2390 NW Quimby Street (NW 24th & NW Quimby)


Average Overall Rating:

(4 out of 5)

Average Coffee Refill Rating:

(4 out of 5)

(3 out of 5)

Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 7/9/2010

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There's a line at this place for a reason. Most places don't have much to offer someone who can't eat eggs but The Stepping Stone has the greatest potato dishes, such Tichenors' Choice and they are huge and healthy. I've been ordering that dish most of the 18 years I've been eating here. when I get out of town company we eat breakfast there and they always want to go back there again when they come back to Portland. My grandson loves to go here...I've been taking him since he was a little tyke and now he he can drive me there. They make the bacon just the way I like it and I love the waiters. One has been there a very long time and he always recognizes me and is respectful and sweet. Good coffee besides.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #20489Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 3/7/2010

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Has the health department ever set foot in this place? The place looks and feels unsanitary. Everything is very true about the long wait on refills and anything else you request and the horrendous service. Anyone with a partially intact pallet (or even one tastebud) will realize upon the first bite that the food is less than edible. The last thing I had there was their biscuits and gravy - so simple how could anyone mess that up, right? Everything tasted like cleaning products and other chemicals had been dumped into the mix. Canned/packaged gravy tastes better! What the heck are they doing in that kitchen?! It is the epitomy of why Americans are obese and dieing of cancers - outrageous portions and who-knows-what kind of chemicals, hormones, and "preservatives" in the food. EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

Award Nomination: Biggest Ripoff

Review #19510Review by: gloki on 10/6/2009

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The Stepping Stone Cafe motto is 'you eat here because we let you". Unless they decide not to. Not to bus the dirty table they tell you to sit at. Not to take your order for half an hour, and then not get it right, and then take another 15 minutes to replace whatever they screw up. Ration your coffee, as you may never get more. Prepare yourselves to walk across the restaurant and acquire your own silverware, your own sugar for your coffee, or syrup for your pancakes.

And its not because they've decided not to let you eat there... its because the permissive attitude is taken by the hungover hipsters that work here as permission to just suck at their jobs. These smug bumblers just can't pull it together as a team to serve breakfast when the pressure is on.

Late nights here are free from all of the pain of suffering those fools. I highly recommended it after dark.

Award Nomination: Worst Service

Review #18215Review by: BeniHunterPDX on 9/11/2009

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This is the Eggs Benidict I dream about. Traditional Beni with perfectly poached eggs covered in a smooth, thick, creamy, homemade hollandaise with a slight lemon tang- perfect! The ham could be a little meatier, but it certainly isn't a make it or break it factor. The hollandaise more than makes up for any meat deficency. I have actually longed for this Eggs Benidict.
The Man-Cakes are huge and delightful. But again, enthralled with my Beni too much to really pay attention to what the hubby was eating.
Do yourself a favor and avoid the weekend crowds. Go during a weekday or get there when they open. Service is night and day on a Thursday morning compared to a Sunday morning.

Review #18000Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 5/28/2009

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I liked the vibe in this cafe very much, which has a sort of studied unpretentiousness. My French toast and fruit were fine, the coffee good...but what made me feel somewhat awkward was the waiter, who struck me as a beefy, straight guy who thought it would be somehow "femme" to be in any way welcoming. In the absence of a host, a waiter is basically your tour guide, and I would have appreciated a "You can sit over there" or a "How are you today?" This lack of any kind of warmth on the staff's part made me feel a bit unwanted as a customer. I'm glad I had someone with me! PS: Mr. Straight Waiter forgot my side order of bacon.

Review #17086Review by: Allenwoods on 4/24/2009

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In reading the other reviews I was surprised to see so many complaints about the service and attitude. That must have changed since 12/2008 when we started eating there on a regular basis at all hours of the day and night but neither I nor my friends have encountered poor service nor surly attitudes from the waitpersons. It could be possible that negativity breeds negativity so as a patron if you leave your bad attitude outside you might be surprised inside. The food offering is adequate but what they do provide is great fare, easy to digest and very pleasing to the palate regardless if you are ordering breakfast, lunch or dinner. The prices are very affordable which make the experience even more rewarding. I still don't get the complaint about the service. I have been there where I have had to wait an hour to be seated for breakfast or walked right in for lunch, dinner and midnight munchies and always met the most friendly wait staff who kept my water glass filled. I was never left waiting for a refill and I am a stodgy 50+ year old world traveler who eats meals out 8-12 times a week (all three meals) so know what good service is all about. Anyway, lucky me and my friends...great service, great food and great prices is what Stepping Stone is all about and worth the 27 mile drive for me any day of the week.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #16856Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 3/23/2009

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To quote Tony Bourdain, I am an egg slut. Everytime I go in there I order the same thing, the Smothered B.A. with no jalapenos. I adore waitstaff, remember the motto of the place. "You eat here because we let you." Once they start to get to know you, you become like family. It takes time to find the right place for brunch or any meal, really.

I will sit at the counter and watch all the puffed up yahoos who think they deserve the waitstaff to faun all over them because -they- decided to come in and grace us all with their presence. Remember yahoos, give respect to get respect.

The food is amazing. The man-cakes are off the plate and the coffee will wire you for sound. My only complaint is they close early during the week now. ~pouts~.. oh. oh. oh!!! They now have tater tots!!

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #16597Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 3/22/2009

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saw stepping stone and Man Vs. Food and i was Pumped!! to go try it out. unfortunately like most things you see on tv, it isnt always true. yeah the man cakes are BIG! but that is where it pretty much ends. the food was average at best. but what really blew me away was the terrible service. i dont mean just bad service in the sense that we didnt get our coffee topped off timely. i mean just plain RUDE people. The feeling i had when i left was that they could care less if we ever came back. so we wont.

Award Nomination: Worst Service

Review #16577Review by: pancakerina on 10/19/2008

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I love Stepping Stone. First of all the location is ideal. It is small and quaint but the atmosphere is loud and somewhat comforting. As long as you act cool and not abrasive the service is amazing. I'm sure if you don't cause any trouble they won't either! I am a ballerina and love to treat myself to abnormally large blueberry pancakes on sunday (my only day off.) I tried their MANCAKES and loved them! They spill over the plate and are over an inch and a half thick! I ordered two and the waiter offered to pay me if i finished. I left about 1/4 and he thought that was good enough! I got paid $5.25 and the pancakes were only $4.75! I also ordered two eggs so all in all he paid for my whole breakfast. My dad had the banana nut bread french toast and could only say great things. The whole menu (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) delivers to all audiences and is priced so well. I definitely recommend!

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #15134Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 10/12/2008

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Been eating the goat omelet for over 15 years. best omelet around. See you Saturday Morning.

Review #15085Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 9/9/2008

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Yes! This place rocks they used to have grumpy workers(see below) but things have changed ( 1 guy in particular) we love em. open early (7:30 ish-posted outside or call) they also serve other food til late, added drinks etc. they are so good when we had our daughter we went there for celebratory food and after finding this great site this is my first recommend for you. there is a wait if late on a weekend and they have smalled up the portions due to food costs(who hasn't?) but hungover or just needing a pick me up GO HERE, it's worker owned too.

Award Nomination: Most Comfortable

Review #14812Review by: jwardgram on 7/30/2008

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My first experience with Stepping Stone was very nostalgic of the 1940s or 50s. Although I wasn't alive then, I can imagine thats what it was like. Robert has the coolest soul, and the cook came out and he was chill also. Great food, and even better hospitality. The fries are unlike any frie you have ever had. So for people saying the service is bad, I guess I will have to go back and see again.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #14407Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 3/25/2007

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Yea, they've got some attitude, but that is part of the charm. Not the fake, pretentious plastic (or in some places toothless) smile you get from places.
Tell them what you need and when you need it and you will get it. Fun times, loud boisterous kitchen (listen to them yell out to the floor staff - a riot).

Amiko and the tall guy waiter can both pour a mean drink to cure what ails ya'.

Any scramble, the Pesto Chicken sandwich, and Montecriso will fill you up and knock your around w/ flavor.
Go try it out and have fun with it!!!!

Award Nomination: Most Comfortable

Review #9972Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 10/7/2006

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Why pay money to have a rude waitress? The food was ok, it would have been better if it weren't so cold. It's not worth my time or money. I try to support small businesses but I left here wondering why places like Starbucks do so well. Hmmm...maybe because they hire people with good customer service skills. What a concept!! Have some standards. Personality is great, attitude - not so much.

Award Nomination: Worst Service

Review #8658Review by: MrBreakfast.com Visitor on 8/31/2006

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Why pay money to be treated badly?

Review #8398Review by: squidderz on 6/13/2006

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"You eat here because we let you" pretty much sums it up. If I wanted this kind of attitude with my eggs, I'd stay home.

Review #7749Review by: aeroblonde on 1/10/2006

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"You Eat Here Because We Let You" is the motto at Stepping Stone Cafe, so be prepared to enjoy more than just your food. Huge delicious breakfasts and lunches at under $10 served with attitude to spare. Great spot for late night food on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (9 p.m. - 3 a.m.). Fun gift idea: buy a pair of thongs or boxer shorts (emblazoned with their motto) for yourself or a loved one!

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #6574


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Reviews submitted here are meant to pertain to breakfast only. While Mr Breakfast cannot vouch for the validity of each restaurant review, he feels pretty good vouching for the excellent character of the residents of Portland, Oregon - who are primarily responsible for the review(s) you see above for Stepping Stone Cafe.