Park Avenue Cafe
1535 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR, 97201
Park Avenue Cafe Menu
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Address :
1535 SW Park Ave
Portland, OR, 97201 - Phone (503) 225-9335
- Website https://www.parkavenuecafeportland.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Good for Working : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Chris B.
Excellent coffee, and breakfast wraps grilled in a panini maker. Win.
(4)Carolyn W.
Hoping to grab a quick lunch with a friend between classes, we opted for this place out of convenience. I ordered the Florentine wrap. The description was sauteed spinach, roasted peppers and mozzarella cheese. Sounds okay, right? WRONG! The wrap contained a gigantic brick of lukewarm, obviously frozen spinach. I was a little disturbed by the way it looked but no one could have prepared me for what happened next. When I tipped the wrap towards my mouth, a stream of spinach water literally POURED out onto my plate. I almost heaved. I dug out most of the spinach (it was also tasteless) and choked down the rest of the unappealing wrap which at this point, was just congealed cheese and shitty, soggy, canned peppers. Literally the most disgusting lunch I've ever eaten. It was appalling and I was offended that it cost me $7.50! Unbelievable! The drip coffee I got was pretty tasty but I would never order espresso. If you want a quick lunch on campus, stick to the carts on 4th and Hall.
(1)Jake D.
The French dip is pretty horrible... but their breakfast croissant is downright delicious. The service is excellent.
(3)Blake M.
Great expresso, convenient location, croissant breakfast sandwhich is great. Service is slightly slow but there are typically only two people working. 4/5
(4)Ilesha D.
It's nice to live near a cafe that provides different kinds of food options and a coffee to go in the morning. It's very convenient to grab a lunch on campus with my friends. The food can be better and could add a little bit more 'oomph' to them. I ordered a sandwich once but didn't have much taste to it. The breakfast burrito is meh. It's alright if you have no where else to go.
(4)Olivia T.
Belly: "What the hell that you just put inside me?" Me: "A sip of Americano." Belly: "Are you sure? It tasted like mildly bitter water." Me: "Uh huh." Belly: "What was the color of the liquid?" Me: "Mmmm...light brownish." Belly: "It supposed to be dark brown and tasted strong ...stronger than regular coffee. Not like dish washing water. Don't you ever buy it from this place again..it's not worth your dollah." Me: "Ok Ok...sorry about that belly. Please forgive me. Now let me get you some cookies."
(1)Brianna H.
Very small portions and just disappointed with the quality of the sandwich and potato salad. Especially for the price. I think a restaurant needs to have food that is worth the price for eating there instead of just making the same dish at home. It's really too bad because they have such a nice location and building layout. If you guys are ever looking to lease to someone else just email me.
(2)F. B.
Unremarkable but friendly enough, its location near PSU and on the park blocks is by far its best selling point. The interior bugs me, just seems cold and austere -- can't help but think it should be more comfortable, but the tables/chairs and the ugly floor always put me off. Take your beverage and find a park bench, weather permitting. They do have some interesting looking food items, but, alas, never been in the mood to test 'em out. The coffee, both hot and iced, has been plain and uninspired.
(2)Hutch H.
Glad I found this spot. Good selection of refreshments, great service, nice looking space. Exactly the kind of place that makes Starbucks a complete waste of time.
(5)Martin P.
I've been here a few times. The best part is the location right on the South Park Blocks...nice big windows make for great people watching. Everything else about the experience has been just ok. Decent coffee, hit or miss food. Salads and fruits sitting around in display cases for who knows how long. Lackluster atmosphere seeming more appropriate for a cafeteria than a coffee shop. Tacky light fixtures and too-bright halogen overhead lighting. Putrid, peach colored paint with a faux-stucco treatment and terrible art. Gee, you almost fooled me into thinking this was Italy. The place seems busiest on Saturday mornings (farmer's market crowd) and has been relatively slow on the other weekday mornings I've been, which probably tells you something. Worst part is the owner and/or manager and his staff, who seem to have attitude problems. Hard to put a finger on it, but they seem to go out of their way not to be TOO friendly. Very guarded, like you're an uninvited guest in their home instead of patronizing their business. They also don't offer any discounted refills on their drip coffee, which simply seems like poor business sense. College campus coffee shop with at least a half dozen competitors within as many blocks? They seemed shocked when we asked. This combined with their almost-too-high-to-stomach pricing for otherwise unremarkable food suggests this place is surviving despite itself. Methinks your windows and view are nice, Park Avenue Cafe, but they only go so far. Highly doubt I'll be back anytime soon.
(2)Jana S.
Oh yummy yummy goodness to give me the kick in the ass to wake up on the weekends!!!! Park Avenue Cafe (or "Illy" as we call it, for the coffee/espresso they serve there) is the only way I choose to begin my weekends. Located right on the park blocks, this is the perfect starting destination for anyones weekend. Usually, they are pretty busy..but that doesn't bother me too much, since I am mostly still half asleep. The bagels, paninis and sandwiches are delicious. Ingredients include fresh cuts meats, havarti, brie, etc. My personal favorite is the Park Avenue Special - a sandwich on fresh baked, crispy baguette, with turkey, tomatoes and brie. Normally with honey mustard, but I like to opt for pesto instead. The mix of flavors is perfect, with not one being overpowering. Be sure to order a cup of tomato soup to go along with this delicious treat! The coffee served is Illy, straight from Italy (well, kinda, with a few stops...). If you have not had Illy in the past, you will love it. You'll wonder why you drank corporate sluge with expensive packaging (Starbucks) for so many years. Be sure to take a moment to relax and just take in the day when you are there. Sip some coffee, read the paper, grab a book, or just watch the vast array of interesting people walk by. It is impossible to have a bad day followed after this experience... A quick sidenote: It is a "sandwich shop", so i would not have high expectations for pasta, gyro, etc. Stick to the sammies.
(5)Melinda B.
Dear Park Cafe: Pasta should only be introduced to a microwave the day AFTER it is presented to a customer as a meal. Not the day OF. There is no reason to charge $9 for a plate of oily microwaved pasta. I still love your window seating and your fine selection of reading materials to go with my morning coffee.
(3)Samantha S.
I wavered on the rating for this one. 3 for the food, 4 for the coffee. Went with 3 because I am always cold when I'm there - I can't take my sweatshirt off. Their food seems overpriced for what you get. Some of it is prepared quite fresh and tasty; some of it is kind of sad. I'll eat there when I need to study, because they've got jazz playing in the background and tables galore with good lighting. But their coffee is decent. I tend to be a Portland purist (Kobos, Stumptown, or Portland Coffee Roasters, please), but Illy's not bad. And depending on the barista, they do moderately okay to really, really good mint mochas. When I'm out of coffee at home in the morning, this is where I go to obtain my daily dose.
(3)Edward C.
I go quite frequently for the coffee which, is second to J cafe on NE 6th. I tried their quiche once and it was definitely micro waved and soggy...yuk. I wouldn't eat at this place. Once you get to know the staff they are friendly.
(3)Brigitte S.
I wish that I still went to PSU, so I could have a PAC Bagel sandwich every other morning. Any place that does take out breakfast sandwiches automatically gets a star for not cooking their eggs in the microwave! Park Avenue Cafe serves up some hot, lip smacking, bagel sandwiches that leave me wishing for more! Oh, and Sunday bonus, every Sunday I have ever been there, former Mayor, Vera Katz has been there sitting in the window, reading the Oregonian and enjoying her bagel and coffee.
(4)Stefanie S.
this place is great! they have many different options and change some of their daily fruits and quiche. places to sit outside and overlook the park, plus, right next to the streetcar. never had a bad experience.
(5)Jenny C.
Let's face it, Portlanders deal with stress about as well as they deal with water in their lungs. Thankfully most have found a way to decompress. Lately for me it's been submerging myself in Deja Entendu, an old album by Brand New. It popped up on my mp3 player when I was checking out the design of PSU a while back. I was missing the physical university atmosphere and had gone for a fix. There's something to be said about the campus - even the urban one - that just feels right. My adventure took me into Park Avenue Cafe for a cup of coffee. A few people studied, others sat and chatted, and one gent nodded his head as he picked up a strewn Oregonian for the daily news. I felt instantly at ease, almost like I was home... My drink was promptly prepared and I grabbed a spot at one of the tables to warm up and soak in as much as possible. I looked over the menu, promising myself I'd go back (I did - having a FANTASTIC Mediterranean Wrap for dinner one night) and then watched people walk the Park Blocks as I doodled on my napkin (a silly yet unavoidable habit). Hands toasty, mug empty, and emotionally rejuvenated, I realized sometimes it's just better to take a break from the insanity of all things live-work-play. I put my dishes away and my earbuds back in, stepped outside to an upbeat track of my rediscovered old standby ready to face the day. Stress free.
(5)Holly M.
When I was attending PSU, Park Avenue Cafe was one of my favorite hangouts. Breakfast or lunch, the selection was good. The tables are large for groups or for studying (and I was studying for the LSAT--needed lots of room!). Kiddie corner from Lincoln Hall--was great to grab a bite to go right before rehearsal.
(5)Izzy K.
A big mug of coffee and a sugar-topped blueberry muffin for less than five bucks? Yes please.
(4)Lexi H.
i ordered a large cappuccino. it took 20 minutes to make, the lady lied and said she didn't forget about it when i asked her, and she gave me a small size. and was super rude about it. thats all i can remember about this waste-of-time place
(1)Kelley p.
So I wind up at this place since it was close to where I was staying and of course I yelped it. 5 stars and a " great breakfast place" claims one yelper! So I go here excepting "breakfast" but instead get a breakfast selection worse then Starbucks. The croissant was mediocre, I couldn't finish the hot chocolate and they really didn't have a clue how to make a cappuccino. So if your looking for breakfast this is not the place to go, bad selection combined with slow service (the place was dead as well), gives this place 2 stars.
(2)Judy K.
Amazing. This has become a "must visit" place when I come to Portland. I travel extensively.. I know a good cappuccino when I see it. On a scale of 1-5, I give their cappuccinos a 5. In this county, I have only given out 3 fives. The breakfast was pretty good too. Fairly quiet, not too busy, makes this place attractive.
(5)Flavius W.
The only reason we keep going there is the café's atmosphere and the decent coffee. Major negatives are the terrible customer service (would it kill them to smile or say hello/goodbye???) and it takes forever to get your coffee or food order. Pastries for breakfast have been wonderful at times, but then taste old other times. Lunch items are overpriced for their size and lack options for what comes with them (it's always Ruffles..).
(2)Alexander L.
Went here after the PSU farmer's market the other day. I ordered an Americano and my girlfriend ordered a hot tea. She got her hot water right there, and I waited for 15 minutes while wondering what the hell happened to my coffee. When I finally went back to the counter to ask if it was ready yet they have me a blank stare. They had completely forgot to make it. Worst of all, they didn't even apologize for the mistake, which I would have let side if they had shown the slightest bit of concern. I will not go back.
(1)Shannon L.
This is the first place I ate when I moved up to the PSU campus, and I haven't been disappointed in the handful of times I've been back since then. The bagel sandwiches and wraps I've had have been delicious and the coffee's not half bad either. I'm looking forward to stopping by in the spring when the weather's nicer to take advantage of all the outdoor seating offered.
(4)Amanda Z.
This has been my favorite cafe for the last few years but I have been very unimpressed the last few times. My crossiant breakfast sandwich was beyond greasy one morning, the price for oatmeal has gone up: 5.95 for oatmeal is ridiculous. I will say their coffee and food is exceptional I hope they improve before school starts up again!
(3)Wendy Z.
I stopped into the Park Avenue Cafe while doing errands near the Farmers Market. The bright airy feel was inviting. The decor was average , bordering on slightly dated. The music served as decent background noise -- easy listening and jazzy. The perfect "studying" music. I'm always comforted when I see stockpiles of San Pellegrino! A cold can of Limonata was just what I needed to wet the whistle on a hot day! The menu was exactly what I expected. The typical, easy to assemble cafe food. I ordered a Caprese Panini. I'm sure the fresh basil scent wafting from my farm market bag influenced my order. My Panini was not bad. But I've had better, for a much lower price. The staff seemed a little overwhelmed, and it was not very crowded. It took a long time for my food order. Which wasn't too bothersome on this particular day. I would be reluctant to return on a day that I'm in a hurry. My overall experience at Park Avenue was enjoyable, largely due to the atmosphere. A tranquil park setting, and bright spacious windows make for excellent people watching. However, most of my dining experiences in the PSU leave me wondering what if..... I had gone a few blocks over... I'm sure I will return to this cafe. Maybe just for a coffee next time.
(3)Shawn S.
The lentil soup is to die for. It has just the right combination of cumin to give it that hint of curry flavor. Try the sandwiches. All of them I have tried so far taste great. The soup and sandwich combinations let you have the best of both worlds. Prices are reasonable and service is quick even during lunch hours.
(5)Hugh R.
Stopped in for a bite to eat after wandering around the south park blocks on my first day in Portland. The atmosphere was inviting and the space conducive to people watching, although the food proved slightly less inspiring. I opted for a ham and cheese sandwich on a toasted bagel. The sandwich left me feeling underwhelmed and was a bit bland, although my tea, tinged with just a hint of peach, was refreshing and delightful. Overall, a rather unexceptional experience, neither awesome nor abhorrent.
(3)Jess V.
I have lived in four major cities in the US and this little place near PSU has to be one of the best breakfast cafes i have eaten in. I am visiting with my sisters and we've been here for breakfast two days in a row now. We've tried the bagel sandwiches, a couple of the wraps, the potato salad, coffee and fruit salad. Everything is so fresh and made with a lot of care. Even though the place is busy we haven't had trouble finding an open table. The staff is friendly and the place is clean. LOVE LOVE LOVE Park Avenue Cafe!!!!
(5)Maggie A.
After stumbling off the streetcar on a Saturday at the end of summer shortly after the little Portland Farmer's Market in the South Park Blocks, we wandered over to Park Avenue Cafe for lattes because the sign said they served Illy. Such a reasonable price for a big ol' mug of latte, and the outside seating on the corner made for great people watching. I can still taste just how good that latte was, and I'll be back - definitely for a latte, maybe for a sandwich. Bathroom was nice and clean, too, which is always a bonus.
(4)Alena C.
The good: It's got a great location. People watching is fantastic, ample room to study to meet with friends. Close to class, clean bathrooms. The food is okay. Service is nice The bad: The food takes forever! Ten minutes to toast a bagle? There wasn't even anyone in line. Another day I ordered a lentil soup. It took fifteen minutes. This should be a in and out place..but it's not. So don't think you can just pop in and out. You can't. Even a lattee seems to just take forever. Maybe it's because they put so much love and care into the food and drinks? I doubt it.
(2)Pink D.
Unless you are just getting a cup of coffee to go, skip this place. All of the food here that I have had was really disgusting. Their soggy, tasteless tiny slice of quiche I ate yesterday was the worst breakfast I have ever had in Portland. I am pretty sure they microwaved it because it was strangely wet. A few weeks ago I had a sandwich - a strange rubbery fried egg and tuna "sub" - bizarre and unpleasant in both taste and texture (I am unsure why a tuna sub has a fried egg and hot sauce in it!). Their pastries are overly sweet and stale. Their pasta is yucky. It also takes forever to get this food. The ambiance is mixed. Some days it is a quiet cafe. Sometimes the music is too loud to even crack open a book. Other days I have walked in to a loud and noisy sports bar (seriously they have a big screen tv and on my last visit the place was packed with some kind of sports fans). Weird. The one good thing they have is decent drip coffee, which is why I gave two stars. So grab a cup to go and keep walking. I wish another cafe would open on the park blocks with good coffee, decent food, fresh pastries, quiet music playing, and some outlets for students or professionals to plug in and work.
(2)Catie L.
I really end up here way too often. But I love the atmosphere! It's comfortable and there's always enough customer traffic and chatter as to make the place interesting. I like their food menu which is mainly full of sandwiches & paninis, wraps, salads and soups. On occasion I get really wild and order their salmon benedict. It's really lovely. Just so ya know they frequently serve their sandwiches with a side of horrible, cheap potato salad. So make sure to order chips or fruit instead(they may charge extra for this). I love their coffee and espresso drinks. Their salted caramel latte is a special treat. Their staff does the job, but does occasionally confuse orders. If you dig lox, they have a pretty nice lox and cream cheese bagel. It's a nice place to grab a quick bite or to meet up for coffee. So check it out.
(4)Soma D.
I like this little spot. Cozy cafe with a little bit of everything. Coffee's and pastries and yummy sandwiches. I especially like the panini's they make here.
(4)Dave S.
Red leather seats and lots of brown wood. Giant wall-mounted tv with CNN playing. Not really trendy, but more comfortable. I wouldn't bring any friends I want to impress here, but could imagine myself working on stuff here. (Although it is a tiny bit dim.) I was surprised to find an almond croissant only costed $2.50. It wasn't anything to call home about, but wasn't bad, either. Not sure if cafe offers free Wifi, but was able to use wifi from "SouthPark2". It was super SLOW. No plugs to be seen, either. So not the greatest place to study, but ok in a pinch. Overall, this place is a 3.0 to 3.5.
(3)Doug A.
My favorite coffee place in Portland, by far. They make excellent coffee, and the food is really good, but what I really love is the atmosphere. There are huge windows everywhere that let the light in, and tons of comfortable seating so you can just hang out for a couple hours without even thinking about it. I've been to a ton of coffee shops around town, but none feel so comfortable. Also, the staff is super nice and cool, and there's never any awful music blaring like a lot of the other coffee shops I've been to. The whole atmosphere is amazingly conducive to getting stuff done; whether you have homework to do or actual work to do, you can just sit there comfortably (all the chairs are padded), enjoy some excellent coffee and good food, and concentrate. I've been coming here to do some work basically every morning for the last few years and I still look forward to it every day!
(5)Robert S.
Really, really angry with this place. We ordered a hummus plate to go. Get home, guess what? No hummus, no pita bread. Just some salad, some puny dolmas, and two pieces of bread. We take it back to have them fix it, and they look offended. Finally, they slop some hummus in the box, toss in a piece of pita bread, and give it back. Not going to this place ever again.
(1)Jared W.
Good coffee and right on the south park blocks, so great to people watch. My problem is as an establishment, if you are going to lock the bathrooms let customers know with a sign, disrespectful to customers
(3)Barry F.
Pleasantly surprised to find Illy espresso and pain au chocolate in the same place. I visit Portland 5 times a year, and will be sure to stop here each time. Grazie mille.
(4)Wendy Z.
I stopped into the Park Avenue Cafe while doing errands near the Farmers Market. The bright airy feel was inviting. The decor was average , bordering on slightly dated. The music served as decent background noise -- easy listening and jazzy. The perfect "studying" music. I'm always comforted when I see stockpiles of San Pellegrino! A cold can of Limonata was just what I needed to wet the whistle on a hot day! The menu was exactly what I expected. The typical, easy to assemble cafe food. I ordered a Caprese Panini. I'm sure the fresh basil scent wafting from my farm market bag influenced my order. My Panini was not bad. But I've had better, for a much lower price. The staff seemed a little overwhelmed, and it was not very crowded. It took a long time for my food order. Which wasn't too bothersome on this particular day. I would be reluctant to return on a day that I'm in a hurry. My overall experience at Park Avenue was enjoyable, largely due to the atmosphere. A tranquil park setting, and bright spacious windows make for excellent people watching. However, most of my dining experiences in the PSU leave me wondering what if..... I had gone a few blocks over... I'm sure I will return to this cafe. Maybe just for a coffee next time.
(3)Shawn S.
The lentil soup is to die for. It has just the right combination of cumin to give it that hint of curry flavor. Try the sandwiches. All of them I have tried so far taste great. The soup and sandwich combinations let you have the best of both worlds. Prices are reasonable and service is quick even during lunch hours.
(5)Hugh R.
Stopped in for a bite to eat after wandering around the south park blocks on my first day in Portland. The atmosphere was inviting and the space conducive to people watching, although the food proved slightly less inspiring. I opted for a ham and cheese sandwich on a toasted bagel. The sandwich left me feeling underwhelmed and was a bit bland, although my tea, tinged with just a hint of peach, was refreshing and delightful. Overall, a rather unexceptional experience, neither awesome nor abhorrent.
(3)Flavius W.
The only reason we keep going there is the café's atmosphere and the decent coffee. Major negatives are the terrible customer service (would it kill them to smile or say hello/goodbye???) and it takes forever to get your coffee or food order. Pastries for breakfast have been wonderful at times, but then taste old other times. Lunch items are overpriced for their size and lack options for what comes with them (it's always Ruffles..).
(2)Alexander L.
Went here after the PSU farmer's market the other day. I ordered an Americano and my girlfriend ordered a hot tea. She got her hot water right there, and I waited for 15 minutes while wondering what the hell happened to my coffee. When I finally went back to the counter to ask if it was ready yet they have me a blank stare. They had completely forgot to make it. Worst of all, they didn't even apologize for the mistake, which I would have let side if they had shown the slightest bit of concern. I will not go back.
(1)Hutch H.
Glad I found this spot. Good selection of refreshments, great service, nice looking space. Exactly the kind of place that makes Starbucks a complete waste of time.
(5)Martin P.
I've been here a few times. The best part is the location right on the South Park Blocks...nice big windows make for great people watching. Everything else about the experience has been just ok. Decent coffee, hit or miss food. Salads and fruits sitting around in display cases for who knows how long. Lackluster atmosphere seeming more appropriate for a cafeteria than a coffee shop. Tacky light fixtures and too-bright halogen overhead lighting. Putrid, peach colored paint with a faux-stucco treatment and terrible art. Gee, you almost fooled me into thinking this was Italy. The place seems busiest on Saturday mornings (farmer's market crowd) and has been relatively slow on the other weekday mornings I've been, which probably tells you something. Worst part is the owner and/or manager and his staff, who seem to have attitude problems. Hard to put a finger on it, but they seem to go out of their way not to be TOO friendly. Very guarded, like you're an uninvited guest in their home instead of patronizing their business. They also don't offer any discounted refills on their drip coffee, which simply seems like poor business sense. College campus coffee shop with at least a half dozen competitors within as many blocks? They seemed shocked when we asked. This combined with their almost-too-high-to-stomach pricing for otherwise unremarkable food suggests this place is surviving despite itself. Methinks your windows and view are nice, Park Avenue Cafe, but they only go so far. Highly doubt I'll be back anytime soon.
(2)Carolyn W.
Hoping to grab a quick lunch with a friend between classes, we opted for this place out of convenience. I ordered the Florentine wrap. The description was sauteed spinach, roasted peppers and mozzarella cheese. Sounds okay, right? WRONG! The wrap contained a gigantic brick of lukewarm, obviously frozen spinach. I was a little disturbed by the way it looked but no one could have prepared me for what happened next. When I tipped the wrap towards my mouth, a stream of spinach water literally POURED out onto my plate. I almost heaved. I dug out most of the spinach (it was also tasteless) and choked down the rest of the unappealing wrap which at this point, was just congealed cheese and shitty, soggy, canned peppers. Literally the most disgusting lunch I've ever eaten. It was appalling and I was offended that it cost me $7.50! Unbelievable! The drip coffee I got was pretty tasty but I would never order espresso. If you want a quick lunch on campus, stick to the carts on 4th and Hall.
(1)Jake D.
The French dip is pretty horrible... but their breakfast croissant is downright delicious. The service is excellent.
(3)Blake M.
Great expresso, convenient location, croissant breakfast sandwhich is great. Service is slightly slow but there are typically only two people working. 4/5
(4)Ilesha D.
It's nice to live near a cafe that provides different kinds of food options and a coffee to go in the morning. It's very convenient to grab a lunch on campus with my friends. The food can be better and could add a little bit more 'oomph' to them. I ordered a sandwich once but didn't have much taste to it. The breakfast burrito is meh. It's alright if you have no where else to go.
(4)Olivia T.
Belly: "What the hell that you just put inside me?" Me: "A sip of Americano." Belly: "Are you sure? It tasted like mildly bitter water." Me: "Uh huh." Belly: "What was the color of the liquid?" Me: "Mmmm...light brownish." Belly: "It supposed to be dark brown and tasted strong ...stronger than regular coffee. Not like dish washing water. Don't you ever buy it from this place again..it's not worth your dollah." Me: "Ok Ok...sorry about that belly. Please forgive me. Now let me get you some cookies."
(1)Jana S.
Oh yummy yummy goodness to give me the kick in the ass to wake up on the weekends!!!! Park Avenue Cafe (or "Illy" as we call it, for the coffee/espresso they serve there) is the only way I choose to begin my weekends. Located right on the park blocks, this is the perfect starting destination for anyones weekend. Usually, they are pretty busy..but that doesn't bother me too much, since I am mostly still half asleep. The bagels, paninis and sandwiches are delicious. Ingredients include fresh cuts meats, havarti, brie, etc. My personal favorite is the Park Avenue Special - a sandwich on fresh baked, crispy baguette, with turkey, tomatoes and brie. Normally with honey mustard, but I like to opt for pesto instead. The mix of flavors is perfect, with not one being overpowering. Be sure to order a cup of tomato soup to go along with this delicious treat! The coffee served is Illy, straight from Italy (well, kinda, with a few stops...). If you have not had Illy in the past, you will love it. You'll wonder why you drank corporate sluge with expensive packaging (Starbucks) for so many years. Be sure to take a moment to relax and just take in the day when you are there. Sip some coffee, read the paper, grab a book, or just watch the vast array of interesting people walk by. It is impossible to have a bad day followed after this experience... A quick sidenote: It is a "sandwich shop", so i would not have high expectations for pasta, gyro, etc. Stick to the sammies.
(5)Melinda B.
Dear Park Cafe: Pasta should only be introduced to a microwave the day AFTER it is presented to a customer as a meal. Not the day OF. There is no reason to charge $9 for a plate of oily microwaved pasta. I still love your window seating and your fine selection of reading materials to go with my morning coffee.
(3)Samantha S.
I wavered on the rating for this one. 3 for the food, 4 for the coffee. Went with 3 because I am always cold when I'm there - I can't take my sweatshirt off. Their food seems overpriced for what you get. Some of it is prepared quite fresh and tasty; some of it is kind of sad. I'll eat there when I need to study, because they've got jazz playing in the background and tables galore with good lighting. But their coffee is decent. I tend to be a Portland purist (Kobos, Stumptown, or Portland Coffee Roasters, please), but Illy's not bad. And depending on the barista, they do moderately okay to really, really good mint mochas. When I'm out of coffee at home in the morning, this is where I go to obtain my daily dose.
(3)Edward C.
I go quite frequently for the coffee which, is second to J cafe on NE 6th. I tried their quiche once and it was definitely micro waved and soggy...yuk. I wouldn't eat at this place. Once you get to know the staff they are friendly.
(3)Brigitte S.
I wish that I still went to PSU, so I could have a PAC Bagel sandwich every other morning. Any place that does take out breakfast sandwiches automatically gets a star for not cooking their eggs in the microwave! Park Avenue Cafe serves up some hot, lip smacking, bagel sandwiches that leave me wishing for more! Oh, and Sunday bonus, every Sunday I have ever been there, former Mayor, Vera Katz has been there sitting in the window, reading the Oregonian and enjoying her bagel and coffee.
(4)Brianna H.
Very small portions and just disappointed with the quality of the sandwich and potato salad. Especially for the price. I think a restaurant needs to have food that is worth the price for eating there instead of just making the same dish at home. It's really too bad because they have such a nice location and building layout. If you guys are ever looking to lease to someone else just email me.
(2)F. B.
Unremarkable but friendly enough, its location near PSU and on the park blocks is by far its best selling point. The interior bugs me, just seems cold and austere -- can't help but think it should be more comfortable, but the tables/chairs and the ugly floor always put me off. Take your beverage and find a park bench, weather permitting. They do have some interesting looking food items, but, alas, never been in the mood to test 'em out. The coffee, both hot and iced, has been plain and uninspired.
(2)Stefanie S.
this place is great! they have many different options and change some of their daily fruits and quiche. places to sit outside and overlook the park, plus, right next to the streetcar. never had a bad experience.
(5)Jenny C.
Let's face it, Portlanders deal with stress about as well as they deal with water in their lungs. Thankfully most have found a way to decompress. Lately for me it's been submerging myself in Deja Entendu, an old album by Brand New. It popped up on my mp3 player when I was checking out the design of PSU a while back. I was missing the physical university atmosphere and had gone for a fix. There's something to be said about the campus - even the urban one - that just feels right. My adventure took me into Park Avenue Cafe for a cup of coffee. A few people studied, others sat and chatted, and one gent nodded his head as he picked up a strewn Oregonian for the daily news. I felt instantly at ease, almost like I was home... My drink was promptly prepared and I grabbed a spot at one of the tables to warm up and soak in as much as possible. I looked over the menu, promising myself I'd go back (I did - having a FANTASTIC Mediterranean Wrap for dinner one night) and then watched people walk the Park Blocks as I doodled on my napkin (a silly yet unavoidable habit). Hands toasty, mug empty, and emotionally rejuvenated, I realized sometimes it's just better to take a break from the insanity of all things live-work-play. I put my dishes away and my earbuds back in, stepped outside to an upbeat track of my rediscovered old standby ready to face the day. Stress free.
(5)Holly M.
When I was attending PSU, Park Avenue Cafe was one of my favorite hangouts. Breakfast or lunch, the selection was good. The tables are large for groups or for studying (and I was studying for the LSAT--needed lots of room!). Kiddie corner from Lincoln Hall--was great to grab a bite to go right before rehearsal.
(5)Izzy K.
A big mug of coffee and a sugar-topped blueberry muffin for less than five bucks? Yes please.
(4)Lexi H.
i ordered a large cappuccino. it took 20 minutes to make, the lady lied and said she didn't forget about it when i asked her, and she gave me a small size. and was super rude about it. thats all i can remember about this waste-of-time place
(1)Kelley p.
So I wind up at this place since it was close to where I was staying and of course I yelped it. 5 stars and a " great breakfast place" claims one yelper! So I go here excepting "breakfast" but instead get a breakfast selection worse then Starbucks. The croissant was mediocre, I couldn't finish the hot chocolate and they really didn't have a clue how to make a cappuccino. So if your looking for breakfast this is not the place to go, bad selection combined with slow service (the place was dead as well), gives this place 2 stars.
(2)Shannon L.
This is the first place I ate when I moved up to the PSU campus, and I haven't been disappointed in the handful of times I've been back since then. The bagel sandwiches and wraps I've had have been delicious and the coffee's not half bad either. I'm looking forward to stopping by in the spring when the weather's nicer to take advantage of all the outdoor seating offered.
(4)Amanda Z.
This has been my favorite cafe for the last few years but I have been very unimpressed the last few times. My crossiant breakfast sandwich was beyond greasy one morning, the price for oatmeal has gone up: 5.95 for oatmeal is ridiculous. I will say their coffee and food is exceptional I hope they improve before school starts up again!
(3)Jess V.
I have lived in four major cities in the US and this little place near PSU has to be one of the best breakfast cafes i have eaten in. I am visiting with my sisters and we've been here for breakfast two days in a row now. We've tried the bagel sandwiches, a couple of the wraps, the potato salad, coffee and fruit salad. Everything is so fresh and made with a lot of care. Even though the place is busy we haven't had trouble finding an open table. The staff is friendly and the place is clean. LOVE LOVE LOVE Park Avenue Cafe!!!!
(5)Maggie A.
After stumbling off the streetcar on a Saturday at the end of summer shortly after the little Portland Farmer's Market in the South Park Blocks, we wandered over to Park Avenue Cafe for lattes because the sign said they served Illy. Such a reasonable price for a big ol' mug of latte, and the outside seating on the corner made for great people watching. I can still taste just how good that latte was, and I'll be back - definitely for a latte, maybe for a sandwich. Bathroom was nice and clean, too, which is always a bonus.
(4)Abdulwahab A.
Great locations, love the atmosphere of the place, but their coffee is not that good and the food is ok.
(3)Irene S.
I come here every Saturday morning for a weekly Mandarin conversation group and this place is great for studying or just hanging out. The eclectic music they play in the background isn't too loud and the usual Saturday morning crowd is either studying, enjoying breakfast quietly, or grabbing something quick to-go. I usually get a chai latte but sometimes get the creme brûlée cheesecake or breakfast special (an egg over easy with a side of fruit, an English muffin with jam and butter, and two sizzling strips of bacon - $6.95). I am always satisfied. I haven't tried their sandwiches or other pastries yet, but that'll be next on my list of things to-order... This is a great detour on the way to the PSU farmer's market too. Study and then shop!
(5)Amy B.
Randomly stopped in and left thoroughly impressed with their coffee drinks and tasty breakfast eats. We got the breakfast croissant, veggie lox bagel, and then they turned a wrap into an omelette for us. The coffee was Illy and amaaaazing. Best coffee I've had in ages. Will be back for sure!
(5)M M.
It's kind of a college hang, but the food is super good! Great choice for lunch (even if it's closer to dinner time!)
(4)Olivia P.
The coffee is delicious here. Main reason I head here in the mornings. The cafe is usually full and it takes a while to receive your order. Finding a table isn't impossible, but the notice level is usually high. This isn't a place to study. The food has received some negative comments in these reviews, and I have to agree. Besides the freshly prepared salads, the meals seem microwaved and tasteless. The pastries aren't bad, but they don't seem fresh, either.
(3)Pedro O.
I just read a couple of bad reviews complaining both, about the food and the staff of PAC .Piece of advice: 1)If you really believe the staff at that place is rude, go asap see a shrink, you might have serious "needy" issues. 2) If you ate the croassant breakfast or the bagel breakfast and you still think the food taste bad...get back and read iten one. Great place to hang out, whatch sport events, or study for the finals (if you're attending PSU), while having a couple of coffee.They have a pretty fast wi-fi and won't bother you no matter how long you stay, so bring your laptop, blanket, pillows and the books. I've been calling this place for so long "The Soccer Coffee Shop" that I almost couldn't remember its name, when I looked to write a review.The owner and staff are friendly and always up to talk about soccer or any interesting subject you feel like talking.The food in general is tasty and decent, but the bagel breakfast is outstanding (ask it with a garlic bagel !!!).The price isn't the cheapest but not crazy expensive either.After all, one of my favority places downtown.
(5)Dylan K.
Great place for working long hours on your laptop over a cup of coffee, food is more than delicious and staff are cheerful
(5)Rachael A.
Almost every single time I come here, they get my order wrong. I try going back about once each year to see if it has changed, but it never does. Food and coffee isn't terrible, if they actually get your order right.
(2)Lauren M.
Gyro sandwich had so little meat in it we could hardly find it. Greek chicken salads at full size were TINY. Not a good value. So many better places to eat in Portland than this!
(1)Ari M.
This is a review for their breakfast. I come here regularly weekend mornings because of its convenient location to me. The egg breakfast bagels have always been fresh and delicious. I've tried their coffee and latte and it's been good but nothing special. Service is good too. I recommend coming here early morning hours on the weekend for an awesome quiet laid back atmosphere and grabbing a window seat for the beautiful park view.
(4)Sara M.
I've been going to Park Avenue Cafe for years now. I spent a lot of my time in between college classes at the Art Institute of Portland, here. It's a great place to read or study because it looks out onto the beautiful trees of the PSU campus. I love their breakfast croissant and mochas. I'm a creature of habit so I usually ordered the same thing every time with the occasional pastry added in there. I'm a bit particular on my coffee too so I get excited when I find good coffee that isn't Starbucks or some other big corporate chain. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because the music or TV is usually a little too loud for my taste. I'm not the greatest at tuning out sounds like that when I'm trying to focus so it becomes a distraction.
(4)Adam B.
I like the ambiance here, its spacious and laid back with beautiful views of the park and trees. The staff is very friendly, the food is good and the coffee tastes better than the Starbucks across the street. WiFi is free so its a nice place to sit and get some work done. I find myself here about 4 times a week.
(5)Joshua H.
Nice place; in the morning when they open has sort of a small town feel. Great quiche and portions are good. The coffee is nice.
(5)Howard L.
Great Coffee and Enviorment. Food is amazing. Mix crowd with students and residents.
(4)Madison W.
I want so badly to love this place. The atmosphere is European and relaxed. But the food isn't great: I had bland quiche one day and a messy crumbly croissant sandwich another. Neither felt special or tasted delicious. I was there again today for the sunny tables and discovered they don't have refills for regular coffee. At all. So take your reusuable cup and give it back so they can give you a brand new cup and charge you 2.25 again. Ugh. Like work with me here. I'm a student and this place is on campus. So I guess I'll be back for sunny tables but just coffee (no refill) and bagel for me from now on.
(3)Kitty K.
nice place, great location! What's better than strolling downtown on a Saturday morning, getting a lovely cup of coffee here, and then hitting up the farmers market.
(4)Raina S.
I would give this place more stars but I have two major complaints. 1. When you pay with a credit card you cannot leave a tip!! Sorry but any business owner that makes it harder for their employees to receive tips doesn't really care about their employees. 2. Their Chop Salad costs over $8 and is a small side salad not a meal. I even asked how big it was and got the impression it would be bigger than this! It's served in a small bowl. So, if you want a meal I suggest ordering a soup along with it and getting a small and light lunch for over $15! This is Portland and there are plenty of places that have wonderful healthy meals for under $10. Get with it people!! Other than that I like the ambiance, there are plenty of places to sit and windows to look out. There is even sidewalk seating. They have cute menus and the staff is really nice. I will be coming back but only for tea or coffee and bringing cash to tip the staff.
(3)Jennifer S.
On a Saturday morning, I decided to walk down to Park Avenue Cafe simply to get some coffee to-go for me and my boyfriend. There are two Starbucks locations nearby, but I like to support local businesses and my boyfriend has had his eye on this place for awhile. I ordered a soy latte for myself as I have a dairy sensitivity and prefer nondairy milks/vegan options - either the barista completely dismissed my soy order or they don't have soy and decided to not tell me. My latte was not enjoyable for me at all (& I very rarely go to coffee shops so I was looking forward to this drink). The ambiance inside is alright - very clean, they have a small stocked bookshelf and when I was there their TV mounted on the wall was playing soccer. Free WiFi. I only hope the food is better than my coffee experience... If I were to ever go back, I'd probably just order my coffee black.
(2)Grace L.
Service is a little slow but the place was pretty packed early in the morning. It's a quaint cafe near the greenway with character and great outdoor seating. I ordered a hot chocolate since I'm not a coffee fanatic. Someone else on my party ordered a mocha and Americano. They seemed to enjoy it and the little eclair they picked up on the counter.
(3)Cori W.
Decent breakfast option near PSU. Cafe style, limited menu, order and sit down. $9 for my breakfast and a large coffee. Service was fine, pretty minimal. Food was decent however eggs were a little undercooked.
(3)Daniele P.
Coffee is good but not worth waiting over 15 minutes for a latte when there were only 2 people in front of you in line.
(2)Laurie A.
I have been here once and it was only for coffee, but I will go back for sure! I wish I had discovered this place sooner. Lots of seating and tables by the window, wifi, soothing music, and yummy looking sandwiches and pastries behind glass. Seems like such a cozy place to read a book or write a paper. I'm a fan.
(4)Yousuf M.
Best place to have a coffee, meet with friends, and study. I highly recommend you to try their breakfast and sandwiches. LOVE this place.
(5)P B.
Decided to check this place out. Ordered the chicken pesto panini and a Chai tea. Both were very good! Cashier was polite and I left content. I'd try this place out if you're passing by.
(4)Hannah K.
It's cute and probably an awesome place to study, however they are unbelievably slow. I ordered a regular coffee with nobody in front or behind me in line. It took then 15 minutes for them to finally give me my lukewarm/not completely full coffee. It was ridiculous.
(1)Kim C.
Fresh breakfast. Order at the counter and they will bring food when it's ready. Perfect spot on the park. Short walk to the farmers market. Had homemade stovetop oatmeal that was delish! Cappuccino's were excellent! Sit outside and enjoy the scenery!
(4)Pedro O.
I just read a couple of bad reviews complaining both, about the food and the staff of PAC .Piece of advice: 1)If you really believe the staff at that place is rude, go asap see a shrink, you might have serious "needy" issues. 2) If you ate the croassant breakfast or the bagel breakfast and you still think the food taste bad...get back and read iten one. Great place to hang out, whatch sport events, or study for the finals (if you're attending PSU), while having a couple of coffee.They have a pretty fast wi-fi and won't bother you no matter how long you stay, so bring your laptop, blanket, pillows and the books. I've been calling this place for so long "The Soccer Coffee Shop" that I almost couldn't remember its name, when I looked to write a review.The owner and staff are friendly and always up to talk about soccer or any interesting subject you feel like talking.The food in general is tasty and decent, but the bagel breakfast is outstanding (ask it with a garlic bagel !!!).The price isn't the cheapest but not crazy expensive either.After all, one of my favority places downtown.
(5)Dylan K.
Great place for working long hours on your laptop over a cup of coffee, food is more than delicious and staff are cheerful
(5)Rachael A.
Almost every single time I come here, they get my order wrong. I try going back about once each year to see if it has changed, but it never does. Food and coffee isn't terrible, if they actually get your order right.
(2)Lauren M.
Gyro sandwich had so little meat in it we could hardly find it. Greek chicken salads at full size were TINY. Not a good value. So many better places to eat in Portland than this!
(1)Ari M.
This is a review for their breakfast. I come here regularly weekend mornings because of its convenient location to me. The egg breakfast bagels have always been fresh and delicious. I've tried their coffee and latte and it's been good but nothing special. Service is good too. I recommend coming here early morning hours on the weekend for an awesome quiet laid back atmosphere and grabbing a window seat for the beautiful park view.
(4)Sara M.
I've been going to Park Avenue Cafe for years now. I spent a lot of my time in between college classes at the Art Institute of Portland, here. It's a great place to read or study because it looks out onto the beautiful trees of the PSU campus. I love their breakfast croissant and mochas. I'm a creature of habit so I usually ordered the same thing every time with the occasional pastry added in there. I'm a bit particular on my coffee too so I get excited when I find good coffee that isn't Starbucks or some other big corporate chain. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because the music or TV is usually a little too loud for my taste. I'm not the greatest at tuning out sounds like that when I'm trying to focus so it becomes a distraction.
(4)Adam B.
I like the ambiance here, its spacious and laid back with beautiful views of the park and trees. The staff is very friendly, the food is good and the coffee tastes better than the Starbucks across the street. WiFi is free so its a nice place to sit and get some work done. I find myself here about 4 times a week.
(5)Joshua H.
Nice place; in the morning when they open has sort of a small town feel. Great quiche and portions are good. The coffee is nice.
(5)Howard L.
Great Coffee and Enviorment. Food is amazing. Mix crowd with students and residents.
(4)Madison W.
I want so badly to love this place. The atmosphere is European and relaxed. But the food isn't great: I had bland quiche one day and a messy crumbly croissant sandwich another. Neither felt special or tasted delicious. I was there again today for the sunny tables and discovered they don't have refills for regular coffee. At all. So take your reusuable cup and give it back so they can give you a brand new cup and charge you 2.25 again. Ugh. Like work with me here. I'm a student and this place is on campus. So I guess I'll be back for sunny tables but just coffee (no refill) and bagel for me from now on.
(3)Kitty K.
nice place, great location! What's better than strolling downtown on a Saturday morning, getting a lovely cup of coffee here, and then hitting up the farmers market.
(4)Raina S.
I would give this place more stars but I have two major complaints. 1. When you pay with a credit card you cannot leave a tip!! Sorry but any business owner that makes it harder for their employees to receive tips doesn't really care about their employees. 2. Their Chop Salad costs over $8 and is a small side salad not a meal. I even asked how big it was and got the impression it would be bigger than this! It's served in a small bowl. So, if you want a meal I suggest ordering a soup along with it and getting a small and light lunch for over $15! This is Portland and there are plenty of places that have wonderful healthy meals for under $10. Get with it people!! Other than that I like the ambiance, there are plenty of places to sit and windows to look out. There is even sidewalk seating. They have cute menus and the staff is really nice. I will be coming back but only for tea or coffee and bringing cash to tip the staff.
(3)Jennifer S.
On a Saturday morning, I decided to walk down to Park Avenue Cafe simply to get some coffee to-go for me and my boyfriend. There are two Starbucks locations nearby, but I like to support local businesses and my boyfriend has had his eye on this place for awhile. I ordered a soy latte for myself as I have a dairy sensitivity and prefer nondairy milks/vegan options - either the barista completely dismissed my soy order or they don't have soy and decided to not tell me. My latte was not enjoyable for me at all (& I very rarely go to coffee shops so I was looking forward to this drink). The ambiance inside is alright - very clean, they have a small stocked bookshelf and when I was there their TV mounted on the wall was playing soccer. Free WiFi. I only hope the food is better than my coffee experience... If I were to ever go back, I'd probably just order my coffee black.
(2)Grace L.
Service is a little slow but the place was pretty packed early in the morning. It's a quaint cafe near the greenway with character and great outdoor seating. I ordered a hot chocolate since I'm not a coffee fanatic. Someone else on my party ordered a mocha and Americano. They seemed to enjoy it and the little eclair they picked up on the counter.
(3)Cori W.
Decent breakfast option near PSU. Cafe style, limited menu, order and sit down. $9 for my breakfast and a large coffee. Service was fine, pretty minimal. Food was decent however eggs were a little undercooked.
(3)Daniele P.
Coffee is good but not worth waiting over 15 minutes for a latte when there were only 2 people in front of you in line.
(2)Laurie A.
I have been here once and it was only for coffee, but I will go back for sure! I wish I had discovered this place sooner. Lots of seating and tables by the window, wifi, soothing music, and yummy looking sandwiches and pastries behind glass. Seems like such a cozy place to read a book or write a paper. I'm a fan.
(4)Yousuf M.
Best place to have a coffee, meet with friends, and study. I highly recommend you to try their breakfast and sandwiches. LOVE this place.
(5)Laura A.
I love coming here in between classes. The coffee is great and the food is good. The price is great. The view is great. And it never seems to be absolutely packed so I love sitting here and studying for a while. Nice outdoor seating too.
(4)P B.
Decided to check this place out. Ordered the chicken pesto panini and a Chai tea. Both were very good! Cashier was polite and I left content. I'd try this place out if you're passing by.
(4)Roddi R.
Not the coziest place but good coffee and food. Five stars but minus half a star for sports running on TV and minus half a star for being a slightly rundown place.
(4)Hannah K.
It's cute and probably an awesome place to study, however they are unbelievably slow. I ordered a regular coffee with nobody in front or behind me in line. It took then 15 minutes for them to finally give me my lukewarm/not completely full coffee. It was ridiculous.
(1)rc c.
Considering its proximity to PSU and the ample seating, it's hard to understand the rational behind only having one outlet for the whole entire place. Buy a power strip, it's $5 dollars at the most. I was shocked to discover that this place was inadequately set up.
(2)Nathan E.
Nice place to grab a coffee, pastry or lunch. It's close to PSU and the saturday farmer's market (when it's running). They are always friendly and pretty quick. I usually just get coffee in the morning, but the couple of lunches I have had were pretty good too.
(4)Kim C.
Fresh breakfast. Order at the counter and they will bring food when it's ready. Perfect spot on the park. Short walk to the farmers market. Had homemade stovetop oatmeal that was delish! Cappuccino's were excellent! Sit outside and enjoy the scenery!
(4)Soma D.
I like this little spot. Cozy cafe with a little bit of everything. Coffee's and pastries and yummy sandwiches. I especially like the panini's they make here.
(4)Judy K.
Amazing. This has become a "must visit" place when I come to Portland. I travel extensively.. I know a good cappuccino when I see it. On a scale of 1-5, I give their cappuccinos a 5. In this county, I have only given out 3 fives. The breakfast was pretty good too. Fairly quiet, not too busy, makes this place attractive.
(5)Dave S.
Red leather seats and lots of brown wood. Giant wall-mounted tv with CNN playing. Not really trendy, but more comfortable. I wouldn't bring any friends I want to impress here, but could imagine myself working on stuff here. (Although it is a tiny bit dim.) I was surprised to find an almond croissant only costed $2.50. It wasn't anything to call home about, but wasn't bad, either. Not sure if cafe offers free Wifi, but was able to use wifi from "SouthPark2". It was super SLOW. No plugs to be seen, either. So not the greatest place to study, but ok in a pinch. Overall, this place is a 3.0 to 3.5.
(3)Nathan E.
Nice place to grab a coffee, pastry or lunch. It's close to PSU and the saturday farmer's market (when it's running). They are always friendly and pretty quick. I usually just get coffee in the morning, but the couple of lunches I have had were pretty good too.
(4)Chris B.
Excellent coffee, and breakfast wraps grilled in a panini maker. Win.
(4)Irene S.
I come here every Saturday morning for a weekly Mandarin conversation group and this place is great for studying or just hanging out. The eclectic music they play in the background isn't too loud and the usual Saturday morning crowd is either studying, enjoying breakfast quietly, or grabbing something quick to-go. I usually get a chai latte but sometimes get the creme brûlée cheesecake or breakfast special (an egg over easy with a side of fruit, an English muffin with jam and butter, and two sizzling strips of bacon - $6.95). I am always satisfied. I haven't tried their sandwiches or other pastries yet, but that'll be next on my list of things to-order... This is a great detour on the way to the PSU farmer's market too. Study and then shop!
(5)Amy B.
Randomly stopped in and left thoroughly impressed with their coffee drinks and tasty breakfast eats. We got the breakfast croissant, veggie lox bagel, and then they turned a wrap into an omelette for us. The coffee was Illy and amaaaazing. Best coffee I've had in ages. Will be back for sure!
(5)M M.
It's kind of a college hang, but the food is super good! Great choice for lunch (even if it's closer to dinner time!)
(4)Olivia P.
The coffee is delicious here. Main reason I head here in the mornings. The cafe is usually full and it takes a while to receive your order. Finding a table isn't impossible, but the notice level is usually high. This isn't a place to study. The food has received some negative comments in these reviews, and I have to agree. Besides the freshly prepared salads, the meals seem microwaved and tasteless. The pastries aren't bad, but they don't seem fresh, either.
(3)Abdulwahab A.
Great locations, love the atmosphere of the place, but their coffee is not that good and the food is ok.
(3)Catie L.
I really end up here way too often. But I love the atmosphere! It's comfortable and there's always enough customer traffic and chatter as to make the place interesting. I like their food menu which is mainly full of sandwiches & paninis, wraps, salads and soups. On occasion I get really wild and order their salmon benedict. It's really lovely. Just so ya know they frequently serve their sandwiches with a side of horrible, cheap potato salad. So make sure to order chips or fruit instead(they may charge extra for this). I love their coffee and espresso drinks. Their salted caramel latte is a special treat. Their staff does the job, but does occasionally confuse orders. If you dig lox, they have a pretty nice lox and cream cheese bagel. It's a nice place to grab a quick bite or to meet up for coffee. So check it out.
(4)Alena C.
The good: It's got a great location. People watching is fantastic, ample room to study to meet with friends. Close to class, clean bathrooms. The food is okay. Service is nice The bad: The food takes forever! Ten minutes to toast a bagle? There wasn't even anyone in line. Another day I ordered a lentil soup. It took fifteen minutes. This should be a in and out place..but it's not. So don't think you can just pop in and out. You can't. Even a lattee seems to just take forever. Maybe it's because they put so much love and care into the food and drinks? I doubt it.
(2)Pink D.
Unless you are just getting a cup of coffee to go, skip this place. All of the food here that I have had was really disgusting. Their soggy, tasteless tiny slice of quiche I ate yesterday was the worst breakfast I have ever had in Portland. I am pretty sure they microwaved it because it was strangely wet. A few weeks ago I had a sandwich - a strange rubbery fried egg and tuna "sub" - bizarre and unpleasant in both taste and texture (I am unsure why a tuna sub has a fried egg and hot sauce in it!). Their pastries are overly sweet and stale. Their pasta is yucky. It also takes forever to get this food. The ambiance is mixed. Some days it is a quiet cafe. Sometimes the music is too loud to even crack open a book. Other days I have walked in to a loud and noisy sports bar (seriously they have a big screen tv and on my last visit the place was packed with some kind of sports fans). Weird. The one good thing they have is decent drip coffee, which is why I gave two stars. So grab a cup to go and keep walking. I wish another cafe would open on the park blocks with good coffee, decent food, fresh pastries, quiet music playing, and some outlets for students or professionals to plug in and work.
(2)Laura A.
I love coming here in between classes. The coffee is great and the food is good. The price is great. The view is great. And it never seems to be absolutely packed so I love sitting here and studying for a while. Nice outdoor seating too.
(4)Roddi R.
Not the coziest place but good coffee and food. Five stars but minus half a star for sports running on TV and minus half a star for being a slightly rundown place.
(4)rc c.
Considering its proximity to PSU and the ample seating, it's hard to understand the rational behind only having one outlet for the whole entire place. Buy a power strip, it's $5 dollars at the most. I was shocked to discover that this place was inadequately set up.
(2)Doug A.
My favorite coffee place in Portland, by far. They make excellent coffee, and the food is really good, but what I really love is the atmosphere. There are huge windows everywhere that let the light in, and tons of comfortable seating so you can just hang out for a couple hours without even thinking about it. I've been to a ton of coffee shops around town, but none feel so comfortable. Also, the staff is super nice and cool, and there's never any awful music blaring like a lot of the other coffee shops I've been to. The whole atmosphere is amazingly conducive to getting stuff done; whether you have homework to do or actual work to do, you can just sit there comfortably (all the chairs are padded), enjoy some excellent coffee and good food, and concentrate. I've been coming here to do some work basically every morning for the last few years and I still look forward to it every day!
(5)Robert S.
Really, really angry with this place. We ordered a hummus plate to go. Get home, guess what? No hummus, no pita bread. Just some salad, some puny dolmas, and two pieces of bread. We take it back to have them fix it, and they look offended. Finally, they slop some hummus in the box, toss in a piece of pita bread, and give it back. Not going to this place ever again.
(1)Jared W.
Good coffee and right on the south park blocks, so great to people watch. My problem is as an establishment, if you are going to lock the bathrooms let customers know with a sign, disrespectful to customers
(3)Barry F.
Pleasantly surprised to find Illy espresso and pain au chocolate in the same place. I visit Portland 5 times a year, and will be sure to stop here each time. Grazie mille.
(4)Howard L.
Great Coffee and Enviorment. Food is amazing. Mix crowd with students and residents.
(4)Madison W.
I want so badly to love this place. The atmosphere is European and relaxed. But the food isn't great: I had bland quiche one day and a messy crumbly croissant sandwich another. Neither felt special or tasted delicious. I was there again today for the sunny tables and discovered they don't have refills for regular coffee. At all. So take your reusuable cup and give it back so they can give you a brand new cup and charge you 2.25 again. Ugh. Like work with me here. I'm a student and this place is on campus. So I guess I'll be back for sunny tables but just coffee (no refill) and bagel for me from now on.
(3)Pedro O.
I just read a couple of bad reviews complaining both, about the food and the staff of PAC .Piece of advice: 1)If you really believe the staff at that place is rude, go asap see a shrink, you might have serious "needy" issues. 2) If you ate the croassant breakfast or the bagel breakfast and you still think the food taste bad...get back and read iten one. Great place to hang out, whatch sport events, or study for the finals (if you're attending PSU), while having a couple of coffee.They have a pretty fast wi-fi and won't bother you no matter how long you stay, so bring your laptop, blanket, pillows and the books. I've been calling this place for so long "The Soccer Coffee Shop" that I almost couldn't remember its name, when I looked to write a review.The owner and staff are friendly and always up to talk about soccer or any interesting subject you feel like talking.The food in general is tasty and decent, but the bagel breakfast is outstanding (ask it with a garlic bagel !!!).The price isn't the cheapest but not crazy expensive either.After all, one of my favority places downtown.
(5)Dylan K.
Great place for working long hours on your laptop over a cup of coffee, food is more than delicious and staff are cheerful
(5)Rachael A.
Almost every single time I come here, they get my order wrong. I try going back about once each year to see if it has changed, but it never does. Food and coffee isn't terrible, if they actually get your order right.
(2)Lauren M.
Gyro sandwich had so little meat in it we could hardly find it. Greek chicken salads at full size were TINY. Not a good value. So many better places to eat in Portland than this!
(1)Ari M.
This is a review for their breakfast. I come here regularly weekend mornings because of its convenient location to me. The egg breakfast bagels have always been fresh and delicious. I've tried their coffee and latte and it's been good but nothing special. Service is good too. I recommend coming here early morning hours on the weekend for an awesome quiet laid back atmosphere and grabbing a window seat for the beautiful park view.
(4)Sara M.
I've been going to Park Avenue Cafe for years now. I spent a lot of my time in between college classes at the Art Institute of Portland, here. It's a great place to read or study because it looks out onto the beautiful trees of the PSU campus. I love their breakfast croissant and mochas. I'm a creature of habit so I usually ordered the same thing every time with the occasional pastry added in there. I'm a bit particular on my coffee too so I get excited when I find good coffee that isn't Starbucks or some other big corporate chain. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because the music or TV is usually a little too loud for my taste. I'm not the greatest at tuning out sounds like that when I'm trying to focus so it becomes a distraction.
(4)Adam B.
I like the ambiance here, its spacious and laid back with beautiful views of the park and trees. The staff is very friendly, the food is good and the coffee tastes better than the Starbucks across the street. WiFi is free so its a nice place to sit and get some work done. I find myself here about 4 times a week.
(5)Kitty K.
nice place, great location! What's better than strolling downtown on a Saturday morning, getting a lovely cup of coffee here, and then hitting up the farmers market.
(4)Raina S.
I would give this place more stars but I have two major complaints. 1. When you pay with a credit card you cannot leave a tip!! Sorry but any business owner that makes it harder for their employees to receive tips doesn't really care about their employees. 2. Their Chop Salad costs over $8 and is a small side salad not a meal. I even asked how big it was and got the impression it would be bigger than this! It's served in a small bowl. So, if you want a meal I suggest ordering a soup along with it and getting a small and light lunch for over $15! This is Portland and there are plenty of places that have wonderful healthy meals for under $10. Get with it people!! Other than that I like the ambiance, there are plenty of places to sit and windows to look out. There is even sidewalk seating. They have cute menus and the staff is really nice. I will be coming back but only for tea or coffee and bringing cash to tip the staff.
(3)Blake M.
Great expresso, convenient location, croissant breakfast sandwhich is great. Service is slightly slow but there are typically only two people working. 4/5
(4)Judy K.
Amazing. This has become a "must visit" place when I come to Portland. I travel extensively.. I know a good cappuccino when I see it. On a scale of 1-5, I give their cappuccinos a 5. In this county, I have only given out 3 fives. The breakfast was pretty good too. Fairly quiet, not too busy, makes this place attractive.
(5)Jennifer S.
On a Saturday morning, I decided to walk down to Park Avenue Cafe simply to get some coffee to-go for me and my boyfriend. There are two Starbucks locations nearby, but I like to support local businesses and my boyfriend has had his eye on this place for awhile. I ordered a soy latte for myself as I have a dairy sensitivity and prefer nondairy milks/vegan options - either the barista completely dismissed my soy order or they don't have soy and decided to not tell me. My latte was not enjoyable for me at all (& I very rarely go to coffee shops so I was looking forward to this drink). The ambiance inside is alright - very clean, they have a small stocked bookshelf and when I was there their TV mounted on the wall was playing soccer. Free WiFi. I only hope the food is better than my coffee experience... If I were to ever go back, I'd probably just order my coffee black.
(2)Grace L.
Service is a little slow but the place was pretty packed early in the morning. It's a quaint cafe near the greenway with character and great outdoor seating. I ordered a hot chocolate since I'm not a coffee fanatic. Someone else on my party ordered a mocha and Americano. They seemed to enjoy it and the little eclair they picked up on the counter.
(3)Cori W.
Decent breakfast option near PSU. Cafe style, limited menu, order and sit down. $9 for my breakfast and a large coffee. Service was fine, pretty minimal. Food was decent however eggs were a little undercooked.
(3)Daniele P.
Coffee is good but not worth waiting over 15 minutes for a latte when there were only 2 people in front of you in line.
(2)Laurie A.
I have been here once and it was only for coffee, but I will go back for sure! I wish I had discovered this place sooner. Lots of seating and tables by the window, wifi, soothing music, and yummy looking sandwiches and pastries behind glass. Seems like such a cozy place to read a book or write a paper. I'm a fan.
(4)Yousuf M.
Best place to have a coffee, meet with friends, and study. I highly recommend you to try their breakfast and sandwiches. LOVE this place.
(5)P B.
Decided to check this place out. Ordered the chicken pesto panini and a Chai tea. Both were very good! Cashier was polite and I left content. I'd try this place out if you're passing by.
(4)Hannah K.
It's cute and probably an awesome place to study, however they are unbelievably slow. I ordered a regular coffee with nobody in front or behind me in line. It took then 15 minutes for them to finally give me my lukewarm/not completely full coffee. It was ridiculous.
(1)Kim C.
Fresh breakfast. Order at the counter and they will bring food when it's ready. Perfect spot on the park. Short walk to the farmers market. Had homemade stovetop oatmeal that was delish! Cappuccino's were excellent! Sit outside and enjoy the scenery!
(4)Irene S.
I come here every Saturday morning for a weekly Mandarin conversation group and this place is great for studying or just hanging out. The eclectic music they play in the background isn't too loud and the usual Saturday morning crowd is either studying, enjoying breakfast quietly, or grabbing something quick to-go. I usually get a chai latte but sometimes get the creme brûlée cheesecake or breakfast special (an egg over easy with a side of fruit, an English muffin with jam and butter, and two sizzling strips of bacon - $6.95). I am always satisfied. I haven't tried their sandwiches or other pastries yet, but that'll be next on my list of things to-order... This is a great detour on the way to the PSU farmer's market too. Study and then shop!
(5)Amy B.
Randomly stopped in and left thoroughly impressed with their coffee drinks and tasty breakfast eats. We got the breakfast croissant, veggie lox bagel, and then they turned a wrap into an omelette for us. The coffee was Illy and amaaaazing. Best coffee I've had in ages. Will be back for sure!
(5)M M.
It's kind of a college hang, but the food is super good! Great choice for lunch (even if it's closer to dinner time!)
(4)Olivia P.
The coffee is delicious here. Main reason I head here in the mornings. The cafe is usually full and it takes a while to receive your order. Finding a table isn't impossible, but the notice level is usually high. This isn't a place to study. The food has received some negative comments in these reviews, and I have to agree. Besides the freshly prepared salads, the meals seem microwaved and tasteless. The pastries aren't bad, but they don't seem fresh, either.
(3)Abdulwahab A.
Great locations, love the atmosphere of the place, but their coffee is not that good and the food is ok.
(3)Catie L.
I really end up here way too often. But I love the atmosphere! It's comfortable and there's always enough customer traffic and chatter as to make the place interesting. I like their food menu which is mainly full of sandwiches & paninis, wraps, salads and soups. On occasion I get really wild and order their salmon benedict. It's really lovely. Just so ya know they frequently serve their sandwiches with a side of horrible, cheap potato salad. So make sure to order chips or fruit instead(they may charge extra for this). I love their coffee and espresso drinks. Their salted caramel latte is a special treat. Their staff does the job, but does occasionally confuse orders. If you dig lox, they have a pretty nice lox and cream cheese bagel. It's a nice place to grab a quick bite or to meet up for coffee. So check it out.
(4)Alena C.
The good: It's got a great location. People watching is fantastic, ample room to study to meet with friends. Close to class, clean bathrooms. The food is okay. Service is nice The bad: The food takes forever! Ten minutes to toast a bagle? There wasn't even anyone in line. Another day I ordered a lentil soup. It took fifteen minutes. This should be a in and out place..but it's not. So don't think you can just pop in and out. You can't. Even a lattee seems to just take forever. Maybe it's because they put so much love and care into the food and drinks? I doubt it.
(2)Pink D.
Unless you are just getting a cup of coffee to go, skip this place. All of the food here that I have had was really disgusting. Their soggy, tasteless tiny slice of quiche I ate yesterday was the worst breakfast I have ever had in Portland. I am pretty sure they microwaved it because it was strangely wet. A few weeks ago I had a sandwich - a strange rubbery fried egg and tuna "sub" - bizarre and unpleasant in both taste and texture (I am unsure why a tuna sub has a fried egg and hot sauce in it!). Their pastries are overly sweet and stale. Their pasta is yucky. It also takes forever to get this food. The ambiance is mixed. Some days it is a quiet cafe. Sometimes the music is too loud to even crack open a book. Other days I have walked in to a loud and noisy sports bar (seriously they have a big screen tv and on my last visit the place was packed with some kind of sports fans). Weird. The one good thing they have is decent drip coffee, which is why I gave two stars. So grab a cup to go and keep walking. I wish another cafe would open on the park blocks with good coffee, decent food, fresh pastries, quiet music playing, and some outlets for students or professionals to plug in and work.
(2)Laura A.
I love coming here in between classes. The coffee is great and the food is good. The price is great. The view is great. And it never seems to be absolutely packed so I love sitting here and studying for a while. Nice outdoor seating too.
(4)Roddi R.
Not the coziest place but good coffee and food. Five stars but minus half a star for sports running on TV and minus half a star for being a slightly rundown place.
(4)rc c.
Considering its proximity to PSU and the ample seating, it's hard to understand the rational behind only having one outlet for the whole entire place. Buy a power strip, it's $5 dollars at the most. I was shocked to discover that this place was inadequately set up.
(2)Nathan E.
Nice place to grab a coffee, pastry or lunch. It's close to PSU and the saturday farmer's market (when it's running). They are always friendly and pretty quick. I usually just get coffee in the morning, but the couple of lunches I have had were pretty good too.
(4)Soma D.
I like this little spot. Cozy cafe with a little bit of everything. Coffee's and pastries and yummy sandwiches. I especially like the panini's they make here.
(4)Dave S.
Red leather seats and lots of brown wood. Giant wall-mounted tv with CNN playing. Not really trendy, but more comfortable. I wouldn't bring any friends I want to impress here, but could imagine myself working on stuff here. (Although it is a tiny bit dim.) I was surprised to find an almond croissant only costed $2.50. It wasn't anything to call home about, but wasn't bad, either. Not sure if cafe offers free Wifi, but was able to use wifi from "SouthPark2". It was super SLOW. No plugs to be seen, either. So not the greatest place to study, but ok in a pinch. Overall, this place is a 3.0 to 3.5.
(3)Doug A.
My favorite coffee place in Portland, by far. They make excellent coffee, and the food is really good, but what I really love is the atmosphere. There are huge windows everywhere that let the light in, and tons of comfortable seating so you can just hang out for a couple hours without even thinking about it. I've been to a ton of coffee shops around town, but none feel so comfortable. Also, the staff is super nice and cool, and there's never any awful music blaring like a lot of the other coffee shops I've been to. The whole atmosphere is amazingly conducive to getting stuff done; whether you have homework to do or actual work to do, you can just sit there comfortably (all the chairs are padded), enjoy some excellent coffee and good food, and concentrate. I've been coming here to do some work basically every morning for the last few years and I still look forward to it every day!
(5)Robert S.
Really, really angry with this place. We ordered a hummus plate to go. Get home, guess what? No hummus, no pita bread. Just some salad, some puny dolmas, and two pieces of bread. We take it back to have them fix it, and they look offended. Finally, they slop some hummus in the box, toss in a piece of pita bread, and give it back. Not going to this place ever again.
(1)Jared W.
Good coffee and right on the south park blocks, so great to people watch. My problem is as an establishment, if you are going to lock the bathrooms let customers know with a sign, disrespectful to customers
(3)Barry F.
Pleasantly surprised to find Illy espresso and pain au chocolate in the same place. I visit Portland 5 times a year, and will be sure to stop here each time. Grazie mille.
(4)Hutch H.
Glad I found this spot. Good selection of refreshments, great service, nice looking space. Exactly the kind of place that makes Starbucks a complete waste of time.
(5)Martin P.
I've been here a few times. The best part is the location right on the South Park Blocks...nice big windows make for great people watching. Everything else about the experience has been just ok. Decent coffee, hit or miss food. Salads and fruits sitting around in display cases for who knows how long. Lackluster atmosphere seeming more appropriate for a cafeteria than a coffee shop. Tacky light fixtures and too-bright halogen overhead lighting. Putrid, peach colored paint with a faux-stucco treatment and terrible art. Gee, you almost fooled me into thinking this was Italy. The place seems busiest on Saturday mornings (farmer's market crowd) and has been relatively slow on the other weekday mornings I've been, which probably tells you something. Worst part is the owner and/or manager and his staff, who seem to have attitude problems. Hard to put a finger on it, but they seem to go out of their way not to be TOO friendly. Very guarded, like you're an uninvited guest in their home instead of patronizing their business. They also don't offer any discounted refills on their drip coffee, which simply seems like poor business sense. College campus coffee shop with at least a half dozen competitors within as many blocks? They seemed shocked when we asked. This combined with their almost-too-high-to-stomach pricing for otherwise unremarkable food suggests this place is surviving despite itself. Methinks your windows and view are nice, Park Avenue Cafe, but they only go so far. Highly doubt I'll be back anytime soon.
(2)Carolyn W.
Hoping to grab a quick lunch with a friend between classes, we opted for this place out of convenience. I ordered the Florentine wrap. The description was sauteed spinach, roasted peppers and mozzarella cheese. Sounds okay, right? WRONG! The wrap contained a gigantic brick of lukewarm, obviously frozen spinach. I was a little disturbed by the way it looked but no one could have prepared me for what happened next. When I tipped the wrap towards my mouth, a stream of spinach water literally POURED out onto my plate. I almost heaved. I dug out most of the spinach (it was also tasteless) and choked down the rest of the unappealing wrap which at this point, was just congealed cheese and shitty, soggy, canned peppers. Literally the most disgusting lunch I've ever eaten. It was appalling and I was offended that it cost me $7.50! Unbelievable! The drip coffee I got was pretty tasty but I would never order espresso. If you want a quick lunch on campus, stick to the carts on 4th and Hall.
(1)Jake D.
The French dip is pretty horrible... but their breakfast croissant is downright delicious. The service is excellent.
(3)Ilesha D.
It's nice to live near a cafe that provides different kinds of food options and a coffee to go in the morning. It's very convenient to grab a lunch on campus with my friends. The food can be better and could add a little bit more 'oomph' to them. I ordered a sandwich once but didn't have much taste to it. The breakfast burrito is meh. It's alright if you have no where else to go.
(4)Olivia T.
Belly: "What the hell that you just put inside me?" Me: "A sip of Americano." Belly: "Are you sure? It tasted like mildly bitter water." Me: "Uh huh." Belly: "What was the color of the liquid?" Me: "Mmmm...light brownish." Belly: "It supposed to be dark brown and tasted strong ...stronger than regular coffee. Not like dish washing water. Don't you ever buy it from this place again..it's not worth your dollah." Me: "Ok Ok...sorry about that belly. Please forgive me. Now let me get you some cookies."
(1)Jana S.
Oh yummy yummy goodness to give me the kick in the ass to wake up on the weekends!!!! Park Avenue Cafe (or "Illy" as we call it, for the coffee/espresso they serve there) is the only way I choose to begin my weekends. Located right on the park blocks, this is the perfect starting destination for anyones weekend. Usually, they are pretty busy..but that doesn't bother me too much, since I am mostly still half asleep. The bagels, paninis and sandwiches are delicious. Ingredients include fresh cuts meats, havarti, brie, etc. My personal favorite is the Park Avenue Special - a sandwich on fresh baked, crispy baguette, with turkey, tomatoes and brie. Normally with honey mustard, but I like to opt for pesto instead. The mix of flavors is perfect, with not one being overpowering. Be sure to order a cup of tomato soup to go along with this delicious treat! The coffee served is Illy, straight from Italy (well, kinda, with a few stops...). If you have not had Illy in the past, you will love it. You'll wonder why you drank corporate sluge with expensive packaging (Starbucks) for so many years. Be sure to take a moment to relax and just take in the day when you are there. Sip some coffee, read the paper, grab a book, or just watch the vast array of interesting people walk by. It is impossible to have a bad day followed after this experience... A quick sidenote: It is a "sandwich shop", so i would not have high expectations for pasta, gyro, etc. Stick to the sammies.
(5)Melinda B.
Dear Park Cafe: Pasta should only be introduced to a microwave the day AFTER it is presented to a customer as a meal. Not the day OF. There is no reason to charge $9 for a plate of oily microwaved pasta. I still love your window seating and your fine selection of reading materials to go with my morning coffee.
(3)Samantha S.
I wavered on the rating for this one. 3 for the food, 4 for the coffee. Went with 3 because I am always cold when I'm there - I can't take my sweatshirt off. Their food seems overpriced for what you get. Some of it is prepared quite fresh and tasty; some of it is kind of sad. I'll eat there when I need to study, because they've got jazz playing in the background and tables galore with good lighting. But their coffee is decent. I tend to be a Portland purist (Kobos, Stumptown, or Portland Coffee Roasters, please), but Illy's not bad. And depending on the barista, they do moderately okay to really, really good mint mochas. When I'm out of coffee at home in the morning, this is where I go to obtain my daily dose.
(3)Edward C.
I go quite frequently for the coffee which, is second to J cafe on NE 6th. I tried their quiche once and it was definitely micro waved and soggy...yuk. I wouldn't eat at this place. Once you get to know the staff they are friendly.
(3)Brigitte S.
I wish that I still went to PSU, so I could have a PAC Bagel sandwich every other morning. Any place that does take out breakfast sandwiches automatically gets a star for not cooking their eggs in the microwave! Park Avenue Cafe serves up some hot, lip smacking, bagel sandwiches that leave me wishing for more! Oh, and Sunday bonus, every Sunday I have ever been there, former Mayor, Vera Katz has been there sitting in the window, reading the Oregonian and enjoying her bagel and coffee.
(4)Brianna H.
Very small portions and just disappointed with the quality of the sandwich and potato salad. Especially for the price. I think a restaurant needs to have food that is worth the price for eating there instead of just making the same dish at home. It's really too bad because they have such a nice location and building layout. If you guys are ever looking to lease to someone else just email me.
(2)F. B.
Unremarkable but friendly enough, its location near PSU and on the park blocks is by far its best selling point. The interior bugs me, just seems cold and austere -- can't help but think it should be more comfortable, but the tables/chairs and the ugly floor always put me off. Take your beverage and find a park bench, weather permitting. They do have some interesting looking food items, but, alas, never been in the mood to test 'em out. The coffee, both hot and iced, has been plain and uninspired.
(2)Stefanie S.
this place is great! they have many different options and change some of their daily fruits and quiche. places to sit outside and overlook the park, plus, right next to the streetcar. never had a bad experience.
(5)Jenny C.
Let's face it, Portlanders deal with stress about as well as they deal with water in their lungs. Thankfully most have found a way to decompress. Lately for me it's been submerging myself in Deja Entendu, an old album by Brand New. It popped up on my mp3 player when I was checking out the design of PSU a while back. I was missing the physical university atmosphere and had gone for a fix. There's something to be said about the campus - even the urban one - that just feels right. My adventure took me into Park Avenue Cafe for a cup of coffee. A few people studied, others sat and chatted, and one gent nodded his head as he picked up a strewn Oregonian for the daily news. I felt instantly at ease, almost like I was home... My drink was promptly prepared and I grabbed a spot at one of the tables to warm up and soak in as much as possible. I looked over the menu, promising myself I'd go back (I did - having a FANTASTIC Mediterranean Wrap for dinner one night) and then watched people walk the Park Blocks as I doodled on my napkin (a silly yet unavoidable habit). Hands toasty, mug empty, and emotionally rejuvenated, I realized sometimes it's just better to take a break from the insanity of all things live-work-play. I put my dishes away and my earbuds back in, stepped outside to an upbeat track of my rediscovered old standby ready to face the day. Stress free.
(5)Holly M.
When I was attending PSU, Park Avenue Cafe was one of my favorite hangouts. Breakfast or lunch, the selection was good. The tables are large for groups or for studying (and I was studying for the LSAT--needed lots of room!). Kiddie corner from Lincoln Hall--was great to grab a bite to go right before rehearsal.
(5)Izzy K.
A big mug of coffee and a sugar-topped blueberry muffin for less than five bucks? Yes please.
(4)Hugh R.
Stopped in for a bite to eat after wandering around the south park blocks on my first day in Portland. The atmosphere was inviting and the space conducive to people watching, although the food proved slightly less inspiring. I opted for a ham and cheese sandwich on a toasted bagel. The sandwich left me feeling underwhelmed and was a bit bland, although my tea, tinged with just a hint of peach, was refreshing and delightful. Overall, a rather unexceptional experience, neither awesome nor abhorrent.
(3)Alexander L.
Went here after the PSU farmer's market the other day. I ordered an Americano and my girlfriend ordered a hot tea. She got her hot water right there, and I waited for 15 minutes while wondering what the hell happened to my coffee. When I finally went back to the counter to ask if it was ready yet they have me a blank stare. They had completely forgot to make it. Worst of all, they didn't even apologize for the mistake, which I would have let side if they had shown the slightest bit of concern. I will not go back.
(1)Kelley p.
So I wind up at this place since it was close to where I was staying and of course I yelped it. 5 stars and a " great breakfast place" claims one yelper! So I go here excepting "breakfast" but instead get a breakfast selection worse then Starbucks. The croissant was mediocre, I couldn't finish the hot chocolate and they really didn't have a clue how to make a cappuccino. So if your looking for breakfast this is not the place to go, bad selection combined with slow service (the place was dead as well), gives this place 2 stars.
(2)Shannon L.
This is the first place I ate when I moved up to the PSU campus, and I haven't been disappointed in the handful of times I've been back since then. The bagel sandwiches and wraps I've had have been delicious and the coffee's not half bad either. I'm looking forward to stopping by in the spring when the weather's nicer to take advantage of all the outdoor seating offered.
(4)Amanda Z.
This has been my favorite cafe for the last few years but I have been very unimpressed the last few times. My crossiant breakfast sandwich was beyond greasy one morning, the price for oatmeal has gone up: 5.95 for oatmeal is ridiculous. I will say their coffee and food is exceptional I hope they improve before school starts up again!
(3)Jess V.
I have lived in four major cities in the US and this little place near PSU has to be one of the best breakfast cafes i have eaten in. I am visiting with my sisters and we've been here for breakfast two days in a row now. We've tried the bagel sandwiches, a couple of the wraps, the potato salad, coffee and fruit salad. Everything is so fresh and made with a lot of care. Even though the place is busy we haven't had trouble finding an open table. The staff is friendly and the place is clean. LOVE LOVE LOVE Park Avenue Cafe!!!!
(5)Joshua H.
Nice place; in the morning when they open has sort of a small town feel. Great quiche and portions are good. The coffee is nice.
(5)Maggie A.
After stumbling off the streetcar on a Saturday at the end of summer shortly after the little Portland Farmer's Market in the South Park Blocks, we wandered over to Park Avenue Cafe for lattes because the sign said they served Illy. Such a reasonable price for a big ol' mug of latte, and the outside seating on the corner made for great people watching. I can still taste just how good that latte was, and I'll be back - definitely for a latte, maybe for a sandwich. Bathroom was nice and clean, too, which is always a bonus.
(4)Lexi H.
i ordered a large cappuccino. it took 20 minutes to make, the lady lied and said she didn't forget about it when i asked her, and she gave me a small size. and was super rude about it. thats all i can remember about this waste-of-time place
(1)Chris B.
Excellent coffee, and breakfast wraps grilled in a panini maker. Win.
(4)Wendy Z.
I stopped into the Park Avenue Cafe while doing errands near the Farmers Market. The bright airy feel was inviting. The decor was average , bordering on slightly dated. The music served as decent background noise -- easy listening and jazzy. The perfect "studying" music. I'm always comforted when I see stockpiles of San Pellegrino! A cold can of Limonata was just what I needed to wet the whistle on a hot day! The menu was exactly what I expected. The typical, easy to assemble cafe food. I ordered a Caprese Panini. I'm sure the fresh basil scent wafting from my farm market bag influenced my order. My Panini was not bad. But I've had better, for a much lower price. The staff seemed a little overwhelmed, and it was not very crowded. It took a long time for my food order. Which wasn't too bothersome on this particular day. I would be reluctant to return on a day that I'm in a hurry. My overall experience at Park Avenue was enjoyable, largely due to the atmosphere. A tranquil park setting, and bright spacious windows make for excellent people watching. However, most of my dining experiences in the PSU leave me wondering what if..... I had gone a few blocks over... I'm sure I will return to this cafe. Maybe just for a coffee next time.
(3)Shawn S.
The lentil soup is to die for. It has just the right combination of cumin to give it that hint of curry flavor. Try the sandwiches. All of them I have tried so far taste great. The soup and sandwich combinations let you have the best of both worlds. Prices are reasonable and service is quick even during lunch hours.
(5)Flavius W.
The only reason we keep going there is the café's atmosphere and the decent coffee. Major negatives are the terrible customer service (would it kill them to smile or say hello/goodbye???) and it takes forever to get your coffee or food order. Pastries for breakfast have been wonderful at times, but then taste old other times. Lunch items are overpriced for their size and lack options for what comes with them (it's always Ruffles..).
(2)