Mother's Bistro & Bar — Restaurant in Portland

We were prepared to wait in line to eat at this popular restaurant, which is always crowded. We were lucky to be shown to a brightly lit booth without waiting 20 minutes.😃 We wanted to try the French toast, biscuit break, salmon hash, and three different kinds, so we got half sizes of all of them, but the portions were so large that you would never guess they were half sizes, and all of them were elegantly seasoned and brought out the flavors of the ingredients. 🤤 We also had lemon cheesecake for dessert and had a relaxing time in the spacious and lovely atmosphere. We refilled our coffee several times, and never once got the "bitter, boiled coffee" that is often served with coffee refills.☕☕ 12/08/2024 (Sun) We’re used to long wait times here, so we patiently waited as usual. However, it seems there was some mix-up, and we ended up getting skipped. We were finally seated quite late at a table next to the hotel side of the bar. We ordered the French Toast ($12) and Sausage Scramble ($17), along with red wine ($9 x2) and a Hot Brown Cow ($13). Surprisingly, while our food came out incredibly fast, our drinks took so long that we were nearly finished eating by the time they arrived. That being said, the food itself was excellent, showcasing the chef’s great sense of flavor. The French Toast was especially outstanding—it had a unique texture that’s hard to find elsewhere and was absolutely delicious. After our meal, we enjoyed coffee and Brulee Banana Bread Pudding. My husband had wanted a second glass of wine and was waiting for a server to pass by, but as closing time approached, the staff became busy with cleanup and didn’t check on tables as often. Since we've had similar experiences towards the end of their operating hours, next time, we’d love to come back for dinner, as they accept reservations even for smaller parties, and try more of their dishes in a more...

Mother's Bistro still rests on the laurels of the original success. It had been almost a decade since I visited last and I could see that it survived the pandemic and expanded quite a bit. The interior was no longer a small comfort establishment but now a fancy pseudo-upscale diner. They did a fantastic job keeping the vibes of the original joint yet modernizing it and brightening it quite a bit. Also tons more seats which is awesome. The service too was friendly and as someone who stood in line for the 9am opening, we couldn't wait to dive back into the memories of what it once were.

The problem is the food. With the upgraded interior and the legend that comes along with the fame, you expect food to be near perfect. Coffee, an Ethiopian press, came out too thick and bitter. Their flagship challah French Toast dunked in cereal was too dry. And the pecan cinammon rolls literally had no sugar in them, which made me feel whether it was an error. The oatmeal on the other hand was fabulous, gentle, sweet and creamy. Also the buiscuit with sausage and gravy was heavenly. Thus, Mother's still definitely has what it takes to create a 5-star breaktfast. But on this very day, it failed quite a bit.

Don't get me wrong - the food is still above average than most diners. But for a joint like Mother's which I have extreme fond memories of over a decade ago, it fell flat. I was going to downgrade it to a 3 stars but at least the price was quite cheap and reasonable based on the overall decor and experience it provided.

I couldn't hide my disappointment and not sure if I'd seek this place out like I did this time as we swung by PDX.

Note: make sure to reserve ahead of time. Also, not sure why they open a breakfast...

We've been here many times in the past. This is our first time back since before 2020.

Let me start by saying they are extremely busy, so expect long wait times upward of 35-90 minutes.

Pros: They have a children's play corner which makes waiting with kids a lot more convenient. Clean bathrooms The server that served us at our table was very attentive and kind to our kiddos. You don't like that if I get Emily can't hear you?

Cons: -While waiting, I requested a drink from the bar. Despite waiting for quite some time, not one of the four bartenders approached me to take my order, so I assumed I should sit down to order. There was only one chair left at the end of the bar, which I pulled out and was immediately scolded for, as I was told not to pull it too close to where they placed drinks. (I might add, not once in the 20 minutes I sat there did they use the little drink mat to set a single drink.) Regardless, I sat next to another patron. It took some time, but my order was finally taken. The people next to me received their drinks before me, even though they ordered after I did. While waiting, a lady approached me and very loudly announced that the seat I was in was only reserved for those ordering food. I got up and continued to wait, standing. After 20 minutes, I finally received my drink. If you're going to make someone wait that long for a drink, especially when they're tipping and spending money, it would be wise to prioritize making their drink instead of telling them to move. There was no need to be so rude.

-Food wasn't what we remembered it to be. Nothing special. We ordered the brioche French toast, salmon hash, biscuits and gravy, and a side order of fruit...