer it?
(5)
Lesley R.

Cute atmosphere! The dragonfly chai is yummy. I had the huevos rancheros - so good! Get a side of rosemary garlic potatoes and try not to use the entire jar of homemade ketchup on your table. Great brunch spot before hitting the Japanese gardens.
(4)
Bree C.

This must be what gambling and winning is like in Las Vegas. When you over hear a table of locals right next to you talking about the fact that the very restaurant you are sitting in, is great and a total staple, I swear it was like I heard a bunch of bells go off telling me I had won. And we were not disappointed. The hubby ordered the Salmon Scrabble which he said he loved. I got Huevos Rancheros off the servers recommendation. It was good. But the best was the side order of French Toast. I think next time I would happily just order that. Only reason it didn't get the 5th star was we both sent back our water cups. Mine still had the previous womans kiss of death n J's still had remnants of the last diners dinner. Still a good place to go!
(4)
michella s.

really cute little place that has a good breakfast selection. Their Stumptown coffee is really good. I had eggs with smoked salmon and it was really tasty - sourdough toast was crunchy and good (altho was a little burnt) If I lived in Portland, I would brunch here often. Service is consistent and nice. There was a wait, even though It was a Monday around 11AM but it's a small place and it seems there's a wait everywhere you eat in Portland.
(4)
Laura N.

Hmmmm. I REALLY want to give Besaw's 5 stars. I love the food and the overall ambiance. I don't mind the wait for a table and the free coffee outside is a generous expiatory offering. But what is up with the service? I have had so many bad serving experiences here that I am taking not one, but TWO stars off. It's that bad. Let me give you some examples: Once I ordered a veggie omelet (which strangely is not on the menu), and was charged for each. individual. vegetable. I'm not exaggerating - my 4 inch omelet WAS $19.75 -- ARE YOU KIDDING? On other visits, I'm lucky to have my water refilled, and if that happens, I'll almost guarantee it's done by the busser. The servers might actually be instructed NOT to stop by until it's time to drop the bill. The problem is, I keep going! It's like I'm in an abusive relationship with this place! The more they pull away the more I want them! I want ONE good serving experience. When that happens, I'll HAPPILY update this review. Until then... meh. 3 stars.
(3)
Keith B.

It is a smaller restaurant, so selection is smaller than you'll find elsewhere. That goes for beers and food. Fortunately, thay've made choices that are very pleasing to my pallette. Offering 5 amazing entrÃ©es for dinner is preferred over 10+ half-assed attempts. The wait staff are very friendly, and the restaurant itself is well staffed. They work hard, so even when things are crazy and you might have to wait a bit for your coffee refill, you can see that they're all working their asses off - it's really hard to mind the delay. The ONLY downside to Besaw's is that getting in for breakfast/brunch on the weekends can sometimes take a while.
(5)
Jeff M.

A Haiku Review of Besaws: Came recommended. Impeccable Service. Food is made with love.
(5)
Erica L.

This place is great! It's in a charming old building and the walls are adorned with photos of the building in the past, what it used to be, how it survived a flood, etc. There's even a Circa 1903 on the authentic wooden floors. Guess I might be crazy, but I'm a history and old building nerd. Building age aside, the food was wonderful. My companion and I arrived for brunch/lunch on a Thursday and were seated immediately. The people who run this place are over the top friendly. Over our meal we made up all sorts of fantasy scenarios how these people must all be a group of best friends and their lifelong dream was to open this restaurant. That's how happy and friendly they were. The food was awesome! We had a small mishap and ordered something we didn't realize had meat in it. They whisked it away, apologizing profusely despite it being our mistake, and had a vegetarian friendly dish back to the table in less than five minutes. The Caesar salad I had was fresh and crunchy with delicious cheese on it. I am not usually a "cleans her plate" type of girl, but I did this time. My friend had a breakfast scramble and eggs and absolutely loved it. The potatoes were seasoned with rosemary and garlic which makes them unique from the normal fried-until-brown-and-salted potatoes we usually get at breakfast joints. Will completely come back again, with friends, and let others know the awesomeness of this place!
(5)
Joey J.

I came in for breakfast last Saturday after being referred by a friend. So I got up early, got my coat and took the lady out for a good breakfast. Since this place is located in the NW Alphabet District street parking was super easy to find. We got there around 9:30am and there was a small wait. But the Besaw staff were super friendly and took our names and offered us a cup of coffee while we waited. This was definitely a plus in my book since the weather has been getting colder in these winter months. Plus it makes the wait more enjoyable knowing that you're being serviced even without a table. After we were seated our waiter was prompt and very nice. I ordered a plate of 2 pancakes and a side of the Chicken Basil Sausage while my date ordered the Prosciutto Scramble. It was all AMAZING. When I ordered my plate of pancakes I expected a small order of medium sized cakes. Oh no my friend. These pancakes were massive! They were about the size of 13" rims. They of course were not THAT big but they literally covered the entire plate and more importantly they were light, fluffy and evenly cooked. A hard feat to accomplish with a pancake of that size. The Chicken Basil Sausage forgets to mention that you'll receive 2 of them. Which is another win for any person happy to pay 6 bucks for this delectable side. The only gripe I had was with the Prosciutto Scramble that we ordered. The prosciutto di Parma and asiago cheese were on point but why the WHOLE clove of garlic? Wouldn't it be more enjoyable if the garlic was minced, roasted, then added last? Just a suggestion. All-in-all we had a fantastic time and left before the 10:30 crowd hit and the little place was packed. I am definitely a fan and will be back to try some of the other items on the menu. Thanks for such great service and the to-go box for my failed attempt of eating both pancakes in one sitting.
(4)
Malea B.

This place was so good! And, the service was so fast! And, we were seated immediately! I lived in Portland for five years or so in the late 90's and not once did I stop in here. Oh, what my taste buds were missing! A good friend and I dropped in for breakfast on a recent Friday morning and the place looked PACKED. Before I was even in the door I was rehearsing a "Let's go somewhere without a wait..." type of greeting for my friend. Instead, we were shown to a table right away and had coffee and water just minutes later. Our waiter was super friendly and efficiently moved around the crowded little place and everything was fantastic. I asked a few questions about ingredients (like, do they use butter in making their potatoes...they don't!) and the waiter was able to answer confidently and knowledgeably, including giving a bit of extra information that was helpful in narrowing my decision. I strongly suggest the wild salmon scramble. I ordered without cream cheese and it was so delicious and creamy the stuff wasn't missed! The coffee was dark and strong but without being bitter. The water tasted clean and fresh too...last time I ordered water at a restaurant (somewhere in San Francisco...) it tasted like it was from the sewer. At Besaws the water was fantastic! Our food was at the table quickly and was nice and hot. The coffee was refilled as needed as was the water. This is a tightly packed place with tables rather close together but there is something about the placement of the tables that makes each one feel isolated and private. Loved this place! Can't wait to visit again!
(5)
Melanie E.

Fantastic breakfast with the best croque madam I have had (even in France!) Would definitely be back here again and again if I lived in Portland. Great grapefruit mimosa also. Friendly service.
(5)
Kira K.

Upon arriving at Besaw's for breakfast on our last day in Portland, we dreaded the line waiting to get inside. We were greeted by a young Colonel Sanders lookalike, who had a very positive attitude for a rainy Sunday morning, took our names, and told us it'd be a 20 minute wait. We chatted up some of the locals outside, who were all very nice and friendly, and drank the Stumptown coffee set up on a stand for those who were waiting. When we got inside and were seated, we were immediately served more of that delicious coffee. We settled on the Farmer's Hash (eggs, potatoes, garlic cloves, bacon, leeks, winter greens, and cheddar cheese) for me, and the Triclops (special omelet off the menu with three different kinds of cured meats) for the bf. Devoured every last bit of what was on our plates - so yummy! I'd definitely recommend Besaw's to everybody. Also, the neighborhood has some great shopping, so you can do that while you're waiting for a table.
(4)
Marie N.

We arrived early (8:30) to avoid the wait and sat in the covered patio area. I ordered the classic Benedict and my friend ordered the peach compote french toast. The poached eggs on the benedict were a little slimy for my taste but once it was all mixed together it wasn't as bad. My rosemary potatoes had about 6 huge cloves of garlic in it...i like garlic so it was fine for me but might be a little much for some folk so early in the morning. Our server was great, quick with the coffee refills and was very personable. My friend enjoyed the french toast, too. We both agreed we would return to try something different from the huge menu, including some of their brunch cocktails which looked delicious but neither of us ordered today.
(4)
Andrew S.

I came in for brunch close to 2:00 and was seated immediately. The wait staff was really friendly, and our waitress and the cooks got everything right. The yogurt parfait was excellent. Their homemade coconut granola combined with local yogurt and honey made it feel as though I were spooning bits of gold into my mouth. It was a little pricey, but not exorbitantly so for the quality of food. Everything tasted wonderfully, from the peach compote and cream waffles to the bits of wheat toast that I ordered with my soup of the day, which was a hearty potato/bacon which wasn't too creamy. I'm a huge fan of mashed potatoes, and it reminded me of it just enough to give me flashbacks of the recent Thanksgiving. I'll be back, for sure.
(5)
Adam S.

this is some of the best mac and cheese i've ever had. I've been twice and will be back. service could be better, but i've had worse elsewhere. great little restaurant with an old bar and a good vibe.
(4)
Valerie P.

Yesterday afternoon as I was casually walking around NW Portland I happened upon this very curious restaurant. I really do not know what drew me to the place, it may have something to do with the wine bottles I saw in the case as I was walking by. I nearly risked life and limb crossing the street trying to get to the joint. I was apprehensive as I never try an out of town without checking out the reviews, but I figure this is Portland and I get the impression you can never go wrong with a restaurant in this town. Anyway, I had one of the best meals in my life! I think the chef has a love affair with eggs??? Anyway I had a great Oregon wine, the Pinot Gris, the devilish eggs and the sturgeon special. I topped it off with the strawberry shortcake! This place it small and intimate and I love how the place kind of blends in with the neighborhood. Since they do breakfast, I will make it a point to go at breakfast during my next visit to the PDX.
(4)
MIzz Stephanie S.

Besaws is the bees knees. Is that what Besaws stands for? EVERY time we are in Portland it is a must stop and I have also sent people traveling to Portland who have also returned with amazing reviews. Thanks for BEing so reliably good and for BEing filled with such wonderful keepers and thanks for BEing so yummy. I cant wait to BE sitting back at our Besaws.
(4)
Pat C.

Great breakfast place. The wait on the weekend it pretty long but just get on the list, wander and return in time. Our last visit was marred by a table of folks that had too much to drink and lingered too long without noticing that they had a serious volume control flaw in their conversation level. It's hard to hold that against the restaurant though. Anyway, lots of menu choices and hearty helpings. Don't make it a regular unless you plan to spend a lot of extra time exercising since the food is so good, it is just darn hard to leave anything on your plate.
(5)
K W.

So wonderful! Went for breakfast and sat outside, it was wonderful! Drank a delicious bloody Mary and had a delicious breakfast sandwich. The service was great! All food is local and organic. I would definitely recommend eating here!
(5)
Kathleen B.

Our plans to have an early Sunday breakfast at Bijou were foiled by a long wait. We were so proud of ourselves for getting to a restaurant with Baby before nine, and were completely surprised at the line. Where'd all the early risers come from? We were surprised, and frantic, to find somewhere else before Baby woke up, which left us driving around Portland without a plan B. The Pearl, we thought: it's close! But the Pearl was like a ghost town, with nary a brunch joint to be found. (Where do people in the Pearl eat brunch??) Then, before our wandering eyes did appear Besaw's. We parked! No wait! We were seated immediately! Just in time for Baby to wake up. Luckily, she and we all enjoyed our breakfast at Besaws. Baby liked the waiters' black and white outfits and smiling at our neighbors. I loved my avocado omelette, filled with perfectly ripe avocados and cheddar cheese and served with delicious rosemary potatoes. Mr. T liked his French toast. Good atmosphere, nothing earth-shattering but a very pleasant place for brunch. Glad we found it, we'll probably go back.
(4)
Keri S.

Went this morning in hopes for a short line. There was, unfortunately, a long line, but coffee and cream and even a pot of fresh brewed tea for the two of us in this town who don't drink coffee were waiting for the small city of people on the wait list. Weird thing was there were several open tables outside and when the waitress said we could sit down immediately outdoors I thought, Are these people waiting in line absolutely crazy? Waiter was very sweet, huevos rancheros were delicious and fun was had by all. Best part? Prices weren't the usual jacked-up sort that tend to come along with popular Portland breakfast destinations. I will say, however, that the last time I ate here I got the biscuits and gravy and between those and the potatoes I was completely rosemary-d out for months. Try it though. It's cute, well-priced, and the staff is warm and welcoming.
(4)
Ashley C.

It's the best breakfast/brunch place on NW 23rd. The food is amazing and the ambiance really brings you back to a quaint bistro on the corner of Paris. I went there for dinner with some friends and it was just a spectacular as breakfast. The dessert is limited, but very good. I am a repeat customer time and again.
(4)
Andleeb D.

Food was great! I went for brunch on a Saturday, so it was packed. We ended up sitting at the bar and I ordered a coffee drink- I was worried that the bartender didn't know what he was doing, as he kept reading the menu to make sure he had the right ingredients... Salmon scramble was yum and Dessert first coffee drink was great too. While you're waiting, the hostess will bring out waffle wedges- awesome!
(4)
T K.

We went here on a weekday, no lines, no wait. Nice atmosphere, friendly servers. Food was good, but not super. I had the smoked salmon scramble... I thought the portion was a bit small. Wheat toast was good, and the rosemary potatoes were a little bit undercooked (a few raw pieces). My eating partner had an omlette -- had bacon and avocado in it. His portion was better than mine, and probably a better deal. I'll go back again, and try something else next time.
(3)
Lana T.

I ride by this place on the bus everyday on my way to work, and it a)looks so cute and b)is open early. We all know how much I love breakfast, so any place I can make dates for before work is a-ok in my book. I looked up their website today to see if it would be friendly for a lunch date today with another vegetarian friend of mine, emily. This place was opened in the early 1900's, and was granted the first liquor license in Oregon! Financed by Henry Weinhard, a couple of gentlemen made this a local's favorite. I can see why!! I ordered a breakfast sandwich (served until 3) which had 2 eggs over hard, veggie sausage, avocado, sun dried tomato pesto and goat cheese. It came with rosemary garlic roasted potatoes on the side. Em got the pecan veggie burger, which was AMAZING. Its adorable in there, and I wanted to eat EVERYTHING on the menu. Def coming back here!!
(4)
Caroline Q.

I always love a good weekend morning breakfast with friends and family. Besaw's supports local organic farmers and hormone-free dairy products, so you know your food is fresh. As other reviewer's have written you will have to wait, should you not arrive within 30 minutes of the restaurant opening. However, Stumptown coffee is free outside the restaurant while you wait for a table. I have had the two egg breakfast with the pork apple sasuage each visit and everytime it was delicious. The sausage links look and taste more like a bratwurst. They are very flavorfull and a wonderful addition to the eggs, potatoes, and toast. My scrambled eggs were light, moist, and fluffy, and the rosemary and garlic on the red potatoes makes them taste very delightful. The toast is whole wheat and served dry which allows you to spread as much freshly made jam or butter as you desire. If I lived in Portland, I could easily eat here every weekend.
(4)
Zach B.

I had some excellent breakfast burritos here. They also serve stumptown coffee which is delicious. There was a bit of a wait but they have coffee outside which was a nice touch.
(5)
Nicolas D.

For all the self-proclaimed hype that PDX restaurants have, when I'm taking out the wife I still struggle to decide where we're going because few places have lived up to it. Besaw's is a place that I won't hesitate to go back to and back to and back to. The restaurant was established in 1903 and screams character! Other then that, the food is unique, filling & affordable. Service is accurate for the price, great wine selection and they have In-house pickling!
(4)
Neil W.

If the service weren't so gal darnd friendly, I would give Besaw's 2 stars. They were very accomidating to our group and my 1 year old. I had the biscuits and gravy, which came highly recommended from the waiter....I thought they were VERY lackluster. The other food I tried from our group was also so-so, my wife had their bacon avacado and chevre sandwich, which was insanely oversaeasoned with Taragon. Like POW in your face with taragon. All in all a decent expereience, but I wouldn't say the food is much more than above average.
(3)
Ava P.

Where do I even start? I have so many good memories here. The morning after my wedding, we had breakfast here and server gave us free mimosas and a sincere congrats. Before my sister moved, we would meet for brunch, sitting on the sidewalk during the summer. This is a place we go for a brunch date when someone will watch our kids so that we can go to brunch. (Kids are welcome - we just prefer dates w/o them :)) My 3 year old son and I have mommy-and-son dates at Besaw's. If we have out of town guests, we take them to Besaw's for brunch. It's our go-to, because we can depend on good coffee (Stumptown), good food (omelets and benedicts = amazing), good service, good atmosphere... good everything. They do lunch and dinner here as well and it's not bad at all - just that its old-fashioned-ness (NOT brand new space designed to look old fashioned, but honest to goodness, old fashioned from the 20's) lends itself really well to brunching with good company on a Portland morning. Food-wise, I'm the creature of habit, and usually get the proscuito and scallions scramble. My husband likes to mix it up, and the egg benedicts and other things he's had have been delicious.
(5)
Lanny K.

I love breakfast. I look forward to the weekend SIMPLY for breakfast and coffee and.. Yeah. Favorite meal of all time. I LOVE breakfast. I order pretty simply. I love a scramble with stuff in it. Three eggs, feta, tomatoes and spinach. Not hard, right? Wrong. Apparently this is difficult for Besaw's cook. The eggs were pretty sick. Akin to egg-product. Like egg beaters? Confirm/deny? Anyway, the mimosa was pretty much fine. Everything was fine. But I didn't enjoy my breakfast, and THAT is not okay.
(3)
Bob M.

This has it all. Great food (breakfast burger for me, wild mushroom omelet for the lady), friendly and professional service, and cool atmosphere history. The original bar is still there-- it is the oldest bar in Portland (i think) Read the plaque by the door-- theres a neat story about Weinhard selling it, prohibition, and being forced to start making food and then getting the first liquor license.
(5)
Megan G.

Mediocre. Always too busy. Barely enough room to breathe. Eggs Benedict is alright- Cricket Cafe's is better. Servers are nice; most of the people that frequent there are not. The food is greasy. The burgers are overcooked. For what you pay- might as well go to Salty's for all you can eat brunch on Sunday for $27. I really do not feel this place at all. Def not a foodie hangout. Just another Nob Hill excuse for a pretentious meal.
(2)
Gretchen H.

Adorable place! The staff was excellent, the food was good, it didn't take long for a seat, what's not to love! I don't know why there are complaints about the hostess, she was very nice to us! Maybe we have a different gauge for bitchy having lived in LA for 5 years now! ;D I can imagine it's even better coming earlier in the morning and getting an outside spot.
(4)
Joshua M.

Came back and tried their burger. It was pretty decent, and at least we got sat quickly versus my last time here. Still wanting to love this place, and still not quite there. Again our server was eating her own meal at the bar counter almost the whole time we were there, getting up periodically to check on us. Seems to me that they should just get to eat uninterrupted and get back to work before taking tables, but what do I know?
(3)
Julie G.

I searched this place on Yelp, and looking at their menu I was sold once I read the breakfast sandwich ingredients. I was a little hesitant with the prices, and wanted a small cafe with one $, but I think it was still reasonable at an average of 10 bucks a meal because the ingredients were quality. The meals were also good portions, and filling. So, we went this morning around 8:30 am. Lots of seats available, traditional, yet funky decor, really friendly servers. I had my 4 month old with me and most of them stopped by to comment on how cute she was. Service was attentive and food came out pretty quick. So, onto breakfast. My hubby had the Stumptown coffee which he was already a fan of -it was nice and fresh. We were planning on hitting Stumptown in portland, but my hubby was excited to get a fix here, and also purchase a bag for home (12 bucks). I had a mint mocha, and it was delicious. Now for breakfast I stuck with my original choice the breakfast sandwich. Ripe Avocado, sundried tomato pesto, a big lump of soft goat cheese, two eggs and crisp thick bacon. YUM, and great combo of flavors. I may re-create on our next family vacation. The server asked if i wanted my eggs over soft instead of over hard and i was like over medium forgetting this was a breakfast sandwich. I ended up taking one bite and then eating with a knife and fork but it was still good. My husband had the breakfast burrito. He really enjoyed that too. With both were Rosemary garlic potatoes. They were perfectly cooked - at looking at them I thought they were a bit mushy, but they just weren't overcooked and crispy. Overall, very pleased with our choice, and I would recommend. We hit the road again for a couple hours of travelling with full and satisfied tummies.
(4)
Kelly F.

I guess I should have read the reviews before we trekked to Besaw's Saturday morning all the way from Beaverton. But friends recommended it so we joined them on this culinary journey. Ok, it was far from that. Which was so disappointing because the smiling service was splendid, and the details were well thought out. They have fresh Stumptown coffee outside for folks who must wait for a table. And the scents coming from the chai lattes and coffee were so alluring. Perhaps that's what made our meal so disappointing. I had the mushroom omlette (I LOVE mushrooms), which was served with dill and sour cream. I thought that meant a side of sour cream. Nope...they mix the mushrooms with the sour cream and the dill in with the eggs. The entire thing was as bland as bland could be--the pungent shroom taste could not break through the sour cream. I was not about to waste precious caloric intake on this tasteless mound. I think I had three bites. Sadly even the rosemary potatoes didn't pack much punch for my tastebuds. My husband's breakfast sandwich didn't have much taste either, which is strange since it was served with prosciutto and pesto. In summary I think this place is probably best known for their drinks; my friends' bloody mary's were to-die-for and my spiked cider was de-lish!
(3)
Lisa D.

I know I am like the 50th person to review Besaw's, but damn it's good. Anyplace that has a full bar as well as honey cured bacon is more than ok in my book. Prices are pretty much the same as any other nice brekky place, around $10 per person. I also liked the incredibly nice hostess who reminds me of the progressive insurance commercial lady. This was my first time here after many a failed attempt. This place has unusually long lines most of the time which never sits well with me. When I want to have breakfast, I want it NOW. We tried it on MLK day and had no wait (hooray!). Go there if you can stand a wait, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Chrissy S.

So it's Election Day 2008. I need to find just the right spot to finish up my ballot and cast it on it's merry way. Over breakfast of course. Toast with jam is CRUCIAL to my all important civic decisions. Let's try Besaw's! Yeah all the reviews I've read are preeeetty lukewarm...But it's close! And how bad can it really be? And I bet they were just having off days...all of those times... So I get there. First off. It's a really cool little spot. The sun shines in the windows in just the right spots. The bar is cool. It has a very warm vibe overall. Ah-HA. So far so good. I am immediately approached by a very nice hostess with funky earrings and a great big smile. Table for one please. Sure sit where ever. Oh and I love your boots! You look like an Eskimo! Gee, thanks! Your server will be with you in a moment. Cool. Ah-HA again. The service isn't bad at all. ........ 15 minutes and several Measures on my ballot later... hmmm...where is my server? How long IS a moment? I see the man who is my server walk by, and i flag him down asking for advice between the Avocado Omelet and the Salmon Scramble. My gut tells me avocado (duh), he suggests salmon. Salmon it is. The food comes out fast and it's piping hot. These are both good things to Chrissy. The plate is under there somewhere but I couldn't see it. Lots of food consisting of a HUGE Salmon scramble, potatoes and toast. Now that sounds good right? WRONG! Even when they put it in front of you it looks like it will be yummy, but that is where Besaw's gets you. The potatoes are so bland and dry and boring and a thousand other adjectives in the same vein. I barely touched them after the first bite. The toast is AWFUL. How do you mess up toast??!? Ya know the huge Styrofoam rectangles they use as packing material for electronics? Yeah. It's like that with butter on it. The scramble was fine. It was ok. Not bad. Nothing special. Blah blah blah. I finish my ballot. I finish my food...well somewhat. And I sit. I sit and I soak up the history of this place called Besaw's. Pictures adorn the walls in black and white, of the glory days. I see the faces staring back at me of the first patrons and the owners back in 1903, and I wonder how their salmon scrambles were... Surely they made good toast then...? Surely. When I FINALLY got my check, payed, and left with my ballot and Eskimo boots in tact, I realized that the reviews were dead on. I wanted Besaw's to be good, but it will just remain mediocre in my heart. My theory is this...maybe Besaw's was once amazing. Maybe once. Maybe somewhere along the way, they stopped worrying about the actual food thinking that the atmosphere alone would be enough. But you can only lean on history for so long, Besaw's. And after this AMAZING election came and went, now is the time for change Besaw's. Get on it. Word.
(3)
Chris C.

The special waffle was fantastic. The wait can get long, but they do offer coffee and tea while you wait. I also commend our super friendly waiter.
(5)
H. S.

I came here early in the morning on a weekday, so I didn't have to deal with the crowds mentioned in the other reviews, but wow. Wow. I wish that San Francisco had a breakfast joint this good. The food was amazing, fresh, deftly cooked and seasoned, and not in the least bland. The potatoes were like a little potato symphony. They were like (sniff) my evil Southern grandmother's potatoes. But served in a Portland diner. In an atmosphere of non-evil! Oh Besaws. Perhaps someday we'll be together.
(5)
Neill P.

I think I waited too long to go to Besaw's. From what I gather, it was a remarkable restaurant back in the day but has fallen from grace. I'm not sure the rest of Portland knows or realizes that though, since there is almost always a massive line to get in. I've dodged the lines and eaten here three times: once for lunch and twice for breakfast. For lunch, I had a salad that cost over $10 that was just 1/4 of a lettuce (not broken apart) with some sauce drizzled on it. I also had some gazpacho (sic?) soup that was really quite flavorless and reminiscent of Pace salsa. My companion had a fish dish which was also flavorless and uninspired. The breakfast food was nothing to write home about at all, and certainly not worth the price.
(2)
Chris D.

I just have eaten there for breakfast. Great food and service. Friendly staff and the wait is very minimal if you get there before 9:30am for breakfast. Was relatively easy to find parking on the street as well.
(4)
Stefanie S.

Fantastic Brunch food. Always packed and lively in the morning. Feels like a NYC brunch place. Got the avocado omelet. Will go back many times!
(5)
Matt F.

I used to go here back in the 80's when they had an awesome hot roast beef sandwich. Served open faced with mashed potatoes and lots of gravy. The previous owners must have taken that recipe with them when they sold the place. I usually go to this latest incarnation for breakfast and it is always good. This last time I had the biscuits and gravy. The fresh baked biscuits were very good but they weren't smothered in gravy as the should be, there wasn't even enough to give my scrambled eggs any love. I would have liked more sausage in the gravy or a couple on links on my plate. I pretty much chalked it up to the fact that they were trying to keep me honest on my new diet but then I thought..."how do they know I'm on a new diet?" I'm sure I will return since it is within walking distance of my folks house and most of the wait staff know my mom by name.
(3)
John R.

Great little spot for dinner. I had the butternut squash soup for a starter. Peppery and sweet. Caesar salad with grilled salmon for the entree. Great food and excellent service.
(4)
Sara G.

Every time I visit Portland I suggest we dine here. I love the food, the wait staff and best of all, the Stumptown Coffee. I've had super delicious food, including, mushroom omelet, huevos rancheros type dish, i've sampled a friends pancakes oh and the rosemary roasted potatoes.. mm mouth is watering just thinking of them. The food is so fresh and memorable that it will become a staple for you in Portland and when you visit. It's really busy on the weekends, come early and often.
(4)
LA to PDX ..

I am very excited to find such a lovely cafe in the Nob Hill area that reminded me of my former beloved Larchmont Village neighborhood in Los Angeles. Of course the food is great as other reviewers have confirmed, so I want to focus on the quality of the service. The service at Besaw's is exceptional with friendly wait staff coupled with smiles and greetings from various other employees upon arrival, during the meal, and on our way out. Why most restaurants today can't figure out that service is key, and should be their #1 priority, to achieve success. A mediocre meal prepared with love and served with great attention tastes better to me than a better made dish served to me by apathetic or self-loathing waiters. Thankfully Besaw's has both so it's a win/win for anyone lucky enough to spend time here. I look forward to coming back when the weather warms up a bit to enjoy dining al fresco on the patio. I reserved the last star simply due to the fact that the fresh focaccia sandwich I had on my visit had more bread than delicious veggie and cheese fillings which was a bit of a disappointment, but again made up for by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the spot.
(4)
E W.

Went for lunch. I wouldn't go back. Poor and slow service, mediocre food. So many other places to enjoy before trying Besaws.
(2)
Melody a.

This is a great place. I love how cozy it feels. The food is delicious. I recommend the squash soup. True, not as visually appealing as some soup, but hey its squash. But one bite and each bite thereafter was followed by a little moan from me. Sometimes there are just no words. Ohh speaking of moans. The chocolate cake. There is no one word to describe how delightful a slice of this confection tastes. I gave up easily and stuck to little satisfied moans. Quietly mind you, I did not want to be asked to leave. But yes it was that good! The food was great and varied. The ambiance is exceptional. Cozy, dark and quiet. I found the staff to be personable and friendly. And they seemed delighted when we ordered chocolate cake as our first course. I love being a grown up. You have no idea.
(5)
Lindsey K.

Oh great. Just what I need. Another amazing, homey, cozy brunch place within walking distance of my apartment. Thanks. Thanks a lot. I'm not bitter, I just wish my pants weren't so tight. I would say this is the perfect place to take your parents for a fabulous weekend brunch. Yes, the lines are long, but there is a coffee stand outside and that shit is good and strong. I have to admit, I found the hostess a tad bitchy, but our server Richard was just divine. You definitely get a feel for their history here, and that history smells like gravy and eggs. I had the apple fritter french toast with maple syrup and a sausage link ($6.50) and it was so sweet and good my teeth hurt. Is that normal? I don't care, it was worth the pain. Some of the dishes seem a little pricey, like the Eggs Benedict and salmon scrambles, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed. If I could make this restaurant a blanket, I would wrap myself up in it and hibernate all winter. And then eat the blanket, because it would be covered with sausage gravy. Ahem. Also, I saw Heath Ledger's baby there and that was weird/sad. But also the cherry on top of an amazing brunchalicious experience.
(5)
J J.

I was horribly hungover and in dyer need of a cup of coffee and some biscuits and gravy the first time I went here. What I got (seeing as it was 3pm) was a very large cup of coffee and a four or five item happy hour menu.... dang. I opted for the meatloaf sandwich and to my body's delight it fixed me right up! Delicious! Their house salad dressing which I am sorry I can't remember what it is called was amazing so just take my word for it. The mac and cheese was so so but edible. The waiter was doing a lot of running coupled with a lot of nothing. Since we were kinda siting by the kitchen it was clear from the chefs remarks that we were not the only ones who noticed it. Other than that the service was friendly and the food good. Relaxing atmosphere now I just have to make it in time for breakfast!
(4)
Scott A.

We were in Portland just for the weekend, and thanks to Yelp I found Besaw's. We drove out of downtown and over to Northwest to get there, fell in love with NW 23rd Ave. on the way, and then had the best brunch imaginable. This is the kind of fabulous neighborhood restaurant and bar that makes you decide that living in that neighborhood would be a really good thing. I had the Farmer's Hash, my girlfriend had a special egg dish, and the coffee was great. Because there was a delay with getting the food out to us (some sort of mistake getting the order into the system) they adjusted our final bill without us even mentioning it. Great service, fun atmosphere. My only regret is that they're not in Seattle where I live.
(5)
Jen g.

It was Heaven on a plate!!
(5)
David M.

Good brunch. Good lunch. Good service. Very poor dinner. Have been there several times for dinner (for the life of me I don't why I keep going back), and it is just not good. The menu isn't creative, and the food is remarkably bland; on one occasion, my dinner was almost unpalatable (so much so that the server did not charge me for the meal). There are so many wonderful places to eat dinner in Portland, this is not one I would recommend.
(2)
Sharon G.

We came here during Labor Day weekend so there was a bit of a wait. However, the staff was great and the atmosphere is great! We had the Tuscan Benedict, buttermilk pancakes and farmers hash. Yum yum yum!!!
(4)
Alejandro J.

It had a very good service, hipster atmosphere with more women than men. I had the Tortilla soup (3.5), and the SW Scramble (3.5) (special of the day) good taste but the sauce on top did not add to the flavor nor to the presentation. VG coffee. The rest of the group tried the Roast Beef and the Reuben. I was here a year ago with the kids and the food was better, while the service was worse.
(4)
Wes M.

I was amazed by this place. When we arrived there was a line going out the door, and it wasn't because of a lack of space. This place was roomy and packed, and after eating there it's easy to see why. We were sat on the patio, which was heated thankfully. I got the Spinach, Feta and Artichoke omelette and my girlfriend go the Forest Mushroom omelette. Both were amazing, and surprisingly light. They came with rosemary roasted potatoes, which had the occasional clove of garlic in them. The service the whole time was amazing, the waitress was very friendly (and just a little bit silly) and made sure to check on us often. The employees actually seemed to enjoy their job which is nice to see. I'll definitely be going here more often.
(5)
Elizabeth R.

It's not much of an exaggeration to say we moved to Portland because of Besaw's. Besaw's breakfasts, to be exact, not so much their dinners. And now that we finally live within walking distance of this restaurant we literally dreamed about while living in exile in Southern California, we hear it's on the verge of being torn down. Time to eat up, I guess. Breakfast sandwiches, weekend special Benedicts, house-made granola, house-made ketchup, forest mushrooms with eggs, house-smoked salmon, fresh cinnamon rolls, amazing Bloody Mary's... There's definitely a wait if you sleep in on the weekends, but just pour yourself and coffee or order a Bloody Mary and relax.
(5)
Peter H.

I'm in absolute love with this breakfast place. I would almost consider moving up to Portland just to be closer to this joint. Honestly, the food was to DIE for!!! DO NOT PASS THIS UP!!!
(5)
Andrew N.

Love to come here for breakfast with my boo. We especially like to sit up at the bar. The weekend bartender is great and we like watching the cooks. Everything here is delicious.
(5)
Rebecca H.

It wasn't amazing or fantastic, but tasty enough. The service was pleasant and cheerful. The home fries were greasy so I didn't eat more than a few. I had the salmon scramble which was fine, not a lot of salmon but I could taste it here and there. Sourdough toast came dry with a pat of cold hard butter. My friend had the mushroom scramble, said it was ok, but she only ate a little of it. The portions weren't outrageous, they seemed just about right for the money. Most people would be able to easily finish the plate. Coffee was also good enough. There's a theme here...it's an absolutely fine place to go, but the best ever? Not by a long shot.
(3)
Lily S.

If you're in Portland and you're looking for a kick ass place for breakfast or lunch or brunch or WHATEVER, please go here. Their waffles are the best thing EVER - and that goes for just about everything (including their bloody marys) on the menu. And once I found out that a friend just BOUGHT the place, their stock went waaaaay up in my book. Just make sure you get there early to get your name on the list!
(4)
Norabel L.

We waited around an hour this morning (turned into afternoon) but I didn't mind a bit. The atmosphere was wonderful outdoors sitting on the patio with some free coffee and sunshine. Service was very nice, quick and friendly. The food was tasty. I ordered the 2 egg meal and for $8 bucks I got a huge portion of eggs, crunchy toast, FANTASTIC potatoes with whole cloves of garlic, and some tasty bacon. The place is old school and is charming with lots of natural light, and beautiful dark wood walls and ceilings. They have a row of canned fruits and vegetables above the bar that I thought were quite charming. Favorite highlight: The cute host in the fancy suit chased the street performer trumpet player down an entire block to give him some cash. Now that's classy.
(4)
Kenneth H.

I found everything at Besaw's to be perfect. The food was tasty and filling. The atmosphere pleasant and neighborhoody. The prices reasonable and fitting to the food. I must say that this place is my new base by which other breakfast spots will be judged. I do hear it gets quite crowded on the weekends, but I have stopped visiting the hot spots during those times (my visit was a little after 1 on a weekday and I was seated instantly).
(5)
Josh F.

The best breakfast place in Portland hands down. There is always a wait for breakfast (because it is so freaking good) BUT they have fresh Stumptown coffee outside while you wait. Also, today I went there and they were serving free samples of waffles while everyone waited. It is amazing how such a small gesture can go so far! Funny because when my friends and I go out to breakfast we always ponder getting coffee or juice. Not that we can't afford both. BUT it is a pain to have to spend $4.00 just on beverages. Having the free coffee outside allows me to have the best of both worlds! I get my caffeine fix outside and quench my thirst inside! My favorite items is 1) The breakfast burrito 2) The oatmeal pancakes Today my server was GREAT! I ordered something new, and didn't like it, so she came out with my favorite item (see item #1 above) in 3 minutes. I hate taking things back, but I appreciated the server was so cordial about it! She could have been rude, but instead was intent on making me happy Last, they serve the most delicious tea cookies at the table for free! They are amazing! I always take visitors here when they come to town. Love it!
(5)
Teresa and Mariel D.

Being from out of town this was a great place to try for breakfast. It was the best breakfast I had while in Portland. The service was great and the yogurt in a jar was perfection topped with a nice house-made granola and local honey. My gf had the breakfast sandwich, also AMAZING! This place was great.
(5)
Zachary S.

good stuff man. best biskits n gravy ever, and it had andooie in it. J had the oatmeal. yum I like the "about us" history on the wall that talks about the elbow rippled counters from 100 years of use. Make that 105 years of use!
(4)
Alicia H.

Very good food and drinks. They're known for their eggs benedict, but be warned that they do not serve them every day. Always a long wait to get into this place, but worth it.
(4)
Josh O.

I can see how this place could get RIDICULOUSLY packed. Definitely not the most feng shui'd environment, especially during the winter months. But the close tables and bustling wait staff definitely give the place the feel of your classic, busy diner, which is good for us down-home boys. Had I not read the wall placard outlining the history of Besaw's, I would never have guessed that the building was so old! Hell yeah first liquor license in the state!! Plenty of veggie options. Great lattes. Attentive servers and bussers. And a full bar! The place is good for families and, in our case, slacker twenty-somethings who haven't gotten up until noon on a Saturday. One more example of good eats here in NW.
(4)
Rosie T.

At 1/2 a mile walk from the hotel, this was a great place for working up to starvin marvin status and then working off the calories afterwards. They were packed on Saturday morning so we enjoyed a complimentary cup of coffee outside while we waited. So nice! When we were finally seated about 15 minutes later, the torturous smells and sights of everyone else's food made me salivating worse than Pavlov's dog. I love this place. They are organic, green, local and sustainable! Down to the food. Organic Strawberry Mountain NY Steak Benedict with horseradish hollandaise. This is 10x better than the tenderloin I had last night from Strawberry Mountain. Hollandaise is imaginative and perfectly executed. Wild Salmon Scramble with dill and cream cheese. They made it with local cage free eggs. Oh crap! I am now eating from my daughter's plate. So flavorful. Apple fritter french toast has to be reckoned with. The idea sounds good but the bread was dense and the egg mixture was rubbery. No. Coffee was excellent. Service was excellent.
(5)
Hilary C.

Being egg allergic, breakfast places usually represent a bland menu of options for me. At Besaws, the building blocks of their menu are so delectable that I could build my own for a reasonable price. Rosemary roasted potatoes with roasted garlic, sauteed spinach with roasted garlic, creamy chevre, chorizo, and bacon. super yums! The wait was about 45 min when we arrived at 11am on a Saturday. It's a bit long to wait, although they've got tea and Stumptown outside. It was totally worth the wait though. Service was prompt, attentive, accurate, and extremely pleasant. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Michael P.

Tried this place for lunch and now want to go back for breakfast and dinner! One of the oldest neighborhood joints in Portland (I think I remember the menu saying they opened back in 1903 as a "drinking & gambling establishment" for loggers working on the Lewis & Clark trail. Then they added food during Prohibition!) Not much has changed since then--the place is quaint and cozy with the same beautiful mahogany bar the loggers used to sit at. The place is small though, so if you go during a prime time, be prepared to wait. The service is excellent--my coffee and water glass never got 2/3rds empty. Breakfast is served until 3pm, which made it really hard for me to decide what to have. The burgers were only 6 oz so I passed on getting one, though they are Strawberry Farm Organic and looked so phenomenal I'll try one next time. Instead, I had a wild salmon sandwich which was excellent with a side of above average potato salad. The desserts looked great as well--tiramisu, chocolate moose, and apple pie. Can't wait to go back and try dinner or brunch.
(4)
Maryam D.

"Meh," is the perfect expression for my brunch at Besaw's. I have wanted to dine here since we moved to the neighborhood months ago and went for brunch on a Saturday. I expected a wait, about 30 min, the coffee and tea while I wait was nice. So far, so good. Once seated it all went downhill. It was a busy day, from what I've seen it's a standard thing on the weekends here. So when our waitress arrived at our table all frantic and rushed it was slightly off-putting, but not a huge deal, we all of our days. Ordered the Wild Salmon Scramble with a side of pancake and my fiance got the Farmer's Hash sans the arugala. The wait was normal and a friendly man brought us our food, he hung around a couple of minutes chatting with us about how he is not an arugala fan as well, an amusing conversation! The food... salmon scramble was disappointing from the first bite. There was soooo much dill in the dish and the fish was dry and unseasoned, and there was a speck of cream cheese in the dish, which I feel would have added so much. But the worst ingredient would have to be the long, curly black hair that was cooked into the eggs!! Absolutely disgusting! As soon as I could get our waitresses attention (which wasn't easy), I asked her to come over and once she saw the hair she just grabbed my plate and yelled "oh no, so sorry!" and walked off. I felt the reaction was odd, assumed she'd come back (maybe even a manager) and apologize, ask if I'd still want the dish remade or something along those lines. But no one came by, I waited 10 min and she brought me a newly made dish and apologized and walked away quickly. The whole situation had ruined my appetite, so i ended up taking the scramble home and have yet to eat. My fiance's dish was nice. He enjoyed the large roasted cloves of garlic and crispy bacon pieces, a very flavorful dish. The buttermilk pancake was alright, too thin and dense in my opinion. I like fluffy light pancakes. So at the end we left completely disappointed and pretty grossed out. Will not be going back here.
(2)
scott l.

My new favorite breakfast spot. Atmosphere is as good as the food.
(5)
Makenna C.

Recently tried Besaw's after debating over and over again. My room mate and I now hold it as our favorite place for a more guilt free hang-over breakfast (we live close, on SW Vista). They have a large menu with a variety of dishes filled with fresh and local ingredients. The hostesses and servers have always been friendly no matter how packed it gets too- and believe me, it does get packed, especially on weekend mornings. Luckily it is fairly large and filled with tables, and even has an "outdoor" seating area even in wintertime (it doesn't sound enticing, but they have it covered with lots of cozy heat lamps and it's actually fantastic out there). The possible long wait factor is the one star lost from Besaw's, but it's well worth it!
(4)
SaraJane L.

This place is phenomenal. I've been here two weekends in a row and both times the food was excellent. It's pretty much always packed here but SO worth the wait. Everything my friends or I have gotten has been amazing. They make rosemary roasted potatoes with whole cloves of garlic, delicious!! Everything is super fresh and the quality of the produce in their fruit bowls can't be beat. Great service, waters always refilled promptly and they're always accomodating with split checks, etc. This is definitely my new favorite brunch spot!!
(4)
Adam R.

A few of us went there for breakfast on one of the nicer days this winter and ended up with a 45 minute wait to get a table for 3. Most places you get stuck standing next to the door watching others eat but here you get outside seating with complimentary coffee. To make it even better they brought waffles out on a regular basis for us to enjoy. Once we got inside it definitely felt a little cramped but nothing too bad. Considering how busy they were the service was pretty good. I had the breakfast burritos and they were splendid. More than enough food for once person. Plan on a wait if you get there past 9am. I could imagine getting a table for more than 4 would be problematic. I hear the French toast is also good as well.
(4)
Edward J.

A real nice little French cafe with good American fusion food. I love their vegetarian quesadilla with mushroom and spicy salsa. Really delicious! I also love their breakfast choices. My friend love their smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. Everything is a bit oily and greasy, but that's just me. I'm used to eating without butter and fried oil. I tried their apple pie, its really good too! The place is very popular on the weekend, especially during brunch. The wait is about half hour. I would go during weekday. Also, they serve Stumptown coffee and dragonfly chai. sweet!
(4)
April C.

this review isn't about the food - which i'd always known to be pretty good, in that predictable NW brunch sort of way - but about the very unwelcoming reception i experienced there this morning. a friend and i both woke up early and sought breakfast, at somewhere open at 7ish on a sunday. we consulted yelp. it says besaw's opens at 7 daily; i hadn't been in a while, she's a recent fan, so, great, we decide to meet there. i arrived first, so i walk in - because it's 37 degrees out - and an employee looks at me a little funny, and i see they're setting up yet and i say 'oh, i'm early, there will be two, i can just wait...' before i could even finish he gruffly informed me 'we don't open till 8' and i said, 'oh, i thought it was 7'...and with his laser-eyed glare, i was dismissed. so off i went. um, general manners aside, unless you've been vacationing on another planet or some such, you know the economy is not as swell as it once was and in the name of service, hell, even kindness, you'd think you wouldn't brush a customer off just because they're 18 minutes early. i was't demanding to be seated, i offered to just sit and wait. you'd think you wouldn't turn away business so...rudely...let alone at all. so, yelpers, they open at 8 on sunday, so you know...and don't try being early, ooooh no, that doesn't go over well. i realize it's a lame little misunderstanding, but on a freezing cold morning, it really got my day off to a crabby start. i think i walked out and said 'that was so rude; i hate people.' if it were my place of business, i would have said 'oh, sorry, we're not open for another little bit, but if you want to wait, i'll let you know when the coffee's ready...' um, nope, not at besaw's. about as warm and fuzzy as a bitchslap. hey besaw's, here's an idea: if you're not yet open...CONSIDER LOCKING THE GODFORSAKEN FRONT DOOR! an immobile door is a far friendlier, or at least benign, greeting than a gruff, dismissive, retort pre-coffee. also, if you're going to so proudly display your yelp sticker on said door, consider insuring your business info is updated on the website. but, don't worry besaw's, stepping stone cafe is just blocks away, open and ready to accept your discarded guests, and you know, they're POLITE - and with food as good as i remember yours, probably better; perhaps because it's served, well, kindly.
(1)
Sangorama s.

Usually when I fly home from asia the first thing I want to eat when I land is a good burger. On this trip, the wife wanted to find a frozen yogurt place called Bluet that her friend mentioned so we drove on to 23rd trying to find it. Short story is that the weather was bad and we were 5 blocks off from the frozen yogurt location (didn't have the address) so we stuck our heads into Besaw's and decided to grab a bite. It was packed which is a pretty good sign. This place is not cheap but the food is pretty darn good. I got a 9 or 10 dollar burger and once I ate it, I was really ok with it. It came with a salad and like every piece of greenery on that salad was fresh - like every single stinkin piece. No wilting, no old stuff, no costco prepack looking pieces, just fresh garden looking, just living on the earth stuff. The burger was pretty darn tasty and came with a potatoe salad - a yummy one. I'm not a big potatoe salad fan but this one was really good. The rest of the family had some breakfast foods but I didn't really pay attention because I was stuffing my face w/ my burger. Again, not cheap but if you want good food this is a good place to drop by.
(4)
David S.

Besaw's is one of the oldest restaurants in PDX still operating today. I went there for brunch twice while I was visiting, and had a great experience both times. I understand the restaurant has undergone a lot of renovations recently, and the interior is quite nice. There's also some sort of heated patio in the back. The restaurant is not particularly big, so expect to have to wait if you go for brunch on weekends (though I think they accept reservations). The service was extremely friendly, and the food excellent. I got to try the salmon egg scramble: smoked salmon with dill and cream cheese with eggs, which comes with toast and a small side of greens... it was great. The second time I went, I followed the recommendation of our waitress and tried the waffle, which was delicious and came with real maple syrup. They serve Stumptown coffee. Great restaurant!
(5)
Art A.

stellar brunch! reminds me of zazie in sf w/ their delicious eggs, toast, and coffee! would definitely come back. our server was great, the food was good, and the atmosphere was kick-ass! add great weather and yesssss, it was good!
(4)
True O.

best breakfast/brunch awesome staff, very welcoming with lots of personality nice patio, dog friendly great drinks great menu, amazing fresh garden veggies. expect to wait if you arrive mid morning on the weekend, but it is soo worth it. the food is great, but it's the amazing staff and service that keep me coming back
(5)
LB F.

In OR from Chicago (we know brunch like no other) for a wedding and tried Besaw's for breakfast on a Friday morning. At 10ish, the wait was totally easy (about 10 minutes), the atmosphere is interesting and the food was delicious. The whole table ordered different things and all enjoyed their meals. The homemade ketchup, while a relatively small part of the experience, is a standout. But the one lady's bathroom with a perpetual wait near the service counter was the only distinct down-point.
(4)
Adam G.

Besaw's is a NW Portland institution when it comes to brunch. For over a century the little spot tucked on the north e nd of 23rd Ave has been serving classic American breakfast. Besaw's warm and homely interior eases you into your morning. It is at its best in the spring and summer when the covered outdoor back patio is open. It's hard to beat fresh apple raspberry juice or a fresh cup of coffee as the sun begins to warm the air before a long Portland afternoon. Besaw's menu unsurprisingly mirrors the quality of their atmosphere. Their various offerings of eggs benedict and apple fritter French toast will rival any tastes around the city. They also accent their menu by taking advantage of fresh North West produce. Their omelets change with the seasons. However, one side remains a staple through out the seasons, the applewood chicken sausage. If you are a sausage person, it's the best in town. My sister always suggests Besaw's when she come up here from LA, but that probably because it's easy to end up shopping on 23rd afterward.
(4)
Graham B.

The first time I brunch'd at Besaw's, the food was good and the service was good and the music was reggae. Thus, I kind of pushed it onto my list of options that are, well, OK in a pinch. But! I'm glad I gave this place a second chance. It does not disappoint as I had previously anticipated. The last two times I've gone, there has been a wait (both on Sunday mornings, so that's understandable). There have also been frequently emptied (and consequently filled) pots of Stumptown (decaf and regular) and tea along with cream and sugar for you that do that thing. Since this is something kind of novel (although it should be more common), many people don't know what to do with Besaw's hospitality. I've witnessed a couple fill up 16oz travel mugs from the newly filled coffee pot while I waited to fill up my little paper cup that the restaurant provides right there on the drink cart. I was shocked and appalled when, voilÃ¡, there were only about 3 more cups left in there when the hoarders had gone off for a walk while they waited. I've also seen an elderly gentleman try to get a cup of coffee from a newly emptied pot, been thwarted, and then pick up the pot and yell to the door/in the general direction of the front desk: "HEY! Can we get some more coffee out here?!!" This also produced amazement from myself and TM. But! On both of those occasions the host (who on both occasions had an exquisitely groomed moustache that I'm very jealous of) refilled the pots promptly and even brought out a personal mug of coffee for the yelling old timer. Now that's damage control. But! I haven't even told you how impressed I am with the bustling, efficient staff or the rotating specials of the day. The traditional eggs and toast and bacon/applewood sausage (SO GOOD) breakfast is great. A scramble with the sausage and peppers and pepperjack cheese along with toast and rosemary potatoes (the SeÃ±or Busy, it was a special) was delicious. Especially topped off with a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa. The waffles are also good and big (big as in Belgian, not big as in Stepping Stone pancake gastrointestinal driveby [which I also enjoy]), and on the first occasion when it wasn't raining, we waiting waifs were witness to a waffle which was waved into our watering mouths as a sample and as a companion to the coffee. I'd recommend this place as a good venue to get a nice brunch if you don't mind a little wait, since it's always busy. The prices are little higher than normal, but the food is well made and well presented. And, barring any relapses of reggae on the ol' stereo system, I'll be back here in the future with no qualms.
(4)
Suzanne F.

While out running errands today, I suddenly realized I was hungry (no surprise here) & while I had something very different in mind, I wound up here at Besaw's. The woman who "greeted" me put me off somewhat. She really looked me up n' down before letting me know I could either sit at a table practically out the door, or the counter. I chose the counter. This person could use some customer relations tips... I am not someone swayed by the absurd portions that PDX is known for. Not only would I not want a 3 egg omelet, I couldn't eat all that. It seems wasteful to me...Breakfast was out. While I have not eaten a burger in years, I ordered the turkey burger with grilled mushrooms. It was one of the best burgers I have ever eaten! Toasted sesame seed bun, ultra fresh lettuce, tomato - which was ripe, I might add- onion, and those delectable mushrooms. This wonder was served with a chopped salad of crisp lettuces with a dressing I couldn't figure out, but was really good. I had a glass of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, then settled back to read my NY Times. The ambiance was terrific, old fashioned, but not stuffy. There seemed to be lots of people in there who were having an outing. I don't know if I stumbled into a tourist trap, of sorts, but I would most assuredly go back. Just as long as the same greeter is no where near the door...
(4)
Roche H.

Great service and good food. Loved the biscuits and the gravy was good too. Meats were amazing. Make reservations though!
(4)
Graham C.

I wanted to like Besaw's. I tried to like Besaw's. I went twice because I figured the first time was just an off day. It pains me to say it but it is just not very good. I loved the decor, cool historical building, old bar, whiskey with my coffee, whats not to love right. Well the service is very friendly but not very good. 3 mistakes on the last visit, and the food just didn't taste good. The first trip I had the Croque madam. Ham mornay bread and egg. Should have been easy, but it was dry. Not nearly enough of the cheese goodness. The potatoes were soggy and overly spiced. The next time I had biscuits and gravy. Once again DRY and the "house made" biscuits tasted just like Australian toaster biscuits. Why must my dreams be crushed again when I think that I have found a good breakfast spot in this city.
(2)
Lindsay N.

yes, we all know this place is amazing. so i'll keep my review short. try the greek salad. sheer perfection. and it's even accompanied with a boatload of warm pita sqaures. mmmmm and they have a fabulous selection of hot tea! right up my alley. i love you besaw's.
(5)
Kathy T.

It was o.k. It wouldnt be a place i would go back to. Half of the breakfast was cold and we sat outside which smelled like fertilizer. No real ambiance.
(2)
Susan N.

Had asked for restaurant recommendations in Portland and a friend recommended Besaw's. Had a delicious half a meatloaf sandwich (the meatloaf was uniquely flavored with peppers and wrapped with bacon) accompanied by a small spring salad and cup of roasted butternut squash soup that was very flavorful. Also has a bite of the tender fried chicken sandwich ... quite tasty. It went quite well with an Arnold Palmer (iced tea and lemonade). It's in the Alphabet District which reminded me of the Upper Fillmore area in San Francisco ... lots of shopping, restaurants, and a nice neighborhood feel.
(4)
Mary G.

Hmm. Have been back a few times and and am a bit disappointed with the quality of the food. The eggs have been consistently overcooked - what used to be over easy at Besaw's is now over medium - and the corn tortillas used in the huevos rancheros are not heated first (like for a few seconds on a cast iron pan) to make them supple and are hard, which is easy to notice when the toppings for this dish are not piled up all nicely but are messily thrown into the bowl, as was the case at my last visit. Also I am getting bored with the menu - try the lunch buffet at Mayura, just two blocks away, for a delicious and different (for most people) weekend brunch instead (opens at 11:30). I have also eaten dinner there. The single vegetarian option was a tasty pasta, but the portion was too small. I would try dinner there again if they would offer another veggie entree.
(4)
Stephanie S.

It's great because it's a neighborhood establishment but the food is ok. The portions are big and they have your typical American food and it's a good place if you want something totally casual. I've eaten here for breakfast and dinner but think it's a much better breakfast joint than dinner.
(3)
Michael G.

Besaw's is far and away one of my favorite brunch places ever. Sure, they serve delicious food for lunch and dinner, but they shine for brunch. Ambiance/service: Located in a historic building (and reputedly their same location for over 100 years) at the quiet and so-far less glitzy north end of NW 23rd, Besaw's provides you with a laid back and cozy experience. The dinning area has a beautiful all-wood interior with solid wood tables. The bar is a spectacular wooden edifice with a well-stocked liquor selection, and one of my favorite bartenders in Portland. Dude is friendly and knowledgeable, and if you get to know him, wiling to slip you the occasional bartender's special. There is also a heated and covered outdoor patio that is good most of the year, as well as seasonal outdoor seating on the sidewalk. I'd recommend the comfortable bar stools if you are solo or just a couple and want to avoid the expected long wait for brunch. The servers are uniformly friendly and attentive, and their chief is almost always there with a smile and kind word for familiar faces and new folks alike. Food: I can't praise Besaw's food highly enough. Among my favorite dishes are the farmer's hash (heaping serving of tasty, fresh goodness, enough for two meals), the tasty and more moderately-sized breakfast sandwich, and the breakfast burritos. Besaw's also has several benedict selections, always including a traditional benedict, and a veggie benedict. Their menu is very veggie friendly overall - some of my veggie friends are regulars. Whatever you choose to eat, I highly recommend a side of the breakfast potatoes (with lots of garlic and tasty herbs). Besaw's also makes one of the better Bloody Mary's I've ever had. Nicely seasoned and spiced (but not too much unless you ask) in a mason jar. As noted, Besaw's has the usual long wait for weekend brunch. Either get there early or be prepared to wait. You can, as mentioned, sit at the bar if you have a small party, but there's usually a wait for that too. But trust me, it's worth it.
(5)
sharon m.

BF and I went here one weekend...and of course it was crowded. Found this place through a local friend...and I'm so glad she introduced this restaurant to use. It reminded me of brunch spots in berkeley.. Absolutely everything was yummy to me. I had the Prosciutto and egg scramble and bf had something that was tasty too. All their ingredients tasted fres...i love the northwest. :)
(4)
Heather S.

Went here on a recent trip to Portland with my husband and kids (ages 4 and 8). Went on a Tuesday morning and it was packed! We ended up taking seats at the counter so we didn't have to wait since we had to check out of our hotel soon. The servers were a bit harried and it took forever to get my son's drink but once the food was ordered, it came quickly and was absolutely delicious. Kids had the typical kids breakfasts (pancakes, eggs, bacon) which they loved. I had the Farmer's Hash (bacon, eggs, potatoes, carmelized onions, arugula) which I ate for breakfast and lunch that day and wished I had more for dinner. Husband had a scramble with goat cheese, dill, sun dried tomatoes--so, so good. We'll definitely check it out again when we go back to Portland next time and make sure to give ourselves plently of time so we can handle the wait and get a real table!
(4)
alana r.

After hearing and reading so many great things about Besaw's (it had been on my list to try for nearly a year), I was pretty disappointed. I had planned to like it! The good: The wait staff was very friendly. It's a nice atmosphere, cute place, etc. My husband liked his breakfast. The not so good: I know there are mix-ups sometimes in the kitchen. Not a big deal, but still, I had SO been looking forward to this breakfast! I ordered the spinach, chevre and sundried tomato omelet (scramble? I forget). So many things on the menu sounded good. When my dish came out, it sort of looked like what I'd ordered... but I took a bite and realized it was the salmon scramble. Now, if it had been anything else on the menu, I would have just eaten it. I've done it before, and I don't like to waste food. However, I don't care for fish, and there's no way I could eat the salmon. The waiter took care of it, realized I wanted the spinach omelet... Long story short, about 20 minutes later, I was brought an omelet with only spinach in it. And it was a very so-so omelet. No cheese, no tomatoes... I don't know, it's just that I was starving by that point and could have made something that tasted a lot better at home if I was just doing eggs and spinach. I'm also wondering how practical it is to serve a hot chai in a clear water glass? It was so hot, and since there were no handles, I had to wrap a napkin around it to drink out of. All in all, it was probably just bad luck, but given how rarely we go out to eat (and going out to breakfast, even rarer-- once a month?) I probably won't go back.
(2)
Dorothy P.

This place is an institution for breakfast. I know by having to wait that I'm in for something good. Great fresh organic food...homemade breads and jams are awesome...the food has always been good here.
(5)
Amy K.

Cozy interior, fast and friendly service, quality ingredients at a decent price point. Lines can be long (especially for weekend brunch) but it goes to show how loved the restaurant is. We mainly come for brunch though we've been for regular lunch and dinner a few times and always leave in a happy food coma. Noteworthy menu items: - Wild salmon scramble - Farmer's hash - Huevos rancheros - 2 egg breakfast - Spicy bloody mary Their rosemary garlic roasted potatoes that come standard with many of the brunch items are fantastic. Love this place!
(4)
J L.

I hate to give places one star, my experience has to really hit a bad nerve, however if I would never go back to a place I consider that a one star, I don't think I would ever go back to Besaw's, but there wasn't anything that really hit a nerve, so I'll give them two stars.. =( The restaurant was cute, we liked the ambience, and I could see why based on that people like the place. However, the service was awful. Our server was unfriendly, unattentive, and brusque. It wasn't very busy it was a weekday morning but our server acted like he was too busy to deal with us. We all had coffee, but didn't have much luck getting a refill (and their mugs are small). I ordered a scramble, which turned out to be cooked like a frittata, when it was delivered to the table my husband immediately told the server I had ordered a scramble, he told us that was the scramble and took off. I don't like frittatas and this was no exception. The friends we were dining with frowned at my dish as well and said "that's a frittata" (*shrug*, now I know to always double check what a restaurants definition of a scramble is) I don't remember what dish my husband ordered but the breakfast potatoes on the side weren't cooked they tasted pretty close to raw which is unfortunate because if they had been cooked through I think they would've been pretty tasty. To top off the horrible bordering on rude service, and the blah food, they were pretty pricey for very small not so tasty portions. This place came highly recommended to our friends, and maybe we just got a bad server and a bad day with the kitchen..but it was incredibly disappointing.. and there are so many other places in Portland to try for breakfast.
(2)
Doni W.

LOVE this place. Staff is always super friendly. If you're there for brunch and love mimosas, the pour is 90% champagne and just a splash of OJ -- just how I like it. I haven't tried the Bloody Mary's, but they look AWESOME. Food: mac and cheese is great, as is their house-made focaccia with olive oil.
(5)
Olivia P.

Besaw's is a great addition to the neighborhood. It is the place to go for huge breakfast platters and delicious burgers. I've had elk burgers here before and I would get that dish again. Delicious. The servers are all very polite and helpful. The only real concern is parking and the popularity of the restaurant. It is really crowded during lunch hour. The problem isn't getting a table, which takes no time at all, but the noise, over which I could hardly hear my companion.
(4)
Glenn G.

Every Portlander needs "a breakfast spot," and this is mine. Top-notch food and coffee and great atmosphere.
(5)
erin b.

love me some besaws! A fav place to go for bfast or lunch... next up dinner. wish they hadn't dump the wi-fi... i liked going there to study and have a bite to eat... if you have a good wifi card you can pick up mcminemens
(5)
Windy S.

Went here for an early lunch and had the soup and salad. Both mediocre. I did notice that everyone around us had ordered breakfast, so I guess I gotta go back and try the breakfast.
(3)
Chris E.

Great little bar & restaurant in a cool neighborhood in Northwest Portland. A colleague and I did dinner here on a Tuesday evening. It's in a 108-yr-old building with an intimate space (seating for maybe 50 folks). It's noisy but not uncomfortably so. We each had the specials - Rob had scallops, I had the ribeye steak. Completely delicious. Service was proactive and delightfully friendly. Definitely will be back when client work brings me to Portland.
(4)
Montrew N.

It was ok. Not what we thought after reading reviews. It's been a few days and we can't remember what we had there? It was ok. We do remember the day before at the industrial cafe...amazing burrito and pancakes with orange honey butter.
(3)
Jason B.

I think I made the wrong choice for breakfast here. Went with the breakfast burger and should have done the french toast or something. Cool little place though. Our service was a little on the slow side as it was a Sunday morning and our waiter appeared to be shaking off a hangover. I'll give it another try though.
(3)
Mary H.

Came here for Sunday Brunch on Memorial Day weekend. It was packed, but I was still seated in a timely manner. My server was very friendly and polite, with plenty of recommendations. And despite the fact that I was alone, and the place was crowded, he didn't make me feel rushed. The food was delicious. I ended up getting one of the specials, a waffle topped with apples and vanilla bean whipped cream. It was rich and decadent. And my cup of Stumptown coffee complimented everything nicely. One of my new favorite brunch spots.
(5)
Susan A.

My dad and I ate here on a Monday morning. We arrived just as they opened so of course there was no waiting. I picked this restaurant based on Yelp reviews. We needed to find a Monday breakfast place since our favorite, Mother's, isn't open on Mondays. Our meal was average. My eggs (scrambled with spinach and goat cheese) were over cooked. The coffee was fine. I was happy to read Besaw's served Stumptown but the coffee wasn't bad or great just average. My dad had biscuits and gravy. It wasn't noted on the menu that the gravy is spicy - not good for his stomach. All in all an unremarkable meal. The service was good.
(3)
Suzy V.

Pretty good! Came here for breakfast, seated quickly, got to sit outside. Ordered the Farmer's Hash and it was good. I don't know if it was remarkable but it was for sure good.
(3)
Emery S.

We sent to Besaws for the first time and LOVED it. They served yummy little scones as an appetizer and our omelets were delicious. We've been to Mother's on many occasions and decided to try someplace new. Besaws seated us within 5 minutes (we arrived at 9:30 on a Saturday) and our server was attentive and helpful. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Nick M.

This is a wonderful breakfast place - our favorite on the rare occasions when we stray from the east side. The staff are friendly, the food is great (if rather predictable northwest cooking - nothing wrong with that though), and the vibe is fun. It's not cheap, but it is great food. My only complaint is the outdoor climate-heaters....
(5)
Angela B.

Talk about an East Coast vibe...Besaw's feels like an old cafe you would find in New York with all the charm you would expect from Small Town USA. On a weekend morning you can expect a good 30-45 minute wait. You will see all kinds of peeps standing outside waiting for a seat, from those who are dressed in their Sunday Best to the couples who look like they just rolled out of bed...so no need to worry if you have too much of a hangover to dress up for this place. Although they serve dinner, I have only dined here for breakfast. Although the food is definitely tasty, I think it's the vibe that gets people to stand in line and wait.
(5)
Darren E.

Best brunch & bloody marys in NW PDX.
(5)
Jennifer M.

One of the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had. The food was fantastic....they make a special homemade ketchup that is slightly tangy and a bit spicy. A must try. Quick service. I love the outdoor seating, especially on a sunny morning!
(5)
Chelsea A.

It was so good. just so so good. And the portions are huge; as in excessively large. As in, you will never finish the whole meal, ever. It's been a long time since I've had actually quality biscuits and gravy. And these weren't just quality, these were excellent. The service is friendly and quick; and there on top of refilling your water and coffee. Thank you! I honestly don't know if I would have given them all five stars, maybe 4.5 if I could have. But exactly what I would have taken it off for I couldn't tell you. I suppose while the food is excellent, and the diner is cute, and service is awesome I don't feel that they are spectacular. For example, I'm willing to walk all the way down 23rd to get there, however I probably wouldn't sing their praises anywhere else.
(5)
Coral C.

Solid food (had the biscuits and gravy), but my side of pork sausage was horribly dry. Our server seemed to have a bit of an attitude, and barked out questions as to what we wanted. Never checked back until we were completely done with our meal, which is a pet peeve of mine. Had he come by, I would have asked for another side of sausage! The other two people with me said their meals were excellent. I'll definitely go back, hopefully this guy was just having a bad morning...
(3)
Kimi N.

A former PDX'er took me here to relive some of his past. This little joint used to be his Sundays ritual with a newspaper and friends in tow. The staff was very friendly and accommodating but the food seemed less than stellar, not bad, but didn't live up to it's former expectations. He had the breakfast burrito which was OK and I had a 3 muchroom omelet served with rosemary potatoes. The desserts look delish tho we didn't try any and the atmosphere was cozy and casual. There looked to be an covered outside overflow area complete with heat lamps for busy weekend revelers. The adjacent parking lot looked like it filled up quickly but was a handy addition considering the hard to find surrounding street parking. I feel a bit guilty about the 3 star rating considering I would go back to this place, but wouldn't consider it worth any long wait if there was a crowd.
(3)
Bula W.

My husband and I wanted breakfast food on a Saturday at 1pm. There was still a lingering brunch crowd but we were still seated and attended to by the waiter very promptly. I ordered the Salmon scramble and my husband ordered the avocado omellete. Both dishes were quite delicious and we were both stuffed at the end. I wish I had room for dessert but was much too full to eat another bite. I was also able to drink 4 cups of coffee which were yummy to the tummy. We'll definitely be stopping by again especially to try the waffles & the forest mushroom omelette.
(4)
Phong D.

Bring your riot gear, snack, and appetite. Without a party of 6 we were unable to make a reservation. The 4 of us waited in their cramped waiting area for their projected 35 minutes. The combination of invaded personal space, long wait time, increasing starvation, and an evil child that nearly knocked my wife down would have made Mother Teresa turn into the Hulk. Once we were seated it was a totally different experience. Our waiter was funny, kind, hard working, and informative. I had previewed their menu online the night prior and had my heart set on the breakfast burger. Sadly it is NO LONGER served on a waffle. This lean/juicy burger hides under a beautiful egg-shield like a gladiator and rides a slab of Texas toast like an emperor. I inhaled this open-faced burger and fries and was satisfied! It paired well with the Stumptown coffee. Next time I'm bringing my riot gear and snack for the long wait.
(3)
David W.

I had the avocado omelette with ham. Everything was very well made and the was a good mix of flavors. The habanero sauce was really good and the spiced ketchup was a nice surprise with the rosemary potatoes. No problems with service and I left very satisfied!
(5)
Evelyn S.

I'm in love with the Wild Salmon Scramble. It was my first visit to Besaw's and I can't wait to go back! I had an out of town friend visiting, we had just wondered the Farmers Market at PSU and the Rose Garden in Washington Park and I was ready for lunch but wanted breakfast, suddenly Besaw's popped into my mind and I am so glad it did! My friend had eaten her way through the fresh produce, cheeses and meats at the market so she ordered something lighter, the Breakfast Parfait, she could not stop raving about how good it was and we even asked if they sold the Granola, it was that good. My birthday is a week away and I'm trying to figure out who to invite to go back to Besaw's to celebrate! Yum!!!!
(5)
Tiffany B.

The old Portland saying goes....for brunch on the weekends, one must wait in line for a min 1 hour! That's just how Ptown rolls, and with so many great places to choose from, the wait doesn't seem that bad for great food. We however, were very lucky to roll in here on a Saturday around 11ish and only had a 30 min wait! Whoohoo! This cute little house has been around longer than most of us, heck, my dad used to come here back in the 70's! Well we finally said hell with the wait and just go. So glad we did! We sat in the very back on the patio, in the winter it's warm and cozy, they have it all enclosed with white linens and twinkle lights hanging all around! Perfect since we were getting our Christmas tree today, way to set the holiday spirit! The menu, looked great, lots of options....we were dying for breakfast so we started off with a couple of Mary's and a cinnamon roll. Our waiter was very eccentric and nice. My daughter couldn't decide, so she ordered the pancakes and 3 sides! I think her eyes were bigger than her stomach! I of course, spotted the Croque Madame, and looked no further. that is my all time favorite sandwich. Our waiter swears that Besaw's has the BEST on around.... Although they were very busy, service was prompt, and food came out pretty quick. If you go, and you must go, try the rosemary potatoes with sea salt...ohhhmmmyyy delishisness! We all left very full and happy...my daughter is still raving about that place! I will be back to try dinner and HH :)
(5)
Robyn T.

In Portland for the weekend and wanted a good breakfast place to start the day. With yelp help we found this place and it didn't disappoint. No wait to sit at the bar and the bartender was nice an interesting to talk to. Orange juice and coffee was good but probably should have tried the Bloody Mary with the homemade pickled veggies that went on the top and looked delish. Corned beef hash was a little dry but probably would be okay if you like runny egg yokes that you could mix all up. It comes in a small cast iron skillet making a great crust and the dish stayed hot even after I finished eating. The biscuit that came with it was my favorite part. Little butter was great but had to try the homemade jam which was very tasty. The atmosphere was great as long as you don't mind eating in a bar and being able to see into the kitchen. I will come back to eat breakfast here again!
(4)
Jed H.

This place is packed a lot of the time, but it's mainly because of hype and not worth the wait in line. It's very loud inside, to the point where you can't hear who you're with and they can't hear you order. The food is good as well as the presentation.
(3)
Jenene Y.

I was pleasantly surprised by the dinner. I had heard some much about their breakfast but my dad wanted to try them out for dinner. It was a great choice. Our waitress Josi was stellar and tentative. She overheard us saying cheers to my dad for his birthday so she brought out a cakebomb at the end of the meal for him and he really enjoyed it. My dad had the beef tenderloin and really enjoyed the flavor, no complaints from him. My husband had the veal and I am not sure if I saw him eat it. That being said, he thought it was top-notch. I opted for a salad since it was a bit warm outside. It was actually very filling. We opted to share the cookie with the salted camel ice cream. Ir was a great birthday celebration. I am giving them a five because it was a perfect dinner.
(4)
Robin M.

Love Besaw's breakfast and dinner. But they won't serve lunch before 11:30 and that is a bummer.
(3)
Renee O.

I finally went! I've heard about besaws for what feels like forever, and made it there last weekend. The service at the hostess table. Nothing like I've ever experienced. For the worse. The hostess was so rude and scattered. (Not a good combo!) we were told the wait (for 2 people!!) would be 35 mins tops. Not bad at all for a Sunday morning. We waited an hour and twenty five minutes. Why you ask? The hostess let in her groups of personal friends in before the rest of us waiting. I was appalled and her disrespect and attitude for the customers The food was great. But I won't return due to the service.
(2)
Mark L.

I am new to Portland and I saw Besaws while riding around on my motorcycle. I went the next day, Sunday. We got to the restaurant about 11.30 and the told us 30 mins. Ok, so went outside for some of their coffee which was empty and they told us it out be out in a few minutes, not quite. we ended up waiting for an hour to be seated. We had a mimosa, which was quite good, salmon eggs Benedict and the wife got the provencial benedict and of course a side of bacon. All of it was pretty good. It ended up being about 60$, for breakfast, pricey. Will not go out of my way, but might come back. On a side note, waitress was a bit cranky, but then it was busy and paper towels were empty.
(4)
Rebecca C.

I have walked by this place so many times since my salon is right around the corner, and it was finally this past weekend I decided to see what all the lines were about. It was a friend's birthday and we decided to give it a try. We got there right at a good time since we only had to wait about 10 minutes. The service was good, the waitress was attentive and the water glasses were never empty. My friend had the ice tea and she had to wait a little while for a refill, but nothing major. I couldn't decide what I wanted and the waitress basically explained that the gravy here had some kick that people didn't always expect or appreciate. I am so glad she steered me away. I ended up with the goat cheese and egg sandwich and my friend got the chicken fried steak with the gravy. Both meals were good, without question. But the waitress was right, the gravy was totally different from what I thought and had a bit more spice than I like from my gravy. My friend totally dug it though, eating pretty much her whole meal. My sandwich was really good, although I would have liked a more potent chevre flavor against the fatty taste of the cheese, bacon and egg. But still good overall. I would recommend the place if you're in the area, as it's worth the price and the food is good.
(4)
Norievelle D.

Always amazing food. Locally and mindfully sourced ingredients are always carefully combined to please the taste buds! I've never ordered anything from this place that didn't hit the spot. The people and the service are the tops. The Besaw's family never ceases to make me feel welcome and taken care of. So much love for this place.
(5)
Dave L.

Been here once for lunch and once for dinner. I dont know what all the hype is about. There are so many more great places in Portland. I had the meatloaf for dinner. It was good but not great. Definitely nothing to write home to Mom about. What was even more disappointing was the corned beef hash I had for brunch. There isnt much corned beef in there. Thats for darn sure. They put way too much bread in there and there shouldnt be any bread in it. And they through in all these half cooked sauteed onions. Hey Besaws, heres a tip....sauteed onions should not be crunchy!!!!!! You ruined my corned beef hash with your uncooked onions and bread. Yech!
(1)
K R.

I've often had to wait for a table on the weekends, but it's worth it! My favorite place for brunch in Portland, and a go to spot when out of town friends visit. Delicious food and drinks!
(5)
Francesca F.

This spot was OK. The location and the atmosphere must be what people come back for. The wait is LONG on the weekends. The food was mediocre - the huevos rancheros were decent, the corned beef hash was NOT, the biscuit was the best part. I think lunch/dinner might be better than brunch. No chicken & waffles at brunch! Only Fri & Sat dinner for some reason....
(3)
James O.

Been here a few times now and always have enjoyed it. The eggs Benedict is very good, as is the biscuits and gravy. Today I tried lunch for the first time and got the Reuben. I would highly recommend it. Just so you know, there is always a line on the weekends, and it's always long...so be prepared. But it's a nice place worth waiting for. Plus they have coffee outside while you wait
(4)
Myra F.

Besaw's is always busy on the weekends. We waited only about 5 minutes for a table. We sat by the kitchen where the food comes out. The breakfast foods sat and sat and sat, while waiters and waiters passed by and just looked at the meals, getting colder by the minute. When I ordered my pancakes I asked if my waitress could please make sure I got them hot off the grill. She was a little surprised when I mentioned watching the meals sit for so long, but she brought my pancakes out steaming hot. They are the best pancakes in town! Now, manager....you really need to deal with the wait on the meals. Breakfasts need to be hot. I can't believe people don't complain about the cold food! Mine was perfect!
(3)
Ashley S.

Freaking delicious. Do not miss out on the chicken and waffles. The waffle is cheddar chive and it is delicious. The service was great and my husband was very pleased with his elk burger. My bro in law had chicken and waffles as well and ordered a side of mashed potatoes and Mac n cheese. The potatoes were good but not my favorite and the Mac was wonderful. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Martin W.

Visited Besaw's on 17 July with my wife. We were seated quickly, the place wasn't too busy. We moved to the very nice patio, no problem. My wife had just the Mac'n'Cheese, while I started with a green, cucumber based gazpacho - unusual but very refreshing on a hot evening - and their 'legendary' meat loaf. The Mac'n'Cheese was very rich and tasty, with a hint of nutmeg, and a very generous portion. Whether the meatloaf is really legendary is difficult to say, but it wasn't too dense or heavy, nicely browned, and served with small red potatoes and carrots. Like Meriwether's a few blocks away they try to source locally. The only small issue was the coffee my wife had, it had some unexpected ingredient (maybe chicory? ) she didn't appreciate.
(4)
Lisa S.

This delicious gem is very close to our friend's apartment where we stay when we visit Portland. She recommended it to us last year & we went 3 times in one week! We've tried almost all of their breakfast offerings (except for the weekend-only eggs Benedict) & everything is amazing! You really cannot go wrong with breakfast at Besaw's! Maybe next time we'll try their dinner service.
(5)
Joey F.

Great spot for breakfast. High quality and worth the 20 minutes I had to wait. Our server was extremely friendly, and made the visit memorable. My buddy had the eggs Benedict and raved about it. I had a classic breakfast with eggs bacon and rose merry garlic potatoes. I would have liked them to be crispier, bust still had great flavor. This will definitely be on the regular rotation for breakfast in the future
(5)
Louie C.

The pancakes are super fluffy and large and the hella burrito is awesome. Naturally there is a wait (the place is popular after all) but they have a self-serve coffee bar right outside for those who are patiently waiting.
(4)
Kristina M.

We went here for my mothers birthday last night 5/6/14 We went for dinner. Walking in the place is cute. They weren't to busy and service was okay. First they didn't have the main dish that both of my parents picked this place for. So that was disappointing. So we ordered something else and then they were out of the sides she had recommended for them. The food came out relatively quick. Apt was great cheese board. I ordered a burger it was okay I think Burgerville is better!!! All the food was ok but nothing really worth coming back for. We all got a good laugh out is that one but really burgerville would have been better. Drinks were great. Then as we were ordering dessert and I tell the waitress it's my mothers birthday and they bring her out a little cakebomb dessert with a candle. We proceed order another cakebomb and two other desserts. They were great. We get the bill for our food and they charged us for the dessert the brought mom my for her birthday. Now it was only like $2.50 but it's the principal of it. We all order separate dessert after the birthday one that was a nice surprise but isn't the birthday dessert free? No we didn't say anything and just paid and left. I won't be coming back for dinner service. I would like to try breakfast just because of the good reviews for it but other then that I wouldn't recommend it for dinner. OVERALL: I wouldn't recommend. Made us pay for birthday dessert. Burgerville has better burgers. They were out of main items on the menu. Hope this helps
(2)
Maureen M.

What a charmer~ A recent weekend in Portland's Alphabet District found us at Besaw's on Sunday morning for breakfast. I loved the atmosphere-- the dark rich,wainscoted walls, the old dinette tables, the cosiness of the rooms. Yes, there was a wait. Pleasantly, Besaw's has a coffee machine set up outside (honor system) for folks waiting for a table. The hostess was friendly & patient in spite of our various "check-ins" to see where we were on the list. We ended up sitting at the bar-- more friendly staff greeted us & took our order. I had bacon & eggs which came with Besaw's delicious rosemary roasted potatoes and hearty bread. The ketchup & marmalade were homemade-- nice touch. Would I come back on future trips to the City of Roses? You bet. I'm sorry we didn't think to try them for dinner-- next time gladly~ instead of some of the trendier places on 23rd with less remarkable food.
(5)
RJ H.

Besaw's is amazing and something of an institution in NW PDX. I've eaten brunch here more than any other destination in Portland, no doubt. Of those visits, it's safe to say that 70% of the time I've ordered their House-Smoked Wild Salmon or Lox Platter with pickled egg and vegetables -- an achievement I have yet to find done better elsewhere within the city limits. Delicious! Blood Marys? Delicious! Sausages? Delicious! Anything else I've ever eaten there or eaten off someone else's plate? Delicious! That one busser? De-li-cious! I'll be back over and over and over again. I take every visitor I have here and every single one of them ends up loving it. And although this restaurant is admittedly very Portlandian in its execution of offerings -- sustainable, local, freshly harvested, everything made in house, yada yada yada and all that shit -- its Pacific Northwestish qualities are mostly an afterthought to the fact that they do good food and do it well. The menu has something for everyone. I'm ashamed I didn't write this review sooner. If you go on a weekend or at the peak of lunch hour, you're just asking for a long wait.
(5)
Jennifer C.

Came here for dinner with a friend and sat out on the patio. Some of the worst service I have ever had in Portland, which is unfortunate because every one around us seemed to be more attended to. I think we were unfortunate enough to get the server who did not want to be at work that evening. We ordered an appetizer and our dinner entrees a few minutes later. About 20 minutes go by and our entree course arrives with no appetizer and missing a biscuit. We asked for the appetizer and after another 12 minutes or so it arrives, still no biscuit, so I asked for it. My friend sent back a bland margarita and then had a second drink issue in which the wrong item was delivered. After we finished our meal we waited 15+ minutes for our server to come back and see if we needed anything else, he never came (he had been chatting at the host stand while we were waiting). We had to grab another server passing by to let her know we were finsihed. Our server delivered our bill; nothing was taken off the check and no apologies were given for the mistakes that had been made and the time we spent waiting. We spoke with a manager who said the server had been confused and didn't understand that we had ever ordered an appetizer (although he had repeated the order and said, I will put that in for you...Confused? Really?). The appetizer and the biscuit were then taken off the bill, but it didn't seem like enough for all of our troubles. All in all neither of us will be back or recommend the place to those who ask for a good place to eat. On a side note **We are both in the hospitality industry and have been for 10 years. Service this poor just should not happen, and when it does it should be addressed in a better manner.
(1)
Daryn B.

MMM MMM MMM! farmers hash is my love language. Actually, this whole place is! I visit Portland often, and this is the only place I won't leave without visiting. Keep doing what you're doing, folks!
(5)
Eve K.

Great food and friendly service. It's crowded, but still comfortable. There is a wait on weekends, but I think this place has the best brunch in the neighborhood.
(4)
Darla D.

I will try this place again but on my first visit, I was disappointed. My breakfast, the Madame something. Most of it was quite good, but the egg which was sort of rolled up over the top of the bread was so undercooked that it was actually a clear and gelatinous glob. Not just a little, it was bouncing and wiggling out the side of the plate. The server had it running down his hand and some of it dripped down my boyfriends blazer sleeve before it was plopped in front of me still bouncing in and out. I am not exaggerating, it was a nearly raw egg and none of the dripping down peoples arms was acknowledged by the server. My boyfriends rueben had no sauerkraut and was unusually small. It was dry, but he did ask for the sauce to be light. Still, no sauerkraut? That was just weird. The place was nice, the server was very nice. It was a Sunday and the place was packed, we were seated at a 4 top in the middle of the room by the bathroom door, it was loud there and hard to communicate with the couple we met there for brunch. These are people we have recently met who adore this place and we did not want to make our meal awkward by sending our plates back. I may try again on a more quiet day, this may have been so busy of a day that the staff was rushed and prone to overlook details.
(3)
Katherine K.

Besaw's is probably one of my top three favorite brunch places in Portland. With it's black and white striped canopy, red door, and mahogany bar - I can't decide whether I feel like I'm in a quaint diner, a cafe, or a good ole' boys drinking club. For me, that is part of the appeal. I have never been to Besaw's when it isn't bustling, but I always go early (before 9am) and have yet to have a long wait. Maybe I'm just lucky? Besaw's offers something for everyone. Want a simple, hearty breakfast ? There are several options for breakfast scrambles served with toast and roasted potatoes. Wanting something a bit more exciting or special occasion worthy? Order the Croque Madame; brioche, Gruyere, ham, topped with eggs. I have yet to leave this place disappointed with my order. In fact, I often feel guilty that when someone suggests brunch I am inclined to want to return to Besaw's for a guaranteed great meal instead of venturing out to try something new. Service has always been excellent - the waiters were attentive without hovering, and despite the fact that there is almost always a wait for a table I have never felt rushed. Obviously, this isn't something that a restaurant can help - but it is a bonus that there is a small parking lot attached to the restaurant.
(5)
Marina P.

Delicious! I love their chicken & basil sausage. Their house rosemary potatoes are just perfect. Their biscuits from scratch are buttery and crispy. I would give 5 stars, but they were out of half the things on the menu the day I was there. So I'll give 4 stars for now and hoping to change it to 5 the next time I eat here. The service was wonderful and quick. Ambiance is perfect.
(4)
jina l.

Hostess was NOT in a good mood. Didn't see her smile once &very short. So went into dining experience not so happy. Ordered croque madam & guac Sammy. Decent but nothing that'll make me want to come back for. Fries were DRY & soggy on the outside. Nasty. Overall, Didn't meet up to the hype.
(3)
Stephanie C.

I wasn't super impressed with the food after having tried Stepping Stone Cafe the day prior, but the wait here was a lot shorter and their biscuits were extremely good. The service was attentive. There isn't an abundance of seating so I really wouldn't try to bring a group of more than 8 here. All in all I've had better, but I also didn't feel like I got ripped off by eating here and that in itself says a lot.
(3)
Andrea M.

Besaw's is a beacon for weary travelers from not so far away! We needed brunch, and our hungry toddler needed it quickly. Besaw's had good Yelp reviews, and was near our hotel. It was perfect. Our kid was welcomed with crayons, the food was wonderful, and we had a great breakfast before we were on the road again. It's really nice when places treat kids like people, not wild things or problems. I truly appreciate it. The coffee is was good, too. The building appeared to have long been a neighborhood bar/ saloon. I liked the olde timey photos on the walls. Our server was friendly. A++
(5)
Matt M.

The Hella Burrito was amazing. Try it with some hot sauce. Oh and the French toast was sooo good too! My fiancee got the smoked salmon scramble with roasted garlic potatoes - awesome as well.
(5)
Sarah B.

Once gay marriage becomes legal, it's only a matter of time before we're all allowed to marry dogs, Volvos, sentient pea plants, and restaurants. And when that happens, I'll be first in line to marry Besaw's. It's so good that I'd gladly spend the rest of my days arguing with it about how best to allocate our retirement savings: By investing in rock-solid, ever-more-delicious hollandaise sauce (with a guaranteed ROI of 115%!) or taking a gamble on on the croque madame market. Despite the fact that Besaw's is, arguably, located at the hub of one of the snobbiest parts of the snobbiest city on the West Coast, the servers are all nice, the service is swell, and the experience is remarkably reasonable. I get up early on the regular just to get there before it gets slammed with the usual crowd of North-Face wearing yupsters. (Although at this particular restaurant, the yupsters are a bit more muted then at other, similar establishments - they say please, thank you, and seem to tip well. There's just something about Besaw's that humanizes the gaping maw of Mercedes-driving, technical-fabric wearing lunatics.) Everything on the menu is scrumptious. EVERYTHING. Seriously, just close your eyes and point at something, and whatever comes to your table will be amazing. Even the coffee is superb. I started coming here before I moved here, and will probably come back after I move away. I seriously love this place. I think I'll buy it a big, fake diamond ring that it can wear to its expensive bikram yoga classes to make all the other restaurants jealous. Then maybe we can settle down in the West Hills and raise 2.5 gastro pubs.
(5)
Jer J.

Wait wasn't too bad I heard, for a Sunday early afternoon. It was maybe 25 minutes. I was not happy though when I had been standing there waiting to find out when the table was ready and the guy helped the guy that just walked in, completely ignoring me. Anyway, got the table. The waitress was great and nice and was super accommodating to my picky friend. We were both about to order the salmon dish when the waitress said they were out of...the salmon dish. Darn. I settled on the avocado omelette - with bacon. I ordered the fruit instead of potatoes and got the multi-grain bread. It was good, exactly what the description was, nothing more, nothing less. The bread was really good. The fruit side was actually impressive and surprising - kiwi, apples, pineapple, grapes. I also ordered a shot of espresso, which was sour tasting. I think it was overpriced, as $15.50 for that seemed really high. Honestly wouldn't come back here there are so many places in Portland and even around there that seems just as good if not better and without the wait.
(3)
Blake M.

Love this place. Great breakfast and dinner options. Breakfast = biscuits and gravy. Dinner = chicken and waffles!
(5)
Molly W.

What a great atmosphere in the fall. Had the braised brisket in tomato sauce with feta cheese and penne. Wow! Can't wait to come back for the meatloaf!
(5)
Julie C.

Somehow not as awesome as it used to be, but very, very, very good. Things I love: -the ham steak with the two-egg breakfast -I discovered the Aardvark hot sauce here -Forest mushroom omelette (add swiss cheese for extra deliciousness) -Prosciutto scramble -The. Breakfast. Burger - messy, greasy, and delicious. This is serious. hangover. food. -The bloody mary -you can sub sauteed veggies or fruit in place of the potato and toast to pretend you're eating lower carb -For your wait outside (you *will* wait, even if it's snowing outside because all of Portland eats here for breakfast, apparently), you can drink Stumptown coffee. This might be the best thing, ever. Things I'm less pleased about: I used to love the maple-glazed steak and eggs, but it's gone now. The server remarked they took off the menu because it was "too heavy for breakfast." Umm, this coming from the same menu with a butter-soaked Croque Madam, and bacon-soaked breakfast burger....who are you trying to kid? The extensive tea menu is gone! And frankly, my list of less pleasing things is short. Besaw's is Portland's breakfast place.
(4)
Taylor W.

Went here for Breakfast and got the burrito. Was really looking forward to having the Eggs Benedict because I had heard great things. However, it is only a weekend special .... bummer. Was no super impressed with my burrito and I have definitely had better. Portion size was great though and would definitely give this place another shot. Probably on a Saturday to get the eggs Benedict. Restaurant was neat inside with some good energy. Kind of small though and would not recommend for really big groups.
(3)
Lucy D.

This place is awesome. I came here while vacationing in Portland with my boyfriend. This place was just a few blocks from our hotel, so we decided to walk over and try their breakfast. It was so good that we looked over their dinner menu and decided to come back later that night. Great atmosphere and great service. I intend on coming back next time I'm in town.
(5)
Sharece B.

I love this place. I discovered it here on Yelp and decided that this is where we were going to eat before heading over to Pittock Mansion for the day. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was super impressed. The interior of this place is classic. It's an amazing place to go for brunch mid-morning. We sat outside on the back patio and enjoyed the beautiful lights and breeze. I ordered the avocado omelette with bacon. It was good. If you LOVE AVOCADO, I think it's probably heaven, but if you're like me, you probably will want to have something a little different. Next time, I'd go for an omelette with more bacon, less avocado, but then again, I'm a meat eater. The omelette came with potatoes and toast. Their breakfast potatoes were perfect. The seasonings were such that I ate every bite. And the toast was delicious, especially with some of their butter and jam to top it off. They have a great selection of breakfast beverages, but to keep with the cottagey feeling, I ordered Earl Grey, which could have been better. I'm not sure what tea they carry, but this wasn't my favorite variety of Earl Grey. Besaw's is a great restaurant. When I'm over on 23rd, I definitely plan on eating here again.
(5)
Leigh F.

I've been here twice already and I cannot WAIT to try everything on the menu. The breakfast burger is a vegetarian nightmare but makes me pretty happy I started eating meat again so I could try that. Today I had the croque Madame and I would easily put it on my list of top ten last meals to choose from. It was that good. Coffee is Stumptown which is awesome. I really thought their dragonfly chai would be amazing but mine was mostly milk, I wouldnt get it again. Lastly, when they're busy they are pretty quick to seat you so don't be afraid to go in if there are people waiting by the door. I would totally bring my kids here if I had some, they have a kid friendly menu. Dress seems to be "Sunday best" from what I can tell but I always just wear something casual.
(5)
Lauren G.

Great location but I always want the food to be better than it is. I mean, it's fine, but nothing amazing. Friendly service though and who can argue with the location.
(3)
Teresa R.

This place was pretty packed for a Monday at 11 AM. I wondered, do people work? Couldn't find a hostess in site, so I wrote my name down with party of 3. We had to wait for a table of 3, but not that long. My friends ordered the breakfast burger, huevos rancheros, and I had the two eggs with bacon and rosemary potatoes. My friend loved her huevos rancheros, so that gains this place a star. As for the breakfast burger, the presentation was beautiful. They had, what i thought was a perfectly sunny side up egg, sitting on top of the burger (which does not come with bread.. therefore I would rename this "protein style breakfast burger").. about that egg.. it was over hard. There was no yolk at all, although it appeared to look like it would run, when you poke it... FAIL on their end. I had the two eggs with bacon and rosemary potatoes. I can already smell the rosemary on those potatoes, which I knew would be over powering. Sure enough, the rosemary was very overpowering and the potatoes were not even crispy. it was a hit and miss with my bacon. They use a center cut bacon. One of my pieces were very crunchy and the other, not crunchy. GRRRRRRRRRR... lastly, our waiter was no where to be found. We had to ask which ever wait staff that walked by for water. Because our waiter was no where to be found, I literally had to get up, ask for our check, and then go back up with my friend's card to pay. The music they played was late 90s RNB- Usher- Destiny's Child, TLC , etc.. the music definitely did not fit the atmoshere... Will not come back and will not recommend to anyone.
(2)
Shaneldon W.

Oh my the chicken and waffles are delectable. A one of a kind treat. They haven't been around for 110 years for no reason. For brunch you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The Eggs Benedict is one of the best in town. All of the ingredients are fresh and it's an overall great, cozy environment. Expect a long wait, but just know it's worth it.
(5)
Dennis K.

I found out after having a poor-to-mediocre brunch that another friend agrees; if there was ever magic, it's gone. French fries instead of home fries in the farmer's hash, and on the eggs benedict plate. Potatoes are fundamental, and my litmus test, and this was an abject failure. The food was not hot, the eggs were a little dry, the coffee was so-so. You know you won't be back when the English muffin and jam are the best part of the meal.
(2)
Don B.

It does seem a little silly that it's taken me over 10 years of living in PDX to finally do breakfast at besaw's. But to be fair, I don't live in NW and generally don't travel for classic American diner fare breakfasts. But it was a crazy hashcapade that finally brought me to Besaw's doorstep, and I'm glad I tried it. The menu is complete with standard breakfast fare - scrambles, omeletes, a hash, some breakfast sandwiches and various griddle items. My sampled fare was a breakfast sandwich with over-medium eggs, bacon, avocado and a roasted sun dried tomato type thing on a brioche bun with a side of taters. The sandwich was good and the eggs cooked perfectly, but the star of the show was easily the potatoes - some of the most delicious I've had in PDX - filled with cloves of sweet, delicious roasted garlic. Goddamn, those are some great potaters. My OJ was huge and tasty, but the coffee was sort of par for watery diner juice. Service was great for our very large (15 person) group - friendly, dynamic, on-point. The two cards per table thing is kind of annoying as far as a restaurant policy goes but I sort of understand. Splitting checks is an art some restaurants have yet to master. But I don't blame our server one bit. I'm sure if I lived in the hood I'd be here more often... especially with a hangover. But I'm not sure I'll be trekking across town for it on the regular. Well, maybe for those bomb potatoes...
(4)
Alena C.

Love LOVE Besaws. The cocktails are all tasty and not too expensive, and hell, if it is expensive just go across the street to THAT cheap bar. I have yet to do dinner and am waiting for someone special to ask me so I can wear pearls and get salmon all over my face.
(4)
Loon E.

Great, cute little breakfast place! Loved everything about it! Little bit of a wait, but you can just drink coffee on the sidewalk while waiting for seats to open up. You can sit inside or outside. It seemed a bit cramped inside when I went in to use the restroom. Luckily, we got seats outside. Service was awesome! We had the tall guy who looked somewhat similar to John Waters. He was fantastic! Helped give recommendations and we both ended up getting different variations of their egg benedict specials. Both were delightful! We also got a cinnamon roll to start and it was different than what I was expecting for sure! Still had a nice, lighter feel to it. Would have wished it were more doughy, but that's just me. Coffee is constantly refilled, you don't feel rushed even as you know they are eager to turn the tables over (because of the numerous people waiting on line on the sidewalk). Fantastic place! Definitely stop by this gem!
(5)
Elaine P.

I love this place. The huckleberry mimosas were divine. The fiddleheads were, well what can you say? Loved the private bathroom. Heated patio is a big plus. Be willing to wait in long lines to get in on the weekend brunch.
(4)
Leah D.

Deeeeelicious brunch. Love the bloody marys, mix is homemade. The huevos rancheros are super yummy, the mini scone bites they bring out before you eat are delicious, and the service has been fantastic each time I've been. And now that the weather is getting nicer they have tables out front! Perfect brunch spot.
(5)
John D.

A Portland classic!
(4)
Ken R.

Only been here for breakfast, but always great food and service.
(4)
michelle g.

...and our Portland trip begin's with a bang... After a quick morning flight, and a few morning cocktails, we were drooling with excitement for some great local Portland eats. Our best man Josh promised us a weekend reserved for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Besaw's was where it all began. After finding out The Screen door was only open on weekend's, we ended up with growling tummys at Besaw's. Only a few blocks from Josh's apartment, it was a close heaven for breakfast eaters. I ordered the Breakfast Burrito, and although I had never been there before, and obviously never tried anything else on the menu, I would swear it was the best thing in that place. The burrito was stuffed full of chorizo sausage, eggs, cheddar cheese, onions and peppers, but the chipotle sour cream that was drizzled across the top was litterly the icing on my breakfast burrito. Yum. The portion was a bit large, but with two burritos on one plate, I had a delightful snack the following morning!!! A+ for Besaw's
(5)
Megan F.

We love Besaw's! Definitely five stars - I would give more if I could. Breakfast is hearty, delicious and well worth the long wait on weekends. That being said, we generally have a short wait if we can get ourselves there by 8 or 9. Inside, it is warm, loud and bustling - a great way to start the weekend. If you crave some sweetness, DO NOT miss the cinnamon roll, which is often a special. Dinner is a quieter, more intimate atmosphere, and we may like the dinner menu even more than their famed breakfast. The menu is simple, the food is fresh and the cocktails are unbeatable. The chicken and waffles weekend special must be tried at least once, and their dessert options never disappoint. Service is quick and friendly, though we never feel rushed - we can sit and enjoy as long as we want!
(5)
Cat C.

Besaw's is a pretty good place for breakfast/brunch. Pancakes, waffles and French toast are all delightful. I'm docking a star for the long wait and the strand of hair that was on my pork apple sausage.
(3)
Kelly D.

Are you kidding me! I thought for a moment I was in the meat packing disctrict in New York when I sat down and had a tall belini and killer eggs benedict at this amazing cafe in northwest portland. WOW! There typically is a 30 minute wait, but it is well worth it. Just wait outside and sip on their free coffee until they call your name!
(5)
Jordan C.

Super legit biscuits and gravy. Long line for a table but it's worth it
(4)
Fernet B.

I've been here a few times and it's always worth the wait. Great food and awesome service - the whole staff is always super friendly. LOTS of options for both herbivores and omnivores. probably carnivores, too.
(4)
Gina H.

Great food, worth the wait. We had Mother's Day brunch at the restaraunt, we were sat at a table for 4 with 5 adults, on the main isle. When we made our dissappointment known we weren't expecting anything. As soon as the people at the table next to us left they spread us out onto another table giving us more room. We were very happy about that. Then they came back a bit latter and informed us they comped out drinks for the inconvenience. They really didn't have to do anything but they went the extra mile to make sure we were happy. We really appreciated their gestures. We will definetly come back. This was our second year doing the Mother's Day brunch here and will return again! Thank you Besaws!
(5)
Kate M.

Though I was very excited about brunching at Besaw's after hearing a great review, here are a few reasons I will probably not return... projected wait time to be seated: 35 minutes, actual wait time to be seated: 55 minutes (cool if it's worth the wait, but it wasn't); time between ordering food and getting food: 60 minutes; quinoa salad super salty, avocado with multiple pit fragments in plain view on top of one meal; sandwich missing a side item; fruit plate of cubed apples and pears tasty, but presentation and variety lackluster; folks at table next to us got their food 10 before us despite having been seated 10 minutes after us; server didn't seem to care too much. On a more positive note, the ambiance, location and free-hot-beverage-while-you-wait perk are great. I hope others have a better experience.
(2)
Rob T.

Great breakfast and brunch food. Just wish the drinks were on the same level. I ordered a Bloody Mary which left much to be desired. The place has a really nice feel to it but unfortunately my friends and I were seated out back in the colder enclosed patio so it was tough to take off your jacket and relax/take everything in.
(4)
Karin K.

Great food and excellent service. Love the Benedicts for brunch and the Seasonal Mimosa is always excellent (Rhubarb!). The Breakfast sandwich is my hands down favorite. Goat cheese, egg, avacado, bacon, all on a brioche bun. We recently had a bit of an issue here over Mother's Day, and when we mentioned it to our server, we not only got a prompt apology, they fixed the problem and comped some drinks. Really amazing and more than I expected. It's always great with good food is backed by really excellent service!
(4)
Dareyn S.

I ate at Besaw's twice while I was in Portland, so it definitely isn't bad. In fact, the food is good, the staff was very friendly, and the place seemed pretty cool, especially after reading the sign on the wall letting you know that Besaw's was started by 2 French-Canadian trappers with seed money from Henry Weinhard and was the first restaurant in Oregon (maybe just Portland?) to get a liquor license after Prohibition ended. I like history like that. The reason I deducted 2 stars is that while the food is good, it's nothing special, and it is definitely a bit overpriced for what it is. I had the $11 cheeseburger, which, again, was good, but was nowhere near to being in the same league as my favorite cheeseburger (Father's Office in LA) which is $12 and made with dry aged beef and gruyere. Also had a Reuben, which was good, but also not close to being the best reuben I've had. All in all a good place, but could knock a few bucks off most items to be considered a good value.
(3)
Karen K.

We had heard about this place and were hoping to get there early enough to beat the crowds, but alas, by the time we got there, it was already jamming. Thankfully, they provide all waiting customers with a fresh pot of Stumptown Coffee. Lucky for us, there were open spots to sit at the bar, which I often prefer anyway. Sitting there let us fully experience the brilliance of Besaw's on a sunny Sunday morning, which included witnessing the friendly bartender's ritualistic provision of Sunday morning libations. The food offerings were fairly standard, but nonetheless delicious. I went out on a limb and ordered medium rare maple-glazed hanger steak to accompany my eggs, toast and fruit (well worth the up-charge), and I remain thankful to this day that I did. I am not usually a beef in the morning type of person, but it was absolutely amazing. The portion was petite but the flavor was awesome. To top off our fabulous meal, we had cup after cup of strong, Stumptown coffee. The next time we are in Portland, we will definitely be eating breakfast at Besaw's.
(4)
Ninihada C.

Bit pricey, but good breakfast spot. Not my favorite by far, and actually I was a bit underwhelmed with the quality for what I expected. I would have liked to have better quality french toast, and the sausages were very greasy and I didn't like the flavor. My husband enjoyed his eggs and bacon but thought the quantity wasnt worth the price. Don't know if Id go back, Ill probably check out some other places in the area to see if I can get better price or quality.
(3)
Scott L.

Yummy breakfast here. Always good fresh Ingredients.
(5)
Anne L.

I have been to different cities and "Besaw's" remains one of my favorite places for brunch, probably because of their Salmon Eggs Benedict which is an actual Salmon fillet (and not smoked Salmon). The only downside is the really long wait, but they usually serve coffee and waffles while you're waiting to be seated.
(4)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Address : 2301 NW Savier St
Portland, OR, 97210
Phone (503) 228-2619
Website https://www.besaws.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Besaw’s

2301 NW Savier St, Portland, OR, 97210

Besaw’s Menu

Starters

Entrees

Sides

Healthy Meal suggestions for Besaw’s

Starters

Entrees

Sides

Louie C.

Mark L.

Devin R.

Angie T.

Tasha D.

Adam B.

M J.

Peter V.

Kristina M.

Maureen M.

RJ H.

Jennifer C.

Daryn B.

Eve K.

Darla D.

Steven K.

Mega B.

Mark P.

Holly D.

Ladan R.

Matt K.

Katherine K.

Marina P.

jina l.

Stephanie C.

Andrea M.

Matt M.

Sarah B.

Jer J.

Blake M.

Molly W.

Julie C.

Taylor W.

Lucy D.

Sharece B.

Leigh F.

Lauren G.

Teresa R.

Shaneldon W.

Dennis K.

Don B.

Alena C.

Loon E.

Elaine P.

Leah D.

John D.

Ken R.

Stephano G.

michelle g.

Megan F.

Cat C.

Kelly D.

Jordan C.

Fernet B.

Gina H.

Kate M.

Rob T.

Karin K.

Dareyn S.

Robyn U.

Karen K.

Ninihada C.

Scott L.

Anne L.

Liz O.

Megan S.

M. Ben B.

Roger M.

Aaron V.