Diabetics must not get carried away at Jason's Deli as there are several tempting items on their menu to easily spike your blood sugar. You can try the salads at Jason Deli's or start your meal with hot soup to ensure that you don't stuff too much while at Jason's Deli. You can also pick the right kind of sandwiches to complete your meal.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for Diabetics:
You must skip all kinds of sandwiches, wraps, and paninis at Jason's Deli for their high sodium content. Even among the salads, avoid the regular ones such as Chicken Club Salad, The Big Chef, Mesa Chicken Salad and go for the lighter versions. In addition, it is also recommended to avoid desserts totally while dining at Jason's Deli.
Blood pressure patients mustn't indulge in sandwiches offered on Jason Deli's menu. Most sandwiches, whether Muffalettas or Po'boys, are high in sodium and could easily spike your blood pressure. Be careful while you order at Jason's Deli and opt for healthy food options such as salads, soups, or soups to ease your cravings.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for High Blood Pressure
Sandwiches must be avoided at all costs at Jason's Deli as they are loaded with sodium. You must also skip the paninis and wraps if possible and stick to healthy salads and soups while dining at Jason's Deli. Skip adding any kinds of salad dressing, extra cheese, croutons, etc. in your order to limit your sodium intake for the day.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Jason's Deli
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at Jason's Deli
If you are concerned about your cholesterol, then you got to be very cautious at Jason's Deli. Most sandwiches available on Jason's Deli's menu are high in cholesterol and sodium content. You must choose wisely and opt for salads or soups to please your appetite.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for High Cholesterol
Avoiding foods at Jason's Deli can be trickier if you are a foodie. It is recommended to skip the heavy sandwiches which are both high in cholesterol and sodium at Jason's Deli. You must also avoid paninis and wraps at Jason Deli's or order the lighter version to reduce your calorie intake.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Jason's Deli
i love love love their mac and cheese. i have dreams about it!
(4)
Jeremy L.
Delta Cafe isn't exactly a handy destination for breakfast, but I'll make the trip again. It takes forever to decide what to order, cause the menu is full of awesome. I opted for the special, which was a breakfast sandwich on a biscuit. It was good enough, but a bit dry. The cheesy grits made of for the sandwich, though. The two I was with both got pretty great looking food. In fact, I pretty much had to steal somebody else's french toast because it was so freaking amazing. I'll be back just for that!
(4)
Kate C.
Fritters man, fritters. And the lights may flicker but with stevie nicks on the juke box, it's magic.
(5)
Julie B.
Service is baaaaaaad! Waited at our table 25 minutes for drinks! I live in the neighborhood and am so sad this place has gone so downhill. A week before this I went for brunch, My food was freezing cold! I will not be going back!
(1)
Amanda L.
Just had dinner here, and it was pretty good, if you like southern food. There are veggie options, which is nice (and imperative for me, since I'm vegetarian), and you can order 3 sides to create a meal. Definitely a place to take a group of people who have differing food preferences. Giant plates of food, there was no way I was finishing (but my guy did). Good flavors, excellent (albeit indulgent and fattening) mac and cheese. They also have interesting drinks, well worth the $7-8 each. Also! You can't really beat a 40 oz Pabst in a champange bucket. Gross bathrooms though.
(4)
Michelle P.
To the owners of delta cafe: you need to really think about whats really going on. Your wonderful restaurant in slipping away. In 5 years the menu has gradually gotten worse. We loved the day when you could order meatballs with a side of tomatoes and okra. Now its meatloaf with the bbq sauce on it. We just ate here on friday night and we were dissapointed. No more grits......really? How are we suppose to eat blackened catfish with no grits. We came every month traveling from beaverton all the way to se portland and we really love delta. Now the meatloaf recipe has changed. It used to be really thick and juicy with hunks of carrots and potatoes. On friday, it just crumbled apart. Even the bad road drink that is usually spicy was disapointingly mild. get rid of the weak ass black eyed peas. Thats just a filler that really isnt seasoned very well. All of the customers will be willing to pay whatever it costs but you cant shrink down the number of sides. We always tell our friends on how bomb delta is. The atmosphere and servers are really friendly. Its a really fun place to eat. Espically when you order a 40 of pabst. So whatch-u-gonna-do? One thing that you havent chinched out on is that wonderful mac and cheese. Once that goes...........well u know. Please please please for the sake of your customers stomach......bring back the old menu. The menu from 5 years ago. I love delta so much, but last time there reminded me of monica lewinski with the democrats.....it left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)
Nader A.
D@mn! Oh lordy, lordy...breakfast at the Delta Cafe...nothing, but NOTHING, beats it in my book! I've avoided the Delta like the plague (swine flu?) for YEARS! You see, I rarely dig on Southern food. Fried chicken is like at best a seasonal indulgence for me. I usually find it heavy, greasy, and uninspired - and while there is a measure of charm to a place that serves buckets o' PBR, I'm way over drinking that naf beer unless I'm seriously strapped for cash (in which case I'd be better served just buying a sixer of something quality and drinking at home). So, despite the Delta Cafe's standing as a "Portland landmark", I just never bothered to go. But smack in the middle of a roller derby marathon last weekend (Saturday bout and post-func libations, Sunday afternoon junior derby tourney) My Lady had to meet up with the other head coach for some bidness and Delta Cafe was the venue of choice. In addition to avoiding the Delta, we generally avoid going out for breakfast. And before you ask, yes we do live in Portland, and yes I do know that we're like the only people who don't go out for breakfast/brunch all the time. What can I say, My Lady abhors the idea of waking up on a day off to go wait in line somewhere, and I don't dig on eggs (slimy, liquefied pre-embryonic chicken? No thanks!). Until now I've never really thought we were missing much on our self-imposed breakfast embargo, and since PBR flows like rain here in PDX, I figured no big loss in not checking out the Delta, right? Wrong! My SE Staple breakfast ($6.50) was EXACTLY my idea of the most perfect way to start a day! A couple strips of pepper bacon or sausage (I think it was chicken, not pork based - I opted for tasty bacon), fantastic smooth, yet chunky Cheese Grits, perfectly crisp, lightly seasoned cubes of tofu (or eggs if you must), a slice of sourdough toast. The tofu was some of the best prepared curdled soy I've ever had (and that includes at Asian or hippie joints); it almost came across like crispy, fried potatoes - perfect for breakfast! Sure, I got a couple snide comments from the vegetarian at our table about being a bit confused (tofu AND bacon on one plate?), but I came THIS close to feeding a chunk of crispy tofu, doused liberally in Aardvark sauce and wrapped in bacon...I'm getting man wet just thinking about it! And then there's the booze...Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket, the booze!!! I went with some concoction called "Texas Coffee" (or some such name) that was bourbon, kahlua, coffee, a little more bourbon, and whipped cream. Great googily moogily, that was a ridiculous way to start your day. I think you could have lit that thing on fire, it was so crazy strong (and only $6-7 bucks). For those of you who like to combine salad with your booze, they have a full do-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar, as well as Mimosas, Bellinis, and other alcoholic beverages help you get a hazy start to your weekend morning! Seriously, this was the place for me! If I lived any closer the Delta Cafe could become a dangerous habit for me! Go there next weekend; you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Beerboy M.
Everyone knows that the Delta does good dinner food, but the brunch is worth checking out too. Generally little to no waits for tables and food is a plus with so many breakfast places getting overloaded, plus it's backed up by good breakfast/lunch food. They do a brisket hash, southern scrambles, frittatas and the usual breakfast suspects, plus their great po boy sandwiches. All are well done like the dinner options, and reasonably priced. They also have drink options like red beer and mimosa variations.
(4)
Russ F.
Kind of a mixed review from me. I'd wanted to try this place for the longest time. It was my birthday so I was doing the picking and decided it was time to venture waaaay down in deep SE and try the Delta Cafe................................... OK, first the bad: Of the 5 persons working there that night, 3 were downright rude and indifferent. 2 were pleasant though including our waiter dude who although he also had a bit of hipster "what are YOU doing here"? 'tude, actually warmed up and treated us quite well. I ended up liking him and tipped him well but, I don't know, we were just sort of made to feel sorta unwelcome somehow by everyone else in the place. It was genuinely odd. We were a party of four, myself, my wife and my two teenage daughters. Anyhow enough of that part now on to the place itself: It's cool. It is. I like all the artsy and odd touches and lights and new orleans vibey stuff. For all that, it has a bit of a dingy vibe to the place that I couldn't quite put my finger on exactly. Lighting is cool but strangely uneven............we managed to pick out a booth that was SO dark I actually had to pull out a bic lighter and hold it up to the menu to read it and I am not kidding. Disconcerting to say the least. OK the food.............the food is very good. It is. It is good and it is plentiful. The menu could be a bit more varied in my opinion. I was craving oysters. I thought a place like that might have oyster shooters appetizers right? Nope. OK no oysters on my birthday oh well. However, the catfish and chicken fried steak were really good. I checked out the beer menu just for fun even though I wasn't in the mood but, I am a bit of a beer snob so I checked..............it was pathetic. This is a beer lovers haven this town right? Not at Delta Cafe. Pathetic selection. Truly abysmal. So I don't know. Kind of a mixed review from me.............. 1. Food is indeed quite good overall and plentiful. 2. *some* of the waitstaff though act like you are priveledged to be in their presence for some reason. Two women in particular absolutely REFUSED to make eye contact and smile and make us feel welcome AT ALL. Well EXCUSE ME. Asian male waiter dude saved the night for us. He was cool. If he hadn't been I would never go back good food or no. I'm still a little undecided about that actually. I think if you're gonna check out the Delta Cafe you should have in your mind that it is firstly a hipster BAR that also happens to serve great food rather than a legit restaurant that has a bar too. That was my feeling about the vibe of the place anyway. I'm gonna go 2 stars only for the malevolent 'tude in the place. 4 stars for the food. I guess I'll call it a 3 and round it out and that's being nice. Weird place but then that's Portland sometimes.
(3)
Abby S.
I went this weekend because I had a groupon and I had some company visiting and thought it'd be a fun place to take them to. I wasn't nervous and I actually had high hopes as I had previously eaten at Delta and enjoyed the food. What a bummer of a trip. The atmosphere seemed significantly darker and dirtier than my last trip. Once at the table, the coffee was so bad half of us couldn't drink it at all and the other half forced it down in hopes that the next cup would be better (it wasn't). The eggs were bland and seemed vaguely fake, and none were cooked quite right for our requests/method described on the menu (scrambled, over-easy, baked). The service was fine, the wait wasn't bad, but the food was not worth the trip. I felt a bit ashamed for wasting my company's short weekend in Portland with such a bland and tasteless brunch. And seriously, who has horrible coffee in Portland?
(1)
Natalie W.
The cocktails are really good. The food? The food is greasy and hurts my stomach. This used to be okay when I could order an appetizer of meatballs and make that last for two meals. But the menu changed and the meatballs are gone and everything else is too much and too greasy. But the cocktails are really, really good. Sweet drinks, spicy drinks, refreshing drinks. I'm partial to the spicy ones - most notably the Bad Road, which is habanero tequila and pomegranate juice. They don't have that combo anywhere else. The Bloody Mary is pretty amazing also. In sum: The drinks are worth it. The food might be worth it - if you can handle greasy food and if the idea of a tater tot casserole makes you deliriously happy. It did for me once.
(3)
sarah y.
i don't claim to be a southern comfort food expert, so my opinion is skewed i suppose... i had the spicy blackened red snapper w/ mac & cheese and the seasonal stewed tomatoes and okra -- definitely yummy and worthy of the trip. hush puppies were rather dry and hard though :(
(3)
Lee P.
"40's for All" My Order. Yes can I have the blackened cat fish, and to drink... You have what, 40's of PBR? Yea sure thing Ill take that. First time here we went after the yelp party last week. I never knew you could order a 40 in a bar, Hands down that gets it 2 stars, and the cat fish, very tasty not to peppery almost perfect. Great atmosphere, will be going back again for sure.
(4)
Windy S.
Took my mother here for brunch on Saturday. I wasn't too sure of the location and found myself in an area of Portland I have never been to. Wow, I've lived here my whole life and had never been to this part of Portland... Weird! We found a parking spot right in front, put our names on the list and were seated after about 20-30 min. This place is super cool. I like the originality from the decor to the people. We were seated at an old diner style table that reminded me of an old table my mom used to have in one of our run down rental houses when I was a kid. You could expand it by adding a piece to the middle. My mother admired the different lamp shades. I laughed at all the mismatched coffee mugs. The random outfits people wore brought me back 20 years. This was one big second hand store! We loved it! Ordered the beignets to start, which I thought were pretty good. The humongous iced teas were served in mason jars. My mother and I ordered The Delta (which was pretty much a little bit of everything). The grits were great and super bad for me! The bacon was crispy, just the way I like it. Eggs were properly cooked over medium. The french toast I found a little bit mushy in the middle, but eating the crispy edges was where it was at, I didn't need to eat more than that anyway! My mother chose the chicken sausage over the bacon, which I thought was a misstep. The chicken sausage had an overpowering peppery taste, but she liked it. My husband had the Southern Scramble (crawfish, andouille sausage). He's not much good for giving a review on food, but he cleaned his plate so I'll say it was a success! Prices were super reasonable for the amount of food. Wish I was in the mood for booze, but there was no "hair of the dog" in this girl! Will definitely go back for some drinks soon, as they had a pretty extensive cocktail menu! Maybe a 40oz in the champagne chiller!? For that reason alone I LIKE this place! BTW: Cash only
(4)
Jesse G.
A few weeks ago we called for a to-go order. They said they were too busy on a Saturday night to offer it. We called again on a Tuesday and made the cut. I went to pick it up. The waiting area was empty. I could see our order sitting on the front counter. So I stood there to pay up. And I stood. And stood. Four servers walked past me without giving me a glance or a hello. Look, I've been going to the Delta for more than a decade. The same (a)pathetic servers have been there so long I recognize their faces. Their expressionless, distracted faces. Their mind is clearly on band practice, their new tattoo or their screenplay just about to be optioned. Why do they stay in the service industry when with their attitude, the tips can't be that great? Have they given up on life? Is the Delta one of those theme restaurants where people with money to burn get to slum in the gutter where punk rock will never die? Anyhoo, I started to lean forward on the counter, hoping to be noticed. Again, I was the only customer in sight. A waitress turned her back to me to play with the order computer. Finally she asked if she could help. I mentioned my order, which was just inches from her elbow. She looked at the ticket, didn't see my name and said it probably wasn't ready and walked off. I grabbed the ticket myself. There was my name, misspelled. A very common three-letter name. With no one around, just steps from the front door, I could've easily walked out with my dinner in hand and not paid. But I'm an honest man. Finally, another waitress deigned to stop by. For her trouble, she got a 60 cent tip.
(2)
Ashlee H.
If there's anything I've learned about living in Portland for over a year now, it's that you people really love breakfast. A lot. I mean, so much that there are enormous lines pouring out of every breakfast establishment I want to try. Not that I blame you. Breakfast rocks. I've been wanting to try Delta Cafe since we moved, but just never got down to the Woodstock area much. We finally decided to try it, and when we were able to just walk on in with no wait at all on a weekend morning, I got a little nervous. Even places I consider mediocre have ridiculous crowds of people huddled outside the doors on the weekends. The first thing I could think of when I got my food and took my first bite was, "Wow. This place DEFINITELY deserves a line." I felt like I had cheated by getting a comfy booth immediately when I got my plate of awesome. For just $9, I got eggs, bacon, grits, AND french toast! That's a LOT of food! And all of it was exceptional. The bacon was just as good as Johnny B's (a place I loved just because of the amazing, crispy bacon), and the grits definitely rival the quality of Screen Door's. I'm from the south, and I gotta say, I don't miss some of my favorite artery-clogging restaurants in Georgia quite as much now that I've found this place. I discovered a little too late that they have sweet tea as well. I am still a little suspicious as I've not found decent sweet tea here yet (Pine State Biscuits is still on the list of places to try -- curse those aforementioned lines!), but it gives me an excuse to go back sooner rather than later! 4.5 stars because they don't take plastic (I prefer saving cash for food carts), but the friendly service makes me round it up to five.
(5)
Patrick S.
I cannot explain why I like this place so much but I do. The menu is like a cut below screen doors but the prices are also reflective. The atmosphere is normally something I would call cheap but for some odd reason there is a great deal of charm in this place which may be remnants from ghosts of restaurants, bars, and cafe's past that once inhabited this establishment. The entire vibe here is completely laid back. There is a definite flow to how the service works here and it just works. Of course I was here for a late Saturday Brunch but it was raining. I was not completely over the hill impressed with the food. I had the baked eggs with cheese grits, a side of their chicken gravy with a biscuit and their special red beer. the red beer is Rainer with tomato juice and is only a buck, yummy. The chicken gravy, meh, I dunno. It wasn't bechamel based so I was a bit on guard but it didn't taste bad. The vegan gravy I tried however... I just have to say that people that follow a strict vegan diet must love it for some reason other than the food. Biscuits however were of stellar quality, dense and creamy. There are many other choices on the menu still so I will be back to try more. So there you have it -Food, Service and Price all three in perfect harmony which is a great place to be for any restaurant. They have that and they have me to like them as well which is a good thing for us both.
(4)
C T.
Last week, my friend and I stopped by Delta Cafe to experienced the southern style food. We were promptly greeted by the host/bartender - Ahron, who was very friendly and helpful. We had the okra and chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. The mashed potatoes and mac n cheese were money!!! I will be going there again soon!
(5)
Alex M.
HOLY HELL... where have you been all of my life. This is it folks... This is a place that encompasses much of what I look for in an establishment and really makes me feel lucky that I can enjoy it whenever I want. Bear with me as this is going to sound like an advertisement for this place. Turns out this is another place to ad to my "Favorite Tuesday happy-hour hang outs" in fact, this place might take the win. Shit I don't even know where to start... I will break it down: The Food: So effing amazing... I had the BBQ Pork po boy with coleslaw. it cam with a side of the mac and cheese. It was heavenly. The pork came in a spicy BBQ sauce and their house-made slaw that blew my mind. The same can be said for the mac and cheese. I got it on Tuesday special for $9 which seemed good to me. Had some of my friends cornbread which I loved, but I still need to come back and try the blackened chicken and the meatloaf. The Drinks: lets see here, I already mentioned the Tuesday happy hour. This consists of $2.50 pints and $5 cocktails much like other specials. One thing I did notice is that they serve PBR 40's in an ice bucket. This solves the one flaw in the engineering of the 40 oz container saving you from the warm last few sips. I have yet to try the cocktails that many of my friends rave about, but I will be back. They specialize in infused vodkas and all of the house drinks on the menu sounded AMAZING. The Building: Casual, relaxed, comfy booths, and in a good part of town... all good things here as well. I will be back soon, who wants to join me?
(5)
Kenny H.
The Dinner, as I have reviewed prior, is totally worth having. Dinner is Delta. Hands Down. However, breakfast? I have tried it a couple of times due to being neighborhood and all...and both times it was non inspiring. The eggs with English muffins and some paprika sprinkled on top...basically tasted like "eggs and english muffins with paprika sprinkled on top". Not inventive. The potatoes were dry, under seasoned. I do not make a good breakfast...and when I eat breakfast at Delta, it reminds me of the sub par breakfast I make on my own. Even the Stumptown just didnt taste quite right to me. Now had the breakfast been like $5-6...I wouldnt be too harsh, and would even be a occasional diner. But for $9-10 meals? Seriously... It isnt worth it. Buy some English Muffins and a carton of eggs...
(2)
Casey R.
I tend to shy away from the 'hipster dive' places, and I would put Delta Cafe in this category. Definitely attracts the clientele that is wearing the same ironic thrift store t-shirt that they wore out the night before. Seriously, how many times can you see a faded green t-shirt that says, "Wisconsin is for Lovers" without wanting to stab yourself with a fork? To be honest, I don't see the attraction to this place from someone who wants to be cool, yet is on a budget. They seemed pretty pricey to me for brunch. Seems like maybe their main draw is the dinner service, perhaps. My wife and I, however, went for brunch. I had the biscuits and gravy (as I do wherever I go) and it was...just okay. Nothing to write home about. It's definitely not set up for kids, though they are accomodating nonetheless. So, although I'm sure they probably have a decent dinner, and probably other choices on the brunch menu would probably suit my needs, I'm steering clear of here more than likely, unless I decide to pull out my old "Twinkie the Kid" t-shirt I got from the Salvation Army for 2 bucks over 8 years ago. I'll make a return visit to experience the dinner that folks seem to rave about, and this $1 red beer business.
(3)
Sarah A.
OH my god, I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Great atmosphere, great food, and I like the wait staff. This is EASILY one of my favorite places in Portland if not the favorite. I love the blackened snapper, the collard greens, the potato cheese casserole. Two things that they took off the menu that they sometimes have as specials that are amazing are the meatball appetizer and the cauliflower casserole. Oh, the mac and cheese is great too! I've never had a bad experience here, never had bad food at all. LOVE IT!
(5)
Susan B.
I ate here years ago with my brother and everytime I visit Portland I want to make it back but never have until last month. It was better than I remebered it! My boyfriend and I went and got "Pups in a pond" for an app, I had about half of my meatloaf sandwich and he downed his catfish. We were both a little too full, bu that's the point of soul food! My sandwich tasted great the next day too. Yay Delta Cafe!
(4)
Karma L.
Love me some Delta! Good decor, not boring or snobby. Excellent drinks, and the service is usually fast and friendly. Be in the mood for some good fried food, with enough to take home for later.
(4)
Emi T.
I don't know that my review is gonna add much here, but the Delta is awesome! Went there for my first time tonight. Our waiter was nice but not overly friendly in that cheesy way - he gave us our space while still making sure we had everything we needed, which I always appreciate. And the decor is awesome, it's very much a mish-mash and just feels really cozy-cool. But the food is (perhaps as it should be) the highlight here. Southern/comfort cooking at its best. Everything is really simple, but really good. I highly recommend the tator tot casserole as a side, and the hush puppies as a starter. Although, my lord, the portions are huge so it's not as if you actually need the starter. The mac and cheese is really excellent, too. Someone else wrote that Screen Door is way better, but I think it's less a question of better/worse and more a question of what kind of restaurant you want to go to. It's like The Delta is for the young, hip, on-a-student-budget-whether-or-not-they're-still-Âstudents and The Screen Door is where those same people will go ten years from now when they've decided they don't like the loud music anymore and they can afford the pricier fare. The Screen Door is sleek in a way the Delta isn't, but personally that's why I prefer the Delta - it's more casual/comfortable.
(5)
Nancy K.
Came in for weekend brunch. Again, no wait to be seated. I had the fried shrimp po'boy and it was awesome. The shrimp was fried perfectly and not greasy at all and they certainly did not skimp on the portion. I had to eat a bunch of 'em just to be able to fold the bread. I really like this place for brunch because they serve sandwiches and stuff that is not geared towards breakfasty food (I'm not a big fan of eggs).
(4)
Z Z.
Screen Door is miles better than Delta Cafe for sure, especially for vegetarians. When I asked our server (who had the ole hipster attitude for sure!) what vegetarian options there were aside from tofu (which I am not a fan of) he said there were really not a lot of them. I saw the note that all side dishes were vegetarian except where noted and I asked him about it he gave me the impression that not all of them really were vegetarian and didn't really want to take the time to elaborate. I ended up just ordering the sweet potato fry appetizer and the corn and black eyed pea fritter type appetizer. Both were just OK, rather greasy and all fried. Not that great for sure. It also took forever for my server to come back so that I could confirm that the sauces that were served with the appetizers were vegetarian. My husband ordered the jambalaya and asked for it spicy. He said it was super spicy but the jambalaya at Screen Door was so much better than this one. He wasn't super impressed. It also took quite a while for his soda to be refilled. Ehhh, I probably wouldn't go back. The server was just all filled with piss and vinegar, was too hipster for his own good, there were not a lot of vegetarian options, and the food was just OK. (The server even had attitude when we didn't order alcohol....whatever..) I say skip it and go to Screen Door. Screen Door is fantastic.
(3)
Sarah Y.
I love the delta. i don't know why. i hate hipster places, and i hate places that pretend to be all divey and are really not. that being said, i love this place. maybe it's because i live within walking distance? or because they make all kinds of infused vodkas? if you go, get the earl grey vodka, it's good on the rocks or they also have a version mixed with soy milk that's damn tasty *_* so, even if hipsters aren't your thing, go and get drunk and laugh on the inside at them, it's what i do, and usually have a fantastic time. PS: never and i mean never ever go on a Friday or Saturday night! this is a weekday deal, for sure
(5)
Jenna D.
great food, friendly bartenders, happy hour all day tuesday, all around great place. Just back back from new orleans and a good place to get your southern food fix.
(4)
Yuri S.
OK ... so my boyfriend is obsessed with the Delta and said I was too harsh on them. I will say that the southern comfort food is good ... meaning dinner. And this is big for me since my roommate in college was from Alabama and made some "mean" collard greens. 40 oz. PBRs that come in a bucket are great. Still the winning vote for me are the drinks ... love the lounge feeling here. Super eccentric, decent food. The WINNING vote is for the infused vodkas! The drinks are amazing. Be warned about the habenero tequila drink. It's big, hot and overwhelming. Eaten here a couple times with my boyfriend. Not stoked on the brunch...only my grits come out hot...my sausages were still cold in the middle twice. But dinner is a different story...definitely much much better than brunch but not by much.
(4)
Brenna P.
Great atmosphere, and I like the service with a bit of attitude. Good people. Now the most important part: they serve really well-seasoned, traditional Southern food. Granted, I am not from the South so I may not be the best judge, but I have lived in Florida and have been privy to many home-cooked meals...I know some. My favorites are the collard greens, and the blackened catfish. Unfortunately I don't live close-by anymore, but it is on my list of favorites in this town.
(4)
Alvin S.
Dropped in here on account of a Groupon this weekend... Was very impressed indeed! The staff was WAAYY cool, laidback and 'oh-so-stylish!' I ordered the 'Better than your mom's fried chicken' with the mac 'n cheese and mashed potatoes.. and OMG, my tastebuds had a conversion experience. Great tasting food and the atmosphere was very 'Portlandia meets hipster N'awlins'.. Loved it! Will definitely be back to try more of the menu soon.
(4)
Holly M.
I've only been here for brunch so far, but I am definitely coming back. I had the beignets (they are like little square doughnuts with powdered sugar), and they totally brought me back to New Orleans (well, the ONE time I visited). I also had the french toast and I think it was a blueberry compote on top, and while I am NOT a fan of blueberries, I enjoyed this dish. Service was friendly and not too hipster-ish. I do want to return and experience dinner and the bar. I will just have to remember that it is cash or check only (which I was like, seriously? Delta--get with the Plastic Revolution!).
(4)
Corey V.
If you're in Portland, you have to try this place. $1 red beers and some of the best cheese grits I've had on the west coast. The red snapper and greens were a delight. I heard the chicken fried steak was amazing as well.
(5)
Melissa P.
Just quit with the hip battitude. You're getting more arrogant each time. And your beer menu sucks. I'm non-plussed by the Melissey's Manhattan. Fortunately for you D, your fritters and mashed potatoes n gravy are killer.
(2)
celeste m.
Delta for Breakfast in 2009! Don't get me wrong, I can usually be persuaded to consume hush puppies and a mint julep at most any time of night or day, but I just prefer the Delta for breakfast than dinner or late-night snacks and drinks. Service can sometimes be inexplicably slow, and they don't accept credit cards (yet they have an ATM in the restaurant -- a huge pet peeve of mine, but not enough to write them off.) But their menu is flexible and vegetarian-friendly. Eating vegan? Oh yes you can -- even biscuits and gravy!
(4)
Madeline C.
My carnivorous little heart adores the Delta Cafe for it's brisket. Hands down, there is no better way to cure a wicked hangover than a Bloody Mary, grits, brisket, and collard greens. The atmosphere is just my style - a little bit all over the place. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Rawr.
(5)
Sabrina H.
I am so excited to come back to this place! I came here with a fine group of ladies and we all tried something different. I had my first ever jambalaya (medium spice) and oh my goodness it was so good! The portion was just right for dinner and decently priced. Since everyone ordered something different I was able to try meatloaf, fried chicken, herb chicken (yes, it really is 1/2 of a chicken for this dish), and country fried steak. We all got artery clogging side dishes of mac n' cheese which is one of the best mac n' cheeses I've had from a restaurant and their special of the day which was a green bean casserole with bacon and cheese. I'm pretty sure I'm about to drool just thinking about these sides. I like the fact that there are so many side dishes to choose from that are your typical southern choices. They have the option of picking three of them as your entire meal or you can get a certain entree with either one side or two sides. There is also a nice variety of cocktails. I had a "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" which was vodka, lemonade and raspberry syrup. It is very refreshing for a hot day! Other drinks at our table consisted of a lavender iced tea with a booze I can't remember. I'm definitely ready to try their other drinks next time I go back. This is a very hippy-ish atmosphere. I really enjoyed it! The only thing I didn't like about it was the painting of a man's head in the bathroom. It seems to just stare at you while you're in there...
(4)
Michael C.
This place was actually better than I was expecting. We went to the weekend brunch. The red beer (a combo of tomato juice and beer) was actually pretty good. I had the chicken fried steak which was great (could have used a little more gravy). The biscuit was a little dry but the rest was good. We had the fried bananas for desert (even though they are an appetizer). Really yummy stuff. Worth a trip. Really positive, chill place.
(4)
kelsey d.
this is one of my favorite places in my neighborhood. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. They just started serving brunch on the weekend. My dreams have come true. Just remember to bring cash or your check book. They don't take cards. Did I mention that they have a full bar and cheese grits? Yum!
(5)
Robin S.
I have been here twice in one week! I have really enjoyed my meal both times but the BF has not. First time, I had the fried chicken. Wow, this was some moist chicken and the breading was delish, not too greasy at all! The second time I went, I had the bbq pork. Holy pork, was it good! I had it with the sweet delta bbq sauce. I want more... The BF definitely likes his catfish bites which I do not partake. This is definitely not the place for you if you are watching your tummy size. The portions are huge! You get to choose two sides - I stay constant with the cole slaw but have also tried the mac n cheese and the potato n cheese casserole. I really enjoyed the potatoes. Another plus for the Delta, all day/night on Tuesdays is Happy Hour! Beware, they only accept cash.
(4)
Fernet B.
One of my all time portland favorites - a little out of the way from where I'm at, but worth the drive! Brunch is great, too!
(5)
Brandon H.
The cons first (because I really only have one): My husband and I are both former Southerners, and the cuisine at the Delta Cafe doesn't match the tin-foil casserole pan pot-luck/gooey hot-plate fare of our youthful years in Bourbon Country and Hotlanta. The pros: And that's a really good thing! While neither of us would call it "authentic," we heartily agree that it's INSPIRED. The food retained the Southern charm and comfort we'd grown up appreciating, and advanced it with some sophisticated artistry. The entrees and sides are fantastic--the fried chicken has a great crust and potent herb content, the meatloaf is just delicious under all of that rich chicken gravy, the mashed potatoes and cornbread bread pudding were out of this world. Their beverage menu was extensive and impressive as well. The big stand-out there was their jalepeno-infused tequila, which we had in a margarita--strong, flavorful stuff! Just amazing. The service was great--prompt, professional, and really polite. The portions are significant for the money. The desserts--particularly the pies--looked just stellar--too bad we were so stuffed. All in all, for two yummy entrees and two adult beverages, we got out of there for under $40. We're fans and will be returning soon.
(5)
Robin C.
Dude! This place has gone down hill!!! I used to love the Delta, Who didn't? When this fair city was first courting me, trying to lure me up from Cahahlifornia-choo, the Delta surely played a roll in the whole Portland allure... I am not going to talk about what used to be... Because it is not that anymore... It sucks now. Straight up! The whole bottom of my plate (like the WHOLE thing) was covered in oil from the weepy (not creamy) mac and chee... My Special(ed) casserole side dish was lacking in all appeal and was a cold... So I asked for a salad with vinegarette and they brought me caesar but I was already being a whiny baby so I just ate the thing and proceeded to go kill vampires with my breath. It was all around just yuck! Sorry old friend but we are thru!
(2)
Kristie B.
You all are a shining beacon on Woodstock. Becca-your hair is always perfectly placed on top of your head (and Joanie approves) and your cucumber-tequila shot pouring skills are mucho appreciated. Aron-its like your fingers were made for opening a 40. You make it look so easy. Luke-you stockpile drink orders behind the bar without a single drop of blood, sweat or tears (too over-the-top?). Nate-you have a way of shimmying and shaking behind the bar that is absolutely infectious. Jenna-could your smile get any bigger?! Dani-could your hugs be any nicer?! Steve-you are a king of one liners and constantly keep us in stitches at the bar. And the kitchen? Folks there are very few other southern-style restaurants in Portland that can match the magic for the price.
(5)
Tall C.
I grew up in Oakland, CA. and have family down south, so i've tasted some of the best soul food there is to have, so upon moving to Portland some yrs ago, i was immediately looking for good soul food. I've tried many a place and have only been satisfied with with 2 so far(Traiel Cafe and Cannon's BBQ) but both places are way far from me, so i only go by every so often, but i Yelped for awhile and saw all these great reviews for Delta's soul food and had to tryit. Ironically, i used to hang out at this place for drinks a while back, but never knew they had soul food offerings. So i order the fried chicken dish with mac and cheese and greens and also got the corn/BEP fritters. I got it to-go, but i should've checked the box before i left......the chicken was totally over fried and looked nothing like the golden color it 's supposed to be. So i bit into it(thinking "this better be a damn good tasting bird for $13 for 2 pcs") and i'll say the flavor gets a B minus. The herbs and seasoning just were'nt all the way there, prolly cause it was all in that burnt up skin! the mac and cheese was totally flavorless. Doesn't cheddar go into that dish?? they use some kind of cheese that just has no flavor. The greens were very good tho. Just the right amount of vinegar and slow-cooked properly. But the real winner was those fritters! Oh man! i have to give the cook an A+ on those moist babies with just the right amount of honey(or sugar?) and the BEP was more like a souffle that u dip the fritter into and that tasted damn good. They only get 2 stars for the monotone table service i always got there when i used to hangout. it's alright to smile sometimes ya know? i sometimes hate my job too, but i still give every customer a smile no matter what. One thing i'm learning about Portland's ethnic food scene is that most of it is watered down, and missing key ingredients. Places like Cool Runnings and Montego Bay need to come back in business.....they had the spicy island flavors down pat. Finally, i'd say, if your looking for a good ethnic spot to eat and you're using Yelp to find it, look for Yelpers who grew up down South or are from an area where that style of food is done right (like me!! :p) to use as a reference.......they're usually spot-on . I'm still looking for the right Mexican joint without having to lower my standards and eat at Muchas Nastias...peace
(2)
Catherine G.
I really wanted to like this place but maybe we were there on a really off night. We stuck with the basics- fried chicken, mac n' cheese, and biscuits. With the exception of the chicken breast I would be hard pressed to believe that the rest of my food was fresh. The breast was crispy and wonderfully tender on the inside. I should have stopped there. The biscuits were hard and dry, as was the mac n' cheese. No creamy or gooey or rich- just lumps of macaroni that looked like they were scraped out of a pan last night and reheated. And the flavor was bland not cheesey. The chicken drumstick tasted very much as if it had been frozen only moments before being battered and dropped in oil. Almost inedible. Oh yeah, it was inedible and I left it on my plate. Very disappointing. I get the kitschy vibe and the decor is fun but I would not recommend using the bathroom unless you absolutely have no choice. In which case you're only going to make it worse for anyone else who has to go so it is a lose-lose situation. Our server was funny and attentive so no complaints there. And the prices are very reasonable.
(1)
Dre T.
Awesome comfort food! Once we walked in I was loving the quirky atmosphere and hip decor. Our server slid in the booth next to me and gave us the rundown and he couldn't have had a more cool demeanor. Great Tuesday happy hour all day and nice drafts and cocktails. We watched European soccer, enjoyed the tater casserole, Mac and cheese, and linguini. Definitely going back when I'm in the Woodstock neighborhood! Thank you Delta for a great night!
(4)
Rob T.
The food here is definitely hit-or-miss. The smoked brisket dinner was awesome one day, but the smoked brisket sandwich was terrible another. The service is gruff at best and sometimes unbearably slow to the point of having to flag someone down just for a glass of water. I wouldn't go back or recommend this to anyone based on the poor service and lack of consistency in their food. The alcohol prices are RIDICULOUS and the beer selection SUCKS. Too bad there are so few options nearby.
(1)
Desta S.
Food...pretty comforting just the way I like it...but SERIOUSLY...the one thing that remained constant between the two owners...MEDIOCRE service. I have taken friends here on numerous occasions...yes I know, glutton for punishment...but Hey, they are like 10 blocks from my house. Twice my friends have gotten in verbal altercations with their snotty slow like a snail on lithium staff...I work in a service industry. It is almost as hard to leave a tip less than 20% as it is to write a bad review...but after years of continuous ineptitude...Delta...GET IT TOGETHER!
(2)
avis d.
I thoroughly enjoy the Delta, not just for the food, which is good, but more and more these days for the excellent service! I dunno, maybe it's because we always sit at the same table and get this one waiter (or if not him then it's this other guy who's equally attentive and great), but we always feel like we've had a nice dining experience and spent our hard earned money well. I wish these two fellows could, like, hold a seminar on good service for the I'm-too-smart/pretty/cool-to-serve-you-decently type waitstaff that seem to have descended like a plague on restaurants everywhere of late. Anyway, Delta dinners good. Delta brunch...a clusterf**k, but Delta dinners...good.
(4)
Michael Q.
It's been about 18 months since my last visit to this much lauded place about a five minute walk from my digs in groovy Woodstock. Oh, I sure wish they'd stop paying payroll taxes, forcing them to be shut down for IRS problems, and then, maybe, just maybe (though doubtful), something better might fill this void. My recent visit was just downright creepy. I really feel like I'm venturing into some other dimension going in here, the second visit confirmed what I felt the first time. The staff were (using the British verb/subject thing here) absolutely, well, absent on many levels. They were busy, but they just seem absent. My simple meatloaf meal took 30 minutes to deliver from the time I ordered...meanwhile, other tables around me who ordered after I did, were served apps, entrees and drinks. I guess cutting that slab of meatloaf takes a long time? Or is it heating up the absolutely mismatched "chicken" gravy which tasted more like someone's leftover Thanksgiving turkey gravy, totally wrong. But chicken gravy on meatloaf? Never have seen that in my 57 years of roaming my southern homelands. I can't even recall the rest of the meal, not memorable at all, so maybe it wasn't so bad. And the meatloaf itself might have been ok had they not covered in Banquet frozen instant Thanksgiving sauce. Yuk. And the general vibe is just, well, as I said, creepy. Don't know if it's bad feng shui or the some sort of bio-chemical reaction to thousands of gallons of ultra cool tattoo ink, but, Delta, you and I are just not cut out to be together. Never again, really, this time I mean it!
(1)
Jennifer N.
I will start by saying that once the Delta took the Stewed Tomatoes and Okra off of the menu, it changed my opinion of the place. It simply is not as good as it used to be, in several ways. Aside from the Stewed Tomatoes tragedy, it seems like the food has slowly gone from excellent to just plain good. Not great, just good. One time when I went there my Potato and Cheese Casserole wasn't heated all the way through. I don't mind knowing that restaurants sometimes employ microwaves for some things, but this was just a blatant reminder. Sometimes the service is good, sometimes it is not. I have experienced both in the extreme. I will acknowledge that the brunch there was quite delicious. I had the Eggs Benedict with Artichoke Hearts and it was exceptional. It used to be my go-to place to take out-of-towners, and it is still a good spot but there are a number of different spots I would consider for my visitors. The PBR in a bucket is a great, "only in Portland" touch. And the veggie collard greens are the best!
(3)
Sara V.
Not a big fan of this place. Been here once and have no plans to ever return. Their so called "southern" food is not the best in town by any means. The service was bad, they just ignored us for most the time. The seating was terrible. We were seated at an uncomfortable table near the door (which was open most the time) on a cold weather night and had to keep our coats on the entire time. If you want good southern food that is closer to actual Louisiana style (and having lived in Louisiana I can tell you the Delta is a sad attempt at southern food) then go to Miss Delta in the Mississippi district and get a nice fried shrimp po'boy and some black-eyed pea fritters and wash it down with some RC Cola!
(2)
Andrea V.
The first installment of Dining with Dad! Every Tuesday, my Dad and I go out to eat, usually to dinner (although sometimes we lunch). This week we tried Delta Cafe. I had always heard about Delta Cafe but somehow had never wandered far enough from NE to try it. Silly me! Or maybe I was worried that this was yet another of the Dreaded Hipster Joints that serve good enough food but you can't stand the hipper-than-thou atmosphere. SILLY ME! I can't say enough good things about Delta. Thing One: Steve, who greeted/seated us was very nice, smiled, looked like he'd bathed recently and pointed out a couple of specials not on the menu like the biscuits and gravy and the pies of the day. Wow! Already I was pretty happy. Our server was equally sweet and very knowledgeable about what Delta has to offer. I knew from other reviewers that I wanted to try a house infused drink - they were out of raspberry, sadly - so I had the Hey Ya! Pretty good - but I think more suited to summer drinking. The Hey Ya! uses a cucumber infused vodka and yes - it is very cucumber-y. We had fried okra for an appetizer, and it was hands down the best that slimy vegetable has ever tasted. Perfectly battered, not greasy and they give you a huge bowl of the little buggers. Dad had the jambalaya and declared it "hot but good". Nice chunks of chicken, sausage, and shrimp swimming in a spicy sauce. Our server brought some extra rice on request which tamed it a bit. I had Southern Sampler, choice of 3 sides. My choices were collard greens (w/pork), cheese potato casserole and red beans and rice. Good choices all, but I think I may try the mashed potatoes with gravy next time as the cheese potato casserole was a bit overdone and crunchy. The greens were perfection, smooth and meaty with enough vinegar; the red beans and rice had a little kick and that smoky flavor I love. Dad and I shared marionberry pie with ice cream and were so stuffed we could barely waddle out the door. I took home half my dinner for lunch today, we got out for $36, which I thought was reasonable for an appetizer, 2 drinks from the bar and two dinners. The service was OUTSTANDING here. Our server was so sweet, talked to us, brought us remoulade for our okra, extra rice and chatted with us about the place. I found out that the same guy owns Vita Cafe, in which case, he should drag the servers from Vita over to learn a few things from the servers at Delta. Like, how to shower and be civil. Cheers!
(5)
David D.
I have been there twice. The first time I had the ribs, and the second time I had the beef brisket. The food is excellent and the portions are larege enough that you can take some home to have for lunch the next day unless you are starving when you get there. The sides are really good, especially the Mac-N-cheese and the corn bread. It is usually pretty crowded and can be pretty noisy.
(4)
Sasha R.
I am writing this with hands still smelling of BBQ sauce from a tasty meal at the Delta. Man! I didn't know that PDX had such places, but this is the spot if you're wanting a chill and messy meal with friends. We had the ribs, mac and cheese, collards, red beans and rise and doggies and it was plenty. Ask for an iced tea and you'll get a bell jar full. This place was exactly the kind of unexpected that you expect and it's one of the stars on the list of keeping Portland weird. Go Delta!!!
(4)
Rick B.
How can you still not take cards??? Are you kidding me? It's 2010!! Is that 50 cent service charge really going to kill your bussiness, if so you have many other issues. We waited here for about 25 mins on a Friday night. Then we were seated in the unlight dungeon in the back. I ordered and IPA and someone at the table ordered the cilantro taquilla margarita. We all agreed the taqauilla tasted good but the mix tasted below average. However, the old fashion with the tart sour cherries was a hit. For an appitizer we had the black-eyed pea and corn fritters. They were crispy and properly seasoned. The dipping sauce was green chilies, cheese and black-eyed peas. I don't really understand dipping something into it's self, but it wasn't that bad. When my entree came I was impressed. It was a huge chunk of brisket smoothered in a sticky BBQ sauce. The mac and cheese looked very good, dispite the very large elbow noodles. And the red beans and rice looked perfect. The brisket was nicely cooked and mostly tender. The BBQ sauce did taste homemade, however it was slightly too sweet for my taste. The mac and cheese was decent, but not southern style, you know custard style with some grated onion in there! The beans and rice were the highlight of this meal, and that should never be the best thing on a BBQ plate!! It seems to me that most people either love or hate this place. With slightly a few more haters than lovers. But I do find myself in the middle, I don't hate it, but I probably would only go back for a drink, or the classic PBR 40oz. served on ice! Ofcourse that is only if I happen to have cash on me, because I sure as hell won't make a trip to an ATM for this place.
(2)
Hilary W.
I'm so up and down about this place. GREAT fried okra. Awful (rude, slow) service. Awesome collards. The cleanliness of this joint concerns me. I'm sure I'll go back - it's sort of a gimicky place to go and lots of people love this place. It's just not my favorite. And I don't wanna see what's going on in the kitchen...
(2)
Amy S.
The BBQ pork spareribs were so good as was the snapper. For sides we chose the mac-n-cheese, collard greens, tater tot casserole, and red beans and rice. Most memorable... collard greens. Great flavor.
The staff at Delta are always super friendly and attentive. It's deifinitely a Real SE Portland establishment- it's not your Applebees (thank God.) Fried chicken is awesome- so is the rest of the food. It's southern....so it seems like everything is major fat....but it's really good. Special note: Delta Cafe got a mention for the best bar or best drink (can't remember which) in Portland magazine a couple years ago- that's what brought me in the first time. The mixed drinks here are STRONG- they are not so much for the people that like to taste the drink...but like to taste the alcohol.
(4)
Darcy N.
Good food. Good drinks. Awesome atmosphere. Hit or miss service, but if you sit at the tables on the bar side there is a really great server (tall guy, medium length hair) who always goes above & beyond.
(4)
Nick R.
Went for brunch, and had previously gone for dinner. Great food, friendly service. Can't beat a place that serves 40's of PBR on ice! The chicken gravy was great!
(4)
Greg F.
When I come down to Portland from Seattle, I always make a pilgrimage to Delta. Service is friendly but a bit spotty usually, but when you taste everything that they have on the menu, your only complaint will be that the food didn't get there the second you ordered it. The crawfish jambalaya is fantastic, the red beans and rice are absolutely as good as it gets, the corn bread reminds me of mom's, and the meat loaf is pretty damn good, too. It's also the only place recently that I've found where you can order a moscow mule and they know what you're looking for. I love the atmosphere (total thrift store lounge funk), the prices are pretty great, and as far as soul food joints in the northwest, I'm not sure that you can find a better one.
(5)
January M.
The Delta Cafe is easily my favorite resaurant in Portland. Their cocktail menu was obviously created by people who like the taste of liquor. Shocker. Most places have a variety of drinks designed to cover up the bourbon or what-have-you. Not at the Delta. Ingredients are used to enhance. And they have a selection of house infused vodkas. Beyond that, the bartenders are extremely friendly and knowledgable. You can make a meal out of their sides. My personal favorites being the Black Eyed Pea Fritters and the collard greens. I have to say, I'm not a fan of the deep-fried okra. The only real drawback to the Delta (and this is just a personal peave) is that if you don't get a table on the bar side, you might end up sitting next to some screaming kids. To avoid this, go later. If you have friends or family members from out of town, you're guaranteed a great experience. They'll be impressed with the service and go back to their hotel room gripped by a glorious food coma.
(5)
Susan H.
My friend and I were driving around the area looking for some place to eat. Decided to stop and check out Delta Cafe southern cuisine. This was a spur of the moment decision so didn't have an opportunity to check out the reviews on Yelp. I had a taste for fried chicken, but decided against it since it was a breast and drumstick. My friend and I both had the St Louis ribs. They were okay, but I've definitely had better. The ribs didn't have much flavor even with the BBQ sauce. They were also a little on the chewy side. We asked the waiter which side dishes he would recommend. He suggested the red beans and rice, mashed potatoes and gravy and black eye peas. We decided on the red beans and rice and collard greens w/pork. The best part of the meal were the side dishes. My friend says the drinks deserve 5 stars! They come packed with a punch!
(3)
Amanda W.
Comfort. That's what I think. Good homecooking. 40's in buckets like champagne. Grease, fatty, deep fried okra. Good.
(4)
Steve B.
We've been to Delta twice in the past week. Had blue plate special which was chicken pot pie, sides of red beans & rice and mashed potatoes. We all sampled it, everyone loved it. So we went back last night and had red beans & rice as an entree side of collard greens with pork. OMG! really good. Kind of noisy in there for my ears, but it was a nice experience anyway.
(4)
Tim B.
Mmmmm. Fried chicken, okra, 40oz PBR. Does life get any better?
(5)
Joshua S.
I love the delta, I have been going for years and it is always great
(4)
Cheryl H.
We came here for lunch on a Sunday. The place was hopping, but fortunately we only had to wait about 20 minutes. The wait was definitely worth it. We each had a po boy sandwich (one was snapper, one was oyster) and they were both wonderfully delicious. The potatoes that came as a side were also delicious. We'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Sarah A.
*sigh* The last time I wrote a review about the delta I was cautiously optimistic about it still. I had two dinners there but my second was on Fat Tuesday so I crossed my fingers and went back for brunch. Sadly, I have now removed yet another star from my ratings. Most of the reason is the poor service. This time we had a waitress that was nice enough, from what we could hear over the blaring music. On a side note, I really don't understand the indie restaurant infatuation with blaring music to the point that you have to shout over it at a restaurant. At a bar it's expected but I would like to have a bit of conversation while I eat. The music today was so loud that it also forced our neighbors on either side of us to raise their voices to be heard so it was an odd shouting match of sorts. The place was already busy with the Sunday brunch family and kids crowd, it didn't need any help drowning out the din from the kitchen. We ordered several different items from the menu plus a brunch appetizer of Beignets. If I was serving breakfast, I would love the extra revenue from a breakfast appetizer order for extra tip money at the end. At first my group was happy to chat for quite some time (until the table's around us filled up) and did not think about how long we were waiting for our food. Then when the noise got too overwhelming and conversation turned to grumbling tummies I looked at my watch and realized that our fancy donut holes had now taken over 1/2 hour. Then I got very grumpy when the tables on either side of us (that were seated later) got their food (one of them was my fancy donuts!). At that point I managed to get my server's attention at asked her if our appetizers were at least ready. She didn't seem phased or sorry about the wait at all even though the other table had been served first. I would have liked some honesty and an apology. If you messed up the ticket or order just say so and we will move on. I think she actually forgot to put the ticket up and/or remind the chef that we were first. Anyhow, the food was good but it wouldn't make it into my places to rave about. Some plates were great and a good value such as the Cajun Cobb. Others such as the pancakes were very Denny's standard. In a street where the options are slim and I can't bring myself to stare in the glow of the Micky Finn's sign there aren't alot of options. I did enjoy my Bloody Mary and I have to admit that they do make good drinks. Since this is so close to me, I may go in for happy hour again but I would recommend sitting at the bar. There's something comforting in knowing that I'm eye to eye with my server and they can't get away from me this time. Overall: If you live close and want a good happy hour in Woodstock head on over, but don't expect to get good service without sticking a leg out in the aisle or bringing a checkered flag to wave the servers down. They seem either too hip to be helpful or to disorganized in back to keep things in line. I would love to meet the manager sometime to know which is the case. HOWEVER, they have one more visit to hit my one star level. Updates to come...
(2)
Michelle F.
My lil bro & his gf suggested this place while we were visiting for Turkey Day. We went for dinner on Sat night and had jambalaya, red beans n rice, catfish bites & some collard greens. It was alllll sooooo good!! The best greens ever!! The drinks were nice & strong too & the service was impeccable and the place was full on kick ass Downtown Portland style! We will definitely be back!!!
(5)
JS U.
The Delta Cafe'...Hmmm. What to say. We had friends visiting from England, who wanted a true taste of Portland. The Delta Cafe' seemed the perfect choice since it has become a Portland landmark and represents classic American Soul Food and BBQ. What better choice, right? Negatory rubber duck! Drinks arrived casually quick (at a leisurely but not slow pace). Dinner. Sigh. From the time we placed our orders - Our friends each placed an order for ribs with a couple sides, my girlfriend placed an order for the smoked BBQ brisket and I ordered the blackened catfish - It took just over ONE HOUR for our meals to arrive. In the meantime our server was not to be seen and while pleasant enough when he did show back up, fairly unapologetic about how long our orders were taking. Mind you, the restaurant wasn't overly busy and they appeared to be fairly well staffed. If the record delay hadn't killed things for me, the fact that my blackened catfish tasted more like bitter charcoal did. Delta Cafe' is a big Delta NO WAY!!! in my book.
(1)
Brandi M.
Decent food- not great. Overpriced. The best southern food is still Screen Door.
(3)
Alex Y.
Great breakfast, cool place, awesome service. Kind or has a southern creole feel to it. Great sweet tea!
(3)
Leigh D.
This is your official hole in the wall soul food restaurant. Now it doesn't reach the level of Sylvia's in Harlem but its still work checking out. They have shrimp poboys, greens, fried chicken, thick mashed potatos, mac-n-cheese, and the usual stables. Don't eat the pies- that's a different story. Also also has a full bar. Just are relaxing, hipster kinda hangout.
(4)
GEORGE ANTHONY A.
One of my all time favorites! A major reason i miss living in the Woodstock area! Love the soulful comfort food the pork chops the red beans and rice the meatloaf and more- love the cool relaxed vibe great drinks chill servers and in my opinion an overall good times experience!
(5)
tiffany a.
Slow service but good food. Be ready when the waitress comes by to take your order or you might be waiting a while until she comes back. Took a while to get food and get check..so come here if you don't mind waiting.
(5)
Andrew P.
Cheap eats. Rare soul food. Great homemade eats--this isn't your Panda express, mcd's, taco bell, or arbys. The cornbread is delicious, as are their drinks, including Earl Grey infused vodka. Happy hour food at their dirt-cheap prices is definitely worth driving 20 minutes for, especially if you're hungry. Where else can you get real food for only a couple of bucks? I've been here three times and haven't had any problems with service (in fact it's been exceptionally good); and, at the prices they charge, I don't even expect that much--bring my food and some silverware. If they hired on 3 waitresses for instantaneous service, I'd expect the food prices to triple. The interior is dark and has a bit of a Halloween decor year-round.
(4)
Garrett G.
Seriously I love this place, has always been one of my favorites since I moved into the neighborhood six years ago. However, today I got hosed and I created a yelp account just so I could explain the way real customer service is supposed to work. I've worked in the industry for 15 years now and it is common practice to serve food until your sign says you're closed. Don't get me wrong, everyone knows the customer that comes in a minute before closing is a pain, but today I was there 45 minutes before closing only to be told they were done seating. 45 minutes before closing?... Really? This girl was blatantly rude about it too, not even remotely polite. There was a handful of open tables that would have accommodated us to eat and be out before closing as well. We would have even been willing to take it to go, we were just starving and super stoked on getting brunch at the delta. Also, if you're in such a rush to get off work that you turn away regular customers nearly an hour before you close, then maybe you should work nights or something. I'm seriously disappointed and am only able to offer the simple advice that if you're gonna eat here show up AT LEAST an hour early if you don't want your plans foiled. Grrrrr
(2)
Leo W.
The Delta is perfect for a few different things. The brunch menu is wonderful, and the portions are generous. The fluffy buttermilk pancakes are the best I've ever had - a perfect texture. The dinner menu offers more variety but the same high quality. The bar side of the place is cool, nice to hang out in and attracts a very friendly crowd. The service is toopnotch. I love Delta, and in my opinion it's the crown jewel of Woodstock!
(5)
David Z.
It's been far to long since: a) I last wrote a review b) I actually visited the Delta c) The high temperature for the day was less than 75 d) All of the above If you selected d then you are correct! I'll keep this one to the point. After all, I've been pretty busy lately and I'm used to writing on Twitter where I only get 140 characters... The atmosphere: It definitely has a southern, yet alternative flair. It's fun. The service: Friendly, prompt, though missed a few perfect opportunities to go above and beyond. The food: Delicious! I've had a few dishes here by now and have been quite happy with my choices. The large, refreshing glasses of sweet tea is a big plus! Really, my only gripe was that the fried chicken was just a little bland - could have used some more spice! The prices: very decent. Dinner for 2 w/ tea & a tip was just above $30 if I recall correctly. The verdict: I'm sold. I will be coming back to the Delta for many more delicious meals! *Special note: They don't accept credit cards! Though they do have an ATM in the building... still, bring cash - it's just easier!
(4)
Autumn C.
The Delta had long been my favorite neighborhood restaurant... but no more. Yesterday I was craving my favorite Delta meal, Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac n cheese (not healthy but oh so yummy) so my husband and I headed over. When I gave my order the server informed me that I had to have black eyed peas as one of my sides and could choose the other. "But I don't want black eyed peas!" my inner child screamed. My outer adult asked if I could substitute... nope. So I had a side salad. My husband waited for her to walk away then asked "We're never coming back... are we?" Over the past year I have gone to The Delta anywhere from 1-3 times a month. When people wanted to grab dinner I almost always suggested it but now I will only be going if someone else is set on it. I don't mind smaller portions or a bit of a higher price... but they took away my favorite meal. I know it's whiny baby stuff, but it's why I went there. I'm also a little sad because I had gotten to know some of the wait staff and really enjoyed going in. I did tip my waitress as if I had gotten a full meal since it's not her fault they changed the menu.
(2)
Alex K.
Do they still serve the 40oz beers in buckets of ice here? If so, you must check it out. The only way it could get better is if it was old 8ball instead of PBR. Yes I am from the ghetto, SO WHAT?! The food as far as I am told by people from the south, is sub par. (But we all know we can't trust people from the South anyway)
(4)
Amado L.
I love me some Southern food, especially because I know nothing about it and, therefore, am instantly and easily impressed. And the grub at the Delta Cafe this morning was certainly no exception. Today was my first visit, and I already know I'll be coming back. The reason: their Smoked Brisket Hash. What a dish-- smoked brisket mixed with onions, peppers, celery, and potatoes topped with two poached eggs. The brisket possessed a great balance of tangy and sweet. I wouldn't have minded a huge mound of it in a po' boy sammy! Speaking of the Po' Boy Sammy, I saw a lady at another table get served her Po' Boy plate. Sweet baby jeebus, that thing be huge, yo! I might have to get my Po' Boy on the next time. And you gotta love that always refilled cup of Stumptown joe! Only drawback was that it was cash/check only. I mean, at least accept debit cards, a'ight? Anyway, I just have to remember to pack some greenbacks on future visits.
(4)
Jenny H.
Quite possibly the best pork loin chops I have ever had. Perfectly spiced and so juicy! Great mac-n-cheese! Also had an amazingly huge piece of homemade marionberry pie with local vanilla ice cream. SO delicious. The atmosphere is funky and fun. My server suggested the cocktail of the day and it was quite tasty...very attentive staff. Decent prices. The only thing for me making it not 5 stars is sometimes it is really loud inside and unless you are in a booth, the chairs are not always super comfy.
(4)
Renee K.
Just got home from dinner here. It was so delicious. The brisket was delicious melt in your mouth fat. Cornbread pudding was to die for. And guess what? They took our credit card WOOHOO!!!! And the service was great. I guess maybe it is still "hit or miss" but I feel like maybe they are starting to try now. So if you are looking for a heart attack, go here!
(5)
Rowan H.
First off, I would actually give this place 3.5 stars. If it wasn't so goddamn expensive I would probably give it 4 stars. Honestly, for about 1-2 dollars more per entree you could just go to the Screen Door, which is absolutely amazing and absolutely worth the money. My girlfriend had the brisket with mac and cheese and tater tot casserole, and I had the chicken friend steak with mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. My food was decent, although not fantastic, but my girlfriend's brisket was delicious. Originally she only wanted one side, so she told me to pick her other side and I could eat it. I picked the tater tot casserole, but when it came she tasted it and it was so good that she ended up eating most of it after all. The tater tot casserole was actually probably the highlight of the meal. As far as drinks go, I was surprised that they only had 4 microbrews on tap, because for some reason this place seems like they would have more. I ended up having the 40 oz of PBR on ice, which was awesome for its novelty value, although it maybe shouldn't have cost 4.5 bucks. Our service was good, although at the end the guy took forever to take our money and give us change and eventually one of the other servers came by and did it instead.
(3)
Lily H.
Mashed potatoes, kickass mac and cheese, fried chicken and drinking yummy sweet tea in mason jars...these are a few of my favorite things.... Delta offers a solid selection of good, but not-so-good for you comfort food in massive portion sizes. One thing that keeps me from giving this place 5 stars is it's SO darn hit and miss. It's been more hits recently, but be careful when ordering the chicken fried steak. Sometimes it's delicious and melt in your mouth, another time it'll be so tough and slightly charred, you can barely cut through it. Try some of the speciality drinks! They make 'em strong and tasty. Service isn't the fastest, but they're always super friendly. For you dog-lovers out there, we love dining outside during the summer because the staff is more than welcoming about us bringing our pooch along and will set out a big bowl of water for her. First timers, keep your eyes peeled because it's kind of hard to tell where it is...the sign is dark and you'll probably drive right past it if you're coming for dinner.
(4)
Holy-foo' X.
An eatery w/HUGE Hipster cred that I failed to find reason to otherwise hate. It's open pretty late, almost every night o' the week: 1 HUGE star! Catfish! Catfish! Catfish! Done up, right proper!: 1 HUGE star Friendly, engaging, fast service: 1 HUGE star Gorgeous sides--- greens, beans 'n' rice, cornbread: 1 HUGE star Universal appeal: Black, Asian, White, Hispanic-- all my co-workers loved their food: 1 HUGE star.. What else to say? I've only experienced the Delta on a carry-out basis, and so was (regretfully, but nonetheless) deprived of sitting and soaking up any potential douche-y type of Hipster ambiance. So on the strength of the food alone, along w/the brief but friendly interludes w/the staff, a very well deserved 5 stars. We will DEFINITELY be back.... Delta, if you would just expand your menu just a smidge, to be, shall we say, just a tiny bit more reflective of real Delta cuisine, and we can smite the Montage a well-deserved, long, long overdue slap...
(5)
Megan J.
Two stars. One for service and the other for their cocktails. I have tried to like Delta Cafe and have given it 3 chances but last night it striked out. I don't compare it to Screen Door because they are different beasts but I do compare it to somewhat decent cooking. Last night I ordered the special, fried oysters wrapped in bacon. Can't go wrong with bacon or so I thought. The bacon was charred and hard without a hint of smoky bacon deliciousness. My side of maple baked beans were too acidic and lacked in any maple flavor. The mac n cheese my partner got was bland as well as his black eyed peas. Our fellow dining companions ordered the fried chicken, Hush puppies and pulled pork sandwich. My friend who ordered the fried chicken left her plate the same as when she got it, full. Everything was blah and bland. Anything they fry is overfried and doesn't even come out golden. Services was great and attnetive and the only thing I have enjoyed is the cocktails, which you will need plenty of to get through the food.
(2)
Katey H.
I finally made my way to the Delta Cafe after wanting to try this place for a long time. Two of my friends joined me, we figured we could divide and conquer the menu so we could try multiple items. The main dinner items - fried chicken, flat iron steak and brisket. The coating on the fried chicken was great! I loved the crunch! The brisket was fall apart goodness. I got the sweet sauce and it was really good. The side items - you HAVE to get the mac & cheese. I've had a lot of mac & cheese in my life and this was some of the best. The mashed potatoes and red eye gravy is pretty good but I'd choose something other than the potato casserole (pretty much mashed potatoes & cheese). I can't wait to go back and try more menu items. The staff was very friendly and kept checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Their infused vodkas are great if you are looking for a new drink!
(4)
kelly s.
More laid back young and fun ambiance than other southern restaurants in town, but the fried chicken wasn't all that- felt like eating the sh@t that collected at the bottom of grandma's spice rack stuck to the outside of the chicken - however they were friendly food was fresh, corn bread, not so much, actually I kind of hated the food, but it felt like a place that would have been good for brunch and people/location was good enough, so that's why I didn't throw the whole joint totally under the bus
(3)
Greg M.
UPDATE UPDATE: We went back, had some great food! Mac and Cheese was creamy and yum. The Catfish (and that aoli sauce) is the bomb. UPDATE: I've been informed that they now brandish a card reader and will gleefully take your hard-earned electro-cash. Thank you, Delta. See you soon! Delta, I don't like the Man either. I quite despise the inequality of the world and all of that, too. I really want to try that new brunch you started awhile back. I remember having the catfish years ago and loving it. I thought to myself, why don't more people know about this place? So asked around - took a poll. You know what I found? Every single person I talk to, without fail - hipster, professional, blue or white collar- it doesn't matter - they all say the same thing: "I went there once and really liked it, but they don't take Visa, so we haven't been back." I want to love you, Delta, I really do. I want to swim in your infused vodka's and dine on your brunch. I want to wait in line with other card-carrying capitalists that have worked all day and prefer not to pay $3 to get cash at the ATM or buy a stick of gum to get 'cash back' at the Safeway. I want to bask in the glory that is what the Delta COULD be. But alas, I cannot excuse the audacity, pretentiousness and sheer stupidity that keeps a simple card reader from gracing the counter next to the cash register. What is it, Delta? Are you afraid of new friends? Does the thought of anyone but Socialist Agenda extremists coming through your door scare you? Do you just hate the thought of your business growing? What is it!? We wait patiently, checking in every few months to see if you've finally accepted that you have a problem; a lack of plastic acceptance problem. Oh sure, you may be mad at me now, and everyone else who walks in your door and right back out because you're currency Ludditeism - but just think how much happier (and richer) you would be with that little blue-grey box, taking people's money who want to give it to you? I know, I know... 4% here, monthly fee there, blah, blah, blah. Here's a clue - every other restaurant in town has one and hasn't lost money. You CAN learn something from them. Please Delta, help out a few thousand people that want to give you money. Please?
(4)
Crystal M.
I have always loved this place. We came into town tonight to visit my mom and came here for dinner. I was highly disappointed that the service was mediocre but worse the server added gratuity. There were 3 entrees and a kid. We shared 2 meals, not because we r cheap but the portions r huge! Being in the service industry for years I was very insulted. Adding gratuity to a check is saying the table wasn't going to tip in the first place. I would have expected this if we had a larger party. I asked they take off the grat and the manager argued with us. And we caught her in a few flat out lies! Saying the computer ads it and it's 6 people even if we had 5 kids. Really people? A tip is earned! You are not entitled to it!
(2)
Martha R.
This is definitely my kind of place... a little dumpy, but with class. The food is awesome - nice and hearty, fills you to the brim for hours and hours and hours... and all for a pretty great price. The beer selection is a little slim in the draft department, and the greens aren't too prevalent on the menu, but that's what you expect in a Cajun place. Your waiter or waitress will definitely be a little slow, and clad in tattoo. Because the place has got such a great feel to it, you don't mind getting the slow service... My only complaint is that there isn't an online location for their menu - was going to order take out, but decided against it because I wasn't in the mood for people and didn't want to wait around while they made my food. I wanted to run in, run out, and have the delicious food in hand. But since I did not know what I really wanted I settled for crappy leftovers. Bummer.
(4)
Sam B.
In some ways, it's a 5 star, in other ways it's a 4, and I'm a round-downer these days. First off, next time we will order one main that comes with a side, and share it. At that price, it's 5-star all the way. And the food was all good. Gumbo, biscuit and gravy for $13 plus the 3-side dinner deal for $10. All in all a pretty huge ass meal. And not on the cheap side. Our sides were collard greens, mashed toes and red beans and rice. The red beans were big and fat with some sausage over white rice. I like more rice but good stuff. The greens are what they are- the only veggie on the menu practically, and a bit rough on the pallet if you're new to poverty. The mashed were good. I like it when you can tell you're eating potatoes and these do that. The wait staff was nice. We had a baby in s stroller and had plenty of space. They accidentally put a plate on top of part of our to-go leftovers and gave us two good sized helpings to go straight from the kitchen. Nice! And warm. Nice vibe too. All kinds of styles in there: tats, no tats, long beards, no beards, twisted beards, no twisted beards, families with kids, kids with no families. It was good stuff. We will be back for more.
(4)
rich p.
Busy Friday night, poor service and little acknowledgment. Our fried chicken was extremely over cooked and dry. I think they deep fried it twice to reheat it. The collard greens were just a bath of sodium, maybe I should have soaked my feet, Cocktails were fine. It had been years since I had been here and it will be many more, if I come back.
(2)
Heather S.
I LOVE Delta Cafe! Yes, it's a bit divey but the food, prices, and service more than make up for the scenery (or lack thereof!). There are a myriad of Southern-style foods -- for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, and everything tastes so good! My favorites are the mac and cheese, the vegetarian collard greens (SO amazing!!!), and the shrimp. Last time we were there, they were handing out HUGE slices of the most delicious chocolate cake for FREE! The cake was so delicious! Delta's Happy Hour is AWESOME! Huge portions (all portions, all meals are huge) for very affordable prices, and a huge drink menu. Go! You'll love it!
(4)
Krista B.
I signed up for Yelp specifically so I could write a review for this place. Was my 1st time here. The ambience was quirky which is right up my alley. The lights flickered every time the dishwasher started. Im not sure why, but I love those detail. Much different than a fake facade claiming perfection when its not. Ordered okra for the app and it was far more delicious than the southern food place I frequent. Enjoyed a deliciously cold lemonade in a giant jar and had a crisp blackened chicken caeser. But what had me at hello was the fried chicken on my daughter's salad. Holy amazeballs batman, that was LEGIT. Best fried chicken EVER. Prices were fair and our sweet server was perfect.
I was not impressed with my recent dining experience at Delta Cafe, but have added a star because the happy hour menu warrants reconsideration. I went here with 3 others for a later dinner (we arrived around 8), and was initially drawn to the old-time diner feel and somewhat divey atmosphere. A draft beer is $4 normally and $3 during happy hour which is hard to argue with, and they have specialty cocktails for $5 daily which looked good. The first thing to go awry was the water glasses size to water provided ratio was quite off--four big mason jars were accompanied by a smallish bottle of water that barely filled half of them. So began our constant requests for water every time the waitress visited our table. This is a simple, simple thing--I love getting water at the table as it takes pressure off the waitstaff and allows me to drink as much as I want, but if your restaurant hasn't figured out the correct pitcher size and requires you to constantly ask for more, it defeats the purpose. After careful consideration of the fairly pricey menu ($12-15 an item), I went with the pulled pork po' boy with spicy barbeque sauce, and a side of mac 'n' cheese. My companions went with pulled pork on texas toast and meatloaf. When the food arrived (in reasonable timeframe, it must be said), the portion sizes seemed fair for the price. While my fellow diners raved about their food ("best meatloaf ever!"), I found my sandwich to be lacking. The lower layer of bread was soggy from the first bite, as though it had been sitting for some time prior to being brought to the table. The pork, while delicious, needed more barbecue sauce, and there was a strong horseradish flavor that overpowered many bites. The mac 'n' cheese was alright, nothing special. My one trip to the bathroom revealed a particularly unclean area, complete with broken, moldy soap dispenser. All told, this is a place I would consider coming back to for happy hour to drink good draft beer for cheap, and maybe have some hush puppies or something to soak it up, but I would not return for dinner. There are better southern food options in Portland--try Screen Door on East Burnside, or Miss Delta's in Mississippi.
(3)
Avery M.
The food was okay. Being from the south, I'm used to joints that serve it up much differently. It's heavy, filling, and tasty. Not what I'm used to, nothing exceptional, but nonetheless good.
(3)
Joslyn C.
Tl;Dr: legitimately never have we received such depressingly awful service or had such a bad food expedience as at Delta. I would give them zero stars if it were an option. Even if they imagine themselves a dive bar, their service is nonexistent, their waitstaff is ineffective, and their food is not worth any of the money you will pay for it. My husband and I have both worked as bartenders, waitstaff, and service jobs for many years. While we don't work this industry anymore, we like to believe that we have retained a good favor and grace in regards to those who work these jobs. However, we have literally never been less satisfied with a restaurant experience and food in our entire lives. If I had known it would be this bad, I would have gone home and cooked lunch myself. It would have been faster, tastier, and significantly more pleasant. But I digress... Here was our experience from start to finish: 2:45p- we arrived at Delta. There are three other patrons in the restaurant. No one greets us, so we seat ourselves. We sit there awkwardly until we ask the bartender/waitress for menus. She hands them to us with a laugh and a "sorry, I was distracted." 2:50p- we have decided what we want to eat, and wait for someone to come ask for our order. 3P- we have to flag the bartender down to ask her to take our order. We decided on the fried oysters, Mac and cheese, corn/black eyed peas fritters, and the fried chicken po boy. We also order a beer and cider. 3:03P- beers arrive. They are good and we are in high spirits in expectation of our food. We are both ravenously hungry and happy to know fried oysters will be ours. 3:20- The couple and two others who came in after us are served their food. We wonder if perhaps we had a complicated order. It didn't say anywhere on the menu that the oysters are shucked by hand. We assume they are, delighted by the idea of such wonderful fresh things coming our way. 3:30- ... We are antsy, but waitress has not come over to say there is anything slow in the kitchen...in fact, she has not come over at all. My husband literally has to flag her down to ask for another beer. 3:50p- our food has finally arrived! By now, my husband proclaims he is prepared to eat the glass his (now empty) beer was once housed in. The oysters are too hot to eat, so I turn to the Mac and cheese. It is legitimately the worst Mac and cheese I have ever eaten. I would have been more pleased had they served us Kraft easy Mac, because this was wretched. The noodles were so overcooked it had no texture, and the cheese flavor was a fleeting sigh somewhere in the distance. He took a bite, insisting it couldn't be so awful. We promptly pushed it to the end of the table to send it back. Maybe the chef just didn't realize, I rationalized. This is the first either of us have sent food back for any reason, and we are hoping it will be sorted out quickly and easily. 4:05p- the waitress still hasn't come over to ask about the Mac and cheese, or offer us drinks. Or ask how the food was, or generally do her job. She BSs merrily with a drunken girl at the bar and sits with another couple at their table to take their order. I wonder aloud to my husband if we are giving off a foul odor. The po boy is just some fried chicken and coleslaw slapped into a very tasteless bun bun. It is sad. He eats a few bites and we turn to the fritters, desperately hoping for some redeeming quality. The fritters are tasteless and lumpy, more like hush puppies than fritters. The vaguely gray goop they come with is advertised as jalapeños in a jack cheese dip; don't let the ad fool you! It tastes very strongly of wallpaper paste. 4:15p- The oysters are delicious! We munch them, wondering why we are in such foul moods. 4:20p-The waitress still has not come by about the Mac and cheese, and after we have been sitting for ten minutes or so, we are quite ready to go. No one comes to bring a check, even when another woman comes on staff to help at the bar. 4:25p- finally, we go up to the bar to pay. The bartender/waitress apathetically asks how the meal was; my husband replies fine, but we aren't going to pay for the Mac and cheese because it was awful. Waitress insists some people like it and others hate it. He asks how someone could like it unless they are missing all their teeth. She hardly responds, but takes it off the bill. No apology, no questions about how to make it up. We pay and leave. Later that day, I called to speak with the manager, assuming it must have just been the waitress who was awful. Unsurprisingly enough, I never received a call back. Legitimately never have we received such apathetic and depressingly dreadful service. We do not ever intend to come back to such a shoddy imitation of a restaurant, and will not only tell our friends about the poor service and bad food, but heartily suggest they go anywhere but there should they be in the Woodstock area.
(1)
Sarah M.
Me and my friend stopped in Delta Cafe last night for dinner, and the food was fantastic. I got the catfish creole with Cheddar polenta and a side of mac and cheese. The flavors were so fresh and zesty. My friend got the ribs with the mash potatoes, and the meat was so tender it fell right off the bone. The service was a little slow even though they weren't very busy, and they forgot the corn bread we ordered, and we had to remind them twice. They also didn't refill our water the whole time. But our server was very nice and the food, as well as the atmosphere was awesome.
(4)
Curt B.
There was a time-maybe 10 years ago-when this was the spot to go. During that time period it was usually hard to get a seat and the comfort food they served was 5 stars. I returned here recently and was disappointed. First, I was surprised that the place was nearly empty. Then I noticed that the TV was turned to comedy central and the stereo system was way too loud and playing Pandora. Honestly, if I wanted to watch comedy central I'd just stay home. It was just a weird vibe all the way around. The food was decent but bland. Salad was mediocre and the ribs were clearly baked and then smothered in BBQ sauce. Fair enough...this isn't a rib place after all but they do have a BBQ set up on the side of the place. Overall, I'd say this place has lost its edge.
(2)
Richie W.
I have been coming to Delta for 3 years now and have always got the same meal. Chicken po-boy with different sides. The last 3 months the portions have gotten smaller and smaller every visit... Food quality and taste is still amazing but something has changed...
(3)
Shads B.
Only having just moved to this neighborhood, we went to Delta Cafe twice in one week. I'd love to try the brunch or dinner menu someday, but the happy hour here is pretty irresistible. Food options are $4, $6, and $8, with regular-meal-sized portions. The boyfriend and I shared an $8 dish (blackened catfish with beans and rice) and a $6 dish (chef's choice three side sampler) and that was plenty to eat. I can't wait to eventually try every single cocktail - only $5 during HH and more than worth it in both flavor and potency for the two we had.
(5)
Lolly P.
Really happy about the delta... Been a while since we've been here (it was better this time) , but love the bartender, Kate. Good vibe, good drinks, good conversation! (brunch on weekend at the bar :) good times!
(5)
Margarita S.
Why is it so hard to find good service in Portland restaurants? I can't speak on the food at Delta Cafe because I couldn't get past the terrible service. I waited at a table for almost 20 minutes before finally going to look for someone to take my food order and bring me water. The waitress told me someone would come to take my order, & it was another 10 or 15 minutes before I saw a server. When she finally came, it wasn't to take my order, but to tell me they were too slammed and I would have to go to the bar to order food. This made no sense to me since I could see other folks getting table service and in the time she took to tell me she couldn't take my order she could have just taken my stupid order. I didn't feel like they wanted my business, so I left. Good service is as important a part of the dining experience as good food, but the Delta Cafe doesn't seem to realize that.
(1)
Ben C.
So this place has gone so far downhill I dont know where to start. First of all I live in Woodstock, I have been coming to the Delta for over ten years. 1) I got chicken and waffles tonight, it took 45 mins, was cold, the chicken was hard like a rubber super bouncy ball, the waffle was stale and clearly microwaved. My jaws actually hurt after taking a few bites. The mash potatoes were cold. WTF 2) the food was late because the helpers forgot about us when the place is empty. WTF 3) drinks are super cheap which offsets my above complaints somewhat With all of the improvements happening on Woodstock I think this place needs to get replaced at this point. The people who work there all give a super "im high as fuck on heroin and dont give a shit about you" vibe. Sadly, I will never ever order food here again. I may stop in for their happy hour because its hard to beat a $3 microbrew draft. All I know is that if I owned the place, and I was aware that my workers just served someone the meal I just got, I would fire everyone there and start over. Again, heroin probably plays a key role. Ill be lucky if I dont get food poisoned from the meal I just ate.
(1)
Carla Leo M.
It's so sad to see how bad the Delta has become! For a decade we'd eat there once or twice a month, but stopped going about 2 years ago because the quality of the food just declined. Thought we'd give it one last try on Father's day, and it was even worse than before. The place was filthy! The walls were covered with grease (and we were as far from the kitchen as possible), the table was sticky and all 3 menus were old, stained and grimy. There were flies EVERYWHERE, and we actually changed tables to sit where fewer flies could bother us. Our server's personality was cold and made no effort to hide her annoyance that we were there! She NEVER once came back to our table after setting our food down! The place was almost empty (3 tables with customers) so she definitely wasn't busy. The food was not good, which we would have told our server if she'd ever come back to the table. We used to take our out of town company to the Delta, as it was a fun place to show friends the cool restaurant mere blocks from our house. Not anymore. I'd be too embarrassed now. The music was so loud it made it difficult to hear each other, and their choice of music was not pleasant. Definitely not anywhere near relaxing or enjoyable, and about as far from hip as you can get . The decline of the Delta is really sad, and with Woodstock changing, I don't see how it will survive. Whoever is in charge of the Delta has clearly given up. 6pm on Father's day in a nearly empty restaurant. Wake up, clean the place, find servers who give a shit and overhaul the food. Until they do, the Delta will just fade into history. We won't be back.
(1)
Mars V.
I recommend the Happy Hour Breaded Oysters. Six plump, juicy, perfectly breaded and fried oysters for $6. Pair them with a Boneyard IPA, a seat outside and all is happiness. They also serve very good Fried Chicken and all of their breakfast dishes that involve eggs are tasty. Great service from very nice people.
(4)
Shanna C.
Yep-gave this another try and it was just as bad. We ordered dessert. It arrived at least 20 minutes later (even though it obviously was precooked and sliced). Once again, the waitress was also the bartender. Seems like a wonky system that isn't focused around customer service. We sat outside and the waitress checked on us maybe once. So unimpressed and won't be trying again.
Located in the Woodstock neighborhood, this Southern food fare restaurant has been here for years. The service was friendly and prompt. The last time I was here was several years ago and although my friends had raved about it, it had disappointed. I was hoping for some redemption when we came here for dinner recently. Alas, while the service was still friendly and the drinks strong, I found dinner to be bland. We sat in the bar area which is dimly lit and quite intimate. I had my first old-fashioned. It was strong. It was good. For dinner, he ordered the chicken fried steak dinner with mac & cheese and mashers. I had the meatloaf with collard greens and mashers. The portions are large. I had two huge slices of meatloaf. I'm not sure what to say about this meatloaf. It didn't impress me but then again I wasn't raised with meatloaf on the menu. Ever. So I don't know if this is just how meatloaves taste and I should just give up my search for the most delicious meatloaf ever or it really was bland. The best thing on that plate was the collard greens. The sweetheart enjoyed his mashers, the chicken fried steak was dry. He really enjoyed the mac & cheese and this guy doesn't like cheese. I really want to say that this place redeemed itself to me but it didn't. I was as unimpressed with the food and flavors as I was when I first dined here several years ago. I continue my search for the most delicious meatloaf.
(3)
Sarah B.
Heaven in Portland for me. The fried chicken has rosemary and other little tasty herbs mixed in the perfectly crispy breading. The fried okra is crunchy, and never soggy. The mac and cheese is the best I've had so far. The mashed potatoes are a little on the starchy (read: not whipped smooth) side, and the corn bread would be super awesome if it had real bits of corn in it. Eating this food feels like your body is getting a warm hug from the inside out--it's awesome.
(5)
Lezley L.
Several of our friends have raved about this place saying it was much better than Miss Delta on Mississippi, they were sadly mistaken. First we walked in and got quickly seated. Customer service is sparse to nonexistent here. Let's just say we only saw our server when it was time to leave & collect his tip. He was nice but my cup was empty throughout the meal. Now the food- we started off with the beignets. About 20 mins later they arrive...way overcooked. Sadly there was not enough lemon curd to save these suckers. Enter the food! Presentation was lovely for both dishes. I had hoped that the meal would have been better than the appetizer. I was wrong. Fried chicken & waffle - the waffle seemed to be a little overcooked and the dough was flat so it had no fluffiness or dimension to it. The chicken was coated in what seemed to be shake n bake. I'm assuming it was some type of cornmeal concoction? While the batter stayed on the chicken, it was flavorless. The chicken consisted of two giant boneless breast that were dry. The maple syrup was not enough to save this dish. Chicken Fried Steak - who puts chicken gravy on chicken fried steak that tastes like it came from a gravy packet. These guys! Something was off on this but I can't put my finger on it. The collard greens were basically thrown in the microwave and served. The greens were undercooked with no seasoning. The potatoes had a decent flavor but you could tell they had been sitting under the heat lamp too long. So my friends, I sadly report that Delta is not the place to try Southern food. Brave the lines and go to Screen Door.
(2)
Simone F.
Best southern food in Portland. Delta is a Woodstock original and has never disappointed. Best coco rico's & rose drops in town. You must try their fried chicken, either plate it or in a po' boy. Delta red beans and rice are magical, so are the mashed potatoes & collards. Ribs... need I say more. Support this wonderful place.
(5)
Lucy G.
On Friday evening I ordered Jambalaya - the blandest I have ever had. This dish even lacked salt much less all the other complex, spicy flavors it should have. I counted 4 slivers of Andouille sausage, very little chicken and bunches of bay shrimp - bay shrimp! why bother?! The black-eyed peas with rice were a mash of over cooked peas that tasted very old - again, could use a bit of salt...maybe some ham for flavoring? The service wasn't too bad, but the food is terrible -- and not cheap. Don't bother with this place - it is NOT southern.
(1)
Anne A.
Ok I'm from Tennessee and this is not Southern food. Also, it's mostly not good food. The pulled pork was like something that came in frozen and was thawed out and slapped on some greasy "texas toast." The collard greens with pork are actually good, that's why I gave two stars. Brisket was like pot roast - big chunks of braised meat. No hint of having been smoked or barbequed in any way. But even if the food had been good the service was baaad. We waited 45 minutes for any food to appear and then the server's excuse was "We're really busy." Sorry, but if your kitchen can't keep up with full tables on a Friday night then there's a problem. When we finally pleaded for something for our daughter to eat the mac and cheese appeared in about 2 minutes. It seems all the sides are ready to go at the "steam table." So why wouldn't pulled pork and brisket also be ready to go that fast? You don't cook barbeque on the fly, after all. Weird. You can taste the apathy of this place in every bite. We won't be back.
(2)
K P.
We live in the neighborhood & would hit up this place after a night out bc they have a stellar late night menu. Unfortunately, the chick that works in the bar has turned us off. Unbelievably rude on more than one occasion. I don't expect much service during late night happy hour, she went out of her way to make us feel unwelcome. Rudely dumping our plates on the edge of the table, walking away mid-conversation & we overhead her taking sh*t about us to her friend at the bar. If you offer a late night menu and are open till 1am the bartender needs to at least be courteous (We came in at 11:30) I hope the owner reads this. Its a pity bc the food is so great but its not worth being treated that way, paying customer or not.
(1)
jason m.
It's an interesting little place. 10 yr old son and I went there after martial arts practice for a Saturday Brunch. The wait wasn't too bad. The place has a decent looking bar that was mostly occupied with Bloody Marys and Bellinis during the breakfast hour. The service was warm and friendly. Waitress had our drinks done pronto. The Bloody Maria with half habanero tequila was pretty spicy. With full habanero tequila it would make many people weep. Loved the scramble. Spelt toast is kind of blah. Just a shade above wonder bread in taste. I know it is different nutritionally, but I prefer some Dave's killer something with lots of seeds and goofy extras on it. This was like eating a sponge. Son had the eggs Benedict which was decent. Hollandaise could use a bit more lemon. They serve their grits with TONS of butter, which tastes pretty good while it makes you feel guilty. I liked the place and I will be back.
(4)
Marc R.
Great Diner! Fast service - for a diner. Great food - better than most diners. The servers and cooks were fun (even funny) and the vibe here is relaxed even on a busy weekend. This is the sort of place where you love what you are eating and look over at the other tables and say "aww, I wish I had that" so I really think this place would be great for a party of 10 where you bought everything on the breakfast menu and shared! Would there be a plate charge for that? Dunno! It would be worth it. I did not dig the gravy. Not sure if they use chicken gravy rather than the typical southern pork and cream gravy I am used to when it comes to B&G. But I had the side and not the B&G so who knows.
(4)
Amy B.
Oh wow. Delta has really stepped up their food game. I had left a lower review previously because service had been slow. We had chicken and waffles for brunch and it was so good. We were also served a starter that was misordered and given to us on the house of beignets and lemon curd. Delicious! The fried chicken was so good. Delta is on fire!
(5)
Steve S.
Southern - style comfort foods done right! I grew up in the hills of East Tennessee, and Delta is my go - to place for when I need a taste of home. Fast, friendly service coupled with melt - in - your - mouth Southern delicacies like fried okra, collard greens and black eyed peas will keep you coming back for more. Also don't miss the corn fritters, and meatloaf and mashed potatoes with chicken gravy. Wash it all down with a quart of RC Cola (another fine staple from down South) and you'll be good to go.
(5)
Jason B.
Portland is not known for it's cajun. Ok, so we're 3000 miles from Louisiana - there is enough food done fantastically here that you'd think by now there'd be a standout chef d'alligateur in town. Delta is old school Portland southern food. It's been around a while, and the original owners even split off to form a new restaurant (dont even get me started on the Delta v. Miss Delta feud!). This place does fantastic fried chicken, mouthwatering spicy crispy blackened catfish, and if you're lucky enough to go here for brunch their beignets are comparable to, if not better than, their counterparts in New Orleans. The place where Delta is hit or miss is on some of their accompaniments. The creole sauce is more Ragu than Prudhomme; the fried grits range from heavenly to meh depending on the day. In general the side dishes seem to be an afterthought. A wee bit more consistency and this place would move up to a 5 star. Oh, and you can get a 40oz of pabst in a bucket of ice. You heard me. A 40! So classy!
(4)
Gary M.
We hadn't been to the Delta in a few years, but had heard it was slipping and wanted to check it out ourselves. The place was almost deserted around 1 pm on a Thursday; not a good sign. We picked up our own menus per instructions and sat down. Waited what seemed like a very long time before the waitress, who was nice but seemed somewhat disengaged, came to take our order. The order must have taken a half an hour - two sandwiches, a small mac & cheese, no drinks, in a place that was virtually deserted. We saw the cook nibbling on something; maybe it was his lunchtime too, I don't know. The sandwiches were bland - really no better than a subway sandwich with a few pieces of meat (chicken po boy and blackened chicken) with a lot of lettuce for filler and not much else on one of those boring buns. The mac and cheese was pretty good, but the prices are too high here for some very unimaginative, uninteresting food. I got the feeling the place is on its way out; whatever mojo it had seems lost in the haze of slow service, blah food, and a rather gloomy atmosphere. With so many other options in FoodieTown USA, there's not much reason to bother with this place.
(1)
Adam S.
All the old friendly wait staff are gone, as is my go-to dishes on the menu. The new owner is clearly ditching quality in the name of finding the cheapest way to do business. No more fresh produce and meat, it's all from a can, or flash frozen. The atmosphere has slowly gone from being authentically SE Portland, to a half assed attempt to look like a corporate chain. It's sad, like watching a youthful free-spirit don a tie and occupy a cubicle. It's really sad to see one of my very favorite places get ran into the ground.
(2)
Leanna B.
I've been here twice recently, once for brunch and once for dinner. Both experiences were fantastic. The meatloaf was the best I've ever had (sorry, mom!). Service was definitely on the slow side, but always friendly. They have $5 happy hour cocktail specials that rotate throughout the week and I recently had the Tuesday drink (The Outlaw). I'm not a whiskey fan - shocking, I know - but the ginger won me over. It's time for some new booth seat covers, however... exposed foam interiors aren't so cute.
(4)
Taylor M.
I keep trying to like this place, but each of the three visits I've made in the past couple years has been a disappointment. Between the slow service, inattentive wait staff, and mediocre food, I have yet to have a satisfactory experience. The only saving grace has been the pork collard greens and mac and cheese. But the ribs were cold, greasy, and I have no clue where they came up with their baste, but it is inauthentic and unappetizing. The pulled pork sandwich was OK, but not great. They occasionally have a great special (like the pork roast with apricots and onions, which my wife ordered and I wish I had). Also, their takeout boxes are poor quality. It fell apart and I lost all of my mac and cheese. :(
(2)
John J.
Food is improved Ive been back three times and loving it. I quit coming after new owners ruined the food but Came back in hopes it would work out and I have to say good job Food is much better and staff is fast and cheerfully attentive. I would say it's just about back to as it was years ago Thanks for a great meal and I will see you again soon.
(5)
Dana S.
So, I should begin this by saying that I recently moved to Portland and Delta Cafe was the first stop on my search for a good beignet. My husband and I went to Delta for brunch and each ordered breakfast and shared an order of beignets. I drank a sweet tea, and I will say that it was really good. Really sweet, but that's how a southern style sweet tea should be. The ambiance was also cute and homey. Breakfast was meh. It wasn't bad, but I probably could of made better at home. I equate the brisket hash to something you would make with leftovers. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good. My husband ordered biscuits and country gravy. He didn't really want to finish it as his biscuits were kinda overcooked and the gravy was basically plain-hamburger flavored. The whole dish was very bland. Now, onto the beignets. They were not beignets. Authentic beignets are light and airy and smothered in powdered sugar. These beignets were more like fried sweetbread dough with a light dusting of powdered sugar. They sat like a rock in our stomachs they were so dense and heavy, and I was so disappointed by the sugar available, I ended up asking for more to be added. A LOT more. I was very excited to get my hands on some southern style food, but aside from the tea and the atmosphere. I was disappointed.
(2)
Jadzia D.
This place used to be great. Not any more. The menu doesn't offer what they used to, by that I mean you get less now for the same price. And the staff is rude! I went in there earlier this year with a group of friends. We were so appalled that I sent an email to the manger, and never heard back. Since then I've not been back. I won't recommend this place anymore. The new management took something wonderful and have destroyed it. What a shame.
(1)
Theresa C.
The best catfish bites EVER! Hubby eats the chicken fried steak. I get the tofu and grits with creole sauce. We've sampled almost all of the sides and they were all delicious. The best collard greens I've had since I lived in the south. Macaroni and cheese - check Potato cheese casserole - check black eyed peas - check We always wind up with leftovers. They have a drink special every day but also have a good selection of house cocktails and they are all tasty. Make sure you ask for some Aardvark sauce too.
(4)
Amy L.
Being that I'm a bartender and have been for the past 9 years. I take great pride in my job. The women working in the bar is by far the worst bartender I've ever had. I've lived in Portland my whole life and always remembered this place being awesome! But I will say after the way I was treated today I'll never be back. She took our food order and just left us in the conner. We Sat and watched her be nice to the regulars. They all got what they ordered first...even when our order was put in half an hour before they even came in. I was totally shocked.....and when the food came out not even a sorry that took an hour. Never checked on us or even asked how the food was. She finally came over and asked if we wanted boxes. But still never took the time to bring them. We were upset and Fed up by this point. So we paid at the bar. Never in my life have I wanted to not leave a tip. I know that's how I pay my bills. So I left her a tip anyways... Do you know what TIP means? To Ensure Proper Service I will never be going back here again.
(1)
Mary B.
Close to home, we come here often. Me, for the Old Fashioned. It's consistently great. The food is hit or miss; ordered out and got a brisket that was more like a steak, had steak that was over cooked, potatoes weren't fully cooked at breakfast. BUT, the fried chicken is super, the Jambalaya, the red beans and rice (which I sometimes make a meal of with an accompanying side of cole slaw,) Hubbs loves the pulled pork over texas toast and the mashed potatoes with chicken gravy are very happy indeed. The service is pretty good, too.
(3)
Orian I.
you know i've been hearing about this place forever, and ever. and as much as i like southern fare, i've been told i HAVE to go to the delta. I'm sorry but this place is all talk and no delivery. although the gravy was ok, the ribs were lack lusters the greens were bla. and the service was pretty medicore. i guess when you've been the only game in town for so long you get complacent. i'd recomend screen door over this place, it was kinda lame as the sauce that was on my ribs and chicken fried steak.
(2)
Deanna N.
Consistent for brunch. I liked that I could order breakfast ala cart so I had the biscuits, a waffle and bacon while sitting outside with my Siberian husky. The service was kind of slow, seating and open tables and ignoring happened a lot, but once seated I got great service perhaps as my husky was in tow. I really thought the standout was the biscuits. The bacon was spicy peppered and not overcooked. I shared it with the pooch. Coffee was a bit bland, but doable.
(3)
KD O.
This is our walkable-to local hangout and it lives up to that well. Food: The food is very hit or miss, but we usually do pretty well. I had excellent catfish one night, and terrible a week later, but such is the nature of that sort of fish. I'm mostly vegetarian, so if you are a veg there are a few good selections. Try the Tofu A La Picante, or the BBQ Tofu Po' Boy. I didn't like the fried Okra, but a friend loves it. Again, hit or miss. This is the type of place you try twice to see if you went on the miss night. Verdict: Not as good as some, better than others. Breakfast: Served Sat and Sun only. Not as good as Arleta Library Cafe, which is equidistant from our house. We've went a few times. It's on the bland side, but alright. Drinks: Good signature cocktails with an average $ of $7. Nice variety of drinks - sweet, savory and straight up. Go on Tuesday's for all day happy hour and get them for $5, or go to happy hour every day. Usually a decent selection of regional taps such as Ninkasi out of Eugene. Dessert: The pies are home made and purchased from elsewhere, but good. The Key Lime pie is their best non-fruit-chunk pie. Don't bother with the pecan pie if you've ever had the real stuff from down south. Atmosphere and staff: A++ If this was just for the staff and atmosphere, I'd give it five stars. Great people. Comfortable place with lots of style without looking like they are ripping anyone off. Day to go: Tuesday all day are drink specials - $5 for signature cocktails and lower for beers and well drinks.
(4)
Anna S.
Delta is one of my long-time neighborhood loves. For me, it teeters along 5-ness - like some visits I'd give a 5, some a 4, and occasionally a 3. Things you need to know: - Service: quirky. The servers will not kiss your ass, and they are generally not in a hurry. I've never had downright terrible service there, but it IS very laid-back and sometimes comes with a bit o' attitude. I'm okay with this, but I know some people aren't. It can be a bit chaotic sometimes though. - Value: excellent. The food is terrific and the portions are big. Incredibly, a few years back the portions were even slighter bigger and the prices were lower. It's still a great value, but I give 4 stars on this rather than the 5 it would have gotten about 4 years ago. - Ambience: very Portland. Like weirdness? Mismatched coffee mugs? Hideous wall art? Koi fish with that disease that makes them all fat but doesn't hurt them? Appreciate bathroom graffiti that says, "I f*cked your mom!" and then the reply, "Go home, Dad. You're drunk."? I sure do! But not everyone sees charm in these things. Maybe be aware of that when selecting your dining companions. - Convenience: not so much on the paying. Cash only here - boo for that. But then again, screw The Man and the big credit card fees they charge businesses - I understand that too. I just don't carry cash much. Luckily there's an ATM right across the street, or a Safeway nearby to stop first and get cash back from buying a pack of gum if you REALLY want to say screw The Man! - Booze: ohhhh yep. Fulkl bar with stiff, tasty, reasonable drinks. Deal-o-rama $1 red beers at brunch, if you're into that. A little bit of context - almost all of my visits here have been for dinner. The food has been been reliably awesome. When they first started brunch about a year ago, I tried it and was underwhelmed. No more - I went in this past Sunday and was mightily impressed. The French Toast is pure euphoria! Huuuuge thick pieces of soft, buttery brioche with a bit of homemade berry compote on it... The menu said it would be "one triangle", but what I got was a monstrous hunk of glory. In summary... yes yes yes. Damn, now I'm thinking I want to change my rating to 5... but the consistency thing does matter. But I already want to make out with the Delta's Jambalaya and their French Toast, so in a couple more visits I'm sure I'll be knocking it up... that extra star. Hahaha.
(4)
Jenn C.
Having several friends from the South (Mississippi and North Carolina, respectively) it is no surprise we are often looking for a great place for some Southern comfort food. Believe you me, we've tried just about all of them (I think...) So after moving a couple of them all day and preparing for a night of celebration, we started at the Delta Cafe. It was really warm (or maybe it was the vodka) inside, but we didn't mind once the aroma of deliciousness filled our nostrils. I had the gumbo (soooo good). Southerners at the table said it was a little off--too much fake smoke flavor for them. The okra was not the best flavor I've had in Portland, however, it had a great crispy breading. Like your PBR in a 40 and served in a coffee can filled with ice? Does it get better, Portland? (Well as a beer snob, yes, but I get it--so I'll roll with those of you who enjoy their Pibber). The atmosphere is really unique to the other cajun/creole places I've visited. A table that screams of voodoo and other cajun dogma with lit candles and doll parts, paired with the low lighting and dark wall colors really makes this place worth visiting.
(4)
Heather B.
I have been here twice and while the food was ok the experience left me wanting to shower. The place feels extremely dirty. Also, the service is snotty. Not sure where some local places get the "you're lucky to be eating here" attitude but the staff was infected with it.
(1)
Jason L.
This place is great. Ok wait - the food is awesome. The service is sloooooooooow. And the servers can be a bit spacey. But, getting past that, if you're hungry and want some good southern food - go here. It's cheap, good and you get tons of food. Just don't be in a hurry. Normally, because the service was so slow I would give this place 3 stars - but the food really is good. The atmosphere is also nice and it's usually packed - full of SE Portland hipsters.
(4)
Stella S.
I really wanted to give this place 5 stars but the reality is that not everything my friends and I ordered were good. The hush puppies with chicken gravy (Pups in a Pond) were VERY bland. We didn't even finish them. My drink, Darla's Sidecar, was actually kind of gross. It tasted like bad oranges. But I drank it anyways since it was $7. And my friend was not a fan of his side of biscuits and gravy. He mentioned the biscuit was pretty dry and if it had the same chicken gravy that was on the hush puppies, then I understand how that wouldn't help either. Now, on the upside! The inside of this place is rad looking! I love the decor they have going on. The staff was friendly as well. My smoked bbq brisket was awesome! I got the potato cheese casserole and the new orleans red beans & rice as my sides. Both very good, even though the "casserole" was more like a scoop of awesome mashed potatoes. My husband loved his jambalaya and my friends really liked the tender bbq pork and the meatloaf they ordered. The mac-n-cheese is garlicky and delicious! i definitely suggest trying that. Next time, I'm going to order the ginger float because the table next to us had one and it looked epic. Served in a mason jar with a large topping of whipped cream? Sign me up! So definitely give this place a try. I don't suggest the hush puppies and gravy, but i do recommend getting yourself some mac-n-cheese and trying some delicious meat entrees. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Christine M.
I'll put it this way; Delta is my place of choice for the once-a-year-extra-special birthday dinner. Holy smokes. I have been there quite often, consistently delicious and great service.... in fact SO GOOD that I will take any excuse to go eat here; hence the birthday pick. BBQ Tofu (dressed) Po'boy, veggie collard greens, GIGANTIC & PERFECT cornbread, pecan pie... and whatever drink I'm in the mood for. Lordy.
(5)
Stacy L.
Normally, Delta is pretty darn good for that down home southern cooking. I had the red beans and rice last night and it did not disappoint, so why the 2 stars?? Well the cornbread that came with my meal was awful. It didn't taste day old, it tasted week old and I told the waiter so. Did he do anything about it? Nope. The carefree attitude at this restaurant is usually one of it's charms, but not when it compromises the dining experience.
(2)
Srk K.
This review is from a couple years ago and we haven't been back. Sounds like things haven't changed though. We went for dinner and drinks and while I like a dark atmosphere the one here is just gloomy and creepy. I've been to the south and the food served here is nothing like it. Honestly I could take the interior decorating if the food blew my mind but it did not. Most bland mac and cheese I've ever had. They need to get some new recipes and cooks. Haven't been back and won't ever unless something changes.
(1)
Misty S.
This will be a short review. Why? After a much-awaited trip to Delta for my daughter's fifth birthday (I had been hanging on to a Groupon for months), my family had to leave early. Damn kids. From my short experience, the servers were okay and the food was pretty decent. My Blood, Sweat and Tears adult drink was fabulous! We only got a few bites into our dinner when our two kids decided it was crazy time and wouldn't sit still if their lives depended on it. I had a chat with the bartender on the way out...thanks for listening to me bitch, man! All in all, I would come back (sans children!!!) to give this place a more thorough review. For anyone who had to witness my kids being awful, I'm sorry. At least we packed our stuff up and left instead of staying for the whole meal...right? After finishing our dinner at home, I can say the Gumbo and the Jambalaya were great!
(4)
Ivan S.
I have had many a fantastic meal at the Delta. My last one started well enough. The Cozy Shack was a delicious cocktail to start with. If you stumble in on a cold evening, get it served hot and you will be warmed up in no time. Our party got an appetizer of corn and black-eyed pea fritters and corn bread. The fritters light and fluffy, like a fritter should be. I enjoyed mine with some Aardvark hot sauce along with the black-eyed pea green chili cheese dip that came with them. For dinner i ordered the blackened catfish with red beans and rice and tater tot casserole. The fish was well prepared and the aioli and remoulade that it was served with paired perfectly. The red beans and rice are always fantastic and did not disappoint. The low point in my meal came when I tried my casserole and found it to be cold. My wife also ordered it as a side and hers was cold as well. Overall the service was good and attentive, but I would appreciate it if they took more care to make sure their side dishes are served hot.
(3)
Diana L.
I've heard some really great things about Delta Cafe prior to coming there with some girlfriends earlier this week .. But Delta Cafe left us with no reason to ever come back. Facts: 1. Food wasn't bad at all .. Definitely around/above average. HOWEVER 2. Table was sticky and dirty .. And server/waitress did not clean. 3. Drinks were not made correctly. 4. No offer to re-make drinks or allow us to choose something different. 5. No Mashed Potatoes on a Thursday evening?! 6. Crappy service overall. Bottom line? If you are looking for a little soul food then maybe this is the spot to go .. Just be aware that you may take a little abuse on the service side of things while drinking down the sweet tea.
(1)
Traci R.
What a pathetic ass excuse for a shrimp po'boy. I had to seriously comb through the coleslaw to find the shrimp. SERIOUSLY? I had to laugh to keep from crying. I don't even want to spend any more time typing my disappointment. But this ain't about NOTHING right now. I feel like I just got hoodwinked. :::livid:::
(1)
s. m.
The Delta Cafe has a very eclectic atmosphere but for me it's all about the food and with that said I have to say their catfish takes the win! It's seasoned and breaded just right, moist all white meat with aioli and remoulade sauce. Too much okra in their gumbo though but that catfish is Mmm mmm mmm mmm good!
(4)
Ivan M.
Overpriced food. Okay for drinks.
(2)
Khang N.
I took my girlfriend here when we stared to date and I'm glad to share this place with her.. Definitely a nice date spot.. I usually get the chicken fried steak with mash potatoes.. The portions are huge and cheap! It's just excellent!~ The service is great. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. A place you must check out..
(5)
Alexis Y.
We haven't been the delta for a year, even though we always liked the food. We went Friday night and loved it. My husband had the chicken fettichini with green beans in a mushroom sauce. I ate half of his beans they were so good. I had the pulled pork on Texas toast......yum. It had a great flavor with a sauce of sweet and hot. I miss the cauliflower and cheese side, but loved my dinner. Will go back more often. The service was really good and the server helpful.
(4)
Adam G.
Great drinks, great food, and great staff. The happy hour is awesome, and the brunch is bonkers. What more could you want?
(5)
Sara M.
Just not my style...I really wasn't feeling the dark restaurant, loud music, etc. The food wasn't very good...I'm thinking maybe it's a hit or miss. Pork tasted dirty - the only reason pork typically tastes dirty is because it's old pork....pretty messy and sloppy...spilling all over my plate. I don't think I'll ever be going back here.
(1)
Lucky B.
Definitely good breakfast! We all enjoyed what we ordered, service was friendly and the atmosphere is good.
(4)
Jacob M.
The food and drinks were decent, waitstaff was "ok"... not much else to say about it. It's not a "bad" restaurant, but a pretty heavy gut bomb and I didn't think the flavor was anything to do back flips over.
(3)
Johana M.
I write this review with my belly still full of delicious Delta dinner! With a friend in from out of town today, we somehow forced ourselves to walk to the top of Multnomah falls in 30 degree weather with super cold wind blowing literally and figuratively the entire time. Post 3-hour freezing hike, we needed some serious comfort food. This brings us to the Delta. We came inside only to have a heavenly scent fill our noses. We immediately knew it was a good choice. Their drinks are excellent; we had a hot toddy and a mothers milk. Some of their cocktails are made from house-infused liquor, and I remember once at a Delta brunch (also worth noting and trying) I had a cucumber vodka drink that was insanely refreshing. We both agreed that food-wise we were interested in a big bowl of HOT and damn did they deliver! I got the tofu a la sauce piquante which might be one of the best comfort foods Portland doesn't know about. It's crunchy fried (but light tasting) tofu dropped into a giant bowl of heavenly red sauce and a scoop of rice. My friend even said she was a little jealous of my choice after tasting it. And it came with a side of piping hot mashed potatoes and gravy. Hers was another big bowl of rice and beans that she said was hearty and fresh and went well with a recommended side of 'veggie' collard greens and cornbread. The service was prompt and unpretentious, and also gave us a good amount of space to just enjoy the atmosphere (Mardi Gras + Dia De Los Muertos + Portland eclectic) and our grub. And, the price was just right.
(4)
Deborah H.
I am so sorry to write this, as I used to really love the Delta Cafe habiting it with my eldest son and his friends. I remember just being SO enthusiastic about the BBQ ribs and chicken and the delicious sides that I wanted to treat my younger boys and their friends there. I admit that it's been 2-3 years since my last visit. My carload of kids and I arrived at 6:00 p.m. with hardly a wait at all. All looked good. We had a very nice waitress who was personable and helpful. I ordered the most expensive items: the mixed ribs and chicken entrees and the BBQ pork rib entrees. I then order the large sample side option, bringing 8 side dishes to the table. The corn bread came first, very coarse and 'authentic' tasting. Then came all the entrees and side dishes..... The BBQ items did not smell good at all and at the first taste ALL of us made faces at our food. "It tastes like cigarettes." "Mine isn't good at all." "I'm not going to be able to eat this." And mine? "This tastes like an overdose of liquid smoke." We couldn't eat the ribs and chicken at all. We were hungry so we tentatively approached the side dishes. Collard greens? Fibrous. Mac N Cheese? Bland and flavorless. Tater Tot Casserole? Mushy. Red Beans and Rice? Simple, but eaten. Salad? Too many onions. Mashed potatoes and gravy? All right. I could go on, but I won't. There wasn't a satisfied person at our table. The smokey smell was giving me a stomach ache and the after taste of that stuff is lingering still to make me write my first bad review of an establishment I used to love. What has happened? I'm sad to do this, but I spent too much money this evening with the hopes of a great Delta Cafe experience. My first thought was that it must have been a new cook who loaded in that terrible Liquid Smoke junk so that it was inedible. I just don't know. I took all the BBQ meat home, but when we opened it up to taste it again, it was inedible and we dumped the whole lot. I'm not kidding, this is sad but a true rendition of what went down. Thumbs down this evening with the hopes that your Delta experience will be better.
(1)
Sara M.
Brunch or dinner, it's a winner. Although, I'll go with brunch: the make-your-own bloody Mary bar with garlic infused vodka, red beers, beignets with lemon curd! Choose your own adventure for your entree: I like the baked eggs with cream and herbs or the bleu cheese frittata. YUM. Dinner is great and the servings are more than generous, although my only complaint is that on a busy night I come home smelling like I was manning the fry station all night. But, a bucket of 40oz PBR and a tender filet of blackened catfish never made me regret the evening. Chash or check only, folks, so be prepared. ATM on site.
(4)
Morgan C.
I found out about this place because of a Groupon a few months back (wish I had bought it). It sounded like a good place to try (after all they have a bloody mary bar and $1 red beer). If it weren't for the other reviews I probably would have just kept driving (little hole in the wall place, with a washed out sign and not much room to wait for a table) but I went with a group of friends this past Sunday for brunch and I'll be back many times to come. We ordered a few baskets of the beignets and while they were over cooked a little, they came with a Lemon Curd that could stand up on its own (I believe there was a few moments of finger licking that happened). The portions are large - four pancakes the size of my head, biscuits and gravy (brown gravy which I thought was interesting) that had to be taken home and the BEST eggs benedict I've had ANYWHERE in Portland.
(4)
Amy S.
What is up with the rude servers?
(1)
Todd V.
Well hell yes. This place was great, with the menu and atmosphere a solid combo. We went for an early dinner, and between happy hour specials, one dinner plate and a beer, came away stuffed and with another full meal in leftovers for 2 for about $25 before tip. Best: the server, great in all aspects rice and beans side scalloped potatoes side hush puppies Great: catfish bites, though the fish itself came in 2nd to the breading Pretty good: okra, which was good but again light on overall flavor Borderline: fried chicken, great at the time but tasted really strange the next day. We really enjoyed the overall experience but the off taste of the chicken the next day was a real turnoff. I'd go back but would not order the chicken.
(3)
Tanna P.
I love coming here for breakfast on Sunday mornings! We usually get here just after they open so we don't have to wait. I usually get the Delta breakfast with a side of french toast! Sooo good. The bloody Mary's are very good and so is the red beer. We dine in for dinner sometimes too and I usually get the meatloaf with mac-n-chesse and cornbread. So good. One time I saved room to get dessert so I got key lime pie and that was pretty darn good. I've always had a good experience since I moved to this neighborhood five years ago. It's a bummer they are open a little earlier on the weekdays for a late lunch.
(5)
Erin K.
I love this kind of food! If you are in the mood for hushpuppies, go for the ones in gravy, you will NOT be sorry, as they make a mean chicken gravy. And the BBQ Pork was awesome, we went for the "mixed" sauce (rather than sweet or spicy) and it was perfect, and in perfect proportion to the meat. Also, we found the texas toast-like bread that was under it to be a wonderful hearty addition. The only thing I didn't love were the sweet potato fries... although they were good, it was much more like eating a sweet potato than a sweet potato turned into a fry (not crispy at all), and I was really in the mood for a fry. BUT, my heart belongs to the Screen Door when it comes to collard greens and mac and cheese. These offerings at the Delta were good (specifically the greens), but the Screen Door's are drool worthy, so it's pretty hard to compete with them. The dessert options looked great too, and we went with the ginger float which I wish I would have thought to make sooner, it was great! They have great happy hour (4-6pm) prices with 1/2 price appetizers and $2.50 well drinks and draft beers. My husband and I could totally eat a happy hour dinner here consisting of hush puppies, mac and cheese, and collard greens and a couple beers for $15 which I think is pretty awesome.
(4)
Liz C.
So, this place isn't at all what I expected, BUT it was good. I am from the south, so I LOVE me some BBQ, and the brisket here was pretty freaking good. The sweet tea was PERFECT and served in a large Mason jar. classic. a few things to note if you plan on going here: Cash or check only! no cards...but there is a US bank and Chase bank within a block of the joint. Also, late night is bar seating only so you have to be 21 so after about 9 pm don't bring the kids. I agree with Patrick S, a somewhat cheap feel to the place, but a charm that says "i'm at home" I guess that's pretty reflective of the south. needless to say, it's down home soul food that's decently priced.
(4)
Angus V.
I've been here a few times over the years, and have never been very impressed. My wife and I couldn't decide between the hash and chicken fried steak so we got both. The steak came with biscuits gravy greens and grits, and while the flavor was typical, the portion was generous. The hash came with under cooked eggs and was more like a saute than hash. Disappointing. First cup of coffee was old tasting, but the irish coffee was very boozy. Good service. Mediocre food.
(2)
Lindsay C.
Delta is one of my favorite places that I happened upon in Portland years ago! I've been here for dinner with my family, drinks with my girlfriends and a date night with my favorite couple! I visited last week and tried their chicken fried steak for the first time, BEST decision I've ever made. I have not eaten here one time and been disappointed! Fun atmosphere, wonderful service and the vibe is Portland to a T! Only suggestion is get some better air flow in the summer time, can get VERY warm :) I recommend giving this place a try!
(5)
Shawna N.
Short and sweet. Catfish is good! Jambalaya is GOOD! Service is GOOD! I have tried a couple other things and they were not the best, but I can't help but love this spot. It is rad and I will be back!
(4)
Bryan R.
Maybe I was just in a good mood because it was a mini vacation, but if all mini vacations came with pumpkin pancakes, I'd see no reason to work again. Being from Seattle, I have a horribly unfair expectation that cool looking places are going to be infected with a general air of hipster disaffectedness so thick that you want to talk about how much cooler Arcade Fire became once they got big just to watch them implode So imagine my pleasure when I walked into this fine establishment on a Saturday morning and was greeted by a friendly man who sat me at a table where I was offered coffee by a friendly young woman. And not tip-friendly, just general, I'm-a-nice-person friendly. I generally felt welcomed and comfortable there. The food was GREAT, the coffee put hair on my chest (finally!), and the bacon was the appropriate shatter-in-your-mouth texture. And they have a fountain with goldfish in it. It couldn't be greater unless they got Neil Patrick Harris as a line cook. Ok, that would make it a little cooler, but for now the pumpkin pancakes will do.
Sinfully delicious. No two words describe this place any better. Every dish on the menu is Southern food for the soul. I've had nothing but good experiences with the service and depending on how hungry my husband and I are, we can usually get away with feeding both of us on $20 or less. Amazing! Of course, if you start adding in all the drinks you're tempted to order then you won't be keeping that $20 mark but who could resist a "Blood Sweat and Tears"?
(5)
Tamara K.
Redemption! Halleluja! I had brunch about a year ago and it was a less than stellar experience but prior to that I had always had great food, drink and service. I returned last night to redeem a groupon that was expiring, knowing it would be jam packed and we would most likely have to wait for a table. We arrived at 5:50 and there was already a line out the door and about 15 names ahead of ours. We headed to the bar for a Hail Mary, which is their signature Bloody Mary made with garlic infused vodka. This is a salad in a big goblet that is sure to make a wait for a table much more enjoyable. Very tasty! A spot opened at the bar so we crossed our name off the list, bellied up and ordered the catfish as an appetizer and fried chicken and blackened red snapper as our entrees. Our sides consisted of collard greens, mashed potatoes with gravy and red beans and rice. Everything was cooked to perfection and came out of the kitchen much faster than expected. Our bartender/server kept his cool even in the heat of the rush of groupon redeemers. The memories of my past brunch experience was wiped from my memory and replaced with visions of another meal here in the not-too-distant future!
(5)
Brandon S.
I can totally understand why people don't like the Delta Cafe. A lot of the things that I love about it probably rub some people the wrong way. But we've never had a bad meal there nor bad service. Our latest visit featured chicken fried steak - good with a nice spicy bite to it, but not a great chicken fried steak - and a pork chop special that was really good. Two big, tender pork chops that had a chipotle sauce on them. They were spicy, but not too spicy and really delicious. The sides, as always, were great. You can't go wrong with mac-and-cheese, tater-tot casserole and red beans and rice. I love the decor - especially the George W. tombstone over the bar - and I love the people. Our waitress was very friendly, helpful and heavily tattooed. But I don't understand why they don't take credit cards, but they do have an ATM on premises and there are numerous banks within a block so getting cash isn't an issue.
(4)
Katherine K.
Coming from the South I wouldn't go so far as to call it all super authentic, but I give them credit for their sweet tea and black eyed peas. The food was amazing, I ordered the blackened chicken - not blow away by it - but it was good, my husband's Jambalaya was perfectly spiced - easy to eat but with a kick of heat a minute or so later. If they keep making their mac-n-cheese the same way, I will be a loyal customer for years. The food was reasonably priced, the service was great.
(4)
J A.
What a difference just of a year can make. This way one of my favorite places to go, even with a line out the door. When they said they were going to close and do some refreshing I was so happy for them; now I am so sad for me. I thought we had scored when we didn't have to wait, we were told to sit where ever we wanted. We entered the dinning room and were immediately barked (yes, barked) at that those table are reserved. OK, well let's sit over there with a table in between us and the other group, more privacy for both parties. Ooops! more barking. It appeared the table just needed to be finished wiped down, no worries, I wiped down the table and turned to find the waitress scowling at me. I said he said we could sit anywhere, "Well, he is wrong and he should have said any clean table" fired the not so friendly lady. WOW! Hum, do we want to stay or leave? We decide to stay and pick up the menu which has been paired down so much we are speechless. We loved getting the catfish bites, sadly they are gone. The menu, well being frank, SUCKS. We decided on the fried okra. Disappointing, the batter was barely clinging to the okra and when we asked for "ranch", the waiter snapped "we do not have ranch" and walked off. Hello, we are still here and we wanted some dipping sauce (I can't recall but I thought it came with some before), no suggestions or substitutions just turned and walked away. So back to the menu, you no longer get your choice of two sides - only one and you get Hoppin John Blackeye peas and your choice of one. No beans and rice as an entree. I can't believe it. I don't mind paying for a good meal, but this was not. Once the bill came, our waitress disappeared. Not for a minute, but 15. Finally, we decided that we'd try to pay at the counter and get outta there. Well, we were graced with our waitress - who as it turns out can be nice when it comes to tip time. Sorry, I tip on the whole experience, the meal, time spent waiting, you and your co-workers. You were all unfriendly and acted like you had better things to do. As you can see this is an update from my previous glorious review. Delta I guess that refresh took it all out of you or you decide to rest on your good name; whichever, I am so disappointed and not sure I will return.
(1)
Miz C.
A dark bar full of delicious comfort food. I'm in.
(3)
Sonja L.
Oh Delta. How you make me miss my family. Every time I have the collard greens I think of mom and Sunday dinners. Fried chicken, only my Grandmother made it better and she's gone now, so I'll have to get my fix at Delta. Its an odd sort of bar/resturant. All sorts of strange things on the walls. New Orleans found a small corner of Woodstock to take a rest and make some hardy stick to your ribs southern food for the neighbors, because that's how the South does it. They feed the neighborhood. Hungry? Have this huge plate of fried chicken, collard greens and mac and cheese..done? How about a HUGE slice of key lime pie? (Oh the pies...OH GAWD THE PIES! You need it in your mouth) Thirsty? Tastey drinks, make your own bloody marys..1.00 red beers at brunch.. yeah, its a slice of Southern livin' right here in the Pacific Northwest and I LOVE it. Try it. You'll thank me.
(5)
Dave E.
I thought the food was ok but the service was bad. The bartender was really rude And not friendly. When I asked for a menu he pointed to where they were. He also stated happy hour was not available on weekends. I was there on a Friday and last time i checked that was still a weekday. I am new to the neighborhood and had heard good things but thought was a bit over priced. I hope to go back for brunch and hope get better service.
(2)
Jenny Y.
This place was happiness in my tummy =) I tried the grits with fried catfish =d The grits were yummers and not too soggy or runny with a good strong cheddar taste. And the catfish was just fried to perfection =d If I wasn't driving, i would definitely have tried their habenero based cocktails with a fruity one to wash it down ;P I definitely will be back here to eat more when I'm back in the Portland area. Why don't we have more southern places like this in la?...sadness =(
(4)
Elizabeth E.
Average fare, in average portions, for an average price. A friend suggested we head across town to check out the brunch at Delta Cafe, and I was excited because I'd heard mostly rave reviews. However, after the so-so service (okay, it was bad but friendly) and the mostly flavorless food, I walked away feeling disappointed. I went with two southern-raised gentlemen as well, who felt simiarly about their experience. While the beginets were delicious, the grits were sad, the portions were a bit on the small side, and the sad presentation of the largely average food was enough to convince me that I don't have to head all the way back across town to give it a second shot.
(2)
Lindsay S.
Ok, I think there are new owners in the house. The place looks nicer, but the prices are higher for less food and less choices. What used to be a cascading plate of food goodness good for leftovers the next day, has turned into regular portion sizes for more $. Also I was denied my own choice of a side and stuck with something I didn't want and didn't eat. Waitress seemed annoyed when we asked about the changes (I'm sure she gets a lot of q's about it, but didn't have to give a visible eye roll). We have not been back since. The food baby magic of the Delta is gone!
(2)
Jason B.
All I have to say is DONT READ THESE REVIEWS and play the guessing game... ): IF you like southern style food??!!! You WONT be disappointed! ;-)
(5)
Jacob V.
Had the ribs very tender. I recomend combing the spicy & sweet sauce if you like spicy. My fiance had the pulled pork she enjoyed it alot. The sides were very good too but everyone must try The LEMONADE its the best ive ever had seriously delicious. It was a very fun dining experience thanks to the food and the very friendly wait staff! Did I mention the lemonade id be ranting about the food more but I have been here numerous times over the years and never tried the lemonad.
(4)
Henry F.
Man, the Delta used to awesome, but now they suck! We got the Veggy Collared Green, and it was horrible! Seriously, we should have sent it back, and I really really hate to send food back. The service has been super rough too.
(1)
Jodi C.
I have vehemently tried to cook southern food. i have chopped fingers and grated knuckles and cursed in southern accents. To no avail. my fried green tomatoes were a force to be reckoned with -- a force that directly attacked the balance of my stomach acids. I have a confession to make: I've even managed to bunk cornbread... Isn't that one of those dishes that a four year old can successfully concoct? Well, not me. But despite my inability to create southern comfort food of my own, I love the notions and recipes behind southern cuisine. There's a charm to it you can't quite find anywhere else. So I guess it's really no surprise that I ADORE the Delta Cafe. The vegan options are a bit of slim pickins, but as an ex-vegetarian, my heart (and my love handles) fell madly head-over-heels for the tater tot casserole. A casserole. With tater tots. Lawdy lawdy lawdy! A greasy, gooey, crispy mix of tater tots, corn flakes, and cheese, all melted together in the oven? I'll take it. Deeeeelicious. For such a simple food, the black eyed peas and rice dish is very hearty and flavorful. And some day, I will have a chance to try the barbeque tofu and the veggie jambalaya. Some of their southern-style foods include White Trash Meatloaf, traditional Jambalaya, hush puppies, huge barbeque portions, charred catfish, and a Po' Boy sandwich menu. I'm also a big sucker for the restaurant/bar's ambiance. Vibrant colored walls. Odd paintings, plants, and mirrors abound, comfortable booth seating. The soft sound of blues seemingly seeping through the walls... Definitely charming. The wait and bar staff are young, slightly aloof, and friendly enough for me. So long as you're not wasted in the bar. Which can be hard to avoid, since they also serve up 40s of Pabst Blue Ribbon in a tin can full of ice. Enjoy the mason jars. And try the pecan pie.
(5)
Kim K.
Get your fix of Southern food! Can't go wrong with the hush puppies or collard greens! Incredible!! Staff is friendly and helpful with choices!
(4)
L C.
Umm HELLO...The beignets with lemon curd...YUMM...with strong coffee...YUMMER! Also ordered the the Southern Scramble with andouille and crawfish...pretty good. It's how I would expect my scramble to taste! One thing that you should not mess up is eggs...I love my eggs and this place does it right! our server Valerie was on it that morning too. Will definitely be back SOON
(4)
Briana B.
I love this place, every time my husband and I visit Portland I try to make a Delta stop. I especially love their brunch. Just good southern cooking with a northwest flair.
(4)
Molly M.
First time out of the gate at this place was pleasant. Best eggs benedict I've found in Portland but it seems the her was a bit over zealous with the rush and overdid on the home fries...they were a bit too crispy for my taste. The service was awesome and they were very attentive. 11am brunch on a sunday and only a five minute wait...cant bat that! I'll be back to try the fried chicken!
(4)
Sandra W.
It's a dive, Louisiana style. I kept straining my ears to hear the familiar twang of the "S'uth'ners," and Creole music, and half-expected to see Guy Fieri and a camera crew walk in at any moment, and watch his meal being prepared in the kitchen, and then take a big huge bite of the Gumbo and react overdramatically to the intense flavors in the dish. And just as quickly as I was convinced I had been teleported to NOLA, the waitress, with her pink-streaked hair, nose piercing and cowboy boots would appear to refill my water or check to see if we needed anything. Nope, this is Portland. Great service, great vibe, and real Southern cookin'. I reckon supper don't git any better than this.
(5)
Georgie K.
I have been going to this place for years, but recently we moved closer and go there more often and have to say it is not what it used to be. The food is fantastic, but the service is spotty. I think food and service are equally important. We were recently waited on a man that seemed to not care too much about being a waiter and lacked any type of manners. He did not just suck as a waiter, but if I met him at a party I would of thought he was kind of an asshole. We are not sure if we want to go back or not. Maybe they do to go food. Such a bummer usually such a fun and great place, but we do not need to go out to dinner and deal with some jackass and then be expected to tip him in the end. They need to do some serious server training over there or the owner just doesn't care about the customers. I gave 3 stars for all the other great servers and good food, but if I was basing it on this one experience I would have gave 1 star.
(3)
Ellis A.
I love this place. And I use love rarely. But I only give three stars because the last few times I've been in, they were out of things I wanted to eat and their waiters were straight up rude. I used to work across the street at the Hollywood Video (RIP) and order food to take home late at night after a long shift. Curled up on my couch around midnight after a long shift, watching a movie and eating a tofu poboy sandwich with a side of mac n cheese and mashed potatoes- real comfort food. But the last couple times I went in on date night with my boyfriend, they were out of things like mac n cheese (HOW? WHY?) and TOFU??? and being vegetarian and going specifically for the amazingly prepared tofu sandwiches, it would be a huge disappointment. The last time I was in was a year ago after a long day at Sauvies and I brought about 7 of my closest friends, after talking the place up all day. They seated us but our waiter was rude and lethargic and absent. He brought our food so staggering, it felt weird and uncomfortable. He probably isn't there anymore because he was a real doof, so don't let that sway you, but be aware when you go in. I like that you can get 40s on ice, though I never have. All in all, the food is hit and miss considering you never know if you'll get what you're craving. But if you need some comfort food, look no further.
(3)
Trish H.
Let me star off be saying this place isn't bad. They just don't know that they are doing everything wrong. I went to culinary school in Mississippi and worked at one of the best steak houses in the state. So I'm informed about the correct way this food should taste. My girl friends went here for a nice dinner out. We started with the Sweet potato fries. They were good, just the right mix of crunch and soft. The apple sauce served with it was a good match as well, with some secret aardvark it was fantastic. I had the fried cat fish with Mac N Cheese and Hop N John. This is ware the trouble started. The fish was just a little under cooked, that might be because it was a full filet instead of breaking it down into two smaller filet (which makes it easier to cook and makes it not so watery). The Mac n Cheese was overly garlicky and under cheesy. The Hop n John was cold and not spiced at all. And everything was just a little bland. I will admit the lemon aid was quite good though. And the little bit of my friends pulled pork was really good. Nice and spicy with just enough smoke. All in all if you want some ok food at an ok price this place is good. But if you want authentic southern food in Portland...buy a plane ticket to Memphis.
(2)
Christopher M.
Oh Delta... how you took me in when I was scorned by others such as Genie's and Sapphire. You warmed me with your loving biscuits and watered my bloodshot eyes with your morning bloodymarys. Your CFS is the best hands down, and I didn't mind I had to have cash in hand or use that evil electronic taxman near the bathroom... But now, you accept cards... oh, woe is me!!! Now the masses will not think twice about making the pilgrimage up to you when the line is unbearable at Cup & Saucer. Oh Delta, I thought we were perfect for each other, now I see I was not the one who was for you. I will still stop by to see you once in a while, but it will hurt me deep inside... Au revoir coup manque, je vous manquerai!
(5)
Andrew S.
If you like heavy southern food. Big portions, sloppy but tasty. This place is ok. Service can be shabby, they occasionally have that LA attitude like people should be honored to eat there. They do serve cold chilled 40oz beer And have some classic dishes - i usually have gumbo. But have tried many plates - All ok but not great Never had breakfast, so my rating is based on Dinner
(3)
Jeff M.
A Haiku Review of Delta Cafe: Heard many good things. But the food was just average. God bless those 40s.
(3)
Desiree L.
Love the funky coolness of Delta Cafe. I hope they have the Tator Tot Casserole when I go back. It's one of my favorites!
(4)
Mindy S.
I really have loved the Delta in the past, and I still enjoy going there. The menu and the food are just not quite what they used to be. I miss picking two sides - the black eyed peas are really not very good, and I don't want to be forced to eat them with almost everything on the menu. Also, they often seem to be out of staples like potato options, or cornbread! Great cocktails, and I do usually have good service.
(3)
Chris R.
Disappointing caricature of Southern Food I lived in TN for 3 years and happen to be fresh back from a week long TN road trip. Maybe if it had been months since I had decent Southern food I would have viewed Delta better. I had the blackened catfish. On the upside it was a generous portion of catfish. Unfortunately it was kind of squishy and wet. I'll take the hit for not ordering the cat fried as is more popular. For sides I had Macaroni and Cheese (bland) and green beans with bacon and corn (good in a stereotypical overcooked Southern way). My friend had a Tofu Po Boy and tater tot casserole (recommended by server). The Po Boy was ok overall, the Tofu's texture was pleasantly chewy and hearty. The tater tot casserole tasted more like 4 day old Minnesota potluck food than anything I was ever served in the South and neither of us ate much of it. Also, why wasn't there a hush puppy on every plate? That is the one item that is almost a given on every Southern plate. At most places I ate at on vacation it isn't even something you order, it just shows up on the plate. And just to put a poop cherry on top of a disappointing dinner, even my RC tasted funky. I kept smelling my mason jar to try and figure out what was wrong. I'm guessing ice that picked up some scent or flavor. Go to Delta for some hipster viewing, cheap happy hour drinks and some grinding rock music for a background. For catfish or sides I'd rather be at Famous Dave's which isn't really high praise.
(2)
Lela D.
If I could rate this restaurant zero, I would. We chose Delta Cafe because we had a coupon that offered $10 off a $30 bill. We thought this would be a great spot to have a nice lunch. Unfortunately not. We weren't greeted when we came in the door. We had to put our names on a wait list (but there were at least 4 open tables and only one couple ahead of us) Our server seated us and brought us water, coffee, cream, and took our orders in a timely manner. That's about the only good thing about her service. Until she came and brought our food, she didn't ask how we were doing and didn't check on us (She had three tables). I had to ask a separate waitress to refill our water (This waitress had 6 tables) Our food came quickly, which was great. And then we started to eat. We had ordered several different items because we hadn't been here before: Chicken and waffle, potatoes, cheddar grits, pancakes, chicken fried steak, and a side of bacon. The horrendously overseasoned breading on the chicken was burned. Not just a little over cooked, but BURNED. It was black in places. And the fry oil was starting to turn. It was TERRIBLE. I picked off all the breading to discover there was little to no meat on the bones. All of the meat on my "two pieces of fried chicken" (it was supposed to be a breast and a leg) was equivalent of MAYBE one average sized chicken leg. What meat there was, was dry and tough. The grits were bland and rubbery. Even adding salt and pepper didn't help them. The potatoes were overcooked and tough and bland. The chicken fried steak was overseasoned and horrid. One of our meals came with a dry, tasteless rock. And by rock I mean "biscuit." The pancakes were rubbery and bland. Even the ketchup was disgusting. How do you even mess up ketchup?? I will say, the only edible things were the coffee, the side of bacon, and the waffle, so if you only order those three things, you'll probably be okay. The entire time we were picking through our meal, our waitress didn't come check on us. Not once, though she walked by several times. Once she saw we were ready to leave, she came and asked, "how is everything?" I pointed out the quality of everything and she stupidly replied, "Oh. Wow. That's...wow. No body has said anything all morning." And then kindly comped us our meal. The approximately $30 that our meal was valued at was asking way too much. I wouldn't have paid $5 for that crap. Long review short: Bad food. Mediocre service. Never going back.
(1)
Sadie B.
Four years later and we're done with the Delta:( We still love the food, don't get me wrong, but the service has gone way downhill since Nate and Aron left. Last time there, for happy hour, the server/bartender made our drinks on ice, though the menu said "up" and that's how we wanted them. We ordered and our delicious food came, then...crickets...she never came back. Most places will check in before happy hour ends to see if you want another drink. Nope. And we did! So, 6:00 passes...6:10...6:20...she's busing the tables next to us and refuses to make eye contact. 30 minutes go by from the time our food came, was eaten and we were wishing for another beverage, but at this point just want to leave and never come back. Finally had to get up and ask the OTHER server to get our bill for us. Paid, left. That's it. Oh, and the shitty shitty music played so loud you literally can't talk to anyone at your table. So glad I found Reverend's BBQ the very next week! Go there instead! You will not be disappointed and you surely will be by the Delta, unless you like surly servers. It's a shame.
(2)
Nate K.
I had really high hopes for this place as I was recommended but was very disappointed. Got there at open, waited an hour to get our food. Clearly ignored when multiple groups came in after, got their food quick. When we finally got food, it wasn't what we ordered. I felt the bartender/waitress was aggressive and rude with no apologies for anything. The environment was very comforting but the experience was otherwise. We were very understanding and nice, yet still treated like crap. We watched everyone in the room get their tabs and paid, and didn't get ours so I had to approach the bar and pay. Afterward we called to speak to management and was laughed at. I not only feel that this was the worst service I've ever had in Portland, but very offended as well.
(1)
Danielle T.
I am sad to say the Delta cafe has gone way downhill... I used to love this place! Food was excellent and service too! There is one waiter there that is still AWESOME! However the food is terrible. How hard is it to make a waffle? Our waffle was soggy and cold and the poached eggs on the Benedict were hard boiled! The last time I came the French toast was so hard it could be used as a weapon! The waitress did not check back until the kitchen was closed so then tried to give me a biscuit... I'm really sad to write this because I used to and really want to love this place! I'm from New Orleans and they carry crystal hot sauce! But unfortunately the cooks need some training or maybe need to find new careers. Once again my waitress has not even checked in once to see how our food was if I need more coffee etc. She may also need to find a new career.
(2)
Marge F.
What a lucky find! This restaurant has never disappointed me. Amazing food and the staff is personable and friendly. They even know what I like to drink. My food is always hot and delicious. Also, I came in today to hear the lunch cook freaking out at the server over a side of mac and cheese. He was completely out of line and making my table very uncomfortable. She was nothing but kind to us, and he was awful, not to mention the food was not splendid this time. Something should be done about this man's attitude towards his coworkers. That would be a job opening at any place I've served.
(5)
Cecilia B.
I've lived in the neighborhood for 8 years and have been a semi-regular customer the entire time, both dining in and taking out. Prices have always been a little on the high side, which kept me from eating there as often as I'd wished, but the quality and quantity were mostly good. Service was inconsistent. They've made some changes recently, seemingly trying to distill their menu a bit. I had hoped this would lead to higher quality food, but results have been mixed, Other people have reviewed nearly all the menu items, so I'll just focus on the cornbread. It used to be A-MAZ-ING. A large square of light, hot cornbread that managed to be moist and crumbly at the same time. Now, you get a small muffin that is as dense as a hockey puck. I've ordered it twice in the last 3-4 months. The first time it was overmixed so was tough and chewy. The second time it was better but still heavy. And it cost TWO DOLLARS. Seriously? I want to support this business since it's in my neighborhood, but they are making it hard.
(3)
Kristen V.
I'm just embarrassed for this place. All-around gross.
(1)
Hey U.
Never bring your children here. Period. The most child unfriendly place ever. I mean why bother with a children's menu (which sucks) if you hate families and their business. Walked in and the reedy/hipster bartender was talking to a cook in the bar (when you first open the door). They looked at the 4 of us incredulously, like why would you come here. Which turned out to be a good question. The death metal or wtf screaming music was blaring...we sit furthest spot away, 15 feet, and yeah this room has competing music. Blaring death screaming metal vs some alt band. I have never felt so unwelcome by a place that obviously needs business in my life. I get it, it's a college joint. Been here 10 years prior (7 years we weren't local) and remember our waitress had the worst BO I'd ever smelled. But we live nearby and it's been a decade...aside from the BO, nothing changed. Dingy, needs a paint job, just looks greasy and filthy. We couldn't do it. After10 minutes and just getting water the 4 of us left. The waitress seemed alright but when we left she was just hanging out with the bartender. I'm sure the food is edible. And they must have 1 person who cares about their job. If I were the owner I'd call in a rescue restaurant show in to save this place. They need to seriously clean house. I mean it, can some folks, fresh paint, may be scrape some of the inches of grime off the place. Filthy. Zero chance we will eat here in the future.
(1)
Kristen V.
Meh. Food isn't amazing. I would have out 3 stars if it wasn't for the awful service. Been there a few times expecting it to be better bit left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed. The last time we were in, I felt like I had to tip even though the server was cold and rude. Our first impression of the server was exactly this: No eye contact. She only asked "are you ready?" She brought our food and that was the last time we saw her until she dropped that check. It wasn't busy nor was it near closing time. We didn't get waters and or napkins. I ate my meal feeling like a burden and angry. I have been told that's just how they are there. I don't believe that. The bartenders have always been great and whip up good drinks.
(2)
James F.
I love this place. Great vibe and great drinks. Pabst 40s in an ice bucket are excellent. I miss the tater tot casserole but the sandwiches are good.
(4)
Sara S.
Forgot in my original post that for Sunday Brunch they have a build your own Bloody Mar bar! Yum
(5)
Jav V.
Delta has great southern food. I had the fried chicken. It was really good and not too spicy. The mac n cheese might be the best I've ever had. The green beans looked microwaved, but ended up being really tasty. The keylime pie was good, but really creamy. It had the texture of cheesecake. If it was called creamy key lime pie, then it would be awesome, but if you are expecting regular key lime pie, it still tastes awesome, but it's not right. Some other key points are $2 Rainiers, good cocktails, and 3 sides for $10.
(5)
Scott T.
Love the food... But maybe someday you could wise up and accept plastic. Your $2 ATM is annoying (but I guess I should be happy I don't have to walk across the street to the bank).
(4)
Steph M.
The one star is only for the fantastic server that helped us through our last visit at The Delta Cafe. I ordered the Bourbon Aged Riveye steak with mashers and collards. I ordered the steak meadium rare. I am from Chicago and know my meat temperatures quite well I am not afraid of a bloody steak! What I received was a thin cut ribeye with a mound of slimy cold onions on top. With an open mind I attempted to slice into my steak, but it was so raw that my knife could barely cut it. The meat was all purple and cold and it was too rare to even be juicy. I wasn't upset , these things happen. When my server returned, I showed her the steak and she could instantly see how uncooked it was. I asked her to have the cook refire it or something. As I was eating my sides I overheard the "cook" yelling about how I shouldn't order a medium rare steak if I don't want one. That steak was perfect and that he could make me a new one that would not be medium rare. I was pretty shocked to hear him acting so aggressive. Long story short. I declined another steak and stuck to eating my sides, which I could barely stomach. The greens were ok. The corn bread was unrecognizable and gross, the mashed potatoes were unsalted, hard, dry and had a strange slimy greenish gravy with boiled chicken pieces floating on top. My girlfriend could not eat hers either. The Mac and cheese had no salt or flavor and wasn't very cheesey. It was very dry and mushy. It kind of seemed old. My girlfriend had the mammas chicken. I tried a piece. It was beyond terrible. The breast was dry as can be and was unsalted and covered with the thickest and most flavorless breading we had ever encountered. How hard is fried chicken? I make it at home all of the time in a cast iron skillet. The grossest part of our visit was watching the "cook" shove food into his mouth with his fingers from behind the counter while cooking. That is not ok. In conclusion, we could tell that our awesome server was well aware of the state of the food quality and went out of her way to accommodate us. She didn't charge us for the steak or my sides. I sure hope she doesn't have to share her excellent tip with that schmuck of a "cook." This place has really gone downhill. It's pretty sad. I hope they listen to their customers and get it together. I used to love it here. This is the first bad review I have given in my life.
(1)
Sheila N.
Food is mediocre. Service sucks. Waffles were cold. Unfriendly service. They just don't seem like they are that "into" there work. Felt like they wanted to be somewhere else.
(2)
JaVonce M.
What happen to the service?. wow. Waited 30 mints to get seated. When we got seated, waited a other 25 mints before they took our order.. we didn't get to eat.. i work to hard for my coins for BAD service..
(1)
Adam W.
What can you say, this place is a staple. Prices have gone up and a few things have changed over the years but it is still a great place to grab a big dinner. The ribs didn't seem quite as high quality last time I was there, but they were still good. I'm not a fan of the fried chicken, but everything else I've had I've liked. The place has solid comfort food, a good bar, is chill for kids, and has a spacious atmosphere. Can't go wrong...
(4)
Jordan E.
Used to be a modest regular at the Delta Cafe as I loved the fried chicken. Went back last night after an absence of several years. Things have changed, and not for the better. Waited almost 10 minutes after coming in before I saw a server. Annoying. The order was simple: fried chicken (only choice now is a breast and a drumstick), mashed potatoes with gravy (comes with the chicken), green salad for a side dish, and hush puppies for an appetizer. Seemed pretty simple. Waited for over 10 minutes and no hush puppies. Had to track down the server as she had this habit of disappearing for long stretches. Asked about the hush puppies and she said, with a smile no less, "they dropped it but the chicken's up". I assume she was shifting the blame to the cooks, but one could ask why she didn't check with the cooks after, say, 5 minutes to see what was up with the appetizer order. Poor service. The chicken was fine albeit average for Portland (try Miss Delta, Bernie's, Son of a Biscuit, Screen Door and others). The breading still had that nice crispy texture I liked although it didn't have the flavor I remember. The mashed potatoes were good as was the gravy. The side salad was okay and the pecan vinaigrette was excellent. And the hush puppies? Don't know as I told the server there's no point in keeping them in the order if they're going to come out after the main course. Decor and ambiance were pretty much what I remembered: uninspiring and dull. Overall I rated the experience below average: average food, poor service, dull surroundings. One can do much better in Portland these days. I'll skip the Delta Cafe in the future.
(2)
Linette P.
I had the fried chicken with a side of the tater tot casserole. The fried chicken was good but the super star here was the tater tot casserole. So good, I have no idea what it consisted of but I should have gotten a bigger portion. The restaurant was really cute inside and had the best mojitos I've had in a while.
(4)
Kelly M.
Despite being a former Reed student, and therefore living, breathing, and studying just down the hill from Delta's (a favorite among the Reed crowd), I only went there once during my time at college. I remember enjoying the southern comfort food and the college greens. I ended up waking up in the middle of the night and being sick from it, but I still truly liked the grits and greens.
(3)
Ellettra A.
I just love this place. The interior is charming, the wait staff is attentive and cheerful. The food is excellent. We've only been for brunch, but I have never been disappointed. If you like southern cooking, this is the place for you.
(5)
Rebecca P.
IT'S SO GOOD HERE! Favorite barbecue in Portland/possibly in my life.
(5)
D R.
i viewed the yelp reviews prior to heading off to the delta tonight. reviews made it sound like there've been some changes in the past year, so i was a little nervous that i'd invited others this time. in truth i had nothing to worry about. the food was good; the waitstaff was good. the place is not hoity-toity, but it's not a slum, either. the tables look like '70s style diner tables cleaned with a rag soaked in a solution of water & sanitizer, not unlike other bar-, cafe`-, and restaurant tables. i'd definitely recommend the tater-tot casserole, and i'll warn that many items are a little spendy. the three-appetizers-for-$10 is a good deal, though. that's a full plate of food to fill you up and leave you with leftovers. i also like the atmosphere and the music selections.
(3)
Steve W.
Make that ZERO stars. If you feel like having your drink served to you by a total, rude, wanna-be, stuck-up hipster who treats you like its a chore to serve you, then this is the place for you! And it wasn't even busy! Hey, I don't need to have someone be 'fake nice' to me when I go out, but I also want a moderate level of respect. This was the third time this has happened here. Delta, you have a great concept, but your pretentious staff has made this my last visit. There are way too many great restaurants in this town for this type of treatment.
(1)
Marie S.
i went to (the original) delta cafe over on woodstock this past sunday. hadn't been there in at least a year. forgot how wonderful it is! miss delta on mississippi is much closer to where i live, but it sure doesn't live up to this original... the environment, the people, the vibe, the love and taste in the food - it's all much better at the woodstock location! don't ask me why.
(4)
Marty J.
Service sucks. Period. Attitude and no help. We were received like aliens, given water and left to wait at our table for over five minutes. I guess we should have walked back out the door when I saw the chef had a footlong scraggly beard hanging off his chin, and a. 2 foot braid off the back of his head! Is that permitted by the health department? Head to the real delta for soul food and skip this dump!
(1)
Dr B.
I love their bloody mary. The rest of their menu is a bit overpriced for what you're buying, and while it's on the level, it doesn't entirely hit home for me. But, it's good enough. Everytime I've been here this place has been jammed with people. My guy wants me to mention the 40s in an ice bucket, served tableside . . .
(3)
Mary H.
My favorite restaurant in Portland. I love the campy decor, the way the servers always call me sweetheart, their huge pies, and the cute names they call their cocktails. The food is amazing, yum, so good, and the portions are so grand every plate should come with a to-go box. and yes, it all tastes just as good the next day. It's also fun to watch everyone fight over the lollipops they give out with the check.
(5)
Melissa M.
Yummy food, great bar, awesome location. Kinda crazy busy sometimes but worth the wait.
(4)
Aimee M.
Stopped in for a late dinner (8:30). We ordered the Jambalaya and BBQ Pork Ribs with collard greens, coleslaw and caesar salad for sides. The food was AMAZING. The ribs were perfect and have now set the bar for pretty high for the future. The service was super nice, the hostesss and waitstaff were a great team never left us feeling lonely and the guys in the kitchen were super friendly and joked with us on our way out. We were seriously blown away. Best experience we've ever had at the Delta... can't wait to go back.
(5)
D W.
Freaking great. food and service are fantastic. I love all the food... Except the fried chicken and waffles. The batter has strange spices added to it that REALLY clash with the waffles.
(5)
Jackson D.
I REALLY REALLY wanted Delta to be good. I lived 40 years in Texas and Louisiana. BBQ and Cajun food are in my blood. The pulled pork only flavor was smoke. The corn fritters were raw inside. The chicken fried steak was thick and tough.
(2)
Janet M.
I like this place. They offer southern comfort food, efficient service, and a quirky atmosphere. We've been often...soemtimes we've taken out of towners. It's not the best southern food we've eaten, but it's pretty good. Filling, hot, greasy, salty... yummy. I like that there are good options for vegetarians, since we're sharing a gene pool with a few of those, and I like that they offer side dish samplers.. That's usually my go to. Cornbread, beans and greens, anyone? or mac and cheese?tater tot casserole? or sweet potato fries and applesauce? mmm. I like the corn and black eyed pea fritters, myself. Husband usually gets gumbo or jambalaya, occasionally some red beans and rice. They have an ok kid's menu but my kid eats garlic cheese grits off the adult menu ( that's my baby). We've never had room for desert at the place, but we have taken some things home it seems to me... cobbler of some sort or mud pie or something... It's pretty good.
(3)
Carol F.
this place used to have a great breakfast but no more. the wait was ridiculous despite there being seven open tables. and then after seated, it still took forever. then we were told "the menu had changed" which really just meant that the owner had changed and we didn't know it. might have gotten up and left if we weren't so hungry. ordered a coffee, which wasn't delivered and when my friend went up to get her own coffee, the clearly miserable waitress said she had poured it but couldn't find it. the beignets my friend ordered were never delivered and then we were told (we must have run out of them after you ordered). . . i asked for maple syrup for my pancake (which was super rubbery) and was informed that the owner refuses to carry real maple syrup. . . apparently the staff has begged him to carry it, and even charge for it, but he is unmovable. WTF? we also learned that they've been through quite a few cooks and are really having trouble finding someone (probably because the quality is so poor now). my husband's poached eggs were hard boiled. the potatoes are now flavorless. cheaper products, corn syrup dressing, but the prices are still higher than usual breakfast prices. when the waitress asked how everything was, we were honest. she apologized and said she was frustrated too and gave us 10 percent off. it's not her fault, and i wish her luck in a new job. won't be returning to this shit show.
(1)
Dayna D.
Hands down best BBQ in Portland! Very friendly and quick service. The pulled pork was beyond perfection and their mixed sweet and spicy sauce was delish! The mac n cheese, ohhhhh the mac n cheese - it was the mac n cheese my heart has been looking for since I moved to Portland just over a year ago...beyond satisfying and abundance in flavor. Love this place!
(5)
Dinah F.
This place. I don't even know what to say here. I come in for weekend brunch almost every week because it is that good. In a town where weekend brunch is a contact sport, this place is always a friendly joint to get some top notch, buttery food. This place is sincere and down home, but also with an edge of the trendiness that we do in Portland oh-so-well. The staff there is super-nice and they know me and know that if it was socially acceptable, I'd just order a mug of Hollandaise and a mug of coffee and call it good. The beignets are probably as good as you can get in this Northern land.
(5)
Kendle C.
Great flavor on the food, I would love to try when its not brunch / breakfast. They had Dollar Red beers. The Eggs Benidict lacked soul. Sad I know. The potatpes were delish.
(3)
Shaun M.
Absolutely loved it! Went in on a Wednesday evening, was seated right away. Service was good, and the chicken and waffles were excellent. A friend had been raving about this place for a while, so I was glad to try it, and even happier that it was as good as advertised. The price was reasonable, and the atmosphere was good. I'd definitely recommend!
(5)
Matthew R.
I have gone to the delta since, well, as long as all my life. A family restaurant, so for kids the chicken with mac, the adults pulled pork. One thing wrong is that my fav meal, the fishy bites got changed. They change the menu tons. But otherwise, incredible. Toys, fish, a nice environment all make the delta a great place. If you order the corn-bread!
(4)
Emily H.
I've had dinner here multiple time but never really impressed. The pulled pork is dry and chewy. The mac and cheese is ok but inconsistent. I decided to give it a try for brunch the other day and it totally changed my view! Pineapple upside down French toast????? OMG sooooo tasty!!! My roommate had the chicken and waffles which had the perfect salty/sweet combo. We ordered one biscuit with gravy and was not impressed. Would not order that again. But the rest of the meal guaranteed another visit soon!
(4)
Sarah M.
We have lived in the area the past year and were obsessed with delta. Lately the cooks seem to not care about the food. It's soooo inconsistent and we always order the eggs sardou. My boyfriend had an eggshell- huge one in his eggs on the Benedict today. Just really sad to see a place that used to be so good turn into crap because they have bad cooks. I guess that today was our last breakfast there :( so sad. Woodstock needs good food.
(2)
Megan S.
I've now been here three times - once for dinner and twice for brunch. Everyone's obsessed with Screen Door, for good reason, but the wait is always so long, and this place has great Southern comfort (soul) food, and a fun New Orleans inspired interior design. Plus - I've never had to wait to be seated. In Portland, that earns an extra star from me. For dinner, I had the fried chicken. I wanted to compare since I love Screen Door's so much. It was actually really great chicken, and comes with black-eyed peas and a side. I've come here twice for breakfast, and got the same thing both times, I'll admit. But had bites of my company's dishes. My preferred dish (the one I CRAVE) is the Biscuits and Gravy. The biscuit is fluffy, and the GRAVY IS PERFECTION. It's chicken gravy, which is a nice change from the standard sausage, but it's got that spicy kick that I like in sausage gravy without the thick fatty feeling going down your throat. It's AWESOME. Drinks-wise, they offer some good ones. I haven't had any of their breakfast beverages, but I had their margaritas which suited me just fine, when celebrating a new promotion during my first visit. Definitely recommend if you're looking for an alternative to the trend. It's hardly packed full of people, but they offer really great food, and Woodstock is a pretty fun neighborhood to find yourself in.
(5)
Rachael S.
My guy has been promising to bring me to the Delta for over a year. He knows I lived in Louisiana and miss some key foods, some of which I refuse to eat north of Shreveport (crawfish). After hitting the driving range, we headed over for supper. I like the fun vibe and friendly but not too nosey service. Plus. I ordered the brisket sandwich. But being difficult and not entirely trusting of northern Bbq, I asked for it deconstructed. All the components separate for me to assemble at my leisure. The waiter looked puzzled, recommended I consider letting them saute the brisket in the sauce as he likes how the sauce carmelizes on the meat. I politely declined and he put the order in just as I asked for it. My guy ordered the fried chicken and the friend we went with ordered the okra and tomato stew with garlic cheese grits. So my food first, cause its mine and I'm selfish. Bread was nothing special, crusty 8 inch loaf, sliced in half. The remoulade is nothing like I've had before, I think remoulade is a stretch. But decent. The coleslaw was typical, not too much mayo but no kick. The brisket had no flavor of its own. Bummer. But at least it wasn't overcooked. It seemed like it had been in a broth soak or something, it was not typical dry smoked brisket. The sauces (I asked for both) were not bad. Sweet one was sweet with a vinegar back. Spicy was peppery with a bit of beer flavor. All in all, ok on the sauces. I had the Mac and cheese for my side. I wouldn't order it again. Lots of cheese crust, a few mushy noodles, and plenty of garlic. My friend ate the cheese crust and was in heaven. So I guess it just comes down to what you look for in Mac and cheese. On to the fried chicken. Super moist, great flavor, crunchy but bland crust. My guy liked the black eyed peas (I'm never a fan, so no judgement from me there) and ate most of his tatertot casserole. My friend's okra stew wasn't bad. The grits were in a hard fried loaf that looked more like Texas toast than grits. I love me some cheesy soft grits. But these really weren't bad. Just not what we were expecting. I would eat them again, knowing now what to expect. This is the only place I know you can order RC cola! Bonus. All in all, decent. Nothing to write home about, but decent
(3)
Jen B.
I used to love, love, love this place. We live in the neighborhood and would come for brunch all the time. The past three times I've been have been radically different. On our last visit this past weekend I learned that there are new owners, or a new kitchen manager, different answers from different people. One of the best things on their brunch menu is the beignets with lemon curd. Heavenly. They used to be outstanding. On our last visit we ordered some and they came out burnt. Completely burnt. We told our server who took them away with the promise of a new order. 10 minutes later, another completely burnt plate of beignets arrived. Fried Chicken and waffles used to be another favorite, now the fried chicken is completely flavorless. The rest of our food (there was four of us) was okay, yet slightly off from what we've come to expect from the Delta. It seems like the quality of everything has gone down a notch. The waitstaff is completely different, and there were definitely not enough people on the floor. None of our plates were ever cleared from our table. The person who took our cards for our check split it up completely wrong, even though we had written it all out for him, and couldn't be bothered to fix it. I really hope this is just a hiccup in whatever transition they're going through.
(1)
Emily V.
What happened the Delta?! This used to be one of my favorite brunch spots. Now? I dont think I will return. So to start... while we were waiting for our table, we sat by the kitchen, watching people's food slowly die in the window, as the chef cranked out food and the servers struggled to keep up. The chef stated to a server "foods dying here" ( or something along those lines), the server scolded him for making such a statement in front of guests and then left the food in the window. Lady, the guests already know the foods dead, the chef was just trying to get the food out. Our male, bearded server was awesome. Super friendly. When my biscuits came out hard and almost cracker like, he apologized and brought me new immediately. The rest of the food was very "meh". Clumpy grits, mediocre gravy and lack of seasoning across the board did not leave me satisfied. The best parts of the meal were the collard greens and the bloody Mary bar. So our server really saved the day for this place, otherwise it'd be a one star review. I miss the Delta of years ago. .. I will remember it in my dreams.
(2)
Emma L.
We just moved into the neighborhood and we absolutely LOVE this place. The happy hour is great, you can get amazing chicken and waffles for only seven bucks. The bartenders pour heavy and make fantastic infused drinks. They serve 40s of PBR in coffee cans, perfect hole in the wall type place with a great atmosphere and fantastic comfort food.
My husband and I have been coming to this place for years. We tell our friends to head that way too, and on top of that we bring out of towners in so they can enjoy it too. We will give the place one more chance, but based on recent experience it will likely be the last. 1. I have ordered take out numerous times since ownership changed and every time it has been cold, every time. 2. One of the BEST things about this restaurant is the staff. That aspect has changed drastically and for the worse. Since 2008 I have seen the same faces in this place, with the very rare new busser/server. In the past year, all but 3 faces are foreign and this makes me very sad because we really loved interacting with those folks. 3. The food. I realize it takes time to acclimate a new crew, you can't expect perfection from a new staff out of the gate. Sadly, after many visits the food is just not good. It seems pre made, frozen and then reheated. Certainly under seasoned, too. The food used to be very consistent, but now it's a crapshoot as to what you might get: cold or tasteless or both. 4. Service. Again, it takes time to get to know people, but a good server is obvious out of the gate. Again, sadly, it seems the new crew isn't interested in cultivating relationships. I don't want to be best friends with them, but I would like to have some sort of repertoire with them when I come in. Case and point, the old crew knew us by name, had our drink orders ready almost the moment we sat down, and exuded a love of where they did their job. This new crew doesn't seem to have the same passion. Overall, The Delta used to be our go-to spot when we needed a quick bite. Now, we just aren't excited about going and it really feels like a chore. p.s. the banner on the side of the building cheapens the place too.
(1)
Paul D.
Really good food, great service. The live music was a nice touch. Enjoyed our evening. We had the blackened Catfish it was delicious. The place had a good vibe.
(5)
Samantha P.
Fried ochre was great, my po-boy was tasty too.
(4)
Kendall M.
The BEST fried chicken around! It's dipped in corn flakes so the crunch is unbeatable! Also, let's not forget the $4.50 pabst 40 ouncers served in a bucket of ice... Bottoms up!
(5)
Nina S.
Nope. Not a fan. I appreciate the atmosphere and the southern comfort vibe. But the wait for food was unacceptable and when we did get the food, it wasn't worth the wait. It's noisy and the servers weren't attentive. I did like the polenta and I'm hopeful that since we went on a Friday night- I'll give it another shot. However, I'm still looking for that special restaurant in the neighborhood and this isn't it.
Delta what happened? Did you change your fried chicken recipe? Tasted completely different and was overcooked. I tried the crawfish etouffee for the first time and didn't really like it either. One good thing though: Seems like they have some new staff that gave us great service. Don't worry, we'll be back. I still love the gumbo :)
(3)
Valerie W.
Never venturing out to Woodstock area and having an almost expired Living Social coupon...I made it out to Delta Cafe and was certainly not disappointed! Interesting Portlandia type decor is introduced the second you walk in...and see a fountain. Hmm. Cool! There was hardly any wait for brunch on a Saturday. The staff was overall was OK and fairly attentive. I did find it odd that they set your table with menus and literally point you...not walk you to your table. Interesting....no biggie. HAD to order the Beignets. Took a while for them to arrive but they were hot, perfectly cooked, and delicious. I just wish they had another option besides lemon curd for the dipping sauce. Raspberry or chocolate perhaps? My boozy coffee was delicious. I did not get charged any extra when the server offered to fill my cup with regular coffee. My eggs benedict with potatoes was great. Seriously, those cajun potatoes are awesome and crispy. Everything was decently priced and good. Just took a bit for food to come out. They also have a 'build your own' Bloody Mary bar. Thought that was neat even though I loathe tomato juice. All in all I would recommend coming here. It's a bit of a drive if you are on the west side but it beats going downtown and waiting an hour in line...and there's a parking lot! PS - This is my 500th review. Woo hoo!
(3)
Kitty P.
I used to be a regular here, but the place has changed ownership several times, and not for the good. Do yourself a favor and hit up Miss Delta on Williams, that is the food that USED to be at the Delta. So, so, so sad. It all fall apart on Woodstock. Four years ago it would have gotten five stars from me and most of the patrons. Also, their desserts used to come from Merhi's on 52nd Ave. NOT anymore.
(1)
Mike R.
Delta's Back! After a few year hiatus, the Delta Cafe is back to a great time/restaurant. The last few times we've gone - for both dinner and brunch - Delta has been a bit off... definitely not bad, but something was missing. No longer. Just had Mother's Day brunch with the wife and kids and it was AWESOME. Food, service, ease, drinks, the whole experience. They've done a little remodeling inside (new booths for sure, a little different layout, just a bit cleaned up) and regained their swagger with the food. We started with a basket of beignets; fluffy, sweet, perfect. Kids both got waffles (can't go wrong there, in fact when the food came out and one of the waffles was still coming, we asked if they could just split the one she brought and it was no problem...however at $4 each it wouldn't have been a big deal either way). The wife/mother of the day order the fried chicken and waffles, it was great. A breast piece and a leg seasoned well and fried to perfection...and of course another waffle, she also got an order of collard greens, great flavor and not soggy at all. I had the Eggs Sardou which is a an "Eggs Benedict" with spinach and artichoke hearts. Again, really good, the cream spinach was tasty, the artichoke heart had outstanding flavor and added the right texture to each bite and the hollandaise spot on. And it came with grits that where some of the best I've had in a long time. Build your on Bloody Mary's with your choice of regular or garlic infused vodka and lots of trimmings and my new favorite $1 red beers. In the past Delta felt kid tolerant, but not necessarily kid friendly. Kids got to feed the fish, play with plastic drink swords and in general felt very welcome. Nice job Delta.
(5)
Bubba Y.
Really - I wanted to like the Delta. Reviews seemed fairly good, it's a neighborhood (for my g/f) cafe, I've been by it enough to know it's well-attended. So it must be good, right? Maybe for others, not so much for me. Maybe it was an off day for the cook... We came in Saturday morning with Living Social coupon in hand. Wait-person was friendly, prompt. Coffee was great, service was quick. I ordered the smoked brisket hash, g/f ordered slightly off the menu. Hers was fine, mine was...wanting. Honestly, this just shouldn't have come out of the kitchen. The poached eggs were the high point of the meal, and even they needed work. This meal was served lukewarm - some pieces of the meat were cool to the tongue - and about as bland as could be. I won't say tasteless because there seemed to be some residual flavor - or I really wanted there to be flavor - but even a light dusting of salt wouldn't bring it out. The meat tasted like an unseasoned pot roast at best, and some pieces were chewier than I would have expected. Yes - I finished the meal but more because I knew I wasn't going to eat again for several hours that day rather than for any other reason. The bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce on the table helped the meal go down a bit easier. Ah well - maybe another time...
(2)
Thao N.
Busy Sunday Morning, we unfortunately arrived right after a big number of tables have just been seated so we had to wait around 45mins/1hour for a table. So needless to say that we were super hungry when we finally sat down. The long line of people might have due to the livingsocial deal that was out not to long ago since many people around us had it. Plus side to waiting, they have menus available to look at while waiting and we had already decided what we wanted before we sat down. Service was attentive and friendly. We received our drinks right after ordering them, but throughout our meal we were infrequently checked up on. At the end of put meal, it took flagging down the waitress again to get our check even though we had already ask for boxes. We got the Fried Chicken and Waffles, the special of the day: Crawfish Frittata, and the Biscuits and Gravy with the Special Gravy of the Day. The fried chicken and waffles was pretty good, but not the best I've ever had. The biscuits and gravy was not well received by the person in my party that got it. The Crawfish Frittata was pretty good too but the accompanying potatoes were delicious! We shared a Basket of Beignets. The beignets were very light, fluffy, and not too sweet; the lemon curd on the side was just the right amount of tart. Overall, the food was good, but for the wait I could have gone somewhere else that had left a bigger impression on me.
(3)
Chris L.
The Delta as consistently been my watering hole for the past summer, and frankly, it's really worth it. Their Tuesday happy hours have been the sort of place where I pop in with a book, take one of their booths. The service is good: fast, witty, a slight swagger. This combination of good service, slight flirtation, well mixed drinks, and cheap food has made the Delta a place I frequent. Let's get this straight: Portland has oddly good southern food for being south of the Mason-Dixon line. If we're going to compare the Delta to it's competitors in Southern dishes, I really gotta say that they've got one up on a lot of people.
(4)
Dana S.
Thumbs up from the Southern girls! My sister and I, in obvious need of a catfish and okra fix, were waiting when the doors opened at 5pm. Delta didn't disappoint. The fried okra starter was great, dusted with cornmeal and lightly fried. Oddly, our server brought out ketchup with it. Huh? We shrugged it off and reached for the delicious pepper water instead. We both got the fried catfish po'boy, which came with so much catfish it literally wouldn't fit in the sandwich. And the sides! The veggie collards were so delicious they could convert collard haters. The mac and cheese was garlicky and al dente and delicious. The portions are seriously giant. We rolled out in food coma with leftovers in hand. The atmosphere is divey, funky, and a little gothic--think stuffed crows and ripped booths. It worked tho. And our server was really nice. We'll be back.
(4)
Justella T.
Having had the opportunity to engage on a Portland dining spree, I returned to this Woodstock restaurant after a 10-year absence. I was thrilled with the food and service. Our motley group ordered off the menu from "A to Z" and every dish was terrific. I have never eaten a beef brisket as succulent and plentiful as theirs. Every other meal was close to perfect. Beyond being a Southern Comfort Food place, the quality and range of their menu was above our expectations. Even the iced tea and lemonade was excellent. Delta is easily one of Portlands BEST RESTAURANTS. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Chad H.
Wahoo! I have eaten some good southern food in my day but the Delta was pretty darn good. I started with a perfectly balanced (strong) Jack & Coke, then I went onto the menu... ...The pulled pork was 'goopy' meaning there was about as much sauce as pork. The sauce was good but I like my pulled pork more like pulled pork and less like sloppy joes. It was tasty though, and the texas toast underneath was nice and crispy. The sides were where I fell in love! I had the greens - with bacon (of course) and they were not greasy, very flavorful and down-right good! The Black eyed peas were every bit as good as the greens - reminding me of a childhood friend's mom's amazing black eyed peas. Overall, the food was good, the decor was eclectic and fun and the service - well, there is something to be said about southern hospitality.
(3)
James L.
I will start off this by saying that I'm trying to be diplomatic: All of the food looked good. The decor was kitschy, but not obnoxious. My waitress was nice, and helpful. But when I saw the menu, I started to panic. Holy God was the food expensive. Like, crazy expensive. The cheapest thing was the appetizers, which were atleast 7$+ almost any of the entree items were 10 or more. As a person who has to be on a pretty tight budget, this seemed WAY ridiculous. Even things like collared greens, and mac n cheese, and other southern comforts which you might conciser to be inexpensive food, was waaaaayyyyyy expensive. My girlfriend and I decided to order the appetizer sampler (your choice of three appetizers for 12$). It was three very small portions of food, that was hardly enough for the both of us. THAT BEING SAID: The food was all very good. Collard Greens were very tasty, Mashed Potatoes were nice and yummy, and the mac and cheese was... well, okay, but not the best I've had. So, in summary, the food that we did have was pretty good. But you should be ready to really shell out some cash if you want to go here.
(3)
Abbie H.
So..I had been hearing all about the Delta for months and finally tried it yesterday for breakfast. I have to say I was disappointed. I had the Delta scramble with potatoes, scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, and french toast. I also ordered a side of biscuits and gravy to try them out. My french toast was burnt and didn't taste good, and the rest of the food was just kind of bland. Not so much what you want for hangover food. The service was quick and friendly, but someone in the kitchen was singing at the top of his lungs to 80's music, which *could* have been cool, but once again, not for a hangover morning. I would give it another try someday, but for now it's 2 stars.
(2)
Alesha A.
The end of a two decade love affair. Maybe I should try the brunch - everyone seems to love the brunch - coz let me tell you, supper was craptastic. Let me explain. Chicken fried steak: a sour (yes sour) piece of meat encased in a rhino-shell. The hard, over-cooked shell was grossly over seasoned. Way too much thyme, rosemary leaves sticking out all over the place, it was a regular herb salad in this time capsule of a breading. The gravy added nothing but some much needed moisture. Not that the entree needed more "flavor." It was not prepared to order, so it wasn't hot and juicy. It was terrible. My billy-goat stomach partner agreed - it was the suck. Black eyed-peas, over vinegared. Mac-n-cheese, too salty. Also, there is nothing southern about charging $3 for an iced tea and $1.50 for refills. It's just pretentious. On the topic of the iced tea - over brewed, bitter, not refreshing. Net-net? Everything was over seasoned or flavored. I muttered, "It's like they're catering to the palate of a two-pack-a-day smoker." A frikken jack-hammer to get through to some taste buds. AND THEN (it's 3am) I woke up in the middle of the night chugging water, and it hit me. They're not catering to smokers, they want you to buy more drinks. Instead of a bowl of salty peanuts on the bar, they serve you a giant salty-peanut of a supper and hope you order $1.50 refills all night. (or $8 cocktails) This is my second craptastic meal in a row from DC. I used to love this place with all my heart. I just can't bear it any longer. Good-bye, DC. Til you repaint your windows with "under new management" or "we fired the guy that tried to fix us." Oh, best Chicken Fried Steak? The Montage!
(2)
Jimmy M.
Greasy southern food? Good happy hour? Good, cold beer? Check x3! Delta is certainly what you'd call an eclectic restaurant/bar. From all the random crap on the walls to the mismatched vintage booths, the place has its own distinct South-meets-Portland feel, to be sure. The staff is always friendly and funny. This is a good spot to go if you need a cold beer and something smokey or spicy to munch on. They have four or five pretty good taps featuring Boneyard, Ninkasi, Oakshire, etc. For food I tend to go with the pulled pork po'boy dressed with slaw or the smokey mac-n-cheese (goes great with Secret Aardvark hot sauce). The cornbread w/ honey really hits the spot, too...
(5)
Adam C.
I had a totally different experience the second time in. The food was either too rich, too salty, or just not good. We got the Portland "we're too cool for you" cold shoulder when we stepped in, ate mediocre food, and drank burnt Stumptown coffee. The only reason I don't rate it lower was that our first experience was so good. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, but i know burnt coffee when I taste it and even Stumptown can't make that coffee good.
(3)
Misty B.
The food is kind of hit or miss for me. I'm learning that I don't love their brunch, but I adore their dinner. Today my husband and I dragged our hungover-selves in for some bloody marys and food. I actually didn't really like the bloody mary. It was very, very thick, almost like pureed tomatoes. I called it "bloody mary stew" because it filled me up before the rest of our food came. We ordered a basket of beignets, which are ok, but I think they fry them in the same oil they fry everything else in, because they taste sort of fishy. I'm not a big fan of their lemon curd, it's a bit TOO lemony, so we ask for some jam to dip them in as well. I don't usually order sweet breakfast, but felt the need for some French toast. I was kind of disappointed with it -- they use brioche, but it was very dry, and the portion is HUGE. I ate one slice and took the rest home. (btw, letting them sit in the takeout box on the counter for a few hours to absorb the syrup and berry compote was a great thing, it made them much easier to eat.) I got a side of potatoes, which I expected to be breakfasty, o'brien sort of potatoes, but they were just plain, roasted (or fried?) potato wedges. Pretty bland and boring. :( Now, I've had dinner there and been blown away. I'm in love with their fried chicken and the mashed potatoes. I love that they put thyme in their 'taters! Their crawfish etouffee is tasty. The potato and cheese casserole is To Die For. The po'boys are rockin'. Get them dressed with cole slaw and remoulade. I've tried both the fried chicken one, and the catfish. Delish. The smoked brisket is great too. Next time I'm going to try the smoked brisket po'boy! Every time I've been there, the service has been great. They get slammed, so sometimes it's a bit slow, but it's worth the wait. The staff have all been super awesome. Something to mention: They are kid friendly, but they don't serve the toddlers drinks in very toddler-safe cups. If you're bringing your wee one, bring them a sippy cup if they aren't very good with grown up glasses.
(3)
Lance H.
I had the chicken and dumplings and it was awful. The service was the worst. We sat in the bar and the bartender was a mean woman who needed a break to sweeten up a bit. I use to love it here but now I will never go back.
(2)
Von T.
I've only ever had nothing but love for this place. I have been going for years and that right there tells you it is very good to me. My favorite is Brunch. Beignets w/lemon curd,, Brioche french toast, chicken apple sausage, fried chicken and waffles, Last but not least this place is so awesome that I have asked for catfish for brunch and its only on the dinner menu and they have said yes and served me a plate of awesomeness. Stumptown coffee and $1 red beers make this place a winner to me. Give it a try.You will like it's funky little atmosphere and great food and staff. One last thing there is usually a small wait on Sun. its worth is that means people like the food!
(4)
Stacie M.
Horrible food!!! The gumbo is super gritty and tastes like they burned the roux. My husband had the jambalaya, it was extremely bland and needed more seasoning. They took the soul out of soul food....worst southern cooking I have ever had.
(1)
Tanaz P.
I'll preface this with the food; delicious. I definitely a fan of soul food and my physique shows it. I rock some serious jelly filling. The menu here is simple yet tasty with some spanked up versions of southern classics. My buddy had the tofu po' boy. I dunno what kinda love went into the sauce but I could barely keep my fingers outta her food. Biscuits n chicken gravy was another big hit. Garlic infused vodka in a bloody marry, brilliantly complementary. Beignets (sp?) With lemon curd as an appetizer got our slovenly n sluggish selves pumped with sugary goodness. My southern scramble with andoule (sp?) and crayfish, so good...so good. The boo hoo was the service. 3 servers, busy Sunday brunch and total inattentiveness. No coffee refills, no checking on us, had to flag down another server to pay. We could have been more assertive but our food was good and the 1 cup of coffee lasted us our meal. We did need more water to rehydrate our hungover bodies but we made so with what we had. To summarize yummy food made with love + mediocre service = we'll be back with our groggy blinders off.
(4)
Everett S.
I've lived within a mile of the Delta ever since they opened some 15 years ago. Strangely, I've only been about five times. I stopped in for takeout the other night after a long day of traveling and ordered some gumbo to-go. I've been to New Orleans and have family in the South and this is some of the best gumbo I've ever had. They get the roux nice and dark which takes about 40 minutes of constant whisking, that's dedication! It comes with a side, I would recommend the greens or potato casserole. The Mac and cheese is just so-so. I don't know why I don't come here more often, I always have a pleasant experience when I do.
(4)
Ari R.
This is a cute little spot but the food is rubbish. I think my entire plate was microwaved. We tried this place because it is in the neighborhood and it is always packed when we walk by. It must be a decent brunch place but stay away from dinner. The service was meh and the clientele seemed to think that belligerent yelling was enjoyable for everyone. I gave an extra star because not many places have vegan/veggie BBQ & southern cooking, but they really need to figure it out.
(2)
Laura H.
Total suck pod. This place has gone down hill. I ordered chicken and it was slathered in Rosemary which I'm not partial to. It would have been nice if they mentioned on the menu they put Rosemary on it. My gf got an order of potatoes and the eggs benny. She hates Rosemary way worse then me and again they failed to mention on the menu they now douse everything with that herb. The food was sub par and tasted like it was cooked in a kitchen full of rat shit. We didn't eat a quarter of our combined meals and had to re buy dinner somewhere else. The waitress did not offer us a refund after she asked us if it was ok and we said, "No it was bad". Won't be back. Woodstock needs some good places to eat.
(1)
Chris T.
Server was attentive and energized, food OK the corn fritters could have had more seasoning, the chicken pox boy, OK to much bread not enough sauce
(2)
Lisa S.
The slow decline of Delta Cafe over the last few years is so very sad. I'm OK with a small amount of sketch in a good eatery, but dinner last night included a dirty and sticky menu and table, dirty women's bathroom, dirty servers, a small curly hair on my plate and mediocre food. We got a piece of pecan pie to go, and upon opening it at home, we discovered it was just a slice of brownish translucent goo, on a tough crust, with exactly 6 pecans on the top. We ate the 6 pecans and threw the goo blob into the trash. Never again.
(1)
Lauren B.
I love love love the Delta. How I've pined for you since moving to Seattle! I was devastated to learn that they took the pork chops with applesauce off the menu (who would do this to me??) but the mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, and sweet tea were as delectable as ever. Love the funky bohemian decor and the friendly, trendy, heavily-tattooed servers. One of my favorite Portland spots.
(5)
Joanna C.
Wow! I'm a Southerner recently transplanted to PDX, and I was told there is no good Southern food here. How wrong they were! This place made me miss home sooooo much. It rivals any of the funky cool places you'd find in New Orleans or Atlanta or anywhere where homestyle goodness meets funky hipness. Believe me, there are places in the South that could learn a few things from Delta Cafe. The iced tea is the best I've had in Portland. And the biscuits?! DROOL! The gravy was more like something I'd eat at Thanksgiving than put on biscuits. But who can complain when it's DELICIOUS!? They do know how to do grits just right, too. I've only had breakfast so far but I'm going back for the entrees and po'boys soon. I have found my homesick blues place. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Amy R.
We've been here several times but I don't know why - just because we live so close I guess. The food is always pretty bland and the staff usually ignores us. We've had brunch and dinner, nothing special at either meal. I wish it was better because we love Southern food and we love our neighborhood joints!
(2)
Rene S.
What a sorry excuse for a restaurant. The bad: Their menu consists of greasy foods. Big portions / low quality food. Trashy place Dirty bathrooms Over priced The good: None
(2)
Arthur A.
I absolutely love the delta! I have been a fan for years but recently the food and service have gotten so much better! My wife and I went this past Monday, loved our waitress, she was warm and friendly and didn't leave us needing anything. The food was amazing - this time I had the friend chicken and collard greens. Delicious ! Def a must go to in Portland, best restaurant on Woodstock !
(4)
Rosetta S.
$5 signature cocktails on Tuesday nights. I had the Coco Rico - coconut rum, fresh lime & coconut milk. I was quite toasted by the end, and it was delicious! I tried the Bad Road with habanero infused tequila, wow, really unique cocktail, a little to spicy for me, but my friend loved it. I tried the fried orka, yum, crispy and not slimy! And I had the dressed tofu po' boy. Hands down the best BBQ tofu I've had. I love it with the slaw. Mac and cheese was my side, and it was also pretty good. I wish they had more vegetarian options. But the BBQ tofu is good enough to bring me back.
(4)
Tommy T.
My mom and my brother eat meat and wanted to try this joint out, so I went with them and had a decent time and some decent food. Vegan wise it's semi friendly with fried okra as an excellent appetizer and tofu poorboy as a main dish. The flavors blended well and I was mostly full by the end of the meal. The sweet tea in mason jars was a nice touch but I think I will go for the lemonade next time.
(3)
P B.
Oh, Dear! What has happened to the Delta? They closed for a couple weeks and just re-opened. The paint job is fresh, and there are new lights, but they took away the funky mismatched Formica and chrome tables. That's all OK, I guess. But what they've done with the menu is criminal! No more Rice and Beans Entree, and no more Vegetarian Cheese Grits! UNACCEPTABLE! And no more PIE! They added some fake banana pudding instead. Real Southern banana pudding has layers of sliced bananas and vanilla wafers alternating with vanilla custard, topped with merengue and baked; it's NOT artificially flavored with chemical banana flavoring! Bad move! And they're foisting Hoppin' John blackeye peas on everyone as one of the sides and there's a very unfriendly (and therefore un-Southern) no substitutions policy. MAJOR BUMMER!!! What the hey, is some ACCOUNTANT in charge down there now or something?!!
(1)
Kim B.
I had the frittata with blue chees, zucchini, and onion. It was delicious. The benigts were a fun addition. Service was good. Ambiance fun and funky. Would go back.
(4)
Kathleen M.
Went to Delta Cafe for a Saturday morning breakfast on a friend's recommendation. Checked out the menu online before we went and read a couple of glowing reviews, so we were eager to have a southern feast. We were ready for our brunch to be off the charts, but it was a disappointment. I hate being disappointed. We ordered the Smoked Brisket Hash and the Blackened Snapper with grits. They didn't have the snapper, so it was swapped out for catfish, which wasn't a problem b/c catfish is hella good too. But as we waited for our meal it dawned on me that when a protein item is not listed on the menu, then it has more than likely been chillin' deeeeeeeeeep in the freezer for a loooooong time. Unfortunately, I was correct. The catfish was soggy and lacking flavor. I didn't even finish it. It's rare that I don't finish everything on my plate b/c I like to eat. The brisket was decent, but not fresh. We could tell it was pre-made and sitting under a heat lamp all morning. I just want more for a brunch that is $12-$14 per plate. The collard greens were top notch and the atmosphere is funky, yet divey. Delta Cafe just won't be our first choice when we return to Portland. Bummer.
(2)
Ron S.
Fantastic Portland style southern comfort food. The Mac & Cheese is solid as was the Chicken Friend Steak. I loved the crowd too.
(4)
Lisa E.
I tried to go there several times but the long lines were discouraging. I finally went. The wait wasn't much longer than 10 minutes this time, so that was good. We got seated. It was a packed restaurant. Everything on the menu sounded good. I could pick two side dishes to go with my chicken. I ordered the Mac n' Cheese and Coleslaw. Despite it being crazy packed and only one waiter, we got our food fairly quickly. I loved the mac n' cheese. It was flavorful, gooey but it was also light too. It didn't feel gluttonous. The coleslaw was also delicious. Creamy and not spicy like some that I've had. The fried chicken was just okay. The chicken was a tad on the dry side. The good part was that it wasn't greasy at all. I was really disappointed by the chicken. I was expecting something better. But the rest of the meal was pretty tasty. Would I return? Probably not--or at least not for the chicken!
(2)
Shawn L.
If you crave authentic New Orleans style Cajun food this your place. I had the chicken fried chicken and it was wonderful. Served with collard greens and gravy covered biscuits. Wow!! The wife had the Southern scramble with peppers onions and crawfish. Very good as well. We also got the beignets they were as close to Cafe Du Mond as I have found. I will be back.
(5)
Rikki E.
Amazing waiter (super friendly, fast, and helpful with the menu). The food was delish (flavorful, not too salty or heavy or greasy, fresh, and comfort/home-style). Highly recommend and would eat there every day if I lived in Portland.
(5)
Lindsay W.
Delta is one my favorite restaurants in Portland. My boyfriend and I always share the appetizer sampler platter, which is really good and really filling - especially the mac & cheese. The fried okra and cornbread are also great. I even like the black-eyed pea fritters, and I normally hate black-eyed peas! The service is usually good, and when we went here for my boyfriend's birthday they even gave us a free gigantic root beer float! It's always packed on the weekends, so I would definitely recommend going during the week or at off-hours. Even then there's sometimes a five or ten minute wait, but it's worth it.
(5)
Kimberly D.
The food was just ok and the service was horrible... They seemed to cater to all the white people and acted like they were irritated that we were there. I'll never go back
(1)
Alice L.
I planned my trip to Portland with a couple Groupon that I got and Delta is one of them. Really cool decor and ambiance. We love the casual and friendly staff. Everyone is very laid back just like how Portland feels. Food is good, we ordered mainly vegetarian entrees and portions are big and pretty tasty. I recommend to give it a try!
(4)
Cynthia M.
I just moved away from Portland. The Delta is at the top of my list of what I miss most. I miss you blackened catfish. I miss you red beans and rice. I miss you corn fritters. But, I think I will miss you most of all, Rose Drop.
(5)
Chad H.
I'm a southern boy gone green, so when i look for places out here in the green, I am looking for some truly remarkable southern goodness. Delta Cafe definitely has it. I was impressed by the menu. I have only had brunch there so far, and aim to have dinner there very soon. The staff was super friendly. They were on their game when i sat outside for brunch. I walked in, and was sat almost instantly. i was by myself mind you, but even thought they appeared to have just gone through a rush they were on top of getting me a table stat. My coffee cup was interesting. My coffee was always full as well. I definitely enjoyed my food. I got the scramble with crawfish in it. It came with so much food it made me wish I hadn't ordered the pancake on the side. I made sure I could eat a little of everything, but I made sure I finished the scramble. it was so amazing, and flavorful. The server cracked a joke when dropping off the food; "you think it will be enough?" I just laughed. It came with a choice of biscuit or toast, and me being that one from where I love to be, said let me try that biscuit. It was so HUGE! It was right on... I will come back and edit this later after I try their dinner some time. I will post date it when I do and it will be above this review. I just wanted to write one up real fast while I had the time, and before I forgot that taste from which it came back when i went in. :)
(5)
Tara M.
This place used to be soooo good. Now I cannot overlook the poor service. Went for brunch and we waited over 15 minutes before our drink orders were taken. Got the chicken & waffles and swear it was shake and bake! Then our server gal seemed to have forgotten about us. That'll be my last visit. There are too many great brunch places in this town that will appreciate your business.
(2)
Rachel W.
I came here for brunch on Sunday and I just have to say it was one of the best brunches I've ever had. I ordered a bloody mary with the habanero infused tequila - as a heat seeker it went perfect with the dish I ordered, the Eggs Sardou. The egg yolks were poached on top of artichoke hearts (skill!!) that drizzled over creamed spinach and english muffin with hollandaise sauce...DELICIOUS!! Their potatoes were perfectly seasoned and crunchy on the outside. The service was great, and the atmosphere was friendly! If I wasn't a visitor this would be a go to place!
(5)
Jeni M.
If there were a movie about my life in Portland much of it could be filmed at the Delta Cafe. Pretty much every important person in my cast of characters has dined with me here over the past six years or so, some of those people are still around, some of them got ditched on the highway of life some time ago. I've never had any problem with the service in my time here, sure sometimes it can be slow, but I notice service is slow when the place is b.u.s.y. Last year I had my birthday dinner here, I reserved a table for ten people, but I screwed up my technological skills and mass texted everyone in my phone book and about thirty five people showed up for dinner (oops)! The Delta was more than accomodating and we ended up having a lot of fun. The food for the most part is great, sure, there has been some hit or miss times in my long patronage, but the hits far outweigh the misses. Recently I brought my parents here for dinner who spend a lot of time in the South and they both really enjoyed the food and got a kick out of the drink menu, and these old staunch Republicans are sorta hard to impress. It was also my first time trying the White Trash Meat Loaf. It just sorta sounded good, but I didn't really have high expectations, cuz, well it's meatloaf. I make a pretty good meatloaf, but I don't know that it's anything to write home about. Holy crap!! It was delicious! It kinda blew my mind how good it was. WTF did they do to make meatloaf taste so damned good? I have idea but it's probably my new favorite thing on the menu. I see some bitching about the beer selection in other reviews, I can't speak to that because I'm not a beer person (I know, my Portland citizenship should probably be revoked). However, the drink menu is rad and full of fun things. My favorite drink is the Coco Rico. YUM YUM YUM!!!
(4)
corrina K.
Sad to say, the Delta's prices have gone up and their portions have gone down. Been eating there since 2005, and for whatever reason (the economy, stupid) they have instituted austerity measures. Bummer. I used to get the gumbo, which is so rich you could only eat half of it; then I'd take it home and have it the next day. Kiss that ritual goodbye. The food still tastes great, and the service is as good as it ever was. And if this was the first time I'd ever eaten there, I might not think the price and portion size were unreasonable. But that little dab of gumbo made me glum. And the inverse relationship between price and amount on my plate made me glummer.
(2)
Teresa J.
I hadn't been to Delta Cafe in years and when I visited last night I found it hadn't changed a bit--hooray! The decor is arty, dingy, and random; the space is ramshackle; the booths are huge. I had the Blackened Catfish Po'boy dressed with cole slaw and remoulade, and a side of black-eyed peas and rice. Vegan bf had a sampler with his pick of there sides: green salad with raspberry vinaigrette, black-eyed peas, and collards. We both opted for Numi hot tea because he's trying to drink less, while I had already drunk too much. It was a pleasant and yummy dinner, and the server was efficient and nice. The blackened catfish nearly burned my face off, but that's what I was there for. The Po'boy itself was done well--it wasn't overloaded with slaw, and it had just the right amount of remoulade, too. It had a huge piece of catfish on it--too much for me to finish, in fact. The black-eyed peas were delicious! They tasted so fresh, and there were plenty of them. I doused them with green Tabasco, which was perfect. We got there earlyish, around 7:00, and the place was half-full. Bf and I were actually able to have a conversation. By the time we left it was slammin', so I'm thinking if you go at 8:00 or later, you should be prepared to shout.
(4)
Jonathan S.
Tonight was our first dinner at Delta. It was a bit of a disappointment. First, let me say that the people working there were clearly working very hard, but it was obvious they were understaffed tonight. All of our menu items came out cold. 2 of our items had to be asked for after we started on the entrees. We had the okra, which probably would have been good if it was hot. The cornbread was flavorless, we didnt bother to bring that back with us. The chicken was acceptable, I was pleasantly surprised to find the breast still moist. The hushpuppies a tad under acceptable. I don't get the love for the mac and cheese. It just has some garlic in it. wow. The beans and rice were pretty tasty. The collards greens were a bit sour, but also acceptable. The drinks were pretty good. I had a nice dark lager which was recommended by the bartender. He later helped me pick out a hot drink that was jack daniels and vanilla soy, also a nice touch. It should be mentioned in bigger letters that this place is cash/check only. I almost always carry cash on me (not enough to make it worth mugging me, would be villians), but I could see it being an issue with the general price of things. There is a Chase bank across the street. I'll also mention that I noticed they had pulled off the hushpuppies from the bill without me asking, so thats a + too. Overall, I'd probably have given the place more of a 2.5 stars, maybe even closer to a 2. But, I know they support the Rose City Rollers, so that gets them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps I'll give it another try when they're not so overwhelmed.
(3)
John K.
I was kind of disappointed. My friend was raving and telling me how great the place was. The food was ok. The service was good and the people seemed caring. Atmosphere was blah for me. I did like the fish fountain they had at the front desk. My friend said it wasn't the same experience that she had last time quite a while ago. I tried the catfish, maybe catfish isn't for me.
(2)
Tracy W.
They've taken my two favorite items off the weekend menu, flank steak and tater tot casserole. Those two items were the reason why I loved going to Delta. I have tried a couple of their other selections, but they just don't ring my bell. So we don't go there much any more. :(
(2)
Holly B.
Bought a Groupon for this place because I was in the mood for some Southern food, and I find those restaurants to be pretty expensive usually. I was pleasantly surprised at how fast we were seated, our food came pretty quick, and the service was fine. I honestly was not THAT impressed with the food. They had sweet tea, which I found to be too sweet. We tried their potato cheese casserole, tater tot casserole, and mac and cheese sides. They all kind of tasted the same. We had the hushpuppies to start, which were OK, kind of hard. I got the catfish with grits, sauce on the side, and it's a good thing! The sauce was a heavy tomato chili basically. I can't imagine putting that on delicate catfish, in my opinion the flavor and texture of the catfish would have been lost in that mess. The grits were not what I expected, which I guess is my fault? Not soft breakfast grits, but deep fried triangles of hardened grits. Like grit toast. Unfortunately, the grit texture and flavor was very reminiscent of the hushpuppy starter. My boyfriend got a shrimp po' boy, which he special requested, and loved. So all in all OK, glad we had the Groupon, probably won't go back if we have to pay full price, and most of the food was lacking in flavor/had the same flavor. Definitely not what I think of when I think of Southern food.
(3)
Ian H.
First soul food I had in portland was here at delta. Good comfort grub for rainy days. The brisket is huge but mine was a bit heavy on the fat even for brisket. Still, I enjoyed every jiggly fork full. The fried chicken and chicken fried steak is no joke either. Very tasty! Despite mixes reviews from peers I still love this place. Plus, where else can you go get a 40oz on ice?!
(4)
Sarah M.
It was not bad, but I am picky when it comes to southern food. The side of seasonal veggies and sausage was the best part of my meal of hushpuppies, side and gumbo. That side was amazing The gumbo was kind of lacking flavor. And they did not have Louisiana hot sauce. I might go back for the bar but I am drilling looking for great southern food in Portland. But you can get a pbr 40 on ice for 4.50. How Portland is that?
(3)
Sabrina P.
The Delta has been a standby for a long time. They are my go-to for fried chicken. I like its grit and the Bloody Mary's are amazing. So why only three stars? Well, they have recently done some upgrading which caused them to raise the prices, you can't choose 2 sides anymore, and they added a back patio which while great for smokers is not for me when I have to breathe their smoke everytime someone opens the back door. I'm sure the whole restaurant is not that way but it was unpleasant.
(3)
Tom D.
Went in here for the first time the other day. The best thing about the place was the server. He was attentive and friendly. We sat in the bar area because the blazers playoff game. First off, I asked about the old fashioned they had on the cocktail menu. They had cherries in it, so I asked if they were sugary cherries, thinking that in addition to the sugar that every single cocktail recipe for an old fashioned includes, it would be too sweet. The server informs me that an Old Fashioned never has sugar in it. Not sure what he was talking about but I tried one anyway. It was more like a bourbon and club soda with a maraschino cherry or two in it. Not a terrible drink but not an Old Fashioned. Anyway , the food. I love fried chicken so tried it. It certainly wasn't Southern style fried chicken. I actually think it was baked, not fried. It was breaded, not battered. Again, not terrible , but not what it was supposed to be. The collard greens tasted like there was an abundance of liquid smoke dumped in them, which became overpowering the more I ate them. My wife's gumbo was the only decent entree of the 4 ordered at our table, as the shrimp and grits also suffered from a heavy hand with the liquid smoke, which is a cheap shortcut even when not overused. I ordered a simple gin and tonic for drink #2. That was good. I think this place is a decent place if you want to sit at the bar and have a beer or a simple basic mixed drink, but I would hesitate to eat here again.
(2)
Tyler H.
Not that you need a southern pedigree to know good southern soul food, but coming from Arkansas, this place reminded me of home (in a good way). I had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese and my friend had the fried chicken and waffle with pork collard greens. Both were great -- especially the breading used for the fried meats. We both got their drink special, which was a magarita made with habanero-infused tequila. Hot but tasty. Initially I was disappointed in the overall price, but after seeing the large-enough-for-lunch leftover portions, I didn't mind so much. Where I'm from, soul food is cheap and ubiquitous, so it's nice to find a place that has a wide sampling of reasonably priced southern and cajun cuisine. I'll definitely be back to try more.
(4)
Bre M.
I lived in Mississippi. I LOVE southern food. When I read the menu I was immediately confused. My Oregon friends tried to reason with me saying it's Portland's take on southern food. If that excuses the sad menu does that excuse the bad food too? I didn't even order anything, the menu was too much of a joke to me. My Oregon native friends ordered the Mac and cheese and they didn't like it and I tried it and it was cold and not even cheesy. Looking over the recent reviews it seems this place is under new ownership and has been declining in satisfaction from previous years. It's too bad that has to be the case. I would have loved to have a legit southern food place so close to where I'm living now. Thanks to the other reviewers who have recommended some other southern food places to go to. I will not be returning to Delta.
Delta has its certain kitsch/dive appeal. But that appeal wears thin over time. The dining room is dark, gloomy and borderline seedy. However, the powder-sugared beignets (3 for $5) are truly awesome and a mandatory purchase if you do decide to brunch here. I ordered the chicken and waffles on this day ($12.50). I've had the chicken here before, and since this is southern cooking, thought I could request chicken and not worry that the chicken is larded with rosemary. And you know, I've never associated rosemary with southern cuisine. But baby, times have changed. I guess. The chicken was so tarted up with vile rosemary, I couldn't eat it. I suggested to the tattooed server that maybe, just maybe, they should mention on their menu they now put that crap (rosemary) on their chicken. While blithely responding that they wouldn't be reprinting their menus for something like that, she didn't care to ask me if I would like something else. Nor did she credit me on the tab for the lousy chicken. Fine, hasta la vista. I won't be back.
(3)
Nick P.
Used to be one of, if not the best, restaurant in the neighborhood... Probably have been there 20+ times in the last 5 years, but unfortunately the last 6 months have just been terrible. It started with 3 straight bags of cold and stale "ToGo" orders a few months ago, that were also not the correct items we ordered most of the time. What used to be tasty hot Southern Food has become bland, cold, and careless but we didn't really know how bad it had gotten until we went there for breakfast this morning... In the Woodstock area it used to be a toss up between Toast & Delta for an à wesome gut busting breakfast on the weekend... Used to be... What we were served this morning was so bad that I would now actively discourage people from eating there. They changed the recipe on their Beignets (which used to be amazing), and as if that weren't enough they also decided to cook them to death to the point where it's easier to eat a dry biscuit than one of those rocks. I had the chicken fried steak which came with cold hard potatoes and cold collared greens that would need to be swimming in vinegar to be edible. It also says that it comes with Biscuit & Gravy, which also used to be the case, but now it comes with a small spoonful of gravy on the steak, and a rock hard cold biscuit on the side all for the bargain price of $15. The wife got the special pancake monte cristo which was at least warm but came with the same day old cold potatoes and some fun looking bacon wrap thing, but alas the bacon too was raw and not edible. The kids pancake was even cold and hard to cut up, I mean seriously how little do you have to care to serve cold pancakes?!?! Long story short whoever is running that kitchen these days clearly doesn't care about putting out good food. One word I would use to sum up our last 5 experiences over 6 months is "Lazy". Sure it's Southern Food in your neighborhood, but they don't seem to take much pride in what they put out anymore. There's too many other good options within 10 mins to keep wasting our time and money here just in hopes that they will rebound.
(1)
Ken R.
The Delta is a great little place to get your southern food fix. Caveat, we usually only go on the weekends for breakfast so I have never been there when they were just completely packed. The wait staff is usually very friendly. They don't always check in a bunch on you, but I have never felt like I had to wait for a refill for too long. I would like to say I have tried everything on the menu, but I keep coming back and just cannot say no to the chicken fried steak. It is hands down the best one I have ever had, and I have had a lot. I told my oldest son about it, he was skeptical, and he came out of there saying the same thing. They put a bunch of herbs and spices in the batter and it is just fried perfection. This was the first place I ever tried grits and collard greens. Didn't think I would like either and I loved both. My wife has tried several of their breakfasts and they are always good. Since I can't resist the CFS, I end up sampling hers to get a better feel for the rest of the menu. Oh, and their French toast side to their breakfasts...that is like a meal in itself. Prices are reasonable. People are cool. Vibe is chill. Ya, it looks a little run down but we like it.
(4)
Alondra H.
I lived in the neighborhood for almost two years and I've never came across this Delta Cafe since I went to the Miss Delta on N.Portland and I thought the food there was mediocre with greasy oysters and dried hush puppies in the oysters po'boy sandwich. So I never wanted to step my foot there again. So I started working next door, and me and my boss went for a cocktail and met the owner, who is very sweet and assured me that she no longer owned Miss Delta so the food is different. My experience there was way better than Miss Delta! My boyfriend kept telling me that I should've given Delta Cafe a chance since they are not really owned by the same people, so I went with the flow and we decided to have dinner last night. We stepped in, and it was very steady for a Sunday night and the owner greeted us with a warm welcome. She sat us at this super quiet corner booth which we loved, quiet and romantic. We assumed she was gonna take care of us when she asked for our drink order and we were feeling good until the real service started.... The owner was not our server. It was this chick who at first, did not introduced herself or never said hello and instead, with a very annoyed attitude, told my boyfriend there was no more Pabst 40 oz. and at the same time slamming my drink sealed to the table. So he got a rainier instead. Then waited for 10 minutes to get our order in and then when my boyfriend told her and clearly told her "I want the pulled pork with collard greens AND Mac n Cheese, not beans." And she rolled her eyes when he asked her to bring the spicy and medium BBQ on the side. She didn't say another word and walked away. Are we a nuisance or something that so far this waitress is being rude to us? The food came out cold, but we were starving that we didn't want to piss off the waitress for no reason. I ordered the gumbo and it was spicy, just what this Puerto Rican girl wanted in her blood. My boyfriend's pulled pork was good, but what was wrong with it? The beans also came so we thought the kitchen staff made a mistake. She never approached to us to check how we were doing.The hubby wanted another beer, but she never brought it until he saw her again, and she brought it, using her hands on top of the mouth where he is gonna be putting his mouth on, who knows what the girl is touching while at work. Oh yeah, also slammed it on the table. We got to the check, and of course, she charged us for the Mac n cheese,$5 bucks. We didn't want to bring it up because we ate it. We paid, and she said "we done?" Took the money and didn't wished us a good night. If it wasn't for the owner who is very nice, location and for the good food, I would've given this place one star. I have been in the service industry for 14 years and it aggravates me that people like that gets to work in great places like this one and gets away with it. Then again, this is Portland, so who cares about service? I do, and I wouldn't come back for that specific waitress, who also needs to pull up her hair when she works with food!
(3)
Moos B.
I feel robbed every time i come and today is the last of it!! 3 out of 4 times we've had Delta cafe has been to-go and unfortunately, not good. We've tried alot of the menu and nothing was positively memorable but the pie. Today, I ordered the chicken and waffles and my better half got the brisket. OMG I couldn't eat more than three bites of my chicken and waffles. The chicken was so over fried that the ends of the chicken skin was burnt and tasted burnt, soggy waffle and NO SYRUP. Mac'n cheese was all noodle and butter with a hint of cheese. The brisket was DRY, my boyfriend said it tasted like moist beef jerky with BBQ sauce and his two sides, one of which isn't by choice were the black eyed peas, mac'n cheese and baked beans. He felt the same about the Mac'n cheese while the beans and peas were undercooked as well as under-heated. Another x on restaurants in the neighborhood of Woodstock.
(1)
Nick H.
A solid 4. It was good homemade food at fair prices, but it wasn't a 5 star taste. Service was friendly and place was clean. I got the Chicken Fried Steak meal with mac and cheese. It's all done southern style, so it has its own flavor.
(4)
OrFlyFis H.
Maybe it was just a bad night for the cook, but 3 out 3 entrees and 2 sides were very over salted and poorly cooked. Chewy way overcooked shrimp and inediblly salty mac and cheese and collard greens. I've enjoyed their brunch before a few times but this was the first time I went for dinner. Their habanero vodka is really throat burningly bad. I love spice too, but it just tasted like burning.
(2)
Brian S.
I love this place and always try to go there when I'm in the neighborhood. The Delta serves great drinks and yummy southern food. They have an excellent happy hour menu.
(5)
Tonya B.
I just moved to the Woodstock area and tried Delta Cafe. I grew up in Louisiana and I gotta say, I feel at home when I am at Delta. I love the Blackened Catfish Po Boy. Actually all the Po boy's are so yummy!! Where I am from it better be dripping down your arms and they do. The infused cocktails are amazing as is the bartenders!!
(4)
Alissa S.
It's very sad that I had such a bad experience here. The food came out cold and was sent back 2 times only to come back with an entire egg shell in the Benedict. I work in the service industry, so I don't usually complain much, but the lack of concern about our experience was disappointing. We got some of the food taken off the bill, but no apologizes from the staff. I will not be returning to the restaurant or recommending it to anyone. The management and owners need to make some serious changes.
(1)
Mikhail H.
I adore having so many friends with different tastes so I get to try places like this. I will say that the service was a bit lacking...it was very quality when our waitress was there but she was managing the whole restaurant alone it seemed. I must say that the rose drop is pretty incredible...it is perfectly balanced and smells divine. I will suggest to get the sauce on the side. I made the mistake of not doing that s my meal was drenched in sauce. I would have preferred choosing less sauce. The black eyed peas just did not sound appealing to me so I paid .50 extra to get baked beans instead which were pretty good. My husband got the brisket and I chose the pulled pork. I will say I preferred the brisket. We got side salads which were very good as well.
(4)
Eila L.
All those sides they have are delicious - I await the crawfish etouffee. The Miss Margarete is a good drink with the strawberry infused tequila. I like the gumbo and the shrimp and grits. YEAH! Good place for some southern goods and vegan/gluten free friendly.
(4)
Kathy A.
Deep fried oysters, moist and tender with a great crust are a must try. Service very fast, and friendly...will be back!
(5)
Tim C.
This place used to be the bomb but now it just fizzles. Went to breakfast and ordered the brisket hash. Well i was disappointed to find out that they were now using french fries instead of potatoes and it seemed to be a poutine style hash that was over seasoned and very greasy. Seems like the fries went straight from the fryer to the pan cuz by the time it got to me it was mushy. It wasnt very busy but we still had to wait 15 min for a table and 45 min for our poutine breakfast. Not sure if its "hip" or laziness, but if your going to serve poutine then call it poutine. I would recommend "toast" in the future even though the coffee sucks at least the food is real!!
(2)
Bill B.
We walked in when they opened at 9am for Sunday brunch. We were met by two cheerful waitresses. Coffee was quickly offered. It was not burned as a previous Yelp said; it was rich and dark like coffee is supposed to be. You must order the beignets. They arrived too hot to eat but the short wait for them to cool down was worth it. My wife ordered the Southern scramble which had andouille sausage, peppers, crayfish and onions. We both thought it delicious. I had the Eggs Sardhou, poached eggs over artichoke hearts, creamed spinach on English muffin with hollandaise sauce. It was very good. Although we didn't order any the several Bloody Mary that we saw made looked both potent and delicious. I would have given five stars if I hadn't had to stop the waitress twice to get more coffee. That is something she should have been watching.
(4)
Darla W.
First time visit today. One positive, many negatives: 1. The beignets are amazing. Here goes the bad... 2. I ordered the eggs Benedict. Boring, tasteless, cold microwaved potatoes. 3. My hubby ordered the brisket hash. Terrible. Literally three pieces of meat. Again, cold microwaved potatoes. Really bad. 4. Worst of all...my water cup had lipstick on the edges! So gross! The waitress was very apologetic and the service in general was good. But the quality was pathetic. No thanx.
(2)
Dustin C.
I reviewed the Miss Delta, but neglected their first restaurant, which I adore. This is Portland culture, distilled down into an excellent bar/eatery. House infused booze: try the amazing garlic Bloody Mary! Traditional southern food is all on point: crispy moist chicken, seared but bloody steak, great sides. The only problem is the constant creeping costs (I've been going here since 2000) but that's expected in a city that's being rapidly gentrified. Chicken & Waffles. Do it.
(5)
Sena S.
RAW CHICKEN. LIKE COLD PINK RAW CHICKEN. "MOM'S FRIED CHCIKEN". Luckily I cut it with a fork and a knife first or I wouldn't be able to right this review for you now. The service was just as raw.
(1)
Adama S.
My boyfriend and I went for an early dinner and had a great meal. The chicken and waffles was amazing! The catch is that the waitress charged my card 3 times for 1 meal and I didn't realize it until the next day. Unfortunately this held up on my card for 3 days and I had to go through annoying steps to get my debit card credited back. Overall I'll never go back again because they did nothing to rectify the situation. You would think that they would offer some sort of discount on the next meal for my troubles but nothing. Thanks a lot delta grill you lost a potential frequent customer!
(2)
Raina M.
I have been going to Delta over the past several years, and even if the service fluctuates from good to bad, the food has always been good and has kept us coming back. I hadn't been in a while, and decided I needed some good comfort food, so off we went. We came on a Sunday, which turned out to be a poor choice. They were severely understaffed, and upon being greeted several minutes after arrival, we were informed that they were out of all potato options, i.e. potato cheddar casserole and mashed potatoes. We went ahead and ordered drinks, not realizing that the only person available to pour drinks was running around the dining room, bussing tables in a frenzy. I feel for the waitstaff, as I myself have been in the same predicament many times, and it clearly was not any individual's fault for the lack of good service. That said, it took about 15-20 minutes for me to receive my drink. When we ordered dinner, we noticed that they changed the options from being any two sides, to only being able to pick one side and stuck with black-eyed peas as the other. No offense to the wonderful folks that love them, but this was disappointing for me! Because the server felt so bad for our lack of service, she said she would try to "talk the kitchen into" letting us order two sides of our choosing. It was nice that she did this, but unfortunate that she may have had to get in an altercation with the cooks to accommodate our request. Once we got our food, the pulled pork, fried catfish, and gumbo were okay, but not jumping with the southern flavor that I remember. I got the distinct impression that perhaps Delta is having issues managing costs. It appears that they are trying to solve issues by cutting back on menu items, limiting choices, being concerned about food cost to the point of running out of things, and saving on labor by cutting the service staff down to almost nothing. I understand needing to save money, but good service and good food is what brings guests into an establishment. When you lack both and are running out of staples like potato options, it is not a good sign. Unfortunately, I do not know if I will be back to the Delta--My friends think it will be Miss Delta from now on...
(2)
Marla H.
I have been here a few times. Each time, hoping that it will be as good as every one rave's about. Sadly, it just never measure's up. I dont think it is because it is bad, or the wait staff seems to have better things to do with their time, I think it is just not my type of food. The best thing i have had here is the tater tot casserole. If Southern greasy food is your thing or your a hipster, I think you will LOVE this place.
(2)
Cinnamongirl 6.
We lived nearby when this place opened in the 90s. It was super tiny and had fun game tables. The food was simple and amazing. We went back two weeks ago and we were excited to see that it had like tripled in size and now has a bar. We had a short wait to get a table. I had the special for that morning which was a biscuit and gravy plate. The cook was cussing up an "f" storm while we waited so I have to assume that it was a bad day. My food was terrible. Took two bites. My husband's food was cold. Our service was so painfully slow that the waitress brought us a free appetizer to placate us. They aren't exactly cheap either. Even though the portions are truck stop size. I will go back and try again. It does have a divey feel. I didn't feel like the food was sub-par for it. Hopefully it was just an off day.
(3)
T V.
Pretty good "soul" food and really good cocktails. The service is hit or miss. We've had amazing servers and have also been ignored. The decor is a little eclectic and ugly... but ugly-cute. The fried chicken was a letdown. The texture was all right and it wasn't dry, but it was definitely bland. Their hush puppies are pretty good, as are the sweet teas (served in mason jars, of course). I haven't yet tried their brunch, but I look forward to it.
(4)
Elyse D.
If you want a great, comfort food, this is the place to go! Great fried chicken, meatloaf, collard greens, grits, fried okra,. . . . i could go on! Definitely not health food, but sooo good!! The service here can be a little touch and go. However, the last time we were there it was AMAZING! My husband wanted to go here for his birthday. We ended up with around 20 friends, the waitress was great!!! She kept the appetizers and PBR 40's coming the whole night! I never had to track her down! It was perfect!
(4)
Laverne D.
i really want to enjoy this restaurant. i really do, however it's tough when the food is bland and the service lackluster on the two visits i've made there. first time i got the braised beef hash...wish i would've opted for the chicken fried steak. however, the gal did give me a coupon for a free cornbread to ease my troubled mind about the hash. second time i ordered the chicken fried steak. not reading the fine print, the gravy is brown, not a cream gravy like i was dreaming about. it was also very salty, too salty...even for me. the white cheddared grits that came with it were completely unseasoned. the service, moody to say the least. our food took a long time to come out and there was no explanation about it, as the surrounding diners that sat after us were delightfully enjoying their meals. sorry delta, i wish i could, but i can't.
(2)
Gregorio H.
Damn good food. The catfish ... mmmmm. Cornbread is scrumptious, made like it should be, with no sugar and a touch of salt. Where can you get collard greens and black-eyed peas, without going to MIssissippi? I would only ask that they would back off on their tendency to put pieces of bacon in a lot of the dishes. It just makes them greasy, and detracts from the other flavors. The decor is deliciously funky, with a touch of latin flavor and New Orleans down-and-out soul, without the dead heroin addicts in the alley. Good service. A little pricey, considering they aren't spending any money on new tables and chairs.
(4)
Aaron J.
Everything on the menu is worth trying with most of it being downright excellent. Drinks are great too!
(5)
jeff b.
I love this place! They have stupendous dishes and kick ass drinks (some of the alcohols are infused by them, mm, tasty). As you can see with the other reviewers, the food is good, maybe a little pricey but worth it in my opinion. One thing that i learned recently though is that if you order food to go the portions are not as big. I'm used to taking home about half my meal and chowin' down at least one more time. I ordered the shrimp etouffee and picante. The sides and rice came in 8 oz. containers and were about half the in-store amount. We ran out of rice and by the end of the meal i was yearning for more yummy cheese potato casserole. So if anyone working at the Delta is reading this, please get bigger to-go containers. Otherwise you may find me ordering in then asking for boxes as soon as i get my food (jk).
(4)
Ashley Q.
$3.50 40oz of PBR served posh style in a ice filled champagne bucket..glass optional. How awesome is that! I ate here on the Friday night of my short weekend in Portland. There was a wait for a table, thank goodness for the bar. I met some cool Oregonians, are they all that friendly? The blackened catfish, white trash meatloaf, and po'boy hand pulled goodness are all excellent. The bartender recommended the mac n cheese and the cauliflower as sides. I also tried the tomato side. The cornbread is served with honey and butter, but lacked a little sweetness. $50 for three people including alcohol + tip. Great vibe, perfect for a chill Friday night. I will eat here again next time I'm in Portland.
(5)
Thomasina L.
This review is pretty late in coming, over a year but I cant let it go. I was in with my friend and was told to seat ourselves. So I did. I patiently waited for a server to come by, sitting with my menu shut. Other tables came in and had their drink orders taken. I started to try to wave servers down, to no avail. After 20 minutes and a table who came in after us received their drinks and appetizers and we hadn't even been acknowledged (no drink order, nada) so we left. I will never come back. I will not recommend it either. I leave two stars because I had eaten there before and enjoyed the food, though even then the service was sub par. I know its Portland and somehow many servers think they are the cool kids, but its no excuse to do a bad job or ignore your customers.
(2)
Devon D.
Delta is my new favorite place! Their menu and cocktail list are inventive, and the po' boys are too big to eat! The ambiance is fantastic. The wait staff rules. Doesn't get much better than that.
(5)
Sam O.
Pretty delicious food. The beer selection on tap was small, but good. 40oz of PBR is always a good touch. I'd give it a 5, but it didn't quite blow me away. The atmosphere is great as well. Very laid back. Our server was great...but it took him a 1/2 hour to get to us (we got our first drinks from the bartender direct.) Fortunately, we were not in a hurry.
(4)
Abe I.
Delta is OK, since the recent influx of Southern-centric restaurants though, I feel like it's previous scuffs have shown themselves to be deeper flaws, PBR 40s in champagne ice notwithstanding. The few times I've eaten there the food was actually kinda bland and left me disappointed, but I have to admit, I wasn't eating the meat, and that does seem to be the main attraction, so your experience may differ.
(3)
Alex W.
Harmonic convergence. Planets aligning. Call it what you will. I went to Delta for dinner last night and it was incredible. If you ever saw the movie Ratatouille, one bite of the meatloaf with collard greens and mac n' cheese and I was teleported back to childhood memories where I had not a care in the world and could taste thousands of different flavors in just one bite. The atmosphere reminded me of Emmy's Spaghetti Shack in San Francisco, super low key, kinda like when you were hanging out in mommy's womb and didn't want to leave. The Cucumber-infused vodka drinks were a big hit as well. This place is, in my humble opinion, fucking awesome. Dining experiences don't get much better than this.
(5)
Steed H.
The food was good. The server was good. The drinks were very bad. The bartender hit the table with silverware as he told us about the special and I hated him. The prices were high for eating in a noisy bar. It was a very Portland expirence.
I liked this place. Being the type of person I am, I can find a few things to complain about. Mostly, the atmosphere. It's like walking into a weird, dark cave in there. And while things aren't so dirty I wouldn't eat there, it isn't exactly as clean as I like restaurants to be. In particular, there's a selection of hot sauces on each table (which is cool) but all the bottles were sticky and covered in dried sauce. The drink menus on the table were sticky too. Wipe off your bottles and menus, people! Overall, things are just a little too dark and dusty in there. That said, the most important place to be clean, the bathroom, was clean so I'm sure the kitchen is satisfactory as well. I ordered mac and cheese which I thought was pretty damn yummy. Some people on here complain of too much garliciness but I liked it. My fiance liked his food, he got a fried catfish plate, although he said the texture of his biscuit wasn't the best: a little tough. But overall. for the price this place is ok.
(3)
Mr. C.
This place rocks. They have "White Trash Meatloaf" for christ sake. Not to mention PBR 40's in a bucket. If you want home style southern goodness served by a very Tattooed staff, look no further than The Delta Cafe. I love the sides... Collard Greens, Mac and Cheese, and sometimes even Tater Tot Casserole. YES! Just be prepared to be extremely full.
(4)
Courtney D.
Soul food at its comforting best I swear that I must have grown up in the Deep South in another life because I love the food, especially the side dishes at this popular soul food cafe in the Woodstock neighborhood. Since I'm not overly into barbecued ribs or catfish, I always opt for their side dishes, which are more than enough to fill you up. Order the Southern Sampler, which comes with homemade corn bread, hush puppies and salad, just to name a few! I hear that their mains, especially the cat fish is to die for, but since it comes with two sides and corn bread, I know that I'd never finish it all so stick to what I love. Tip: You can get a 40 ouncer in an ice bucket for less than $4.
(4)
Michelle M.
oh delta, where have you been all of my life? oh that's right, portland. i need to visit more often. their infused vodka selection is amazing. the bartenders are insanely creative as well as being genuinely nice. evidently delta serves one of my all time fav items, sweet potato fries. unfortunately i didn't stay long enough for more than drinks. but there's always next time. until we meet again.
(5)
Jason K.
Wow, a restaurant where I can have the main dish and both sides covered in gravy. Sure my left arm is tingling, but it was worth it. The chicken fried steak was delicious; the breading didn't sog at all and wasn't the slightest bit greasy. The mashed potatoes and gravy were also excellent, with the latter being some of the best I've had. Seriously. Even the collard greens were good despite the fact they were a bit undercooked. The service was prompt and friendly without being annoying or hover-y. The kitchen was prompt as well, with maybe a ten minute turnaround for our three top. Some may nag about the limited beer selection, but with Abita available who needs anything else?
(5)
Carissa W.
Located on Woodstock near Reed, the Delta is a southern soul food restaurant in the southernmost reaches of Portland. If you go any further you hit Sellwood, but it's totally worth it for cornbread and stiff drinks. Old-fashioned cocktails like mint juleps are always a good bet, and the collared greens (veggie or ham based) are worth singing about. The decor is funky, and includes a two-seat table in a sort of Elvis shrine complemented by a color changing unicorn statue. Your face should be deep into your plate anyway, but it's always fun to pair southern cooking with tackiness, it just makes it that much homier.
(5)
Lance K.
oh to know some locals. I would have never found this place if I was a tourist not visiting friends. I stuck with the side sampler which was more than enough. a side of mac and cheese (what is the obsession with mac and cheese and Portland?), red beans and rice, and cauliflower casserole. since we were going out drinking later I skipped the 40 oz Pabst Blue Ribbon in a bucket of ice (what is the obsession with Pabst Blue Ribbon and Portland? haha!). The food hit the spot and also prevented me from getting drunk later that night! I don't know how anybody in this town does'nt get seriously obese from all the good food here!
(5)
Jeff K.
Delta is great food cheap. If you were raised a poor sharecropper, this is the food of your youth. If you were raised a cracker from Northern WI (like me) this is the last meal you'll request before you getting lethal injection. Yeah the fried chicken is great but if you want to bust out your white trash roots I highly recommend the meat loaf with mash potatoes, mac and cheese and green bean casserole. There was a time when you could get a 40oz bottle of PBR served up in an ice filled coffee can champagne style. Classy! You can always go for a Mickey's Malt Liquor too. The mixed drinks are okay but you are there for the food and environment.
(5)
Vi N.
used my groupon and had weekend brunch. we ordered beignets, pork hash and the eggs benedict.. the restaurant looks promising.. but the experience and food was seriously lacking. the $12 pork hash was flavorful but on the small side. and the eggs benedict looked like something i could have just made at home. beignets could have been more fluffy. i didn't think anything was very special about this place. if i truly wanted a good "southern" brunch, i would skip this place and go to the screendoor.
(2)
Michelle H.
Great food, but service is so-so and this place is way too hot in the Summer. You seriously will feel like you are on the bayou if you eat here during the dead of summer, unless they have installed a/c since I have been there last. I usually order the gumbo or chicken and dumplings. I love their chicken and dumplings because sometimes I like a more brothy version. I make a creamy version, but I like a brothy version. I have also had the yummy cheese grits. Nice, eclectic space, but the cash only policy is rather inconvenient.
(4)
Kat L.
Solid place all around. Food was tasty, I liked the hush puppies and BLT with avocado aioli. Gravy on mashed potatoes had a little too much pepper, but tasted deliciously homemade. Service was fast and friendly. Would definitely go back and recommend to friends.
(4)
Kristen M.
I'm a typical fan of the Delta...one of the best parts about living in the Woodstock 'hood. Typically it's where we go when we crave the food from our childhood in the South. I have to say though, we went in for their brunch today and were slightly disappointed. Nothing was terrible...just not quite what I had in mind. The grits were good, and I managed to get every single piece of crawfish out of my Southern Scramble, but something was missing...Still, nothing beats the liter of sweet tea and their po' boys. I still loooove their soul food dinners, though I do miss their fried green tomatoes...they were the best I've ever had from a restaurant!
(4)
Tanner H.
Wow, where do I start with this place? I actually lived across the street this place for a year. I even had a front porch swing with a vdirect view on its front doors. I know this place well. I ask people why they go, and thy tell me because of the food, or something. I don't get that. I think Portlanders are just impressed by the novelty of having cajun food in a restaurant/bar because it's so uncommon in the PacNW. This is the kind of place (bar side) that you can expect to find a pompous kid reading Howard Zinn at the bar. This is the kind of place that charges almost ten bucks for grits and cheese, yet glorifies PBR. This place is the essence of Portland's hipster hypocrisy problem. The food is alright, but the people are uptight, sanctimonious and--worst of all--predictable
(1)
christopher a.
decent food, im always full when i eat here, but for some reason a lot of the items just dont come off very authenic (esp the hush puppies)
(3)
Anthony R.
So I've been told it's not "authentic"--whatever that means. Delta Cafe serves up tasty tasty greasy greasy BBQ, down-home "soul" or "southern" or whatever cuisine. Fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese, ribs, pulled pork, po' boy sandwiches, um....about a dozen (or more) side dishes. The best part is that the bar stays open late and the kitchen still serves most of the menu until closing. Pabst Forties come chilled, on ice, in a champagne bucket.
(4)
Sonya S.
Oregon is located far from the southern US, and is also far removed from southern culture. So, unlike other northern US cities such as Chicago, Portland has next to no eateries that honor southern cuisine. That being said, the Delta Cafe is a notable exception. Their food definitely follows southern tradition; it's mouth-wateringly hearty, well-seasoned, and the portions are beyond generous. Their side-dishes are gut-busting filling, all by themselves. Whichever side dish you order, whether it's the mashed potatoes, greens, black-eyed peas, or mac-n-cheese, they're all rich and satisfying. Their homemade buttermilk biscuits, and the cornbread, will have you swooning with culinary appreciation. The fried-chicken, barbecued pork-ribs, and catfish are the best entrees on the menu, and the most authentically southern. They're all fork-tender, and very flavorful. The ribs and catfish entree portions, are good-sized, but not huge. The fried-chicken, however, is served in portions only a giant could finish in one sitting. It's so moist, savory, and crunchy , most people would sure make a dedicated attempt to finish it all in one sitting though! After dinner, I never had room left to consider any of their desserts. Too bad, because just the smell of their peach-cobbler, can send the senses soaring in anticipation. The main complaint that I have about this place, is the tacky, almost seedy decor. To me, it didn't jibe well, with the excellent quality of the food. I thought that the owners were trying too hard, to make it seem downscale, and therefore more 'southern'. They need to realize the difference between down-home southern, and just plain trashy. The other thing that bothers me about the Delta Cafe, is the sticker-shock prices. Yes, the food is excellent, and the portions of it enormous. But this fails to justify the average $18 price-tag, for basic southern cooking. I recommend the Delta Cafe, but only for those whose budgets can stand the strain of their prices. And if you can tolerate the trailer-park 'chic' ambiance.
(4)
A C.
This place has gotten way better. My catfish was amazing, and my friend's steak was out of this world. And where else can you get a 40 oz of PBR in a bucket of ice?
(4)
Nicole T.
I definitely dug this place! I love the real New Orleans (and the delicious food) and was impressed with everything- the andouille was really tasty. The service was good, but the cash-only thing is a little annoying (luckily they do have an ATM). Still a really nice night out and I will be a repeat customer!
(4)
Amanda W.
This quickly became my favorite restaurant in Portland. The food is tasty, the atmosphere is very down to earth, and the drinks are great. It's also a huge plus that the portions are giant- because for a girl I can really pack in that fried chicken (which also happens to be my favorite dish). Following tradition, I wash down my chicken with their yummy Bloody Marys, which include the perfect amount of spice and enough accoutrement to feed a family of five.
(5)
Brandy S.
I have two words for you: SWEET TEA! Oh, my, God! Sweet tea in a quart jar. Can life get any better? The food is good too, a few vegetarian options - more than most barbecue places. I recommend the side dish sampler - I ask for no onions, because they sure do pile them on. On my most recent trip here, I had the barbecue tofu po'boy, with the coleslaw topping. It was so delicious - spicy but sweet; crunchy and chewy; just enough fat and grease to make it a treat. CASH and CHECK ONLY
(4)
David J.
Some of the best tasting Southern Food, I've had in the NW. 1 item and 1 item only is the flagship of this type of restaurant. Collard Greens. That's right I said it. If a restaurant can't do collard greens right, nothing on the rest of the menu is worth looking at.. The Delta Cafe has the best collard greens I've had outside of Chicago. That and their outstanding Bloody Mary's are damm tasty. Once you know that, you can order damm near anything off the menu with confidence.
(5)
Rachel J.
For some reason now lost to the mists of time, I never went here while I actually lived in Portland. My lovely friends treated to a meal here when I visited, and goodness gracious, was it ever yummy. As a Northwest native of Midwest descent, I haven't been exposed to hardly any Southern-style cooking, so I can't comment on the authenticity, just the tastiness. They bring you cornbread to start, so the corn and black bean fritters we had as an appetizer were kind of superfluous (but delicious!). I had the sides sampler, with a green salad (yeah, I know, very un-Southern of me), potatoes and cheese, and cauliflower casserole, both of which were satisfyingly cheesy. I also tried a bite of the tofu from my friend's giant tofu po'boy sandwich--if I ever get to come back here, I might have to order one of those. The place also has a great ambiance, with laid-back vintage decor and just the right amount of light. I highly recommend it, but it's popular, so don't be surprised if there's a wait for a table.
(4)
Joey B.
Let's think about this for a second and then ask yourself, "Where else can I get a champagne bucket for my forty of PBR?" Couple that with some great eats and you're in for a great night.
(4)
Jason L.
Excellent food at a reasonable price. I was most impressed with their drink menu. They have a bout a dozen original cocktails...all of which are delicious and guaranteed to get you f--d up! Our party had the shrimp etouffee, jambalaya, and that night's special: chicken friend pork chops. all of our sides were delicious too (mashed potatoes, collared greens, etc.) and our waitress couldn't have been nicer! for dessert, we had some succulent slices of sweet potato pie.
(4)
Greg L.
This is without a doubt the best restaurant on Woodstock, and for southern/BBQ it may be the best in South East, or at least a tie with Clay's Smokehouse. 40's served up on ice, classy. I would eat here once a week if I could. Brisket is amazing and the fried chicken is perfection. I do wish they would take Credit Cards but I understand the reasoning behind it.
(4)
Alexandra M.
It's interesting how different these reviews are from the ones you see from the first link through google maps - makes you wonder about the corruption supposedly going around with Yelp. Anyhow, I don't need my a@$ kissed, by any means, done my share of serving thanks but ugh, someone would be delighted to have your job if you hate it so much!! I don't want to say because I actually really like soul food & there isn't a lot of it around, & the owner obviously is supportive of how much the people range from generally not into what they do for a living, outside of how cool they think it makes them seem, to one that thought he was very entitled to a big tip & was very forward about it. They could sell me a bridge if they wanted with the kind of food they have but I rarely go because it's generally a negative experience. Their spicy drinks, also a favorite as far as drinks go, are undrinkable due to being too spicy so I'd recommend doing half spicey. Decors cool...could be cool but I'm gonna go hit up the stand on Hawthorne - it's funny, the Montage folks seem to be pretty similar to these guys, & I'd have to strenuously disagree that these places are cheap overall, though they do have some great deals.
(2)
Greg P.
In town for a cousin's wedding back in June, all I have to say best slab of ribs period!!!!!. You definitely will need alot of napkins. And yes, me & my group got 2 of the 40oz of PBR in the Champagne bucket as well. Whatever you have leftover in the bottle, you can always pour it on the sidewalk for your homies or famous dead gangsta rappers outside.
(4)
Patrick S.
Delta's food is great. But what happened to the prices? I was blindsided by $17.95 for a plate of ribs! compare Clay's Smokehouse, whose ribs are at least as good, for $13 with home fries and cole slaw. Too rich for my blood. Goodbye Delta ribs. I'll still come in for a tecate once in a while.
(2)
M H.
When it comes to the fantastic soul food that is served up at this place, my love knows no bounds. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I usually get the pork chops and apple sauce (which is the real chunky kind) and lemonade served in 32 oz. Mason jars. I was introduced to this place by a local and I always go back, usually with other first-timers in tow and everyone ends up going bonkers over the food. I even took my entire choir there when we toured Portland in college. Their mac and cheese is amazing. It's just rad. Totally rad.
(5)
Kristin W.
LOVE the pork sandwich. I've found it hard to move on to anything else, since it is so good. I've woken up in the middle of the night craving their huge-portioned homemade lemonade. Oooooh, and the mac n cheese and the cheesy potatoes! Go and eat and enjoy.
(3)
Larry H.
Ahhh, the Delta, how far you have fallen. You used to evoke heavenly memories of chicken-fried pork chops as big as my head and potato cheese casserole to kill for. Now what have you got? All you have now is a cocktail bar on the side with bartenders who don't know how to make the drinks that are on the menu. The food quality has gone way down ever since the bar opened up, which would be okay if the portions stayed the same, but alas, the quantity of the food has gone down with the quality. Everybody who came here back in the heyday when it was just a food joint with tons of atmosphere have deserted this place for better pastures, leaving it to those who don't know what once was. Such a shame, a crying shame what this place has become. I pity those who never knew what once was.
(2)
Mel E.
Oh Ice Princess, you are the reason my experience at Delta wasn't that great. You were so rude and didn't acknowledge the people at our table, even though you hovered over us as you delivered forks and knives. Had you been nicer, I would have told you the food was decent. The mac 'n cheese was tasty as was the cauliflower casserole. And those red beans and rice are mighty good as well. The portion size is massive and makes for at least two meals. However, the decor is so-so as it tries a little too hard to recreate that restaurant-on-the-bayou vibe. Still, you get three stars because I love me some cornbread. Ain't nothing wrong with that...
(3)
Kimberly V.
My long-held belief is that JB should have been born a Southern man. He loves his mama, blues guitar, girls in skirts (but not the ones that resemble tube tops around the ass - which might have served me well to know earlier in the relationship), and Southern food. So we're willing to spend the sometimes extra dollar to dine on spicy fritters, BBQ-heavy pork, and enough flavorful beans and rice to generate a new Sir Mix-A Lot song. You would think a place that proudly serves up the famed Blue Ribbon water-beer would be priced more for a budget-conscious crowd, but I consider this place a definite double-dollar sign choice. That's not to say it's not worth it, particularly if you come in on a rainy afternoon and they happen to play something reflective and twangy on the stereo. Between the low lighting, the fried food options and the extensive hard alcohol selections, it's as comforting to be in the restaurant as it is to be an oil baronness, minus the inherent evil.
(5)
Juliette S.
You can't find better soul food. The best chicken fried steak and corn bread. You feel like you stepped into the south. The staff is a little too cool for words and they seem to be aware of that. Also be prepared for a wait but it is well worth it.
(4)
Alan L.
Seeing as every other reiview has already mentioned PBR's served in a champagne bucket, I thought I would deal the Delta some real justice and mention the $1 bottles of Mickey's (known as "grenades" in some circles). This isn't some happy hour special or Thursday night deal, no sir, this is all day everyday. How can you beat that? I'm not even sure how much a 12oz Mickey's costs at the Safeway around the corner, but I can't imagine it to be much cheaper then that. No, you can't pretend your eazy-e or dre slangin' on some corner and sippin' on foties, but those guys never drank PBR anyways. Nope, the authentic forties experience comes from a crinkled paper bag, not a bucket of ice. But wait, you say, that's precisely why PBR in ice is so cool! How ironic! Who would've ever thought of the juxtaposition? Surely only a genius. Well, fair enough my friends, but for my money, I'll take a Mickey's.
(4)
Netty L.
There is no restaurant in the world that will replace the space in my heart reserved for the Delta Cafe. I cannot count how many cocktails with friends(Bitter Girls Club!), hopeful dates, and delicious meals I experienced there. The mac n' cheese is gooey and crispy, made with wide penne style noodles rather than smaller tube macaroni, good for cheese to reach into and be enjoyed on the palatte. The best in Portland! The cheese grits are soupy, spicy, savory formed circles. I almost always would order the southern sampler with mac n' cheese, collard greens, and black eyed peas with a biscuit, smothered with butter and honey. Tasty cocktails served in mason jars, (one can even get a 40 oz of pabst served in a bucket of icefor $3, a better deal never existed) good southern style cooking, hip decor with a vintage northwest feeling. (Photographic wallpaper and fifties furniture.) The cocktail room is separate from the restaurant, and you can get fried food (including the mac n' cheese) until the bar closes.
(5)
Lyn M.
Had dinner here while visiting from California. Food was over the top great! Drinks were good. Prices were excellent! Would love to visit again,
(4)
Lindsay Z.
I LOVE this place! Reasonably priced, really good southern bbq food, what's not to love? Places like this make me wish I still lived in Portland. Everything I've had here was delicious, but I usually ordered the bbq chicken and mac and cheese. If you order a 40 of PBR, it will arrive at your table in a bucket of ice!
(5)
Nora C.
How did I get through almost an entire year of school without discovering this place? It's close to the Reed campus, inexpensive, and has excellent food. I had heard that the waiters were rude or hard to deal with, but they were friendly and happy to help. The blackened catfish is spicy as all get out, and the po' boys are delicious.
(4)
barry m.
Order a 40 Oz. Pabst and get it delivered to your table in a bucket of ice, like champagne. This place is awesome.
(5)
Sam D.
I bought a Groupon for this. In fact, it was my first Groupon and after visiting Delta Cafe I'm rethinking buying anymore restaurant Groupons. After a 20 minute wait for brunch where we had to listen to rock music blaring, we were seated in the dining room. It was like stepping back in time to the 70's and those hippie restaurants where none of the chairs match and the waiters are all cool and mellow. The vinyl seats had tape everywhere covering the tears and the place looked dirty and grungy. All of this would have been overlooked if the food was great. I'm from the South and I know what chicken fried steak is supposed to look like and this was not it. I'm always suspicious when I see brown gravy on anything calling itself 'Southern". The best part was the RC Cola in big Mason jars. We tried to make the best but by the end of the meal we knew we'd never be back there. As we left I noticed the cook with a scraggly beard down to his chest and tried not to think about the possibilities of that. I brought the remainder of my chicken fried steak home for my cats and even they wouldn't eat it.
(1)
Mindy S.
I really have loved the Delta in the past, and I still enjoy going there. The menu and the food are just not quite what they used to be. I miss picking two sides - the black eyed peas are really not very good, and I don't want to be forced to eat them with almost everything on the menu. Also, they often seem to be out of staples like potato options, or cornbread! Great cocktails, and I do usually have good service.
(3)
Megan J.
Two stars. One for service and the other for their cocktails. I have tried to like Delta Cafe and have given it 3 chances but last night it striked out. I don't compare it to Screen Door because they are different beasts but I do compare it to somewhat decent cooking. Last night I ordered the special, fried oysters wrapped in bacon. Can't go wrong with bacon or so I thought. The bacon was charred and hard without a hint of smoky bacon deliciousness. My side of maple baked beans were too acidic and lacked in any maple flavor. The mac n cheese my partner got was bland as well as his black eyed peas. Our fellow dining companions ordered the fried chicken, Hush puppies and pulled pork sandwich. My friend who ordered the fried chicken left her plate the same as when she got it, full. Everything was blah and bland. Anything they fry is overfried and doesn't even come out golden. Services was great and attnetive and the only thing I have enjoyed is the cocktails, which you will need plenty of to get through the food.
(2)
Katey H.
I finally made my way to the Delta Cafe after wanting to try this place for a long time. Two of my friends joined me, we figured we could divide and conquer the menu so we could try multiple items. The main dinner items - fried chicken, flat iron steak and brisket. The coating on the fried chicken was great! I loved the crunch! The brisket was fall apart goodness. I got the sweet sauce and it was really good. The side items - you HAVE to get the mac & cheese. I've had a lot of mac & cheese in my life and this was some of the best. The mashed potatoes and red eye gravy is pretty good but I'd choose something other than the potato casserole (pretty much mashed potatoes & cheese). I can't wait to go back and try more menu items. The staff was very friendly and kept checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Their infused vodkas are great if you are looking for a new drink!
(4)
kelly s.
More laid back young and fun ambiance than other southern restaurants in town, but the fried chicken wasn't all that- felt like eating the sh@t that collected at the bottom of grandma's spice rack stuck to the outside of the chicken - however they were friendly food was fresh, corn bread, not so much, actually I kind of hated the food, but it felt like a place that would have been good for brunch and people/location was good enough, so that's why I didn't throw the whole joint totally under the bus
(3)
Martha R.
This is definitely my kind of place... a little dumpy, but with class. The food is awesome - nice and hearty, fills you to the brim for hours and hours and hours... and all for a pretty great price. The beer selection is a little slim in the draft department, and the greens aren't too prevalent on the menu, but that's what you expect in a Cajun place. Your waiter or waitress will definitely be a little slow, and clad in tattoo. Because the place has got such a great feel to it, you don't mind getting the slow service... My only complaint is that there isn't an online location for their menu - was going to order take out, but decided against it because I wasn't in the mood for people and didn't want to wait around while they made my food. I wanted to run in, run out, and have the delicious food in hand. But since I did not know what I really wanted I settled for crappy leftovers. Bummer.
(4)
Sam B.
In some ways, it's a 5 star, in other ways it's a 4, and I'm a round-downer these days. First off, next time we will order one main that comes with a side, and share it. At that price, it's 5-star all the way. And the food was all good. Gumbo, biscuit and gravy for $13 plus the 3-side dinner deal for $10. All in all a pretty huge ass meal. And not on the cheap side. Our sides were collard greens, mashed toes and red beans and rice. The red beans were big and fat with some sausage over white rice. I like more rice but good stuff. The greens are what they are- the only veggie on the menu practically, and a bit rough on the pallet if you're new to poverty. The mashed were good. I like it when you can tell you're eating potatoes and these do that. The wait staff was nice. We had a baby in s stroller and had plenty of space. They accidentally put a plate on top of part of our to-go leftovers and gave us two good sized helpings to go straight from the kitchen. Nice! And warm. Nice vibe too. All kinds of styles in there: tats, no tats, long beards, no beards, twisted beards, no twisted beards, families with kids, kids with no families. It was good stuff. We will be back for more.
(4)
Greg M.
UPDATE UPDATE: We went back, had some great food! Mac and Cheese was creamy and yum. The Catfish (and that aoli sauce) is the bomb. UPDATE: I've been informed that they now brandish a card reader and will gleefully take your hard-earned electro-cash. Thank you, Delta. See you soon! Delta, I don't like the Man either. I quite despise the inequality of the world and all of that, too. I really want to try that new brunch you started awhile back. I remember having the catfish years ago and loving it. I thought to myself, why don't more people know about this place? So asked around - took a poll. You know what I found? Every single person I talk to, without fail - hipster, professional, blue or white collar- it doesn't matter - they all say the same thing: "I went there once and really liked it, but they don't take Visa, so we haven't been back." I want to love you, Delta, I really do. I want to swim in your infused vodka's and dine on your brunch. I want to wait in line with other card-carrying capitalists that have worked all day and prefer not to pay $3 to get cash at the ATM or buy a stick of gum to get 'cash back' at the Safeway. I want to bask in the glory that is what the Delta COULD be. But alas, I cannot excuse the audacity, pretentiousness and sheer stupidity that keeps a simple card reader from gracing the counter next to the cash register. What is it, Delta? Are you afraid of new friends? Does the thought of anyone but Socialist Agenda extremists coming through your door scare you? Do you just hate the thought of your business growing? What is it!? We wait patiently, checking in every few months to see if you've finally accepted that you have a problem; a lack of plastic acceptance problem. Oh sure, you may be mad at me now, and everyone else who walks in your door and right back out because you're currency Ludditeism - but just think how much happier (and richer) you would be with that little blue-grey box, taking people's money who want to give it to you? I know, I know... 4% here, monthly fee there, blah, blah, blah. Here's a clue - every other restaurant in town has one and hasn't lost money. You CAN learn something from them. Please Delta, help out a few thousand people that want to give you money. Please?
(4)
Crystal M.
I have always loved this place. We came into town tonight to visit my mom and came here for dinner. I was highly disappointed that the service was mediocre but worse the server added gratuity. There were 3 entrees and a kid. We shared 2 meals, not because we r cheap but the portions r huge! Being in the service industry for years I was very insulted. Adding gratuity to a check is saying the table wasn't going to tip in the first place. I would have expected this if we had a larger party. I asked they take off the grat and the manager argued with us. And we caught her in a few flat out lies! Saying the computer ads it and it's 6 people even if we had 5 kids. Really people? A tip is earned! You are not entitled to it!
(2)
KD O.
This is our walkable-to local hangout and it lives up to that well. Food: The food is very hit or miss, but we usually do pretty well. I had excellent catfish one night, and terrible a week later, but such is the nature of that sort of fish. I'm mostly vegetarian, so if you are a veg there are a few good selections. Try the Tofu A La Picante, or the BBQ Tofu Po' Boy. I didn't like the fried Okra, but a friend loves it. Again, hit or miss. This is the type of place you try twice to see if you went on the miss night. Verdict: Not as good as some, better than others. Breakfast: Served Sat and Sun only. Not as good as Arleta Library Cafe, which is equidistant from our house. We've went a few times. It's on the bland side, but alright. Drinks: Good signature cocktails with an average $ of $7. Nice variety of drinks - sweet, savory and straight up. Go on Tuesday's for all day happy hour and get them for $5, or go to happy hour every day. Usually a decent selection of regional taps such as Ninkasi out of Eugene. Dessert: The pies are home made and purchased from elsewhere, but good. The Key Lime pie is their best non-fruit-chunk pie. Don't bother with the pecan pie if you've ever had the real stuff from down south. Atmosphere and staff: A++ If this was just for the staff and atmosphere, I'd give it five stars. Great people. Comfortable place with lots of style without looking like they are ripping anyone off. Day to go: Tuesday all day are drink specials - $5 for signature cocktails and lower for beers and well drinks.
(4)
Heather B.
I have been here twice and while the food was ok the experience left me wanting to shower. The place feels extremely dirty. Also, the service is snotty. Not sure where some local places get the "you're lucky to be eating here" attitude but the staff was infected with it.
(1)
Jason L.
This place is great. Ok wait - the food is awesome. The service is sloooooooooow. And the servers can be a bit spacey. But, getting past that, if you're hungry and want some good southern food - go here. It's cheap, good and you get tons of food. Just don't be in a hurry. Normally, because the service was so slow I would give this place 3 stars - but the food really is good. The atmosphere is also nice and it's usually packed - full of SE Portland hipsters.
(4)
Anna S.
Delta is one of my long-time neighborhood loves. For me, it teeters along 5-ness - like some visits I'd give a 5, some a 4, and occasionally a 3. Things you need to know: - Service: quirky. The servers will not kiss your ass, and they are generally not in a hurry. I've never had downright terrible service there, but it IS very laid-back and sometimes comes with a bit o' attitude. I'm okay with this, but I know some people aren't. It can be a bit chaotic sometimes though. - Value: excellent. The food is terrific and the portions are big. Incredibly, a few years back the portions were even slighter bigger and the prices were lower. It's still a great value, but I give 4 stars on this rather than the 5 it would have gotten about 4 years ago. - Ambience: very Portland. Like weirdness? Mismatched coffee mugs? Hideous wall art? Koi fish with that disease that makes them all fat but doesn't hurt them? Appreciate bathroom graffiti that says, "I f*cked your mom!" and then the reply, "Go home, Dad. You're drunk."? I sure do! But not everyone sees charm in these things. Maybe be aware of that when selecting your dining companions. - Convenience: not so much on the paying. Cash only here - boo for that. But then again, screw The Man and the big credit card fees they charge businesses - I understand that too. I just don't carry cash much. Luckily there's an ATM right across the street, or a Safeway nearby to stop first and get cash back from buying a pack of gum if you REALLY want to say screw The Man! - Booze: ohhhh yep. Fulkl bar with stiff, tasty, reasonable drinks. Deal-o-rama $1 red beers at brunch, if you're into that. A little bit of context - almost all of my visits here have been for dinner. The food has been been reliably awesome. When they first started brunch about a year ago, I tried it and was underwhelmed. No more - I went in this past Sunday and was mightily impressed. The French Toast is pure euphoria! Huuuuge thick pieces of soft, buttery brioche with a bit of homemade berry compote on it... The menu said it would be "one triangle", but what I got was a monstrous hunk of glory. In summary... yes yes yes. Damn, now I'm thinking I want to change my rating to 5... but the consistency thing does matter. But I already want to make out with the Delta's Jambalaya and their French Toast, so in a couple more visits I'm sure I'll be knocking it up... that extra star. Hahaha.
(4)
Jenn C.
Having several friends from the South (Mississippi and North Carolina, respectively) it is no surprise we are often looking for a great place for some Southern comfort food. Believe you me, we've tried just about all of them (I think...) So after moving a couple of them all day and preparing for a night of celebration, we started at the Delta Cafe. It was really warm (or maybe it was the vodka) inside, but we didn't mind once the aroma of deliciousness filled our nostrils. I had the gumbo (soooo good). Southerners at the table said it was a little off--too much fake smoke flavor for them. The okra was not the best flavor I've had in Portland, however, it had a great crispy breading. Like your PBR in a 40 and served in a coffee can filled with ice? Does it get better, Portland? (Well as a beer snob, yes, but I get it--so I'll roll with those of you who enjoy their Pibber). The atmosphere is really unique to the other cajun/creole places I've visited. A table that screams of voodoo and other cajun dogma with lit candles and doll parts, paired with the low lighting and dark wall colors really makes this place worth visiting.
(4)
Stella S.
I really wanted to give this place 5 stars but the reality is that not everything my friends and I ordered were good. The hush puppies with chicken gravy (Pups in a Pond) were VERY bland. We didn't even finish them. My drink, Darla's Sidecar, was actually kind of gross. It tasted like bad oranges. But I drank it anyways since it was $7. And my friend was not a fan of his side of biscuits and gravy. He mentioned the biscuit was pretty dry and if it had the same chicken gravy that was on the hush puppies, then I understand how that wouldn't help either. Now, on the upside! The inside of this place is rad looking! I love the decor they have going on. The staff was friendly as well. My smoked bbq brisket was awesome! I got the potato cheese casserole and the new orleans red beans & rice as my sides. Both very good, even though the "casserole" was more like a scoop of awesome mashed potatoes. My husband loved his jambalaya and my friends really liked the tender bbq pork and the meatloaf they ordered. The mac-n-cheese is garlicky and delicious! i definitely suggest trying that. Next time, I'm going to order the ginger float because the table next to us had one and it looked epic. Served in a mason jar with a large topping of whipped cream? Sign me up! So definitely give this place a try. I don't suggest the hush puppies and gravy, but i do recommend getting yourself some mac-n-cheese and trying some delicious meat entrees. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Christine M.
I'll put it this way; Delta is my place of choice for the once-a-year-extra-special birthday dinner. Holy smokes. I have been there quite often, consistently delicious and great service.... in fact SO GOOD that I will take any excuse to go eat here; hence the birthday pick. BBQ Tofu (dressed) Po'boy, veggie collard greens, GIGANTIC & PERFECT cornbread, pecan pie... and whatever drink I'm in the mood for. Lordy.
(5)
Stacy L.
Normally, Delta is pretty darn good for that down home southern cooking. I had the red beans and rice last night and it did not disappoint, so why the 2 stars?? Well the cornbread that came with my meal was awful. It didn't taste day old, it tasted week old and I told the waiter so. Did he do anything about it? Nope. The carefree attitude at this restaurant is usually one of it's charms, but not when it compromises the dining experience.
(2)
Srk K.
This review is from a couple years ago and we haven't been back. Sounds like things haven't changed though. We went for dinner and drinks and while I like a dark atmosphere the one here is just gloomy and creepy. I've been to the south and the food served here is nothing like it. Honestly I could take the interior decorating if the food blew my mind but it did not. Most bland mac and cheese I've ever had. They need to get some new recipes and cooks. Haven't been back and won't ever unless something changes.
(1)
Misty S.
This will be a short review. Why? After a much-awaited trip to Delta for my daughter's fifth birthday (I had been hanging on to a Groupon for months), my family had to leave early. Damn kids. From my short experience, the servers were okay and the food was pretty decent. My Blood, Sweat and Tears adult drink was fabulous! We only got a few bites into our dinner when our two kids decided it was crazy time and wouldn't sit still if their lives depended on it. I had a chat with the bartender on the way out...thanks for listening to me bitch, man! All in all, I would come back (sans children!!!) to give this place a more thorough review. For anyone who had to witness my kids being awful, I'm sorry. At least we packed our stuff up and left instead of staying for the whole meal...right? After finishing our dinner at home, I can say the Gumbo and the Jambalaya were great!
(4)
Ivan S.
I have had many a fantastic meal at the Delta. My last one started well enough. The Cozy Shack was a delicious cocktail to start with. If you stumble in on a cold evening, get it served hot and you will be warmed up in no time. Our party got an appetizer of corn and black-eyed pea fritters and corn bread. The fritters light and fluffy, like a fritter should be. I enjoyed mine with some Aardvark hot sauce along with the black-eyed pea green chili cheese dip that came with them. For dinner i ordered the blackened catfish with red beans and rice and tater tot casserole. The fish was well prepared and the aioli and remoulade that it was served with paired perfectly. The red beans and rice are always fantastic and did not disappoint. The low point in my meal came when I tried my casserole and found it to be cold. My wife also ordered it as a side and hers was cold as well. Overall the service was good and attentive, but I would appreciate it if they took more care to make sure their side dishes are served hot.
(3)
Diana L.
I've heard some really great things about Delta Cafe prior to coming there with some girlfriends earlier this week .. But Delta Cafe left us with no reason to ever come back. Facts: 1. Food wasn't bad at all .. Definitely around/above average. HOWEVER 2. Table was sticky and dirty .. And server/waitress did not clean. 3. Drinks were not made correctly. 4. No offer to re-make drinks or allow us to choose something different. 5. No Mashed Potatoes on a Thursday evening?! 6. Crappy service overall. Bottom line? If you are looking for a little soul food then maybe this is the spot to go .. Just be aware that you may take a little abuse on the service side of things while drinking down the sweet tea.
(1)
Traci R.
What a pathetic ass excuse for a shrimp po'boy. I had to seriously comb through the coleslaw to find the shrimp. SERIOUSLY? I had to laugh to keep from crying. I don't even want to spend any more time typing my disappointment. But this ain't about NOTHING right now. I feel like I just got hoodwinked. :::livid:::
(1)
s. m.
The Delta Cafe has a very eclectic atmosphere but for me it's all about the food and with that said I have to say their catfish takes the win! It's seasoned and breaded just right, moist all white meat with aioli and remoulade sauce. Too much okra in their gumbo though but that catfish is Mmm mmm mmm mmm good!
(4)
Ivan M.
Overpriced food. Okay for drinks.
(2)
Khang N.
I took my girlfriend here when we stared to date and I'm glad to share this place with her.. Definitely a nice date spot.. I usually get the chicken fried steak with mash potatoes.. The portions are huge and cheap! It's just excellent!~ The service is great. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. A place you must check out..
(5)
Alexis Y.
We haven't been the delta for a year, even though we always liked the food. We went Friday night and loved it. My husband had the chicken fettichini with green beans in a mushroom sauce. I ate half of his beans they were so good. I had the pulled pork on Texas toast......yum. It had a great flavor with a sauce of sweet and hot. I miss the cauliflower and cheese side, but loved my dinner. Will go back more often. The service was really good and the server helpful.
(4)
Adam G.
Great drinks, great food, and great staff. The happy hour is awesome, and the brunch is bonkers. What more could you want?
(5)
Sara M.
Just not my style...I really wasn't feeling the dark restaurant, loud music, etc. The food wasn't very good...I'm thinking maybe it's a hit or miss. Pork tasted dirty - the only reason pork typically tastes dirty is because it's old pork....pretty messy and sloppy...spilling all over my plate. I don't think I'll ever be going back here.
(1)
Johana M.
I write this review with my belly still full of delicious Delta dinner! With a friend in from out of town today, we somehow forced ourselves to walk to the top of Multnomah falls in 30 degree weather with super cold wind blowing literally and figuratively the entire time. Post 3-hour freezing hike, we needed some serious comfort food. This brings us to the Delta. We came inside only to have a heavenly scent fill our noses. We immediately knew it was a good choice. Their drinks are excellent; we had a hot toddy and a mothers milk. Some of their cocktails are made from house-infused liquor, and I remember once at a Delta brunch (also worth noting and trying) I had a cucumber vodka drink that was insanely refreshing. We both agreed that food-wise we were interested in a big bowl of HOT and damn did they deliver! I got the tofu a la sauce piquante which might be one of the best comfort foods Portland doesn't know about. It's crunchy fried (but light tasting) tofu dropped into a giant bowl of heavenly red sauce and a scoop of rice. My friend even said she was a little jealous of my choice after tasting it. And it came with a side of piping hot mashed potatoes and gravy. Hers was another big bowl of rice and beans that she said was hearty and fresh and went well with a recommended side of 'veggie' collard greens and cornbread. The service was prompt and unpretentious, and also gave us a good amount of space to just enjoy the atmosphere (Mardi Gras + Dia De Los Muertos + Portland eclectic) and our grub. And, the price was just right.
(4)
Deborah H.
I am so sorry to write this, as I used to really love the Delta Cafe habiting it with my eldest son and his friends. I remember just being SO enthusiastic about the BBQ ribs and chicken and the delicious sides that I wanted to treat my younger boys and their friends there. I admit that it's been 2-3 years since my last visit. My carload of kids and I arrived at 6:00 p.m. with hardly a wait at all. All looked good. We had a very nice waitress who was personable and helpful. I ordered the most expensive items: the mixed ribs and chicken entrees and the BBQ pork rib entrees. I then order the large sample side option, bringing 8 side dishes to the table. The corn bread came first, very coarse and 'authentic' tasting. Then came all the entrees and side dishes..... The BBQ items did not smell good at all and at the first taste ALL of us made faces at our food. "It tastes like cigarettes." "Mine isn't good at all." "I'm not going to be able to eat this." And mine? "This tastes like an overdose of liquid smoke." We couldn't eat the ribs and chicken at all. We were hungry so we tentatively approached the side dishes. Collard greens? Fibrous. Mac N Cheese? Bland and flavorless. Tater Tot Casserole? Mushy. Red Beans and Rice? Simple, but eaten. Salad? Too many onions. Mashed potatoes and gravy? All right. I could go on, but I won't. There wasn't a satisfied person at our table. The smokey smell was giving me a stomach ache and the after taste of that stuff is lingering still to make me write my first bad review of an establishment I used to love. What has happened? I'm sad to do this, but I spent too much money this evening with the hopes of a great Delta Cafe experience. My first thought was that it must have been a new cook who loaded in that terrible Liquid Smoke junk so that it was inedible. I just don't know. I took all the BBQ meat home, but when we opened it up to taste it again, it was inedible and we dumped the whole lot. I'm not kidding, this is sad but a true rendition of what went down. Thumbs down this evening with the hopes that your Delta experience will be better.
(1)
Lucky B.
Definitely good breakfast! We all enjoyed what we ordered, service was friendly and the atmosphere is good.
(4)
Jacob M.
The food and drinks were decent, waitstaff was "ok"... not much else to say about it. It's not a "bad" restaurant, but a pretty heavy gut bomb and I didn't think the flavor was anything to do back flips over.
(3)
Sara M.
Brunch or dinner, it's a winner. Although, I'll go with brunch: the make-your-own bloody Mary bar with garlic infused vodka, red beers, beignets with lemon curd! Choose your own adventure for your entree: I like the baked eggs with cream and herbs or the bleu cheese frittata. YUM. Dinner is great and the servings are more than generous, although my only complaint is that on a busy night I come home smelling like I was manning the fry station all night. But, a bucket of 40oz PBR and a tender filet of blackened catfish never made me regret the evening. Chash or check only, folks, so be prepared. ATM on site.
(4)
Morgan C.
I found out about this place because of a Groupon a few months back (wish I had bought it). It sounded like a good place to try (after all they have a bloody mary bar and $1 red beer). If it weren't for the other reviews I probably would have just kept driving (little hole in the wall place, with a washed out sign and not much room to wait for a table) but I went with a group of friends this past Sunday for brunch and I'll be back many times to come. We ordered a few baskets of the beignets and while they were over cooked a little, they came with a Lemon Curd that could stand up on its own (I believe there was a few moments of finger licking that happened). The portions are large - four pancakes the size of my head, biscuits and gravy (brown gravy which I thought was interesting) that had to be taken home and the BEST eggs benedict I've had ANYWHERE in Portland.
(4)
Amy S.
What is up with the rude servers?
(1)
Todd V.
Well hell yes. This place was great, with the menu and atmosphere a solid combo. We went for an early dinner, and between happy hour specials, one dinner plate and a beer, came away stuffed and with another full meal in leftovers for 2 for about $25 before tip. Best: the server, great in all aspects rice and beans side scalloped potatoes side hush puppies Great: catfish bites, though the fish itself came in 2nd to the breading Pretty good: okra, which was good but again light on overall flavor Borderline: fried chicken, great at the time but tasted really strange the next day. We really enjoyed the overall experience but the off taste of the chicken the next day was a real turnoff. I'd go back but would not order the chicken.
(3)
Tanna P.
I love coming here for breakfast on Sunday mornings! We usually get here just after they open so we don't have to wait. I usually get the Delta breakfast with a side of french toast! Sooo good. The bloody Mary's are very good and so is the red beer. We dine in for dinner sometimes too and I usually get the meatloaf with mac-n-chesse and cornbread. So good. One time I saved room to get dessert so I got key lime pie and that was pretty darn good. I've always had a good experience since I moved to this neighborhood five years ago. It's a bummer they are open a little earlier on the weekdays for a late lunch.
(5)
Erin K.
I love this kind of food! If you are in the mood for hushpuppies, go for the ones in gravy, you will NOT be sorry, as they make a mean chicken gravy. And the BBQ Pork was awesome, we went for the "mixed" sauce (rather than sweet or spicy) and it was perfect, and in perfect proportion to the meat. Also, we found the texas toast-like bread that was under it to be a wonderful hearty addition. The only thing I didn't love were the sweet potato fries... although they were good, it was much more like eating a sweet potato than a sweet potato turned into a fry (not crispy at all), and I was really in the mood for a fry. BUT, my heart belongs to the Screen Door when it comes to collard greens and mac and cheese. These offerings at the Delta were good (specifically the greens), but the Screen Door's are drool worthy, so it's pretty hard to compete with them. The dessert options looked great too, and we went with the ginger float which I wish I would have thought to make sooner, it was great! They have great happy hour (4-6pm) prices with 1/2 price appetizers and $2.50 well drinks and draft beers. My husband and I could totally eat a happy hour dinner here consisting of hush puppies, mac and cheese, and collard greens and a couple beers for $15 which I think is pretty awesome.
(4)
Liz C.
So, this place isn't at all what I expected, BUT it was good. I am from the south, so I LOVE me some BBQ, and the brisket here was pretty freaking good. The sweet tea was PERFECT and served in a large Mason jar. classic. a few things to note if you plan on going here: Cash or check only! no cards...but there is a US bank and Chase bank within a block of the joint. Also, late night is bar seating only so you have to be 21 so after about 9 pm don't bring the kids. I agree with Patrick S, a somewhat cheap feel to the place, but a charm that says "i'm at home" I guess that's pretty reflective of the south. needless to say, it's down home soul food that's decently priced.
(4)
Elizabeth E.
Average fare, in average portions, for an average price. A friend suggested we head across town to check out the brunch at Delta Cafe, and I was excited because I'd heard mostly rave reviews. However, after the so-so service (okay, it was bad but friendly) and the mostly flavorless food, I walked away feeling disappointed. I went with two southern-raised gentlemen as well, who felt simiarly about their experience. While the beginets were delicious, the grits were sad, the portions were a bit on the small side, and the sad presentation of the largely average food was enough to convince me that I don't have to head all the way back across town to give it a second shot.
(2)
Lindsay S.
Ok, I think there are new owners in the house. The place looks nicer, but the prices are higher for less food and less choices. What used to be a cascading plate of food goodness good for leftovers the next day, has turned into regular portion sizes for more $. Also I was denied my own choice of a side and stuck with something I didn't want and didn't eat. Waitress seemed annoyed when we asked about the changes (I'm sure she gets a lot of q's about it, but didn't have to give a visible eye roll). We have not been back since. The food baby magic of the Delta is gone!
(2)
Jason B.
All I have to say is DONT READ THESE REVIEWS and play the guessing game... ): IF you like southern style food??!!! You WONT be disappointed! ;-)
(5)
Jodi C.
I have vehemently tried to cook southern food. i have chopped fingers and grated knuckles and cursed in southern accents. To no avail. my fried green tomatoes were a force to be reckoned with -- a force that directly attacked the balance of my stomach acids. I have a confession to make: I've even managed to bunk cornbread... Isn't that one of those dishes that a four year old can successfully concoct? Well, not me. But despite my inability to create southern comfort food of my own, I love the notions and recipes behind southern cuisine. There's a charm to it you can't quite find anywhere else. So I guess it's really no surprise that I ADORE the Delta Cafe. The vegan options are a bit of slim pickins, but as an ex-vegetarian, my heart (and my love handles) fell madly head-over-heels for the tater tot casserole. A casserole. With tater tots. Lawdy lawdy lawdy! A greasy, gooey, crispy mix of tater tots, corn flakes, and cheese, all melted together in the oven? I'll take it. Deeeeelicious. For such a simple food, the black eyed peas and rice dish is very hearty and flavorful. And some day, I will have a chance to try the barbeque tofu and the veggie jambalaya. Some of their southern-style foods include White Trash Meatloaf, traditional Jambalaya, hush puppies, huge barbeque portions, charred catfish, and a Po' Boy sandwich menu. I'm also a big sucker for the restaurant/bar's ambiance. Vibrant colored walls. Odd paintings, plants, and mirrors abound, comfortable booth seating. The soft sound of blues seemingly seeping through the walls... Definitely charming. The wait and bar staff are young, slightly aloof, and friendly enough for me. So long as you're not wasted in the bar. Which can be hard to avoid, since they also serve up 40s of Pabst Blue Ribbon in a tin can full of ice. Enjoy the mason jars. And try the pecan pie.
(5)
Kim K.
Get your fix of Southern food! Can't go wrong with the hush puppies or collard greens! Incredible!! Staff is friendly and helpful with choices!
(4)
L C.
Umm HELLO...The beignets with lemon curd...YUMM...with strong coffee...YUMMER! Also ordered the the Southern Scramble with andouille and crawfish...pretty good. It's how I would expect my scramble to taste! One thing that you should not mess up is eggs...I love my eggs and this place does it right! our server Valerie was on it that morning too. Will definitely be back SOON
(4)
Briana B.
I love this place, every time my husband and I visit Portland I try to make a Delta stop. I especially love their brunch. Just good southern cooking with a northwest flair.
(4)
Molly M.
First time out of the gate at this place was pleasant. Best eggs benedict I've found in Portland but it seems the her was a bit over zealous with the rush and overdid on the home fries...they were a bit too crispy for my taste. The service was awesome and they were very attentive. 11am brunch on a sunday and only a five minute wait...cant bat that! I'll be back to try the fried chicken!
(4)
Sandra W.
It's a dive, Louisiana style. I kept straining my ears to hear the familiar twang of the "S'uth'ners," and Creole music, and half-expected to see Guy Fieri and a camera crew walk in at any moment, and watch his meal being prepared in the kitchen, and then take a big huge bite of the Gumbo and react overdramatically to the intense flavors in the dish. And just as quickly as I was convinced I had been teleported to NOLA, the waitress, with her pink-streaked hair, nose piercing and cowboy boots would appear to refill my water or check to see if we needed anything. Nope, this is Portland. Great service, great vibe, and real Southern cookin'. I reckon supper don't git any better than this.
(5)
Georgie K.
I have been going to this place for years, but recently we moved closer and go there more often and have to say it is not what it used to be. The food is fantastic, but the service is spotty. I think food and service are equally important. We were recently waited on a man that seemed to not care too much about being a waiter and lacked any type of manners. He did not just suck as a waiter, but if I met him at a party I would of thought he was kind of an asshole. We are not sure if we want to go back or not. Maybe they do to go food. Such a bummer usually such a fun and great place, but we do not need to go out to dinner and deal with some jackass and then be expected to tip him in the end. They need to do some serious server training over there or the owner just doesn't care about the customers. I gave 3 stars for all the other great servers and good food, but if I was basing it on this one experience I would have gave 1 star.
(3)
Amanda L.
Just had dinner here, and it was pretty good, if you like southern food. There are veggie options, which is nice (and imperative for me, since I'm vegetarian), and you can order 3 sides to create a meal. Definitely a place to take a group of people who have differing food preferences. Giant plates of food, there was no way I was finishing (but my guy did). Good flavors, excellent (albeit indulgent and fattening) mac and cheese. They also have interesting drinks, well worth the $7-8 each. Also! You can't really beat a 40 oz Pabst in a champange bucket. Gross bathrooms though.
(4)
Michelle P.
To the owners of delta cafe: you need to really think about whats really going on. Your wonderful restaurant in slipping away. In 5 years the menu has gradually gotten worse. We loved the day when you could order meatballs with a side of tomatoes and okra. Now its meatloaf with the bbq sauce on it. We just ate here on friday night and we were dissapointed. No more grits......really? How are we suppose to eat blackened catfish with no grits. We came every month traveling from beaverton all the way to se portland and we really love delta. Now the meatloaf recipe has changed. It used to be really thick and juicy with hunks of carrots and potatoes. On friday, it just crumbled apart. Even the bad road drink that is usually spicy was disapointingly mild. get rid of the weak ass black eyed peas. Thats just a filler that really isnt seasoned very well. All of the customers will be willing to pay whatever it costs but you cant shrink down the number of sides. We always tell our friends on how bomb delta is. The atmosphere and servers are really friendly. Its a really fun place to eat. Espically when you order a 40 of pabst. So whatch-u-gonna-do? One thing that you havent chinched out on is that wonderful mac and cheese. Once that goes...........well u know. Please please please for the sake of your customers stomach......bring back the old menu. The menu from 5 years ago. I love delta so much, but last time there reminded me of monica lewinski with the democrats.....it left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)
Nader A.
D@mn! Oh lordy, lordy...breakfast at the Delta Cafe...nothing, but NOTHING, beats it in my book! I've avoided the Delta like the plague (swine flu?) for YEARS! You see, I rarely dig on Southern food. Fried chicken is like at best a seasonal indulgence for me. I usually find it heavy, greasy, and uninspired - and while there is a measure of charm to a place that serves buckets o' PBR, I'm way over drinking that naf beer unless I'm seriously strapped for cash (in which case I'd be better served just buying a sixer of something quality and drinking at home). So, despite the Delta Cafe's standing as a "Portland landmark", I just never bothered to go. But smack in the middle of a roller derby marathon last weekend (Saturday bout and post-func libations, Sunday afternoon junior derby tourney) My Lady had to meet up with the other head coach for some bidness and Delta Cafe was the venue of choice. In addition to avoiding the Delta, we generally avoid going out for breakfast. And before you ask, yes we do live in Portland, and yes I do know that we're like the only people who don't go out for breakfast/brunch all the time. What can I say, My Lady abhors the idea of waking up on a day off to go wait in line somewhere, and I don't dig on eggs (slimy, liquefied pre-embryonic chicken? No thanks!). Until now I've never really thought we were missing much on our self-imposed breakfast embargo, and since PBR flows like rain here in PDX, I figured no big loss in not checking out the Delta, right? Wrong! My SE Staple breakfast ($6.50) was EXACTLY my idea of the most perfect way to start a day! A couple strips of pepper bacon or sausage (I think it was chicken, not pork based - I opted for tasty bacon), fantastic smooth, yet chunky Cheese Grits, perfectly crisp, lightly seasoned cubes of tofu (or eggs if you must), a slice of sourdough toast. The tofu was some of the best prepared curdled soy I've ever had (and that includes at Asian or hippie joints); it almost came across like crispy, fried potatoes - perfect for breakfast! Sure, I got a couple snide comments from the vegetarian at our table about being a bit confused (tofu AND bacon on one plate?), but I came THIS close to feeding a chunk of crispy tofu, doused liberally in Aardvark sauce and wrapped in bacon...I'm getting man wet just thinking about it! And then there's the booze...Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket, the booze!!! I went with some concoction called "Texas Coffee" (or some such name) that was bourbon, kahlua, coffee, a little more bourbon, and whipped cream. Great googily moogily, that was a ridiculous way to start your day. I think you could have lit that thing on fire, it was so crazy strong (and only $6-7 bucks). For those of you who like to combine salad with your booze, they have a full do-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar, as well as Mimosas, Bellinis, and other alcoholic beverages help you get a hazy start to your weekend morning! Seriously, this was the place for me! If I lived any closer the Delta Cafe could become a dangerous habit for me! Go there next weekend; you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Renee K.
Just got home from dinner here. It was so delicious. The brisket was delicious melt in your mouth fat. Cornbread pudding was to die for. And guess what? They took our credit card WOOHOO!!!! And the service was great. I guess maybe it is still "hit or miss" but I feel like maybe they are starting to try now. So if you are looking for a heart attack, go here!
(5)
Brandon S.
I can totally understand why people don't like the Delta Cafe. A lot of the things that I love about it probably rub some people the wrong way. But we've never had a bad meal there nor bad service. Our latest visit featured chicken fried steak - good with a nice spicy bite to it, but not a great chicken fried steak - and a pork chop special that was really good. Two big, tender pork chops that had a chipotle sauce on them. They were spicy, but not too spicy and really delicious. The sides, as always, were great. You can't go wrong with mac-and-cheese, tater-tot casserole and red beans and rice. I love the decor - especially the George W. tombstone over the bar - and I love the people. Our waitress was very friendly, helpful and heavily tattooed. But I don't understand why they don't take credit cards, but they do have an ATM on premises and there are numerous banks within a block so getting cash isn't an issue.
(4)
Katherine K.
Coming from the South I wouldn't go so far as to call it all super authentic, but I give them credit for their sweet tea and black eyed peas. The food was amazing, I ordered the blackened chicken - not blow away by it - but it was good, my husband's Jambalaya was perfectly spiced - easy to eat but with a kick of heat a minute or so later. If they keep making their mac-n-cheese the same way, I will be a loyal customer for years. The food was reasonably priced, the service was great.
(4)
Natalie W.
The cocktails are really good. The food? The food is greasy and hurts my stomach. This used to be okay when I could order an appetizer of meatballs and make that last for two meals. But the menu changed and the meatballs are gone and everything else is too much and too greasy. But the cocktails are really, really good. Sweet drinks, spicy drinks, refreshing drinks. I'm partial to the spicy ones - most notably the Bad Road, which is habanero tequila and pomegranate juice. They don't have that combo anywhere else. The Bloody Mary is pretty amazing also. In sum: The drinks are worth it. The food might be worth it - if you can handle greasy food and if the idea of a tater tot casserole makes you deliriously happy. It did for me once.
(3)
sarah y.
i don't claim to be a southern comfort food expert, so my opinion is skewed i suppose... i had the spicy blackened red snapper w/ mac & cheese and the seasonal stewed tomatoes and okra -- definitely yummy and worthy of the trip. hush puppies were rather dry and hard though :(
(3)
Lee P.
"40's for All" My Order. Yes can I have the blackened cat fish, and to drink... You have what, 40's of PBR? Yea sure thing Ill take that. First time here we went after the yelp party last week. I never knew you could order a 40 in a bar, Hands down that gets it 2 stars, and the cat fish, very tasty not to peppery almost perfect. Great atmosphere, will be going back again for sure.
(4)
Russ F.
Kind of a mixed review from me. I'd wanted to try this place for the longest time. It was my birthday so I was doing the picking and decided it was time to venture waaaay down in deep SE and try the Delta Cafe................................... OK, first the bad: Of the 5 persons working there that night, 3 were downright rude and indifferent. 2 were pleasant though including our waiter dude who although he also had a bit of hipster "what are YOU doing here"? 'tude, actually warmed up and treated us quite well. I ended up liking him and tipped him well but, I don't know, we were just sort of made to feel sorta unwelcome somehow by everyone else in the place. It was genuinely odd. We were a party of four, myself, my wife and my two teenage daughters. Anyhow enough of that part now on to the place itself: It's cool. It is. I like all the artsy and odd touches and lights and new orleans vibey stuff. For all that, it has a bit of a dingy vibe to the place that I couldn't quite put my finger on exactly. Lighting is cool but strangely uneven............we managed to pick out a booth that was SO dark I actually had to pull out a bic lighter and hold it up to the menu to read it and I am not kidding. Disconcerting to say the least. OK the food.............the food is very good. It is. It is good and it is plentiful. The menu could be a bit more varied in my opinion. I was craving oysters. I thought a place like that might have oyster shooters appetizers right? Nope. OK no oysters on my birthday oh well. However, the catfish and chicken fried steak were really good. I checked out the beer menu just for fun even though I wasn't in the mood but, I am a bit of a beer snob so I checked..............it was pathetic. This is a beer lovers haven this town right? Not at Delta Cafe. Pathetic selection. Truly abysmal. So I don't know. Kind of a mixed review from me.............. 1. Food is indeed quite good overall and plentiful. 2. *some* of the waitstaff though act like you are priveledged to be in their presence for some reason. Two women in particular absolutely REFUSED to make eye contact and smile and make us feel welcome AT ALL. Well EXCUSE ME. Asian male waiter dude saved the night for us. He was cool. If he hadn't been I would never go back good food or no. I'm still a little undecided about that actually. I think if you're gonna check out the Delta Cafe you should have in your mind that it is firstly a hipster BAR that also happens to serve great food rather than a legit restaurant that has a bar too. That was my feeling about the vibe of the place anyway. I'm gonna go 2 stars only for the malevolent 'tude in the place. 4 stars for the food. I guess I'll call it a 3 and round it out and that's being nice. Weird place but then that's Portland sometimes.
(3)
Abby S.
I went this weekend because I had a groupon and I had some company visiting and thought it'd be a fun place to take them to. I wasn't nervous and I actually had high hopes as I had previously eaten at Delta and enjoyed the food. What a bummer of a trip. The atmosphere seemed significantly darker and dirtier than my last trip. Once at the table, the coffee was so bad half of us couldn't drink it at all and the other half forced it down in hopes that the next cup would be better (it wasn't). The eggs were bland and seemed vaguely fake, and none were cooked quite right for our requests/method described on the menu (scrambled, over-easy, baked). The service was fine, the wait wasn't bad, but the food was not worth the trip. I felt a bit ashamed for wasting my company's short weekend in Portland with such a bland and tasteless brunch. And seriously, who has horrible coffee in Portland?
(1)
Q & A on Jason's Deli
When did Jason's Deli open?
First Jason's Deli was started on 30th November 1976 at Beaumont, Texas, United States.
Where's the nearby Jason's Deli?
There are around 275 delis in 28 states of the United States. You can locate a nearby Jason's Deli by using our Restaurant Listings Directory.
When does Jason's Deli open and close?
Jason's Deli opens early in the morning daily at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM on weekdays and 3 PM on weekends.
Does Jason's Deli have a drive through?
Yes, Jason's Deli has a drive-through. Besides the drive-thru, Jason's Deli also set up Jason's Express especially for on-the-go families to make things faster. Drive-thru and take-out options help individuals and families to order and pick their meal quickly while on a busy schedule.
Does Jason's Deli serve gluten-free items on the menu?
Jason's Deli isn't entirely a gluten-free environment, but it does offer a gluten-sensitive menu. You can order food from the gluten-sensitive menu to ensure your food is gluten-free.
Does Jason's Deli serve vegan items on the menu?
Yes, they do. The vegan options are limited at Jason's Deli. You can try the organic vegetable soup, spinach veggie wraps w/o cheese, hummus, salsa, guacamole, and many other options from the salad menu.
Does Jason's Deli Cater?
Yes, it does. You can use Jason's Deli's catering service to serve hot and fresh foods to your guests. Whether you want to feed 5 or 5000, Jason's Deli's experienced team can handle your catering order and ensure timely delivery.
What's on Jason's Deli breakfast menu?
Jason's Deli serves a variety of different items on their breakfast menu. You can try the breakfast sandwiches or wraps prepared with fresh-cracked eggs. You can pick up breakfast as early as 6 AM at any Jason's Deli nearby.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli is a popular bakery restaurant in the United States. Jason's Deli started its operation in Beaumont, Texas on 30th November 1976. The bakery restaurant was started by four partners: Joe Tortorice Jr., Rusty Coco, Pete Verde, and Pat Broussard. Currently, the delicatessen restaurant chain operates in more than 268 locations across 26 states in the United States. Jason's Deli is one of the most successful restaurant chains with under 300 locations.
Deli Management Inc. owns Jason's Deli along with several other deli restaurants in the United States. Jason's Deli is famous for its standard deli style menu where the customers can order from traditional sandwiches to salads, baked potatoes, and pasta. After initiating a health drive in 2000, Jason's Deli successfully eliminated added trans-fat from its food in 2005, later got rid of high fructose syrup in 2008, and finally removed MSG from its food. Today, Jason's Deli offers a wide range of food items including vegan and gluten-free dishes.
Healthy Food Options at Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli offers a standard deli style menu which consists of traditional sandwiches, soups, pasta, baked potatoes, wraps, and salads. If you choose wisely and skip the extra sides or dressings as you order at Jason's Deli, you can find a good variety of healthy food options at Jason's Deli.
Address :4607 SE Woodstock Blvd
Portland, OR, 97206
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street 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 : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
T D.
i love love love their mac and cheese. i have dreams about it!
(4)Jeremy L.
Delta Cafe isn't exactly a handy destination for breakfast, but I'll make the trip again. It takes forever to decide what to order, cause the menu is full of awesome. I opted for the special, which was a breakfast sandwich on a biscuit. It was good enough, but a bit dry. The cheesy grits made of for the sandwich, though. The two I was with both got pretty great looking food. In fact, I pretty much had to steal somebody else's french toast because it was so freaking amazing. I'll be back just for that!
(4)Kate C.
Fritters man, fritters. And the lights may flicker but with stevie nicks on the juke box, it's magic.
(5)Julie B.
Service is baaaaaaad! Waited at our table 25 minutes for drinks! I live in the neighborhood and am so sad this place has gone so downhill. A week before this I went for brunch, My food was freezing cold! I will not be going back!
(1)Amanda L.
Just had dinner here, and it was pretty good, if you like southern food. There are veggie options, which is nice (and imperative for me, since I'm vegetarian), and you can order 3 sides to create a meal. Definitely a place to take a group of people who have differing food preferences. Giant plates of food, there was no way I was finishing (but my guy did). Good flavors, excellent (albeit indulgent and fattening) mac and cheese. They also have interesting drinks, well worth the $7-8 each. Also! You can't really beat a 40 oz Pabst in a champange bucket. Gross bathrooms though.
(4)Michelle P.
To the owners of delta cafe: you need to really think about whats really going on. Your wonderful restaurant in slipping away. In 5 years the menu has gradually gotten worse. We loved the day when you could order meatballs with a side of tomatoes and okra. Now its meatloaf with the bbq sauce on it. We just ate here on friday night and we were dissapointed. No more grits......really? How are we suppose to eat blackened catfish with no grits. We came every month traveling from beaverton all the way to se portland and we really love delta. Now the meatloaf recipe has changed. It used to be really thick and juicy with hunks of carrots and potatoes. On friday, it just crumbled apart. Even the bad road drink that is usually spicy was disapointingly mild. get rid of the weak ass black eyed peas. Thats just a filler that really isnt seasoned very well. All of the customers will be willing to pay whatever it costs but you cant shrink down the number of sides. We always tell our friends on how bomb delta is. The atmosphere and servers are really friendly. Its a really fun place to eat. Espically when you order a 40 of pabst. So whatch-u-gonna-do? One thing that you havent chinched out on is that wonderful mac and cheese. Once that goes...........well u know. Please please please for the sake of your customers stomach......bring back the old menu. The menu from 5 years ago. I love delta so much, but last time there reminded me of monica lewinski with the democrats.....it left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)Nader A.
D@mn! Oh lordy, lordy...breakfast at the Delta Cafe...nothing, but NOTHING, beats it in my book! I've avoided the Delta like the plague (swine flu?) for YEARS! You see, I rarely dig on Southern food. Fried chicken is like at best a seasonal indulgence for me. I usually find it heavy, greasy, and uninspired - and while there is a measure of charm to a place that serves buckets o' PBR, I'm way over drinking that naf beer unless I'm seriously strapped for cash (in which case I'd be better served just buying a sixer of something quality and drinking at home). So, despite the Delta Cafe's standing as a "Portland landmark", I just never bothered to go. But smack in the middle of a roller derby marathon last weekend (Saturday bout and post-func libations, Sunday afternoon junior derby tourney) My Lady had to meet up with the other head coach for some bidness and Delta Cafe was the venue of choice. In addition to avoiding the Delta, we generally avoid going out for breakfast. And before you ask, yes we do live in Portland, and yes I do know that we're like the only people who don't go out for breakfast/brunch all the time. What can I say, My Lady abhors the idea of waking up on a day off to go wait in line somewhere, and I don't dig on eggs (slimy, liquefied pre-embryonic chicken? No thanks!). Until now I've never really thought we were missing much on our self-imposed breakfast embargo, and since PBR flows like rain here in PDX, I figured no big loss in not checking out the Delta, right? Wrong! My SE Staple breakfast ($6.50) was EXACTLY my idea of the most perfect way to start a day! A couple strips of pepper bacon or sausage (I think it was chicken, not pork based - I opted for tasty bacon), fantastic smooth, yet chunky Cheese Grits, perfectly crisp, lightly seasoned cubes of tofu (or eggs if you must), a slice of sourdough toast. The tofu was some of the best prepared curdled soy I've ever had (and that includes at Asian or hippie joints); it almost came across like crispy, fried potatoes - perfect for breakfast! Sure, I got a couple snide comments from the vegetarian at our table about being a bit confused (tofu AND bacon on one plate?), but I came THIS close to feeding a chunk of crispy tofu, doused liberally in Aardvark sauce and wrapped in bacon...I'm getting man wet just thinking about it! And then there's the booze...Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket, the booze!!! I went with some concoction called "Texas Coffee" (or some such name) that was bourbon, kahlua, coffee, a little more bourbon, and whipped cream. Great googily moogily, that was a ridiculous way to start your day. I think you could have lit that thing on fire, it was so crazy strong (and only $6-7 bucks). For those of you who like to combine salad with your booze, they have a full do-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar, as well as Mimosas, Bellinis, and other alcoholic beverages help you get a hazy start to your weekend morning! Seriously, this was the place for me! If I lived any closer the Delta Cafe could become a dangerous habit for me! Go there next weekend; you will not be disappointed!
(5)Beerboy M.
Everyone knows that the Delta does good dinner food, but the brunch is worth checking out too. Generally little to no waits for tables and food is a plus with so many breakfast places getting overloaded, plus it's backed up by good breakfast/lunch food. They do a brisket hash, southern scrambles, frittatas and the usual breakfast suspects, plus their great po boy sandwiches. All are well done like the dinner options, and reasonably priced. They also have drink options like red beer and mimosa variations.
(4)Russ F.
Kind of a mixed review from me. I'd wanted to try this place for the longest time. It was my birthday so I was doing the picking and decided it was time to venture waaaay down in deep SE and try the Delta Cafe................................... OK, first the bad: Of the 5 persons working there that night, 3 were downright rude and indifferent. 2 were pleasant though including our waiter dude who although he also had a bit of hipster "what are YOU doing here"? 'tude, actually warmed up and treated us quite well. I ended up liking him and tipped him well but, I don't know, we were just sort of made to feel sorta unwelcome somehow by everyone else in the place. It was genuinely odd. We were a party of four, myself, my wife and my two teenage daughters. Anyhow enough of that part now on to the place itself: It's cool. It is. I like all the artsy and odd touches and lights and new orleans vibey stuff. For all that, it has a bit of a dingy vibe to the place that I couldn't quite put my finger on exactly. Lighting is cool but strangely uneven............we managed to pick out a booth that was SO dark I actually had to pull out a bic lighter and hold it up to the menu to read it and I am not kidding. Disconcerting to say the least. OK the food.............the food is very good. It is. It is good and it is plentiful. The menu could be a bit more varied in my opinion. I was craving oysters. I thought a place like that might have oyster shooters appetizers right? Nope. OK no oysters on my birthday oh well. However, the catfish and chicken fried steak were really good. I checked out the beer menu just for fun even though I wasn't in the mood but, I am a bit of a beer snob so I checked..............it was pathetic. This is a beer lovers haven this town right? Not at Delta Cafe. Pathetic selection. Truly abysmal. So I don't know. Kind of a mixed review from me.............. 1. Food is indeed quite good overall and plentiful. 2. *some* of the waitstaff though act like you are priveledged to be in their presence for some reason. Two women in particular absolutely REFUSED to make eye contact and smile and make us feel welcome AT ALL. Well EXCUSE ME. Asian male waiter dude saved the night for us. He was cool. If he hadn't been I would never go back good food or no. I'm still a little undecided about that actually. I think if you're gonna check out the Delta Cafe you should have in your mind that it is firstly a hipster BAR that also happens to serve great food rather than a legit restaurant that has a bar too. That was my feeling about the vibe of the place anyway. I'm gonna go 2 stars only for the malevolent 'tude in the place. 4 stars for the food. I guess I'll call it a 3 and round it out and that's being nice. Weird place but then that's Portland sometimes.
(3)Abby S.
I went this weekend because I had a groupon and I had some company visiting and thought it'd be a fun place to take them to. I wasn't nervous and I actually had high hopes as I had previously eaten at Delta and enjoyed the food. What a bummer of a trip. The atmosphere seemed significantly darker and dirtier than my last trip. Once at the table, the coffee was so bad half of us couldn't drink it at all and the other half forced it down in hopes that the next cup would be better (it wasn't). The eggs were bland and seemed vaguely fake, and none were cooked quite right for our requests/method described on the menu (scrambled, over-easy, baked). The service was fine, the wait wasn't bad, but the food was not worth the trip. I felt a bit ashamed for wasting my company's short weekend in Portland with such a bland and tasteless brunch. And seriously, who has horrible coffee in Portland?
(1)Natalie W.
The cocktails are really good. The food? The food is greasy and hurts my stomach. This used to be okay when I could order an appetizer of meatballs and make that last for two meals. But the menu changed and the meatballs are gone and everything else is too much and too greasy. But the cocktails are really, really good. Sweet drinks, spicy drinks, refreshing drinks. I'm partial to the spicy ones - most notably the Bad Road, which is habanero tequila and pomegranate juice. They don't have that combo anywhere else. The Bloody Mary is pretty amazing also. In sum: The drinks are worth it. The food might be worth it - if you can handle greasy food and if the idea of a tater tot casserole makes you deliriously happy. It did for me once.
(3)sarah y.
i don't claim to be a southern comfort food expert, so my opinion is skewed i suppose... i had the spicy blackened red snapper w/ mac & cheese and the seasonal stewed tomatoes and okra -- definitely yummy and worthy of the trip. hush puppies were rather dry and hard though :(
(3)Lee P.
"40's for All" My Order. Yes can I have the blackened cat fish, and to drink... You have what, 40's of PBR? Yea sure thing Ill take that. First time here we went after the yelp party last week. I never knew you could order a 40 in a bar, Hands down that gets it 2 stars, and the cat fish, very tasty not to peppery almost perfect. Great atmosphere, will be going back again for sure.
(4)Windy S.
Took my mother here for brunch on Saturday. I wasn't too sure of the location and found myself in an area of Portland I have never been to. Wow, I've lived here my whole life and had never been to this part of Portland... Weird! We found a parking spot right in front, put our names on the list and were seated after about 20-30 min. This place is super cool. I like the originality from the decor to the people. We were seated at an old diner style table that reminded me of an old table my mom used to have in one of our run down rental houses when I was a kid. You could expand it by adding a piece to the middle. My mother admired the different lamp shades. I laughed at all the mismatched coffee mugs. The random outfits people wore brought me back 20 years. This was one big second hand store! We loved it! Ordered the beignets to start, which I thought were pretty good. The humongous iced teas were served in mason jars. My mother and I ordered The Delta (which was pretty much a little bit of everything). The grits were great and super bad for me! The bacon was crispy, just the way I like it. Eggs were properly cooked over medium. The french toast I found a little bit mushy in the middle, but eating the crispy edges was where it was at, I didn't need to eat more than that anyway! My mother chose the chicken sausage over the bacon, which I thought was a misstep. The chicken sausage had an overpowering peppery taste, but she liked it. My husband had the Southern Scramble (crawfish, andouille sausage). He's not much good for giving a review on food, but he cleaned his plate so I'll say it was a success! Prices were super reasonable for the amount of food. Wish I was in the mood for booze, but there was no "hair of the dog" in this girl! Will definitely go back for some drinks soon, as they had a pretty extensive cocktail menu! Maybe a 40oz in the champagne chiller!? For that reason alone I LIKE this place! BTW: Cash only
(4)Jesse G.
A few weeks ago we called for a to-go order. They said they were too busy on a Saturday night to offer it. We called again on a Tuesday and made the cut. I went to pick it up. The waiting area was empty. I could see our order sitting on the front counter. So I stood there to pay up. And I stood. And stood. Four servers walked past me without giving me a glance or a hello. Look, I've been going to the Delta for more than a decade. The same (a)pathetic servers have been there so long I recognize their faces. Their expressionless, distracted faces. Their mind is clearly on band practice, their new tattoo or their screenplay just about to be optioned. Why do they stay in the service industry when with their attitude, the tips can't be that great? Have they given up on life? Is the Delta one of those theme restaurants where people with money to burn get to slum in the gutter where punk rock will never die? Anyhoo, I started to lean forward on the counter, hoping to be noticed. Again, I was the only customer in sight. A waitress turned her back to me to play with the order computer. Finally she asked if she could help. I mentioned my order, which was just inches from her elbow. She looked at the ticket, didn't see my name and said it probably wasn't ready and walked off. I grabbed the ticket myself. There was my name, misspelled. A very common three-letter name. With no one around, just steps from the front door, I could've easily walked out with my dinner in hand and not paid. But I'm an honest man. Finally, another waitress deigned to stop by. For her trouble, she got a 60 cent tip.
(2)Ashlee H.
If there's anything I've learned about living in Portland for over a year now, it's that you people really love breakfast. A lot. I mean, so much that there are enormous lines pouring out of every breakfast establishment I want to try. Not that I blame you. Breakfast rocks. I've been wanting to try Delta Cafe since we moved, but just never got down to the Woodstock area much. We finally decided to try it, and when we were able to just walk on in with no wait at all on a weekend morning, I got a little nervous. Even places I consider mediocre have ridiculous crowds of people huddled outside the doors on the weekends. The first thing I could think of when I got my food and took my first bite was, "Wow. This place DEFINITELY deserves a line." I felt like I had cheated by getting a comfy booth immediately when I got my plate of awesome. For just $9, I got eggs, bacon, grits, AND french toast! That's a LOT of food! And all of it was exceptional. The bacon was just as good as Johnny B's (a place I loved just because of the amazing, crispy bacon), and the grits definitely rival the quality of Screen Door's. I'm from the south, and I gotta say, I don't miss some of my favorite artery-clogging restaurants in Georgia quite as much now that I've found this place. I discovered a little too late that they have sweet tea as well. I am still a little suspicious as I've not found decent sweet tea here yet (Pine State Biscuits is still on the list of places to try -- curse those aforementioned lines!), but it gives me an excuse to go back sooner rather than later! 4.5 stars because they don't take plastic (I prefer saving cash for food carts), but the friendly service makes me round it up to five.
(5)Patrick S.
I cannot explain why I like this place so much but I do. The menu is like a cut below screen doors but the prices are also reflective. The atmosphere is normally something I would call cheap but for some odd reason there is a great deal of charm in this place which may be remnants from ghosts of restaurants, bars, and cafe's past that once inhabited this establishment. The entire vibe here is completely laid back. There is a definite flow to how the service works here and it just works. Of course I was here for a late Saturday Brunch but it was raining. I was not completely over the hill impressed with the food. I had the baked eggs with cheese grits, a side of their chicken gravy with a biscuit and their special red beer. the red beer is Rainer with tomato juice and is only a buck, yummy. The chicken gravy, meh, I dunno. It wasn't bechamel based so I was a bit on guard but it didn't taste bad. The vegan gravy I tried however... I just have to say that people that follow a strict vegan diet must love it for some reason other than the food. Biscuits however were of stellar quality, dense and creamy. There are many other choices on the menu still so I will be back to try more. So there you have it -Food, Service and Price all three in perfect harmony which is a great place to be for any restaurant. They have that and they have me to like them as well which is a good thing for us both.
(4)C T.
Last week, my friend and I stopped by Delta Cafe to experienced the southern style food. We were promptly greeted by the host/bartender - Ahron, who was very friendly and helpful. We had the okra and chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. The mashed potatoes and mac n cheese were money!!! I will be going there again soon!
(5)Alex M.
HOLY HELL... where have you been all of my life. This is it folks... This is a place that encompasses much of what I look for in an establishment and really makes me feel lucky that I can enjoy it whenever I want. Bear with me as this is going to sound like an advertisement for this place. Turns out this is another place to ad to my "Favorite Tuesday happy-hour hang outs" in fact, this place might take the win. Shit I don't even know where to start... I will break it down: The Food: So effing amazing... I had the BBQ Pork po boy with coleslaw. it cam with a side of the mac and cheese. It was heavenly. The pork came in a spicy BBQ sauce and their house-made slaw that blew my mind. The same can be said for the mac and cheese. I got it on Tuesday special for $9 which seemed good to me. Had some of my friends cornbread which I loved, but I still need to come back and try the blackened chicken and the meatloaf. The Drinks: lets see here, I already mentioned the Tuesday happy hour. This consists of $2.50 pints and $5 cocktails much like other specials. One thing I did notice is that they serve PBR 40's in an ice bucket. This solves the one flaw in the engineering of the 40 oz container saving you from the warm last few sips. I have yet to try the cocktails that many of my friends rave about, but I will be back. They specialize in infused vodkas and all of the house drinks on the menu sounded AMAZING. The Building: Casual, relaxed, comfy booths, and in a good part of town... all good things here as well. I will be back soon, who wants to join me?
(5)Kenny H.
The Dinner, as I have reviewed prior, is totally worth having. Dinner is Delta. Hands Down. However, breakfast? I have tried it a couple of times due to being neighborhood and all...and both times it was non inspiring. The eggs with English muffins and some paprika sprinkled on top...basically tasted like "eggs and english muffins with paprika sprinkled on top". Not inventive. The potatoes were dry, under seasoned. I do not make a good breakfast...and when I eat breakfast at Delta, it reminds me of the sub par breakfast I make on my own. Even the Stumptown just didnt taste quite right to me. Now had the breakfast been like $5-6...I wouldnt be too harsh, and would even be a occasional diner. But for $9-10 meals? Seriously... It isnt worth it. Buy some English Muffins and a carton of eggs...
(2)Casey R.
I tend to shy away from the 'hipster dive' places, and I would put Delta Cafe in this category. Definitely attracts the clientele that is wearing the same ironic thrift store t-shirt that they wore out the night before. Seriously, how many times can you see a faded green t-shirt that says, "Wisconsin is for Lovers" without wanting to stab yourself with a fork? To be honest, I don't see the attraction to this place from someone who wants to be cool, yet is on a budget. They seemed pretty pricey to me for brunch. Seems like maybe their main draw is the dinner service, perhaps. My wife and I, however, went for brunch. I had the biscuits and gravy (as I do wherever I go) and it was...just okay. Nothing to write home about. It's definitely not set up for kids, though they are accomodating nonetheless. So, although I'm sure they probably have a decent dinner, and probably other choices on the brunch menu would probably suit my needs, I'm steering clear of here more than likely, unless I decide to pull out my old "Twinkie the Kid" t-shirt I got from the Salvation Army for 2 bucks over 8 years ago. I'll make a return visit to experience the dinner that folks seem to rave about, and this $1 red beer business.
(3)Sarah A.
OH my god, I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Great atmosphere, great food, and I like the wait staff. This is EASILY one of my favorite places in Portland if not the favorite. I love the blackened snapper, the collard greens, the potato cheese casserole. Two things that they took off the menu that they sometimes have as specials that are amazing are the meatball appetizer and the cauliflower casserole. Oh, the mac and cheese is great too! I've never had a bad experience here, never had bad food at all. LOVE IT!
(5)Susan B.
I ate here years ago with my brother and everytime I visit Portland I want to make it back but never have until last month. It was better than I remebered it! My boyfriend and I went and got "Pups in a pond" for an app, I had about half of my meatloaf sandwich and he downed his catfish. We were both a little too full, bu that's the point of soul food! My sandwich tasted great the next day too. Yay Delta Cafe!
(4)Karma L.
Love me some Delta! Good decor, not boring or snobby. Excellent drinks, and the service is usually fast and friendly. Be in the mood for some good fried food, with enough to take home for later.
(4)Emi T.
I don't know that my review is gonna add much here, but the Delta is awesome! Went there for my first time tonight. Our waiter was nice but not overly friendly in that cheesy way - he gave us our space while still making sure we had everything we needed, which I always appreciate. And the decor is awesome, it's very much a mish-mash and just feels really cozy-cool. But the food is (perhaps as it should be) the highlight here. Southern/comfort cooking at its best. Everything is really simple, but really good. I highly recommend the tator tot casserole as a side, and the hush puppies as a starter. Although, my lord, the portions are huge so it's not as if you actually need the starter. The mac and cheese is really excellent, too. Someone else wrote that Screen Door is way better, but I think it's less a question of better/worse and more a question of what kind of restaurant you want to go to. It's like The Delta is for the young, hip, on-a-student-budget-whether-or-not-they're-still-Âstudents and The Screen Door is where those same people will go ten years from now when they've decided they don't like the loud music anymore and they can afford the pricier fare. The Screen Door is sleek in a way the Delta isn't, but personally that's why I prefer the Delta - it's more casual/comfortable.
(5)Nancy K.
Came in for weekend brunch. Again, no wait to be seated. I had the fried shrimp po'boy and it was awesome. The shrimp was fried perfectly and not greasy at all and they certainly did not skimp on the portion. I had to eat a bunch of 'em just to be able to fold the bread. I really like this place for brunch because they serve sandwiches and stuff that is not geared towards breakfasty food (I'm not a big fan of eggs).
(4)Z Z.
Screen Door is miles better than Delta Cafe for sure, especially for vegetarians. When I asked our server (who had the ole hipster attitude for sure!) what vegetarian options there were aside from tofu (which I am not a fan of) he said there were really not a lot of them. I saw the note that all side dishes were vegetarian except where noted and I asked him about it he gave me the impression that not all of them really were vegetarian and didn't really want to take the time to elaborate. I ended up just ordering the sweet potato fry appetizer and the corn and black eyed pea fritter type appetizer. Both were just OK, rather greasy and all fried. Not that great for sure. It also took forever for my server to come back so that I could confirm that the sauces that were served with the appetizers were vegetarian. My husband ordered the jambalaya and asked for it spicy. He said it was super spicy but the jambalaya at Screen Door was so much better than this one. He wasn't super impressed. It also took quite a while for his soda to be refilled. Ehhh, I probably wouldn't go back. The server was just all filled with piss and vinegar, was too hipster for his own good, there were not a lot of vegetarian options, and the food was just OK. (The server even had attitude when we didn't order alcohol....whatever..) I say skip it and go to Screen Door. Screen Door is fantastic.
(3)Sarah Y.
I love the delta. i don't know why. i hate hipster places, and i hate places that pretend to be all divey and are really not. that being said, i love this place. maybe it's because i live within walking distance? or because they make all kinds of infused vodkas? if you go, get the earl grey vodka, it's good on the rocks or they also have a version mixed with soy milk that's damn tasty *_* so, even if hipsters aren't your thing, go and get drunk and laugh on the inside at them, it's what i do, and usually have a fantastic time. PS: never and i mean never ever go on a Friday or Saturday night! this is a weekday deal, for sure
(5)Jenna D.
great food, friendly bartenders, happy hour all day tuesday, all around great place. Just back back from new orleans and a good place to get your southern food fix.
(4)Yuri S.
OK ... so my boyfriend is obsessed with the Delta and said I was too harsh on them. I will say that the southern comfort food is good ... meaning dinner. And this is big for me since my roommate in college was from Alabama and made some "mean" collard greens. 40 oz. PBRs that come in a bucket are great. Still the winning vote for me are the drinks ... love the lounge feeling here. Super eccentric, decent food. The WINNING vote is for the infused vodkas! The drinks are amazing. Be warned about the habenero tequila drink. It's big, hot and overwhelming. Eaten here a couple times with my boyfriend. Not stoked on the brunch...only my grits come out hot...my sausages were still cold in the middle twice. But dinner is a different story...definitely much much better than brunch but not by much.
(4)Brenna P.
Great atmosphere, and I like the service with a bit of attitude. Good people. Now the most important part: they serve really well-seasoned, traditional Southern food. Granted, I am not from the South so I may not be the best judge, but I have lived in Florida and have been privy to many home-cooked meals...I know some. My favorites are the collard greens, and the blackened catfish. Unfortunately I don't live close-by anymore, but it is on my list of favorites in this town.
(4)Alvin S.
Dropped in here on account of a Groupon this weekend... Was very impressed indeed! The staff was WAAYY cool, laidback and 'oh-so-stylish!' I ordered the 'Better than your mom's fried chicken' with the mac 'n cheese and mashed potatoes.. and OMG, my tastebuds had a conversion experience. Great tasting food and the atmosphere was very 'Portlandia meets hipster N'awlins'.. Loved it! Will definitely be back to try more of the menu soon.
(4)Holly M.
I've only been here for brunch so far, but I am definitely coming back. I had the beignets (they are like little square doughnuts with powdered sugar), and they totally brought me back to New Orleans (well, the ONE time I visited). I also had the french toast and I think it was a blueberry compote on top, and while I am NOT a fan of blueberries, I enjoyed this dish. Service was friendly and not too hipster-ish. I do want to return and experience dinner and the bar. I will just have to remember that it is cash or check only (which I was like, seriously? Delta--get with the Plastic Revolution!).
(4)Corey V.
If you're in Portland, you have to try this place. $1 red beers and some of the best cheese grits I've had on the west coast. The red snapper and greens were a delight. I heard the chicken fried steak was amazing as well.
(5)Melissa P.
Just quit with the hip battitude. You're getting more arrogant each time. And your beer menu sucks. I'm non-plussed by the Melissey's Manhattan. Fortunately for you D, your fritters and mashed potatoes n gravy are killer.
(2)celeste m.
Delta for Breakfast in 2009! Don't get me wrong, I can usually be persuaded to consume hush puppies and a mint julep at most any time of night or day, but I just prefer the Delta for breakfast than dinner or late-night snacks and drinks. Service can sometimes be inexplicably slow, and they don't accept credit cards (yet they have an ATM in the restaurant -- a huge pet peeve of mine, but not enough to write them off.) But their menu is flexible and vegetarian-friendly. Eating vegan? Oh yes you can -- even biscuits and gravy!
(4)Madeline C.
My carnivorous little heart adores the Delta Cafe for it's brisket. Hands down, there is no better way to cure a wicked hangover than a Bloody Mary, grits, brisket, and collard greens. The atmosphere is just my style - a little bit all over the place. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Rawr.
(5)Sabrina H.
I am so excited to come back to this place! I came here with a fine group of ladies and we all tried something different. I had my first ever jambalaya (medium spice) and oh my goodness it was so good! The portion was just right for dinner and decently priced. Since everyone ordered something different I was able to try meatloaf, fried chicken, herb chicken (yes, it really is 1/2 of a chicken for this dish), and country fried steak. We all got artery clogging side dishes of mac n' cheese which is one of the best mac n' cheeses I've had from a restaurant and their special of the day which was a green bean casserole with bacon and cheese. I'm pretty sure I'm about to drool just thinking about these sides. I like the fact that there are so many side dishes to choose from that are your typical southern choices. They have the option of picking three of them as your entire meal or you can get a certain entree with either one side or two sides. There is also a nice variety of cocktails. I had a "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" which was vodka, lemonade and raspberry syrup. It is very refreshing for a hot day! Other drinks at our table consisted of a lavender iced tea with a booze I can't remember. I'm definitely ready to try their other drinks next time I go back. This is a very hippy-ish atmosphere. I really enjoyed it! The only thing I didn't like about it was the painting of a man's head in the bathroom. It seems to just stare at you while you're in there...
(4)Michael C.
This place was actually better than I was expecting. We went to the weekend brunch. The red beer (a combo of tomato juice and beer) was actually pretty good. I had the chicken fried steak which was great (could have used a little more gravy). The biscuit was a little dry but the rest was good. We had the fried bananas for desert (even though they are an appetizer). Really yummy stuff. Worth a trip. Really positive, chill place.
(4)kelsey d.
this is one of my favorite places in my neighborhood. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. They just started serving brunch on the weekend. My dreams have come true. Just remember to bring cash or your check book. They don't take cards. Did I mention that they have a full bar and cheese grits? Yum!
(5)Robin S.
I have been here twice in one week! I have really enjoyed my meal both times but the BF has not. First time, I had the fried chicken. Wow, this was some moist chicken and the breading was delish, not too greasy at all! The second time I went, I had the bbq pork. Holy pork, was it good! I had it with the sweet delta bbq sauce. I want more... The BF definitely likes his catfish bites which I do not partake. This is definitely not the place for you if you are watching your tummy size. The portions are huge! You get to choose two sides - I stay constant with the cole slaw but have also tried the mac n cheese and the potato n cheese casserole. I really enjoyed the potatoes. Another plus for the Delta, all day/night on Tuesdays is Happy Hour! Beware, they only accept cash.
(4)Fernet B.
One of my all time portland favorites - a little out of the way from where I'm at, but worth the drive! Brunch is great, too!
(5)Brandon H.
The cons first (because I really only have one): My husband and I are both former Southerners, and the cuisine at the Delta Cafe doesn't match the tin-foil casserole pan pot-luck/gooey hot-plate fare of our youthful years in Bourbon Country and Hotlanta. The pros: And that's a really good thing! While neither of us would call it "authentic," we heartily agree that it's INSPIRED. The food retained the Southern charm and comfort we'd grown up appreciating, and advanced it with some sophisticated artistry. The entrees and sides are fantastic--the fried chicken has a great crust and potent herb content, the meatloaf is just delicious under all of that rich chicken gravy, the mashed potatoes and cornbread bread pudding were out of this world. Their beverage menu was extensive and impressive as well. The big stand-out there was their jalepeno-infused tequila, which we had in a margarita--strong, flavorful stuff! Just amazing. The service was great--prompt, professional, and really polite. The portions are significant for the money. The desserts--particularly the pies--looked just stellar--too bad we were so stuffed. All in all, for two yummy entrees and two adult beverages, we got out of there for under $40. We're fans and will be returning soon.
(5)Robin C.
Dude! This place has gone down hill!!! I used to love the Delta, Who didn't? When this fair city was first courting me, trying to lure me up from Cahahlifornia-choo, the Delta surely played a roll in the whole Portland allure... I am not going to talk about what used to be... Because it is not that anymore... It sucks now. Straight up! The whole bottom of my plate (like the WHOLE thing) was covered in oil from the weepy (not creamy) mac and chee... My Special(ed) casserole side dish was lacking in all appeal and was a cold... So I asked for a salad with vinegarette and they brought me caesar but I was already being a whiny baby so I just ate the thing and proceeded to go kill vampires with my breath. It was all around just yuck! Sorry old friend but we are thru!
(2)Kristie B.
You all are a shining beacon on Woodstock. Becca-your hair is always perfectly placed on top of your head (and Joanie approves) and your cucumber-tequila shot pouring skills are mucho appreciated. Aron-its like your fingers were made for opening a 40. You make it look so easy. Luke-you stockpile drink orders behind the bar without a single drop of blood, sweat or tears (too over-the-top?). Nate-you have a way of shimmying and shaking behind the bar that is absolutely infectious. Jenna-could your smile get any bigger?! Dani-could your hugs be any nicer?! Steve-you are a king of one liners and constantly keep us in stitches at the bar. And the kitchen? Folks there are very few other southern-style restaurants in Portland that can match the magic for the price.
(5)Tall C.
I grew up in Oakland, CA. and have family down south, so i've tasted some of the best soul food there is to have, so upon moving to Portland some yrs ago, i was immediately looking for good soul food. I've tried many a place and have only been satisfied with with 2 so far(Traiel Cafe and Cannon's BBQ) but both places are way far from me, so i only go by every so often, but i Yelped for awhile and saw all these great reviews for Delta's soul food and had to tryit. Ironically, i used to hang out at this place for drinks a while back, but never knew they had soul food offerings. So i order the fried chicken dish with mac and cheese and greens and also got the corn/BEP fritters. I got it to-go, but i should've checked the box before i left......the chicken was totally over fried and looked nothing like the golden color it 's supposed to be. So i bit into it(thinking "this better be a damn good tasting bird for $13 for 2 pcs") and i'll say the flavor gets a B minus. The herbs and seasoning just were'nt all the way there, prolly cause it was all in that burnt up skin! the mac and cheese was totally flavorless. Doesn't cheddar go into that dish?? they use some kind of cheese that just has no flavor. The greens were very good tho. Just the right amount of vinegar and slow-cooked properly. But the real winner was those fritters! Oh man! i have to give the cook an A+ on those moist babies with just the right amount of honey(or sugar?) and the BEP was more like a souffle that u dip the fritter into and that tasted damn good. They only get 2 stars for the monotone table service i always got there when i used to hangout. it's alright to smile sometimes ya know? i sometimes hate my job too, but i still give every customer a smile no matter what. One thing i'm learning about Portland's ethnic food scene is that most of it is watered down, and missing key ingredients. Places like Cool Runnings and Montego Bay need to come back in business.....they had the spicy island flavors down pat. Finally, i'd say, if your looking for a good ethnic spot to eat and you're using Yelp to find it, look for Yelpers who grew up down South or are from an area where that style of food is done right (like me!! :p) to use as a reference.......they're usually spot-on . I'm still looking for the right Mexican joint without having to lower my standards and eat at Muchas Nastias...peace
(2)Catherine G.
I really wanted to like this place but maybe we were there on a really off night. We stuck with the basics- fried chicken, mac n' cheese, and biscuits. With the exception of the chicken breast I would be hard pressed to believe that the rest of my food was fresh. The breast was crispy and wonderfully tender on the inside. I should have stopped there. The biscuits were hard and dry, as was the mac n' cheese. No creamy or gooey or rich- just lumps of macaroni that looked like they were scraped out of a pan last night and reheated. And the flavor was bland not cheesey. The chicken drumstick tasted very much as if it had been frozen only moments before being battered and dropped in oil. Almost inedible. Oh yeah, it was inedible and I left it on my plate. Very disappointing. I get the kitschy vibe and the decor is fun but I would not recommend using the bathroom unless you absolutely have no choice. In which case you're only going to make it worse for anyone else who has to go so it is a lose-lose situation. Our server was funny and attentive so no complaints there. And the prices are very reasonable.
(1)Dre T.
Awesome comfort food! Once we walked in I was loving the quirky atmosphere and hip decor. Our server slid in the booth next to me and gave us the rundown and he couldn't have had a more cool demeanor. Great Tuesday happy hour all day and nice drafts and cocktails. We watched European soccer, enjoyed the tater casserole, Mac and cheese, and linguini. Definitely going back when I'm in the Woodstock neighborhood! Thank you Delta for a great night!
(4)Rob T.
The food here is definitely hit-or-miss. The smoked brisket dinner was awesome one day, but the smoked brisket sandwich was terrible another. The service is gruff at best and sometimes unbearably slow to the point of having to flag someone down just for a glass of water. I wouldn't go back or recommend this to anyone based on the poor service and lack of consistency in their food. The alcohol prices are RIDICULOUS and the beer selection SUCKS. Too bad there are so few options nearby.
(1)Desta S.
Food...pretty comforting just the way I like it...but SERIOUSLY...the one thing that remained constant between the two owners...MEDIOCRE service. I have taken friends here on numerous occasions...yes I know, glutton for punishment...but Hey, they are like 10 blocks from my house. Twice my friends have gotten in verbal altercations with their snotty slow like a snail on lithium staff...I work in a service industry. It is almost as hard to leave a tip less than 20% as it is to write a bad review...but after years of continuous ineptitude...Delta...GET IT TOGETHER!
(2)avis d.
I thoroughly enjoy the Delta, not just for the food, which is good, but more and more these days for the excellent service! I dunno, maybe it's because we always sit at the same table and get this one waiter (or if not him then it's this other guy who's equally attentive and great), but we always feel like we've had a nice dining experience and spent our hard earned money well. I wish these two fellows could, like, hold a seminar on good service for the I'm-too-smart/pretty/cool-to-serve-you-decently type waitstaff that seem to have descended like a plague on restaurants everywhere of late. Anyway, Delta dinners good. Delta brunch...a clusterf**k, but Delta dinners...good.
(4)Michael Q.
It's been about 18 months since my last visit to this much lauded place about a five minute walk from my digs in groovy Woodstock. Oh, I sure wish they'd stop paying payroll taxes, forcing them to be shut down for IRS problems, and then, maybe, just maybe (though doubtful), something better might fill this void. My recent visit was just downright creepy. I really feel like I'm venturing into some other dimension going in here, the second visit confirmed what I felt the first time. The staff were (using the British verb/subject thing here) absolutely, well, absent on many levels. They were busy, but they just seem absent. My simple meatloaf meal took 30 minutes to deliver from the time I ordered...meanwhile, other tables around me who ordered after I did, were served apps, entrees and drinks. I guess cutting that slab of meatloaf takes a long time? Or is it heating up the absolutely mismatched "chicken" gravy which tasted more like someone's leftover Thanksgiving turkey gravy, totally wrong. But chicken gravy on meatloaf? Never have seen that in my 57 years of roaming my southern homelands. I can't even recall the rest of the meal, not memorable at all, so maybe it wasn't so bad. And the meatloaf itself might have been ok had they not covered in Banquet frozen instant Thanksgiving sauce. Yuk. And the general vibe is just, well, as I said, creepy. Don't know if it's bad feng shui or the some sort of bio-chemical reaction to thousands of gallons of ultra cool tattoo ink, but, Delta, you and I are just not cut out to be together. Never again, really, this time I mean it!
(1)Jennifer N.
I will start by saying that once the Delta took the Stewed Tomatoes and Okra off of the menu, it changed my opinion of the place. It simply is not as good as it used to be, in several ways. Aside from the Stewed Tomatoes tragedy, it seems like the food has slowly gone from excellent to just plain good. Not great, just good. One time when I went there my Potato and Cheese Casserole wasn't heated all the way through. I don't mind knowing that restaurants sometimes employ microwaves for some things, but this was just a blatant reminder. Sometimes the service is good, sometimes it is not. I have experienced both in the extreme. I will acknowledge that the brunch there was quite delicious. I had the Eggs Benedict with Artichoke Hearts and it was exceptional. It used to be my go-to place to take out-of-towners, and it is still a good spot but there are a number of different spots I would consider for my visitors. The PBR in a bucket is a great, "only in Portland" touch. And the veggie collard greens are the best!
(3)Sara V.
Not a big fan of this place. Been here once and have no plans to ever return. Their so called "southern" food is not the best in town by any means. The service was bad, they just ignored us for most the time. The seating was terrible. We were seated at an uncomfortable table near the door (which was open most the time) on a cold weather night and had to keep our coats on the entire time. If you want good southern food that is closer to actual Louisiana style (and having lived in Louisiana I can tell you the Delta is a sad attempt at southern food) then go to Miss Delta in the Mississippi district and get a nice fried shrimp po'boy and some black-eyed pea fritters and wash it down with some RC Cola!
(2)Andrea V.
The first installment of Dining with Dad! Every Tuesday, my Dad and I go out to eat, usually to dinner (although sometimes we lunch). This week we tried Delta Cafe. I had always heard about Delta Cafe but somehow had never wandered far enough from NE to try it. Silly me! Or maybe I was worried that this was yet another of the Dreaded Hipster Joints that serve good enough food but you can't stand the hipper-than-thou atmosphere. SILLY ME! I can't say enough good things about Delta. Thing One: Steve, who greeted/seated us was very nice, smiled, looked like he'd bathed recently and pointed out a couple of specials not on the menu like the biscuits and gravy and the pies of the day. Wow! Already I was pretty happy. Our server was equally sweet and very knowledgeable about what Delta has to offer. I knew from other reviewers that I wanted to try a house infused drink - they were out of raspberry, sadly - so I had the Hey Ya! Pretty good - but I think more suited to summer drinking. The Hey Ya! uses a cucumber infused vodka and yes - it is very cucumber-y. We had fried okra for an appetizer, and it was hands down the best that slimy vegetable has ever tasted. Perfectly battered, not greasy and they give you a huge bowl of the little buggers. Dad had the jambalaya and declared it "hot but good". Nice chunks of chicken, sausage, and shrimp swimming in a spicy sauce. Our server brought some extra rice on request which tamed it a bit. I had Southern Sampler, choice of 3 sides. My choices were collard greens (w/pork), cheese potato casserole and red beans and rice. Good choices all, but I think I may try the mashed potatoes with gravy next time as the cheese potato casserole was a bit overdone and crunchy. The greens were perfection, smooth and meaty with enough vinegar; the red beans and rice had a little kick and that smoky flavor I love. Dad and I shared marionberry pie with ice cream and were so stuffed we could barely waddle out the door. I took home half my dinner for lunch today, we got out for $36, which I thought was reasonable for an appetizer, 2 drinks from the bar and two dinners. The service was OUTSTANDING here. Our server was so sweet, talked to us, brought us remoulade for our okra, extra rice and chatted with us about the place. I found out that the same guy owns Vita Cafe, in which case, he should drag the servers from Vita over to learn a few things from the servers at Delta. Like, how to shower and be civil. Cheers!
(5)David D.
I have been there twice. The first time I had the ribs, and the second time I had the beef brisket. The food is excellent and the portions are larege enough that you can take some home to have for lunch the next day unless you are starving when you get there. The sides are really good, especially the Mac-N-cheese and the corn bread. It is usually pretty crowded and can be pretty noisy.
(4)Sasha R.
I am writing this with hands still smelling of BBQ sauce from a tasty meal at the Delta. Man! I didn't know that PDX had such places, but this is the spot if you're wanting a chill and messy meal with friends. We had the ribs, mac and cheese, collards, red beans and rise and doggies and it was plenty. Ask for an iced tea and you'll get a bell jar full. This place was exactly the kind of unexpected that you expect and it's one of the stars on the list of keeping Portland weird. Go Delta!!!
(4)Rick B.
How can you still not take cards??? Are you kidding me? It's 2010!! Is that 50 cent service charge really going to kill your bussiness, if so you have many other issues. We waited here for about 25 mins on a Friday night. Then we were seated in the unlight dungeon in the back. I ordered and IPA and someone at the table ordered the cilantro taquilla margarita. We all agreed the taqauilla tasted good but the mix tasted below average. However, the old fashion with the tart sour cherries was a hit. For an appitizer we had the black-eyed pea and corn fritters. They were crispy and properly seasoned. The dipping sauce was green chilies, cheese and black-eyed peas. I don't really understand dipping something into it's self, but it wasn't that bad. When my entree came I was impressed. It was a huge chunk of brisket smoothered in a sticky BBQ sauce. The mac and cheese looked very good, dispite the very large elbow noodles. And the red beans and rice looked perfect. The brisket was nicely cooked and mostly tender. The BBQ sauce did taste homemade, however it was slightly too sweet for my taste. The mac and cheese was decent, but not southern style, you know custard style with some grated onion in there! The beans and rice were the highlight of this meal, and that should never be the best thing on a BBQ plate!! It seems to me that most people either love or hate this place. With slightly a few more haters than lovers. But I do find myself in the middle, I don't hate it, but I probably would only go back for a drink, or the classic PBR 40oz. served on ice! Ofcourse that is only if I happen to have cash on me, because I sure as hell won't make a trip to an ATM for this place.
(2)Hilary W.
I'm so up and down about this place. GREAT fried okra. Awful (rude, slow) service. Awesome collards. The cleanliness of this joint concerns me. I'm sure I'll go back - it's sort of a gimicky place to go and lots of people love this place. It's just not my favorite. And I don't wanna see what's going on in the kitchen...
(2)Amy S.
The BBQ pork spareribs were so good as was the snapper. For sides we chose the mac-n-cheese, collard greens, tater tot casserole, and red beans and rice. Most memorable... collard greens. Great flavor.
(4)Henry C.
The Summary: Interesting independent bar with good Cajun food and casual atmosphere. I didn't try anything from the bar so I can't make any comments on that. I would recommend this place to my friends and I would come back again. The Background: This hole in the wall bar is located in the middle of a strip of shops and is a little bit hard to make out, at least for me, driving through Portland for the first time during the evening. Delta Café is a bar on one side with a divider for the restaurant portion. It should be noted that the restaurant part does close down earlier than the bar but you can still get food served in the bar area until fairly late. The Positives: Food here is pretty good. I am a little bit spoiled because I've had Cajun food from Louisiana, but for something this far to the northwest, it's definitely a good place to go if you want your Cajun fix. I ordered the Jambalaya with a side of red beans and rice. The red beans and rice was okay, a little on the bland side. The Jambalaya itself was very nice and quite tasty with a good mix of ingredients. The Negatives: The bar is LOUD. While not quite the ear deafening noise of a club, it was definitely louder than most bars that I have been to. The noise made it quite difficult to be heard. On the positive side, the dining area and the back room next to the bar is on a separately controlled speaker system so they said we could sit in the back and they turned off the speakers.
(4)Karyn N.
The staff at Delta are always super friendly and attentive. It's deifinitely a Real SE Portland establishment- it's not your Applebees (thank God.) Fried chicken is awesome- so is the rest of the food. It's southern....so it seems like everything is major fat....but it's really good. Special note: Delta Cafe got a mention for the best bar or best drink (can't remember which) in Portland magazine a couple years ago- that's what brought me in the first time. The mixed drinks here are STRONG- they are not so much for the people that like to taste the drink...but like to taste the alcohol.
(4)Darcy N.
Good food. Good drinks. Awesome atmosphere. Hit or miss service, but if you sit at the tables on the bar side there is a really great server (tall guy, medium length hair) who always goes above & beyond.
(4)Nick R.
Went for brunch, and had previously gone for dinner. Great food, friendly service. Can't beat a place that serves 40's of PBR on ice! The chicken gravy was great!
(4)Greg F.
When I come down to Portland from Seattle, I always make a pilgrimage to Delta. Service is friendly but a bit spotty usually, but when you taste everything that they have on the menu, your only complaint will be that the food didn't get there the second you ordered it. The crawfish jambalaya is fantastic, the red beans and rice are absolutely as good as it gets, the corn bread reminds me of mom's, and the meat loaf is pretty damn good, too. It's also the only place recently that I've found where you can order a moscow mule and they know what you're looking for. I love the atmosphere (total thrift store lounge funk), the prices are pretty great, and as far as soul food joints in the northwest, I'm not sure that you can find a better one.
(5)January M.
The Delta Cafe is easily my favorite resaurant in Portland. Their cocktail menu was obviously created by people who like the taste of liquor. Shocker. Most places have a variety of drinks designed to cover up the bourbon or what-have-you. Not at the Delta. Ingredients are used to enhance. And they have a selection of house infused vodkas. Beyond that, the bartenders are extremely friendly and knowledgable. You can make a meal out of their sides. My personal favorites being the Black Eyed Pea Fritters and the collard greens. I have to say, I'm not a fan of the deep-fried okra. The only real drawback to the Delta (and this is just a personal peave) is that if you don't get a table on the bar side, you might end up sitting next to some screaming kids. To avoid this, go later. If you have friends or family members from out of town, you're guaranteed a great experience. They'll be impressed with the service and go back to their hotel room gripped by a glorious food coma.
(5)Susan H.
My friend and I were driving around the area looking for some place to eat. Decided to stop and check out Delta Cafe southern cuisine. This was a spur of the moment decision so didn't have an opportunity to check out the reviews on Yelp. I had a taste for fried chicken, but decided against it since it was a breast and drumstick. My friend and I both had the St Louis ribs. They were okay, but I've definitely had better. The ribs didn't have much flavor even with the BBQ sauce. They were also a little on the chewy side. We asked the waiter which side dishes he would recommend. He suggested the red beans and rice, mashed potatoes and gravy and black eye peas. We decided on the red beans and rice and collard greens w/pork. The best part of the meal were the side dishes. My friend says the drinks deserve 5 stars! They come packed with a punch!
(3)Amanda W.
Comfort. That's what I think. Good homecooking. 40's in buckets like champagne. Grease, fatty, deep fried okra. Good.
(4)Steve B.
We've been to Delta twice in the past week. Had blue plate special which was chicken pot pie, sides of red beans & rice and mashed potatoes. We all sampled it, everyone loved it. So we went back last night and had red beans & rice as an entree side of collard greens with pork. OMG! really good. Kind of noisy in there for my ears, but it was a nice experience anyway.
(4)Tim B.
Mmmmm. Fried chicken, okra, 40oz PBR. Does life get any better?
(5)Joshua S.
I love the delta, I have been going for years and it is always great
(4)Cheryl H.
We came here for lunch on a Sunday. The place was hopping, but fortunately we only had to wait about 20 minutes. The wait was definitely worth it. We each had a po boy sandwich (one was snapper, one was oyster) and they were both wonderfully delicious. The potatoes that came as a side were also delicious. We'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Sarah A.
*sigh* The last time I wrote a review about the delta I was cautiously optimistic about it still. I had two dinners there but my second was on Fat Tuesday so I crossed my fingers and went back for brunch. Sadly, I have now removed yet another star from my ratings. Most of the reason is the poor service. This time we had a waitress that was nice enough, from what we could hear over the blaring music. On a side note, I really don't understand the indie restaurant infatuation with blaring music to the point that you have to shout over it at a restaurant. At a bar it's expected but I would like to have a bit of conversation while I eat. The music today was so loud that it also forced our neighbors on either side of us to raise their voices to be heard so it was an odd shouting match of sorts. The place was already busy with the Sunday brunch family and kids crowd, it didn't need any help drowning out the din from the kitchen. We ordered several different items from the menu plus a brunch appetizer of Beignets. If I was serving breakfast, I would love the extra revenue from a breakfast appetizer order for extra tip money at the end. At first my group was happy to chat for quite some time (until the table's around us filled up) and did not think about how long we were waiting for our food. Then when the noise got too overwhelming and conversation turned to grumbling tummies I looked at my watch and realized that our fancy donut holes had now taken over 1/2 hour. Then I got very grumpy when the tables on either side of us (that were seated later) got their food (one of them was my fancy donuts!). At that point I managed to get my server's attention at asked her if our appetizers were at least ready. She didn't seem phased or sorry about the wait at all even though the other table had been served first. I would have liked some honesty and an apology. If you messed up the ticket or order just say so and we will move on. I think she actually forgot to put the ticket up and/or remind the chef that we were first. Anyhow, the food was good but it wouldn't make it into my places to rave about. Some plates were great and a good value such as the Cajun Cobb. Others such as the pancakes were very Denny's standard. In a street where the options are slim and I can't bring myself to stare in the glow of the Micky Finn's sign there aren't alot of options. I did enjoy my Bloody Mary and I have to admit that they do make good drinks. Since this is so close to me, I may go in for happy hour again but I would recommend sitting at the bar. There's something comforting in knowing that I'm eye to eye with my server and they can't get away from me this time. Overall: If you live close and want a good happy hour in Woodstock head on over, but don't expect to get good service without sticking a leg out in the aisle or bringing a checkered flag to wave the servers down. They seem either too hip to be helpful or to disorganized in back to keep things in line. I would love to meet the manager sometime to know which is the case. HOWEVER, they have one more visit to hit my one star level. Updates to come...
(2)Michelle F.
My lil bro & his gf suggested this place while we were visiting for Turkey Day. We went for dinner on Sat night and had jambalaya, red beans n rice, catfish bites & some collard greens. It was alllll sooooo good!! The best greens ever!! The drinks were nice & strong too & the service was impeccable and the place was full on kick ass Downtown Portland style! We will definitely be back!!!
(5)JS U.
The Delta Cafe'...Hmmm. What to say. We had friends visiting from England, who wanted a true taste of Portland. The Delta Cafe' seemed the perfect choice since it has become a Portland landmark and represents classic American Soul Food and BBQ. What better choice, right? Negatory rubber duck! Drinks arrived casually quick (at a leisurely but not slow pace). Dinner. Sigh. From the time we placed our orders - Our friends each placed an order for ribs with a couple sides, my girlfriend placed an order for the smoked BBQ brisket and I ordered the blackened catfish - It took just over ONE HOUR for our meals to arrive. In the meantime our server was not to be seen and while pleasant enough when he did show back up, fairly unapologetic about how long our orders were taking. Mind you, the restaurant wasn't overly busy and they appeared to be fairly well staffed. If the record delay hadn't killed things for me, the fact that my blackened catfish tasted more like bitter charcoal did. Delta Cafe' is a big Delta NO WAY!!! in my book.
(1)Brandi M.
Decent food- not great. Overpriced. The best southern food is still Screen Door.
(3)Alex Y.
Great breakfast, cool place, awesome service. Kind or has a southern creole feel to it. Great sweet tea!
(3)Leigh D.
This is your official hole in the wall soul food restaurant. Now it doesn't reach the level of Sylvia's in Harlem but its still work checking out. They have shrimp poboys, greens, fried chicken, thick mashed potatos, mac-n-cheese, and the usual stables. Don't eat the pies- that's a different story. Also also has a full bar. Just are relaxing, hipster kinda hangout.
(4)GEORGE ANTHONY A.
One of my all time favorites! A major reason i miss living in the Woodstock area! Love the soulful comfort food the pork chops the red beans and rice the meatloaf and more- love the cool relaxed vibe great drinks chill servers and in my opinion an overall good times experience!
(5)tiffany a.
Slow service but good food. Be ready when the waitress comes by to take your order or you might be waiting a while until she comes back. Took a while to get food and get check..so come here if you don't mind waiting.
(5)Andrew P.
Cheap eats. Rare soul food. Great homemade eats--this isn't your Panda express, mcd's, taco bell, or arbys. The cornbread is delicious, as are their drinks, including Earl Grey infused vodka. Happy hour food at their dirt-cheap prices is definitely worth driving 20 minutes for, especially if you're hungry. Where else can you get real food for only a couple of bucks? I've been here three times and haven't had any problems with service (in fact it's been exceptionally good); and, at the prices they charge, I don't even expect that much--bring my food and some silverware. If they hired on 3 waitresses for instantaneous service, I'd expect the food prices to triple. The interior is dark and has a bit of a Halloween decor year-round.
(4)Garrett G.
Seriously I love this place, has always been one of my favorites since I moved into the neighborhood six years ago. However, today I got hosed and I created a yelp account just so I could explain the way real customer service is supposed to work. I've worked in the industry for 15 years now and it is common practice to serve food until your sign says you're closed. Don't get me wrong, everyone knows the customer that comes in a minute before closing is a pain, but today I was there 45 minutes before closing only to be told they were done seating. 45 minutes before closing?... Really? This girl was blatantly rude about it too, not even remotely polite. There was a handful of open tables that would have accommodated us to eat and be out before closing as well. We would have even been willing to take it to go, we were just starving and super stoked on getting brunch at the delta. Also, if you're in such a rush to get off work that you turn away regular customers nearly an hour before you close, then maybe you should work nights or something. I'm seriously disappointed and am only able to offer the simple advice that if you're gonna eat here show up AT LEAST an hour early if you don't want your plans foiled. Grrrrr
(2)Leo W.
The Delta is perfect for a few different things. The brunch menu is wonderful, and the portions are generous. The fluffy buttermilk pancakes are the best I've ever had - a perfect texture. The dinner menu offers more variety but the same high quality. The bar side of the place is cool, nice to hang out in and attracts a very friendly crowd. The service is toopnotch. I love Delta, and in my opinion it's the crown jewel of Woodstock!
(5)David Z.
It's been far to long since: a) I last wrote a review b) I actually visited the Delta c) The high temperature for the day was less than 75 d) All of the above If you selected d then you are correct! I'll keep this one to the point. After all, I've been pretty busy lately and I'm used to writing on Twitter where I only get 140 characters... The atmosphere: It definitely has a southern, yet alternative flair. It's fun. The service: Friendly, prompt, though missed a few perfect opportunities to go above and beyond. The food: Delicious! I've had a few dishes here by now and have been quite happy with my choices. The large, refreshing glasses of sweet tea is a big plus! Really, my only gripe was that the fried chicken was just a little bland - could have used some more spice! The prices: very decent. Dinner for 2 w/ tea & a tip was just above $30 if I recall correctly. The verdict: I'm sold. I will be coming back to the Delta for many more delicious meals! *Special note: They don't accept credit cards! Though they do have an ATM in the building... still, bring cash - it's just easier!
(4)Autumn C.
The Delta had long been my favorite neighborhood restaurant... but no more. Yesterday I was craving my favorite Delta meal, Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac n cheese (not healthy but oh so yummy) so my husband and I headed over. When I gave my order the server informed me that I had to have black eyed peas as one of my sides and could choose the other. "But I don't want black eyed peas!" my inner child screamed. My outer adult asked if I could substitute... nope. So I had a side salad. My husband waited for her to walk away then asked "We're never coming back... are we?" Over the past year I have gone to The Delta anywhere from 1-3 times a month. When people wanted to grab dinner I almost always suggested it but now I will only be going if someone else is set on it. I don't mind smaller portions or a bit of a higher price... but they took away my favorite meal. I know it's whiny baby stuff, but it's why I went there. I'm also a little sad because I had gotten to know some of the wait staff and really enjoyed going in. I did tip my waitress as if I had gotten a full meal since it's not her fault they changed the menu.
(2)Alex K.
Do they still serve the 40oz beers in buckets of ice here? If so, you must check it out. The only way it could get better is if it was old 8ball instead of PBR. Yes I am from the ghetto, SO WHAT?! The food as far as I am told by people from the south, is sub par. (But we all know we can't trust people from the South anyway)
(4)Amado L.
I love me some Southern food, especially because I know nothing about it and, therefore, am instantly and easily impressed. And the grub at the Delta Cafe this morning was certainly no exception. Today was my first visit, and I already know I'll be coming back. The reason: their Smoked Brisket Hash. What a dish-- smoked brisket mixed with onions, peppers, celery, and potatoes topped with two poached eggs. The brisket possessed a great balance of tangy and sweet. I wouldn't have minded a huge mound of it in a po' boy sammy! Speaking of the Po' Boy Sammy, I saw a lady at another table get served her Po' Boy plate. Sweet baby jeebus, that thing be huge, yo! I might have to get my Po' Boy on the next time. And you gotta love that always refilled cup of Stumptown joe! Only drawback was that it was cash/check only. I mean, at least accept debit cards, a'ight? Anyway, I just have to remember to pack some greenbacks on future visits.
(4)Jenny H.
Quite possibly the best pork loin chops I have ever had. Perfectly spiced and so juicy! Great mac-n-cheese! Also had an amazingly huge piece of homemade marionberry pie with local vanilla ice cream. SO delicious. The atmosphere is funky and fun. My server suggested the cocktail of the day and it was quite tasty...very attentive staff. Decent prices. The only thing for me making it not 5 stars is sometimes it is really loud inside and unless you are in a booth, the chairs are not always super comfy.
(4)Renee K.
Just got home from dinner here. It was so delicious. The brisket was delicious melt in your mouth fat. Cornbread pudding was to die for. And guess what? They took our credit card WOOHOO!!!! And the service was great. I guess maybe it is still "hit or miss" but I feel like maybe they are starting to try now. So if you are looking for a heart attack, go here!
(5)Rowan H.
First off, I would actually give this place 3.5 stars. If it wasn't so goddamn expensive I would probably give it 4 stars. Honestly, for about 1-2 dollars more per entree you could just go to the Screen Door, which is absolutely amazing and absolutely worth the money. My girlfriend had the brisket with mac and cheese and tater tot casserole, and I had the chicken friend steak with mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. My food was decent, although not fantastic, but my girlfriend's brisket was delicious. Originally she only wanted one side, so she told me to pick her other side and I could eat it. I picked the tater tot casserole, but when it came she tasted it and it was so good that she ended up eating most of it after all. The tater tot casserole was actually probably the highlight of the meal. As far as drinks go, I was surprised that they only had 4 microbrews on tap, because for some reason this place seems like they would have more. I ended up having the 40 oz of PBR on ice, which was awesome for its novelty value, although it maybe shouldn't have cost 4.5 bucks. Our service was good, although at the end the guy took forever to take our money and give us change and eventually one of the other servers came by and did it instead.
(3)Lily H.
Mashed potatoes, kickass mac and cheese, fried chicken and drinking yummy sweet tea in mason jars...these are a few of my favorite things.... Delta offers a solid selection of good, but not-so-good for you comfort food in massive portion sizes. One thing that keeps me from giving this place 5 stars is it's SO darn hit and miss. It's been more hits recently, but be careful when ordering the chicken fried steak. Sometimes it's delicious and melt in your mouth, another time it'll be so tough and slightly charred, you can barely cut through it. Try some of the speciality drinks! They make 'em strong and tasty. Service isn't the fastest, but they're always super friendly. For you dog-lovers out there, we love dining outside during the summer because the staff is more than welcoming about us bringing our pooch along and will set out a big bowl of water for her. First timers, keep your eyes peeled because it's kind of hard to tell where it is...the sign is dark and you'll probably drive right past it if you're coming for dinner.
(4)Holy-foo' X.
An eatery w/HUGE Hipster cred that I failed to find reason to otherwise hate. It's open pretty late, almost every night o' the week: 1 HUGE star! Catfish! Catfish! Catfish! Done up, right proper!: 1 HUGE star Friendly, engaging, fast service: 1 HUGE star Gorgeous sides--- greens, beans 'n' rice, cornbread: 1 HUGE star Universal appeal: Black, Asian, White, Hispanic-- all my co-workers loved their food: 1 HUGE star.. What else to say? I've only experienced the Delta on a carry-out basis, and so was (regretfully, but nonetheless) deprived of sitting and soaking up any potential douche-y type of Hipster ambiance. So on the strength of the food alone, along w/the brief but friendly interludes w/the staff, a very well deserved 5 stars. We will DEFINITELY be back.... Delta, if you would just expand your menu just a smidge, to be, shall we say, just a tiny bit more reflective of real Delta cuisine, and we can smite the Montage a well-deserved, long, long overdue slap...
(5)Megan J.
Two stars. One for service and the other for their cocktails. I have tried to like Delta Cafe and have given it 3 chances but last night it striked out. I don't compare it to Screen Door because they are different beasts but I do compare it to somewhat decent cooking. Last night I ordered the special, fried oysters wrapped in bacon. Can't go wrong with bacon or so I thought. The bacon was charred and hard without a hint of smoky bacon deliciousness. My side of maple baked beans were too acidic and lacked in any maple flavor. The mac n cheese my partner got was bland as well as his black eyed peas. Our fellow dining companions ordered the fried chicken, Hush puppies and pulled pork sandwich. My friend who ordered the fried chicken left her plate the same as when she got it, full. Everything was blah and bland. Anything they fry is overfried and doesn't even come out golden. Services was great and attnetive and the only thing I have enjoyed is the cocktails, which you will need plenty of to get through the food.
(2)Katey H.
I finally made my way to the Delta Cafe after wanting to try this place for a long time. Two of my friends joined me, we figured we could divide and conquer the menu so we could try multiple items. The main dinner items - fried chicken, flat iron steak and brisket. The coating on the fried chicken was great! I loved the crunch! The brisket was fall apart goodness. I got the sweet sauce and it was really good. The side items - you HAVE to get the mac & cheese. I've had a lot of mac & cheese in my life and this was some of the best. The mashed potatoes and red eye gravy is pretty good but I'd choose something other than the potato casserole (pretty much mashed potatoes & cheese). I can't wait to go back and try more menu items. The staff was very friendly and kept checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Their infused vodkas are great if you are looking for a new drink!
(4)kelly s.
More laid back young and fun ambiance than other southern restaurants in town, but the fried chicken wasn't all that- felt like eating the sh@t that collected at the bottom of grandma's spice rack stuck to the outside of the chicken - however they were friendly food was fresh, corn bread, not so much, actually I kind of hated the food, but it felt like a place that would have been good for brunch and people/location was good enough, so that's why I didn't throw the whole joint totally under the bus
(3)Greg M.
UPDATE UPDATE: We went back, had some great food! Mac and Cheese was creamy and yum. The Catfish (and that aoli sauce) is the bomb. UPDATE: I've been informed that they now brandish a card reader and will gleefully take your hard-earned electro-cash. Thank you, Delta. See you soon! Delta, I don't like the Man either. I quite despise the inequality of the world and all of that, too. I really want to try that new brunch you started awhile back. I remember having the catfish years ago and loving it. I thought to myself, why don't more people know about this place? So asked around - took a poll. You know what I found? Every single person I talk to, without fail - hipster, professional, blue or white collar- it doesn't matter - they all say the same thing: "I went there once and really liked it, but they don't take Visa, so we haven't been back." I want to love you, Delta, I really do. I want to swim in your infused vodka's and dine on your brunch. I want to wait in line with other card-carrying capitalists that have worked all day and prefer not to pay $3 to get cash at the ATM or buy a stick of gum to get 'cash back' at the Safeway. I want to bask in the glory that is what the Delta COULD be. But alas, I cannot excuse the audacity, pretentiousness and sheer stupidity that keeps a simple card reader from gracing the counter next to the cash register. What is it, Delta? Are you afraid of new friends? Does the thought of anyone but Socialist Agenda extremists coming through your door scare you? Do you just hate the thought of your business growing? What is it!? We wait patiently, checking in every few months to see if you've finally accepted that you have a problem; a lack of plastic acceptance problem. Oh sure, you may be mad at me now, and everyone else who walks in your door and right back out because you're currency Ludditeism - but just think how much happier (and richer) you would be with that little blue-grey box, taking people's money who want to give it to you? I know, I know... 4% here, monthly fee there, blah, blah, blah. Here's a clue - every other restaurant in town has one and hasn't lost money. You CAN learn something from them. Please Delta, help out a few thousand people that want to give you money. Please?
(4)Crystal M.
I have always loved this place. We came into town tonight to visit my mom and came here for dinner. I was highly disappointed that the service was mediocre but worse the server added gratuity. There were 3 entrees and a kid. We shared 2 meals, not because we r cheap but the portions r huge! Being in the service industry for years I was very insulted. Adding gratuity to a check is saying the table wasn't going to tip in the first place. I would have expected this if we had a larger party. I asked they take off the grat and the manager argued with us. And we caught her in a few flat out lies! Saying the computer ads it and it's 6 people even if we had 5 kids. Really people? A tip is earned! You are not entitled to it!
(2)Martha R.
This is definitely my kind of place... a little dumpy, but with class. The food is awesome - nice and hearty, fills you to the brim for hours and hours and hours... and all for a pretty great price. The beer selection is a little slim in the draft department, and the greens aren't too prevalent on the menu, but that's what you expect in a Cajun place. Your waiter or waitress will definitely be a little slow, and clad in tattoo. Because the place has got such a great feel to it, you don't mind getting the slow service... My only complaint is that there isn't an online location for their menu - was going to order take out, but decided against it because I wasn't in the mood for people and didn't want to wait around while they made my food. I wanted to run in, run out, and have the delicious food in hand. But since I did not know what I really wanted I settled for crappy leftovers. Bummer.
(4)Sam B.
In some ways, it's a 5 star, in other ways it's a 4, and I'm a round-downer these days. First off, next time we will order one main that comes with a side, and share it. At that price, it's 5-star all the way. And the food was all good. Gumbo, biscuit and gravy for $13 plus the 3-side dinner deal for $10. All in all a pretty huge ass meal. And not on the cheap side. Our sides were collard greens, mashed toes and red beans and rice. The red beans were big and fat with some sausage over white rice. I like more rice but good stuff. The greens are what they are- the only veggie on the menu practically, and a bit rough on the pallet if you're new to poverty. The mashed were good. I like it when you can tell you're eating potatoes and these do that. The wait staff was nice. We had a baby in s stroller and had plenty of space. They accidentally put a plate on top of part of our to-go leftovers and gave us two good sized helpings to go straight from the kitchen. Nice! And warm. Nice vibe too. All kinds of styles in there: tats, no tats, long beards, no beards, twisted beards, no twisted beards, families with kids, kids with no families. It was good stuff. We will be back for more.
(4)rich p.
Busy Friday night, poor service and little acknowledgment. Our fried chicken was extremely over cooked and dry. I think they deep fried it twice to reheat it. The collard greens were just a bath of sodium, maybe I should have soaked my feet, Cocktails were fine. It had been years since I had been here and it will be many more, if I come back.
(2)Heather S.
I LOVE Delta Cafe! Yes, it's a bit divey but the food, prices, and service more than make up for the scenery (or lack thereof!). There are a myriad of Southern-style foods -- for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, and everything tastes so good! My favorites are the mac and cheese, the vegetarian collard greens (SO amazing!!!), and the shrimp. Last time we were there, they were handing out HUGE slices of the most delicious chocolate cake for FREE! The cake was so delicious! Delta's Happy Hour is AWESOME! Huge portions (all portions, all meals are huge) for very affordable prices, and a huge drink menu. Go! You'll love it!
(4)Krista B.
I signed up for Yelp specifically so I could write a review for this place. Was my 1st time here. The ambience was quirky which is right up my alley. The lights flickered every time the dishwasher started. Im not sure why, but I love those detail. Much different than a fake facade claiming perfection when its not. Ordered okra for the app and it was far more delicious than the southern food place I frequent. Enjoyed a deliciously cold lemonade in a giant jar and had a crisp blackened chicken caeser. But what had me at hello was the fried chicken on my daughter's salad. Holy amazeballs batman, that was LEGIT. Best fried chicken EVER. Prices were fair and our sweet server was perfect.
(4)Andrew H.
I still believe that Cajun food is some of the best. Period. The simplicity and the complexity all in one and the food just tastes so damn good! It was a day to wander and Woodstock is where I ended up. I really didn't know what I wanted to eat but Otto's was in the back of my mind. I came upon where the New Seasons Market is being built and saw Delta Café. Then I looked at the menu. PoBoys? Ribs? Catfish? Fried Chicken? Oh wow, I hope they have Abita.......... and they do, in bottles. The blackened catfish poboy looked like the way to go with remoulade and slaw. The other option would have been mayo, lettuce and tomato. I also went with mac and cheese for my side (I could have gotten sweet potato fries instead). Everything was spot on. Perfectly spiced, perfectly cheesy and just delicious. The catfish was tender, the bread was crisp, the mac and cheese was hearty. The Abita Amber was the icing on top. Not a bad little dive bar. I totally will come back for more of this type of food. The south is well represented in the menu. Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Mississippi all can take credit for menu items. As I said, totally worth it. Enjoy.
(5)Drake S.
I was not impressed with my recent dining experience at Delta Cafe, but have added a star because the happy hour menu warrants reconsideration. I went here with 3 others for a later dinner (we arrived around 8), and was initially drawn to the old-time diner feel and somewhat divey atmosphere. A draft beer is $4 normally and $3 during happy hour which is hard to argue with, and they have specialty cocktails for $5 daily which looked good. The first thing to go awry was the water glasses size to water provided ratio was quite off--four big mason jars were accompanied by a smallish bottle of water that barely filled half of them. So began our constant requests for water every time the waitress visited our table. This is a simple, simple thing--I love getting water at the table as it takes pressure off the waitstaff and allows me to drink as much as I want, but if your restaurant hasn't figured out the correct pitcher size and requires you to constantly ask for more, it defeats the purpose. After careful consideration of the fairly pricey menu ($12-15 an item), I went with the pulled pork po' boy with spicy barbeque sauce, and a side of mac 'n' cheese. My companions went with pulled pork on texas toast and meatloaf. When the food arrived (in reasonable timeframe, it must be said), the portion sizes seemed fair for the price. While my fellow diners raved about their food ("best meatloaf ever!"), I found my sandwich to be lacking. The lower layer of bread was soggy from the first bite, as though it had been sitting for some time prior to being brought to the table. The pork, while delicious, needed more barbecue sauce, and there was a strong horseradish flavor that overpowered many bites. The mac 'n' cheese was alright, nothing special. My one trip to the bathroom revealed a particularly unclean area, complete with broken, moldy soap dispenser. All told, this is a place I would consider coming back to for happy hour to drink good draft beer for cheap, and maybe have some hush puppies or something to soak it up, but I would not return for dinner. There are better southern food options in Portland--try Screen Door on East Burnside, or Miss Delta's in Mississippi.
(3)Avery M.
The food was okay. Being from the south, I'm used to joints that serve it up much differently. It's heavy, filling, and tasty. Not what I'm used to, nothing exceptional, but nonetheless good.
(3)Joslyn C.
Tl;Dr: legitimately never have we received such depressingly awful service or had such a bad food expedience as at Delta. I would give them zero stars if it were an option. Even if they imagine themselves a dive bar, their service is nonexistent, their waitstaff is ineffective, and their food is not worth any of the money you will pay for it. My husband and I have both worked as bartenders, waitstaff, and service jobs for many years. While we don't work this industry anymore, we like to believe that we have retained a good favor and grace in regards to those who work these jobs. However, we have literally never been less satisfied with a restaurant experience and food in our entire lives. If I had known it would be this bad, I would have gone home and cooked lunch myself. It would have been faster, tastier, and significantly more pleasant. But I digress... Here was our experience from start to finish: 2:45p- we arrived at Delta. There are three other patrons in the restaurant. No one greets us, so we seat ourselves. We sit there awkwardly until we ask the bartender/waitress for menus. She hands them to us with a laugh and a "sorry, I was distracted." 2:50p- we have decided what we want to eat, and wait for someone to come ask for our order. 3P- we have to flag the bartender down to ask her to take our order. We decided on the fried oysters, Mac and cheese, corn/black eyed peas fritters, and the fried chicken po boy. We also order a beer and cider. 3:03P- beers arrive. They are good and we are in high spirits in expectation of our food. We are both ravenously hungry and happy to know fried oysters will be ours. 3:20- The couple and two others who came in after us are served their food. We wonder if perhaps we had a complicated order. It didn't say anywhere on the menu that the oysters are shucked by hand. We assume they are, delighted by the idea of such wonderful fresh things coming our way. 3:30- ... We are antsy, but waitress has not come over to say there is anything slow in the kitchen...in fact, she has not come over at all. My husband literally has to flag her down to ask for another beer. 3:50p- our food has finally arrived! By now, my husband proclaims he is prepared to eat the glass his (now empty) beer was once housed in. The oysters are too hot to eat, so I turn to the Mac and cheese. It is legitimately the worst Mac and cheese I have ever eaten. I would have been more pleased had they served us Kraft easy Mac, because this was wretched. The noodles were so overcooked it had no texture, and the cheese flavor was a fleeting sigh somewhere in the distance. He took a bite, insisting it couldn't be so awful. We promptly pushed it to the end of the table to send it back. Maybe the chef just didn't realize, I rationalized. This is the first either of us have sent food back for any reason, and we are hoping it will be sorted out quickly and easily. 4:05p- the waitress still hasn't come over to ask about the Mac and cheese, or offer us drinks. Or ask how the food was, or generally do her job. She BSs merrily with a drunken girl at the bar and sits with another couple at their table to take their order. I wonder aloud to my husband if we are giving off a foul odor. The po boy is just some fried chicken and coleslaw slapped into a very tasteless bun bun. It is sad. He eats a few bites and we turn to the fritters, desperately hoping for some redeeming quality. The fritters are tasteless and lumpy, more like hush puppies than fritters. The vaguely gray goop they come with is advertised as jalapeños in a jack cheese dip; don't let the ad fool you! It tastes very strongly of wallpaper paste. 4:15p- The oysters are delicious! We munch them, wondering why we are in such foul moods. 4:20p-The waitress still has not come by about the Mac and cheese, and after we have been sitting for ten minutes or so, we are quite ready to go. No one comes to bring a check, even when another woman comes on staff to help at the bar. 4:25p- finally, we go up to the bar to pay. The bartender/waitress apathetically asks how the meal was; my husband replies fine, but we aren't going to pay for the Mac and cheese because it was awful. Waitress insists some people like it and others hate it. He asks how someone could like it unless they are missing all their teeth. She hardly responds, but takes it off the bill. No apology, no questions about how to make it up. We pay and leave. Later that day, I called to speak with the manager, assuming it must have just been the waitress who was awful. Unsurprisingly enough, I never received a call back. Legitimately never have we received such apathetic and depressingly dreadful service. We do not ever intend to come back to such a shoddy imitation of a restaurant, and will not only tell our friends about the poor service and bad food, but heartily suggest they go anywhere but there should they be in the Woodstock area.
(1)Sarah M.
Me and my friend stopped in Delta Cafe last night for dinner, and the food was fantastic. I got the catfish creole with Cheddar polenta and a side of mac and cheese. The flavors were so fresh and zesty. My friend got the ribs with the mash potatoes, and the meat was so tender it fell right off the bone. The service was a little slow even though they weren't very busy, and they forgot the corn bread we ordered, and we had to remind them twice. They also didn't refill our water the whole time. But our server was very nice and the food, as well as the atmosphere was awesome.
(4)Curt B.
There was a time-maybe 10 years ago-when this was the spot to go. During that time period it was usually hard to get a seat and the comfort food they served was 5 stars. I returned here recently and was disappointed. First, I was surprised that the place was nearly empty. Then I noticed that the TV was turned to comedy central and the stereo system was way too loud and playing Pandora. Honestly, if I wanted to watch comedy central I'd just stay home. It was just a weird vibe all the way around. The food was decent but bland. Salad was mediocre and the ribs were clearly baked and then smothered in BBQ sauce. Fair enough...this isn't a rib place after all but they do have a BBQ set up on the side of the place. Overall, I'd say this place has lost its edge.
(2)Richie W.
I have been coming to Delta for 3 years now and have always got the same meal. Chicken po-boy with different sides. The last 3 months the portions have gotten smaller and smaller every visit... Food quality and taste is still amazing but something has changed...
(3)Shads B.
Only having just moved to this neighborhood, we went to Delta Cafe twice in one week. I'd love to try the brunch or dinner menu someday, but the happy hour here is pretty irresistible. Food options are $4, $6, and $8, with regular-meal-sized portions. The boyfriend and I shared an $8 dish (blackened catfish with beans and rice) and a $6 dish (chef's choice three side sampler) and that was plenty to eat. I can't wait to eventually try every single cocktail - only $5 during HH and more than worth it in both flavor and potency for the two we had.
(5)Lolly P.
Really happy about the delta... Been a while since we've been here (it was better this time) , but love the bartender, Kate. Good vibe, good drinks, good conversation! (brunch on weekend at the bar :) good times!
(5)Margarita S.
Why is it so hard to find good service in Portland restaurants? I can't speak on the food at Delta Cafe because I couldn't get past the terrible service. I waited at a table for almost 20 minutes before finally going to look for someone to take my food order and bring me water. The waitress told me someone would come to take my order, & it was another 10 or 15 minutes before I saw a server. When she finally came, it wasn't to take my order, but to tell me they were too slammed and I would have to go to the bar to order food. This made no sense to me since I could see other folks getting table service and in the time she took to tell me she couldn't take my order she could have just taken my stupid order. I didn't feel like they wanted my business, so I left. Good service is as important a part of the dining experience as good food, but the Delta Cafe doesn't seem to realize that.
(1)Ben C.
So this place has gone so far downhill I dont know where to start. First of all I live in Woodstock, I have been coming to the Delta for over ten years. 1) I got chicken and waffles tonight, it took 45 mins, was cold, the chicken was hard like a rubber super bouncy ball, the waffle was stale and clearly microwaved. My jaws actually hurt after taking a few bites. The mash potatoes were cold. WTF 2) the food was late because the helpers forgot about us when the place is empty. WTF 3) drinks are super cheap which offsets my above complaints somewhat With all of the improvements happening on Woodstock I think this place needs to get replaced at this point. The people who work there all give a super "im high as fuck on heroin and dont give a shit about you" vibe. Sadly, I will never ever order food here again. I may stop in for their happy hour because its hard to beat a $3 microbrew draft. All I know is that if I owned the place, and I was aware that my workers just served someone the meal I just got, I would fire everyone there and start over. Again, heroin probably plays a key role. Ill be lucky if I dont get food poisoned from the meal I just ate.
(1)Carla Leo M.
It's so sad to see how bad the Delta has become! For a decade we'd eat there once or twice a month, but stopped going about 2 years ago because the quality of the food just declined. Thought we'd give it one last try on Father's day, and it was even worse than before. The place was filthy! The walls were covered with grease (and we were as far from the kitchen as possible), the table was sticky and all 3 menus were old, stained and grimy. There were flies EVERYWHERE, and we actually changed tables to sit where fewer flies could bother us. Our server's personality was cold and made no effort to hide her annoyance that we were there! She NEVER once came back to our table after setting our food down! The place was almost empty (3 tables with customers) so she definitely wasn't busy. The food was not good, which we would have told our server if she'd ever come back to the table. We used to take our out of town company to the Delta, as it was a fun place to show friends the cool restaurant mere blocks from our house. Not anymore. I'd be too embarrassed now. The music was so loud it made it difficult to hear each other, and their choice of music was not pleasant. Definitely not anywhere near relaxing or enjoyable, and about as far from hip as you can get . The decline of the Delta is really sad, and with Woodstock changing, I don't see how it will survive. Whoever is in charge of the Delta has clearly given up. 6pm on Father's day in a nearly empty restaurant. Wake up, clean the place, find servers who give a shit and overhaul the food. Until they do, the Delta will just fade into history. We won't be back.
(1)Mars V.
I recommend the Happy Hour Breaded Oysters. Six plump, juicy, perfectly breaded and fried oysters for $6. Pair them with a Boneyard IPA, a seat outside and all is happiness. They also serve very good Fried Chicken and all of their breakfast dishes that involve eggs are tasty. Great service from very nice people.
(4)Shanna C.
Yep-gave this another try and it was just as bad. We ordered dessert. It arrived at least 20 minutes later (even though it obviously was precooked and sliced). Once again, the waitress was also the bartender. Seems like a wonky system that isn't focused around customer service. We sat outside and the waitress checked on us maybe once. So unimpressed and won't be trying again.
(1)Marissa P.
Delta Café, I really wanted to fall in love with you! A southern café within walking distance of my home, this sounded too good to be true! Sadly, I think it was. My brunch date and I wanted to try a little bit of everything so we got the Beignets, Smoked Brisket Hash, a side of Brioche French Toast and a side of the country gravy. The beignets were pretty good with the lemon curd, a little hard for beignets but still tasty. The Smoked Brisket Hash was pretty flavorless as it comes covered in a cream sauce which also made it mushy. We tried adding the gravy to it just made it even more bland. With enough hot sauce and spices we could eat it but it was nothing we would come back for. The brioche French toast was completely inedible, dry as burnt toast and completely flavorless, we each tried a bite an then it remained untouched on our plate. Surprisingly the server noticed this but didn't even ask how the food was. Coffee tasted burnt, so sadly the beignets were the only enjoyable part of the experience. If the service had been better and anyone had bothered to even ask about our untouched food, I might be inclined to chalk it up to a bad day in the kitchen and maybe try again for dinner. However, nothing about this experience encourages me to go back.
(2)Linda C.
Located in the Woodstock neighborhood, this Southern food fare restaurant has been here for years. The service was friendly and prompt. The last time I was here was several years ago and although my friends had raved about it, it had disappointed. I was hoping for some redemption when we came here for dinner recently. Alas, while the service was still friendly and the drinks strong, I found dinner to be bland. We sat in the bar area which is dimly lit and quite intimate. I had my first old-fashioned. It was strong. It was good. For dinner, he ordered the chicken fried steak dinner with mac & cheese and mashers. I had the meatloaf with collard greens and mashers. The portions are large. I had two huge slices of meatloaf. I'm not sure what to say about this meatloaf. It didn't impress me but then again I wasn't raised with meatloaf on the menu. Ever. So I don't know if this is just how meatloaves taste and I should just give up my search for the most delicious meatloaf ever or it really was bland. The best thing on that plate was the collard greens. The sweetheart enjoyed his mashers, the chicken fried steak was dry. He really enjoyed the mac & cheese and this guy doesn't like cheese. I really want to say that this place redeemed itself to me but it didn't. I was as unimpressed with the food and flavors as I was when I first dined here several years ago. I continue my search for the most delicious meatloaf.
(3)Sarah B.
Heaven in Portland for me. The fried chicken has rosemary and other little tasty herbs mixed in the perfectly crispy breading. The fried okra is crunchy, and never soggy. The mac and cheese is the best I've had so far. The mashed potatoes are a little on the starchy (read: not whipped smooth) side, and the corn bread would be super awesome if it had real bits of corn in it. Eating this food feels like your body is getting a warm hug from the inside out--it's awesome.
(5)Lezley L.
Several of our friends have raved about this place saying it was much better than Miss Delta on Mississippi, they were sadly mistaken. First we walked in and got quickly seated. Customer service is sparse to nonexistent here. Let's just say we only saw our server when it was time to leave & collect his tip. He was nice but my cup was empty throughout the meal. Now the food- we started off with the beignets. About 20 mins later they arrive...way overcooked. Sadly there was not enough lemon curd to save these suckers. Enter the food! Presentation was lovely for both dishes. I had hoped that the meal would have been better than the appetizer. I was wrong. Fried chicken & waffle - the waffle seemed to be a little overcooked and the dough was flat so it had no fluffiness or dimension to it. The chicken was coated in what seemed to be shake n bake. I'm assuming it was some type of cornmeal concoction? While the batter stayed on the chicken, it was flavorless. The chicken consisted of two giant boneless breast that were dry. The maple syrup was not enough to save this dish. Chicken Fried Steak - who puts chicken gravy on chicken fried steak that tastes like it came from a gravy packet. These guys! Something was off on this but I can't put my finger on it. The collard greens were basically thrown in the microwave and served. The greens were undercooked with no seasoning. The potatoes had a decent flavor but you could tell they had been sitting under the heat lamp too long. So my friends, I sadly report that Delta is not the place to try Southern food. Brave the lines and go to Screen Door.
(2)Simone F.
Best southern food in Portland. Delta is a Woodstock original and has never disappointed. Best coco rico's & rose drops in town. You must try their fried chicken, either plate it or in a po' boy. Delta red beans and rice are magical, so are the mashed potatoes & collards. Ribs... need I say more. Support this wonderful place.
(5)Lucy G.
On Friday evening I ordered Jambalaya - the blandest I have ever had. This dish even lacked salt much less all the other complex, spicy flavors it should have. I counted 4 slivers of Andouille sausage, very little chicken and bunches of bay shrimp - bay shrimp! why bother?! The black-eyed peas with rice were a mash of over cooked peas that tasted very old - again, could use a bit of salt...maybe some ham for flavoring? The service wasn't too bad, but the food is terrible -- and not cheap. Don't bother with this place - it is NOT southern.
(1)Anne A.
Ok I'm from Tennessee and this is not Southern food. Also, it's mostly not good food. The pulled pork was like something that came in frozen and was thawed out and slapped on some greasy "texas toast." The collard greens with pork are actually good, that's why I gave two stars. Brisket was like pot roast - big chunks of braised meat. No hint of having been smoked or barbequed in any way. But even if the food had been good the service was baaad. We waited 45 minutes for any food to appear and then the server's excuse was "We're really busy." Sorry, but if your kitchen can't keep up with full tables on a Friday night then there's a problem. When we finally pleaded for something for our daughter to eat the mac and cheese appeared in about 2 minutes. It seems all the sides are ready to go at the "steam table." So why wouldn't pulled pork and brisket also be ready to go that fast? You don't cook barbeque on the fly, after all. Weird. You can taste the apathy of this place in every bite. We won't be back.
(2)K P.
We live in the neighborhood & would hit up this place after a night out bc they have a stellar late night menu. Unfortunately, the chick that works in the bar has turned us off. Unbelievably rude on more than one occasion. I don't expect much service during late night happy hour, she went out of her way to make us feel unwelcome. Rudely dumping our plates on the edge of the table, walking away mid-conversation & we overhead her taking sh*t about us to her friend at the bar. If you offer a late night menu and are open till 1am the bartender needs to at least be courteous (We came in at 11:30) I hope the owner reads this. Its a pity bc the food is so great but its not worth being treated that way, paying customer or not.
(1)jason m.
It's an interesting little place. 10 yr old son and I went there after martial arts practice for a Saturday Brunch. The wait wasn't too bad. The place has a decent looking bar that was mostly occupied with Bloody Marys and Bellinis during the breakfast hour. The service was warm and friendly. Waitress had our drinks done pronto. The Bloody Maria with half habanero tequila was pretty spicy. With full habanero tequila it would make many people weep. Loved the scramble. Spelt toast is kind of blah. Just a shade above wonder bread in taste. I know it is different nutritionally, but I prefer some Dave's killer something with lots of seeds and goofy extras on it. This was like eating a sponge. Son had the eggs Benedict which was decent. Hollandaise could use a bit more lemon. They serve their grits with TONS of butter, which tastes pretty good while it makes you feel guilty. I liked the place and I will be back.
(4)Marc R.
Great Diner! Fast service - for a diner. Great food - better than most diners. The servers and cooks were fun (even funny) and the vibe here is relaxed even on a busy weekend. This is the sort of place where you love what you are eating and look over at the other tables and say "aww, I wish I had that" so I really think this place would be great for a party of 10 where you bought everything on the breakfast menu and shared! Would there be a plate charge for that? Dunno! It would be worth it. I did not dig the gravy. Not sure if they use chicken gravy rather than the typical southern pork and cream gravy I am used to when it comes to B&G. But I had the side and not the B&G so who knows.
(4)Amy B.
Oh wow. Delta has really stepped up their food game. I had left a lower review previously because service had been slow. We had chicken and waffles for brunch and it was so good. We were also served a starter that was misordered and given to us on the house of beignets and lemon curd. Delicious! The fried chicken was so good. Delta is on fire!
(5)Steve S.
Southern - style comfort foods done right! I grew up in the hills of East Tennessee, and Delta is my go - to place for when I need a taste of home. Fast, friendly service coupled with melt - in - your - mouth Southern delicacies like fried okra, collard greens and black eyed peas will keep you coming back for more. Also don't miss the corn fritters, and meatloaf and mashed potatoes with chicken gravy. Wash it all down with a quart of RC Cola (another fine staple from down South) and you'll be good to go.
(5)Jason B.
Portland is not known for it's cajun. Ok, so we're 3000 miles from Louisiana - there is enough food done fantastically here that you'd think by now there'd be a standout chef d'alligateur in town. Delta is old school Portland southern food. It's been around a while, and the original owners even split off to form a new restaurant (dont even get me started on the Delta v. Miss Delta feud!). This place does fantastic fried chicken, mouthwatering spicy crispy blackened catfish, and if you're lucky enough to go here for brunch their beignets are comparable to, if not better than, their counterparts in New Orleans. The place where Delta is hit or miss is on some of their accompaniments. The creole sauce is more Ragu than Prudhomme; the fried grits range from heavenly to meh depending on the day. In general the side dishes seem to be an afterthought. A wee bit more consistency and this place would move up to a 5 star. Oh, and you can get a 40oz of pabst in a bucket of ice. You heard me. A 40! So classy!
(4)Gary M.
We hadn't been to the Delta in a few years, but had heard it was slipping and wanted to check it out ourselves. The place was almost deserted around 1 pm on a Thursday; not a good sign. We picked up our own menus per instructions and sat down. Waited what seemed like a very long time before the waitress, who was nice but seemed somewhat disengaged, came to take our order. The order must have taken a half an hour - two sandwiches, a small mac & cheese, no drinks, in a place that was virtually deserted. We saw the cook nibbling on something; maybe it was his lunchtime too, I don't know. The sandwiches were bland - really no better than a subway sandwich with a few pieces of meat (chicken po boy and blackened chicken) with a lot of lettuce for filler and not much else on one of those boring buns. The mac and cheese was pretty good, but the prices are too high here for some very unimaginative, uninteresting food. I got the feeling the place is on its way out; whatever mojo it had seems lost in the haze of slow service, blah food, and a rather gloomy atmosphere. With so many other options in FoodieTown USA, there's not much reason to bother with this place.
(1)Adam S.
All the old friendly wait staff are gone, as is my go-to dishes on the menu. The new owner is clearly ditching quality in the name of finding the cheapest way to do business. No more fresh produce and meat, it's all from a can, or flash frozen. The atmosphere has slowly gone from being authentically SE Portland, to a half assed attempt to look like a corporate chain. It's sad, like watching a youthful free-spirit don a tie and occupy a cubicle. It's really sad to see one of my very favorite places get ran into the ground.
(2)Leanna B.
I've been here twice recently, once for brunch and once for dinner. Both experiences were fantastic. The meatloaf was the best I've ever had (sorry, mom!). Service was definitely on the slow side, but always friendly. They have $5 happy hour cocktail specials that rotate throughout the week and I recently had the Tuesday drink (The Outlaw). I'm not a whiskey fan - shocking, I know - but the ginger won me over. It's time for some new booth seat covers, however... exposed foam interiors aren't so cute.
(4)Taylor M.
I keep trying to like this place, but each of the three visits I've made in the past couple years has been a disappointment. Between the slow service, inattentive wait staff, and mediocre food, I have yet to have a satisfactory experience. The only saving grace has been the pork collard greens and mac and cheese. But the ribs were cold, greasy, and I have no clue where they came up with their baste, but it is inauthentic and unappetizing. The pulled pork sandwich was OK, but not great. They occasionally have a great special (like the pork roast with apricots and onions, which my wife ordered and I wish I had). Also, their takeout boxes are poor quality. It fell apart and I lost all of my mac and cheese. :(
(2)John J.
Food is improved Ive been back three times and loving it. I quit coming after new owners ruined the food but Came back in hopes it would work out and I have to say good job Food is much better and staff is fast and cheerfully attentive. I would say it's just about back to as it was years ago Thanks for a great meal and I will see you again soon.
(5)Dana S.
So, I should begin this by saying that I recently moved to Portland and Delta Cafe was the first stop on my search for a good beignet. My husband and I went to Delta for brunch and each ordered breakfast and shared an order of beignets. I drank a sweet tea, and I will say that it was really good. Really sweet, but that's how a southern style sweet tea should be. The ambiance was also cute and homey. Breakfast was meh. It wasn't bad, but I probably could of made better at home. I equate the brisket hash to something you would make with leftovers. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good. My husband ordered biscuits and country gravy. He didn't really want to finish it as his biscuits were kinda overcooked and the gravy was basically plain-hamburger flavored. The whole dish was very bland. Now, onto the beignets. They were not beignets. Authentic beignets are light and airy and smothered in powdered sugar. These beignets were more like fried sweetbread dough with a light dusting of powdered sugar. They sat like a rock in our stomachs they were so dense and heavy, and I was so disappointed by the sugar available, I ended up asking for more to be added. A LOT more. I was very excited to get my hands on some southern style food, but aside from the tea and the atmosphere. I was disappointed.
(2)Jadzia D.
This place used to be great. Not any more. The menu doesn't offer what they used to, by that I mean you get less now for the same price. And the staff is rude! I went in there earlier this year with a group of friends. We were so appalled that I sent an email to the manger, and never heard back. Since then I've not been back. I won't recommend this place anymore. The new management took something wonderful and have destroyed it. What a shame.
(1)Theresa C.
The best catfish bites EVER! Hubby eats the chicken fried steak. I get the tofu and grits with creole sauce. We've sampled almost all of the sides and they were all delicious. The best collard greens I've had since I lived in the south. Macaroni and cheese - check Potato cheese casserole - check black eyed peas - check We always wind up with leftovers. They have a drink special every day but also have a good selection of house cocktails and they are all tasty. Make sure you ask for some Aardvark sauce too.
(4)Amy L.
Being that I'm a bartender and have been for the past 9 years. I take great pride in my job. The women working in the bar is by far the worst bartender I've ever had. I've lived in Portland my whole life and always remembered this place being awesome! But I will say after the way I was treated today I'll never be back. She took our food order and just left us in the conner. We Sat and watched her be nice to the regulars. They all got what they ordered first...even when our order was put in half an hour before they even came in. I was totally shocked.....and when the food came out not even a sorry that took an hour. Never checked on us or even asked how the food was. She finally came over and asked if we wanted boxes. But still never took the time to bring them. We were upset and Fed up by this point. So we paid at the bar. Never in my life have I wanted to not leave a tip. I know that's how I pay my bills. So I left her a tip anyways... Do you know what TIP means? To Ensure Proper Service I will never be going back here again.
(1)Mary B.
Close to home, we come here often. Me, for the Old Fashioned. It's consistently great. The food is hit or miss; ordered out and got a brisket that was more like a steak, had steak that was over cooked, potatoes weren't fully cooked at breakfast. BUT, the fried chicken is super, the Jambalaya, the red beans and rice (which I sometimes make a meal of with an accompanying side of cole slaw,) Hubbs loves the pulled pork over texas toast and the mashed potatoes with chicken gravy are very happy indeed. The service is pretty good, too.
(3)Orian I.
you know i've been hearing about this place forever, and ever. and as much as i like southern fare, i've been told i HAVE to go to the delta. I'm sorry but this place is all talk and no delivery. although the gravy was ok, the ribs were lack lusters the greens were bla. and the service was pretty medicore. i guess when you've been the only game in town for so long you get complacent. i'd recomend screen door over this place, it was kinda lame as the sauce that was on my ribs and chicken fried steak.
(2)Deanna N.
Consistent for brunch. I liked that I could order breakfast ala cart so I had the biscuits, a waffle and bacon while sitting outside with my Siberian husky. The service was kind of slow, seating and open tables and ignoring happened a lot, but once seated I got great service perhaps as my husky was in tow. I really thought the standout was the biscuits. The bacon was spicy peppered and not overcooked. I shared it with the pooch. Coffee was a bit bland, but doable.
(3)KD O.
This is our walkable-to local hangout and it lives up to that well. Food: The food is very hit or miss, but we usually do pretty well. I had excellent catfish one night, and terrible a week later, but such is the nature of that sort of fish. I'm mostly vegetarian, so if you are a veg there are a few good selections. Try the Tofu A La Picante, or the BBQ Tofu Po' Boy. I didn't like the fried Okra, but a friend loves it. Again, hit or miss. This is the type of place you try twice to see if you went on the miss night. Verdict: Not as good as some, better than others. Breakfast: Served Sat and Sun only. Not as good as Arleta Library Cafe, which is equidistant from our house. We've went a few times. It's on the bland side, but alright. Drinks: Good signature cocktails with an average $ of $7. Nice variety of drinks - sweet, savory and straight up. Go on Tuesday's for all day happy hour and get them for $5, or go to happy hour every day. Usually a decent selection of regional taps such as Ninkasi out of Eugene. Dessert: The pies are home made and purchased from elsewhere, but good. The Key Lime pie is their best non-fruit-chunk pie. Don't bother with the pecan pie if you've ever had the real stuff from down south. Atmosphere and staff: A++ If this was just for the staff and atmosphere, I'd give it five stars. Great people. Comfortable place with lots of style without looking like they are ripping anyone off. Day to go: Tuesday all day are drink specials - $5 for signature cocktails and lower for beers and well drinks.
(4)Anna S.
Delta is one of my long-time neighborhood loves. For me, it teeters along 5-ness - like some visits I'd give a 5, some a 4, and occasionally a 3. Things you need to know: - Service: quirky. The servers will not kiss your ass, and they are generally not in a hurry. I've never had downright terrible service there, but it IS very laid-back and sometimes comes with a bit o' attitude. I'm okay with this, but I know some people aren't. It can be a bit chaotic sometimes though. - Value: excellent. The food is terrific and the portions are big. Incredibly, a few years back the portions were even slighter bigger and the prices were lower. It's still a great value, but I give 4 stars on this rather than the 5 it would have gotten about 4 years ago. - Ambience: very Portland. Like weirdness? Mismatched coffee mugs? Hideous wall art? Koi fish with that disease that makes them all fat but doesn't hurt them? Appreciate bathroom graffiti that says, "I f*cked your mom!" and then the reply, "Go home, Dad. You're drunk."? I sure do! But not everyone sees charm in these things. Maybe be aware of that when selecting your dining companions. - Convenience: not so much on the paying. Cash only here - boo for that. But then again, screw The Man and the big credit card fees they charge businesses - I understand that too. I just don't carry cash much. Luckily there's an ATM right across the street, or a Safeway nearby to stop first and get cash back from buying a pack of gum if you REALLY want to say screw The Man! - Booze: ohhhh yep. Fulkl bar with stiff, tasty, reasonable drinks. Deal-o-rama $1 red beers at brunch, if you're into that. A little bit of context - almost all of my visits here have been for dinner. The food has been been reliably awesome. When they first started brunch about a year ago, I tried it and was underwhelmed. No more - I went in this past Sunday and was mightily impressed. The French Toast is pure euphoria! Huuuuge thick pieces of soft, buttery brioche with a bit of homemade berry compote on it... The menu said it would be "one triangle", but what I got was a monstrous hunk of glory. In summary... yes yes yes. Damn, now I'm thinking I want to change my rating to 5... but the consistency thing does matter. But I already want to make out with the Delta's Jambalaya and their French Toast, so in a couple more visits I'm sure I'll be knocking it up... that extra star. Hahaha.
(4)Jenn C.
Having several friends from the South (Mississippi and North Carolina, respectively) it is no surprise we are often looking for a great place for some Southern comfort food. Believe you me, we've tried just about all of them (I think...) So after moving a couple of them all day and preparing for a night of celebration, we started at the Delta Cafe. It was really warm (or maybe it was the vodka) inside, but we didn't mind once the aroma of deliciousness filled our nostrils. I had the gumbo (soooo good). Southerners at the table said it was a little off--too much fake smoke flavor for them. The okra was not the best flavor I've had in Portland, however, it had a great crispy breading. Like your PBR in a 40 and served in a coffee can filled with ice? Does it get better, Portland? (Well as a beer snob, yes, but I get it--so I'll roll with those of you who enjoy their Pibber). The atmosphere is really unique to the other cajun/creole places I've visited. A table that screams of voodoo and other cajun dogma with lit candles and doll parts, paired with the low lighting and dark wall colors really makes this place worth visiting.
(4)Heather B.
I have been here twice and while the food was ok the experience left me wanting to shower. The place feels extremely dirty. Also, the service is snotty. Not sure where some local places get the "you're lucky to be eating here" attitude but the staff was infected with it.
(1)Jason L.
This place is great. Ok wait - the food is awesome. The service is sloooooooooow. And the servers can be a bit spacey. But, getting past that, if you're hungry and want some good southern food - go here. It's cheap, good and you get tons of food. Just don't be in a hurry. Normally, because the service was so slow I would give this place 3 stars - but the food really is good. The atmosphere is also nice and it's usually packed - full of SE Portland hipsters.
(4)Stella S.
I really wanted to give this place 5 stars but the reality is that not everything my friends and I ordered were good. The hush puppies with chicken gravy (Pups in a Pond) were VERY bland. We didn't even finish them. My drink, Darla's Sidecar, was actually kind of gross. It tasted like bad oranges. But I drank it anyways since it was $7. And my friend was not a fan of his side of biscuits and gravy. He mentioned the biscuit was pretty dry and if it had the same chicken gravy that was on the hush puppies, then I understand how that wouldn't help either. Now, on the upside! The inside of this place is rad looking! I love the decor they have going on. The staff was friendly as well. My smoked bbq brisket was awesome! I got the potato cheese casserole and the new orleans red beans & rice as my sides. Both very good, even though the "casserole" was more like a scoop of awesome mashed potatoes. My husband loved his jambalaya and my friends really liked the tender bbq pork and the meatloaf they ordered. The mac-n-cheese is garlicky and delicious! i definitely suggest trying that. Next time, I'm going to order the ginger float because the table next to us had one and it looked epic. Served in a mason jar with a large topping of whipped cream? Sign me up! So definitely give this place a try. I don't suggest the hush puppies and gravy, but i do recommend getting yourself some mac-n-cheese and trying some delicious meat entrees. We will definitely be back.
(4)Christine M.
I'll put it this way; Delta is my place of choice for the once-a-year-extra-special birthday dinner. Holy smokes. I have been there quite often, consistently delicious and great service.... in fact SO GOOD that I will take any excuse to go eat here; hence the birthday pick. BBQ Tofu (dressed) Po'boy, veggie collard greens, GIGANTIC & PERFECT cornbread, pecan pie... and whatever drink I'm in the mood for. Lordy.
(5)Stacy L.
Normally, Delta is pretty darn good for that down home southern cooking. I had the red beans and rice last night and it did not disappoint, so why the 2 stars?? Well the cornbread that came with my meal was awful. It didn't taste day old, it tasted week old and I told the waiter so. Did he do anything about it? Nope. The carefree attitude at this restaurant is usually one of it's charms, but not when it compromises the dining experience.
(2)Srk K.
This review is from a couple years ago and we haven't been back. Sounds like things haven't changed though. We went for dinner and drinks and while I like a dark atmosphere the one here is just gloomy and creepy. I've been to the south and the food served here is nothing like it. Honestly I could take the interior decorating if the food blew my mind but it did not. Most bland mac and cheese I've ever had. They need to get some new recipes and cooks. Haven't been back and won't ever unless something changes.
(1)Misty S.
This will be a short review. Why? After a much-awaited trip to Delta for my daughter's fifth birthday (I had been hanging on to a Groupon for months), my family had to leave early. Damn kids. From my short experience, the servers were okay and the food was pretty decent. My Blood, Sweat and Tears adult drink was fabulous! We only got a few bites into our dinner when our two kids decided it was crazy time and wouldn't sit still if their lives depended on it. I had a chat with the bartender on the way out...thanks for listening to me bitch, man! All in all, I would come back (sans children!!!) to give this place a more thorough review. For anyone who had to witness my kids being awful, I'm sorry. At least we packed our stuff up and left instead of staying for the whole meal...right? After finishing our dinner at home, I can say the Gumbo and the Jambalaya were great!
(4)Ivan S.
I have had many a fantastic meal at the Delta. My last one started well enough. The Cozy Shack was a delicious cocktail to start with. If you stumble in on a cold evening, get it served hot and you will be warmed up in no time. Our party got an appetizer of corn and black-eyed pea fritters and corn bread. The fritters light and fluffy, like a fritter should be. I enjoyed mine with some Aardvark hot sauce along with the black-eyed pea green chili cheese dip that came with them. For dinner i ordered the blackened catfish with red beans and rice and tater tot casserole. The fish was well prepared and the aioli and remoulade that it was served with paired perfectly. The red beans and rice are always fantastic and did not disappoint. The low point in my meal came when I tried my casserole and found it to be cold. My wife also ordered it as a side and hers was cold as well. Overall the service was good and attentive, but I would appreciate it if they took more care to make sure their side dishes are served hot.
(3)Diana L.
I've heard some really great things about Delta Cafe prior to coming there with some girlfriends earlier this week .. But Delta Cafe left us with no reason to ever come back. Facts: 1. Food wasn't bad at all .. Definitely around/above average. HOWEVER 2. Table was sticky and dirty .. And server/waitress did not clean. 3. Drinks were not made correctly. 4. No offer to re-make drinks or allow us to choose something different. 5. No Mashed Potatoes on a Thursday evening?! 6. Crappy service overall. Bottom line? If you are looking for a little soul food then maybe this is the spot to go .. Just be aware that you may take a little abuse on the service side of things while drinking down the sweet tea.
(1)Traci R.
What a pathetic ass excuse for a shrimp po'boy. I had to seriously comb through the coleslaw to find the shrimp. SERIOUSLY? I had to laugh to keep from crying. I don't even want to spend any more time typing my disappointment. But this ain't about NOTHING right now. I feel like I just got hoodwinked. :::livid:::
(1)s. m.
The Delta Cafe has a very eclectic atmosphere but for me it's all about the food and with that said I have to say their catfish takes the win! It's seasoned and breaded just right, moist all white meat with aioli and remoulade sauce. Too much okra in their gumbo though but that catfish is Mmm mmm mmm mmm good!
(4)Ivan M.
Overpriced food. Okay for drinks.
(2)Khang N.
I took my girlfriend here when we stared to date and I'm glad to share this place with her.. Definitely a nice date spot.. I usually get the chicken fried steak with mash potatoes.. The portions are huge and cheap! It's just excellent!~ The service is great. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. A place you must check out..
(5)Alexis Y.
We haven't been the delta for a year, even though we always liked the food. We went Friday night and loved it. My husband had the chicken fettichini with green beans in a mushroom sauce. I ate half of his beans they were so good. I had the pulled pork on Texas toast......yum. It had a great flavor with a sauce of sweet and hot. I miss the cauliflower and cheese side, but loved my dinner. Will go back more often. The service was really good and the server helpful.
(4)Adam G.
Great drinks, great food, and great staff. The happy hour is awesome, and the brunch is bonkers. What more could you want?
(5)Sara M.
Just not my style...I really wasn't feeling the dark restaurant, loud music, etc. The food wasn't very good...I'm thinking maybe it's a hit or miss. Pork tasted dirty - the only reason pork typically tastes dirty is because it's old pork....pretty messy and sloppy...spilling all over my plate. I don't think I'll ever be going back here.
(1)Lucky B.
Definitely good breakfast! We all enjoyed what we ordered, service was friendly and the atmosphere is good.
(4)Jacob M.
The food and drinks were decent, waitstaff was "ok"... not much else to say about it. It's not a "bad" restaurant, but a pretty heavy gut bomb and I didn't think the flavor was anything to do back flips over.
(3)Johana M.
I write this review with my belly still full of delicious Delta dinner! With a friend in from out of town today, we somehow forced ourselves to walk to the top of Multnomah falls in 30 degree weather with super cold wind blowing literally and figuratively the entire time. Post 3-hour freezing hike, we needed some serious comfort food. This brings us to the Delta. We came inside only to have a heavenly scent fill our noses. We immediately knew it was a good choice. Their drinks are excellent; we had a hot toddy and a mothers milk. Some of their cocktails are made from house-infused liquor, and I remember once at a Delta brunch (also worth noting and trying) I had a cucumber vodka drink that was insanely refreshing. We both agreed that food-wise we were interested in a big bowl of HOT and damn did they deliver! I got the tofu a la sauce piquante which might be one of the best comfort foods Portland doesn't know about. It's crunchy fried (but light tasting) tofu dropped into a giant bowl of heavenly red sauce and a scoop of rice. My friend even said she was a little jealous of my choice after tasting it. And it came with a side of piping hot mashed potatoes and gravy. Hers was another big bowl of rice and beans that she said was hearty and fresh and went well with a recommended side of 'veggie' collard greens and cornbread. The service was prompt and unpretentious, and also gave us a good amount of space to just enjoy the atmosphere (Mardi Gras + Dia De Los Muertos + Portland eclectic) and our grub. And, the price was just right.
(4)Deborah H.
I am so sorry to write this, as I used to really love the Delta Cafe habiting it with my eldest son and his friends. I remember just being SO enthusiastic about the BBQ ribs and chicken and the delicious sides that I wanted to treat my younger boys and their friends there. I admit that it's been 2-3 years since my last visit. My carload of kids and I arrived at 6:00 p.m. with hardly a wait at all. All looked good. We had a very nice waitress who was personable and helpful. I ordered the most expensive items: the mixed ribs and chicken entrees and the BBQ pork rib entrees. I then order the large sample side option, bringing 8 side dishes to the table. The corn bread came first, very coarse and 'authentic' tasting. Then came all the entrees and side dishes..... The BBQ items did not smell good at all and at the first taste ALL of us made faces at our food. "It tastes like cigarettes." "Mine isn't good at all." "I'm not going to be able to eat this." And mine? "This tastes like an overdose of liquid smoke." We couldn't eat the ribs and chicken at all. We were hungry so we tentatively approached the side dishes. Collard greens? Fibrous. Mac N Cheese? Bland and flavorless. Tater Tot Casserole? Mushy. Red Beans and Rice? Simple, but eaten. Salad? Too many onions. Mashed potatoes and gravy? All right. I could go on, but I won't. There wasn't a satisfied person at our table. The smokey smell was giving me a stomach ache and the after taste of that stuff is lingering still to make me write my first bad review of an establishment I used to love. What has happened? I'm sad to do this, but I spent too much money this evening with the hopes of a great Delta Cafe experience. My first thought was that it must have been a new cook who loaded in that terrible Liquid Smoke junk so that it was inedible. I just don't know. I took all the BBQ meat home, but when we opened it up to taste it again, it was inedible and we dumped the whole lot. I'm not kidding, this is sad but a true rendition of what went down. Thumbs down this evening with the hopes that your Delta experience will be better.
(1)Sara M.
Brunch or dinner, it's a winner. Although, I'll go with brunch: the make-your-own bloody Mary bar with garlic infused vodka, red beers, beignets with lemon curd! Choose your own adventure for your entree: I like the baked eggs with cream and herbs or the bleu cheese frittata. YUM. Dinner is great and the servings are more than generous, although my only complaint is that on a busy night I come home smelling like I was manning the fry station all night. But, a bucket of 40oz PBR and a tender filet of blackened catfish never made me regret the evening. Chash or check only, folks, so be prepared. ATM on site.
(4)Morgan C.
I found out about this place because of a Groupon a few months back (wish I had bought it). It sounded like a good place to try (after all they have a bloody mary bar and $1 red beer). If it weren't for the other reviews I probably would have just kept driving (little hole in the wall place, with a washed out sign and not much room to wait for a table) but I went with a group of friends this past Sunday for brunch and I'll be back many times to come. We ordered a few baskets of the beignets and while they were over cooked a little, they came with a Lemon Curd that could stand up on its own (I believe there was a few moments of finger licking that happened). The portions are large - four pancakes the size of my head, biscuits and gravy (brown gravy which I thought was interesting) that had to be taken home and the BEST eggs benedict I've had ANYWHERE in Portland.
(4)Amy S.
What is up with the rude servers?
(1)Todd V.
Well hell yes. This place was great, with the menu and atmosphere a solid combo. We went for an early dinner, and between happy hour specials, one dinner plate and a beer, came away stuffed and with another full meal in leftovers for 2 for about $25 before tip. Best: the server, great in all aspects rice and beans side scalloped potatoes side hush puppies Great: catfish bites, though the fish itself came in 2nd to the breading Pretty good: okra, which was good but again light on overall flavor Borderline: fried chicken, great at the time but tasted really strange the next day. We really enjoyed the overall experience but the off taste of the chicken the next day was a real turnoff. I'd go back but would not order the chicken.
(3)Tanna P.
I love coming here for breakfast on Sunday mornings! We usually get here just after they open so we don't have to wait. I usually get the Delta breakfast with a side of french toast! Sooo good. The bloody Mary's are very good and so is the red beer. We dine in for dinner sometimes too and I usually get the meatloaf with mac-n-chesse and cornbread. So good. One time I saved room to get dessert so I got key lime pie and that was pretty darn good. I've always had a good experience since I moved to this neighborhood five years ago. It's a bummer they are open a little earlier on the weekdays for a late lunch.
(5)Erin K.
I love this kind of food! If you are in the mood for hushpuppies, go for the ones in gravy, you will NOT be sorry, as they make a mean chicken gravy. And the BBQ Pork was awesome, we went for the "mixed" sauce (rather than sweet or spicy) and it was perfect, and in perfect proportion to the meat. Also, we found the texas toast-like bread that was under it to be a wonderful hearty addition. The only thing I didn't love were the sweet potato fries... although they were good, it was much more like eating a sweet potato than a sweet potato turned into a fry (not crispy at all), and I was really in the mood for a fry. BUT, my heart belongs to the Screen Door when it comes to collard greens and mac and cheese. These offerings at the Delta were good (specifically the greens), but the Screen Door's are drool worthy, so it's pretty hard to compete with them. The dessert options looked great too, and we went with the ginger float which I wish I would have thought to make sooner, it was great! They have great happy hour (4-6pm) prices with 1/2 price appetizers and $2.50 well drinks and draft beers. My husband and I could totally eat a happy hour dinner here consisting of hush puppies, mac and cheese, and collard greens and a couple beers for $15 which I think is pretty awesome.
(4)Liz C.
So, this place isn't at all what I expected, BUT it was good. I am from the south, so I LOVE me some BBQ, and the brisket here was pretty freaking good. The sweet tea was PERFECT and served in a large Mason jar. classic. a few things to note if you plan on going here: Cash or check only! no cards...but there is a US bank and Chase bank within a block of the joint. Also, late night is bar seating only so you have to be 21 so after about 9 pm don't bring the kids. I agree with Patrick S, a somewhat cheap feel to the place, but a charm that says "i'm at home" I guess that's pretty reflective of the south. needless to say, it's down home soul food that's decently priced.
(4)Angus V.
I've been here a few times over the years, and have never been very impressed. My wife and I couldn't decide between the hash and chicken fried steak so we got both. The steak came with biscuits gravy greens and grits, and while the flavor was typical, the portion was generous. The hash came with under cooked eggs and was more like a saute than hash. Disappointing. First cup of coffee was old tasting, but the irish coffee was very boozy. Good service. Mediocre food.
(2)Lindsay C.
Delta is one of my favorite places that I happened upon in Portland years ago! I've been here for dinner with my family, drinks with my girlfriends and a date night with my favorite couple! I visited last week and tried their chicken fried steak for the first time, BEST decision I've ever made. I have not eaten here one time and been disappointed! Fun atmosphere, wonderful service and the vibe is Portland to a T! Only suggestion is get some better air flow in the summer time, can get VERY warm :) I recommend giving this place a try!
(5)Shawna N.
Short and sweet. Catfish is good! Jambalaya is GOOD! Service is GOOD! I have tried a couple other things and they were not the best, but I can't help but love this spot. It is rad and I will be back!
(4)Bryan R.
Maybe I was just in a good mood because it was a mini vacation, but if all mini vacations came with pumpkin pancakes, I'd see no reason to work again. Being from Seattle, I have a horribly unfair expectation that cool looking places are going to be infected with a general air of hipster disaffectedness so thick that you want to talk about how much cooler Arcade Fire became once they got big just to watch them implode So imagine my pleasure when I walked into this fine establishment on a Saturday morning and was greeted by a friendly man who sat me at a table where I was offered coffee by a friendly young woman. And not tip-friendly, just general, I'm-a-nice-person friendly. I generally felt welcomed and comfortable there. The food was GREAT, the coffee put hair on my chest (finally!), and the bacon was the appropriate shatter-in-your-mouth texture. And they have a fountain with goldfish in it. It couldn't be greater unless they got Neil Patrick Harris as a line cook. Ok, that would make it a little cooler, but for now the pumpkin pancakes will do.
(5)Chris L.
After witnessing what can only be described as "the slimy mating rituals of restaurant servers gone wild" during a recent dining experience at Miss Delta, I was determined to discover the true connection between them and long time Portland favorite the Delta Cafe. Was Miss Delta a high end Portencious re-imagination of the Delta Café, an unbeknownst bastardized spin off version, or just a blatant attempt to capitalize on the name of another established Portland restaurant? Put down them #2 pencils, kids. The correct answer is all of the above. According to our server, Miss Delta is the creation of a former partner of the Café. This partner allegedly took the majority of the recipes (which they did not have a hand in creating) and decided to fashion the fancier then thou version over on North Mississippi. Other then sharing several recipes, there is no official connection between the two. Our server chuckled at my question and explained that they frequently get complaints from patrons who have dined at the Miss on Miss and want to complain to them. I have no confusion as to why one might complain. Seems like the Miss would have been better off stealing more then just the recipes; some of the staff would have helped too. Hands down, the Delta Café is the better restaurant. First off, it won the side by side taste test, and what really matters more then that? Having ordered the same entrée and sides (fried chicken, red beans and rice, mashed potatoes) at both establishments, I can say without hesitation that the Delta Café's food is markedly better. I also found that the servers tend to be extremely friendly, laid back and attentive, without displaying any of the weird ass sexual tendencies found at the Miss (nor the cold sores). The TLBF and I met up with my female doppelganger and her new beau. Great conversation was complimented by great southern food and hospitality. The term "noshing" came up, as we discussed our fondness for it, its lack of usage amongst the group, and what the actual meaning was. (Nosh is to snack or eat a light meal; our thoughts were this great word certainly should mean to eat with vigor and aggression...not to lightly snack) Additional props to the Café for having a fantastic IPA on tap and for playing the entire Flight of the Conchords album as we arrived. I don't know if our dinning companions appreciated my constant sing along with Bret and Jemaine; but hey no worries, I'm use to too my mutha uckas uckin' with my shi-.
(5)Alyssa A.
Sinfully delicious. No two words describe this place any better. Every dish on the menu is Southern food for the soul. I've had nothing but good experiences with the service and depending on how hungry my husband and I are, we can usually get away with feeding both of us on $20 or less. Amazing! Of course, if you start adding in all the drinks you're tempted to order then you won't be keeping that $20 mark but who could resist a "Blood Sweat and Tears"?
(5)Tamara K.
Redemption! Halleluja! I had brunch about a year ago and it was a less than stellar experience but prior to that I had always had great food, drink and service. I returned last night to redeem a groupon that was expiring, knowing it would be jam packed and we would most likely have to wait for a table. We arrived at 5:50 and there was already a line out the door and about 15 names ahead of ours. We headed to the bar for a Hail Mary, which is their signature Bloody Mary made with garlic infused vodka. This is a salad in a big goblet that is sure to make a wait for a table much more enjoyable. Very tasty! A spot opened at the bar so we crossed our name off the list, bellied up and ordered the catfish as an appetizer and fried chicken and blackened red snapper as our entrees. Our sides consisted of collard greens, mashed potatoes with gravy and red beans and rice. Everything was cooked to perfection and came out of the kitchen much faster than expected. Our bartender/server kept his cool even in the heat of the rush of groupon redeemers. The memories of my past brunch experience was wiped from my memory and replaced with visions of another meal here in the not-too-distant future!
(5)Brandon S.
I can totally understand why people don't like the Delta Cafe. A lot of the things that I love about it probably rub some people the wrong way. But we've never had a bad meal there nor bad service. Our latest visit featured chicken fried steak - good with a nice spicy bite to it, but not a great chicken fried steak - and a pork chop special that was really good. Two big, tender pork chops that had a chipotle sauce on them. They were spicy, but not too spicy and really delicious. The sides, as always, were great. You can't go wrong with mac-and-cheese, tater-tot casserole and red beans and rice. I love the decor - especially the George W. tombstone over the bar - and I love the people. Our waitress was very friendly, helpful and heavily tattooed. But I don't understand why they don't take credit cards, but they do have an ATM on premises and there are numerous banks within a block so getting cash isn't an issue.
(4)Katherine K.
Coming from the South I wouldn't go so far as to call it all super authentic, but I give them credit for their sweet tea and black eyed peas. The food was amazing, I ordered the blackened chicken - not blow away by it - but it was good, my husband's Jambalaya was perfectly spiced - easy to eat but with a kick of heat a minute or so later. If they keep making their mac-n-cheese the same way, I will be a loyal customer for years. The food was reasonably priced, the service was great.
(4)J A.
What a difference just of a year can make. This way one of my favorite places to go, even with a line out the door. When they said they were going to close and do some refreshing I was so happy for them; now I am so sad for me. I thought we had scored when we didn't have to wait, we were told to sit where ever we wanted. We entered the dinning room and were immediately barked (yes, barked) at that those table are reserved. OK, well let's sit over there with a table in between us and the other group, more privacy for both parties. Ooops! more barking. It appeared the table just needed to be finished wiped down, no worries, I wiped down the table and turned to find the waitress scowling at me. I said he said we could sit anywhere, "Well, he is wrong and he should have said any clean table" fired the not so friendly lady. WOW! Hum, do we want to stay or leave? We decide to stay and pick up the menu which has been paired down so much we are speechless. We loved getting the catfish bites, sadly they are gone. The menu, well being frank, SUCKS. We decided on the fried okra. Disappointing, the batter was barely clinging to the okra and when we asked for "ranch", the waiter snapped "we do not have ranch" and walked off. Hello, we are still here and we wanted some dipping sauce (I can't recall but I thought it came with some before), no suggestions or substitutions just turned and walked away. So back to the menu, you no longer get your choice of two sides - only one and you get Hoppin John Blackeye peas and your choice of one. No beans and rice as an entree. I can't believe it. I don't mind paying for a good meal, but this was not. Once the bill came, our waitress disappeared. Not for a minute, but 15. Finally, we decided that we'd try to pay at the counter and get outta there. Well, we were graced with our waitress - who as it turns out can be nice when it comes to tip time. Sorry, I tip on the whole experience, the meal, time spent waiting, you and your co-workers. You were all unfriendly and acted like you had better things to do. As you can see this is an update from my previous glorious review. Delta I guess that refresh took it all out of you or you decide to rest on your good name; whichever, I am so disappointed and not sure I will return.
(1)Miz C.
A dark bar full of delicious comfort food. I'm in.
(3)Sonja L.
Oh Delta. How you make me miss my family. Every time I have the collard greens I think of mom and Sunday dinners. Fried chicken, only my Grandmother made it better and she's gone now, so I'll have to get my fix at Delta. Its an odd sort of bar/resturant. All sorts of strange things on the walls. New Orleans found a small corner of Woodstock to take a rest and make some hardy stick to your ribs southern food for the neighbors, because that's how the South does it. They feed the neighborhood. Hungry? Have this huge plate of fried chicken, collard greens and mac and cheese..done? How about a HUGE slice of key lime pie? (Oh the pies...OH GAWD THE PIES! You need it in your mouth) Thirsty? Tastey drinks, make your own bloody marys..1.00 red beers at brunch.. yeah, its a slice of Southern livin' right here in the Pacific Northwest and I LOVE it. Try it. You'll thank me.
(5)Dave E.
I thought the food was ok but the service was bad. The bartender was really rude And not friendly. When I asked for a menu he pointed to where they were. He also stated happy hour was not available on weekends. I was there on a Friday and last time i checked that was still a weekday. I am new to the neighborhood and had heard good things but thought was a bit over priced. I hope to go back for brunch and hope get better service.
(2)Jenny Y.
This place was happiness in my tummy =) I tried the grits with fried catfish =d The grits were yummers and not too soggy or runny with a good strong cheddar taste. And the catfish was just fried to perfection =d If I wasn't driving, i would definitely have tried their habenero based cocktails with a fruity one to wash it down ;P I definitely will be back here to eat more when I'm back in the Portland area. Why don't we have more southern places like this in la?...sadness =(
(4)Elizabeth E.
Average fare, in average portions, for an average price. A friend suggested we head across town to check out the brunch at Delta Cafe, and I was excited because I'd heard mostly rave reviews. However, after the so-so service (okay, it was bad but friendly) and the mostly flavorless food, I walked away feeling disappointed. I went with two southern-raised gentlemen as well, who felt simiarly about their experience. While the beginets were delicious, the grits were sad, the portions were a bit on the small side, and the sad presentation of the largely average food was enough to convince me that I don't have to head all the way back across town to give it a second shot.
(2)Lindsay S.
Ok, I think there are new owners in the house. The place looks nicer, but the prices are higher for less food and less choices. What used to be a cascading plate of food goodness good for leftovers the next day, has turned into regular portion sizes for more $. Also I was denied my own choice of a side and stuck with something I didn't want and didn't eat. Waitress seemed annoyed when we asked about the changes (I'm sure she gets a lot of q's about it, but didn't have to give a visible eye roll). We have not been back since. The food baby magic of the Delta is gone!
(2)Jason B.
All I have to say is DONT READ THESE REVIEWS and play the guessing game... ): IF you like southern style food??!!! You WONT be disappointed! ;-)
(5)Jacob V.
Had the ribs very tender. I recomend combing the spicy & sweet sauce if you like spicy. My fiance had the pulled pork she enjoyed it alot. The sides were very good too but everyone must try The LEMONADE its the best ive ever had seriously delicious. It was a very fun dining experience thanks to the food and the very friendly wait staff! Did I mention the lemonade id be ranting about the food more but I have been here numerous times over the years and never tried the lemonad.
(4)Henry F.
Man, the Delta used to awesome, but now they suck! We got the Veggy Collared Green, and it was horrible! Seriously, we should have sent it back, and I really really hate to send food back. The service has been super rough too.
(1)Jodi C.
I have vehemently tried to cook southern food. i have chopped fingers and grated knuckles and cursed in southern accents. To no avail. my fried green tomatoes were a force to be reckoned with -- a force that directly attacked the balance of my stomach acids. I have a confession to make: I've even managed to bunk cornbread... Isn't that one of those dishes that a four year old can successfully concoct? Well, not me. But despite my inability to create southern comfort food of my own, I love the notions and recipes behind southern cuisine. There's a charm to it you can't quite find anywhere else. So I guess it's really no surprise that I ADORE the Delta Cafe. The vegan options are a bit of slim pickins, but as an ex-vegetarian, my heart (and my love handles) fell madly head-over-heels for the tater tot casserole. A casserole. With tater tots. Lawdy lawdy lawdy! A greasy, gooey, crispy mix of tater tots, corn flakes, and cheese, all melted together in the oven? I'll take it. Deeeeelicious. For such a simple food, the black eyed peas and rice dish is very hearty and flavorful. And some day, I will have a chance to try the barbeque tofu and the veggie jambalaya. Some of their southern-style foods include White Trash Meatloaf, traditional Jambalaya, hush puppies, huge barbeque portions, charred catfish, and a Po' Boy sandwich menu. I'm also a big sucker for the restaurant/bar's ambiance. Vibrant colored walls. Odd paintings, plants, and mirrors abound, comfortable booth seating. The soft sound of blues seemingly seeping through the walls... Definitely charming. The wait and bar staff are young, slightly aloof, and friendly enough for me. So long as you're not wasted in the bar. Which can be hard to avoid, since they also serve up 40s of Pabst Blue Ribbon in a tin can full of ice. Enjoy the mason jars. And try the pecan pie.
(5)Kim K.
Get your fix of Southern food! Can't go wrong with the hush puppies or collard greens! Incredible!! Staff is friendly and helpful with choices!
(4)L C.
Umm HELLO...The beignets with lemon curd...YUMM...with strong coffee...YUMMER! Also ordered the the Southern Scramble with andouille and crawfish...pretty good. It's how I would expect my scramble to taste! One thing that you should not mess up is eggs...I love my eggs and this place does it right! our server Valerie was on it that morning too. Will definitely be back SOON
(4)Briana B.
I love this place, every time my husband and I visit Portland I try to make a Delta stop. I especially love their brunch. Just good southern cooking with a northwest flair.
(4)Molly M.
First time out of the gate at this place was pleasant. Best eggs benedict I've found in Portland but it seems the her was a bit over zealous with the rush and overdid on the home fries...they were a bit too crispy for my taste. The service was awesome and they were very attentive. 11am brunch on a sunday and only a five minute wait...cant bat that! I'll be back to try the fried chicken!
(4)Sandra W.
It's a dive, Louisiana style. I kept straining my ears to hear the familiar twang of the "S'uth'ners," and Creole music, and half-expected to see Guy Fieri and a camera crew walk in at any moment, and watch his meal being prepared in the kitchen, and then take a big huge bite of the Gumbo and react overdramatically to the intense flavors in the dish. And just as quickly as I was convinced I had been teleported to NOLA, the waitress, with her pink-streaked hair, nose piercing and cowboy boots would appear to refill my water or check to see if we needed anything. Nope, this is Portland. Great service, great vibe, and real Southern cookin'. I reckon supper don't git any better than this.
(5)Georgie K.
I have been going to this place for years, but recently we moved closer and go there more often and have to say it is not what it used to be. The food is fantastic, but the service is spotty. I think food and service are equally important. We were recently waited on a man that seemed to not care too much about being a waiter and lacked any type of manners. He did not just suck as a waiter, but if I met him at a party I would of thought he was kind of an asshole. We are not sure if we want to go back or not. Maybe they do to go food. Such a bummer usually such a fun and great place, but we do not need to go out to dinner and deal with some jackass and then be expected to tip him in the end. They need to do some serious server training over there or the owner just doesn't care about the customers. I gave 3 stars for all the other great servers and good food, but if I was basing it on this one experience I would have gave 1 star.
(3)Ellis A.
I love this place. And I use love rarely. But I only give three stars because the last few times I've been in, they were out of things I wanted to eat and their waiters were straight up rude. I used to work across the street at the Hollywood Video (RIP) and order food to take home late at night after a long shift. Curled up on my couch around midnight after a long shift, watching a movie and eating a tofu poboy sandwich with a side of mac n cheese and mashed potatoes- real comfort food. But the last couple times I went in on date night with my boyfriend, they were out of things like mac n cheese (HOW? WHY?) and TOFU??? and being vegetarian and going specifically for the amazingly prepared tofu sandwiches, it would be a huge disappointment. The last time I was in was a year ago after a long day at Sauvies and I brought about 7 of my closest friends, after talking the place up all day. They seated us but our waiter was rude and lethargic and absent. He brought our food so staggering, it felt weird and uncomfortable. He probably isn't there anymore because he was a real doof, so don't let that sway you, but be aware when you go in. I like that you can get 40s on ice, though I never have. All in all, the food is hit and miss considering you never know if you'll get what you're craving. But if you need some comfort food, look no further.
(3)Trish H.
Let me star off be saying this place isn't bad. They just don't know that they are doing everything wrong. I went to culinary school in Mississippi and worked at one of the best steak houses in the state. So I'm informed about the correct way this food should taste. My girl friends went here for a nice dinner out. We started with the Sweet potato fries. They were good, just the right mix of crunch and soft. The apple sauce served with it was a good match as well, with some secret aardvark it was fantastic. I had the fried cat fish with Mac N Cheese and Hop N John. This is ware the trouble started. The fish was just a little under cooked, that might be because it was a full filet instead of breaking it down into two smaller filet (which makes it easier to cook and makes it not so watery). The Mac n Cheese was overly garlicky and under cheesy. The Hop n John was cold and not spiced at all. And everything was just a little bland. I will admit the lemon aid was quite good though. And the little bit of my friends pulled pork was really good. Nice and spicy with just enough smoke. All in all if you want some ok food at an ok price this place is good. But if you want authentic southern food in Portland...buy a plane ticket to Memphis.
(2)Christopher M.
Oh Delta... how you took me in when I was scorned by others such as Genie's and Sapphire. You warmed me with your loving biscuits and watered my bloodshot eyes with your morning bloodymarys. Your CFS is the best hands down, and I didn't mind I had to have cash in hand or use that evil electronic taxman near the bathroom... But now, you accept cards... oh, woe is me!!! Now the masses will not think twice about making the pilgrimage up to you when the line is unbearable at Cup & Saucer. Oh Delta, I thought we were perfect for each other, now I see I was not the one who was for you. I will still stop by to see you once in a while, but it will hurt me deep inside... Au revoir coup manque, je vous manquerai!
(5)Andrew S.
If you like heavy southern food. Big portions, sloppy but tasty. This place is ok. Service can be shabby, they occasionally have that LA attitude like people should be honored to eat there. They do serve cold chilled 40oz beer And have some classic dishes - i usually have gumbo. But have tried many plates - All ok but not great Never had breakfast, so my rating is based on Dinner
(3)Jeff M.
A Haiku Review of Delta Cafe: Heard many good things. But the food was just average. God bless those 40s.
(3)Desiree L.
Love the funky coolness of Delta Cafe. I hope they have the Tator Tot Casserole when I go back. It's one of my favorites!
(4)Mindy S.
I really have loved the Delta in the past, and I still enjoy going there. The menu and the food are just not quite what they used to be. I miss picking two sides - the black eyed peas are really not very good, and I don't want to be forced to eat them with almost everything on the menu. Also, they often seem to be out of staples like potato options, or cornbread! Great cocktails, and I do usually have good service.
(3)Chris R.
Disappointing caricature of Southern Food I lived in TN for 3 years and happen to be fresh back from a week long TN road trip. Maybe if it had been months since I had decent Southern food I would have viewed Delta better. I had the blackened catfish. On the upside it was a generous portion of catfish. Unfortunately it was kind of squishy and wet. I'll take the hit for not ordering the cat fried as is more popular. For sides I had Macaroni and Cheese (bland) and green beans with bacon and corn (good in a stereotypical overcooked Southern way). My friend had a Tofu Po Boy and tater tot casserole (recommended by server). The Po Boy was ok overall, the Tofu's texture was pleasantly chewy and hearty. The tater tot casserole tasted more like 4 day old Minnesota potluck food than anything I was ever served in the South and neither of us ate much of it. Also, why wasn't there a hush puppy on every plate? That is the one item that is almost a given on every Southern plate. At most places I ate at on vacation it isn't even something you order, it just shows up on the plate. And just to put a poop cherry on top of a disappointing dinner, even my RC tasted funky. I kept smelling my mason jar to try and figure out what was wrong. I'm guessing ice that picked up some scent or flavor. Go to Delta for some hipster viewing, cheap happy hour drinks and some grinding rock music for a background. For catfish or sides I'd rather be at Famous Dave's which isn't really high praise.
(2)Lela D.
If I could rate this restaurant zero, I would. We chose Delta Cafe because we had a coupon that offered $10 off a $30 bill. We thought this would be a great spot to have a nice lunch. Unfortunately not. We weren't greeted when we came in the door. We had to put our names on a wait list (but there were at least 4 open tables and only one couple ahead of us) Our server seated us and brought us water, coffee, cream, and took our orders in a timely manner. That's about the only good thing about her service. Until she came and brought our food, she didn't ask how we were doing and didn't check on us (She had three tables). I had to ask a separate waitress to refill our water (This waitress had 6 tables) Our food came quickly, which was great. And then we started to eat. We had ordered several different items because we hadn't been here before: Chicken and waffle, potatoes, cheddar grits, pancakes, chicken fried steak, and a side of bacon. The horrendously overseasoned breading on the chicken was burned. Not just a little over cooked, but BURNED. It was black in places. And the fry oil was starting to turn. It was TERRIBLE. I picked off all the breading to discover there was little to no meat on the bones. All of the meat on my "two pieces of fried chicken" (it was supposed to be a breast and a leg) was equivalent of MAYBE one average sized chicken leg. What meat there was, was dry and tough. The grits were bland and rubbery. Even adding salt and pepper didn't help them. The potatoes were overcooked and tough and bland. The chicken fried steak was overseasoned and horrid. One of our meals came with a dry, tasteless rock. And by rock I mean "biscuit." The pancakes were rubbery and bland. Even the ketchup was disgusting. How do you even mess up ketchup?? I will say, the only edible things were the coffee, the side of bacon, and the waffle, so if you only order those three things, you'll probably be okay. The entire time we were picking through our meal, our waitress didn't come check on us. Not once, though she walked by several times. Once she saw we were ready to leave, she came and asked, "how is everything?" I pointed out the quality of everything and she stupidly replied, "Oh. Wow. That's...wow. No body has said anything all morning." And then kindly comped us our meal. The approximately $30 that our meal was valued at was asking way too much. I wouldn't have paid $5 for that crap. Long review short: Bad food. Mediocre service. Never going back.
(1)Sadie B.
Four years later and we're done with the Delta:( We still love the food, don't get me wrong, but the service has gone way downhill since Nate and Aron left. Last time there, for happy hour, the server/bartender made our drinks on ice, though the menu said "up" and that's how we wanted them. We ordered and our delicious food came, then...crickets...she never came back. Most places will check in before happy hour ends to see if you want another drink. Nope. And we did! So, 6:00 passes...6:10...6:20...she's busing the tables next to us and refuses to make eye contact. 30 minutes go by from the time our food came, was eaten and we were wishing for another beverage, but at this point just want to leave and never come back. Finally had to get up and ask the OTHER server to get our bill for us. Paid, left. That's it. Oh, and the shitty shitty music played so loud you literally can't talk to anyone at your table. So glad I found Reverend's BBQ the very next week! Go there instead! You will not be disappointed and you surely will be by the Delta, unless you like surly servers. It's a shame.
(2)Nate K.
I had really high hopes for this place as I was recommended but was very disappointed. Got there at open, waited an hour to get our food. Clearly ignored when multiple groups came in after, got their food quick. When we finally got food, it wasn't what we ordered. I felt the bartender/waitress was aggressive and rude with no apologies for anything. The environment was very comforting but the experience was otherwise. We were very understanding and nice, yet still treated like crap. We watched everyone in the room get their tabs and paid, and didn't get ours so I had to approach the bar and pay. Afterward we called to speak to management and was laughed at. I not only feel that this was the worst service I've ever had in Portland, but very offended as well.
(1)Danielle T.
I am sad to say the Delta cafe has gone way downhill... I used to love this place! Food was excellent and service too! There is one waiter there that is still AWESOME! However the food is terrible. How hard is it to make a waffle? Our waffle was soggy and cold and the poached eggs on the Benedict were hard boiled! The last time I came the French toast was so hard it could be used as a weapon! The waitress did not check back until the kitchen was closed so then tried to give me a biscuit... I'm really sad to write this because I used to and really want to love this place! I'm from New Orleans and they carry crystal hot sauce! But unfortunately the cooks need some training or maybe need to find new careers. Once again my waitress has not even checked in once to see how our food was if I need more coffee etc. She may also need to find a new career.
(2)Marge F.
What a lucky find! This restaurant has never disappointed me. Amazing food and the staff is personable and friendly. They even know what I like to drink. My food is always hot and delicious. Also, I came in today to hear the lunch cook freaking out at the server over a side of mac and cheese. He was completely out of line and making my table very uncomfortable. She was nothing but kind to us, and he was awful, not to mention the food was not splendid this time. Something should be done about this man's attitude towards his coworkers. That would be a job opening at any place I've served.
(5)Cecilia B.
I've lived in the neighborhood for 8 years and have been a semi-regular customer the entire time, both dining in and taking out. Prices have always been a little on the high side, which kept me from eating there as often as I'd wished, but the quality and quantity were mostly good. Service was inconsistent. They've made some changes recently, seemingly trying to distill their menu a bit. I had hoped this would lead to higher quality food, but results have been mixed, Other people have reviewed nearly all the menu items, so I'll just focus on the cornbread. It used to be A-MAZ-ING. A large square of light, hot cornbread that managed to be moist and crumbly at the same time. Now, you get a small muffin that is as dense as a hockey puck. I've ordered it twice in the last 3-4 months. The first time it was overmixed so was tough and chewy. The second time it was better but still heavy. And it cost TWO DOLLARS. Seriously? I want to support this business since it's in my neighborhood, but they are making it hard.
(3)Kristen V.
I'm just embarrassed for this place. All-around gross.
(1)Hey U.
Never bring your children here. Period. The most child unfriendly place ever. I mean why bother with a children's menu (which sucks) if you hate families and their business. Walked in and the reedy/hipster bartender was talking to a cook in the bar (when you first open the door). They looked at the 4 of us incredulously, like why would you come here. Which turned out to be a good question. The death metal or wtf screaming music was blaring...we sit furthest spot away, 15 feet, and yeah this room has competing music. Blaring death screaming metal vs some alt band. I have never felt so unwelcome by a place that obviously needs business in my life. I get it, it's a college joint. Been here 10 years prior (7 years we weren't local) and remember our waitress had the worst BO I'd ever smelled. But we live nearby and it's been a decade...aside from the BO, nothing changed. Dingy, needs a paint job, just looks greasy and filthy. We couldn't do it. After10 minutes and just getting water the 4 of us left. The waitress seemed alright but when we left she was just hanging out with the bartender. I'm sure the food is edible. And they must have 1 person who cares about their job. If I were the owner I'd call in a rescue restaurant show in to save this place. They need to seriously clean house. I mean it, can some folks, fresh paint, may be scrape some of the inches of grime off the place. Filthy. Zero chance we will eat here in the future.
(1)Kristen V.
Meh. Food isn't amazing. I would have out 3 stars if it wasn't for the awful service. Been there a few times expecting it to be better bit left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed. The last time we were in, I felt like I had to tip even though the server was cold and rude. Our first impression of the server was exactly this: No eye contact. She only asked "are you ready?" She brought our food and that was the last time we saw her until she dropped that check. It wasn't busy nor was it near closing time. We didn't get waters and or napkins. I ate my meal feeling like a burden and angry. I have been told that's just how they are there. I don't believe that. The bartenders have always been great and whip up good drinks.
(2)James F.
I love this place. Great vibe and great drinks. Pabst 40s in an ice bucket are excellent. I miss the tater tot casserole but the sandwiches are good.
(4)Sara S.
Forgot in my original post that for Sunday Brunch they have a build your own Bloody Mar bar! Yum
(5)Jav V.
Delta has great southern food. I had the fried chicken. It was really good and not too spicy. The mac n cheese might be the best I've ever had. The green beans looked microwaved, but ended up being really tasty. The keylime pie was good, but really creamy. It had the texture of cheesecake. If it was called creamy key lime pie, then it would be awesome, but if you are expecting regular key lime pie, it still tastes awesome, but it's not right. Some other key points are $2 Rainiers, good cocktails, and 3 sides for $10.
(5)Scott T.
Love the food... But maybe someday you could wise up and accept plastic. Your $2 ATM is annoying (but I guess I should be happy I don't have to walk across the street to the bank).
(4)Steph M.
The one star is only for the fantastic server that helped us through our last visit at The Delta Cafe. I ordered the Bourbon Aged Riveye steak with mashers and collards. I ordered the steak meadium rare. I am from Chicago and know my meat temperatures quite well I am not afraid of a bloody steak! What I received was a thin cut ribeye with a mound of slimy cold onions on top. With an open mind I attempted to slice into my steak, but it was so raw that my knife could barely cut it. The meat was all purple and cold and it was too rare to even be juicy. I wasn't upset , these things happen. When my server returned, I showed her the steak and she could instantly see how uncooked it was. I asked her to have the cook refire it or something. As I was eating my sides I overheard the "cook" yelling about how I shouldn't order a medium rare steak if I don't want one. That steak was perfect and that he could make me a new one that would not be medium rare. I was pretty shocked to hear him acting so aggressive. Long story short. I declined another steak and stuck to eating my sides, which I could barely stomach. The greens were ok. The corn bread was unrecognizable and gross, the mashed potatoes were unsalted, hard, dry and had a strange slimy greenish gravy with boiled chicken pieces floating on top. My girlfriend could not eat hers either. The Mac and cheese had no salt or flavor and wasn't very cheesey. It was very dry and mushy. It kind of seemed old. My girlfriend had the mammas chicken. I tried a piece. It was beyond terrible. The breast was dry as can be and was unsalted and covered with the thickest and most flavorless breading we had ever encountered. How hard is fried chicken? I make it at home all of the time in a cast iron skillet. The grossest part of our visit was watching the "cook" shove food into his mouth with his fingers from behind the counter while cooking. That is not ok. In conclusion, we could tell that our awesome server was well aware of the state of the food quality and went out of her way to accommodate us. She didn't charge us for the steak or my sides. I sure hope she doesn't have to share her excellent tip with that schmuck of a "cook." This place has really gone downhill. It's pretty sad. I hope they listen to their customers and get it together. I used to love it here. This is the first bad review I have given in my life.
(1)Sheila N.
Food is mediocre. Service sucks. Waffles were cold. Unfriendly service. They just don't seem like they are that "into" there work. Felt like they wanted to be somewhere else.
(2)JaVonce M.
What happen to the service?. wow. Waited 30 mints to get seated. When we got seated, waited a other 25 mints before they took our order.. we didn't get to eat.. i work to hard for my coins for BAD service..
(1)Adam W.
What can you say, this place is a staple. Prices have gone up and a few things have changed over the years but it is still a great place to grab a big dinner. The ribs didn't seem quite as high quality last time I was there, but they were still good. I'm not a fan of the fried chicken, but everything else I've had I've liked. The place has solid comfort food, a good bar, is chill for kids, and has a spacious atmosphere. Can't go wrong...
(4)Jordan E.
Used to be a modest regular at the Delta Cafe as I loved the fried chicken. Went back last night after an absence of several years. Things have changed, and not for the better. Waited almost 10 minutes after coming in before I saw a server. Annoying. The order was simple: fried chicken (only choice now is a breast and a drumstick), mashed potatoes with gravy (comes with the chicken), green salad for a side dish, and hush puppies for an appetizer. Seemed pretty simple. Waited for over 10 minutes and no hush puppies. Had to track down the server as she had this habit of disappearing for long stretches. Asked about the hush puppies and she said, with a smile no less, "they dropped it but the chicken's up". I assume she was shifting the blame to the cooks, but one could ask why she didn't check with the cooks after, say, 5 minutes to see what was up with the appetizer order. Poor service. The chicken was fine albeit average for Portland (try Miss Delta, Bernie's, Son of a Biscuit, Screen Door and others). The breading still had that nice crispy texture I liked although it didn't have the flavor I remember. The mashed potatoes were good as was the gravy. The side salad was okay and the pecan vinaigrette was excellent. And the hush puppies? Don't know as I told the server there's no point in keeping them in the order if they're going to come out after the main course. Decor and ambiance were pretty much what I remembered: uninspiring and dull. Overall I rated the experience below average: average food, poor service, dull surroundings. One can do much better in Portland these days. I'll skip the Delta Cafe in the future.
(2)Linette P.
I had the fried chicken with a side of the tater tot casserole. The fried chicken was good but the super star here was the tater tot casserole. So good, I have no idea what it consisted of but I should have gotten a bigger portion. The restaurant was really cute inside and had the best mojitos I've had in a while.
(4)Kelly M.
Despite being a former Reed student, and therefore living, breathing, and studying just down the hill from Delta's (a favorite among the Reed crowd), I only went there once during my time at college. I remember enjoying the southern comfort food and the college greens. I ended up waking up in the middle of the night and being sick from it, but I still truly liked the grits and greens.
(3)Ellettra A.
I just love this place. The interior is charming, the wait staff is attentive and cheerful. The food is excellent. We've only been for brunch, but I have never been disappointed. If you like southern cooking, this is the place for you.
(5)Rebecca P.
IT'S SO GOOD HERE! Favorite barbecue in Portland/possibly in my life.
(5)D R.
i viewed the yelp reviews prior to heading off to the delta tonight. reviews made it sound like there've been some changes in the past year, so i was a little nervous that i'd invited others this time. in truth i had nothing to worry about. the food was good; the waitstaff was good. the place is not hoity-toity, but it's not a slum, either. the tables look like '70s style diner tables cleaned with a rag soaked in a solution of water & sanitizer, not unlike other bar-, cafe`-, and restaurant tables. i'd definitely recommend the tater-tot casserole, and i'll warn that many items are a little spendy. the three-appetizers-for-$10 is a good deal, though. that's a full plate of food to fill you up and leave you with leftovers. i also like the atmosphere and the music selections.
(3)Steve W.
Make that ZERO stars. If you feel like having your drink served to you by a total, rude, wanna-be, stuck-up hipster who treats you like its a chore to serve you, then this is the place for you! And it wasn't even busy! Hey, I don't need to have someone be 'fake nice' to me when I go out, but I also want a moderate level of respect. This was the third time this has happened here. Delta, you have a great concept, but your pretentious staff has made this my last visit. There are way too many great restaurants in this town for this type of treatment.
(1)Marie S.
i went to (the original) delta cafe over on woodstock this past sunday. hadn't been there in at least a year. forgot how wonderful it is! miss delta on mississippi is much closer to where i live, but it sure doesn't live up to this original... the environment, the people, the vibe, the love and taste in the food - it's all much better at the woodstock location! don't ask me why.
(4)Marty J.
Service sucks. Period. Attitude and no help. We were received like aliens, given water and left to wait at our table for over five minutes. I guess we should have walked back out the door when I saw the chef had a footlong scraggly beard hanging off his chin, and a. 2 foot braid off the back of his head! Is that permitted by the health department? Head to the real delta for soul food and skip this dump!
(1)Dr B.
I love their bloody mary. The rest of their menu is a bit overpriced for what you're buying, and while it's on the level, it doesn't entirely hit home for me. But, it's good enough. Everytime I've been here this place has been jammed with people. My guy wants me to mention the 40s in an ice bucket, served tableside . . .
(3)Mary H.
My favorite restaurant in Portland. I love the campy decor, the way the servers always call me sweetheart, their huge pies, and the cute names they call their cocktails. The food is amazing, yum, so good, and the portions are so grand every plate should come with a to-go box. and yes, it all tastes just as good the next day. It's also fun to watch everyone fight over the lollipops they give out with the check.
(5)Melissa M.
Yummy food, great bar, awesome location. Kinda crazy busy sometimes but worth the wait.
(4)Aimee M.
Stopped in for a late dinner (8:30). We ordered the Jambalaya and BBQ Pork Ribs with collard greens, coleslaw and caesar salad for sides. The food was AMAZING. The ribs were perfect and have now set the bar for pretty high for the future. The service was super nice, the hostesss and waitstaff were a great team never left us feeling lonely and the guys in the kitchen were super friendly and joked with us on our way out. We were seriously blown away. Best experience we've ever had at the Delta... can't wait to go back.
(5)D W.
Freaking great. food and service are fantastic. I love all the food... Except the fried chicken and waffles. The batter has strange spices added to it that REALLY clash with the waffles.
(5)Jackson D.
I REALLY REALLY wanted Delta to be good. I lived 40 years in Texas and Louisiana. BBQ and Cajun food are in my blood. The pulled pork only flavor was smoke. The corn fritters were raw inside. The chicken fried steak was thick and tough.
(2)Janet M.
I like this place. They offer southern comfort food, efficient service, and a quirky atmosphere. We've been often...soemtimes we've taken out of towners. It's not the best southern food we've eaten, but it's pretty good. Filling, hot, greasy, salty... yummy. I like that there are good options for vegetarians, since we're sharing a gene pool with a few of those, and I like that they offer side dish samplers.. That's usually my go to. Cornbread, beans and greens, anyone? or mac and cheese?tater tot casserole? or sweet potato fries and applesauce? mmm. I like the corn and black eyed pea fritters, myself. Husband usually gets gumbo or jambalaya, occasionally some red beans and rice. They have an ok kid's menu but my kid eats garlic cheese grits off the adult menu ( that's my baby). We've never had room for desert at the place, but we have taken some things home it seems to me... cobbler of some sort or mud pie or something... It's pretty good.
(3)Carol F.
this place used to have a great breakfast but no more. the wait was ridiculous despite there being seven open tables. and then after seated, it still took forever. then we were told "the menu had changed" which really just meant that the owner had changed and we didn't know it. might have gotten up and left if we weren't so hungry. ordered a coffee, which wasn't delivered and when my friend went up to get her own coffee, the clearly miserable waitress said she had poured it but couldn't find it. the beignets my friend ordered were never delivered and then we were told (we must have run out of them after you ordered). . . i asked for maple syrup for my pancake (which was super rubbery) and was informed that the owner refuses to carry real maple syrup. . . apparently the staff has begged him to carry it, and even charge for it, but he is unmovable. WTF? we also learned that they've been through quite a few cooks and are really having trouble finding someone (probably because the quality is so poor now). my husband's poached eggs were hard boiled. the potatoes are now flavorless. cheaper products, corn syrup dressing, but the prices are still higher than usual breakfast prices. when the waitress asked how everything was, we were honest. she apologized and said she was frustrated too and gave us 10 percent off. it's not her fault, and i wish her luck in a new job. won't be returning to this shit show.
(1)Dayna D.
Hands down best BBQ in Portland! Very friendly and quick service. The pulled pork was beyond perfection and their mixed sweet and spicy sauce was delish! The mac n cheese, ohhhhh the mac n cheese - it was the mac n cheese my heart has been looking for since I moved to Portland just over a year ago...beyond satisfying and abundance in flavor. Love this place!
(5)Dinah F.
This place. I don't even know what to say here. I come in for weekend brunch almost every week because it is that good. In a town where weekend brunch is a contact sport, this place is always a friendly joint to get some top notch, buttery food. This place is sincere and down home, but also with an edge of the trendiness that we do in Portland oh-so-well. The staff there is super-nice and they know me and know that if it was socially acceptable, I'd just order a mug of Hollandaise and a mug of coffee and call it good. The beignets are probably as good as you can get in this Northern land.
(5)Kendle C.
Great flavor on the food, I would love to try when its not brunch / breakfast. They had Dollar Red beers. The Eggs Benidict lacked soul. Sad I know. The potatpes were delish.
(3)Shaun M.
Absolutely loved it! Went in on a Wednesday evening, was seated right away. Service was good, and the chicken and waffles were excellent. A friend had been raving about this place for a while, so I was glad to try it, and even happier that it was as good as advertised. The price was reasonable, and the atmosphere was good. I'd definitely recommend!
(5)Matthew R.
I have gone to the delta since, well, as long as all my life. A family restaurant, so for kids the chicken with mac, the adults pulled pork. One thing wrong is that my fav meal, the fishy bites got changed. They change the menu tons. But otherwise, incredible. Toys, fish, a nice environment all make the delta a great place. If you order the corn-bread!
(4)Emily H.
I've had dinner here multiple time but never really impressed. The pulled pork is dry and chewy. The mac and cheese is ok but inconsistent. I decided to give it a try for brunch the other day and it totally changed my view! Pineapple upside down French toast????? OMG sooooo tasty!!! My roommate had the chicken and waffles which had the perfect salty/sweet combo. We ordered one biscuit with gravy and was not impressed. Would not order that again. But the rest of the meal guaranteed another visit soon!
(4)Sarah M.
We have lived in the area the past year and were obsessed with delta. Lately the cooks seem to not care about the food. It's soooo inconsistent and we always order the eggs sardou. My boyfriend had an eggshell- huge one in his eggs on the Benedict today. Just really sad to see a place that used to be so good turn into crap because they have bad cooks. I guess that today was our last breakfast there :( so sad. Woodstock needs good food.
(2)Megan S.
I've now been here three times - once for dinner and twice for brunch. Everyone's obsessed with Screen Door, for good reason, but the wait is always so long, and this place has great Southern comfort (soul) food, and a fun New Orleans inspired interior design. Plus - I've never had to wait to be seated. In Portland, that earns an extra star from me. For dinner, I had the fried chicken. I wanted to compare since I love Screen Door's so much. It was actually really great chicken, and comes with black-eyed peas and a side. I've come here twice for breakfast, and got the same thing both times, I'll admit. But had bites of my company's dishes. My preferred dish (the one I CRAVE) is the Biscuits and Gravy. The biscuit is fluffy, and the GRAVY IS PERFECTION. It's chicken gravy, which is a nice change from the standard sausage, but it's got that spicy kick that I like in sausage gravy without the thick fatty feeling going down your throat. It's AWESOME. Drinks-wise, they offer some good ones. I haven't had any of their breakfast beverages, but I had their margaritas which suited me just fine, when celebrating a new promotion during my first visit. Definitely recommend if you're looking for an alternative to the trend. It's hardly packed full of people, but they offer really great food, and Woodstock is a pretty fun neighborhood to find yourself in.
(5)Rachael S.
My guy has been promising to bring me to the Delta for over a year. He knows I lived in Louisiana and miss some key foods, some of which I refuse to eat north of Shreveport (crawfish). After hitting the driving range, we headed over for supper. I like the fun vibe and friendly but not too nosey service. Plus. I ordered the brisket sandwich. But being difficult and not entirely trusting of northern Bbq, I asked for it deconstructed. All the components separate for me to assemble at my leisure. The waiter looked puzzled, recommended I consider letting them saute the brisket in the sauce as he likes how the sauce carmelizes on the meat. I politely declined and he put the order in just as I asked for it. My guy ordered the fried chicken and the friend we went with ordered the okra and tomato stew with garlic cheese grits. So my food first, cause its mine and I'm selfish. Bread was nothing special, crusty 8 inch loaf, sliced in half. The remoulade is nothing like I've had before, I think remoulade is a stretch. But decent. The coleslaw was typical, not too much mayo but no kick. The brisket had no flavor of its own. Bummer. But at least it wasn't overcooked. It seemed like it had been in a broth soak or something, it was not typical dry smoked brisket. The sauces (I asked for both) were not bad. Sweet one was sweet with a vinegar back. Spicy was peppery with a bit of beer flavor. All in all, ok on the sauces. I had the Mac and cheese for my side. I wouldn't order it again. Lots of cheese crust, a few mushy noodles, and plenty of garlic. My friend ate the cheese crust and was in heaven. So I guess it just comes down to what you look for in Mac and cheese. On to the fried chicken. Super moist, great flavor, crunchy but bland crust. My guy liked the black eyed peas (I'm never a fan, so no judgement from me there) and ate most of his tatertot casserole. My friend's okra stew wasn't bad. The grits were in a hard fried loaf that looked more like Texas toast than grits. I love me some cheesy soft grits. But these really weren't bad. Just not what we were expecting. I would eat them again, knowing now what to expect. This is the only place I know you can order RC cola! Bonus. All in all, decent. Nothing to write home about, but decent
(3)Jen B.
I used to love, love, love this place. We live in the neighborhood and would come for brunch all the time. The past three times I've been have been radically different. On our last visit this past weekend I learned that there are new owners, or a new kitchen manager, different answers from different people. One of the best things on their brunch menu is the beignets with lemon curd. Heavenly. They used to be outstanding. On our last visit we ordered some and they came out burnt. Completely burnt. We told our server who took them away with the promise of a new order. 10 minutes later, another completely burnt plate of beignets arrived. Fried Chicken and waffles used to be another favorite, now the fried chicken is completely flavorless. The rest of our food (there was four of us) was okay, yet slightly off from what we've come to expect from the Delta. It seems like the quality of everything has gone down a notch. The waitstaff is completely different, and there were definitely not enough people on the floor. None of our plates were ever cleared from our table. The person who took our cards for our check split it up completely wrong, even though we had written it all out for him, and couldn't be bothered to fix it. I really hope this is just a hiccup in whatever transition they're going through.
(1)Emily V.
What happened the Delta?! This used to be one of my favorite brunch spots. Now? I dont think I will return. So to start... while we were waiting for our table, we sat by the kitchen, watching people's food slowly die in the window, as the chef cranked out food and the servers struggled to keep up. The chef stated to a server "foods dying here" ( or something along those lines), the server scolded him for making such a statement in front of guests and then left the food in the window. Lady, the guests already know the foods dead, the chef was just trying to get the food out. Our male, bearded server was awesome. Super friendly. When my biscuits came out hard and almost cracker like, he apologized and brought me new immediately. The rest of the food was very "meh". Clumpy grits, mediocre gravy and lack of seasoning across the board did not leave me satisfied. The best parts of the meal were the collard greens and the bloody Mary bar. So our server really saved the day for this place, otherwise it'd be a one star review. I miss the Delta of years ago. .. I will remember it in my dreams.
(2)Emma L.
We just moved into the neighborhood and we absolutely LOVE this place. The happy hour is great, you can get amazing chicken and waffles for only seven bucks. The bartenders pour heavy and make fantastic infused drinks. They serve 40s of PBR in coffee cans, perfect hole in the wall type place with a great atmosphere and fantastic comfort food.
(5)Jenifer H.
We have been patrons of the Delta Café for nearly five years. We were there almost every week, but no more. The new owners have made changes to our beloved Delta that we have not enjoyed. We recognize one staff member out of the old crew. He's still awesome, but the food no longer is, and the prices are higher. Food is inconsistent and lacks the home-cooked flavor. We gave it a few tries with the new owners--sometimes you have to find your stride, but each visit has been lackluster.
(2)Kathryn S.
My husband and I have been coming to this place for years. We tell our friends to head that way too, and on top of that we bring out of towners in so they can enjoy it too. We will give the place one more chance, but based on recent experience it will likely be the last. 1. I have ordered take out numerous times since ownership changed and every time it has been cold, every time. 2. One of the BEST things about this restaurant is the staff. That aspect has changed drastically and for the worse. Since 2008 I have seen the same faces in this place, with the very rare new busser/server. In the past year, all but 3 faces are foreign and this makes me very sad because we really loved interacting with those folks. 3. The food. I realize it takes time to acclimate a new crew, you can't expect perfection from a new staff out of the gate. Sadly, after many visits the food is just not good. It seems pre made, frozen and then reheated. Certainly under seasoned, too. The food used to be very consistent, but now it's a crapshoot as to what you might get: cold or tasteless or both. 4. Service. Again, it takes time to get to know people, but a good server is obvious out of the gate. Again, sadly, it seems the new crew isn't interested in cultivating relationships. I don't want to be best friends with them, but I would like to have some sort of repertoire with them when I come in. Case and point, the old crew knew us by name, had our drink orders ready almost the moment we sat down, and exuded a love of where they did their job. This new crew doesn't seem to have the same passion. Overall, The Delta used to be our go-to spot when we needed a quick bite. Now, we just aren't excited about going and it really feels like a chore. p.s. the banner on the side of the building cheapens the place too.
(1)Paul D.
Really good food, great service. The live music was a nice touch. Enjoyed our evening. We had the blackened Catfish it was delicious. The place had a good vibe.
(5)Samantha P.
Fried ochre was great, my po-boy was tasty too.
(4)Kendall M.
The BEST fried chicken around! It's dipped in corn flakes so the crunch is unbeatable! Also, let's not forget the $4.50 pabst 40 ouncers served in a bucket of ice... Bottoms up!
(5)Nina S.
Nope. Not a fan. I appreciate the atmosphere and the southern comfort vibe. But the wait for food was unacceptable and when we did get the food, it wasn't worth the wait. It's noisy and the servers weren't attentive. I did like the polenta and I'm hopeful that since we went on a Friday night- I'll give it another shot. However, I'm still looking for that special restaurant in the neighborhood and this isn't it.
(2)Andrew Y.
Delta Café was a recommended eat and an unexpected encounter. Shortly after taking seats in another Portland, bar-style, beer-serving restaurant, I reviewed the menu and quickly exclaimed "I'll take one of everything!" Starters, folks, Starters, what could I pair with my fried chicken but some fried goodness that I rarely see on menus in Los Angeles? The server happily took note but sadly informed us that the Cornbread...was out. My friends laughed and the group of us sat and awaited round number one... Deep Fried Okra - The okra here did a number on me, since I probably ate most of the serving. It had been too long since I've enjoyed it so it was difficult to not scarf it down. I eat my okra plain, savoring the little pops of the crisp, lightly salted exterior and the juicy center. Bite after bite I became numb to the taste and realized that some were on the side of overcooked. It wasn't perfect but it's luck of the draw. Either way, I'll order it again and again. Corn and Black Eyed Pea Fritters - slightly sweet, similar to what a fried cornbread might taste like. The mixture fit well and oddly I wanted a slight dust of powdered sugar and a sweet jelly to dip them in (Monte Cristo anyone?). All were flash-fried to a rust-color and were quickly polished. The fritters were already dense, and paired with the dip weighed a bit heavy on the belt. The dip itself didn't pair successfully in my mind, given that the crunchy exterior and steaming hot corn and black eyed pea blend gave me the sensation of a dessert. I will have to go for Round 2 next time I make it up to Portland to think it over with a few more bites. Pups in a Pond - Who doesn't love a brown pan gravy? Drippings thickened up with a little flour and served as a base for these home-style hushpuppies. The depth wasn't extensive but the light coating of the peppery brown gave a good finish to these otherwise dense fried corn appetizers. Hushpuppies, traditionally served side-by-side to seafood and barbecue dishes, stood alone on this night. The batter wasn't overly seasoned and the gravy really did give it the extra push to stand out. Though it reached the same level as many of my other experiences with the dish, I returned to the fried okra as my favored item. Sweet Potato Fries - made a bit differently than may be expected but tasting as one would think. This version involved thinly sliced sweet potatoes flash fried and served with a homemade applesauce. It tasted like any other fry one could imagine and the sauce was on the side of addicting. Mac 'n Cheese - a steamy, hot gooey mess of deliciousness. I let the mac cool a bit and picked it apart with my fingers. I ate the crunchy bits followed by the cheese-coated noodles that thickened as they cooled. This particular version of a white cheddar persuasion was mild to the tongue but contained enough cheese to deter those struggling with even a little intolerance to lactose. Key Lime Pie - The pie, and fellow desserts, are supplied by a local bakery and served up with a heavy hand of whipped cream when brought to the table. I typically don't like Key Lime Pie, but the lime was light and it reminded me of cheesecake, which I DO enjoy. I do believe that there is a Chicken Fried Steak and Potato and Cheese Casserole that I'm excited to meet.
(4)Jacob M.
Delta what happened? Did you change your fried chicken recipe? Tasted completely different and was overcooked. I tried the crawfish etouffee for the first time and didn't really like it either. One good thing though: Seems like they have some new staff that gave us great service. Don't worry, we'll be back. I still love the gumbo :)
(3)Valerie W.
Never venturing out to Woodstock area and having an almost expired Living Social coupon...I made it out to Delta Cafe and was certainly not disappointed! Interesting Portlandia type decor is introduced the second you walk in...and see a fountain. Hmm. Cool! There was hardly any wait for brunch on a Saturday. The staff was overall was OK and fairly attentive. I did find it odd that they set your table with menus and literally point you...not walk you to your table. Interesting....no biggie. HAD to order the Beignets. Took a while for them to arrive but they were hot, perfectly cooked, and delicious. I just wish they had another option besides lemon curd for the dipping sauce. Raspberry or chocolate perhaps? My boozy coffee was delicious. I did not get charged any extra when the server offered to fill my cup with regular coffee. My eggs benedict with potatoes was great. Seriously, those cajun potatoes are awesome and crispy. Everything was decently priced and good. Just took a bit for food to come out. They also have a 'build your own' Bloody Mary bar. Thought that was neat even though I loathe tomato juice. All in all I would recommend coming here. It's a bit of a drive if you are on the west side but it beats going downtown and waiting an hour in line...and there's a parking lot! PS - This is my 500th review. Woo hoo!
(3)Kitty P.
I used to be a regular here, but the place has changed ownership several times, and not for the good. Do yourself a favor and hit up Miss Delta on Williams, that is the food that USED to be at the Delta. So, so, so sad. It all fall apart on Woodstock. Four years ago it would have gotten five stars from me and most of the patrons. Also, their desserts used to come from Merhi's on 52nd Ave. NOT anymore.
(1)Mike R.
Delta's Back! After a few year hiatus, the Delta Cafe is back to a great time/restaurant. The last few times we've gone - for both dinner and brunch - Delta has been a bit off... definitely not bad, but something was missing. No longer. Just had Mother's Day brunch with the wife and kids and it was AWESOME. Food, service, ease, drinks, the whole experience. They've done a little remodeling inside (new booths for sure, a little different layout, just a bit cleaned up) and regained their swagger with the food. We started with a basket of beignets; fluffy, sweet, perfect. Kids both got waffles (can't go wrong there, in fact when the food came out and one of the waffles was still coming, we asked if they could just split the one she brought and it was no problem...however at $4 each it wouldn't have been a big deal either way). The wife/mother of the day order the fried chicken and waffles, it was great. A breast piece and a leg seasoned well and fried to perfection...and of course another waffle, she also got an order of collard greens, great flavor and not soggy at all. I had the Eggs Sardou which is a an "Eggs Benedict" with spinach and artichoke hearts. Again, really good, the cream spinach was tasty, the artichoke heart had outstanding flavor and added the right texture to each bite and the hollandaise spot on. And it came with grits that where some of the best I've had in a long time. Build your on Bloody Mary's with your choice of regular or garlic infused vodka and lots of trimmings and my new favorite $1 red beers. In the past Delta felt kid tolerant, but not necessarily kid friendly. Kids got to feed the fish, play with plastic drink swords and in general felt very welcome. Nice job Delta.
(5)Bubba Y.
Really - I wanted to like the Delta. Reviews seemed fairly good, it's a neighborhood (for my g/f) cafe, I've been by it enough to know it's well-attended. So it must be good, right? Maybe for others, not so much for me. Maybe it was an off day for the cook... We came in Saturday morning with Living Social coupon in hand. Wait-person was friendly, prompt. Coffee was great, service was quick. I ordered the smoked brisket hash, g/f ordered slightly off the menu. Hers was fine, mine was...wanting. Honestly, this just shouldn't have come out of the kitchen. The poached eggs were the high point of the meal, and even they needed work. This meal was served lukewarm - some pieces of the meat were cool to the tongue - and about as bland as could be. I won't say tasteless because there seemed to be some residual flavor - or I really wanted there to be flavor - but even a light dusting of salt wouldn't bring it out. The meat tasted like an unseasoned pot roast at best, and some pieces were chewier than I would have expected. Yes - I finished the meal but more because I knew I wasn't going to eat again for several hours that day rather than for any other reason. The bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce on the table helped the meal go down a bit easier. Ah well - maybe another time...
(2)Thao N.
Busy Sunday Morning, we unfortunately arrived right after a big number of tables have just been seated so we had to wait around 45mins/1hour for a table. So needless to say that we were super hungry when we finally sat down. The long line of people might have due to the livingsocial deal that was out not to long ago since many people around us had it. Plus side to waiting, they have menus available to look at while waiting and we had already decided what we wanted before we sat down. Service was attentive and friendly. We received our drinks right after ordering them, but throughout our meal we were infrequently checked up on. At the end of put meal, it took flagging down the waitress again to get our check even though we had already ask for boxes. We got the Fried Chicken and Waffles, the special of the day: Crawfish Frittata, and the Biscuits and Gravy with the Special Gravy of the Day. The fried chicken and waffles was pretty good, but not the best I've ever had. The biscuits and gravy was not well received by the person in my party that got it. The Crawfish Frittata was pretty good too but the accompanying potatoes were delicious! We shared a Basket of Beignets. The beignets were very light, fluffy, and not too sweet; the lemon curd on the side was just the right amount of tart. Overall, the food was good, but for the wait I could have gone somewhere else that had left a bigger impression on me.
(3)Chris L.
The Delta as consistently been my watering hole for the past summer, and frankly, it's really worth it. Their Tuesday happy hours have been the sort of place where I pop in with a book, take one of their booths. The service is good: fast, witty, a slight swagger. This combination of good service, slight flirtation, well mixed drinks, and cheap food has made the Delta a place I frequent. Let's get this straight: Portland has oddly good southern food for being south of the Mason-Dixon line. If we're going to compare the Delta to it's competitors in Southern dishes, I really gotta say that they've got one up on a lot of people.
(4)Dana S.
Thumbs up from the Southern girls! My sister and I, in obvious need of a catfish and okra fix, were waiting when the doors opened at 5pm. Delta didn't disappoint. The fried okra starter was great, dusted with cornmeal and lightly fried. Oddly, our server brought out ketchup with it. Huh? We shrugged it off and reached for the delicious pepper water instead. We both got the fried catfish po'boy, which came with so much catfish it literally wouldn't fit in the sandwich. And the sides! The veggie collards were so delicious they could convert collard haters. The mac and cheese was garlicky and al dente and delicious. The portions are seriously giant. We rolled out in food coma with leftovers in hand. The atmosphere is divey, funky, and a little gothic--think stuffed crows and ripped booths. It worked tho. And our server was really nice. We'll be back.
(4)Justella T.
Having had the opportunity to engage on a Portland dining spree, I returned to this Woodstock restaurant after a 10-year absence. I was thrilled with the food and service. Our motley group ordered off the menu from "A to Z" and every dish was terrific. I have never eaten a beef brisket as succulent and plentiful as theirs. Every other meal was close to perfect. Beyond being a Southern Comfort Food place, the quality and range of their menu was above our expectations. Even the iced tea and lemonade was excellent. Delta is easily one of Portlands BEST RESTAURANTS. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Chad H.
Wahoo! I have eaten some good southern food in my day but the Delta was pretty darn good. I started with a perfectly balanced (strong) Jack & Coke, then I went onto the menu... ...The pulled pork was 'goopy' meaning there was about as much sauce as pork. The sauce was good but I like my pulled pork more like pulled pork and less like sloppy joes. It was tasty though, and the texas toast underneath was nice and crispy. The sides were where I fell in love! I had the greens - with bacon (of course) and they were not greasy, very flavorful and down-right good! The Black eyed peas were every bit as good as the greens - reminding me of a childhood friend's mom's amazing black eyed peas. Overall, the food was good, the decor was eclectic and fun and the service - well, there is something to be said about southern hospitality.
(3)James L.
I will start off this by saying that I'm trying to be diplomatic: All of the food looked good. The decor was kitschy, but not obnoxious. My waitress was nice, and helpful. But when I saw the menu, I started to panic. Holy God was the food expensive. Like, crazy expensive. The cheapest thing was the appetizers, which were atleast 7$+ almost any of the entree items were 10 or more. As a person who has to be on a pretty tight budget, this seemed WAY ridiculous. Even things like collared greens, and mac n cheese, and other southern comforts which you might conciser to be inexpensive food, was waaaaayyyyyy expensive. My girlfriend and I decided to order the appetizer sampler (your choice of three appetizers for 12$). It was three very small portions of food, that was hardly enough for the both of us. THAT BEING SAID: The food was all very good. Collard Greens were very tasty, Mashed Potatoes were nice and yummy, and the mac and cheese was... well, okay, but not the best I've had. So, in summary, the food that we did have was pretty good. But you should be ready to really shell out some cash if you want to go here.
(3)Abbie H.
So..I had been hearing all about the Delta for months and finally tried it yesterday for breakfast. I have to say I was disappointed. I had the Delta scramble with potatoes, scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, and french toast. I also ordered a side of biscuits and gravy to try them out. My french toast was burnt and didn't taste good, and the rest of the food was just kind of bland. Not so much what you want for hangover food. The service was quick and friendly, but someone in the kitchen was singing at the top of his lungs to 80's music, which *could* have been cool, but once again, not for a hangover morning. I would give it another try someday, but for now it's 2 stars.
(2)Alesha A.
The end of a two decade love affair. Maybe I should try the brunch - everyone seems to love the brunch - coz let me tell you, supper was craptastic. Let me explain. Chicken fried steak: a sour (yes sour) piece of meat encased in a rhino-shell. The hard, over-cooked shell was grossly over seasoned. Way too much thyme, rosemary leaves sticking out all over the place, it was a regular herb salad in this time capsule of a breading. The gravy added nothing but some much needed moisture. Not that the entree needed more "flavor." It was not prepared to order, so it wasn't hot and juicy. It was terrible. My billy-goat stomach partner agreed - it was the suck. Black eyed-peas, over vinegared. Mac-n-cheese, too salty. Also, there is nothing southern about charging $3 for an iced tea and $1.50 for refills. It's just pretentious. On the topic of the iced tea - over brewed, bitter, not refreshing. Net-net? Everything was over seasoned or flavored. I muttered, "It's like they're catering to the palate of a two-pack-a-day smoker." A frikken jack-hammer to get through to some taste buds. AND THEN (it's 3am) I woke up in the middle of the night chugging water, and it hit me. They're not catering to smokers, they want you to buy more drinks. Instead of a bowl of salty peanuts on the bar, they serve you a giant salty-peanut of a supper and hope you order $1.50 refills all night. (or $8 cocktails) This is my second craptastic meal in a row from DC. I used to love this place with all my heart. I just can't bear it any longer. Good-bye, DC. Til you repaint your windows with "under new management" or "we fired the guy that tried to fix us." Oh, best Chicken Fried Steak? The Montage!
(2)Jimmy M.
Greasy southern food? Good happy hour? Good, cold beer? Check x3! Delta is certainly what you'd call an eclectic restaurant/bar. From all the random crap on the walls to the mismatched vintage booths, the place has its own distinct South-meets-Portland feel, to be sure. The staff is always friendly and funny. This is a good spot to go if you need a cold beer and something smokey or spicy to munch on. They have four or five pretty good taps featuring Boneyard, Ninkasi, Oakshire, etc. For food I tend to go with the pulled pork po'boy dressed with slaw or the smokey mac-n-cheese (goes great with Secret Aardvark hot sauce). The cornbread w/ honey really hits the spot, too...
(5)Adam C.
I had a totally different experience the second time in. The food was either too rich, too salty, or just not good. We got the Portland "we're too cool for you" cold shoulder when we stepped in, ate mediocre food, and drank burnt Stumptown coffee. The only reason I don't rate it lower was that our first experience was so good. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, but i know burnt coffee when I taste it and even Stumptown can't make that coffee good.
(3)Misty B.
The food is kind of hit or miss for me. I'm learning that I don't love their brunch, but I adore their dinner. Today my husband and I dragged our hungover-selves in for some bloody marys and food. I actually didn't really like the bloody mary. It was very, very thick, almost like pureed tomatoes. I called it "bloody mary stew" because it filled me up before the rest of our food came. We ordered a basket of beignets, which are ok, but I think they fry them in the same oil they fry everything else in, because they taste sort of fishy. I'm not a big fan of their lemon curd, it's a bit TOO lemony, so we ask for some jam to dip them in as well. I don't usually order sweet breakfast, but felt the need for some French toast. I was kind of disappointed with it -- they use brioche, but it was very dry, and the portion is HUGE. I ate one slice and took the rest home. (btw, letting them sit in the takeout box on the counter for a few hours to absorb the syrup and berry compote was a great thing, it made them much easier to eat.) I got a side of potatoes, which I expected to be breakfasty, o'brien sort of potatoes, but they were just plain, roasted (or fried?) potato wedges. Pretty bland and boring. :( Now, I've had dinner there and been blown away. I'm in love with their fried chicken and the mashed potatoes. I love that they put thyme in their 'taters! Their crawfish etouffee is tasty. The potato and cheese casserole is To Die For. The po'boys are rockin'. Get them dressed with cole slaw and remoulade. I've tried both the fried chicken one, and the catfish. Delish. The smoked brisket is great too. Next time I'm going to try the smoked brisket po'boy! Every time I've been there, the service has been great. They get slammed, so sometimes it's a bit slow, but it's worth the wait. The staff have all been super awesome. Something to mention: They are kid friendly, but they don't serve the toddlers drinks in very toddler-safe cups. If you're bringing your wee one, bring them a sippy cup if they aren't very good with grown up glasses.
(3)Lance H.
I had the chicken and dumplings and it was awful. The service was the worst. We sat in the bar and the bartender was a mean woman who needed a break to sweeten up a bit. I use to love it here but now I will never go back.
(2)Von T.
I've only ever had nothing but love for this place. I have been going for years and that right there tells you it is very good to me. My favorite is Brunch. Beignets w/lemon curd,, Brioche french toast, chicken apple sausage, fried chicken and waffles, Last but not least this place is so awesome that I have asked for catfish for brunch and its only on the dinner menu and they have said yes and served me a plate of awesomeness. Stumptown coffee and $1 red beers make this place a winner to me. Give it a try.You will like it's funky little atmosphere and great food and staff. One last thing there is usually a small wait on Sun. its worth is that means people like the food!
(4)Stacie M.
Horrible food!!! The gumbo is super gritty and tastes like they burned the roux. My husband had the jambalaya, it was extremely bland and needed more seasoning. They took the soul out of soul food....worst southern cooking I have ever had.
(1)Tanaz P.
I'll preface this with the food; delicious. I definitely a fan of soul food and my physique shows it. I rock some serious jelly filling. The menu here is simple yet tasty with some spanked up versions of southern classics. My buddy had the tofu po' boy. I dunno what kinda love went into the sauce but I could barely keep my fingers outta her food. Biscuits n chicken gravy was another big hit. Garlic infused vodka in a bloody marry, brilliantly complementary. Beignets (sp?) With lemon curd as an appetizer got our slovenly n sluggish selves pumped with sugary goodness. My southern scramble with andoule (sp?) and crayfish, so good...so good. The boo hoo was the service. 3 servers, busy Sunday brunch and total inattentiveness. No coffee refills, no checking on us, had to flag down another server to pay. We could have been more assertive but our food was good and the 1 cup of coffee lasted us our meal. We did need more water to rehydrate our hungover bodies but we made so with what we had. To summarize yummy food made with love + mediocre service = we'll be back with our groggy blinders off.
(4)Everett S.
I've lived within a mile of the Delta ever since they opened some 15 years ago. Strangely, I've only been about five times. I stopped in for takeout the other night after a long day of traveling and ordered some gumbo to-go. I've been to New Orleans and have family in the South and this is some of the best gumbo I've ever had. They get the roux nice and dark which takes about 40 minutes of constant whisking, that's dedication! It comes with a side, I would recommend the greens or potato casserole. The Mac and cheese is just so-so. I don't know why I don't come here more often, I always have a pleasant experience when I do.
(4)Ari R.
This is a cute little spot but the food is rubbish. I think my entire plate was microwaved. We tried this place because it is in the neighborhood and it is always packed when we walk by. It must be a decent brunch place but stay away from dinner. The service was meh and the clientele seemed to think that belligerent yelling was enjoyable for everyone. I gave an extra star because not many places have vegan/veggie BBQ & southern cooking, but they really need to figure it out.
(2)Laura H.
Total suck pod. This place has gone down hill. I ordered chicken and it was slathered in Rosemary which I'm not partial to. It would have been nice if they mentioned on the menu they put Rosemary on it. My gf got an order of potatoes and the eggs benny. She hates Rosemary way worse then me and again they failed to mention on the menu they now douse everything with that herb. The food was sub par and tasted like it was cooked in a kitchen full of rat shit. We didn't eat a quarter of our combined meals and had to re buy dinner somewhere else. The waitress did not offer us a refund after she asked us if it was ok and we said, "No it was bad". Won't be back. Woodstock needs some good places to eat.
(1)Chris T.
Server was attentive and energized, food OK the corn fritters could have had more seasoning, the chicken pox boy, OK to much bread not enough sauce
(2)Lisa S.
The slow decline of Delta Cafe over the last few years is so very sad. I'm OK with a small amount of sketch in a good eatery, but dinner last night included a dirty and sticky menu and table, dirty women's bathroom, dirty servers, a small curly hair on my plate and mediocre food. We got a piece of pecan pie to go, and upon opening it at home, we discovered it was just a slice of brownish translucent goo, on a tough crust, with exactly 6 pecans on the top. We ate the 6 pecans and threw the goo blob into the trash. Never again.
(1)Lauren B.
I love love love the Delta. How I've pined for you since moving to Seattle! I was devastated to learn that they took the pork chops with applesauce off the menu (who would do this to me??) but the mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, and sweet tea were as delectable as ever. Love the funky bohemian decor and the friendly, trendy, heavily-tattooed servers. One of my favorite Portland spots.
(5)Joanna C.
Wow! I'm a Southerner recently transplanted to PDX, and I was told there is no good Southern food here. How wrong they were! This place made me miss home sooooo much. It rivals any of the funky cool places you'd find in New Orleans or Atlanta or anywhere where homestyle goodness meets funky hipness. Believe me, there are places in the South that could learn a few things from Delta Cafe. The iced tea is the best I've had in Portland. And the biscuits?! DROOL! The gravy was more like something I'd eat at Thanksgiving than put on biscuits. But who can complain when it's DELICIOUS!? They do know how to do grits just right, too. I've only had breakfast so far but I'm going back for the entrees and po'boys soon. I have found my homesick blues place. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Amy R.
We've been here several times but I don't know why - just because we live so close I guess. The food is always pretty bland and the staff usually ignores us. We've had brunch and dinner, nothing special at either meal. I wish it was better because we love Southern food and we love our neighborhood joints!
(2)Rene S.
What a sorry excuse for a restaurant. The bad: Their menu consists of greasy foods. Big portions / low quality food. Trashy place Dirty bathrooms Over priced The good: None
(2)Arthur A.
I absolutely love the delta! I have been a fan for years but recently the food and service have gotten so much better! My wife and I went this past Monday, loved our waitress, she was warm and friendly and didn't leave us needing anything. The food was amazing - this time I had the friend chicken and collard greens. Delicious ! Def a must go to in Portland, best restaurant on Woodstock !
(4)Rosetta S.
$5 signature cocktails on Tuesday nights. I had the Coco Rico - coconut rum, fresh lime & coconut milk. I was quite toasted by the end, and it was delicious! I tried the Bad Road with habanero infused tequila, wow, really unique cocktail, a little to spicy for me, but my friend loved it. I tried the fried orka, yum, crispy and not slimy! And I had the dressed tofu po' boy. Hands down the best BBQ tofu I've had. I love it with the slaw. Mac and cheese was my side, and it was also pretty good. I wish they had more vegetarian options. But the BBQ tofu is good enough to bring me back.
(4)Tommy T.
My mom and my brother eat meat and wanted to try this joint out, so I went with them and had a decent time and some decent food. Vegan wise it's semi friendly with fried okra as an excellent appetizer and tofu poorboy as a main dish. The flavors blended well and I was mostly full by the end of the meal. The sweet tea in mason jars was a nice touch but I think I will go for the lemonade next time.
(3)P B.
Oh, Dear! What has happened to the Delta? They closed for a couple weeks and just re-opened. The paint job is fresh, and there are new lights, but they took away the funky mismatched Formica and chrome tables. That's all OK, I guess. But what they've done with the menu is criminal! No more Rice and Beans Entree, and no more Vegetarian Cheese Grits! UNACCEPTABLE! And no more PIE! They added some fake banana pudding instead. Real Southern banana pudding has layers of sliced bananas and vanilla wafers alternating with vanilla custard, topped with merengue and baked; it's NOT artificially flavored with chemical banana flavoring! Bad move! And they're foisting Hoppin' John blackeye peas on everyone as one of the sides and there's a very unfriendly (and therefore un-Southern) no substitutions policy. MAJOR BUMMER!!! What the hey, is some ACCOUNTANT in charge down there now or something?!!
(1)Kim B.
I had the frittata with blue chees, zucchini, and onion. It was delicious. The benigts were a fun addition. Service was good. Ambiance fun and funky. Would go back.
(4)Kathleen M.
Went to Delta Cafe for a Saturday morning breakfast on a friend's recommendation. Checked out the menu online before we went and read a couple of glowing reviews, so we were eager to have a southern feast. We were ready for our brunch to be off the charts, but it was a disappointment. I hate being disappointed. We ordered the Smoked Brisket Hash and the Blackened Snapper with grits. They didn't have the snapper, so it was swapped out for catfish, which wasn't a problem b/c catfish is hella good too. But as we waited for our meal it dawned on me that when a protein item is not listed on the menu, then it has more than likely been chillin' deeeeeeeeeep in the freezer for a loooooong time. Unfortunately, I was correct. The catfish was soggy and lacking flavor. I didn't even finish it. It's rare that I don't finish everything on my plate b/c I like to eat. The brisket was decent, but not fresh. We could tell it was pre-made and sitting under a heat lamp all morning. I just want more for a brunch that is $12-$14 per plate. The collard greens were top notch and the atmosphere is funky, yet divey. Delta Cafe just won't be our first choice when we return to Portland. Bummer.
(2)Ron S.
Fantastic Portland style southern comfort food. The Mac & Cheese is solid as was the Chicken Friend Steak. I loved the crowd too.
(4)Lisa E.
I tried to go there several times but the long lines were discouraging. I finally went. The wait wasn't much longer than 10 minutes this time, so that was good. We got seated. It was a packed restaurant. Everything on the menu sounded good. I could pick two side dishes to go with my chicken. I ordered the Mac n' Cheese and Coleslaw. Despite it being crazy packed and only one waiter, we got our food fairly quickly. I loved the mac n' cheese. It was flavorful, gooey but it was also light too. It didn't feel gluttonous. The coleslaw was also delicious. Creamy and not spicy like some that I've had. The fried chicken was just okay. The chicken was a tad on the dry side. The good part was that it wasn't greasy at all. I was really disappointed by the chicken. I was expecting something better. But the rest of the meal was pretty tasty. Would I return? Probably not--or at least not for the chicken!
(2)Shawn L.
If you crave authentic New Orleans style Cajun food this your place. I had the chicken fried chicken and it was wonderful. Served with collard greens and gravy covered biscuits. Wow!! The wife had the Southern scramble with peppers onions and crawfish. Very good as well. We also got the beignets they were as close to Cafe Du Mond as I have found. I will be back.
(5)Rikki E.
Amazing waiter (super friendly, fast, and helpful with the menu). The food was delish (flavorful, not too salty or heavy or greasy, fresh, and comfort/home-style). Highly recommend and would eat there every day if I lived in Portland.
(5)Lindsay W.
Delta is one my favorite restaurants in Portland. My boyfriend and I always share the appetizer sampler platter, which is really good and really filling - especially the mac & cheese. The fried okra and cornbread are also great. I even like the black-eyed pea fritters, and I normally hate black-eyed peas! The service is usually good, and when we went here for my boyfriend's birthday they even gave us a free gigantic root beer float! It's always packed on the weekends, so I would definitely recommend going during the week or at off-hours. Even then there's sometimes a five or ten minute wait, but it's worth it.
(5)Kimberly D.
The food was just ok and the service was horrible... They seemed to cater to all the white people and acted like they were irritated that we were there. I'll never go back
(1)Alice L.
I planned my trip to Portland with a couple Groupon that I got and Delta is one of them. Really cool decor and ambiance. We love the casual and friendly staff. Everyone is very laid back just like how Portland feels. Food is good, we ordered mainly vegetarian entrees and portions are big and pretty tasty. I recommend to give it a try!
(4)Cynthia M.
I just moved away from Portland. The Delta is at the top of my list of what I miss most. I miss you blackened catfish. I miss you red beans and rice. I miss you corn fritters. But, I think I will miss you most of all, Rose Drop.
(5)Chad H.
I'm a southern boy gone green, so when i look for places out here in the green, I am looking for some truly remarkable southern goodness. Delta Cafe definitely has it. I was impressed by the menu. I have only had brunch there so far, and aim to have dinner there very soon. The staff was super friendly. They were on their game when i sat outside for brunch. I walked in, and was sat almost instantly. i was by myself mind you, but even thought they appeared to have just gone through a rush they were on top of getting me a table stat. My coffee cup was interesting. My coffee was always full as well. I definitely enjoyed my food. I got the scramble with crawfish in it. It came with so much food it made me wish I hadn't ordered the pancake on the side. I made sure I could eat a little of everything, but I made sure I finished the scramble. it was so amazing, and flavorful. The server cracked a joke when dropping off the food; "you think it will be enough?" I just laughed. It came with a choice of biscuit or toast, and me being that one from where I love to be, said let me try that biscuit. It was so HUGE! It was right on... I will come back and edit this later after I try their dinner some time. I will post date it when I do and it will be above this review. I just wanted to write one up real fast while I had the time, and before I forgot that taste from which it came back when i went in. :)
(5)Tara M.
This place used to be soooo good. Now I cannot overlook the poor service. Went for brunch and we waited over 15 minutes before our drink orders were taken. Got the chicken & waffles and swear it was shake and bake! Then our server gal seemed to have forgotten about us. That'll be my last visit. There are too many great brunch places in this town that will appreciate your business.
(2)Rachel W.
I came here for brunch on Sunday and I just have to say it was one of the best brunches I've ever had. I ordered a bloody mary with the habanero infused tequila - as a heat seeker it went perfect with the dish I ordered, the Eggs Sardou. The egg yolks were poached on top of artichoke hearts (skill!!) that drizzled over creamed spinach and english muffin with hollandaise sauce...DELICIOUS!! Their potatoes were perfectly seasoned and crunchy on the outside. The service was great, and the atmosphere was friendly! If I wasn't a visitor this would be a go to place!
(5)Jeni M.
If there were a movie about my life in Portland much of it could be filmed at the Delta Cafe. Pretty much every important person in my cast of characters has dined with me here over the past six years or so, some of those people are still around, some of them got ditched on the highway of life some time ago. I've never had any problem with the service in my time here, sure sometimes it can be slow, but I notice service is slow when the place is b.u.s.y. Last year I had my birthday dinner here, I reserved a table for ten people, but I screwed up my technological skills and mass texted everyone in my phone book and about thirty five people showed up for dinner (oops)! The Delta was more than accomodating and we ended up having a lot of fun. The food for the most part is great, sure, there has been some hit or miss times in my long patronage, but the hits far outweigh the misses. Recently I brought my parents here for dinner who spend a lot of time in the South and they both really enjoyed the food and got a kick out of the drink menu, and these old staunch Republicans are sorta hard to impress. It was also my first time trying the White Trash Meat Loaf. It just sorta sounded good, but I didn't really have high expectations, cuz, well it's meatloaf. I make a pretty good meatloaf, but I don't know that it's anything to write home about. Holy crap!! It was delicious! It kinda blew my mind how good it was. WTF did they do to make meatloaf taste so damned good? I have idea but it's probably my new favorite thing on the menu. I see some bitching about the beer selection in other reviews, I can't speak to that because I'm not a beer person (I know, my Portland citizenship should probably be revoked). However, the drink menu is rad and full of fun things. My favorite drink is the Coco Rico. YUM YUM YUM!!!
(4)corrina K.
Sad to say, the Delta's prices have gone up and their portions have gone down. Been eating there since 2005, and for whatever reason (the economy, stupid) they have instituted austerity measures. Bummer. I used to get the gumbo, which is so rich you could only eat half of it; then I'd take it home and have it the next day. Kiss that ritual goodbye. The food still tastes great, and the service is as good as it ever was. And if this was the first time I'd ever eaten there, I might not think the price and portion size were unreasonable. But that little dab of gumbo made me glum. And the inverse relationship between price and amount on my plate made me glummer.
(2)Teresa J.
I hadn't been to Delta Cafe in years and when I visited last night I found it hadn't changed a bit--hooray! The decor is arty, dingy, and random; the space is ramshackle; the booths are huge. I had the Blackened Catfish Po'boy dressed with cole slaw and remoulade, and a side of black-eyed peas and rice. Vegan bf had a sampler with his pick of there sides: green salad with raspberry vinaigrette, black-eyed peas, and collards. We both opted for Numi hot tea because he's trying to drink less, while I had already drunk too much. It was a pleasant and yummy dinner, and the server was efficient and nice. The blackened catfish nearly burned my face off, but that's what I was there for. The Po'boy itself was done well--it wasn't overloaded with slaw, and it had just the right amount of remoulade, too. It had a huge piece of catfish on it--too much for me to finish, in fact. The black-eyed peas were delicious! They tasted so fresh, and there were plenty of them. I doused them with green Tabasco, which was perfect. We got there earlyish, around 7:00, and the place was half-full. Bf and I were actually able to have a conversation. By the time we left it was slammin', so I'm thinking if you go at 8:00 or later, you should be prepared to shout.
(4)Jonathan S.
Tonight was our first dinner at Delta. It was a bit of a disappointment. First, let me say that the people working there were clearly working very hard, but it was obvious they were understaffed tonight. All of our menu items came out cold. 2 of our items had to be asked for after we started on the entrees. We had the okra, which probably would have been good if it was hot. The cornbread was flavorless, we didnt bother to bring that back with us. The chicken was acceptable, I was pleasantly surprised to find the breast still moist. The hushpuppies a tad under acceptable. I don't get the love for the mac and cheese. It just has some garlic in it. wow. The beans and rice were pretty tasty. The collards greens were a bit sour, but also acceptable. The drinks were pretty good. I had a nice dark lager which was recommended by the bartender. He later helped me pick out a hot drink that was jack daniels and vanilla soy, also a nice touch. It should be mentioned in bigger letters that this place is cash/check only. I almost always carry cash on me (not enough to make it worth mugging me, would be villians), but I could see it being an issue with the general price of things. There is a Chase bank across the street. I'll also mention that I noticed they had pulled off the hushpuppies from the bill without me asking, so thats a + too. Overall, I'd probably have given the place more of a 2.5 stars, maybe even closer to a 2. But, I know they support the Rose City Rollers, so that gets them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps I'll give it another try when they're not so overwhelmed.
(3)John K.
I was kind of disappointed. My friend was raving and telling me how great the place was. The food was ok. The service was good and the people seemed caring. Atmosphere was blah for me. I did like the fish fountain they had at the front desk. My friend said it wasn't the same experience that she had last time quite a while ago. I tried the catfish, maybe catfish isn't for me.
(2)Tracy W.
They've taken my two favorite items off the weekend menu, flank steak and tater tot casserole. Those two items were the reason why I loved going to Delta. I have tried a couple of their other selections, but they just don't ring my bell. So we don't go there much any more. :(
(2)Holly B.
Bought a Groupon for this place because I was in the mood for some Southern food, and I find those restaurants to be pretty expensive usually. I was pleasantly surprised at how fast we were seated, our food came pretty quick, and the service was fine. I honestly was not THAT impressed with the food. They had sweet tea, which I found to be too sweet. We tried their potato cheese casserole, tater tot casserole, and mac and cheese sides. They all kind of tasted the same. We had the hushpuppies to start, which were OK, kind of hard. I got the catfish with grits, sauce on the side, and it's a good thing! The sauce was a heavy tomato chili basically. I can't imagine putting that on delicate catfish, in my opinion the flavor and texture of the catfish would have been lost in that mess. The grits were not what I expected, which I guess is my fault? Not soft breakfast grits, but deep fried triangles of hardened grits. Like grit toast. Unfortunately, the grit texture and flavor was very reminiscent of the hushpuppy starter. My boyfriend got a shrimp po' boy, which he special requested, and loved. So all in all OK, glad we had the Groupon, probably won't go back if we have to pay full price, and most of the food was lacking in flavor/had the same flavor. Definitely not what I think of when I think of Southern food.
(3)Ian H.
First soul food I had in portland was here at delta. Good comfort grub for rainy days. The brisket is huge but mine was a bit heavy on the fat even for brisket. Still, I enjoyed every jiggly fork full. The fried chicken and chicken fried steak is no joke either. Very tasty! Despite mixes reviews from peers I still love this place. Plus, where else can you go get a 40oz on ice?!
(4)Sarah M.
It was not bad, but I am picky when it comes to southern food. The side of seasonal veggies and sausage was the best part of my meal of hushpuppies, side and gumbo. That side was amazing The gumbo was kind of lacking flavor. And they did not have Louisiana hot sauce. I might go back for the bar but I am drilling looking for great southern food in Portland. But you can get a pbr 40 on ice for 4.50. How Portland is that?
(3)Sabrina P.
The Delta has been a standby for a long time. They are my go-to for fried chicken. I like its grit and the Bloody Mary's are amazing. So why only three stars? Well, they have recently done some upgrading which caused them to raise the prices, you can't choose 2 sides anymore, and they added a back patio which while great for smokers is not for me when I have to breathe their smoke everytime someone opens the back door. I'm sure the whole restaurant is not that way but it was unpleasant.
(3)Tom D.
Went in here for the first time the other day. The best thing about the place was the server. He was attentive and friendly. We sat in the bar area because the blazers playoff game. First off, I asked about the old fashioned they had on the cocktail menu. They had cherries in it, so I asked if they were sugary cherries, thinking that in addition to the sugar that every single cocktail recipe for an old fashioned includes, it would be too sweet. The server informs me that an Old Fashioned never has sugar in it. Not sure what he was talking about but I tried one anyway. It was more like a bourbon and club soda with a maraschino cherry or two in it. Not a terrible drink but not an Old Fashioned. Anyway , the food. I love fried chicken so tried it. It certainly wasn't Southern style fried chicken. I actually think it was baked, not fried. It was breaded, not battered. Again, not terrible , but not what it was supposed to be. The collard greens tasted like there was an abundance of liquid smoke dumped in them, which became overpowering the more I ate them. My wife's gumbo was the only decent entree of the 4 ordered at our table, as the shrimp and grits also suffered from a heavy hand with the liquid smoke, which is a cheap shortcut even when not overused. I ordered a simple gin and tonic for drink #2. That was good. I think this place is a decent place if you want to sit at the bar and have a beer or a simple basic mixed drink, but I would hesitate to eat here again.
(2)Tyler H.
Not that you need a southern pedigree to know good southern soul food, but coming from Arkansas, this place reminded me of home (in a good way). I had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese and my friend had the fried chicken and waffle with pork collard greens. Both were great -- especially the breading used for the fried meats. We both got their drink special, which was a magarita made with habanero-infused tequila. Hot but tasty. Initially I was disappointed in the overall price, but after seeing the large-enough-for-lunch leftover portions, I didn't mind so much. Where I'm from, soul food is cheap and ubiquitous, so it's nice to find a place that has a wide sampling of reasonably priced southern and cajun cuisine. I'll definitely be back to try more.
(4)Bre M.
I lived in Mississippi. I LOVE southern food. When I read the menu I was immediately confused. My Oregon friends tried to reason with me saying it's Portland's take on southern food. If that excuses the sad menu does that excuse the bad food too? I didn't even order anything, the menu was too much of a joke to me. My Oregon native friends ordered the Mac and cheese and they didn't like it and I tried it and it was cold and not even cheesy. Looking over the recent reviews it seems this place is under new ownership and has been declining in satisfaction from previous years. It's too bad that has to be the case. I would have loved to have a legit southern food place so close to where I'm living now. Thanks to the other reviewers who have recommended some other southern food places to go to. I will not be returning to Delta.
(1)Mira M.
The Delta Café is a great neighborhood place, although it's a bit of a drive if you don't live in the area. I feel like there are some better Southern places - Acadia, Screen Door - but it's not far behind them. I enjoyed their fried catfish, but I don't like how they make their grits - they're hard and dry, I much prefer them creamy and soft. But the ambience is nice and I've always liked their service. And their freshly-squeezed lemonade is delicious!
(4)Jens J.
Delta has its certain kitsch/dive appeal. But that appeal wears thin over time. The dining room is dark, gloomy and borderline seedy. However, the powder-sugared beignets (3 for $5) are truly awesome and a mandatory purchase if you do decide to brunch here. I ordered the chicken and waffles on this day ($12.50). I've had the chicken here before, and since this is southern cooking, thought I could request chicken and not worry that the chicken is larded with rosemary. And you know, I've never associated rosemary with southern cuisine. But baby, times have changed. I guess. The chicken was so tarted up with vile rosemary, I couldn't eat it. I suggested to the tattooed server that maybe, just maybe, they should mention on their menu they now put that crap (rosemary) on their chicken. While blithely responding that they wouldn't be reprinting their menus for something like that, she didn't care to ask me if I would like something else. Nor did she credit me on the tab for the lousy chicken. Fine, hasta la vista. I won't be back.
(3)Nick P.
Used to be one of, if not the best, restaurant in the neighborhood... Probably have been there 20+ times in the last 5 years, but unfortunately the last 6 months have just been terrible. It started with 3 straight bags of cold and stale "ToGo" orders a few months ago, that were also not the correct items we ordered most of the time. What used to be tasty hot Southern Food has become bland, cold, and careless but we didn't really know how bad it had gotten until we went there for breakfast this morning... In the Woodstock area it used to be a toss up between Toast & Delta for an à wesome gut busting breakfast on the weekend... Used to be... What we were served this morning was so bad that I would now actively discourage people from eating there. They changed the recipe on their Beignets (which used to be amazing), and as if that weren't enough they also decided to cook them to death to the point where it's easier to eat a dry biscuit than one of those rocks. I had the chicken fried steak which came with cold hard potatoes and cold collared greens that would need to be swimming in vinegar to be edible. It also says that it comes with Biscuit & Gravy, which also used to be the case, but now it comes with a small spoonful of gravy on the steak, and a rock hard cold biscuit on the side all for the bargain price of $15. The wife got the special pancake monte cristo which was at least warm but came with the same day old cold potatoes and some fun looking bacon wrap thing, but alas the bacon too was raw and not edible. The kids pancake was even cold and hard to cut up, I mean seriously how little do you have to care to serve cold pancakes?!?! Long story short whoever is running that kitchen these days clearly doesn't care about putting out good food. One word I would use to sum up our last 5 experiences over 6 months is "Lazy". Sure it's Southern Food in your neighborhood, but they don't seem to take much pride in what they put out anymore. There's too many other good options within 10 mins to keep wasting our time and money here just in hopes that they will rebound.
(1)Ken R.
The Delta is a great little place to get your southern food fix. Caveat, we usually only go on the weekends for breakfast so I have never been there when they were just completely packed. The wait staff is usually very friendly. They don't always check in a bunch on you, but I have never felt like I had to wait for a refill for too long. I would like to say I have tried everything on the menu, but I keep coming back and just cannot say no to the chicken fried steak. It is hands down the best one I have ever had, and I have had a lot. I told my oldest son about it, he was skeptical, and he came out of there saying the same thing. They put a bunch of herbs and spices in the batter and it is just fried perfection. This was the first place I ever tried grits and collard greens. Didn't think I would like either and I loved both. My wife has tried several of their breakfasts and they are always good. Since I can't resist the CFS, I end up sampling hers to get a better feel for the rest of the menu. Oh, and their French toast side to their breakfasts...that is like a meal in itself. Prices are reasonable. People are cool. Vibe is chill. Ya, it looks a little run down but we like it.
(4)Alondra H.
I lived in the neighborhood for almost two years and I've never came across this Delta Cafe since I went to the Miss Delta on N.Portland and I thought the food there was mediocre with greasy oysters and dried hush puppies in the oysters po'boy sandwich. So I never wanted to step my foot there again. So I started working next door, and me and my boss went for a cocktail and met the owner, who is very sweet and assured me that she no longer owned Miss Delta so the food is different. My experience there was way better than Miss Delta! My boyfriend kept telling me that I should've given Delta Cafe a chance since they are not really owned by the same people, so I went with the flow and we decided to have dinner last night. We stepped in, and it was very steady for a Sunday night and the owner greeted us with a warm welcome. She sat us at this super quiet corner booth which we loved, quiet and romantic. We assumed she was gonna take care of us when she asked for our drink order and we were feeling good until the real service started.... The owner was not our server. It was this chick who at first, did not introduced herself or never said hello and instead, with a very annoyed attitude, told my boyfriend there was no more Pabst 40 oz. and at the same time slamming my drink sealed to the table. So he got a rainier instead. Then waited for 10 minutes to get our order in and then when my boyfriend told her and clearly told her "I want the pulled pork with collard greens AND Mac n Cheese, not beans." And she rolled her eyes when he asked her to bring the spicy and medium BBQ on the side. She didn't say another word and walked away. Are we a nuisance or something that so far this waitress is being rude to us? The food came out cold, but we were starving that we didn't want to piss off the waitress for no reason. I ordered the gumbo and it was spicy, just what this Puerto Rican girl wanted in her blood. My boyfriend's pulled pork was good, but what was wrong with it? The beans also came so we thought the kitchen staff made a mistake. She never approached to us to check how we were doing.The hubby wanted another beer, but she never brought it until he saw her again, and she brought it, using her hands on top of the mouth where he is gonna be putting his mouth on, who knows what the girl is touching while at work. Oh yeah, also slammed it on the table. We got to the check, and of course, she charged us for the Mac n cheese,$5 bucks. We didn't want to bring it up because we ate it. We paid, and she said "we done?" Took the money and didn't wished us a good night. If it wasn't for the owner who is very nice, location and for the good food, I would've given this place one star. I have been in the service industry for 14 years and it aggravates me that people like that gets to work in great places like this one and gets away with it. Then again, this is Portland, so who cares about service? I do, and I wouldn't come back for that specific waitress, who also needs to pull up her hair when she works with food!
(3)Moos B.
I feel robbed every time i come and today is the last of it!! 3 out of 4 times we've had Delta cafe has been to-go and unfortunately, not good. We've tried alot of the menu and nothing was positively memorable but the pie. Today, I ordered the chicken and waffles and my better half got the brisket. OMG I couldn't eat more than three bites of my chicken and waffles. The chicken was so over fried that the ends of the chicken skin was burnt and tasted burnt, soggy waffle and NO SYRUP. Mac'n cheese was all noodle and butter with a hint of cheese. The brisket was DRY, my boyfriend said it tasted like moist beef jerky with BBQ sauce and his two sides, one of which isn't by choice were the black eyed peas, mac'n cheese and baked beans. He felt the same about the Mac'n cheese while the beans and peas were undercooked as well as under-heated. Another x on restaurants in the neighborhood of Woodstock.
(1)Nick H.
A solid 4. It was good homemade food at fair prices, but it wasn't a 5 star taste. Service was friendly and place was clean. I got the Chicken Fried Steak meal with mac and cheese. It's all done southern style, so it has its own flavor.
(4)OrFlyFis H.
Maybe it was just a bad night for the cook, but 3 out 3 entrees and 2 sides were very over salted and poorly cooked. Chewy way overcooked shrimp and inediblly salty mac and cheese and collard greens. I've enjoyed their brunch before a few times but this was the first time I went for dinner. Their habanero vodka is really throat burningly bad. I love spice too, but it just tasted like burning.
(2)Brian S.
I love this place and always try to go there when I'm in the neighborhood. The Delta serves great drinks and yummy southern food. They have an excellent happy hour menu.
(5)Tonya B.
I just moved to the Woodstock area and tried Delta Cafe. I grew up in Louisiana and I gotta say, I feel at home when I am at Delta. I love the Blackened Catfish Po Boy. Actually all the Po boy's are so yummy!! Where I am from it better be dripping down your arms and they do. The infused cocktails are amazing as is the bartenders!!
(4)Alissa S.
It's very sad that I had such a bad experience here. The food came out cold and was sent back 2 times only to come back with an entire egg shell in the Benedict. I work in the service industry, so I don't usually complain much, but the lack of concern about our experience was disappointing. We got some of the food taken off the bill, but no apologizes from the staff. I will not be returning to the restaurant or recommending it to anyone. The management and owners need to make some serious changes.
(1)Mikhail H.
I adore having so many friends with different tastes so I get to try places like this. I will say that the service was a bit lacking...it was very quality when our waitress was there but she was managing the whole restaurant alone it seemed. I must say that the rose drop is pretty incredible...it is perfectly balanced and smells divine. I will suggest to get the sauce on the side. I made the mistake of not doing that s my meal was drenched in sauce. I would have preferred choosing less sauce. The black eyed peas just did not sound appealing to me so I paid .50 extra to get baked beans instead which were pretty good. My husband got the brisket and I chose the pulled pork. I will say I preferred the brisket. We got side salads which were very good as well.
(4)Eila L.
All those sides they have are delicious - I await the crawfish etouffee. The Miss Margarete is a good drink with the strawberry infused tequila. I like the gumbo and the shrimp and grits. YEAH! Good place for some southern goods and vegan/gluten free friendly.
(4)Kathy A.
Deep fried oysters, moist and tender with a great crust are a must try. Service very fast, and friendly...will be back!
(5)Tim C.
This place used to be the bomb but now it just fizzles. Went to breakfast and ordered the brisket hash. Well i was disappointed to find out that they were now using french fries instead of potatoes and it seemed to be a poutine style hash that was over seasoned and very greasy. Seems like the fries went straight from the fryer to the pan cuz by the time it got to me it was mushy. It wasnt very busy but we still had to wait 15 min for a table and 45 min for our poutine breakfast. Not sure if its "hip" or laziness, but if your going to serve poutine then call it poutine. I would recommend "toast" in the future even though the coffee sucks at least the food is real!!
(2)Bill B.
We walked in when they opened at 9am for Sunday brunch. We were met by two cheerful waitresses. Coffee was quickly offered. It was not burned as a previous Yelp said; it was rich and dark like coffee is supposed to be. You must order the beignets. They arrived too hot to eat but the short wait for them to cool down was worth it. My wife ordered the Southern scramble which had andouille sausage, peppers, crayfish and onions. We both thought it delicious. I had the Eggs Sardhou, poached eggs over artichoke hearts, creamed spinach on English muffin with hollandaise sauce. It was very good. Although we didn't order any the several Bloody Mary that we saw made looked both potent and delicious. I would have given five stars if I hadn't had to stop the waitress twice to get more coffee. That is something she should have been watching.
(4)Darla W.
First time visit today. One positive, many negatives: 1. The beignets are amazing. Here goes the bad... 2. I ordered the eggs Benedict. Boring, tasteless, cold microwaved potatoes. 3. My hubby ordered the brisket hash. Terrible. Literally three pieces of meat. Again, cold microwaved potatoes. Really bad. 4. Worst of all...my water cup had lipstick on the edges! So gross! The waitress was very apologetic and the service in general was good. But the quality was pathetic. No thanx.
(2)Dustin C.
I reviewed the Miss Delta, but neglected their first restaurant, which I adore. This is Portland culture, distilled down into an excellent bar/eatery. House infused booze: try the amazing garlic Bloody Mary! Traditional southern food is all on point: crispy moist chicken, seared but bloody steak, great sides. The only problem is the constant creeping costs (I've been going here since 2000) but that's expected in a city that's being rapidly gentrified. Chicken & Waffles. Do it.
(5)Sena S.
RAW CHICKEN. LIKE COLD PINK RAW CHICKEN. "MOM'S FRIED CHCIKEN". Luckily I cut it with a fork and a knife first or I wouldn't be able to right this review for you now. The service was just as raw.
(1)Adama S.
My boyfriend and I went for an early dinner and had a great meal. The chicken and waffles was amazing! The catch is that the waitress charged my card 3 times for 1 meal and I didn't realize it until the next day. Unfortunately this held up on my card for 3 days and I had to go through annoying steps to get my debit card credited back. Overall I'll never go back again because they did nothing to rectify the situation. You would think that they would offer some sort of discount on the next meal for my troubles but nothing. Thanks a lot delta grill you lost a potential frequent customer!
(2)Raina M.
I have been going to Delta over the past several years, and even if the service fluctuates from good to bad, the food has always been good and has kept us coming back. I hadn't been in a while, and decided I needed some good comfort food, so off we went. We came on a Sunday, which turned out to be a poor choice. They were severely understaffed, and upon being greeted several minutes after arrival, we were informed that they were out of all potato options, i.e. potato cheddar casserole and mashed potatoes. We went ahead and ordered drinks, not realizing that the only person available to pour drinks was running around the dining room, bussing tables in a frenzy. I feel for the waitstaff, as I myself have been in the same predicament many times, and it clearly was not any individual's fault for the lack of good service. That said, it took about 15-20 minutes for me to receive my drink. When we ordered dinner, we noticed that they changed the options from being any two sides, to only being able to pick one side and stuck with black-eyed peas as the other. No offense to the wonderful folks that love them, but this was disappointing for me! Because the server felt so bad for our lack of service, she said she would try to "talk the kitchen into" letting us order two sides of our choosing. It was nice that she did this, but unfortunate that she may have had to get in an altercation with the cooks to accommodate our request. Once we got our food, the pulled pork, fried catfish, and gumbo were okay, but not jumping with the southern flavor that I remember. I got the distinct impression that perhaps Delta is having issues managing costs. It appears that they are trying to solve issues by cutting back on menu items, limiting choices, being concerned about food cost to the point of running out of things, and saving on labor by cutting the service staff down to almost nothing. I understand needing to save money, but good service and good food is what brings guests into an establishment. When you lack both and are running out of staples like potato options, it is not a good sign. Unfortunately, I do not know if I will be back to the Delta--My friends think it will be Miss Delta from now on...
(2)Marla H.
I have been here a few times. Each time, hoping that it will be as good as every one rave's about. Sadly, it just never measure's up. I dont think it is because it is bad, or the wait staff seems to have better things to do with their time, I think it is just not my type of food. The best thing i have had here is the tater tot casserole. If Southern greasy food is your thing or your a hipster, I think you will LOVE this place.
(2)Cinnamongirl 6.
We lived nearby when this place opened in the 90s. It was super tiny and had fun game tables. The food was simple and amazing. We went back two weeks ago and we were excited to see that it had like tripled in size and now has a bar. We had a short wait to get a table. I had the special for that morning which was a biscuit and gravy plate. The cook was cussing up an "f" storm while we waited so I have to assume that it was a bad day. My food was terrible. Took two bites. My husband's food was cold. Our service was so painfully slow that the waitress brought us a free appetizer to placate us. They aren't exactly cheap either. Even though the portions are truck stop size. I will go back and try again. It does have a divey feel. I didn't feel like the food was sub-par for it. Hopefully it was just an off day.
(3)T V.
Pretty good "soul" food and really good cocktails. The service is hit or miss. We've had amazing servers and have also been ignored. The decor is a little eclectic and ugly... but ugly-cute. The fried chicken was a letdown. The texture was all right and it wasn't dry, but it was definitely bland. Their hush puppies are pretty good, as are the sweet teas (served in mason jars, of course). I haven't yet tried their brunch, but I look forward to it.
(4)Elyse D.
If you want a great, comfort food, this is the place to go! Great fried chicken, meatloaf, collard greens, grits, fried okra,. . . . i could go on! Definitely not health food, but sooo good!! The service here can be a little touch and go. However, the last time we were there it was AMAZING! My husband wanted to go here for his birthday. We ended up with around 20 friends, the waitress was great!!! She kept the appetizers and PBR 40's coming the whole night! I never had to track her down! It was perfect!
(4)Laverne D.
i really want to enjoy this restaurant. i really do, however it's tough when the food is bland and the service lackluster on the two visits i've made there. first time i got the braised beef hash...wish i would've opted for the chicken fried steak. however, the gal did give me a coupon for a free cornbread to ease my troubled mind about the hash. second time i ordered the chicken fried steak. not reading the fine print, the gravy is brown, not a cream gravy like i was dreaming about. it was also very salty, too salty...even for me. the white cheddared grits that came with it were completely unseasoned. the service, moody to say the least. our food took a long time to come out and there was no explanation about it, as the surrounding diners that sat after us were delightfully enjoying their meals. sorry delta, i wish i could, but i can't.
(2)Gregorio H.
Damn good food. The catfish ... mmmmm. Cornbread is scrumptious, made like it should be, with no sugar and a touch of salt. Where can you get collard greens and black-eyed peas, without going to MIssissippi? I would only ask that they would back off on their tendency to put pieces of bacon in a lot of the dishes. It just makes them greasy, and detracts from the other flavors. The decor is deliciously funky, with a touch of latin flavor and New Orleans down-and-out soul, without the dead heroin addicts in the alley. Good service. A little pricey, considering they aren't spending any money on new tables and chairs.
(4)Aaron J.
Everything on the menu is worth trying with most of it being downright excellent. Drinks are great too!
(5)jeff b.
I love this place! They have stupendous dishes and kick ass drinks (some of the alcohols are infused by them, mm, tasty). As you can see with the other reviewers, the food is good, maybe a little pricey but worth it in my opinion. One thing that i learned recently though is that if you order food to go the portions are not as big. I'm used to taking home about half my meal and chowin' down at least one more time. I ordered the shrimp etouffee and picante. The sides and rice came in 8 oz. containers and were about half the in-store amount. We ran out of rice and by the end of the meal i was yearning for more yummy cheese potato casserole. So if anyone working at the Delta is reading this, please get bigger to-go containers. Otherwise you may find me ordering in then asking for boxes as soon as i get my food (jk).
(4)Ashley Q.
$3.50 40oz of PBR served posh style in a ice filled champagne bucket..glass optional. How awesome is that! I ate here on the Friday night of my short weekend in Portland. There was a wait for a table, thank goodness for the bar. I met some cool Oregonians, are they all that friendly? The blackened catfish, white trash meatloaf, and po'boy hand pulled goodness are all excellent. The bartender recommended the mac n cheese and the cauliflower as sides. I also tried the tomato side. The cornbread is served with honey and butter, but lacked a little sweetness. $50 for three people including alcohol + tip. Great vibe, perfect for a chill Friday night. I will eat here again next time I'm in Portland.
(5)Thomasina L.
This review is pretty late in coming, over a year but I cant let it go. I was in with my friend and was told to seat ourselves. So I did. I patiently waited for a server to come by, sitting with my menu shut. Other tables came in and had their drink orders taken. I started to try to wave servers down, to no avail. After 20 minutes and a table who came in after us received their drinks and appetizers and we hadn't even been acknowledged (no drink order, nada) so we left. I will never come back. I will not recommend it either. I leave two stars because I had eaten there before and enjoyed the food, though even then the service was sub par. I know its Portland and somehow many servers think they are the cool kids, but its no excuse to do a bad job or ignore your customers.
(2)Devon D.
Delta is my new favorite place! Their menu and cocktail list are inventive, and the po' boys are too big to eat! The ambiance is fantastic. The wait staff rules. Doesn't get much better than that.
(5)Sam O.
Pretty delicious food. The beer selection on tap was small, but good. 40oz of PBR is always a good touch. I'd give it a 5, but it didn't quite blow me away. The atmosphere is great as well. Very laid back. Our server was great...but it took him a 1/2 hour to get to us (we got our first drinks from the bartender direct.) Fortunately, we were not in a hurry.
(4)Abe I.
Delta is OK, since the recent influx of Southern-centric restaurants though, I feel like it's previous scuffs have shown themselves to be deeper flaws, PBR 40s in champagne ice notwithstanding. The few times I've eaten there the food was actually kinda bland and left me disappointed, but I have to admit, I wasn't eating the meat, and that does seem to be the main attraction, so your experience may differ.
(3)Alex W.
Harmonic convergence. Planets aligning. Call it what you will. I went to Delta for dinner last night and it was incredible. If you ever saw the movie Ratatouille, one bite of the meatloaf with collard greens and mac n' cheese and I was teleported back to childhood memories where I had not a care in the world and could taste thousands of different flavors in just one bite. The atmosphere reminded me of Emmy's Spaghetti Shack in San Francisco, super low key, kinda like when you were hanging out in mommy's womb and didn't want to leave. The Cucumber-infused vodka drinks were a big hit as well. This place is, in my humble opinion, fucking awesome. Dining experiences don't get much better than this.
(5)Steed H.
The food was good. The server was good. The drinks were very bad. The bartender hit the table with silverware as he told us about the special and I hated him. The prices were high for eating in a noisy bar. It was a very Portland expirence.
(2)Darren B.
"I don't make the rules, I just eat here..." The menu at Delta Café is great mix of typical Cajun/New Orleans style food: Po'Boys, red beans & rice, jambalaya, etc. There are many vegetarian choices, as well, especially among the many side dishes they offer. This was my second time to the Delta Cafe, the food was similarly executed both times and the service was either mediocre (1st visit) or horrendous (2nd visit). I've had to take the Delta off my list of recommendations. The corn & black-eyed pea fritters are especially good. Of course, give me a piece of bark fried and I'll sing its high praises. The BBQ tofu po' boy had just the right sweetness to the sauce and a hint of spiciness. A nice twist on the classic sandwich. The greens, mac'n'cheese and cole slaw are, perhaps, serviceable. The greens were not quite savory enough and hadn't quite been cooked down. The blob of mac'n'cheese on my plate had the consistency of something that had been made the day before and reheated. The cole slaw was typical cabbage, deli slaw - nothing you couldn't do at home with a head of cabbage and some mayo. The service in general - and especially the waiter who attended us the 2nd visit - was extremely poor. On the first visit we were brought our food by a disinterested staff, on the second visit our waiter seemed downright put out that he had to deal with us. When someone in our party asked if she could make a substitution he responded, "No. I don't make the rules, I just work here." When she then asked him to leave the offending item off her plate altogether (instead of substituting), he balked at that, too. He skipped orders and didn't come back to take them if we had questions. Luckily, we were seated near the kitchen so we could flag him down easily. He practically dropped plates on the table and when the food came, he performed the typical mail call ("I've got a jambalaya for someone"). There are lots of other restaurants nearby. Do yourself a favor and try one of those.
(2)Kirsten S.
I liked this place. Being the type of person I am, I can find a few things to complain about. Mostly, the atmosphere. It's like walking into a weird, dark cave in there. And while things aren't so dirty I wouldn't eat there, it isn't exactly as clean as I like restaurants to be. In particular, there's a selection of hot sauces on each table (which is cool) but all the bottles were sticky and covered in dried sauce. The drink menus on the table were sticky too. Wipe off your bottles and menus, people! Overall, things are just a little too dark and dusty in there. That said, the most important place to be clean, the bathroom, was clean so I'm sure the kitchen is satisfactory as well. I ordered mac and cheese which I thought was pretty damn yummy. Some people on here complain of too much garliciness but I liked it. My fiance liked his food, he got a fried catfish plate, although he said the texture of his biscuit wasn't the best: a little tough. But overall. for the price this place is ok.
(3)Mr. C.
This place rocks. They have "White Trash Meatloaf" for christ sake. Not to mention PBR 40's in a bucket. If you want home style southern goodness served by a very Tattooed staff, look no further than The Delta Cafe. I love the sides... Collard Greens, Mac and Cheese, and sometimes even Tater Tot Casserole. YES! Just be prepared to be extremely full.
(4)Courtney D.
Soul food at its comforting best I swear that I must have grown up in the Deep South in another life because I love the food, especially the side dishes at this popular soul food cafe in the Woodstock neighborhood. Since I'm not overly into barbecued ribs or catfish, I always opt for their side dishes, which are more than enough to fill you up. Order the Southern Sampler, which comes with homemade corn bread, hush puppies and salad, just to name a few! I hear that their mains, especially the cat fish is to die for, but since it comes with two sides and corn bread, I know that I'd never finish it all so stick to what I love. Tip: You can get a 40 ouncer in an ice bucket for less than $4.
(4)Michelle M.
oh delta, where have you been all of my life? oh that's right, portland. i need to visit more often. their infused vodka selection is amazing. the bartenders are insanely creative as well as being genuinely nice. evidently delta serves one of my all time fav items, sweet potato fries. unfortunately i didn't stay long enough for more than drinks. but there's always next time. until we meet again.
(5)Jason K.
Wow, a restaurant where I can have the main dish and both sides covered in gravy. Sure my left arm is tingling, but it was worth it. The chicken fried steak was delicious; the breading didn't sog at all and wasn't the slightest bit greasy. The mashed potatoes and gravy were also excellent, with the latter being some of the best I've had. Seriously. Even the collard greens were good despite the fact they were a bit undercooked. The service was prompt and friendly without being annoying or hover-y. The kitchen was prompt as well, with maybe a ten minute turnaround for our three top. Some may nag about the limited beer selection, but with Abita available who needs anything else?
(5)Carissa W.
Located on Woodstock near Reed, the Delta is a southern soul food restaurant in the southernmost reaches of Portland. If you go any further you hit Sellwood, but it's totally worth it for cornbread and stiff drinks. Old-fashioned cocktails like mint juleps are always a good bet, and the collared greens (veggie or ham based) are worth singing about. The decor is funky, and includes a two-seat table in a sort of Elvis shrine complemented by a color changing unicorn statue. Your face should be deep into your plate anyway, but it's always fun to pair southern cooking with tackiness, it just makes it that much homier.
(5)Lance K.
oh to know some locals. I would have never found this place if I was a tourist not visiting friends. I stuck with the side sampler which was more than enough. a side of mac and cheese (what is the obsession with mac and cheese and Portland?), red beans and rice, and cauliflower casserole. since we were going out drinking later I skipped the 40 oz Pabst Blue Ribbon in a bucket of ice (what is the obsession with Pabst Blue Ribbon and Portland? haha!). The food hit the spot and also prevented me from getting drunk later that night! I don't know how anybody in this town does'nt get seriously obese from all the good food here!
(5)Jeff K.
Delta is great food cheap. If you were raised a poor sharecropper, this is the food of your youth. If you were raised a cracker from Northern WI (like me) this is the last meal you'll request before you getting lethal injection. Yeah the fried chicken is great but if you want to bust out your white trash roots I highly recommend the meat loaf with mash potatoes, mac and cheese and green bean casserole. There was a time when you could get a 40oz bottle of PBR served up in an ice filled coffee can champagne style. Classy! You can always go for a Mickey's Malt Liquor too. The mixed drinks are okay but you are there for the food and environment.
(5)Vi N.
used my groupon and had weekend brunch. we ordered beignets, pork hash and the eggs benedict.. the restaurant looks promising.. but the experience and food was seriously lacking. the $12 pork hash was flavorful but on the small side. and the eggs benedict looked like something i could have just made at home. beignets could have been more fluffy. i didn't think anything was very special about this place. if i truly wanted a good "southern" brunch, i would skip this place and go to the screendoor.
(2)Michelle H.
Great food, but service is so-so and this place is way too hot in the Summer. You seriously will feel like you are on the bayou if you eat here during the dead of summer, unless they have installed a/c since I have been there last. I usually order the gumbo or chicken and dumplings. I love their chicken and dumplings because sometimes I like a more brothy version. I make a creamy version, but I like a brothy version. I have also had the yummy cheese grits. Nice, eclectic space, but the cash only policy is rather inconvenient.
(4)Kat L.
Solid place all around. Food was tasty, I liked the hush puppies and BLT with avocado aioli. Gravy on mashed potatoes had a little too much pepper, but tasted deliciously homemade. Service was fast and friendly. Would definitely go back and recommend to friends.
(4)Kristen M.
I'm a typical fan of the Delta...one of the best parts about living in the Woodstock 'hood. Typically it's where we go when we crave the food from our childhood in the South. I have to say though, we went in for their brunch today and were slightly disappointed. Nothing was terrible...just not quite what I had in mind. The grits were good, and I managed to get every single piece of crawfish out of my Southern Scramble, but something was missing...Still, nothing beats the liter of sweet tea and their po' boys. I still loooove their soul food dinners, though I do miss their fried green tomatoes...they were the best I've ever had from a restaurant!
(4)Tanner H.
Wow, where do I start with this place? I actually lived across the street this place for a year. I even had a front porch swing with a vdirect view on its front doors. I know this place well. I ask people why they go, and thy tell me because of the food, or something. I don't get that. I think Portlanders are just impressed by the novelty of having cajun food in a restaurant/bar because it's so uncommon in the PacNW. This is the kind of place (bar side) that you can expect to find a pompous kid reading Howard Zinn at the bar. This is the kind of place that charges almost ten bucks for grits and cheese, yet glorifies PBR. This place is the essence of Portland's hipster hypocrisy problem. The food is alright, but the people are uptight, sanctimonious and--worst of all--predictable
(1)christopher a.
decent food, im always full when i eat here, but for some reason a lot of the items just dont come off very authenic (esp the hush puppies)
(3)Anthony R.
So I've been told it's not "authentic"--whatever that means. Delta Cafe serves up tasty tasty greasy greasy BBQ, down-home "soul" or "southern" or whatever cuisine. Fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese, ribs, pulled pork, po' boy sandwiches, um....about a dozen (or more) side dishes. The best part is that the bar stays open late and the kitchen still serves most of the menu until closing. Pabst Forties come chilled, on ice, in a champagne bucket.
(4)Sonya S.
Oregon is located far from the southern US, and is also far removed from southern culture. So, unlike other northern US cities such as Chicago, Portland has next to no eateries that honor southern cuisine. That being said, the Delta Cafe is a notable exception. Their food definitely follows southern tradition; it's mouth-wateringly hearty, well-seasoned, and the portions are beyond generous. Their side-dishes are gut-busting filling, all by themselves. Whichever side dish you order, whether it's the mashed potatoes, greens, black-eyed peas, or mac-n-cheese, they're all rich and satisfying. Their homemade buttermilk biscuits, and the cornbread, will have you swooning with culinary appreciation. The fried-chicken, barbecued pork-ribs, and catfish are the best entrees on the menu, and the most authentically southern. They're all fork-tender, and very flavorful. The ribs and catfish entree portions, are good-sized, but not huge. The fried-chicken, however, is served in portions only a giant could finish in one sitting. It's so moist, savory, and crunchy , most people would sure make a dedicated attempt to finish it all in one sitting though! After dinner, I never had room left to consider any of their desserts. Too bad, because just the smell of their peach-cobbler, can send the senses soaring in anticipation. The main complaint that I have about this place, is the tacky, almost seedy decor. To me, it didn't jibe well, with the excellent quality of the food. I thought that the owners were trying too hard, to make it seem downscale, and therefore more 'southern'. They need to realize the difference between down-home southern, and just plain trashy. The other thing that bothers me about the Delta Cafe, is the sticker-shock prices. Yes, the food is excellent, and the portions of it enormous. But this fails to justify the average $18 price-tag, for basic southern cooking. I recommend the Delta Cafe, but only for those whose budgets can stand the strain of their prices. And if you can tolerate the trailer-park 'chic' ambiance.
(4)A C.
This place has gotten way better. My catfish was amazing, and my friend's steak was out of this world. And where else can you get a 40 oz of PBR in a bucket of ice?
(4)Nicole T.
I definitely dug this place! I love the real New Orleans (and the delicious food) and was impressed with everything- the andouille was really tasty. The service was good, but the cash-only thing is a little annoying (luckily they do have an ATM). Still a really nice night out and I will be a repeat customer!
(4)Amanda W.
This quickly became my favorite restaurant in Portland. The food is tasty, the atmosphere is very down to earth, and the drinks are great. It's also a huge plus that the portions are giant- because for a girl I can really pack in that fried chicken (which also happens to be my favorite dish). Following tradition, I wash down my chicken with their yummy Bloody Marys, which include the perfect amount of spice and enough accoutrement to feed a family of five.
(5)Brandy S.
I have two words for you: SWEET TEA! Oh, my, God! Sweet tea in a quart jar. Can life get any better? The food is good too, a few vegetarian options - more than most barbecue places. I recommend the side dish sampler - I ask for no onions, because they sure do pile them on. On my most recent trip here, I had the barbecue tofu po'boy, with the coleslaw topping. It was so delicious - spicy but sweet; crunchy and chewy; just enough fat and grease to make it a treat. CASH and CHECK ONLY
(4)David J.
Some of the best tasting Southern Food, I've had in the NW. 1 item and 1 item only is the flagship of this type of restaurant. Collard Greens. That's right I said it. If a restaurant can't do collard greens right, nothing on the rest of the menu is worth looking at.. The Delta Cafe has the best collard greens I've had outside of Chicago. That and their outstanding Bloody Mary's are damm tasty. Once you know that, you can order damm near anything off the menu with confidence.
(5)Rachel J.
For some reason now lost to the mists of time, I never went here while I actually lived in Portland. My lovely friends treated to a meal here when I visited, and goodness gracious, was it ever yummy. As a Northwest native of Midwest descent, I haven't been exposed to hardly any Southern-style cooking, so I can't comment on the authenticity, just the tastiness. They bring you cornbread to start, so the corn and black bean fritters we had as an appetizer were kind of superfluous (but delicious!). I had the sides sampler, with a green salad (yeah, I know, very un-Southern of me), potatoes and cheese, and cauliflower casserole, both of which were satisfyingly cheesy. I also tried a bite of the tofu from my friend's giant tofu po'boy sandwich--if I ever get to come back here, I might have to order one of those. The place also has a great ambiance, with laid-back vintage decor and just the right amount of light. I highly recommend it, but it's popular, so don't be surprised if there's a wait for a table.
(4)Joey B.
Let's think about this for a second and then ask yourself, "Where else can I get a champagne bucket for my forty of PBR?" Couple that with some great eats and you're in for a great night.
(4)Jason L.
Excellent food at a reasonable price. I was most impressed with their drink menu. They have a bout a dozen original cocktails...all of which are delicious and guaranteed to get you f--d up! Our party had the shrimp etouffee, jambalaya, and that night's special: chicken friend pork chops. all of our sides were delicious too (mashed potatoes, collared greens, etc.) and our waitress couldn't have been nicer! for dessert, we had some succulent slices of sweet potato pie.
(4)Greg L.
This is without a doubt the best restaurant on Woodstock, and for southern/BBQ it may be the best in South East, or at least a tie with Clay's Smokehouse. 40's served up on ice, classy. I would eat here once a week if I could. Brisket is amazing and the fried chicken is perfection. I do wish they would take Credit Cards but I understand the reasoning behind it.
(4)Alexandra M.
It's interesting how different these reviews are from the ones you see from the first link through google maps - makes you wonder about the corruption supposedly going around with Yelp. Anyhow, I don't need my a@$ kissed, by any means, done my share of serving thanks but ugh, someone would be delighted to have your job if you hate it so much!! I don't want to say because I actually really like soul food & there isn't a lot of it around, & the owner obviously is supportive of how much the people range from generally not into what they do for a living, outside of how cool they think it makes them seem, to one that thought he was very entitled to a big tip & was very forward about it. They could sell me a bridge if they wanted with the kind of food they have but I rarely go because it's generally a negative experience. Their spicy drinks, also a favorite as far as drinks go, are undrinkable due to being too spicy so I'd recommend doing half spicey. Decors cool...could be cool but I'm gonna go hit up the stand on Hawthorne - it's funny, the Montage folks seem to be pretty similar to these guys, & I'd have to strenuously disagree that these places are cheap overall, though they do have some great deals.
(2)Greg P.
In town for a cousin's wedding back in June, all I have to say best slab of ribs period!!!!!. You definitely will need alot of napkins. And yes, me & my group got 2 of the 40oz of PBR in the Champagne bucket as well. Whatever you have leftover in the bottle, you can always pour it on the sidewalk for your homies or famous dead gangsta rappers outside.
(4)Patrick S.
Delta's food is great. But what happened to the prices? I was blindsided by $17.95 for a plate of ribs! compare Clay's Smokehouse, whose ribs are at least as good, for $13 with home fries and cole slaw. Too rich for my blood. Goodbye Delta ribs. I'll still come in for a tecate once in a while.
(2)M H.
When it comes to the fantastic soul food that is served up at this place, my love knows no bounds. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I usually get the pork chops and apple sauce (which is the real chunky kind) and lemonade served in 32 oz. Mason jars. I was introduced to this place by a local and I always go back, usually with other first-timers in tow and everyone ends up going bonkers over the food. I even took my entire choir there when we toured Portland in college. Their mac and cheese is amazing. It's just rad. Totally rad.
(5)Kristin W.
LOVE the pork sandwich. I've found it hard to move on to anything else, since it is so good. I've woken up in the middle of the night craving their huge-portioned homemade lemonade. Oooooh, and the mac n cheese and the cheesy potatoes! Go and eat and enjoy.
(3)Larry H.
Ahhh, the Delta, how far you have fallen. You used to evoke heavenly memories of chicken-fried pork chops as big as my head and potato cheese casserole to kill for. Now what have you got? All you have now is a cocktail bar on the side with bartenders who don't know how to make the drinks that are on the menu. The food quality has gone way down ever since the bar opened up, which would be okay if the portions stayed the same, but alas, the quantity of the food has gone down with the quality. Everybody who came here back in the heyday when it was just a food joint with tons of atmosphere have deserted this place for better pastures, leaving it to those who don't know what once was. Such a shame, a crying shame what this place has become. I pity those who never knew what once was.
(2)Mel E.
Oh Ice Princess, you are the reason my experience at Delta wasn't that great. You were so rude and didn't acknowledge the people at our table, even though you hovered over us as you delivered forks and knives. Had you been nicer, I would have told you the food was decent. The mac 'n cheese was tasty as was the cauliflower casserole. And those red beans and rice are mighty good as well. The portion size is massive and makes for at least two meals. However, the decor is so-so as it tries a little too hard to recreate that restaurant-on-the-bayou vibe. Still, you get three stars because I love me some cornbread. Ain't nothing wrong with that...
(3)Kimberly V.
My long-held belief is that JB should have been born a Southern man. He loves his mama, blues guitar, girls in skirts (but not the ones that resemble tube tops around the ass - which might have served me well to know earlier in the relationship), and Southern food. So we're willing to spend the sometimes extra dollar to dine on spicy fritters, BBQ-heavy pork, and enough flavorful beans and rice to generate a new Sir Mix-A Lot song. You would think a place that proudly serves up the famed Blue Ribbon water-beer would be priced more for a budget-conscious crowd, but I consider this place a definite double-dollar sign choice. That's not to say it's not worth it, particularly if you come in on a rainy afternoon and they happen to play something reflective and twangy on the stereo. Between the low lighting, the fried food options and the extensive hard alcohol selections, it's as comforting to be in the restaurant as it is to be an oil baronness, minus the inherent evil.
(5)Juliette S.
You can't find better soul food. The best chicken fried steak and corn bread. You feel like you stepped into the south. The staff is a little too cool for words and they seem to be aware of that. Also be prepared for a wait but it is well worth it.
(4)Alan L.
Seeing as every other reiview has already mentioned PBR's served in a champagne bucket, I thought I would deal the Delta some real justice and mention the $1 bottles of Mickey's (known as "grenades" in some circles). This isn't some happy hour special or Thursday night deal, no sir, this is all day everyday. How can you beat that? I'm not even sure how much a 12oz Mickey's costs at the Safeway around the corner, but I can't imagine it to be much cheaper then that. No, you can't pretend your eazy-e or dre slangin' on some corner and sippin' on foties, but those guys never drank PBR anyways. Nope, the authentic forties experience comes from a crinkled paper bag, not a bucket of ice. But wait, you say, that's precisely why PBR in ice is so cool! How ironic! Who would've ever thought of the juxtaposition? Surely only a genius. Well, fair enough my friends, but for my money, I'll take a Mickey's.
(4)Netty L.
There is no restaurant in the world that will replace the space in my heart reserved for the Delta Cafe. I cannot count how many cocktails with friends(Bitter Girls Club!), hopeful dates, and delicious meals I experienced there. The mac n' cheese is gooey and crispy, made with wide penne style noodles rather than smaller tube macaroni, good for cheese to reach into and be enjoyed on the palatte. The best in Portland! The cheese grits are soupy, spicy, savory formed circles. I almost always would order the southern sampler with mac n' cheese, collard greens, and black eyed peas with a biscuit, smothered with butter and honey. Tasty cocktails served in mason jars, (one can even get a 40 oz of pabst served in a bucket of icefor $3, a better deal never existed) good southern style cooking, hip decor with a vintage northwest feeling. (Photographic wallpaper and fifties furniture.) The cocktail room is separate from the restaurant, and you can get fried food (including the mac n' cheese) until the bar closes.
(5)Lyn M.
Had dinner here while visiting from California. Food was over the top great! Drinks were good. Prices were excellent! Would love to visit again,
(4)Lindsay Z.
I LOVE this place! Reasonably priced, really good southern bbq food, what's not to love? Places like this make me wish I still lived in Portland. Everything I've had here was delicious, but I usually ordered the bbq chicken and mac and cheese. If you order a 40 of PBR, it will arrive at your table in a bucket of ice!
(5)Nora C.
How did I get through almost an entire year of school without discovering this place? It's close to the Reed campus, inexpensive, and has excellent food. I had heard that the waiters were rude or hard to deal with, but they were friendly and happy to help. The blackened catfish is spicy as all get out, and the po' boys are delicious.
(4)barry m.
Order a 40 Oz. Pabst and get it delivered to your table in a bucket of ice, like champagne. This place is awesome.
(5)Sam D.
I bought a Groupon for this. In fact, it was my first Groupon and after visiting Delta Cafe I'm rethinking buying anymore restaurant Groupons. After a 20 minute wait for brunch where we had to listen to rock music blaring, we were seated in the dining room. It was like stepping back in time to the 70's and those hippie restaurants where none of the chairs match and the waiters are all cool and mellow. The vinyl seats had tape everywhere covering the tears and the place looked dirty and grungy. All of this would have been overlooked if the food was great. I'm from the South and I know what chicken fried steak is supposed to look like and this was not it. I'm always suspicious when I see brown gravy on anything calling itself 'Southern". The best part was the RC Cola in big Mason jars. We tried to make the best but by the end of the meal we knew we'd never be back there. As we left I noticed the cook with a scraggly beard down to his chest and tried not to think about the possibilities of that. I brought the remainder of my chicken fried steak home for my cats and even they wouldn't eat it.
(1)Mindy S.
I really have loved the Delta in the past, and I still enjoy going there. The menu and the food are just not quite what they used to be. I miss picking two sides - the black eyed peas are really not very good, and I don't want to be forced to eat them with almost everything on the menu. Also, they often seem to be out of staples like potato options, or cornbread! Great cocktails, and I do usually have good service.
(3)Megan J.
Two stars. One for service and the other for their cocktails. I have tried to like Delta Cafe and have given it 3 chances but last night it striked out. I don't compare it to Screen Door because they are different beasts but I do compare it to somewhat decent cooking. Last night I ordered the special, fried oysters wrapped in bacon. Can't go wrong with bacon or so I thought. The bacon was charred and hard without a hint of smoky bacon deliciousness. My side of maple baked beans were too acidic and lacked in any maple flavor. The mac n cheese my partner got was bland as well as his black eyed peas. Our fellow dining companions ordered the fried chicken, Hush puppies and pulled pork sandwich. My friend who ordered the fried chicken left her plate the same as when she got it, full. Everything was blah and bland. Anything they fry is overfried and doesn't even come out golden. Services was great and attnetive and the only thing I have enjoyed is the cocktails, which you will need plenty of to get through the food.
(2)Katey H.
I finally made my way to the Delta Cafe after wanting to try this place for a long time. Two of my friends joined me, we figured we could divide and conquer the menu so we could try multiple items. The main dinner items - fried chicken, flat iron steak and brisket. The coating on the fried chicken was great! I loved the crunch! The brisket was fall apart goodness. I got the sweet sauce and it was really good. The side items - you HAVE to get the mac & cheese. I've had a lot of mac & cheese in my life and this was some of the best. The mashed potatoes and red eye gravy is pretty good but I'd choose something other than the potato casserole (pretty much mashed potatoes & cheese). I can't wait to go back and try more menu items. The staff was very friendly and kept checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Their infused vodkas are great if you are looking for a new drink!
(4)kelly s.
More laid back young and fun ambiance than other southern restaurants in town, but the fried chicken wasn't all that- felt like eating the sh@t that collected at the bottom of grandma's spice rack stuck to the outside of the chicken - however they were friendly food was fresh, corn bread, not so much, actually I kind of hated the food, but it felt like a place that would have been good for brunch and people/location was good enough, so that's why I didn't throw the whole joint totally under the bus
(3)Martha R.
This is definitely my kind of place... a little dumpy, but with class. The food is awesome - nice and hearty, fills you to the brim for hours and hours and hours... and all for a pretty great price. The beer selection is a little slim in the draft department, and the greens aren't too prevalent on the menu, but that's what you expect in a Cajun place. Your waiter or waitress will definitely be a little slow, and clad in tattoo. Because the place has got such a great feel to it, you don't mind getting the slow service... My only complaint is that there isn't an online location for their menu - was going to order take out, but decided against it because I wasn't in the mood for people and didn't want to wait around while they made my food. I wanted to run in, run out, and have the delicious food in hand. But since I did not know what I really wanted I settled for crappy leftovers. Bummer.
(4)Sam B.
In some ways, it's a 5 star, in other ways it's a 4, and I'm a round-downer these days. First off, next time we will order one main that comes with a side, and share it. At that price, it's 5-star all the way. And the food was all good. Gumbo, biscuit and gravy for $13 plus the 3-side dinner deal for $10. All in all a pretty huge ass meal. And not on the cheap side. Our sides were collard greens, mashed toes and red beans and rice. The red beans were big and fat with some sausage over white rice. I like more rice but good stuff. The greens are what they are- the only veggie on the menu practically, and a bit rough on the pallet if you're new to poverty. The mashed were good. I like it when you can tell you're eating potatoes and these do that. The wait staff was nice. We had a baby in s stroller and had plenty of space. They accidentally put a plate on top of part of our to-go leftovers and gave us two good sized helpings to go straight from the kitchen. Nice! And warm. Nice vibe too. All kinds of styles in there: tats, no tats, long beards, no beards, twisted beards, no twisted beards, families with kids, kids with no families. It was good stuff. We will be back for more.
(4)Greg M.
UPDATE UPDATE: We went back, had some great food! Mac and Cheese was creamy and yum. The Catfish (and that aoli sauce) is the bomb. UPDATE: I've been informed that they now brandish a card reader and will gleefully take your hard-earned electro-cash. Thank you, Delta. See you soon! Delta, I don't like the Man either. I quite despise the inequality of the world and all of that, too. I really want to try that new brunch you started awhile back. I remember having the catfish years ago and loving it. I thought to myself, why don't more people know about this place? So asked around - took a poll. You know what I found? Every single person I talk to, without fail - hipster, professional, blue or white collar- it doesn't matter - they all say the same thing: "I went there once and really liked it, but they don't take Visa, so we haven't been back." I want to love you, Delta, I really do. I want to swim in your infused vodka's and dine on your brunch. I want to wait in line with other card-carrying capitalists that have worked all day and prefer not to pay $3 to get cash at the ATM or buy a stick of gum to get 'cash back' at the Safeway. I want to bask in the glory that is what the Delta COULD be. But alas, I cannot excuse the audacity, pretentiousness and sheer stupidity that keeps a simple card reader from gracing the counter next to the cash register. What is it, Delta? Are you afraid of new friends? Does the thought of anyone but Socialist Agenda extremists coming through your door scare you? Do you just hate the thought of your business growing? What is it!? We wait patiently, checking in every few months to see if you've finally accepted that you have a problem; a lack of plastic acceptance problem. Oh sure, you may be mad at me now, and everyone else who walks in your door and right back out because you're currency Ludditeism - but just think how much happier (and richer) you would be with that little blue-grey box, taking people's money who want to give it to you? I know, I know... 4% here, monthly fee there, blah, blah, blah. Here's a clue - every other restaurant in town has one and hasn't lost money. You CAN learn something from them. Please Delta, help out a few thousand people that want to give you money. Please?
(4)Crystal M.
I have always loved this place. We came into town tonight to visit my mom and came here for dinner. I was highly disappointed that the service was mediocre but worse the server added gratuity. There were 3 entrees and a kid. We shared 2 meals, not because we r cheap but the portions r huge! Being in the service industry for years I was very insulted. Adding gratuity to a check is saying the table wasn't going to tip in the first place. I would have expected this if we had a larger party. I asked they take off the grat and the manager argued with us. And we caught her in a few flat out lies! Saying the computer ads it and it's 6 people even if we had 5 kids. Really people? A tip is earned! You are not entitled to it!
(2)KD O.
This is our walkable-to local hangout and it lives up to that well. Food: The food is very hit or miss, but we usually do pretty well. I had excellent catfish one night, and terrible a week later, but such is the nature of that sort of fish. I'm mostly vegetarian, so if you are a veg there are a few good selections. Try the Tofu A La Picante, or the BBQ Tofu Po' Boy. I didn't like the fried Okra, but a friend loves it. Again, hit or miss. This is the type of place you try twice to see if you went on the miss night. Verdict: Not as good as some, better than others. Breakfast: Served Sat and Sun only. Not as good as Arleta Library Cafe, which is equidistant from our house. We've went a few times. It's on the bland side, but alright. Drinks: Good signature cocktails with an average $ of $7. Nice variety of drinks - sweet, savory and straight up. Go on Tuesday's for all day happy hour and get them for $5, or go to happy hour every day. Usually a decent selection of regional taps such as Ninkasi out of Eugene. Dessert: The pies are home made and purchased from elsewhere, but good. The Key Lime pie is their best non-fruit-chunk pie. Don't bother with the pecan pie if you've ever had the real stuff from down south. Atmosphere and staff: A++ If this was just for the staff and atmosphere, I'd give it five stars. Great people. Comfortable place with lots of style without looking like they are ripping anyone off. Day to go: Tuesday all day are drink specials - $5 for signature cocktails and lower for beers and well drinks.
(4)Heather B.
I have been here twice and while the food was ok the experience left me wanting to shower. The place feels extremely dirty. Also, the service is snotty. Not sure where some local places get the "you're lucky to be eating here" attitude but the staff was infected with it.
(1)Jason L.
This place is great. Ok wait - the food is awesome. The service is sloooooooooow. And the servers can be a bit spacey. But, getting past that, if you're hungry and want some good southern food - go here. It's cheap, good and you get tons of food. Just don't be in a hurry. Normally, because the service was so slow I would give this place 3 stars - but the food really is good. The atmosphere is also nice and it's usually packed - full of SE Portland hipsters.
(4)Anna S.
Delta is one of my long-time neighborhood loves. For me, it teeters along 5-ness - like some visits I'd give a 5, some a 4, and occasionally a 3. Things you need to know: - Service: quirky. The servers will not kiss your ass, and they are generally not in a hurry. I've never had downright terrible service there, but it IS very laid-back and sometimes comes with a bit o' attitude. I'm okay with this, but I know some people aren't. It can be a bit chaotic sometimes though. - Value: excellent. The food is terrific and the portions are big. Incredibly, a few years back the portions were even slighter bigger and the prices were lower. It's still a great value, but I give 4 stars on this rather than the 5 it would have gotten about 4 years ago. - Ambience: very Portland. Like weirdness? Mismatched coffee mugs? Hideous wall art? Koi fish with that disease that makes them all fat but doesn't hurt them? Appreciate bathroom graffiti that says, "I f*cked your mom!" and then the reply, "Go home, Dad. You're drunk."? I sure do! But not everyone sees charm in these things. Maybe be aware of that when selecting your dining companions. - Convenience: not so much on the paying. Cash only here - boo for that. But then again, screw The Man and the big credit card fees they charge businesses - I understand that too. I just don't carry cash much. Luckily there's an ATM right across the street, or a Safeway nearby to stop first and get cash back from buying a pack of gum if you REALLY want to say screw The Man! - Booze: ohhhh yep. Fulkl bar with stiff, tasty, reasonable drinks. Deal-o-rama $1 red beers at brunch, if you're into that. A little bit of context - almost all of my visits here have been for dinner. The food has been been reliably awesome. When they first started brunch about a year ago, I tried it and was underwhelmed. No more - I went in this past Sunday and was mightily impressed. The French Toast is pure euphoria! Huuuuge thick pieces of soft, buttery brioche with a bit of homemade berry compote on it... The menu said it would be "one triangle", but what I got was a monstrous hunk of glory. In summary... yes yes yes. Damn, now I'm thinking I want to change my rating to 5... but the consistency thing does matter. But I already want to make out with the Delta's Jambalaya and their French Toast, so in a couple more visits I'm sure I'll be knocking it up... that extra star. Hahaha.
(4)Jenn C.
Having several friends from the South (Mississippi and North Carolina, respectively) it is no surprise we are often looking for a great place for some Southern comfort food. Believe you me, we've tried just about all of them (I think...) So after moving a couple of them all day and preparing for a night of celebration, we started at the Delta Cafe. It was really warm (or maybe it was the vodka) inside, but we didn't mind once the aroma of deliciousness filled our nostrils. I had the gumbo (soooo good). Southerners at the table said it was a little off--too much fake smoke flavor for them. The okra was not the best flavor I've had in Portland, however, it had a great crispy breading. Like your PBR in a 40 and served in a coffee can filled with ice? Does it get better, Portland? (Well as a beer snob, yes, but I get it--so I'll roll with those of you who enjoy their Pibber). The atmosphere is really unique to the other cajun/creole places I've visited. A table that screams of voodoo and other cajun dogma with lit candles and doll parts, paired with the low lighting and dark wall colors really makes this place worth visiting.
(4)Stella S.
I really wanted to give this place 5 stars but the reality is that not everything my friends and I ordered were good. The hush puppies with chicken gravy (Pups in a Pond) were VERY bland. We didn't even finish them. My drink, Darla's Sidecar, was actually kind of gross. It tasted like bad oranges. But I drank it anyways since it was $7. And my friend was not a fan of his side of biscuits and gravy. He mentioned the biscuit was pretty dry and if it had the same chicken gravy that was on the hush puppies, then I understand how that wouldn't help either. Now, on the upside! The inside of this place is rad looking! I love the decor they have going on. The staff was friendly as well. My smoked bbq brisket was awesome! I got the potato cheese casserole and the new orleans red beans & rice as my sides. Both very good, even though the "casserole" was more like a scoop of awesome mashed potatoes. My husband loved his jambalaya and my friends really liked the tender bbq pork and the meatloaf they ordered. The mac-n-cheese is garlicky and delicious! i definitely suggest trying that. Next time, I'm going to order the ginger float because the table next to us had one and it looked epic. Served in a mason jar with a large topping of whipped cream? Sign me up! So definitely give this place a try. I don't suggest the hush puppies and gravy, but i do recommend getting yourself some mac-n-cheese and trying some delicious meat entrees. We will definitely be back.
(4)Christine M.
I'll put it this way; Delta is my place of choice for the once-a-year-extra-special birthday dinner. Holy smokes. I have been there quite often, consistently delicious and great service.... in fact SO GOOD that I will take any excuse to go eat here; hence the birthday pick. BBQ Tofu (dressed) Po'boy, veggie collard greens, GIGANTIC & PERFECT cornbread, pecan pie... and whatever drink I'm in the mood for. Lordy.
(5)Stacy L.
Normally, Delta is pretty darn good for that down home southern cooking. I had the red beans and rice last night and it did not disappoint, so why the 2 stars?? Well the cornbread that came with my meal was awful. It didn't taste day old, it tasted week old and I told the waiter so. Did he do anything about it? Nope. The carefree attitude at this restaurant is usually one of it's charms, but not when it compromises the dining experience.
(2)Srk K.
This review is from a couple years ago and we haven't been back. Sounds like things haven't changed though. We went for dinner and drinks and while I like a dark atmosphere the one here is just gloomy and creepy. I've been to the south and the food served here is nothing like it. Honestly I could take the interior decorating if the food blew my mind but it did not. Most bland mac and cheese I've ever had. They need to get some new recipes and cooks. Haven't been back and won't ever unless something changes.
(1)Misty S.
This will be a short review. Why? After a much-awaited trip to Delta for my daughter's fifth birthday (I had been hanging on to a Groupon for months), my family had to leave early. Damn kids. From my short experience, the servers were okay and the food was pretty decent. My Blood, Sweat and Tears adult drink was fabulous! We only got a few bites into our dinner when our two kids decided it was crazy time and wouldn't sit still if their lives depended on it. I had a chat with the bartender on the way out...thanks for listening to me bitch, man! All in all, I would come back (sans children!!!) to give this place a more thorough review. For anyone who had to witness my kids being awful, I'm sorry. At least we packed our stuff up and left instead of staying for the whole meal...right? After finishing our dinner at home, I can say the Gumbo and the Jambalaya were great!
(4)Ivan S.
I have had many a fantastic meal at the Delta. My last one started well enough. The Cozy Shack was a delicious cocktail to start with. If you stumble in on a cold evening, get it served hot and you will be warmed up in no time. Our party got an appetizer of corn and black-eyed pea fritters and corn bread. The fritters light and fluffy, like a fritter should be. I enjoyed mine with some Aardvark hot sauce along with the black-eyed pea green chili cheese dip that came with them. For dinner i ordered the blackened catfish with red beans and rice and tater tot casserole. The fish was well prepared and the aioli and remoulade that it was served with paired perfectly. The red beans and rice are always fantastic and did not disappoint. The low point in my meal came when I tried my casserole and found it to be cold. My wife also ordered it as a side and hers was cold as well. Overall the service was good and attentive, but I would appreciate it if they took more care to make sure their side dishes are served hot.
(3)Diana L.
I've heard some really great things about Delta Cafe prior to coming there with some girlfriends earlier this week .. But Delta Cafe left us with no reason to ever come back. Facts: 1. Food wasn't bad at all .. Definitely around/above average. HOWEVER 2. Table was sticky and dirty .. And server/waitress did not clean. 3. Drinks were not made correctly. 4. No offer to re-make drinks or allow us to choose something different. 5. No Mashed Potatoes on a Thursday evening?! 6. Crappy service overall. Bottom line? If you are looking for a little soul food then maybe this is the spot to go .. Just be aware that you may take a little abuse on the service side of things while drinking down the sweet tea.
(1)Traci R.
What a pathetic ass excuse for a shrimp po'boy. I had to seriously comb through the coleslaw to find the shrimp. SERIOUSLY? I had to laugh to keep from crying. I don't even want to spend any more time typing my disappointment. But this ain't about NOTHING right now. I feel like I just got hoodwinked. :::livid:::
(1)s. m.
The Delta Cafe has a very eclectic atmosphere but for me it's all about the food and with that said I have to say their catfish takes the win! It's seasoned and breaded just right, moist all white meat with aioli and remoulade sauce. Too much okra in their gumbo though but that catfish is Mmm mmm mmm mmm good!
(4)Ivan M.
Overpriced food. Okay for drinks.
(2)Khang N.
I took my girlfriend here when we stared to date and I'm glad to share this place with her.. Definitely a nice date spot.. I usually get the chicken fried steak with mash potatoes.. The portions are huge and cheap! It's just excellent!~ The service is great. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. A place you must check out..
(5)Alexis Y.
We haven't been the delta for a year, even though we always liked the food. We went Friday night and loved it. My husband had the chicken fettichini with green beans in a mushroom sauce. I ate half of his beans they were so good. I had the pulled pork on Texas toast......yum. It had a great flavor with a sauce of sweet and hot. I miss the cauliflower and cheese side, but loved my dinner. Will go back more often. The service was really good and the server helpful.
(4)Adam G.
Great drinks, great food, and great staff. The happy hour is awesome, and the brunch is bonkers. What more could you want?
(5)Sara M.
Just not my style...I really wasn't feeling the dark restaurant, loud music, etc. The food wasn't very good...I'm thinking maybe it's a hit or miss. Pork tasted dirty - the only reason pork typically tastes dirty is because it's old pork....pretty messy and sloppy...spilling all over my plate. I don't think I'll ever be going back here.
(1)Johana M.
I write this review with my belly still full of delicious Delta dinner! With a friend in from out of town today, we somehow forced ourselves to walk to the top of Multnomah falls in 30 degree weather with super cold wind blowing literally and figuratively the entire time. Post 3-hour freezing hike, we needed some serious comfort food. This brings us to the Delta. We came inside only to have a heavenly scent fill our noses. We immediately knew it was a good choice. Their drinks are excellent; we had a hot toddy and a mothers milk. Some of their cocktails are made from house-infused liquor, and I remember once at a Delta brunch (also worth noting and trying) I had a cucumber vodka drink that was insanely refreshing. We both agreed that food-wise we were interested in a big bowl of HOT and damn did they deliver! I got the tofu a la sauce piquante which might be one of the best comfort foods Portland doesn't know about. It's crunchy fried (but light tasting) tofu dropped into a giant bowl of heavenly red sauce and a scoop of rice. My friend even said she was a little jealous of my choice after tasting it. And it came with a side of piping hot mashed potatoes and gravy. Hers was another big bowl of rice and beans that she said was hearty and fresh and went well with a recommended side of 'veggie' collard greens and cornbread. The service was prompt and unpretentious, and also gave us a good amount of space to just enjoy the atmosphere (Mardi Gras + Dia De Los Muertos + Portland eclectic) and our grub. And, the price was just right.
(4)Deborah H.
I am so sorry to write this, as I used to really love the Delta Cafe habiting it with my eldest son and his friends. I remember just being SO enthusiastic about the BBQ ribs and chicken and the delicious sides that I wanted to treat my younger boys and their friends there. I admit that it's been 2-3 years since my last visit. My carload of kids and I arrived at 6:00 p.m. with hardly a wait at all. All looked good. We had a very nice waitress who was personable and helpful. I ordered the most expensive items: the mixed ribs and chicken entrees and the BBQ pork rib entrees. I then order the large sample side option, bringing 8 side dishes to the table. The corn bread came first, very coarse and 'authentic' tasting. Then came all the entrees and side dishes..... The BBQ items did not smell good at all and at the first taste ALL of us made faces at our food. "It tastes like cigarettes." "Mine isn't good at all." "I'm not going to be able to eat this." And mine? "This tastes like an overdose of liquid smoke." We couldn't eat the ribs and chicken at all. We were hungry so we tentatively approached the side dishes. Collard greens? Fibrous. Mac N Cheese? Bland and flavorless. Tater Tot Casserole? Mushy. Red Beans and Rice? Simple, but eaten. Salad? Too many onions. Mashed potatoes and gravy? All right. I could go on, but I won't. There wasn't a satisfied person at our table. The smokey smell was giving me a stomach ache and the after taste of that stuff is lingering still to make me write my first bad review of an establishment I used to love. What has happened? I'm sad to do this, but I spent too much money this evening with the hopes of a great Delta Cafe experience. My first thought was that it must have been a new cook who loaded in that terrible Liquid Smoke junk so that it was inedible. I just don't know. I took all the BBQ meat home, but when we opened it up to taste it again, it was inedible and we dumped the whole lot. I'm not kidding, this is sad but a true rendition of what went down. Thumbs down this evening with the hopes that your Delta experience will be better.
(1)Lucky B.
Definitely good breakfast! We all enjoyed what we ordered, service was friendly and the atmosphere is good.
(4)Jacob M.
The food and drinks were decent, waitstaff was "ok"... not much else to say about it. It's not a "bad" restaurant, but a pretty heavy gut bomb and I didn't think the flavor was anything to do back flips over.
(3)Sara M.
Brunch or dinner, it's a winner. Although, I'll go with brunch: the make-your-own bloody Mary bar with garlic infused vodka, red beers, beignets with lemon curd! Choose your own adventure for your entree: I like the baked eggs with cream and herbs or the bleu cheese frittata. YUM. Dinner is great and the servings are more than generous, although my only complaint is that on a busy night I come home smelling like I was manning the fry station all night. But, a bucket of 40oz PBR and a tender filet of blackened catfish never made me regret the evening. Chash or check only, folks, so be prepared. ATM on site.
(4)Morgan C.
I found out about this place because of a Groupon a few months back (wish I had bought it). It sounded like a good place to try (after all they have a bloody mary bar and $1 red beer). If it weren't for the other reviews I probably would have just kept driving (little hole in the wall place, with a washed out sign and not much room to wait for a table) but I went with a group of friends this past Sunday for brunch and I'll be back many times to come. We ordered a few baskets of the beignets and while they were over cooked a little, they came with a Lemon Curd that could stand up on its own (I believe there was a few moments of finger licking that happened). The portions are large - four pancakes the size of my head, biscuits and gravy (brown gravy which I thought was interesting) that had to be taken home and the BEST eggs benedict I've had ANYWHERE in Portland.
(4)Amy S.
What is up with the rude servers?
(1)Todd V.
Well hell yes. This place was great, with the menu and atmosphere a solid combo. We went for an early dinner, and between happy hour specials, one dinner plate and a beer, came away stuffed and with another full meal in leftovers for 2 for about $25 before tip. Best: the server, great in all aspects rice and beans side scalloped potatoes side hush puppies Great: catfish bites, though the fish itself came in 2nd to the breading Pretty good: okra, which was good but again light on overall flavor Borderline: fried chicken, great at the time but tasted really strange the next day. We really enjoyed the overall experience but the off taste of the chicken the next day was a real turnoff. I'd go back but would not order the chicken.
(3)Tanna P.
I love coming here for breakfast on Sunday mornings! We usually get here just after they open so we don't have to wait. I usually get the Delta breakfast with a side of french toast! Sooo good. The bloody Mary's are very good and so is the red beer. We dine in for dinner sometimes too and I usually get the meatloaf with mac-n-chesse and cornbread. So good. One time I saved room to get dessert so I got key lime pie and that was pretty darn good. I've always had a good experience since I moved to this neighborhood five years ago. It's a bummer they are open a little earlier on the weekdays for a late lunch.
(5)Erin K.
I love this kind of food! If you are in the mood for hushpuppies, go for the ones in gravy, you will NOT be sorry, as they make a mean chicken gravy. And the BBQ Pork was awesome, we went for the "mixed" sauce (rather than sweet or spicy) and it was perfect, and in perfect proportion to the meat. Also, we found the texas toast-like bread that was under it to be a wonderful hearty addition. The only thing I didn't love were the sweet potato fries... although they were good, it was much more like eating a sweet potato than a sweet potato turned into a fry (not crispy at all), and I was really in the mood for a fry. BUT, my heart belongs to the Screen Door when it comes to collard greens and mac and cheese. These offerings at the Delta were good (specifically the greens), but the Screen Door's are drool worthy, so it's pretty hard to compete with them. The dessert options looked great too, and we went with the ginger float which I wish I would have thought to make sooner, it was great! They have great happy hour (4-6pm) prices with 1/2 price appetizers and $2.50 well drinks and draft beers. My husband and I could totally eat a happy hour dinner here consisting of hush puppies, mac and cheese, and collard greens and a couple beers for $15 which I think is pretty awesome.
(4)Liz C.
So, this place isn't at all what I expected, BUT it was good. I am from the south, so I LOVE me some BBQ, and the brisket here was pretty freaking good. The sweet tea was PERFECT and served in a large Mason jar. classic. a few things to note if you plan on going here: Cash or check only! no cards...but there is a US bank and Chase bank within a block of the joint. Also, late night is bar seating only so you have to be 21 so after about 9 pm don't bring the kids. I agree with Patrick S, a somewhat cheap feel to the place, but a charm that says "i'm at home" I guess that's pretty reflective of the south. needless to say, it's down home soul food that's decently priced.
(4)Elizabeth E.
Average fare, in average portions, for an average price. A friend suggested we head across town to check out the brunch at Delta Cafe, and I was excited because I'd heard mostly rave reviews. However, after the so-so service (okay, it was bad but friendly) and the mostly flavorless food, I walked away feeling disappointed. I went with two southern-raised gentlemen as well, who felt simiarly about their experience. While the beginets were delicious, the grits were sad, the portions were a bit on the small side, and the sad presentation of the largely average food was enough to convince me that I don't have to head all the way back across town to give it a second shot.
(2)Lindsay S.
Ok, I think there are new owners in the house. The place looks nicer, but the prices are higher for less food and less choices. What used to be a cascading plate of food goodness good for leftovers the next day, has turned into regular portion sizes for more $. Also I was denied my own choice of a side and stuck with something I didn't want and didn't eat. Waitress seemed annoyed when we asked about the changes (I'm sure she gets a lot of q's about it, but didn't have to give a visible eye roll). We have not been back since. The food baby magic of the Delta is gone!
(2)Jason B.
All I have to say is DONT READ THESE REVIEWS and play the guessing game... ): IF you like southern style food??!!! You WONT be disappointed! ;-)
(5)Jodi C.
I have vehemently tried to cook southern food. i have chopped fingers and grated knuckles and cursed in southern accents. To no avail. my fried green tomatoes were a force to be reckoned with -- a force that directly attacked the balance of my stomach acids. I have a confession to make: I've even managed to bunk cornbread... Isn't that one of those dishes that a four year old can successfully concoct? Well, not me. But despite my inability to create southern comfort food of my own, I love the notions and recipes behind southern cuisine. There's a charm to it you can't quite find anywhere else. So I guess it's really no surprise that I ADORE the Delta Cafe. The vegan options are a bit of slim pickins, but as an ex-vegetarian, my heart (and my love handles) fell madly head-over-heels for the tater tot casserole. A casserole. With tater tots. Lawdy lawdy lawdy! A greasy, gooey, crispy mix of tater tots, corn flakes, and cheese, all melted together in the oven? I'll take it. Deeeeelicious. For such a simple food, the black eyed peas and rice dish is very hearty and flavorful. And some day, I will have a chance to try the barbeque tofu and the veggie jambalaya. Some of their southern-style foods include White Trash Meatloaf, traditional Jambalaya, hush puppies, huge barbeque portions, charred catfish, and a Po' Boy sandwich menu. I'm also a big sucker for the restaurant/bar's ambiance. Vibrant colored walls. Odd paintings, plants, and mirrors abound, comfortable booth seating. The soft sound of blues seemingly seeping through the walls... Definitely charming. The wait and bar staff are young, slightly aloof, and friendly enough for me. So long as you're not wasted in the bar. Which can be hard to avoid, since they also serve up 40s of Pabst Blue Ribbon in a tin can full of ice. Enjoy the mason jars. And try the pecan pie.
(5)Kim K.
Get your fix of Southern food! Can't go wrong with the hush puppies or collard greens! Incredible!! Staff is friendly and helpful with choices!
(4)L C.
Umm HELLO...The beignets with lemon curd...YUMM...with strong coffee...YUMMER! Also ordered the the Southern Scramble with andouille and crawfish...pretty good. It's how I would expect my scramble to taste! One thing that you should not mess up is eggs...I love my eggs and this place does it right! our server Valerie was on it that morning too. Will definitely be back SOON
(4)Briana B.
I love this place, every time my husband and I visit Portland I try to make a Delta stop. I especially love their brunch. Just good southern cooking with a northwest flair.
(4)Molly M.
First time out of the gate at this place was pleasant. Best eggs benedict I've found in Portland but it seems the her was a bit over zealous with the rush and overdid on the home fries...they were a bit too crispy for my taste. The service was awesome and they were very attentive. 11am brunch on a sunday and only a five minute wait...cant bat that! I'll be back to try the fried chicken!
(4)Sandra W.
It's a dive, Louisiana style. I kept straining my ears to hear the familiar twang of the "S'uth'ners," and Creole music, and half-expected to see Guy Fieri and a camera crew walk in at any moment, and watch his meal being prepared in the kitchen, and then take a big huge bite of the Gumbo and react overdramatically to the intense flavors in the dish. And just as quickly as I was convinced I had been teleported to NOLA, the waitress, with her pink-streaked hair, nose piercing and cowboy boots would appear to refill my water or check to see if we needed anything. Nope, this is Portland. Great service, great vibe, and real Southern cookin'. I reckon supper don't git any better than this.
(5)Georgie K.
I have been going to this place for years, but recently we moved closer and go there more often and have to say it is not what it used to be. The food is fantastic, but the service is spotty. I think food and service are equally important. We were recently waited on a man that seemed to not care too much about being a waiter and lacked any type of manners. He did not just suck as a waiter, but if I met him at a party I would of thought he was kind of an asshole. We are not sure if we want to go back or not. Maybe they do to go food. Such a bummer usually such a fun and great place, but we do not need to go out to dinner and deal with some jackass and then be expected to tip him in the end. They need to do some serious server training over there or the owner just doesn't care about the customers. I gave 3 stars for all the other great servers and good food, but if I was basing it on this one experience I would have gave 1 star.
(3)Amanda L.
Just had dinner here, and it was pretty good, if you like southern food. There are veggie options, which is nice (and imperative for me, since I'm vegetarian), and you can order 3 sides to create a meal. Definitely a place to take a group of people who have differing food preferences. Giant plates of food, there was no way I was finishing (but my guy did). Good flavors, excellent (albeit indulgent and fattening) mac and cheese. They also have interesting drinks, well worth the $7-8 each. Also! You can't really beat a 40 oz Pabst in a champange bucket. Gross bathrooms though.
(4)Michelle P.
To the owners of delta cafe: you need to really think about whats really going on. Your wonderful restaurant in slipping away. In 5 years the menu has gradually gotten worse. We loved the day when you could order meatballs with a side of tomatoes and okra. Now its meatloaf with the bbq sauce on it. We just ate here on friday night and we were dissapointed. No more grits......really? How are we suppose to eat blackened catfish with no grits. We came every month traveling from beaverton all the way to se portland and we really love delta. Now the meatloaf recipe has changed. It used to be really thick and juicy with hunks of carrots and potatoes. On friday, it just crumbled apart. Even the bad road drink that is usually spicy was disapointingly mild. get rid of the weak ass black eyed peas. Thats just a filler that really isnt seasoned very well. All of the customers will be willing to pay whatever it costs but you cant shrink down the number of sides. We always tell our friends on how bomb delta is. The atmosphere and servers are really friendly. Its a really fun place to eat. Espically when you order a 40 of pabst. So whatch-u-gonna-do? One thing that you havent chinched out on is that wonderful mac and cheese. Once that goes...........well u know. Please please please for the sake of your customers stomach......bring back the old menu. The menu from 5 years ago. I love delta so much, but last time there reminded me of monica lewinski with the democrats.....it left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)Nader A.
D@mn! Oh lordy, lordy...breakfast at the Delta Cafe...nothing, but NOTHING, beats it in my book! I've avoided the Delta like the plague (swine flu?) for YEARS! You see, I rarely dig on Southern food. Fried chicken is like at best a seasonal indulgence for me. I usually find it heavy, greasy, and uninspired - and while there is a measure of charm to a place that serves buckets o' PBR, I'm way over drinking that naf beer unless I'm seriously strapped for cash (in which case I'd be better served just buying a sixer of something quality and drinking at home). So, despite the Delta Cafe's standing as a "Portland landmark", I just never bothered to go. But smack in the middle of a roller derby marathon last weekend (Saturday bout and post-func libations, Sunday afternoon junior derby tourney) My Lady had to meet up with the other head coach for some bidness and Delta Cafe was the venue of choice. In addition to avoiding the Delta, we generally avoid going out for breakfast. And before you ask, yes we do live in Portland, and yes I do know that we're like the only people who don't go out for breakfast/brunch all the time. What can I say, My Lady abhors the idea of waking up on a day off to go wait in line somewhere, and I don't dig on eggs (slimy, liquefied pre-embryonic chicken? No thanks!). Until now I've never really thought we were missing much on our self-imposed breakfast embargo, and since PBR flows like rain here in PDX, I figured no big loss in not checking out the Delta, right? Wrong! My SE Staple breakfast ($6.50) was EXACTLY my idea of the most perfect way to start a day! A couple strips of pepper bacon or sausage (I think it was chicken, not pork based - I opted for tasty bacon), fantastic smooth, yet chunky Cheese Grits, perfectly crisp, lightly seasoned cubes of tofu (or eggs if you must), a slice of sourdough toast. The tofu was some of the best prepared curdled soy I've ever had (and that includes at Asian or hippie joints); it almost came across like crispy, fried potatoes - perfect for breakfast! Sure, I got a couple snide comments from the vegetarian at our table about being a bit confused (tofu AND bacon on one plate?), but I came THIS close to feeding a chunk of crispy tofu, doused liberally in Aardvark sauce and wrapped in bacon...I'm getting man wet just thinking about it! And then there's the booze...Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket, the booze!!! I went with some concoction called "Texas Coffee" (or some such name) that was bourbon, kahlua, coffee, a little more bourbon, and whipped cream. Great googily moogily, that was a ridiculous way to start your day. I think you could have lit that thing on fire, it was so crazy strong (and only $6-7 bucks). For those of you who like to combine salad with your booze, they have a full do-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar, as well as Mimosas, Bellinis, and other alcoholic beverages help you get a hazy start to your weekend morning! Seriously, this was the place for me! If I lived any closer the Delta Cafe could become a dangerous habit for me! Go there next weekend; you will not be disappointed!
(5)Renee K.
Just got home from dinner here. It was so delicious. The brisket was delicious melt in your mouth fat. Cornbread pudding was to die for. And guess what? They took our credit card WOOHOO!!!! And the service was great. I guess maybe it is still "hit or miss" but I feel like maybe they are starting to try now. So if you are looking for a heart attack, go here!
(5)Brandon S.
I can totally understand why people don't like the Delta Cafe. A lot of the things that I love about it probably rub some people the wrong way. But we've never had a bad meal there nor bad service. Our latest visit featured chicken fried steak - good with a nice spicy bite to it, but not a great chicken fried steak - and a pork chop special that was really good. Two big, tender pork chops that had a chipotle sauce on them. They were spicy, but not too spicy and really delicious. The sides, as always, were great. You can't go wrong with mac-and-cheese, tater-tot casserole and red beans and rice. I love the decor - especially the George W. tombstone over the bar - and I love the people. Our waitress was very friendly, helpful and heavily tattooed. But I don't understand why they don't take credit cards, but they do have an ATM on premises and there are numerous banks within a block so getting cash isn't an issue.
(4)Katherine K.
Coming from the South I wouldn't go so far as to call it all super authentic, but I give them credit for their sweet tea and black eyed peas. The food was amazing, I ordered the blackened chicken - not blow away by it - but it was good, my husband's Jambalaya was perfectly spiced - easy to eat but with a kick of heat a minute or so later. If they keep making their mac-n-cheese the same way, I will be a loyal customer for years. The food was reasonably priced, the service was great.
(4)Natalie W.
The cocktails are really good. The food? The food is greasy and hurts my stomach. This used to be okay when I could order an appetizer of meatballs and make that last for two meals. But the menu changed and the meatballs are gone and everything else is too much and too greasy. But the cocktails are really, really good. Sweet drinks, spicy drinks, refreshing drinks. I'm partial to the spicy ones - most notably the Bad Road, which is habanero tequila and pomegranate juice. They don't have that combo anywhere else. The Bloody Mary is pretty amazing also. In sum: The drinks are worth it. The food might be worth it - if you can handle greasy food and if the idea of a tater tot casserole makes you deliriously happy. It did for me once.
(3)sarah y.
i don't claim to be a southern comfort food expert, so my opinion is skewed i suppose... i had the spicy blackened red snapper w/ mac & cheese and the seasonal stewed tomatoes and okra -- definitely yummy and worthy of the trip. hush puppies were rather dry and hard though :(
(3)Lee P.
"40's for All" My Order. Yes can I have the blackened cat fish, and to drink... You have what, 40's of PBR? Yea sure thing Ill take that. First time here we went after the yelp party last week. I never knew you could order a 40 in a bar, Hands down that gets it 2 stars, and the cat fish, very tasty not to peppery almost perfect. Great atmosphere, will be going back again for sure.
(4)Russ F.
Kind of a mixed review from me. I'd wanted to try this place for the longest time. It was my birthday so I was doing the picking and decided it was time to venture waaaay down in deep SE and try the Delta Cafe................................... OK, first the bad: Of the 5 persons working there that night, 3 were downright rude and indifferent. 2 were pleasant though including our waiter dude who although he also had a bit of hipster "what are YOU doing here"? 'tude, actually warmed up and treated us quite well. I ended up liking him and tipped him well but, I don't know, we were just sort of made to feel sorta unwelcome somehow by everyone else in the place. It was genuinely odd. We were a party of four, myself, my wife and my two teenage daughters. Anyhow enough of that part now on to the place itself: It's cool. It is. I like all the artsy and odd touches and lights and new orleans vibey stuff. For all that, it has a bit of a dingy vibe to the place that I couldn't quite put my finger on exactly. Lighting is cool but strangely uneven............we managed to pick out a booth that was SO dark I actually had to pull out a bic lighter and hold it up to the menu to read it and I am not kidding. Disconcerting to say the least. OK the food.............the food is very good. It is. It is good and it is plentiful. The menu could be a bit more varied in my opinion. I was craving oysters. I thought a place like that might have oyster shooters appetizers right? Nope. OK no oysters on my birthday oh well. However, the catfish and chicken fried steak were really good. I checked out the beer menu just for fun even though I wasn't in the mood but, I am a bit of a beer snob so I checked..............it was pathetic. This is a beer lovers haven this town right? Not at Delta Cafe. Pathetic selection. Truly abysmal. So I don't know. Kind of a mixed review from me.............. 1. Food is indeed quite good overall and plentiful. 2. *some* of the waitstaff though act like you are priveledged to be in their presence for some reason. Two women in particular absolutely REFUSED to make eye contact and smile and make us feel welcome AT ALL. Well EXCUSE ME. Asian male waiter dude saved the night for us. He was cool. If he hadn't been I would never go back good food or no. I'm still a little undecided about that actually. I think if you're gonna check out the Delta Cafe you should have in your mind that it is firstly a hipster BAR that also happens to serve great food rather than a legit restaurant that has a bar too. That was my feeling about the vibe of the place anyway. I'm gonna go 2 stars only for the malevolent 'tude in the place. 4 stars for the food. I guess I'll call it a 3 and round it out and that's being nice. Weird place but then that's Portland sometimes.
(3)Abby S.
I went this weekend because I had a groupon and I had some company visiting and thought it'd be a fun place to take them to. I wasn't nervous and I actually had high hopes as I had previously eaten at Delta and enjoyed the food. What a bummer of a trip. The atmosphere seemed significantly darker and dirtier than my last trip. Once at the table, the coffee was so bad half of us couldn't drink it at all and the other half forced it down in hopes that the next cup would be better (it wasn't). The eggs were bland and seemed vaguely fake, and none were cooked quite right for our requests/method described on the menu (scrambled, over-easy, baked). The service was fine, the wait wasn't bad, but the food was not worth the trip. I felt a bit ashamed for wasting my company's short weekend in Portland with such a bland and tasteless brunch. And seriously, who has horrible coffee in Portland?
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