10 Best Restaurants for Brunch in Portland, Oregon

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Besaw's Cafe

Item: Besaw's Cafe
Author: Meagan Wristen

Cuisine: American

Price Range: $$

10Best Says

Comfortable and easygoing, this neighborhood cafe makes for a great destination any time of day. Even so, it's well-known for its breakfast fare, and you may wait in line for the privilege of sampling the eggs Benedict. A wealth of great options makes sure any diner is pleased, and you can't go wrong with a plate of airy pancakes or a plentiful helping of scrambled eggs, studded with luscious morsels of whatever's fresh that day. Regular specials also make good alternatives. Besaw's simply offers good food in a great atmosphere.

Address:

1545 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97209
503-228-2619

Hours:

Mon: 7am-3pm
Tue-Fri: 7am-10pm
Sat: 8am-10pm
Sun: 8am-3pm

Website:

besaws.com

EXPERT TIPS BY: Meagan Wristen
Portland Local Expert

Brunch: "Before you decide to share a plate remember that Besaw's charges a $2 fee for sharing an entree."

Best for Brunch Because: Besaw's serves breakfast 7 days a week from early morning until 3 PM.

Brunch & Lunch
- Breakfast & Lunch
  
  Cider Braised Oatmeal
  
  glazed apple, house granola, greek yogurt, maple syrup ($8.00)
  
  Solo Club Granola
  
  toasted coconut, almonds, candied ginger, sunflower seeds, cocoa nibs; soy, almond or regular milk ($7.00)
  
  Zucchini Bread French Toast
  
  granola, basil anglaise ($11.00)
  
  Heritage Sourdough Short Stack
  
  two buttermilk sourdough pancakes ($13.00)
  
  Two Eggs any Style*
  
  choose one: bacon, house-made sausage, veggie sausage, pecan-smoked pastrami choose one: roasted potatoes, seasonal fruit, seasonal veggies, mixed greens ($13.00)
  
  Farmer's Hash**
  
  bacon, crimini mushrooms, onion, roasted potatoes, roasted garlic, stone ground mustard creme, greens, two eggs any style; scratch biscuit ($15.00)
  
  The Breakfast Burger*
  
  pork patty, thick cut beef bacon, fried egg, muenster, apple butter; roasted potatoes ($15.00)
  
  Classic Benedict*
  
  two eggs poached, smoked ham, hollandaise; roasted potatoes ($15.00)
  
  Old Fashioned Buttermilk Waffle
  
  choose two: basil anglaise, lemon curd, fruit compote, dark chocolate sauce or pure maple syrup ($9.00)
  
  Carnitas in Achiote Mole
  
  pork carnitas, refried black beans, escabeche, queso fresco, pepitas, corn tortillas ($16.00)
  
  Shrimp Louie
  
  bay shrimp, soft boiled egg, cherry tomato agrodolce, castelvetrano olives, russian dressing ($15.00)
  
  Besaw's Burger*
  
  black angus beef, arugula, caramelized onion aïoli, house cured pepper bacon, stone ground mustard, bread & butter pickles, aged white cheddar; house chips ($15.00)
  
  Chicken & Waffle
  
  southern fried chicken, hot sauce, honey, butter ($16.00)
  
  Pecan-Smoked Pastrami Sandwich
  
  red cabbage kraut, swiss, leek fondue, stone ground mustard, rye; house chips ($14.00)
  
  Smoked Pastrami Salad
  
  cherry tomato agrodolce, blue cheese, red onion, avocado, egg, mustard vinaigrette ($15.00)
  
  Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad*
  
  romaine, creamy garlic dressing, parmesan, crostini ($14.00)
- Classics
  
  Eddie's Huevos Rancheros*
  
  two eggs over easy, traditional refried black beans, queso fresco, guacamole, cilantro, corn tortillas ($12.00)
  
  Ray-Ray's Breakfast Burrito
  
  eggs, potatoes, chorizo, cheddar, onion, queso, sour cream, guacamole, flour tortilla ($14.00)
- Build Your Own Breakfast
  Buttermilk Pancake
  
  ($4.00)
  
  Gluten Free Pancake
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Gluten Free French Toast
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Pure Maple Syrup
  
  ($3.00)
  
  Fresh Fruit Cup
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Egg
  One: $2.00
  
  Two: $4.00
  Seasonal Veggies
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Scratch Biscuit & Gravy
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Honey-Cured Bacon
  
  ($5.00)
  
  House-Made Sausage
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Pecan-Smoked Pastrami
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Mac & Cheese
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Seasonal Soup
  $3.50
  
  $7.00
  Garlic-Roasted Potatoes
  
  ($3.00)
- Kids Brunch
  Mickey Cake
  
  ($4.00)
  
  1-2-3 Breakfast
  
  one egg, two slices of bacon, three silver dollar pancakes ($6.00)
  
  Oatmeal
  $4.00
  
  With Fruit: $5.00
  Kidsadilla
  cheddar cheese, flour tortilla
  
  $5.00
  
  With Chicken: $9.00
  Hamburger
  
  served plain on a housemade bun with roasted potatoes ($6.00)
  
  Chicken Sammich
  
  served plain on a housemade bun with roasted potatoes ($6.00)
  
  Oodles of Noodles
  
  tossed with cheese and butter ($5.00)
Dinner
- Starters
  
  Salad of Mixed Lettuces
  
  summer vegetables, herbed red wine vinaigrette ($8.00)
  
  Green Bean & Summer Berry Salad**
  
  chanterelles, toasted pecans, soft goat cheese ($14.00)
  
  Charred Octopus*
  
  cherry tomatoes, zucchini, romesco, piquillo vinaigrette ($16.00)
  
  Spot Prawn & Saffron Risotto
  
  parmigiano reggiano, piquillo peppers, fennel pollen ($20.00)
  
  Beef Carpaccio*
  
  tomatoes, toasted peanuts, charred onion vinaigrette ($12.00)
  
  Artisan Cheese Plate
  
  selection of cheeses from cheese bar, mostarda, preserves, semolina cracker ($15.00)
  
  Besaw's Charcuterie Plate
  
  selection of house & guest cured meats, pickles, olives, crostini ($15.00)
  
  Seasonal Pizza
  
  ($16.00)
- Entrées
  
  Pan Seared Diver Scallops
  
  shrimp bisque, sweet & padron hushpuppies, basil ($36.00)
  
  Seared Hanger Steak**
  
  chanterelle mushrooms, green beans, mushroom purée, corn, cherry tomatoes ($29.00)
  
  Pork Scaloppine*
  
  red wine braised squid, sliced heirloom tomato, avocado mayonnaise ($25.00)
  
  Crispy Eggplant Parmesan
  
  smoky tomato sauce, basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, aji amarillo polenta ($20.00)
  
  Anderson Ranch Lamb Leg*
  
  ratatouille, blackberry braised walla walla onion relish ($27.00)
  
  Seared Albacore Tuna*
  
  tomato braised romano beans, roasted tomato mayonnaise, fennel pollen ($26.00)
  
  Pan Roasted Half Chicken
  
  tomato panzanella salad, basil pesto ($25.00)
  
  The Return of Meatloaf**
  
  crushed potatoes, roasted carrots, mushroom gravy, house hot sauce ($22.00)
  
  Besaw's Burger*
  
  black angus beef, arugula, caramelized onion aïoli, bread & butter pickles, white cheddar; fries ($15.00)
- Sides
  
  French Fries*
  
  black pepper, aïoli ($5.00)
  
  Green Beans
  
  garlic, ginger, chile flake, fish sauce ($6.00)
  
  Summer Squash
  
  brown butter, almonds, parmesan ($6.00)
  
  Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
  
  house bacon, garlic, onion ($8.00)
  
  Mac & Cheese
  
  brown butter breadcrumbs ($7.00)
  
  Sweet Corn Hushpuppies
  
  green goddess ($6.00)
Happy Hour
- To Eat
  
  Margherita Pizza
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Meat & Cheese Plate
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Burger a La Carte
  
  ($6.00)
  
  French Fries
  
  ($3.00)
  
  Mac & Cheese
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Spring Salad
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Onion Rings
  
  ($6.00)
  
  House Parker Rolls
  
  Two rolls with choice of cultured or honey butter ($3.00)
  
  Meatloaf Sliders
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Steak Bites
  
  ($6.00)
- To Drink
  
  House Cocktails
  
  rotating selection ($6.00)
  
  Well Drinks
  
  ($6.00)
  
  House Manhattan
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Martini
  
  Gin or Vodka ($6.00)
  
  House Red & White Wine
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Happy Bubbles
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Draught Cider
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Rainier Tall Boy + Rye
  
  ($6.00)
From The Bar
- Daydrinkin'
  
  Uncle Earl's Famous Bloody Mary
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Fresh Squeezed Mimosa
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Bubbles with Seasonal Reduction
  
  ($8.50)
  
  The Early Bird
  
  Craterlake Hazelnut Espresso, vodka, cold brew, orange bitters ($9.00)
  
  Master Cleanse
  
  Altos Reposado Tequila, fresh carrot & apple juice, lemon juice, cayenne-cinnamon agave nectar ($10.00)
  
  Grapefruit Spritzer
  
  Combier Pamplemousse, bubbles, grapefruit juice ($9.00)
  
  Michelada
  
  Tecate, house made bloody mary, lime, chili salt ($7.00)
  
  Derna Sour*
  
  butterscotch infused Jameson, orange & lemon juice, demerara sugar, egg white ($9.00)
- Draught
  
  Eliot IPA ABV 6.6% - 40 IBU Ex Novo Brewing Company, OR
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Checkered Fannel Brown Ale ABV 6% - 40 IBU Mt. Tabor Brewing, OR
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Bavik Premiun Pils ABV 5.2% - 30 IBU DeBrabandere, BE
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Oswald IPA ABV 7.6% - 74 IBU Pulic Coast Brewing, OR
  
  ($6.00)
  
  IRA ABV 5.5% - 65 IBU Double Mountain Brewing, OR
  
  ($6.00)
  
  "Never Give an Inch" Blackberry Cider ABV 6.9% Cider Roit, OR
  
  ($6.00)
- Bottles
  
  Coors Light, CO
  
  ($3.50)
  
  IPA Lagunitas Brewing Company, CA
  
  ($4.00)
  
  Aval Cider FR
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Clausthaler Amber (N/A), St. Pauli Brauerei, DE
  
  ($4.00)
- Cans
  
  Rainier, Rainier Beer, WA
  
  ($3.00)
  
  Tecate Lager, MX
  
  ($4.00)
  
  Hefeweizen, Occidental Brewing, OR
  
  ($4.50)
  
  Pilot Rock Porter, Caldera Brewing, OR
  
  ($4.00)
  
  Vanishing Point Pale, Ghostfish Brewing Co., WA
  
  ($6.00)
- Zero Proof
  
  Slippery Slope
  
  fresh squeezed OJ, Madagascan vanilla, heavy cream, soda ($6.00)
  
  Fair Winds
  
  Steven Smith Hibiscus Tea shrub, honey, sprite ($5.00)
  
  Lychee Tickle
  
  house lychee syrup, fresh lime, ginger beer add Myers Dark Rum ($10.00)
- Bubbles by the Glass
  
  Brut '13 Argyle, Grower Series, Willamette Valley, OR
  
  ($14.00)
  
  Prosecco NV Ca' Furlan, Cuvée Beatrice, Extra Dry, Veneto, IT
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Brut Rosé NV Réserve de Jours, France
  
  ($10.00)
- Whites by the Glass
  
  Grüner Veltliner '15 W.T. Vintners, Underwood Mountain Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, WA
  
  ($11.00)
  
  Sauvignon Blanc '15 Love & Squalor, Willamette Valley, OR
  
  ($11.00)
  
  Pinot Gris '15 Van Duzer, Willamette Valley, OR
  
  ($11.00)
  
  Riesling '15 Acadia Vineyards, Cerulean, Columbia Gorge, OR
  
  ($12.00)
  
  Chardonnay '15 Westrey, Dundee Hills, OR
  
  ($12.00)
  
  Cabernet Franc / Gamay Noir Rosé '15 Bebame, E Dorado County, CA
  
  ($10.00)
- Reds by the Glass
  
  Pinot Noir '15 Lundeen, Mon Peré, Willamette Valley, OR
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Pinot Noir '15 Walter Scott, Freedom Hill Vineyard, Willamette Valley, OR
  
  ($15.00)
  
  Syrah Blend '13 Guild Winemaker's Lot 11, Columbia Valley, WA
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Cabernet Sauvignon '15 Mercer Canyons, Horse Heaven Hills, WA
  
  ($11.00)
  
  Merlot '15 Boomtown, Dusted Valley Vineyard, Columbia Valley, WA
  
  ($9.00)
- House Cocktails
  
  Portland Melody
  
  Aria gin, Suze, Luxardo, lemon juice ($12.00)
  
  The Woodlands
  
  Clear Creek Apple Brandy, Doug Fri Eau de Vie, Woodland bitters, rosemary syrup ($11.00)
  
  The Hot Buttered Rum
  
  Myer's Dark Rum, house made hot buttered rum mix, whip cream, nutmeg ($10.00)
  
  Twisted Oliver
  
  James Oliver Rye, Gran Classico, Braulio ($10.00)
  
  Lacadia's Choice
  
  Olmeca Altos Tequila Reposado, cinnamon-cayenne agave, Lime juice, hot water -sub for Mezcal $11.00- ($11.00)
  
  Palmellow
  
  Combier Pamplemousse, vodka, lychee syrup, lime, grapefruit juice ($11.00)
Dessert
- Dessert
  
  Besaw's Chocolate Cake
  
  dark chocolate ganache (our classic recipe!) ($8.00)
  
  Old Fashioned Carrot Cake
  
  tangerine buttercream, pistachios ($8.00)
  
  Lemon Cheesecake
  
  cranberry compote, marshmallow fluff, toasted hazelnuts ($8.00)
  
  Orange-Almond Cake
  
  cardamom, cinnamon, whiskey caramel ($8.00)
  
  Butterscotch Pudding
  
  salted caramel, crème fraîche ($7.00)
  
  Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie
  
  ($3.00)
  
  A La Mode
  
  burnt honey ice cream, vanilla chocolate chip cookie dough, seasonal sorbet ($3.00)
- Dessert Sips
  
  Late Harvest Riesling, Seven Hills Winery, Columbia Valley, WA 2013
  
  ($13.00)
  
  Oloroso, El Maestro Sierra, Jerez, Spain
  
  ($12.00)
  
  Vermouth Tinto, Acha, Basque Country, Spain
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Tawny Port, Kopke, Portugal 10 year
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Goodnight Tiffany
  
  Beefeater Gin, Cynar, Cocchi Americano, orange bitters ($9.00)
  
  Fernet-Branca
  
  ($10.00)
  
  House Limoncello
  
  ($7.00)

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