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Mother's Bistro & Bar: Restaurant Reviews

212 SW Stark St, Portland, OR 97204-2603 (Downtown)
503-464-1122
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Ranked #7 of 3,053 restaurants in Portland
Price range: $14 - $30
Cuisines: American, Dessert, Californian
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Restaurant details
Good for: Families with children, Large groups, Local cuisine, Outdoor seating
Dining options: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Reservations, Late Night, Dessert
Neighborhood: Downtown
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515 reviews from our community

88% Recommend
    307
    150
    41
    15
    2
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
There are newer reviews for Mother's Bistro & Bar
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Portland, Oregon
Top Contributor
71 reviews 71 reviews
43 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 38 cities Reviews in 38 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
“Off the beaten track but not to be missed”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 6, 2012

A friend recommended Mother's and I owe her one! Today's lunch was excellent. I had the trout special, my guest (a real foodie) had soup and salad. The atmosphere is upbeat and offbeat. Picture fancy light fixtures, framed mirrors, high ceilings in a working class part of the SW attracting the young who want a dining experience that's not pricey. When the check came, complimentary cookies did too. What's not to like??

  • Visited December 2012
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Atmosphere
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Food
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See 14 more reviews by nancyvictoria for Portland
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
PNW
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
8 restaurant reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Really great (and unique) breakfast offerings”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 5, 2012

In a town known as a breakfast haven, you will find this placve to be one of teh best, yet expect a wait as is known for it's delicious breakfast!

Visited October 2012
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Pewsey, United Kingdom
Senior Contributor
27 reviews 27 reviews
15 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
“No place like Mother's”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 5, 2012

This was probably the highlight of our stay. The surroundings are warm and cosy. Many chandeliers, mirrors and pictures of women with babies, just the right amount.

We had a cocktail to start served by a delightful waiter. We were invited to take our time looking at the menu. They have a great theme , Mother of the Month recipe, they invite you to nominate yourself or someone you know to put a dish on. I love this idea. I chose trout with orzo and spinach. The trout was covered in hazel nuts ( nuts are in season) and grilled, the spinach was fresh and just cooked perfectly. I had a glass of pinot grigio from Oregon, light and refreshing. We had no room for their amazing pudding.

The waiter, Shane Patrick, was a great young man who was very knowledgeable about his work.

We decided to come back next day for brunch. It was heaving people queuing up and ready to wait 1/2 hour for a table. We were lucky, we found a first come first served seating area at the counter and indulged for the last time in poached eggs, ham and biscuits. And large pot coffee. The biscuits are like scones only lighter and yummy.

This is a really great place and I love the concept, not too over powering in the mother stakes. Just as we say in psychotherapy 'Good enough'

Highly recommend. Book to secure a place.

Visited November 2012
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Bend, Oregon
Top Contributor
57 reviews 57 reviews
52 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
“Go for happy hour”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed November 30, 2012

Mother's Bistro is a good restaurant for any occasion, especially for breakfast on the weekends. But my favorite is happy hour in the bar. Great food, drinks and prices. But get there early as it is always crowded.

Visited November 2012
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Paradise Valley, Arizona
Top Contributor
83 reviews 83 reviews
73 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
25 helpful votes 25 helpful votes
“Simply..Perfect”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed November 25, 2012 via mobile

Once in a while you find the perfect restaurant. Mother's fits that category. We enjoyed a splendid Breakfast. Eggs Benedict,perfection, biscuits and gravy,gourmet, french toast that spoils all other versions.
We were a party of 9,without exception each of us enjoyed their respective dish. No complaints ,only raves.
The server was outstanding,appreciating that we had a 2 year old,with limited attention span.he severed all the dishes with dispatch.
We cannot wait to return for diner. Bravo...

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See 16 more reviews by Jefftimb for Portland
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