Cafe Nell Café Nell

Café Nell

1987 NW Kearney St. (NW 20th Ave.)
Portland, OR 97209
503-295-6487
Map
Cuisine: American / Eclectic
Upscale comfort food and a friendly crowd mingle at this neighborhood favorite.
Openings: Lunch & Dinner daily 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Brunch Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Features


Café Nell Restaurant Review:


About the restaurant: Café Nell describes itself as "French inspired," but mussels and steak frites mark the limits of the Gallic influence. A more accurate description would be "unpretentious American," featuring local and seasonal dishes. Many residents around Café Nell are apartment dwellers, which means this cozy spot serves as their de facto dining room and a favorite destination for Sunday brunch. In winter, a fireplace open to both the bar and dining area creates a welcoming place to linger; in summer, tables on the surrounding sidewalk evoke a block party.

Food & Drinks: Standouts include a turkey burger with goat cheese and avocado, a salmon club made with house-cured salmon, seared diver scallops, oven-roasted chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, and a clam bake with a mixture of fish and shellfish. A year-round favorite is Vanessa's (the ebullient owner) chopped salad that combines ham, arugula, a mix of lettuces, hazelnuts, feta, hard-boiled egg and carrots drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. A lazy brunch at Café Nell is a good way to spend a Sunday morning. Enjoy numerous variations of eggs Benedict, shrimp and grits, and vegan hash. Café Nell takes its alcohol seriously. The "Mary Nell" Bloody Mary is a construction of peppery vodka garnished with a skewer of shrimp, chorizo, cheddar and pickled vegetables.