Bertie Lou's Cafe

I was having breakfast with my 10 year old daughter a few weeks ago at Bertie Lou's. I have always had decent service and solid breakfast fare in the past. Breakfast is not hard to accomplish, but it is easy to ruin. I asked my wait person to bring me a side of gravy for my daughter to dip her toast in. They brought out a 2 oz. ramekin. ( I have worked in food service and know what they are.) The gravy is home made and quite good. When I was handed the bill, the 2 oz. of gravy was $1.95. I was really shocked. A 2 oz. portion should be a gift. If I am to pay a couple of dollars for gravy I would expect a small soup cup. I asked if this was normal and got a reply from the cook, and I quote, "" People come in here for that s**t all the time. No body ever f***ing complained about the portion before."" My 10 year old was right at the counter with me. I asked the cook to watch his language and was told to ""get the f**k out"". I will never go back again. And to the cook... If you see me coming toward you on the street some day, you would be doing yourself a favor to cross the street and not get too close. You are lucky my kid was with me. You are a foul mouthed little punk who does not know when to keep it shut. I hope your boss reads this and lets you join the growing mass of unemployed. more

Tried this place for the first time! So good. Everything about Bertie Lou's is super cute. The menu is very clever and sarcastic which I love, the food is good, and the service is great. All you Portlanders should go here for some good breakfast...only if I'm not there because the place is pretty quaint. more

We had 3 adults and 1 child under 3. No problem. At last minute out friends asked to join us, 2 more adults and another child under 2. We knew it was a long shot but asked the owner when if there was any chance to make that happen. She said, ""No problem"" (Smiling). So we waited patiently outside in the rain. We watched 3 separate couples come in behind us and be seated so we asked about time frame. She wanted to show me her seating area and then tried to explain how it's just too hard to seat five adults and two small children at that moment. DUH, that's why we asked if it was possible- then we were told, ""No problem"". One of our adults said it wasn't right that she told us we could eat there then passes on us when more couples arrive. She said, (word for word) ""Sir, you're welcome to take your kids to IHOP if you don't like it"". Will never go back. It's good, but there are a LOT of good places to eat in Sellwood and Portland. Sully's Cafe is close, food is just as good if not better and service at Sully's is always top notch. They can seat parties of 10 if needed. And parking is a breeze at Sully's. more

Bertie Lou's has great coffee, great food and the friendliest staff. There's no room to be rude! It's a cozy place to have breakfast on a rainy morning and their benedicts are terrific - but so is most everything else on the menu. Just go but be patient and willing to wait a little. Pros: Quaint, Great Service, Amazing food Cons: When you've got a hankerin' and can't get a seat! more

For those of you that can't decide between eggs bennidict and bisciuts and gravy, I recomend the country bennidict! Will return asap! Pros: food and service Cons: space, small place more

Sexiest waiter on west coast!!! more

Best breakfast in Portland and the friendliest service without the ""attitude"" of most servers in this town. The place is small so just bring one friend, larger than 2 may have to wait as they only have 2 tables that can seat 4 people. Great breakfast options and good combinations that have amazed me on an occasion or two. Be ready to wait if you bring too many people with you, but it will be worth it. I drive a long way to get my breakfast burrito, you'll know why if you try it. Pros: good every time Cons: not big enough for the crowds it draws more

Bertie Lou's is a cute and cozy little diner with wonderful food, colorful menus, and a great atmosphere! more

Michael (the cook) is my personal hero! I follow him to whatever restrauant he works at. Pros: Fast, flavor, fun. Cons: seating capacity should be bigger more

It saddens me to write this review because Bertie Lou's is one of my favorite breakfast spots. I always expect to wait for a table but on 5/29/07, a friend and I waited 15 minutes while being pointedly ignored (not a simple, ""it will be a minute"" or anything) by the rudest, most sullen waitress I have seen in some time. In the time that we waited, three tables left and another couple came into wait. After 20 minutes of waiting, a third couple arrived and waitress lit up, hugged them, promptly sat them, brought them coffee, and took their order while my friend and I along with the second couple continued to be ignored. We left after this and went to Oaks Bottom Pub where another busy waitress actually acknowledged us right away. Yes, we still had to wait but the waitress at Oaks Bottom Pub was wonderful, nice, and actually cared about her customers. Pros: Food Cons: Service more

Service is relaxed and friendly. The counter seats have an R rated quality to them so be careful. Breakfast is expertly prepared and perfectly done. This is one of the best breakfasts in Portland, but the wait for a table on the week-ends can be long. The kitchen is open to all to see, and the show the cooks put on is just amazing. Pros: Great Breakfast at any price Cons: you wait for a table more

The food is great and, if you don't mind an informal atmosphere, then you will love Bertie Lou's! Only drawback, sometimes there is a long wait because it's so popular. more

This little hole-in-the-wall has a sense of humor, and the food being served all around us looked great. However, the wait for our food was disastrously long. We watched hungrily, as EVERY SINGLE PERSON who came in behind us got served before us. After 45 min, I asked the waitress to please check on our order. Her response was classic, ""Oh, well its coming. It takes a longer time to poach eggs."" What does she take me for, a chump? A poached egg takes 3 minutes. Anyway, 55 minutes after we arrived the waitress came, with no apologies for serving every other customer in the place first. And Eggs Benedict was just *okay*. The Hollandaise was too salty, thick and abnormally yellow. If I didn't know better, I'd think it might've come from a can!? I might go back and try something else on the menu. Pros: relaxed atmosphere Cons: crowded more

Early AM food, great prices and relaxing! Be prepared for a wait though. more