Dahlia Lounge Brunch

Yeah, thats right...brunch. Two weeks ago, my chef brother invited me and my family for a sampling of the soon to be launched brunch menu at the Dahlia Lounge. This soft opening allowed the kitchen to go through their menu and close friends and family to give their feedback. I will admit that I had been out the night before partying so the idea of brunch was perfect.

I started with coffee but B. and L. opened with a bloody mary...dont worry I had one after a bit of food. Remember I partied the night before. I have rarely been in the Dahlia Lounge during daylight but the way the sun filled the clean and spacious dining room was really comfortable and pretty.


According to our server we had to try the Monkey Bread so we ordered two for the table. This cinnamon sugary breakfast treat came out warm with a side of caramel. I dont really like sweet but I did sample a piece. B. was not impressed that it was called Monkey Bread because "traditional" Monkey Bread has more of a pull-apart consistency. Perhaps they will take that into consideration as they continue to improve on the menu. Regardless it was a nice treat and the warm caramel was tasty!


The menu was broken up to include Kick Start for the Table, (monkey bread, donuts or scones) Rise and Shine options (Biscuit and Gravy, Benedict, Hot Cereal and Beef Hash etc.) and After 11 Additions (Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, Burger, Chicken Salad, Mussels). B. and R. both ordered the Eggs Your Way which came exactly how it sounds including smashed fried potatoes, biscuit and your choice of bacon, sausage, steak, trout or a crab cake. L. went with the Oregon Country burger...apparently I didnt get down on pictures of their meals. I'm sure as avid readers they can comment on their plates. Overall it looked good to me! We also ordered the Sourdough Applebread French Toast to share at the table which came with fruit, bacon and a side of pear maple syrup. It was a bit sweet for me, but for french toast lovers, this is a nice dish because the rustic bread is grilled.

I went with the Eggs Benedict (So did the other L.), of which I really enjoyed. I am a fan of Eggs Benedict and have tried as many as I can remember around town. It is just something about the way the egg is cooked and how the fat and creamy sauce all absorbs into the muffin. The ham which was covered with a green scallion hollandaise was very tasty. My only suggestion was that the pork needed more salt, of which I was informed will be included next time because it will have more time to brine. Another part of the dish that was pretty awesome was the Big Island Fruit Cup, full of pineapple, mango and banana in a bath of coconut water. This was the perfect complement to the heaviness of the benedict. I wasnt sure when I read "fruit cup" but this was not your typical lame cup of melon. You can also order the fruit cup, bacon, sausage or ham as additional sides.

Thanks to TD for buying our brunch and for our server for recommending some great treats. Overall the prices are just what you would expect for a nice city brunch, around $11-$14. I will definitely go back for this benedict!

Not sure if the brunch is Saturday and Sunday because their website isnt up to date yet so you better call and make a reservation to find out. 206-682-4142

2001 4th Ave.
At the corner of 4th and Virginia

PDX

Going out of town obviously gives you the opportunity to dine at restaurants you don't get the chance to eat at every day.

I was in Portland this past weekend and took advantage of grabbing some breakfast at the Doug Fir . I stumbled upon this place about a year ago upon staying at the adjacent hotel. The Doug Fir Restaurant is a mellow place with old school wood decor, throwback light fixtures and comfortable classic booths. The menu is very solid with something for everyone to get into. They have everything from your classic breakfast to the tofu scrambles. For some reason this restaurant concept seems so easy but we do not have anything like it here in the 206.

Most of us started with the bloody mary, which was pretty decent but a little over the top with the horseradish. Not the type of bloody mary with lots of garnish either, if I remember correctly the only thing that came in that glass was a straw, ice and drink. Then again I had slept for maybe 4.5 hours so my memory is a bit foggy, please give me a little patience.

I had the Clendenin Croissant which was great. Basically croissant, eggs, cheese and pepper bacon.


Another option could be the Logger Breakfast with Chicken Fried Steak.


Or the Lox.


Or the Biscuits and Gravy.


I really like this place and the prices are pretty reasonable. Also, what casual dining spot do you know of that has a popular music venue in the basement?

Dick's Wouldn't Run Out of Buns

No they wouldn't and mainly b/c buns are essential to Dick's business. Which is why I'm am always surprised when an establishment runs out of an ingredient that is so key to their being. Take Linda's--it is essential to the business of every weekend brunch hot spot to have a great Bloody Mary and mind you, I do believe Linda's has a great Bloody Mary. For those of you not familiar it is called the Cody Willis Bloody (or something of the sort) and this awesome breakfast beverage is served up w/ a great mix of spices and the ever important huge stick of beef jerky. So one would assume that at the start of the weekend Linda's would be fully stocked w/ the appropriate amount of beef jerky to cover the 100s of CWBs they'll be serving over the next 48hrs. But no, on Saturday, June 16 at approximately 11am--Linda's was out of beef jerky.

Which reminds me, not to long ago at the peak of the Friday morning breakfast sandwich rush, the Other Coast Cafe ran out of eggs. At least the manager looked almost as disappointed as me when he overheard the cashier deliver the news. So we went to Specialty's who fortunately had ordered enough eggs for all their customers. It's called taking inventory...