Grand Central Bakery - Multnomah Village Cafe — Restaurant in Portland

Very frustrated with my experience here yesterday, we ordered two sandwiches and tipped but what we got was clearly a rushed order, the egg was over cooked and the Canadian bacon was floppy not crispy how it usually is and the English muffin was barely toasted. I spoke to the person wrapping the sandwiches in the back and they were very unhelpful and said that’s how the sandwiches come despite that not being the case for me in the past. The person at the cash register offered me a free sandwich, which was weird to me because the correct way to remedy this was to take a look at the sandwiches and remake them. I’d rather not get another sandwich and hope it gets made correctly. Both folks I spoke to were not very helpful and did not seem very interested in fixing the issue. No one wants to pay $20 + tip on two sandwiches for less than mediocre work. I have experience in food service and I understand it’s hard work but providing the customer with a great product and great service is the baseline. GCB is a huge favorite of mine and I have had really great experiences here which is why this experience was so...

Grand Central Bakery bakes their bread daily and they offer some excellent loafs, but you can also get amazing sandwiches there too. The Blue Ribbon is a particular favorite. It's a salty cold delight perfect for a warm summer day and is best enjoyed on a park bench or under a tree. When eaten ice-cold there is almost the perfect sensation of eating a wedge salad at a fancy restaurant. The thinly sliced roast beef and blue cheese mayo highlight each other and the freshly baked potato bun adds a semi-sweet accent. We added havarti to the Blue Ribbon on a whim when the option presented itself and it definitely belongs on the sandwich. For a few extra dollars we made it a sack-lunch order, which added chips and one of their large house-made cookies to complete the nostalgic picnic adventure. Typically a blue ribbon is awarded to first place winners and those of high prestige. Grand Central Bakery deserves one for...

I have been buying bread and goods here for myself and others for over a decade. I am truly grateful for the updated ability to order online, but nothing beats stepping into the shop. The mouth-watering fragrance of fresh bread, the aromas of sugar and coffee, the delightful goods arrayed in the case… it’s an amazing experience.

Another thing— in the time I have been a customer, the service was usually pretty good, but in recent years, it’s been especially excellent. Where some other places have been struggling with their team, the crew that works here is consistently positive and upbeat and provides fast service. I find the team warm, has a sense of humor, and they seem genuinely happy to be working there. That’s great to see.

I stopped by today for a sandwich and realized that this place always makes me happy. Thank you for being a local touchstone and spot of joy...