The oasis is perfect to enjoy even if a little cold outside, fuzzy blankets and heaters keep you cozy. My daughter described it as fey food, meaning it’s like fairie food, once you eat it you are ruined for all other food. Excellent service and the owner was delightful. Excellent brunch location.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Big C
First ones at brunch. Both items we got from the menu were pretty bad. My meal wasn't as described; poor plating made it even worse. Cocktails were also subpar. My partner, who normally isn't picky whatsoever, also had some criticism. The staff all seemed hungover and annoyed. I walked away feeling greatly overcharged for what we got, and truly not understanding what the fuss is about.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Barb Reyer
Had the most delicious meal for brunch! Service was fantastic and it wasn't uber expensive. I'm only sorry I hadn't found this place earlier. Will definitely go again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tim O
Vanessa and her team have provided a solid, dependable and professional gem of a neighborhood restaurant for many years. You can expect delicious food and drinks in an intimate and sophisticated bar and dining room. French bistro inspired. Great covered outdoor seating. Vast cocktail and wine list. Shout out to charming Mario.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Mike
Outstanding breakfast cocktails and hash. The hash has a nice ballanceed pallet of sausage and vegetables.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sofia K
One of my favorites spots for dinner in Portland. Food is amazing. Very relaxing atmosphere combined with attentive staff. Highly recommended !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Pork Shank, Risotto
Keira_I_AM
A wonderful small restaurant in NW Portland with French cafe inspired decor and amazing food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cole Downey
Bit cramped inside. However, bartender was especially kind, and the food options were interesting. Obvious somebody had put a lot of thought into the brunch menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don Mattos
Food was quite good. We had mussels, osso bucco, and the burger, everyone very much enjoyed their meal. This was our 1st visit, we will be returning soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tim & Jennifer
We stumbled upon this GEM of a cozy bistro during the Christmas holidays and loved it so much that we made a repeat visit before we headed back to Atlanta. My spouse and I don't drink and the NA offerings were delicious + the staff doesn't make you feel lame for not boozing. We scored a cozy table in front of the fireplace and was impressed with the healthier options.We feasted on the Forest Mushroom Bruschetta with roasted cauliflower and white truffle puree, then dove into the Butter Lettuce Salad (I wanted to try the roasted beet but we had that the night before at Urban Farmer and BTW we loved The Nell more). This lettuce was incredibly tender with the perfect citrus vinaigrette. It was the best lettuce we had during our trip (and as someone who's mostly plant-based I know my lettuce).After eyeing the Winter Vegetable Melange I had to experience it and it was so good I ordered it upon our return a week later. My spouse dined on the best ever Turkey Burger with generous portions of avocado and caramelized onions - yes he ordered this again the following week as well. Definitely order the hand-cut French fries (they are 100% better than Urban Farmer's fries). For dessert the Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake was perfection - just the right size to top off your meal with a small scoop of ice cream to make your tongue faint in ecstacy.I wish I could remember our servers name, he was an incredibly friendly and hospitable human who made our experience exceptional. For our 2nd visit the restaurant reserved this private, cozy back section of the bar for our dinner before Thievery Corporation show and it was literally the icing on the cake with our same server (I'm so sorry I can't recall your name!).This is a NW neighborhood GEM for a reason and quite frankly our FAVORITE restaurant in Portland! If you decide to open a location in Atlanta, come to Virginia Highlands and I'll help you find the perfect spot! Muah to the entire staff at Cafe Nell!
The food here is certainly overpriced, though not quite outrageously so. What they cook well, they cook very well, but what they don't, they don't. The place was pretty dead when we were in there, and it seemed that this may have been the theme recently, because the chicken I had tasted off, and I realized as I had to get up several times during the night, that it was off in a food poisoning kind of way. My guess is that they've had some ingredients sitting around too long. The husband's pasta came out cold, seemingly because mine took longer to cook, and they didn't time right, but it had good flavor, as did my potatoes.Service is very awkward here, making it uncomfortable to want to go back, not that I would given the experience with the food and price.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Abigail Hemlock
Delicious! Beautiful restaurant, good food and good service. I got the omelette and it was perfect. It’s great to have this spot in the neighborhood, will definitely be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites, Dungeness Crab
Cadu Monteiro
Beautiful restaurant with a sizable menu. You'll surely find something you'll like here.Food seemed to be of good quality.An issue was the steak au poivre. Well, it didn't have any poivre sauce as you'd expect from the traditional recipe...Service was attentive but not too intrusive, I appreciate that.I'd recommend it, although prices are a bit high in my opinion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
James Gayaldo
-Overpriced and very disappointing cocktails. The bartender couldn't make basic drinks. It was bad. Ice cubes in a martini, watered down, extra small, flat mixers, you get the idea...-Overpriced but good tasting food.-Good atmosphere, fine service
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
SarahB
I always love Cafe Nell. It has a great atmosphere and wonderful food. I have been there on dates, parties of 4, and this time...I hosted a party of 16! The service was fantastic. The food was good. My first bill was a tad higher than it was supposed to be (human error), and when approached the serving staff fixed it right away. I will always consider Cafe Nell for my big parties as well as my intimate dates. It is the perfect place! Thank you, Cafe Nell!
The oasis is perfect to enjoy even if a little cold outside, fuzzy blankets and heaters keep you cozy. My daughter described it as fey food, meaning it’s like fairie food, once you eat it you are ruined for all other food. Excellent service and the owner was delightful. Excellent brunch location.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
First ones at brunch. Both items we got from the menu were pretty bad. My meal wasn't as described; poor plating made it even worse. Cocktails were also subpar. My partner, who normally isn't picky whatsoever, also had some criticism. The staff all seemed hungover and annoyed. I walked away feeling greatly overcharged for what we got, and truly not understanding what the fuss is about.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Had the most delicious meal for brunch! Service was fantastic and it wasn't uber expensive. I'm only sorry I hadn't found this place earlier. Will definitely go again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vanessa and her team have provided a solid, dependable and professional gem of a neighborhood restaurant for many years. You can expect delicious food and drinks in an intimate and sophisticated bar and dining room. French bistro inspired. Great covered outdoor seating. Vast cocktail and wine list. Shout out to charming Mario.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Outstanding breakfast cocktails and hash. The hash has a nice ballanceed pallet of sausage and vegetables.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of my favorites spots for dinner in Portland. Food is amazing. Very relaxing atmosphere combined with attentive staff. Highly recommended !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Pork Shank, Risotto
A wonderful small restaurant in NW Portland with French cafe inspired decor and amazing food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bit cramped inside. However, bartender was especially kind, and the food options were interesting. Obvious somebody had put a lot of thought into the brunch menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was quite good. We had mussels, osso bucco, and the burger, everyone very much enjoyed their meal. This was our 1st visit, we will be returning soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We stumbled upon this GEM of a cozy bistro during the Christmas holidays and loved it so much that we made a repeat visit before we headed back to Atlanta. My spouse and I don't drink and the NA offerings were delicious + the staff doesn't make you feel lame for not boozing. We scored a cozy table in front of the fireplace and was impressed with the healthier options.We feasted on the Forest Mushroom Bruschetta with roasted cauliflower and white truffle puree, then dove into the Butter Lettuce Salad (I wanted to try the roasted beet but we had that the night before at Urban Farmer and BTW we loved The Nell more). This lettuce was incredibly tender with the perfect citrus vinaigrette. It was the best lettuce we had during our trip (and as someone who's mostly plant-based I know my lettuce).After eyeing the Winter Vegetable Melange I had to experience it and it was so good I ordered it upon our return a week later. My spouse dined on the best ever Turkey Burger with generous portions of avocado and caramelized onions - yes he ordered this again the following week as well. Definitely order the hand-cut French fries (they are 100% better than Urban Farmer's fries). For dessert the Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake was perfection - just the right size to top off your meal with a small scoop of ice cream to make your tongue faint in ecstacy.I wish I could remember our servers name, he was an incredibly friendly and hospitable human who made our experience exceptional. For our 2nd visit the restaurant reserved this private, cozy back section of the bar for our dinner before Thievery Corporation show and it was literally the icing on the cake with our same server (I'm so sorry I can't recall your name!).This is a NW neighborhood GEM for a reason and quite frankly our FAVORITE restaurant in Portland! If you decide to open a location in Atlanta, come to Virginia Highlands and I'll help you find the perfect spot! Muah to the entire staff at Cafe Nell!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The food here is certainly overpriced, though not quite outrageously so. What they cook well, they cook very well, but what they don't, they don't. The place was pretty dead when we were in there, and it seemed that this may have been the theme recently, because the chicken I had tasted off, and I realized as I had to get up several times during the night, that it was off in a food poisoning kind of way. My guess is that they've had some ingredients sitting around too long. The husband's pasta came out cold, seemingly because mine took longer to cook, and they didn't time right, but it had good flavor, as did my potatoes.Service is very awkward here, making it uncomfortable to want to go back, not that I would given the experience with the food and price.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Delicious! Beautiful restaurant, good food and good service. I got the omelette and it was perfect. It’s great to have this spot in the neighborhood, will definitely be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Frites, Dungeness Crab
Beautiful restaurant with a sizable menu. You'll surely find something you'll like here.Food seemed to be of good quality.An issue was the steak au poivre. Well, it didn't have any poivre sauce as you'd expect from the traditional recipe...Service was attentive but not too intrusive, I appreciate that.I'd recommend it, although prices are a bit high in my opinion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
-Overpriced and very disappointing cocktails. The bartender couldn't make basic drinks. It was bad. Ice cubes in a martini, watered down, extra small, flat mixers, you get the idea...-Overpriced but good tasting food.-Good atmosphere, fine service
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
I always love Cafe Nell. It has a great atmosphere and wonderful food. I have been there on dates, parties of 4, and this time...I hosted a party of 16! The service was fantastic. The food was good. My first bill was a tad higher than it was supposed to be (human error), and when approached the serving staff fixed it right away. I will always consider Cafe Nell for my big parties as well as my intimate dates. It is the perfect place! Thank you, Cafe Nell!