Stepping Stone Cafe Reviews

A very popular breakfast spot in Portland and has been featured on television shows. My brother and I had breakfast here and it was exceptional. The place is like an old diner cafe and the service and food were great. I had the egg sandwich and it had not only the fried eggs but they also put slices of ham in there. It was fantastic. The potatoes were the old fashioned fried potatoes and the toast was excellent as well. The prices are reasonable and I can see why the place is so crowded all the time.

My wife, my sister (84), our grandson (5) and myself (74) ate there on Saturday after visiting a craft show at the convention center. Our food was plentiful and delicious. Our grandson wanted a pancake and it was prepared to look like Mickey Mouse and was as big as the plate. Will go back anytime we are in Portland.

I’m not sure what they wanted to come across as , when you sign on the street say “you eat here because we let you “. I wish I would have noticed it before I went it . I would have left.... no permission needed. The food it ok , typical breakfast food place nothing out of the ordinary.

Feed family of 4 for less than $35 including tip. We had no line - yay! But arrived at 8am. When we left by 9:30 they were busier but still no line. A mix of tourists and portlanders!

After seeing this cafe on Man v Food, just had to visit when we were in Portland. My son had the "Bad*** omelette" - I really don't know how he managed to finish it! The omelettes and "mancakes" are really good too.

Came here for our last meal before heading home and everything was great. The portions and prices were all very decent and coffee was good too. It's a solid old school dinner and for $10 you can have a full meal and drink which isn't very common back in Vancouver. The food wasn't out of this world amazing but it was solid and I can see why this place would be so popular.

If for no other reason, go to try the man-cakes. Plate sized fluffy pancakes. Located in a quiet neighborhood, be prepared to add your name to a clipboard outside and wait for a table. Wait wasn't long and the staff is friendly. Coffee refilled frequently and meals didn't take long after ordering. Real maple syrup is extra but worth it. French toast and the omelet with avocado and bacon were hits too.

I have tried most of the items on the menu. The salads are great — lots of bacon on the spinach salad. It’s all very good, fresh made and tasty. Like the chicken fried steak. This place is nothing fancy, just a good old down home diner to help stave off the hungries.

I come here once in awhile for breakfast; going for some lunch and it's terrific. Fri badly folks, old Portland environs.

I was excited to come here a second time and it did not disappoint! My son said it was the best Chicken Fried Steak he has ever had! I had an omelet made exactly the way I wanted and to top it off Prince and Micheal Jackson was playing the entire time we were there!!

We love eating at diners when we go out of town. This place was an amazing diner. They had mancakes. They were delicious pancakes that were the size of a dinner plate. My sons loved them. Though they couldn't finish them. I had eggs and hashbrowns and they were equally delicious. What I really loved were the prices. They had such large portions and really reasonable prices.

I have been on the lookout for some great breakfast places in the portland area other than the popular brunch spots. I heard about this place being on Man vs Food for the Mancakes. I however had the banana bread french toast; had a good flavor to it. DIdn't have to wait in line too long which is a plus for eating out in Portland. Good Portland find and would go again.

We were staying in the area and were looking for a little local flavor and we found it. Decent breakfast for a reasonable price. Nothing fancy just your old style local neighborhood diner, with good food and a nice variety. I saw a complaint about the coffee but we all thought the coffee was decent.

I've eaten here several times. The food is always good, but man... The service staff is just plain rude. If you can ignore that, try it. If not, try The Original Pancake or nearby Cameo.

We had seen Stepping Stone on Man vs. Food and thought we should go try it. I am not sure how but we arrived and were immediately seated. 10 minutes later there was a 30 minute wait. That said, my wife ordered the Mancakes and I had the smothered Bad A omelet. Both were huge, delcious and enough food for the day. Everything we ate was very good but nothing so unique that its noteworthy. Big pancake and big omelet. Tasty to be sure but most places that serve breakfast do things pretty well. The restaurant has a lot of funky decor hanging around which gives the place an interesting vibe. The patrons range from college kids to grandmothers and everything in between. If you don't mind a bit of a wait, you will probably love the Stepping Stone Cafe.

My eggs benedict was to die for. Excellent. Others in our party loved the french toast, fried eggs, and pancakes. We had to wait outside for a table but that wasn't a big deal. Wish we could have had outdoor seating, however.

At stepping stone they have a wide selection of traditional American breakfast. The portions are quite big and the taste is good. However, the music is too loud, one can hardly have a conversation.

I highly recommend having breakfast here. Love that it's in a cute little neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. We really enjoyed all the fun and quirky decor while we waited for our super yummy food.

Yes, Adam Richman from Man vs Food peaked my curiosity when he at here. Corner diner located in the Northwest District of Portland. We took the street car and walked a few blocks. Loved the neighborhood atmosphere and the wait staff are super friendly. We ordered: Mancake – short stack with blueberries, She ate the entire plate by herself. Veggie – scrambled eggs with spinach, mushroom, hash browns and wheat toast If you are driving, recommend walking around the neighborhood before traveling home. Lots to see and best to walk off some the calories.

Good food and service. Fun place to see the local culture. We had a nice lunch with the family. Good neighborhood to take a walk and eat.

We had to line up, and there's a reason for that. The food is diner food that tastes great. We got ahead of the queue by eating at the counter - great idea if you want to avoid a long wait. The "man cakes" are huge, fluffy and delicious. All the food was good and the service very friendly.

We waited about 20 minutes for a table for 3 after church on a Sunday morning. Well worth it! I had cinnamon French toast. My husband had the absolute omelette, and our friend had the breakfast enchilada. Portions are HUGE! Food is delicious.

When I travel, I try to find a diner for breakfast. This place fit the bill, including worn spots in the counter in front of every stool. The couner is open to anyone. If you want a table, you need to stand in the line outside. There is no waiting list. Food is a higher quality that most diners and the service is good, but very busy. Obviously frequented by locals. A refresing change from the yuppy restaruants in the neighborhood

Amazingly large and good breakfasts are served up here. They have a great selection of omelettes. The corned beef hash and eggs are served in unique way and is highly recommended. The coffee is also very good. It deservedly draws a crowd, so be prepared to wait. We saw the enormous man cakes being devoured by most of the patrons, but we did not give them a go. I was so full and satisfied from my breakfast that I passed on lunch.

We walked into Stepping Stone Cafe to workers who appeared to care less that we were there. Which fits right into their tagline, "You eat here because we let you." Yet the service was prompt, the food was great, and the atmosphere was festive. I ordered the tofu scramble which came with a healthy portion of hash browns. My wife ordered a stack of mancakes. Both dishes were very good. The mancakes are very large, and if you're not used to eating a lot of food, just get the single. Overall, we enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it.

We had breakfast on a Sunday afternoon. Breakfast is served all day. This place is tiny and cramped. Not for the claustrophobic! The food is fresh, delicious and plentiful. The biscuits are the size of a grapefruit! The people who work there are friendly and pleasant. I would like to try the lunch menu.

My husband loves the Mancakes. I personally am a fan of the Bacon Cheeseburger and they have some of the best french fries in town. Crispy and delicious. We go for breakfast, (but it is very busy). But my favorite time to go is for a late night dinner. You can get breakfast all day long.

While visiting family in Portland, we tried breakfast at Stepping Stone Cafe. The diner is located in a residential area, and I suspect has not been renovated in decades. The booths were very small. However they serve typical breakfast food which was tasty. Unfortunately, the toast was not toasted-- rather just warm bread. The pancake was heugh.

So dependable: good food, good service, local color, convenient location. A perfect blast-- from the past, present and hopefully long future.

Had breakfast there two days in a row and the four of us were not disappointed. Each of us had something different each day so essentially we had eight of their offerings. Chicken fried steak was good, mancake was good, omelet was good but raspberry, white chocolate french toast may have been best.... Good service too!

The menu certainly has something for everyone in our family. Dinner included eggs,sandwiches,macaroni,and chicken fried steak. All served hot and very good. Kind of a quirky vibe and friendly staff.

We had a scramble and eggs breakfast with coffees. Big portions and great cup of Portland Roasting french roast coffee! Attentive and kind.

i've been here a few times and everything I've had been delicious. Chicken fried steak & corned beef hash are favs!! even in 100° weather they still put out great food!!!!

My wife and I decided to eat breakfast this morning and she suggested the Stepping Stone Cafe. We had the best breakfast I have had in a while. Not only was the breakfast good, we had the best service. I had the French Toast, side eggs and a side of Bacon. My wife is on a health kick and had Oatmeal. The Coffee was excellent!!! You may have to wait for a seat outside so be dressed for the weather.

If you're hungry and don't mind the wait, definitely try Stepping Stone. Awesome omelets and the best damn pancakes in town.

I am so curious what everyone loves about this place. One of the most bland meals I have had. In the end, I was somewhat satisfied with the flavour of my omelette, after I put at least a tablespoon of hot sauce on it, but my fiance (who never complains) was very disappointed. The hashbrowns were so under seasoned, they were lame. Salt was a MUST. My fiance had a basil chicken sausage that the restaurant cut in half and cooked and it was super dry. Any good chef (or cook) knows you don't cut meat to cook it. Super disappointed and will not be returning.

Five of us waited outside in pouring rain, waiting for a larger table. Cold, wet, & wondering if the food would be worth it. It was! We each ordered something different & traded bites. Yes, we would recommend, but plan a possible wait in your schedule.

Wow, there is no need to write this review, just stop reading and get over to this food haven! The line to get in during a Monday morning breakfast was down the street, and so that speaks enough for how good the food is. You should be aware though that sitting at the counter is first come first serve, I walked right in and got a seat, so consider checking the counter before putting your name on the list for a booth. I ordered the banana nut bread french toast and the half biscuit & gravy. The french toast was absolutely delicious, covered in cinnamon and walnuts, crunchy but actually not too sweet throughout. Unfortunately I did not like the biscuit or the sausage gravy, both were too bland for me, and I had preferred the perfect biscuit at Simpatica the day before. The service was fantastic, especially at the counter, the staff make jokes and talk openly with the customers, as well as quickly refill your coffee. The cost is insanely cheap for the amount of food you will fail to completely consume. Most pleasant breakfast experience that I highly recommend.

Great place to enjoy a meal. Great view from the deck. Staff was very pleasant. It is over looking the river so you can enjoy the out doors and have a group of friends dine with you.

It was our last morning in Portland during a visit with our adult daughter who recently moved there. We decided to head to the Nob Hill area for a Saturday morning breakfast and just wander around. We stumbled upon Stepping Stone and knew immediately it was our type of place. It was almost 8am and we JUST missed the line that was forming! Husband had the special of the day, the "Gringo chili verde omelet," I had the veggie scramble with a humongous delicious biscuit, and daughter the french toast. It was all very delicious and the wait staff were super friendly. This was one of those amazing fortunate finds without having to do a Google search!

I found this place after specifically looking for a breakfast place in NW Portland. The reviews looked good, but I'd never heard of it. From the outside, inside as well, it doesn't look like much. Pretty much just your typical little diner. Looks can fool you, so they say, and this is true here as well. The staff is great. Friendly, on top of things, and no delays at all. The place is on the very small side (would hold 40 or so if everyone held their breath), so turnover is probably important. Having said that, there hasn't been a single time I've had to wait or felt rushed during a weekday visit around 9am. I could see weekends being packed, tho. As for the food, everything I've had has been great. Freshly made, hot off the grill, and cooked just to perfection. Portions are on the larger side. The three egg omelette is huge, as are the pan-, I mean mancakes. These dogs are the size of a medium to large pizza. Not wanting to waste any, I haven't ordered one yet, but they look incredible. I give Stepping Stone a 5, but with the caveat that the 5 is for what the place is: A small, hyper-local diner. If you are visiting, it would be well worth the trip. This isn't breakfast at the Ritz, but for an affordable (the prices are great) really good breakfast, you really can't beat it.

This place was so good. I had the chicken fried steak and eggs, sooo good!!! But they have "ManCakes" instead of pancakes and that is because they are the size of plates, at least 10inches across. Lots of character and great food and fair prices. We will definately be back. Thanks!!!!!

Was looking for a breakfast place online as I was planning a hike. Stepping Stone Cafe caught my eye and after checking out their website decided to give them a try. Fun, unique, quaint cafe in the NW with friendly staff and really good food. I had an omelet and was impressed with the amount of ingredients in it. Also like their unique hash browns. Guess they were featured on Man v. Food for their Mancakes, which I will have to go back and try. And the chicken fried steak, And biscuits and gravy.

We were left standing in the doorway for nearly 45 minutes. Most of the staff were very rude and ignored us. We saw them take three groups of people before the three of us, yet we arrived before them. My wife pointed this out to the lady who seemed to own the place at least twice and both times the lady said 'It will be another 5 minutes.' When we were finally seated, we had to wait another five minutes or so for menus. Then it took another fifteen minutes before anyone took our order. We ordered pancakes and chicken fried steak, which took forty minutes to arrive at our table. I did not receive a cup of coffee until after we were seated over fifteen minutes. The food was average and was not worth the driving hassle to get to the restaurant nor was the long wait. We heard about this from the Travel Channel and were disappointed as we expected better food than what we received.

What a treat! Came here for dinner and we were blown away by the food! I had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and it was absolutely delicious. It came with a green salad and I had their homemade bleu cheese dressing. Good portions, excellent food, affordable prices. Can’t wait to go back for breakfast! Yum!

As always, a great breakfast and excellent service. Stepping Stone has been providing great food in good sized portions in a nostalgic setting for years. It is one of my absolute go to breakfast places in the city.

A slight wait to be seated but worth it. This is a dive place, but the food is great. The pancakes are the size of dinner plates. We shared a three egg omelet, pancakes and the fried egg sandwich. All were great and the three of us couldn't finish the pancakes.

We love this place. We discovereed it years ago on restaurant.com and have been here at least a dozen times since then. Always crowded and quirky, lol. Waitstaff can be stiff, but if you are friendly they open right up. Kicthen is right at the counter level so you can see they are working hard. Food is great and a good value -

On a Sunday morning in July, the wait for a table for 4 was an expected 40 minutes. But worth the wait. Fun breakfast scene with really good food. Since we had Southerners with us, we couldn't skip the biscuit, and that was the only disappointment. While good, it didn't stack up to a Southern biscuit.

His was our second visit here. Great service, good food in large amounts. We had the biscuits with eggs and the jack scramble from the specials menu. The biscuits and gravy are amazing and the scrambled eggs with jack, spinach and bacon are really good. Love the Portland Roasting coffee they serve. Fun and quirky sayings on the wall. Wish the music wasn't quite so loud. Hard to have a conversation.

Despite evidence of years, worn seats, unpainted or layers of paint walls, and a myriad of old and odd signs and decorations, my wife and I very much enjoyed our visit. The server was friendly, the food was excellent (diner style), and the atmosphere appropriate for a diner from prior decades. Prices were reasonable and options included all day breakfasts. We will be back in the future.

I used to come to this place often when I lived in this neighborhood 30 years ago and the place is essentially the same. You have to wonder a bit when the slogan on the menu reads something like "we serve you here because we let you". Service was OK but the "neo bobcat" omelet was, frankly, terrible...slices of unripe avocado, wimpy eggs, lukewarm sliced potatoes, hardly any cheese...you get the picture. Restroom needs cleaning. I must be getting old because I'm just not willing to put up this any more in a developed country.

We used to always love coming to Stepping Stone b/c of the great food but our last experience was so disappointing that we probably won't come back for a long time. The food was great as it usually is but the service was just terrible-and unfortunately this happened after we had finished our meal. My husband asked for a refill of iced tea and was told that they don't give free refils. Come on, what restaurant doesn't do that? I remembmer many times we've eaten here and gotten free soft drink refils without question. This guy practially made us feel guilty by saying that he'd give us an iced tea refil "this time" but that the refils aren't free. But what really ruined our visit was when we went to pay. We handed the guy our credit card and the card reader gave him an error message. He tried like three times and got the same message. We were afriad that our card had been declined, but he assured us it "wasn't a decline code". We tried two other cards with the same results. Oddly enough, not once did he ever bother calling the credit card company (because clearly it was their machine giving him the error message) and when we told him that we didn't have any other cards, we were basically forced to drive about 6 blocks away to a gas station and get money from an ATM before driving all the way back to pay. Needless to say that because of his 'laziness' we didn't bother leaving a tip. I can't help but wonder if the large group that sat next to us had the same problem with their card. I was appalled that this guy didn't care enough to even research the problem and instead inconvienced us. As I said before, their food is really good and the place is cute, but next time we'll find somewhere else to eat.

Ended eating breakfast there twice. Quirky diner with huge tasty portions. Not infested with hipsters but you get the laid back vibe there. Saw this diner on the travel show "Man vs Food" and tried a single mancake. I was defeated. A mancake is a huge, inch thick, plate sized pancake. The other breakfasts were excellent. Particularly the bacon. Prices were reasonable. Coffee was excellent.

All of the staff were very friendly despite having a jam packed lunch hour. I saw the "The Smothered Meal that Shall Not Be Named" (due to TripAdvisors profanity restrictions) on the menu when I looked up the restaurant the night before and it did not disappoint. I've never heard of chicken fried steak in an omelet but they made a good call on that one. My boyfriend and I also had the banana bread french toast and it was really good. I wish I could describe these better but you'd really have to try them to understand; looking at a picture or review won't cut it. If all I did in Portland was go to the Stepping Stone, it would have been well worth the road trip from Los Angeles.

Thos place is horrible the food was terrified old and smelly service is worsth, we went with family and,.I tipped him $ 4.00 and went out the owner came out and stopped my wife while I was putting kids to car, he was work for tips here ,wow what a service and accepting more tips

Expect a short wait, but then be happy you waited. Great Food. The chicken fried steak is one of the best I have had, the potatoes are delicious, and the MANCAKES are enormous and pretty tasty. We will be back. Parking was not an issue on Sunday morning.

This place is very small but the food is quite good and more than sufficient quantities. It was so good I just kept eating. I was still stuffed at 7PM that night! (We had breakfast around 8:30AM). Be prepared to be very close with your neighbor, as I noted above, this place is very small.

This place is what it is. A diner with diner food. I love this place for it's big greasy breakfast plates. Especially the smothered badas$. Bring your appetite if you want to go big. They also have smaller options and breakfast standards al a carte. Nothing fancy but it's good.

This was a 'Must try' on my latest trip after featuring in Man vs Food and it certainly lived up to my expectations. Situated in a friendly looking neighbourhood, we eventually found the restaurant and were seated straight away. It appeared as a laid back diner with good tunes. For me it had to be the infamous Mancakes. Sadly, but not surprisingly, food certainly won that day but the 3 mighty pancakes were fluffy and flavoursome which I covered with lashings of syrup! Our venture here meant we also stumbled across a very nice wine shop just down the road but can't recall the name!

Portions were huge, prices were reasonable, food was good and staff was friendly! It is a very small place so sometimes the wait may be some time. We had to wait about 15 minutes on a beautiful Saturday morning in Portland

Not bad for a little cafe. Located in neighborhood in Portland Oregon, service abrupt but friendly. Probably would come back.

This is a BIG breakfast. I ordered veggie scramble excellent! Not greasy at all and a wonderful low card breakfast. My friend ordered bacon, eggs and a huge biscuit. Staff has been there a long time and work hard so tip well. Well worth a little wait. P.s. Don't order the frisbee siZe pancake unless you and a friend! It's huge!

Wow...large portions and delicious! Chicken fried steaks are awesome and their mancake is huge and very good. This hidden gem is a spot to not only try but to come back over and over and over....you get the point!

Cute little cafe with wonderful food, large portions and a good value for the money. The service is fast and friendly.

My brother lives in Portland, every time we visit him, Stepping Stones is a must, the food is really good there, the taste, the size, the quantity is just right. Although, be aware of the weekends as it's supper crowded, impossible to get service on time, and even worst when you go on winter and have to wait outside... With kids! But if you do, trust me you will love it. Get the mug!

I have been coming to the Stepping Stone off and on for many years. My most recent visit was as delightful as usual. Casual and friendly with great food. The staff is very friendly and responsive. I love the way they make you feel like you are welcome.

We have lived in Portland area about a year and saw this on Man vs Food, so decided to take our teens to try it out. Portland Roasting Co coffee was great. Kids had the mancakes and bacon. Bacon was perfect, mancake was huge as expected and really thick, but dry. Bacon, spinach, and jack scrambled eggs with wheat toast and potatoes- everyone's favorite! Biscuits and gravy with eggs- wonderful and huge portion of biscuits with gravy! We plan to return. It's a very small place and you are expected to wait outside. Put your name on the clipboard hanging outside and wait on them to call you. It was a nice morning and it was late- around 10 am. Didn't wait too long. Service was efficient. Quirky place and worth a visit!

The cafe appears to have been a local establishment for a long time and being located in a neighborhood the parking is limited. We had to park three blocks away and arrived before 8:30 a.m. on a Sunday in order to get a seat. The staff was very friendly and filled our coffee multiple times. The meals were delivered hot and in a timely fashion even though there were 12 of us. The pancakes were at least a foot across and fluffy. The Bloody Mary was also a hit. I had the Cinnamon Roll French Toast. It is prepared with Cinnamon Roll batter which made it a bit thick. Think i would have preferred cinnamon french toast without the batter.

Being a tourist we really felt part of the Portland scene in this quirky cafe. The food was excellent- fresh and local at an unbelievable great price. We had an evening meal here. I had macaroni cheese with a great salad and my husband had burger and fries- both excellent! The cafe had a continual waves of customers coming and going (mainly students) which kept the atmosphere upbeat and interesting. Would really recommend this establishment!

Have eaten here for a very long time. I used to have lunch here quite a bit--now I go for breakfast. Tried the strawberry cheese blintzes--wow there were good. Nothing like real berries, not the jam you get at other places. My hubby had the egg whites with toast, and the serving was huge. We left full and happy. They have a small bar selection, so you can get a bloody mary if you want one. Enjoy.

I came here for breakfast based on the reviews, and I just don't get it. Maybe I ordered the wrong food, but the western omelet was pretty tasteless. And the coffee? The one at my hotel tasted much better. But this seems to be a popular local spot, pretty noisy with the conversation. It was packed at 9 am on Friday, and there was a waiting list. With all that, the service was pretty quick and courteous. I just don't know if I'd come back for the food.

In preparation for a morning’s hike at Macleay Park in northern Portland, we needed a damn good breakfast. Our guide in the know immediate proposed Stepping Stone Café, located on the corner of N.W. 24th Avenue and N.W. Quimby Street (plenty of on-street parking nearby). Google describes it as ‘the retro diner with gigantic pancakes’; many others know it from an episode of ‘Man vs. Food’ where wonderful, lovable feedbag Adam Richman tacked a stack of the fabled ‘mancakes’, each one as large as a dinner plate. How could I not go here? Stepping Stone’s website proudly states that “You eat here because we let you”, a remark that somehow means everything and nothing at all. Despite being a lowly café, the queue is out of the door when we arrive, and immediately it becomes clear that ‘letting’ us eat here is akin to a challenge, much like the mancakes. We add our party name to the paper list on the door and were advised to come back twenty minutes later. We leave for a quick stroll, however when we returned, our name had been crossed off. Nevertheless, the charming host recognised us and allowed us straight in. Yes, it is very retro inside; two low-ceilinged rooms, cream walls bursting with kitsch memorabilia, red fittings, red chairs and chequered tablecloths. I mean, you may as well just pretend you’re in ‘Back To The Future’ and start shouting “McFly!” over and over and over again. We’re sat in a corner, by the window; which sounds great but it was just where the queuing masses could peer in on us, eating our breakfasts. Not that we cared too much because the food is well worth the wait. An extensive — and I mean very extensive — breakfast menu has the real potential to confuse (and regular fare like grills, sandwiches and burgers are served alongside as well), but you’re not going to go wrong here, and in one visit you can see why the Americans are so good at the most important meal of the day. Between the four of us, we got a mix of scrambles and three-egg-omelettes. If you are undecided between mancakes or eggs, then don't panic as most breakfast items allow you to sub hash browns for one of those monstrosities… so I did. And I managed to steal my partner’s hash browns, so win-win really. The omelettes are huge and the fillings, generous. Hash browns perfectly cooked and the mancake? Well it was as good a pancake as I have ever had. It was as big as they said it would be and I was only barely able to finish it… but I did. Less successful were their biscuits which our friend tried; they were far too dry, and a special coffee option with added Irish Cream liquor was chosen based on its sheer novelty, but was quickly shunned and placed on the windowsill for the hungry hordes to gaze at. Stepping Stone Café isn't the kind of place to spend too long in. It’s loud, tables are packed together and though the service is friendly, it’s also punctual; after all, there are plenty more people waiting to be seated. So after a filling breakfast we paid up (about fifteen dollars per head) and made our way to the trails. Stepping Stone’s menu does make it more a destination for breakfast, rather than lunch or dinner; but it’s thoroughly recommended for a memorable morning meal. Just don't eat a mancake and go on a hike; a mistake I shall only make once in my lifetime.

We were staying on Sauvie Island so the closest restaurants were in Northwest Portland. We found Stepping Stone on line and gave it a try. Huge quantities of very good breakfast food, including a veggie scramble that could probably feed two. A big plus for me: Dark rye toast - a real treat. Very good coffee for a diner type place. Very friendly and fast service. Reasonable prices and of course no tax. Comfortable tables and booths. Easy parking early in the morning. What's not to like?

Eclectic "little" place that I placed on "to do" list in '09 . Grabbed one of two open seats at 9a. Promptly greeted and drink order taken but not delivered for 15 minutes, after the only other server asked. Breakfast was above average and pretty fairly priced for the quantity and town. 2nd server, female was personable. By 10a, 8-10 people waiting on seats.

A year later and the the food continues to be excellent. Hard to beat the brekki here especially the chicken fried steak. Highly recommend it. A gem in the Pearl.

This place is a little rough around the edges, but that gives it character. Watch for the decorations that drop down when the door opens! We were there at dinner time; one of us had breakfast anyway: poached eggs on toast were nicely cooked. A plain burger was decent, as was a grilled-cheese + tomato-gorgonzola soup combo. It all hit the spot, and for a great price, about $30 for the three of us.

Stepping Stone still rocks breakfast with their great selection, generous portions, friendly service and quirky decorations (read all the little signs). The omelette with chicken fried steak, hash browns, onions and peppers smothered in TASTY TASTY gravy is outstanding. Everything I've eaten here has been great and you won't walk away hungry. I hit the Stepping Stone nearly every time I'm in Portland, I love it!

Awesome little breakfast place in the NW district of Portland. The place is a bit of a tight squeeze if you're sitting at the bar or at one of the tables along the wall behind the bar. The service here is friendly enough, but as with most breakfast joints is PDX, it's clear that the staff aren't trying to be your buddy. If you go on the weekends, expect a wait. The upside to this is that the wait is worth it. The portions are unapologetically large (mancakes) and the quality of the food ranks right up there. Definitely more of a summer place since there isn't a place inside to wait for a table if it's cold/raining outside!

The Stepping Stone is a little gem hidden in the Nob Hill neighborhood. This is not fancy - no cloth napkins please. The music is loud and rocking and the portions are healthy. The pancakes are the signature "mancakes", where a single pancake covers a whole plate. The biscuits are pretty massive too, and make a nice accompaniment to the big omelets. My wife and I shared a midsummer's day breakfast there this month, and most of the customers seemed like they were pretty young. Although the signs claim that the service will be surly, they were actually very nice. Recommended for a good breakfast option, if you like your breakfast big and your music rockin'.

Had great food and service. We had fun. I felt I was part of just part of the regular crowd. I would go back again and again.

This place was on Man v Food so thats why we went and I am glad that we did. We went twice for breakfast. I got the Mancake (Pancake the size of my chest). You can get 1, 2 or 3. Man v Food got 3 as a chalIenge, but I got one and I felt good afterwards, not too full. I had the original which was awesome and I also tried the pumpkin which was even better. Either way they were some of the best pancakes Ive ever had. I also got the cinnamon bun french toast which was very good as well. My wife got an omlette, not sure exactly which one, but it was delicious. I highly recommend trying a Mancake.

Closed not open late like it says. Pretty annoyed had to waste my time traveling hete with colleagues.

This place is tucked into a nice residential neighborhood and it is tiny. The food is good. They serve breakfast all day, but have a lunch menu too. They are open late. The servers are not very attentive. There is an attitude of superiority...like you are lucky to be eating here. Service is slow. The decor is cluttered and not particularly clean. It is a bit of a young hipster hangout.

We got a big cheerful greeting when we walked in. It was a weekday so there was no waiting. I had a wonderful huevos rancheros meal. It was exceptional!! Everyone does it differently. This was among the best I've had. Gail had the chicken sausage scramble. Her favorite. The jam was great on the biggest biscuit I've ever seen. A must visit!!!

My husband and I went to lunch at the restaurant, I ordered an Avocado, swiss omelet. I just thought the omelet needs to have more taste like salt or pepper, and the hashbrowns look like chipped potato chips and they were pretty tasteless too. The service was great as well, I just wish they need a little more approvement on the breakfast.

Our family has been coming here for years. The food is awesome as always. We love the portion sizes for each meal. The price is very reasonable. Menu selection is good for many tastes. If you love pancakes, you have to try a ManCake! Warning! Order one only. I’ve never been able to finish just one ManCake. They also serve drinks and local micro brews. Parking is by street only. Is coming on weekends be prepared on waiting list. Service is fast and friendly to everyone. You won’t be disappointed with this place. We will continue to come here. I’m reluctant to write a review due to more customers coming here and increasing our wait times. At any rate we will still wait for good food and great atmosphere. Good eats!!!

Good food. Their reputation for service with attitude is a bit of hype -- everyone was helpful, but don't come during peak periods and expect fast service. It's crowded and a bit rundown (cracked tile floors, graffitied bathrooms that are basically clean), but the food is plentiful and tasty. They make their reputation on gigantic biscuits and pancakes ('mancakes") but I had a spinach-bacon-hashbrown dish that was reasonably sized. So if you come for breakfast or brunch, you'll probably be able to scope out which dishes are enormous, and order accordingly.

If you like big....go for the plate sized pancakes or the 6" diameter biscuits. Despite the size, the cakes are quite good. Diner style restaurant with a great counter or booths to sit at.

We were in Portland for two days and we went here both days! It was so tasty we both really enjoyed our meals. Fantastic value for money and an awesome choice of food! The service was good as well with drink refills and friendly staff. Don't miss out going here on your vacation! I'd recommend the spinach and cheese hash!

The only thing I don't like is that, after the Portland real estate boom resulted in a huge crowd of wealthy would-be hipsters moving into ridiculously over-priced condos nearby, you sometimes have to endure overhearing their stupid conversations. But often the good music drowns out the bragging. The food is good, old-fashioned diner style. The atmosphere is fun. And the pancakes are huge. Quality varies according to who is cooking, but it's never bad. And many of the patrons remain the sort of people who made Portland hip in the first place. It's a pleasant place to relax over a meal.

Came here for breakfast on our last day. This is a quaint neighborhood place, and is kind of quirky which works for me. It's like an old diner with new accents. The coffee was OK and I had a swiss cheese omelet. I was anxious to try their home made biscuits, as I love biscuits. These were disappointing. The biscuit was too large, not terribly flavorful and not cooked all the way in the middle, so it was rather gummy. I tried to eat it but just could not get down half. They offer home made jam -- maybe Marionberry? All in all, a decent breakfast.

We came here for breakfast on the recommendation of our host. The service was impeccable, and the food delicious. If you leave here hungry, it’s your own fault. They have a great variety to choose from and it was all perfectly prepared.

Classic diner, with great breakfast food, which is served all day. Usually a wait, unless you like to counter surf, which my wife and I prefer. The mancakes are huge and tasty and their biscuits are just tremendous.

This is always a very reliable diner. If you’re hungry, there are several dishes that are guaranteed to rapidly and effortlessly increase your obesity. People that work here are friendly and it’s always quick service. Unfortunately there was a redecoration so a lot of the really interesting cool and amusing signs that were covering the walls previously have now disappeared, along with the action figures that bobbed up and down with the door and were a highlight. Only problem is SS is no longer open past 3 o’clock, this was a great place for an early dinner if, say, you’re craving meatloaf.,

I like the idea of a neighborhood diner. But, does it really take 40 minutes to cook some scrambled eggs? The female manager and teenaged boy server were not friendly or polite. Food was fine.

The staff at the hotel recommended this place and I am so glad we took their advice! Went there for brunch last weekend and what a treat! This place is funky, their menu is great and the staff were a total blast! What I really appreciated was their willingness to give me vegetarian options for the eggs Benny that was not on the menu. The food did not disappoint! Make sure you have a Bloody Mary it was DELICIOUS!!!!

We have been twice to the Stepping Stone for late lunch and dinner. Really had an enjoyable dining experience. The atmosphere is comfortably grungy and the food very good and true to itself. Much like a neighborhood deli on the East Coast. Surprisingly kid friendly. Mac and cheese was great. The vegetarian, black bean chilly wonderful. The Stepping Stone offers good food without much emphasis on deserts. Lots of 'comfofrt' food and a great diner to linger at with a couple of buddies. Staff is very friendly and relaxed.

We had heard from a local that this was a MUST breakfast spot, but the only thing impressive was the portions. They are massive. The pancake tasted like a "shake and pour" mix you can get stuff the grocery store, not fluffy. The banana bread was tasty but a little dry compared to what I like. Our server was okay. She seemed busy but felt impersonal when at our table.

This is a small cafe on the corner in the Pearl District of Portland. the Pearl is a great place to spend a day window shopping. Lot's great places and food eateries. We went to the Stepping Stone Restaurant about 1:30 PM on a weekday. Since they serve breakfast all day I had breakfast and my wife had lunch. I had their Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs. It was a large portion with great sliced fried potatoes and homemade toast and jam! It was very good and I would highly recommend. My wife had the spinach, bacon and avocado salad. It was also very large with lots of bacon and a great salad dressing. Would highly recommend both!! This was our first time there but not our last. Would highly recommend!!

We only heard of this place via the Travel Channel. You must wait outside for a table after signing a wait sheet that hangs outside. We ordered a 'stack' of 3 large pancakes. Two adults were barely able to eat 2 of them. They were thick and hung over the plate. Others in the group ordered the banana bread french toast and a variety of omelets. Everything was good. Their bacon was awesome too. The only negative was the loud obnoxious music that made it very hard to hold a conversation.

The Stepping Stone Cafe was on an episode of Man Vs Food. The food here is delicious. Come get the mancakes. A Portland gem!

This is a place that should be a tourist attraction. The food is great and the prices are reasonable. The wait staff Leaves much to be desired, eanging from arrogant to surly. When I asked some questions about food items, I was answered with a disdainful attitude as if if I were privileged to be allowed in this place. Yes it is popular and the food is very good -- but my wife and I will not set foot in a place where the customers are not treated with respect. We visit Portland every few years and have eaten there twide -- same results. Great food, nasty people.

Funky neighborhood restaurant epitomized by the T shirts you can buy that have a cup of coffee printed on one side and "You eat here because we let you.". Excellent place to have breakfast with delicious waffles. Nothing fancy about this place.

Enjoyed a late breakfast upon arriving in Portland. The food was very good, portions very filling. My only recommendation would be to lower the volume on the music so that guests can talk without screaming. ;-)

Heard from the locals that this was a great place for breakfast. Very impressed with portions we got. Dont think we even finished it cause it was so much. Server was very accommdating, prices were good, and wasnt busy in the morning that we went. Reminded me of an old diner feel to it. Would recommend to others.

Went here with my kids/teenagers two weeks ago when we were in Portland. Very pleasant relaxed atmosphere. Food was very good. Best chicken fried steak and best meat loaf I've ever had at restaurant. Also excellent macaroni and cheese. Real cheese. Wait staff was pleasant and low key. Very good beer recommendation. Also, the salad was very good. Good greens and an excellent balsamic vinegar / oil dressing. I'd go back any time.

Not fancy, just good! Small neighborhood diner with terrific comfort food. Breakfast was fun. Chicken fried steak is most excellent. So is the Carnitas burrito. Large portions (you may want to share). We have visited this diner once a year for several years and have not been disappointed.

We stopped in late for food and it was good and very substantial portions. Feels very much like a diner but charming in it's way.

Took transit for 10 minutes and a short walk to get to this popular and famous breakfast place. It's great simply because its a neigborhood style restaurant - small, cozy and very friendly with huge plates of breakie! We got there alittle after 11 am and got into seats straight away. About 15 min later there was a good sized line to get in. Our breakfast for 2 came in at $15.50 and we left ready for a food nap. Well worth the visit!

If you're a person who is on a search for some amazing breakfast, than look no more. The Stepping Stone Cafe is extraordinary. Weather you like pancakes, waffles, corn beef hash, this place has it all. By far the best chicken fried steak I've ever tried. Has a fun fast paced atmosphere and is definitely worth the wait.

Yummy food. Perfect breakfast. Great service. Cute place with a nostalgic ambiance. Wish we lived close by just to eat here often. Busy, so be patient. Fast service once we were seated.

I didn't do the mancakes--I had the banana bread French toast and holy cow, was that filling! Very tasty though and I loved the atmosphere--it reminded me of a diner that was just down the road from my grandma's in Ottumwa. Prices were very reasonable, too.

We ate here twice for breakfast when staying within walking distance for a visit to Portland. The food here was amazing. They have huge "Mancakes" which despite their enormous size were the lightest pancakes that I've ever eaten. Our only beef was the service. On our 1st visit it was decent but nothing to write home about. The 2nd time our waiter was inattentive & disinterested. Would still go back for the high quality food.

Went here with the family on a rainy weekend day. Had to wait for a few minutes as the place was packed but it was so worth it. The food was fantastic and I had the best biscuit I've ever put in my mouth. Highly recommended

Stepping Stone Cafe is a neighborhood gem. We went for brunch and had a daily special (blueberry nutmeg mancakes) and eggs benedict. The mancakes were humongous (over the edge of the plate) and very good. For a bit extra you can even get real maple syrup (not the high fructose flavored corn syrup most restaurants call "maple syrup"). My wife asked for some special twists on her eggs benedict and they were more than willing to make it that way for her. Overall, a great place we'd go back to if in the neighborhood again (it wasn't too far from the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden).

My husband and I had breakfast at the Stepping Stone Cafe on a Thursday, mid-morning. The place was hopping, but were were seated within about five minutes of our arrival. The coffee was good and refills were frequent. I had a hearty vegetable omelet; the server was happy to make a substitution to accommodate an allergy I have. The veggies were abundant, and the home fries were simple yet tasty. My husband had eggs Benedict, which were excellent. The prices were reasonable for the area. We had a very satisfying breakfast.

Saw this place on Man versus Food. So had to check it out. After a day of exploring Portland was hungry but not game to try the Mancakes (Google it) 😋 Went with chicken fried steak, eggs and a biscuit. Massive fresh hot biscuit and it was delicious. The banana shake, no idea what's inside but damn it's good (okay obviously banana and stuff). Great service and I beat the rush coming in early afternoon I guess post lunch and before dinner. Easy walk back to get a Portland street car NS to get back into town. Great experience 👍

Recommended by the airbnb host as a non apologetic vegan offending bacon omelette locale.. and it was right on point. I had the bacon, avo, Swiss and it was delicious, they use a “better” bacon than most. The service was solid, and the vibe was chill, just a great place for a relaxed b’fast on a weekend morning. The Mancake was a little daunting, but a worthy experience, it was huge, fluffy, and the real maple syrup is a must.

This is definitely one of the best breakfast restaurants I have ever been to. The chicken fried steak was incredible. The amount of food for the price was perfect. This is a must stop for people! Not enough great things to say. It is small and a little bit of a tight squeeze, I'm not sure where large groups would go or what the largest size of a group they could take because it was small inside but no matter what, GO!

This the perfect place to get a feel for local city flavor! It is a quirky little dinner cafe with charming kitche (from a figure of Spock on the counter to their motto "You eat here because we let you," this is a place with spunky decor backed up with hearty eats. It has one of those menus where you have a hard time deciding. I had the special Valentine mancakes (their usual huge pancakes...note got the short stack and could only finish half...with chocolate chips and cherries). It was amazing! The food was out fast and was sooo cheap! We went on a Saturday during peak time, so there was a line out the door. 2 tips: 1. There is a clipboard posted outside and that is where you sign up for a table. 2. We ate at the counter which shaved 30 minutes at least off our wait, note the counter is first come first serve).

If you want a fantastic breakfast in a quirky restaurant in the Nob Hill area this is it. Don't miss the Smothered B.A.

Stopper here on our way through Portland the food was terrific! All three of us were very please and cleared the plates completely. The chicken fried steak is to die for. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for that classic diner feel. The service was impecable. Definitly try the coffee sumthin sumthin ♡

We saw this Café on man vs food so my husband had to come check it out and we were not sorry. He had a Mancake which was fluffy and delicious..not to mention HUGE! I had cinnamon roll French toast which was good too! Parking is insane in this neighborhood so just be prepared to park kinda far away and enjoy the stroll through the beautiful green scenery!

Stopped here for breakfast and had one of their famous Mancakes...basically a 13 inch round pancake, they are very delicious and soft and very filling. I only had 1 and couldn't quite manage it..and they're more famous for their stack of 3 of these. Fantastic place, good value and fantastic food.

Went in here for a late breakfast with my aunt and the food was good. The omelete we shared was delicious and the egg was perfectly cooked. The French toast I had was good too and i loved the solid portions. I don't know what the bad reviews are talking about when they mention how bad the wait staff is... They were perfectly nice to us. People also tend to miss the sign on the door that says to wait OUTSIDE of the restaurant for a table after signing in and while some people think its rude, considering how tiny this place is, I would think you'd want to wait outside for a table because there's very little space inside... But the staff was fine; attentive, nice, and we got our food really quickly. 4-star worthy to me. Oh and also, parking is a b there too so good luck with that.

They make such a big deal about the “mancakes” (pancakes that take up an entire plate), but they were dry and tasteless, even with blueberries added. And the child-size bit of maple syrup provided is inadequate (with a total of $10.75 for 2 pancakes). On the other hand, the omelet was good, with five egg whites used and lots of spinach and mushrooms inside ($10.00). But the place IS cool—with slogans such as “You eat here because we let you” around and figures that move up and down when the front door opens. Also, the music is great, with songs by the Psychic Ills and others! The parking is on the street, with meters that require you to enter your license plate number. And the restrooms have more graffiti than an old New York City subway car!

Outstanding.. from the experience of calling to make a mutually convenient appt time to receptionist to technicians, to Eye Doctor ( Dr Bui) to fitting selection of glasses (Semear) and others.... I Could not be any happier! They even helped me find a place for coffee and breakfast! Appears to have state of the Art equipment. No rush with doctor or any staff throughout the process.. I feel snazzy in my new frames and new prescription. I only wish their customer service could be found every place I shop!

Had breakfast here during our stop in Portland. I enjoyed banana bread french toast. Delicious and filling.. Large enough order to share. The space is small with bars seats and tables. We grabbed the last table before a wait started. I am glad we didn't have to wait. There are too many great places to try to wait in my opinion. Did not try the mancake challenge.

This place is amazing, Most times You put Name on list and wait and sometime it can be a wait outside COMPLETELY WORTH THE WAIT. FOOD IS SO GOOD

Stepping Stone Café offers homey, comforting food from early morning to late evening. They are located in a quiet residential neighborhood. They also offer gluten free entrees. Small café, great service, piping hot coffee and place to relax, read the paper, veg and enjoy good food in a peaceful atmosphere. We enjoyed breakfast, served all day, but lunch and dinner items are also available. Nothing fancy here, just good food like burgers, salads, mac n cheese, meatloaf, chicken fried steak etc. Try the mancakes for breakfast and eat slow and enjoy. Service is topnotch, by smiling people who are friendly and ooze comfort. Will definitely be back. Thanks Stepping Stone!

We've been visiting Portland for years now. My wife worked up here for some years. on a trip sometime back she said we had to eat at the Stepping Stone Cafe. When I walked in I was taken back by how really weird the place was, but just sit down and have a meal! You'll want to come back again. You do truly do eat there because they let you!

Had to try the Mancakes or in this case Mancake after seeing it on TV. Be prepared to eat at this place. Mancakes are plate sized pancakes. Ordered one with a side of bacon. It was more than enough for a late breakfast. Stepping Stone Cafe is a nice on the corner cafe in NW Portland. Another place with the funky, but also nostalgic atmosphere. Dining room is a bit cramped, so if you have to wait, it has to be done outside. Luckily it was not raining. Did not have to wait too long and our servers did a good job. The place has weird hours so pay attention to them if planning. Even though it is known for the breakfast menu, lunch and dinner are served as well. Stepping Stone is not a bad step in the Portland dining scene,

This is a really funky old neighbor hood place, hidden away near Good Sam hospital, off NW 23rd street. The decor from 50 years ago only adds to the experience in a positive way. Parking may be a challenge, and you might have to wait depending on when you go. I went with 2 friends at 7:30 am on a Monday (good timing to get in and to park). McDonald's super sized portions have nothing on this place. My, oh my, the plates of food were huge. I had corned beef hash with hollandaise sauce (excellent), a friend had the biscuits and gravy (way to much to eat - really excellent and they offered to bring him more gravy - wow!). We all agreed this place is a winner. Ton's of character. The one change they probably should make is to fix the sink in the ladies bathroom. It is ready to fall off the wall, but all the wiring on the the wall made using the ladies room a literary experience that should not be lost.

We returned to the Stepping Stone for breakfast after an absence of some years. It is as good as ever. The huevos rancheros are outstanding as is the coffee. We arrived early, before 9, on Saturday, and were seated immediately. If you come later be prepared to wait. We enjoyed talking to our server, a real person, and also listening to the 80s country and western sound track.

Stepping Stone is yet another in the vast pantheon of Portland neighborhood places that is great if you live within a couple blocks, but really isn't worth a special trip. Don't misunderstand, the food is perfectly fine, the ambiance genuine and gritty and fun, but I sometimes think PDX foodies have lost perspective when it comes to breakfast. Stepping Stone is not worth a 30 minute wait in a line down the block. However, if you happen to be by on an off-hour and suddenly crave a massive pancake or very good corned beef hash then by all means grab a table (or better yet a counter chair) and prepare to be well-fed. As others have observed the staff is quick and friendly, the mancakes are indeed "well-built" as our server noted, and the corned beef hash is meaty and salty.

I went for breakfast and Sunday, it was a bit crowded and noisy. The service was very friendly and fast. The food was pretty good!

Highly recommend smaller groups than 3 because they have two sections for large groups of six and waited for hour fifteen minutes to get seated and gratuity is already added to a group of five or more, after the long wait we were so hungry that it didn't matter how the food taste

Stumbled upon this cafe for breakfast one morning while walking in the Nob Hill neighborhood and noticed they had been featured on the Food Network. Interesting! I ordered the almond and toasted coconut mancakes. Got a single which was ginormous, the size of a large dinner plate. It was light but could have used a bit more flavor. Maybe some almond extract in the batter. Couldn't really taste either the almond or the coconut. I guess they are both mild flavors so a little extract would help with more flavor. My husband got the scrambled eggs with spinach and mushrooms along with a big portion of hashbrowns. All orders are pretty hefty. The decor is quirky with hanging Kiss dolls and funky paintings. Definitely old school decor, but really good and large portioned meals. We went two mornings in a row around 8:30 ish during the week with no lines at all.

This is like a small, non-glamorous diner with limited seating, but we got in pretty quick around 8:30 on a Sunday morning. The food was very tasty; fresh blueberries; good omelet; good eggs Benedict. What struck me most though were the friendly servers who went out of their way to be personable and to look after us. Thanks!

I wouldn't go back. Food was adequate (maybe I ordered the wrong thing...but how wrong can scrambled eggs be?) service was slow, noisy. Clearly there are lots of locals who hang out here and love it. Chacun a son gout.

Had the man cakes today, they were great and filling, this is an authentic diner place not too flashy

My most recent visit was on 11/11/18 around 11 AM. Whenever I visit my cousin in Portland, I eat here. The food is spectacular and the portions are huge. I always get the banana bread French toast, biscuits and gravy and bacon. I’ve been eating here since 2012 and the food and service is always consistently great. They do not allow reservations or call aheads. You have to sign your name on a clipboard outside. They do have bar seating. We timed our visit just right and only waited about 10 mins, which is rare. This place is so good that it’s generally always a 30-45min wait.

We like coming here for the laid back atmosphere and fun decor. The food is delicious. If you are hungry this is the place to be. Good service and fast.

My boyfriend and I went to Oregon for a nine day vacation. I am a huge breakfast girl, so I made sure we had a new place to try every day. The very first day we went to Stepping Stone Cafe, and it set the bar high! Definitely the best breakfast of our trip! The menu was extensive, so there is something for everybody. The omelets were fluffy and well filled, the homemade biscuit was to die for, and the bacon perfectly crispy. Even the breakfast potatoes, which I don't usually care for were amazing! I loved how everything wasn't smothered in butter or oil. I felt full, but not gross after chowing down on the large portions. Also, the staff was super pleasant and helpful. Our waitress even gave us tips on where to go shopping and what areas to check out! I would go back to Stepping Stone Cafe, and would highly recommend it to anybody visiting or living in Portland!

A little old fashioned diner with awesome 70's and 80's music. KISS hanging from ornaments, kick back waiters and great food. We had breakfast at lunch. It was a little busy. The wait list is outside. Didn't take too long. The daily special of duck eggs, fried potatoes Irish Benedict was delicious as well as the chicken fried steak. Great price for what you get with the old school Portland atmosphere. We will be back again!

Looking for a genuine US neighbourhood diner experience? You've come to the right place -- just make sure you're hungry... The serve sizes can be daunting for a visitor. We visited on a weekday at breakfast time and the Stepping Stone was busy but not frenetic. I ordered huevos rancheros which was delicious and a normal serve size. One of my companions went biscuits and gravy plus a side of chicken fried steak and I think he's still there trying to finish it. Not a place for Aussie coffee lovers but the food's the event. Mancakes have to be seen to be believed ;)

Had to try the legendary Man cakes and were certainly not disappointed. Speedy friendly service (in spite of what we were told whilst waiting outside for a table) maybe they just don't have time for idiots ! and who can blame them when the food is this good. The place has a real friendly buzz we loved it.

We heard of this place from Man vs Food. It's a little bit out of the downtown area of Portland but we took a light rail and it was a short walk from the stop. It's a smallish cafe with a wide choice of foods. I wanted to try the mancake, a dinner plate sized pancake. They offer a stack, but you really wouldn't need more than one. The mancake was tasty and the prices were really reasonable.

Great breakfast spot. Very busy but staff were very friendly. We were staying at the Inn at Northrup Station and came here for breakfast on 3 mornings. We were lucky we never had to queue - but at times there were long queues outside. Never too much of a wait though. Very busy diner. I had the Ticheror's Choice (hashbrowns, tomato, mushrooms, onion and cheese) the first morning and a large fruit bowl with a side of toast the other mornings. My husband went with a different omelette each morning. Coffee refilled. Would definitely recommend for breakfast.

The Stepping Stone is a good solid retaurant, but certainly not rave worthy. Most menu items are pretty good, a few better than average and a few not so much. Been about 6 times over the past 2 years, so obviously a place I would do more than once. But if you are looking for top notch food and/or service you'll be sorry.

The cinnamon roll French toast was a little small but go with the sides of a biscuit and chicken fried steak and you'll have enough food for 2! Great prices 2 people with coffee $18. Biscuit was the size of a softball or more and the coffee was fresh ground and so robust. Totally a Portland must. They also have the "man cakes" that were featured on man vs food, you really can only eat one and it's ok but fun for kids to share.

We went on a Tuesday morning and there was literally no one in there. If I had to wait for this place, I might be upset. I ordered the cinnamon french toast which was blah and very dry. My husband ordered an omelet which was not bad. We also had the "man cake" which was kind of disappointing. Yes, it was larger than my head but had no flavor at all. (we had the buttermilk) The syrup helped but I was not really impressed. The one thing that I loved? The coffee! It was by Portland Roasting Coffee. I honestly didn't see what the hype was but if you're in the neighborhood and its not crowded I'd say go. Otherwise, skip it.

Eclectic, it's not. Just a regular old cafe run by guys serving huge portions. I had the avacado and bacon omelette. These can go up to five eggs. Look at your fist, now put two fists together; that is the size of their biscuits. Personally I'd stick to the French toast and pumpkin pancake sorta thing. Real maple syrup is a buck extra. Be starving. Coffee is so-so

The mancakes are big, yet light and fluffy. Get your exercise and eat at least one. You won't regret it. Fresh ingredients that you can taste in each bite. Friendly wait staff and charming throwback diner atmosphere.

This place is a classic example of why I live in Portland, Oregon. The food is not gourmet dining, nor is it greasy spoon. It's a relaxed, informal cafe that serves a great variety of well-cooked comfort food at a reasonable price. My wife and I had our weekly breakfast meeting there last Friday. The hot chocolate was not the frothed-up foo-foo $3.50 from Starbucks but the $2 standard mug that I remember from childhood. The eggs benedict was perfectly cooked with lots of sauce, the canadian bacon was great quality, though the english muffin could have been toasted a bit more (quibbling...). The hash-browns were lightly brown rounds of potatoes, no bits of burned onion or crumbs, no greasiness at all, and lightly seasoned, maybe too lightly for my taste (more quibbling). Service was friendly and extremely fast Friday morning at 8:30 with the place half-full. If that isn't enough, what really sold me on the place is the decor: signs like "ACID SPILL: when blue light flashes, evacuate immediately" and dynamic superheros & helicopters that drop down from the ceiling every few minutes. The menu gave me a few good laughs, too. I imagine if I were in my 20's I'd be here late-night drinking a beer, but, alas, those days are over. I'll be back to try the burger, hopefully soon. Thanks for keeping Portland weird.

The food is delicious, and plentiful. Each plate is full, and so delicious that you want to eat everything, but can't. You won't be hungry when you leave, and it's good enough that you'll be back. The staff are friendly and restaurant has a cool laid back vibe. If you go on the weekend, be prepared for a wait. But it's totally worth it.

We have eaten at the Stepping Stone Cafe in Portland, Oregon many times and have always enjoyed it. Except for one of the times it has always been for breakfast. The dinner there was pretty good but I believe they realized specialize for breakfast where the food is very good and they give extremely generous portions. It's no surprise they can get quite busy for breakfast and parking can be difficult in that area. We discovered the Stepping Stone Cafe when it was featured in "Man vs. Food" on the Food Channel. When we go there we are traveling all the way from east of Vancouver but it's well worth the drive. I would especially recommend their pancakes or oatmeal for breakfast, both of which are very good and very large portions. One other thing we like about this restaurant is they are listed in restaurant.com so you can save money by using a coupon from that site. Most restaurants are not in restaurant.com but they are.

Since 2012, I’ve been to Portland at least 10 times and each time I visit I eat here. They have the best breakfast. I always order the banana nut bread French toast and the biscuits and gravy. The food and service are always excellent. My most recent visit was on 5/28/18 around 9am. Because of the Memorial Day holiday, there wasn’t a line (which is unusual). You have to add your name to a clipboard that is outside and they will come get you when they’re ready to seat you or you can sit at the bar (if there is any seating). This is a very small place and you must park on the street. Please be patient if there is a line. The food is worth the wait. I love it!! This is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Portland. Yummy in my tummy!!

We've been visiting Portland since 2012 and we ALWAYS eat breakfast at Stepping Stone. We love the biscuits and gravy, hot chocolate, banana nut bread French toast, and the BACON. We also like the homemade jam. The prices are very affordable and the portions are huge. Generally, they have a line so be prepared to wait. It's totally worth the wait. Very friendly staff and the food comes out fast.

Came here right at opening to avoid crowds as we've been here in the past and waited since it's a popular spot. Coffee was average which is disappointing since there's so much great coffee in PDX. service was quick and the food came quickly. Food is your average diner food, if you're looking for Gourmet eats definitely don't visit stepping stone but if you're hungover or looking for a quick bite with large portions come to Stepping Stone.

We had a good breakfast here. Seems to be a local place, and it was crowded. Parking is pay on street. Good service even with funny signs like "Beware Attack Waitress."

What a great little place to eat! The portions are GINORMOUS and tastes just as good. We ordered a man-cake (really that's all you need) eggs benedict, cheese blintzes and banana bread. Public transportation will get you a few block from the restaurant but the little walk will help prepare your stomach for whats' to come. There can be a wait but we were seated within minutes, service was quick and pleasant, coffee was tasty (not the watered down stuff some restaurants pass off as coffee). We browse the menu and after getting a few recommendations from the waiter, place our order. Maybe 10-15 later we are chowing down on one of the fluffiest pancakes ever eaten. The poached eggs were perfectly cooked medium and our daughter who is just venturing outside of her normal french toast cleaned her plate of cheese blintzes topped with strawberries. The music was slamming to boot! My husband could barely eat for each song that played he had to sing and dance to... Permanent eatery every time we are Portland

After reading on trip advisor that this was the best place in Portland for breakfast, we drove over on a Sunday morning in September. We found parking in the charming neighborhood and walked a short block or two to the restaurant. Our breakfast food was mediocre at best. The eggs tasted like they were from a mix, not real eggs. The pancakes were ordinary at best. The heavy metal music was blaring the whole time. Servers very unfriendly. In a nutshell, we couldn't get out of this restaurant fast enough. Very disappointed!!!

Saw this on Man vs Food thought my family & I would check it out & was not pleased. My daughter order the banana french toast & it was doused w/excessive cinnamon we assumed the cap came off but they didn't bother to fix, my breakfast enchiladas wasn't to appealing the rest of my family said there food was alright but can order the same thing somewhere else & be much better. Service wasn't to great either:( felt rushed to order. Not planning on returning