Sanborn's

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME! After a long trip to the doctor's office this morning, I wanted to take my mother and children to Sanborn's for some of their renowned German pancakes. So, we walk in with one guy waiting in the corner, and a couple of guys standing. Lots of tables open, though no one has come around to clear them. The couple of gents waiting ask the frantic waiter how long it will be to be seated, and he whisks by with 'just give me a couple of minutes.' They leave. I think: 'poor waiter; must be alone; those guys must have had a time crunch; now we're next in line.' No problem. Yet. more

I went there with a friend for the first time, the service was good but the fare was just ordinary. The corned beef hash was as dry as ashes and the eggs benedict way too lemony as others have noted. The biscuit was very good, maybe if I'd had biscuits and gravy or the pancakes it might have turned out differently. more

I had a huge family get together and for the life of me could not find a local restraunt that could serve a party of 13 for breakfast on a Saturday! Well i was pretty discouraged but left a voice message on the service at Sanborns and was thrilled when I got a call back saying they would love to book the reservation for our group. Well it was everyones first time there and we all loved it the place was so cute the staff was friendly, it was spottless and the breakfast was amazing!!! We will definately be back!!! Pros: wonderful food and amazing service! more

We had breakfast at Sanborn's 5/22 and loved it. I had the eggs benedict, my wife had an egg white omelete with sun dried tomatoes, artichokes and feta. We split a fruit plate and biscuts with homemade fruit preserves. Absolutely delicious! Pros: Food, Service, Location Cons: No Cons more

My sister has always raved about this place and I finally got to try it today. She got her usual mango German pancake while I opted for the special fig and chevre German pancake. I rarely eat anything sweet for breakfast but could not resist this interesting option. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Would definitely go back just for that. Our other dining companion ordered eggs, potatoes and bacon. This didn't quite live up to the German Pancakes but was still pretty good. The menu is quite extensive and I can't wait to go back to build my own omelet! Pros: Fig and Chevre German Pancake, Easy parking more

I recently tried this place and and thought it was less than ok. I'm diabetic and I will tell you they have got some really tempting dishes. Fearing being put into a coma, I opted for the spinach,eggs,and steak (kelly street special).Not all that good. The spinach was way over cooked, almost to the point of turning to green liquid. The meat tasted like the only seasoning used was worscestershire sauce, and had the texture of being cooked the day before, refrigerated, then left on the grill in a pile for far to long. As for the potatoes, you might have to trade in some carbon tax credits before you eat them. That was ok for me because potatoes aren't really diabetic friendly. To be honest, I could have done better with the leftovers in my fridge. The place just doesn't do it for this foodie but if it works for the local trendies then maybe they will stay open for awhile Pros: you can eat there Cons: just not that great more

I visited Sanborn's with a friend that lives in the area. I ordered the eggs benedict, and she had a fruit plate. The hollandaise was tart to the point of being inedible, like an eggy & buttery lemonade. Of the fruit given, about half was less than ripe. The service was good and all that. more

Sanborn's is just fresh- the ambiance, the service, the food. It accomplishes the comfort level of an old school breakfast place with a twist. The twist is the refinement of cusiine and environs. The omelets are delicate and cooked perfectly. Breakfast does leave you feeling greasy and heavy. Everything tastes like it was cooked from scratch with the freshest ingredients. Unlike an old school breakfast place, Sanborn's is clean, upbeat, and colorful. And the wait staff makes everyone feel like a VIP. My wife and I love going to Sanborn's. Pros: Best Baked Omelet in PDX Cons: NONE! more

My wife and I love Sanborns. more

My boyfriend and I are breakfast snobs (spoiled by San Francisco), and we've had breakfast at a lot of places in Portland. Sanborn's has become our every-weekend, not-to-be-missed tradition, and we seldom go anywhere else. There is usually only a minor wait (if any), the staff is SUPER-friendly, and the food is awesome. They serve some of the only coffee I will drink, and their French-press mochas are to die for. They have an excellent selection of food, and the waiters are always very helpful in suggesting options. Try the biscuits! Some of the best I've had, especially with the home-made jam. Pros: Excellent food, awesome staff, friendly, lots of parking more

I found Sanborn's on Citysearch and I think I may have found my new favorite breakfast in town. There were so many choices on the menu, it was hard to decide what to have. My girlfriend and I decided to split two entrees; the blueberry belgian waffle and huevos rancheros. Sanborn's is not kidding when they claim to have the best huevos rancheros in Portland. The ingredients were very fresh and the red and green sauces were perfect. The blueberries in the waffle tasted fresh-picked and were delectable. After enjoying such delicious food, we were very surprised as to how inexpensive our bill was. I look forward to my next breakfast experience at Sanborn's. Pros: Huevos Rancheros, Service more

I had my husband take me to Sanborn's after reading about it today. We were seated promptly where we were asked if we wanted coffee. Of course I said. Then there were 2 tables seated right after us who wanted coffee as well. We were forgotten about and the other tables were given their coffees and drinks. When our waitress who had black hair with pink highlights came over to ask how things were, I voiced my concern about the cofffee. She got an instant attitude with me and proceeded to tell me well ill get your coffee jeez. then she talked bad about us to the first lady who asked if we wanted coffee. When she came back to the table, I had made up my mind to go elsewhere. We told here we were not here to put up with her attitude and that we were leaving. She acted like she had won the battle. Unfornately for this restaurant I will not come back nor refer anyone to them. I instead will send them to Denny's where at least they will get good service and their coffee.. Cons: RUDE CUSTOMER SERVICE more

This was our first visit to the restraunt, but definitely won't be our last. We were greeted right as we walked in the door and seated at a lovely outdoor pation. Being the only customers on the patio, I was sure that service would be lacking but our waiter arrived promptly, our cups filled with water and coffee and lo and behold I never once saw the bottom of my cup, without a doubt the best service i've had at any restraunt in Portland!!!! Then the food arrived, I had huevos rancheros it was wonderful, everything made fresh, it tasted great and looked good. My partner ordered the apple german pancake and was so smitten by it, he declared it ""the best pancake I've ever eaten"" and has badgered me ever since to recreate the exact same recipie (I'm a good cook, but I ain't that good, oh well, I guess we will be visiting Sanford's on a regular basis. Pros: Best Service Ever, Great Food more

We had mixed feelings the first time we went to Sanborn's. The food was excellent but we waited for our food for 45 minutes after we had ordered. They say you never have have a second chance to make a first impression but with food like this you gotta go back. We went back today and the food hadn't changed a bit. AMAZING! Huevos Rancheros and German Pancakes were the two things we ordered. They were fantastic! Large portions and great service. Jodi was our server and she was very friendly. Actually, I believe that every single server in the place stopped by our table and one point to ask how everything was, fill our drinks, clean up plates, ect. DO show up early! We went on a Sunday, got there about 9:45am and got the last vacant table. We left at about 11am and there was probably 15 people waiting. Even if you show up late, it's worth the wait! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GOOD!!!!! Pros: Unbelievable Breakfast Cons: Crowded, Get there early! more

This place is not your trendy hip joint that serves nuevo junk, this place is your regular 'come in and eat' joint that I love. The decor is bright and cheery without being pretentious; the servers are friendly and can actually carry on an intelligent conversation (if you so choose). We had the owner's daughter wait on us and she was a delight. The food was wonderful, hot and tasty without being over-sauced or spiced up. The prices are right in line with the amount of food you receive as well. The coffee is hot and always coming but I really recommend a cup of their hot cocoa! Spectacular! Pros: Great food and plenty of it - as well as good choices Cons: parking more

After hearing freinds rave about the biscuits, I decided to have brunch with the girls. There were six of us at 11:45 on a Saturday. I was the first there, greeted promptly and kindly. Two others arrived and we had just a short wait for seating on the enclosed patio. We were treated to pleasantries and frequent updates durring that time. Coffee was good, service was great, they didn't seem to mind waiting for the rest of our party to arrive. I had the eggs benedict. The best I have had in portland and possibly ever. The eggs were perfectly poached (I often have to send them back at other places) and the hollandaise is delicious, lemony and zingy as it should be, but since it is made to order, I'm sure that less zip could be requested. I kept finding more and more ham hiding under the sauce, and good ham it was. I tasted the german pancake with fresh rhubarb from the farmers market. i LOVE German pancakes and can't wait to try the mango one. I had a biscuit and everyone was right. Yum! with rasberry jam. The entre prices were very reasonable and the portions plentiful, unless you want to make a meal of sides, but that bacon did look good. I highly reccomend! Pros: Great food and service more

I wish I could give Sanbourns 5 stars. I like it. I love their juevos rancheros. Pros: Juevos Rancheros with Verde Cons: Ambience: Its cold in every way. more

I live down the street from Sanborn's but had never tried it. I went this morning and it was amazing. it's very appealing inside and you are greeted immediately. I had the orange juice and the corned beef hash. The juice was fresh squeezed and had a great flavor. The hash had just the right amount of onions and potatoes. I also really liked the strawberry jam. Service was quick and with a smile.I will be coming back often. Pros: freshly made food, service Cons: none that I can think of more

On my way to the Airport, I stopped into this cute little purple building after having driven by it multiple times on my way to work. First thing's first, I was greeted at the door by a smiling young man who showed me to my seat. Even after a few minutes of watching other peoples' orders go by and the service people were getting, I could tell that this was someplace special. I decided on one of the ""specials"" of the day which was a Banana Praline German pancake. Now admittedly, it wasn't that busy when I was there, but my food came in less than 10 minutes! Pros: Well run restaurant. Cons: Sure to get busier as folks find out about it. more

Imagine my delight as a breakfast restaurant junkie when I moved into my place with a breakfast place a block and a half away! I was soo excited I ate there alone and right away. I was not impressed with my B&G. A couple weeks later I ventured over again for some potatoes and an egg. The egg was O.K. but the potatos(one of my favourites) was over cooked and somewhat burnt served luke warm. Bummer! O.K. fast forward, It had been a long time since I decided to go again (I mean c'mon! a block and a half away!), I caved and my bf and I went(who also wonders at the ratings) and we both ordered eggs benedict. The hollandaise was so lemony it overtook the meal and was just not good. I actually brought it up to the waitress thinking that maybe it had gone bad and they didn't know but the answer was ""this is our speciality"". Ooofta! I do not get it why people rate this place so highly. I can only guess they have not been out much at all to anywhere else. And I am not ripping on the decor, just the food. Really I have tried and tried to find something to like and haven't found it. AND the prices are not balanced well with the portions.... I really wish I could say different. Sorry guys. Pros: great staff Cons: just doesn't cut it with the food. more