Petite Province

Saturday morning and no seating unless you are getting table service and breakfast. It is unfortunate when places like this try and be everything and end up doing nothing really well. Also, the woman at the counter offered to heat up my croissant, which sounded good. I didn't think anybody at a good bakery would ever consider microwaving such a pastry. One soggy croissant later I realized that I had assumed too much about this place. Not worth going back. more

Ate at lunch time but had breakfast...mine was corned beef and eggs and friend had Eggs Benedict. We had no complaints. Staff was friendly, we were seated\r immediately, food came very quickly. This is not low-fat diet food but wonderful...the bakery looked magnificent.\r I'll be going back in two days with a different friend and having salad for lunch so I can have a nice big dessert! Pros: GREAT FOOD, GOOD PORTIONS Cons: NO CONS more

I love Saturdays because it's my splurge day: pastries in the morning and pizza for dinner. We've truly enjoyed some tasty mornings, but today was the best morning EVER due to Petite Provence. We got our food to go because I have a 1 year old that wasn't in the mood to wait for a table, next time I'll come a little earlier and order the berry french toast.\r The pastries: cheese filled brioche- a perfect weight, something to sink your teeth into and yet soooo tender and just perfectly flaky without being dry in anyway and the cheese is creamy and smooth not sweet or savory, just perfection.\r Raspberry brioche- the raspberry is not too sweet and just a little tart, with the same perfect brioche. I wish I'd bought a plain one because it is just so awesome.\r Poppyseed brioche- reminded me a little bit of the homemade strudel that my grandmothers used to make (although it is technically completely different), very yummy.\r For my dad- a chocolate bear claw, he loved it, called it decadent and evil!\r They have tons of options and I can't wait to try one of the tarts or apricot papillon. I'll be back next Saturday! Or we might try out the Alberta location. Pros: Cheese brioche! All of the pastries! Counter person with French Accent, excellent menu options Cons: Parking isn't ideal (but not terrible), one counter person was not really friendly, but she helped us right away as she looked around and avoided eye contact :) more

I will definitely make a return visit to the Petite Provence. I enjoyed everything about it. The bakery case was a wonder of meticulously prepared bakery goods. All my favorites... Lots of chantilly and chocolate. I lived in France for a year and believe me this is as good as anything I observed overthere. On the down side...I wish they would have earth friendly doggie bags. more

I have eaten many cakes from Petite Provence at weddings and various events that I have attended, but I never actually walked in to see it for myself until last week! I was (pleasantly) surprised to find the outside tables packed, and the indoor tables nearly full as well! It was mid afternoon, and the place was hopping with people and a nice atmosphere! The place is very beautifully decorated, and the waiters and bakers were all very nice. I walked in and ordered several pastries that I took to my coworkers, and I must say the apricot croissant was my favorite. Everything was perfect in taste and texture. I can't wait to go back and try their breakfast!! Pros: Yummy pastries and beautifully decorated! Cons: Some of the pastries seem a bit overpriced more

I went here with a girlfriend for breakfast and ordered the Eggs Benedict and liked it so much I returned a week later with my husband for lunch and ordered the Le Provencal Sandwich. Their portions are really generous, and most importantly their food not only looks great it tastes amazing! I tried a few of the pastries and liked some more than others, but overall I highly recommend trying Petite Provence for yourself. more

I had seen this place many times but never stopped. I stopped by last week. I got a cream cheese danish and it was the best I've had. It was so yummy. They also have very pretty sugar cookies, a little spendy though. I was happy to see their dessert selections, I wanted to try them all. I'll try breakfast next time. Pros: DELICIOUS CREAMCHEESE DANISH Cons: EXPENSIVE COOKIES more

The eggs benedict are out of this world!!! This restaurant brings a heavenly dose of France to Portland. This is easily one of my favorite weekend brunch stops. They never fail to deliver outstanding food.....The bread and pastries are amazing too! I highly reccomend this restaurant!!! Pros: Excellent Food - Breakfast & Pasteries are OUTSTANDING Cons: Popularity - The new found popularity has caused long waits more

One thing that makes me come back is that they sell a smaller size french baquette. The baquette is great with a good cheese with coffee in the morning. \r \r Food is good. I have taken friends here for their birthdays and they have been happy, as well as having given referrals to their families. \r \r My favorite menu item is the croque monsigneur (sorry if I mispelled). I have read previous review and I have never had an issue with service here. Just wish I could speak French better myself!! Pros: Smaller size French baquette for take out Cons: parking more

I was so happy to see Petite Provence show up on Division. My first experience was magical. The food was amazing, the server (long black hair, didn't get her name) was outstanding and the ambiance made me feel as if I were in France again, not SE Portland. Unfortunately I have never had that experience again. My second trip was OK but definitely not great. My third experience was disastrous. My friends and I did not mind having to wait to be seated. How can you blame a restaurant for being popular. But I can blame a restaurant for seating us and then refusing to take our order. As others have stated, our waitress (not the sharpest knife in the kitchen) told us that she could not take our order as she did not want to stress out her kitchen. Now, I have worked in restaurants for over 25yrs and have never heard of such a ridiculous thing. Why would you seat a table and take their drink order THEN tell them that they can't order? Maybe to trap them so they couldn't leave? It took over 35 minutes from the time we were finally allowed to order until the food arrived and the food was NOT worth the wait. I can understand 35min for risotto or a well done double thick pork chop but not for a sandwich. PLEASE! I have not been back until today. I decided to order the pork sandwich to go so I wouldn't have to deal with the bad service. It is not the pork sandwich it used to be. My first time it was real pork loin, cheese, balsamic roasted onion and Dijon mayo. Today: tiny amounts of dry pork, NO CHEESE, aprox 1Tbs sauteed onion (NO BALSAMIC). I don't know how a sandwich can be dry, flavorless, and greasy all at the same time but this one was. I spent $10 for a sandwich and an overcooked almond croissant and am so disappointed I could cry. What happened to my magical experience? I thought I had found a gem on Division but it has definitely lost its sparkle. more

This little province reminds of me of the Macrina Bakery in Seattle. On a Sunday afternoon the wait is just as long as the Macrina Bakery, but slightly easier on the wallet. They have wonderful pastries and Illy's coffee is delicious to have while you are waiting. I would recommend this place for brunch after a night out with the girls or brunch with your special someone. Very cute place. I will be visiting again soon. Pros: Ambience Cons: The waiting list more

This is a great bakery. The weekend breakfast hours can be pretty busy, so you might have to wait a while. I had the shrimp omlette and it was delicious. The pastry display case is filled with goodies ranging from chocolate chip cookies and croissants to the more elaborate cakes. They also have loaves of bread for sale behind the pastry cases. Although I really like the pastries, the only bad purchase I had was the currant bread they had. Maybe that's how the bread was meant to be, but the one I had was very dense and hard; it seemed stale. But all together this is a bakery you should try though. The staff (who all seemed French) we're friendly and the service was efficient given the busy breakfast crowd. Pros: Pastries, Breakfast and Lunch menus Cons: Parking more

I have yet to dine at the restaurant but my sweet tooth led me to the bakery. I always get the chocolate and almond croissants. The staff I believe is all French, friendly and helpful. Because I live in Lake Oswego sometimes I go to SE for work I can only stop by for my croissant craving but I'm sure the food offered in the dining room is just as delicious as the bakery section. I plan on trying out the restauranat next week. Pros: love the bakery, croissants are to die for. Cons: newcomer tip: street parking only more

Great food, professional service, nice atmosphere and well presented, delicious food. I will be back. Excellent customer service. more

i thought Petit Provence was just a coffee shop/bakery and I didn't go until a lazy spring afternoon with my mother in law. it was incredible! i've never had quiche like that - buttery, rich and perfectly balanced. The side salad could use a little help - it was smothered in creamy dressing and had cheese shavings. perhaps it isn't Parisian but a NW microgreens salad with oil would do the trick. other than that, i've been back twice for breakfast and the omlettes are top-notch. we went this morning (Mothers Day) and they had an entirely new menu for today only. they know how to do eggs! the breads and pastries are ADDICTIVE - i'm always wishing i take some to go after the meals but keep forgetting. its always hard to choose what to get - their menu offers a great selection. the wait staff is the friendliest and you can tell they love their jobs. the environment is awesome - really sunny and bright due to wonderful skylights. a top-notch place in a (soon-to-be-former) dead spot on Division.\r \r UPDATE: I ordered 8 quiches and 90 pastries for a sunday brunch. they were fabulous!! the pastries were fresh out of the oven at pickup time. they were the half-size and still huge! highly recommended. Pros: affordable, authentic baked goods, friendly staff Cons: just one thing: the side salad more

So worth it. The food is just lovely and over all good ambiance. The service is okay overall, though it's sometimes a bit curt. The Salmon Hash is a must, and the pastries are some of the finest I've had in this country. Pros: Food more

I really enjoy breakfast here. The menu is varied and everything I have tried seemed prepared with care. The service was very good except for once when I complained about the juice not being good and they charged me anyway. The lunch was also a good experience. They have menu items you won't find anywhere else and are truly worthe the visit. The servers seem attentive. A little high on the fat content if you are trying to eat healthy. Great atmosphere. Nice addition to the Division Street restaurant scene. Pros: Food, service, pricing, ambience Cons: Hard to find something really healthy more

My 5-year old daughter and I just had a delightful breakfast together at Petite Provence... We arrived about 10 a.m. on Saturday morning and only had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. Even though every table was full, we had water and utensils immediately and beverages very quickly. Our meals were delicious (Berry French Toast and Chicken Omelet). The only wait we had was at the end, when we sat for maybe 10 minutes waiting for our credit card slip to be returned from the register. Overall, a positive experience -- can't wait to go back with my husband! Pros: Ambience, wonderful food, friendly wait staff more

My husband and I have been to Petite Provence three times, all for take out. All three experiences have been the worst customer service we have encountered in Portland. The first time I went, the counter person did not remeber (or charge for) the drinks I ordered. I had to reorder, and pay a second time. Then, I ended up with 2 drinks, one small bag and two containers of food. I had to ask for a bag. When my husband went (twice), he was told he could not order cafe au lait (it is on the menu), the coffee drinks were not decaf, which he had ordered and which the counter person was not going to change until someone else (manager, owner?) intervened and again, he had to order the drinks twice the first time he went.\r \r Not only is the service lousy, but they seem extremely disorganized, with the staff running into each other moving from the pastry counters to the coffee machines, etc.\r \r While the food we've had has been excellent, the service is so bad that we may not return, even though it is just a few blocks from our house.\r \r Please, please, please owner(s) -- fix the service!!!!! Pros: Good Food Cons: Worst service we've had in Portland more

I've traveled all over France and this is just like going there! Very European! The service was fast and friendly. The display of pastries was over the top! I loved this place, so much like france I want to go back again soon! The food was wonderful, very large portions and great prices. This place is great! I'll be back! Pros: definately thumbs up! **** more