Manaia Coffee House and Island Grill - Hillsboro — Restaurant in Hillsboro

I used to love going to this place for breakfast, but it has changed a lot. The last few visits were not a great experience, as some of the staff were rather cold, and the food was hit or miss. I stopped going for a while, but recently decided to give the place another chance...I probably shouldn’t have. I ordered my usual, their gluten free biscuit breakfast sandwich, only to be told that they “don’t do that anymore.” No explanation given, and their in house menu still has the gluten free biscuit listed as an option. I find it odd that they chose to stop offering a gluten free option, as there are a lot of people who need to be on a gluten free diet, and it’s really not difficult or a burden to have gluten free substitutions available. Cost should have nothing to do with it either, as all restaurants upcharge GF options anyway. A silly move...

I had 1 bite of sausage biscuits & gravy with scrambled eggs, the sausage tasted bad. I took container up to worker, asked only to have the sausage gravy scraped off, she said, “no if you don’t like it scrape it off in the trash in lobby.” I said, “You want me to scrape it off right here in front of everyone?” she said, “If you don’t like it then yes.” Later after much thought I returned after my dr appointment, I told the same girl how disappointed I was in her customer service. I was willing to accept the food was bad, but that she was so rude just really bothered me. She then said, “What did you expect me to do, you took bite of food.” I advised her I would be writing a review. Then she offered me money back. I told her it was not about money, or the bad food, it was about her poor...

Incredible gravy here! I had a spicy pork breakfast burrito which was delicious. Not too spicy but enough to wake up your taste buds. The umu pork was subtly smoky and delicious.

The best and most surprising part was the gravy sample that they gave me. I am from the Midwest and enjoy biscuits and gravy but I have become jaded from paying for mediocre versions at restaurants. But this place has the best gravy I have ever tasted in a restaurant.

The color and texture were spot on and I felt that the breakfast sausage flavor was excellent without overpowering with the usual spices, such as sage, that usually ruin it for me. My grandmother said, "The secret to good gravy is a lot of black pepper" and this place nailed it. Simply tasty and I look forward to my next visit to sample...