Cricket Cafe — Restaurant in Portland

The cricket café is a survivor. Perhaps like the oldest shirt in your drawer that gives you comfort and utility? It existed way before the 05'-ish Portland renaissance. This was when Portland only had two cool streets and SE Belmont was not one of them. It was inspired partly by grunge (being born late grunge) - a 'what ever' restaurant that wasn't going to accept themes, a lot of consistency, the national trend of questioning why we have so much bread in our diet or any pretentious offerings. It's offerings seem to be defined by the space on some level. Simple and enough to get you through the day. This is whole food before the whole-grocery store took footing. It feels like you get the whole loaf of bread, the whole avocado, the whole potato and the whole mess that is involved in pushing their breakfast burritos into your mouth. The portions are big and they are heavy meals. Your meal may not look the same day to day, they may not be serving everything on the menu the day you get there and the cook is likely a regular smoker of something. But it is good - it's not gourmet, but it is good. It is a rough high millage early 90's small Toyota Pickup (the kind with the big Toyota letters on the tail gate). A freaking survivor that works and represents. When someone says old Portland is gone order them a breakfast burrito and...

I used to LOVE Cricket Cafe. Seriously. I left a five star review for them last year and have loved them ever since. However, today, I went to Cricket Cafe and ordered a drink and food, and I explicitly stated "VEGAN" on the order notes. The drink came out incorrectly (though it was vegan), and then the Portland Skillet came out and there was loads of bacon under the gravy. I have been vegetarian for 20 years and vegan for 10, so I really can't tell the taste of meat, especially when it is covered in gravy. I ate most of the plate, then got to the bottom and saw the bacon, and was devastated. I told the server and the manager. Neither of them apologized, they just said, "The Portland Skillet isn't supposed to have meat in it." Then, when I asked for a refund, they said "But you ate almost all of it." They never once apologized and just said "I'm so sorry."

I have never experienced such an absolutely disgusting level of indifference about a dietary restriction and value in my life. Veganism and kindness to all living creatures is a principle I live by and something I have dedicated my life to, and they made it seem like nothing to worry about. I will never be going back and will never recommend...

Wet to the reopened Cricket Cafe today and received absolutely superb service from the wait staff. The new menu kept a couple of the good items, such as the Rising Sun. It added some good new items. I was very happy that they had no problem and customizing my order. The item I wanted, I forget the name, was a 4 egg omelette that had the hash browns on the inside and was covered with pork gravy. I asked to have the hash browns on the outside, and to hold the gravy, and was told no problem. The potatoes were great and I was happy they were on the outside so I could enjoy them with the aardvark hot sauce that is provided on each table. Even though the list of sides and Extras did not include A1 pancake option, I asked if I could add one pancake to my order, and to make it a blueberry pancake and was gladly accommodated. The pancake was light and fluffy, and bursting with wonderful juicy blueberries. I had my coffee cup refilled about five times. They constantly checked in to make sure that everything was good. I give it 5 stars, and I think the new owners will succeed. Everyone in the neighborhood and from Beyond could visit the reopened...