{"id":1975,"date":"2010-01-06T10:00:57","date_gmt":"2010-01-06T18:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/burgersdogspizza.com\/?p=1975"},"modified":"2010-01-06T10:00:57","modified_gmt":"2010-01-06T18:00:57","slug":"portland-or-biscuits-cafe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.peterstromquist.com\/?p=1975","title":{"rendered":"Portland, OR – Biscuits Cafe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"biscuits<\/a><\/p>\n

Figuring I had burned off 30 pounds or so at the gym this morning, I was in the mood for a burger breakfast, and popped into a local chain “Biscuits Cafe” (menu<\/a>) to sample their offerings. If you are a regular reader you know I like a burger patty and eggs, and you also know I don’t succeed in finding that menu item so often these days. I was surprised and happy Biscuits offered it.<\/p>\n

With less ambiance than a Greyhound Bus Station, or even an IHOP or Denny’s, Biscuits has a number of outlets in the Portland area, and a note on the menu says they are now franchising, with “ten locations in three states.” Whoop-de-dooh!<\/p>\n

Painted on the wall is the inscription, “We don’t serve fast food, we serve fresh food as fast as we can.” (This doesn’t turn out to be precisely true).<\/p>\n

With an estimated seating capacity of @135 (plus a few outside tables for the three days a year the temp in Portland is over 40, and it isn’t raining), this outlet was sucking wind for customers this morning, with 7 additional patrons in addition to yours truly. Of the 7, 3 were seniors dining alone, 2 were senior men dining together, and 2 were a man and woman discussing some business.<\/p>\n

The multitude of customers were being served by two waitresses (a third came in as I was leaving), and two cooks of Hispanic heritage. (Did you happen to see Anthony Bourdain the other nite opine on “Mexican” cooks? He said put ten French cooks in a kitchen with one Mexican cook and the Mexican would grind out better French food.)<\/p>\n

I ordered the burger patty and two eggs, over easy, with hash browns, and rye toast. It took a little longer to get than most casual dining restaurants, but luckily I remembered the wall inscription! “Freshness” was not to rule the day with this menu item, the potatoes and burger patty were fresh out of the institutional food service freezer. I do have to say this food service burger patty was a step up from most I have had lately.<\/p>\n

The “hook” at Biscuits seems to be nearly a pound of hash browns on every plate, and over-sized toast (it was a marble rye). It is probably the intention of management that this will make you overlook the skimpy meat serving and a couple of pretty tiny eggs. In any case, the food was served the way I ordered it, and the waitresses were cordial and diligent with the coffee and water refills.<\/p>\n

The breakfast was OK, really no different than any other place of this ilk, except for being considerably more spendy. Breakfast, coffee and tip came out north of $12, and one of my alternate choices of the morning could have been Shari’s<\/a>, which is currently shoveling out chicken fried steak and eggs for $4.99. Oh, well, next time.<\/p>\n

P.S. Wonder what they thought I should use that huge-ass steak knife on?<\/p>\n