Javi’s Breakfast Cafe — Restaurant in Portland

Honest review ahead.... I was/am so excited to have a new breakfast/brunch/lunch spot in the neighborhood. However, the service, ambiance and even food was just not quite up to par yet. We walked in around 10am on Saturday last week as a party of 3 and were not really greeted or asked about how many were in our party. The staff just frantically looked for a clean table. There was a four top available in the front of the restaurant, but it was tucked furthest away from the door. I could see it was clean and ready, but for some reason they had to clean a 6 top to put us at. Once sat we received waters and menus. Now I am not one to complain about noise or music, but at this time of day the place was SO LOUD. The music was not at conversation level, it was at bar level. Thankfully, about halfway through our time, the music was turned down. The male server was not friendly, not prompt or efficient. Part of the issue at first was that he couldn't hear us and we couldn't hear him, then it just turned into him being indifferent and not checking on his tables. We ordered iced teas and a coke for drinks ($4 each), I would have preferred a mimosa but those are not available. Honestly, $4 for coffee or iced tea is ridiculous. Especially since our server never refilled our iced teas. We ordered chilaquiles with chicken tinga, the grilled chicken sandwich sub salad for fries, and country benedict. The food timing was appropriate for the level of business... Unfortunately, as mentioned above, the server was just absent the whole time. No refills or table touches. When the food came out we all thought the temps were off, not warm enough! Everything was decent, but not out of this world good or even above average. The biggest issues were: Too much mayo on the chicken sandwich, dare I say too much guacamole, rubbery chicken, no dressing on the salad, small portion on the chilaquiles and lack of hot sauce on table or offered. My son LOVED the country benedict, I enjoyed the bite I stole from him. After we were over halfway through the meal all of a sudden the servers and managers (owners?) started coming over and checking on everyone. I could sense that it was a little too late for a few of the tables and they were ready to pay and get on with their day. That was also true of us as well. The payment portion was pleasant and we were thanked as we left. I really want this place to succeed and I think it will. I just hope that the owners/managers train their servers properly, rethink assigned sections for the servers, add some wall art/plants or something to absorb the noise, and work on consistency in the kitchen. I will be back and I hope to update the review to...

In the pantheon of small neighborhood diners, there is always a hierarchy—places where your feet stick to the floor and every bite you take is like the spin of a roulette chamber.

But when you stumble into the upper echelons of easy comfort food and great service, it is as if you’re returning to your youth—like you’ve found a home. In my eternal search for the ultimate bargains, I range near and far, always keeping my eyes peeled for those diners that will soothe my tremulous heart.

Javi’s was the X that marks the treasure, the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

The service was excellent—the kind of waitress you look forward to seeing, the kind who seems genuinely happy that you are there. I felt immediately at ease, like coming home where you can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

I ordered that ultimate test item, that thing which is so simple—like the bear dance (one step forward, two steps to the side, then one step forward)—that it evades many. For in simplicity, genius can flourish, or it can drag you down.

That item, my friend, is the humble BLT: a simple slate on which to write a poem or a dirge. This particular BLT was perfect. You could deliver it to the gods and have luck for the rest of your life. Perfect toast, real tomatoes with real flavor, and, of course, a bacon that lives in your dreams. The fries were absolutely down-to-earth and real: excellent crunch, soft interior, perfectly seasoned. My stomach did a little dance of joy.

So here we are—this little monument to the long tradition of roadside diners, this neighborhood treasure where people come again and again, and the staff gets to know what they want.

It has a place in the tapestry of the city. It grows into the community like moss grows into the rocks. It becomes a landmark, a place where people meet for conversation and comfort. It becomes a place that fits you like the good old jacket that belonged to your father, the one you wear when you need comfort from the...

Kind of a funky looking building. Super friendly, fairly well varied menu. Tables are mostly set up for groups of 4 to 6 and it looks like they could easily shift things for larger groups, I didn't see any 2 tops but she said there was one up front.

The chimichurri ribeye was appealing but maybe a bit early in the day for chimichurri sauce. Went with chicken fried steak and gravy, she ordered caramel pancakes, leave off the powdered sugar cuz she's already sweet enough LOL

Fabulous food and service. The server was really upset when he came to see how we were doing and and I said "Aside from the fact that I specified crispy hashbrowns and over easy eggs, we're great" He was beside himself apologizing, offering to have it remade, whatever, I was like 'this is not a big deal, dude. We're fine'

The gravy was very good by PNW standards - bits of sausage and actual flavor - and the biscuit was awesome

Good coffee served in proper mugs, even.

Sandra was impressed by the pancakes. They were perfect consistency to not absorb the caramel but still be fluffy. I had a bite and they WERE very good.

We met Javi (or maybe Javi's dad? - we asked if he was Javi and he said 'either me or my son') when we were leaving and he said it was Mexican caramel. Super nice guy.

Lot of high points; we Highly recommend if you're anywhere near that area...