It had been a while since we last had brunch together. Time really flies when life gets busy with other things. Recently, I was focused on completing the Portland Pizza map, visiting all 13 locations scattered around the city. Now that that’s done, I can finally branch out and enjoy other types of meals, not just pizza.
We decided to go to Cadillac, a solid choice—established and conveniently located. We arrived just after 11 a.m. on a Saturday, and there was no wait, which is rare for some of the more popular brunch spots in town. I’m not very familiar with American cars, but I know that Cadillac is one of the oldest car brands in the U.S., now part of General Motors’ luxury lineup—though I’m not sure if that’s still the case. Either way, the name carries a sense of prestige, which made me wonder if the food here would match that reputation for quality, or if, like many aspects of the American dream, it might appear impressive but lack substance.
Inside, there’s a large Cadillac on display in the back of the main dining area, but we were seated in the quieter indoor corridor. I actually preferred this space, as it was less noisy, and we had a lot of natural light coming in from a skylight above. The service was quick, and I received my Bunkhouse Vittles almost immediately. The vibe here felt very family-friendly, with other patrons enjoying their meals and chatting away.
The portion size of my meal was huge. The potatoes were well-seasoned, though I would have preferred them to be a bit crispier. I’m usually a sausage person over bacon, but the sausage here was a bit disappointing—too soft and overly spiced. The real star of the dish, though, was the French Toast. It was soft, flavorful, and not too greasy, which is a common pitfall for many French toasts. It absorbed the syrup and butter perfectly, and the crushed hazelnuts on top were a delicious touch. Honestly, this might be the best French toast I’ve had in town!
Since Cadillac specializes in brunch, the menu is packed with options. Although I only had the French Toast (my personal favorite), there were several other items that caught my eye. The coffee was standard diner fare, but we were regularly topped off, which I appreciated. Overall, Cadillac is a great spot—maybe a little on the pricey side, but I think that’s more about the fact that I haven’t had brunch in a while, and inflation has definitely caught up with me. I’ll be back sooner rather than later.
Ranked: ****
Issue 93. Volume 14. Chapter 5.
Visited: Nov 2nd 2024. Saturday at 11:30.
Address: 1801 NE Broadway, Portland
Website: https://www.cadillaccafepdx.com/