Caffe Destino
1339 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR, 97212
Caffe Destino Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Portland for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1339 NE Fremont St
Portland, OR, 97212 - Phone (503) 284-9455
- Website https://www.caffedestino.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:30 am - 5:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Alyssa H.
I go here for two reasons: A) it's convenient and B) it's very toddler friendly. Staff are cheerful and nice and tend to remember you. Food seems on the mediocre side, I've had some of the pastries which are about as good as Starbucks. This is not where I go when I crave really good espresso, it's okay. But like I said I come here to meet up others with tots and the kids can run around in the play area without us getting dirty looks.
(3)Jeff H.
Good espresso, decent hot chocolate. Pastries are original and tasty, but not a great selection. Nice space to hang out in and service is always friendly.
(4)Benja F.
AIGHT. Saved only by their Borgia, which is essentially a mound of orange flavored coffee with crazy orange sugar on top. Good god, I could mainline these fuckers.
(2)Jack S.
Went to meet a friend. Got a chai latte. Dude at the counter was super nice. Saw a two-year old trying *really* hard to squeeze between an empty chair and the wall. Reflected on the fact that probably when she hits three she'll figure out to move the chair. Aah the heady independence of late-toddler-hood. But I digress. Great atmosphere, bright and comfortable, super pleasant, I could have sat there all day, but I had to go to work.
(5)Howard J.
Be prepared to wait! I have been going to this coffee place for several years as I 1) support local businesses 2) it is in my neighborhood. However, anytime I arrive with 2-3 people ahead of you in line it is 15-20 minutes minimum to get a coffee drink. To boot the friendliness seems to be fading, no smile, no small talk, no feedback that your order will be up soon. Time to move on to somewhere else....
(1)Amy H.
Perfect neighborhood stop. If you are sick of Big Box coffee....this is your place. I love the sandwiches too. I can skip a pickle & some chips in exchange for service with a smile.
(5)Emily B.
Give me a break... $7.79 for a small tuna melt panini sandwich with NO sides - no handful of chips, no pickle, no nuthin'. Austere interior with hard chairs and stools and sunlight glaring through the window. Ugh.
(2)Elaine B.
I'd been a regular for years, but sadly have moved far, far away--I miss Café Destino!! Europe may have good coffee, but nothing beats the friendly, laid-back atmosphere of this little neighborhood coffee shop. I find the food, coffee, prices, etc. on a par with or better than many other Portland locales (you never know how lucky you are to have so many choices until you move away), but for sheer hang-outiness (!) this is a great place. The coffee is good, there's free wi-fi, the café is bright and airy, and the people are fabulous. Go and enjoy--Support your local coffee shop!!!
(5)Christen M.
I first heard of Caffe Destino when I spotted a buddy of mine, who's pushing 3, wearing a Caffe Destino toddler tee. The idea of a coffee shop advertising itself on the backs of little folks who can't drink coffee yet is inordinately amusing to me. Caffe Destino tends to keep pretty early hours (it's pretty much a breakfast and lunch kind coffee shop, i.e. not the kind that stays open until well in the night with the PBR and the sammiches), so until recently I'd only ever walked by it, stumbling out the door of the County Cork or on my way to pick up foodstuffs at Wild Oats. However, the other morning I managed to finally catch the place while it was open. I had my usual green tea (note to loose tea snobs: it was indeed bag tea), plus something called a "protein cup." Scrambled egg, tomato slices and veggie sausage all served in a quaint little teacup. The tomato slices were the sad, bland kind of tomatoes you sometimes get in the winter, but the egg was tasty, and I'm always a fan of veggie sausage. I only wish I'd thought to order a bagel alongside it -- I love me some starches to go down with my proteins first thing in the mornin'. Prices were nice and low, the barista was friendly and cheerful, and the atmosphere is pleasant and quiet, with huge, beautiful windows and lots of natural light.
(4)Erin N.
This is becoming my regular place to go out of convenience. However, Starbucks is a mere half block away, as is the Whole Food coffee bar. Cafe Destino keeps me coming back for their good prices and friendly staff. That being said, wait times can be kind of slow. In the afternoon I'm sure that coffee consumption takes a dive, so less staff is necessary. I get that. But I feel like the poor girl behind the counter is stretched thin. Thank goodness no one in front of me ordered anything more complicated than a latte and a bagel, otherwise it would have taken me 10 minutes to get an iced coffee.
(4)Corinn M.
We love this place. So much better than Starsucks across the street!
(5)Doug P.
Often too busy there to find a seat but a good grab & go option for coffee & sandwich. Staff is pleasant and appreciative.
(4)Michael R.
Baileys and Coffee! Outstanding. Also a wonderful Grilled Cheese Sammich. Pastries were good and on one of my last visits, they had pie! I would recommend this place to anyone in the neighborhood. It's even worth the drive just to read the paper and drink Baileys with my coffee!
(5)Nadirah M.
Went here for breakfast multiple times. It's an okay place as long as long as you don't complain about poor service. The last time I went an entire table and another customer, all of whom came in after me, were served before me. I waited 15minutes for a simple order which consisted of two items. When I complained about my treatment to the counter girl by asking what the hold up was she shrugged and said I don't know as she continued cleaning the tables and going about her business like I had said nothing. She made no attempt at reconciliation, she didn't go ask the cook why I was served after other customers who ordered after me, she just blankly stared, ignored my complaint and walked away like nothing happened. My treatment was extraordinarily rude and the counter girl seems to have trouble personally interacting with customers. I will not be eating here again. I recommend going elsewhere if you want your patronage valued.
(1)Lily F.
Two years ago I loved this neighborhood cafe, but lately I've found the pastries are smaller and not as tasty as they used to be. I've been unimpressed by the sandwiches lately as well. The two stars are for the friendly women who get up super early to be there and the Trailhead coffee. Maybe Destino has switched to cheaper products to avoid laying people off. It's worth stopping there for coffee but skip the food for now, tip generously, and hope they see better days.
(2)Dawn M.
The space is cute, and I love that it's near Whole Foods, so I can grab my groceries and then get coffee. Definitely a fun place to relax. I love that the menu is largely vegetarian, including the lasagna. The coffee? The barista that I've encountered several times just doesn't know what she's doing when it comes to steamed milk. If you want art in coffee, go to Posies. The baristas there steam the milk to perfection - just warm enough that it starts to thicken, but not so warm that it turns into an over-steamed cloud of fluff that turns your latte into an undrinkable mass of air. At Destino, every time I get a latte, the female barista (the male barista made me iced chai and it was great, but I haven't seen his latte-making skills) is sweet, but her lattes? The milk is steamed until it's not a liquid anymore and then fills the cup with this white mass. By the time the foam cools and relaxes, you're left with a half a cup of something mildly resembling a latte. Bottom line - come for the location and space and goodies. DON'T come for quality lattes. Posies is the way to go for magic.
(3)Jen W.
Though I don't see it as an option on their current menu, I've had the best pancake ever here. Just a plain buttermilk pancake yet full of flavor and very fluffy.
(3)michael c.
if your destino is a place without booger eating children, this would not be it. Lots of white children with names like Roman. On the other hand, lots of hot MILFs. The coffee? It's just coffee. No big whoop.
(2)Pete H.
Really good coffee. Really good lox bagel. But $10 (!) for a bagel with creme cheese and a little lox? That's way too much. Several dollars more than any other place in town.
(2)Lacey H.
A must-go place for a cup of coffee and a Marco Bolo sandwich when I'm in Portland... it's so good, I'm actually willing to overlook the hipster-pocalypse and slightly grumpy wait staff. Deee-licious.
(4)Imaria C.
When in this neighborhood and looking for a quick and friendly coffee purchasing experience I go here. Their espresso is acceptable (but definitely not great) and the people working here are generally really nice. On the rare occasion that I eat eggs, I get their greek bagel and it is always extremely delicious. They also have jammers from Florio on Sundays, which are world rocking if you like that sort of thing. I recently tried their ice blendy green tea smoothie thing (great description of a drink I can't name right?) and it was quite tasty. Unless I'm totally craving coffee I think I might just order this instead from now on. It would be cool if they were open later though. Why do all the coffee shops in Portland close at 3? Don't they know I need coffee at like 5 or even 8 sometimes?
(4)Kristina G.
Great latte!!! The coffee they use has a wonderful flavor. It makes Starbucks taste like burnt dirt. However, I have to agree with one of the previous reviewers -- the man at the counter was not friendly. I wouldn't say he was rude, but he was very distant. I would prefer a bit more welcoming attitude from the person dealing with customers. He seemed a bit more outgoing with people who had been there before, but if you're not friendly to new customers, then how do you get them to come back?
(4)Karen C.
Cute space and very friendly servers! They have the best quiches. Every time I get one it's delicious. Edit- I've started to order the Mexican mochas and it's soooo delicious. Quiche and Mexican mocha is my new go to combo!!
(4)Jose B.
Love the location! I would much rather support this coffee shop over Starbucks next door. The service is good and friendly. Over all the food quality is good but does not compare to the over all quality that Portland is known for. I do encourage people to support this local business.
(4)Danny O.
So we live in Irvington, right? It's the land of the American dream exceptionally realized. We have tree lined streets, historic mansions, Grandma's tending to their gardens and children running in front lawns with Fydo and Lassie while leaves fall like a cinematic dream sequence. Then there's this caffe. It appears like it fits right in with its semi European appeal, big windows and connection to the Irish Pub and other neighborhood favorites. Then you step inside. It looks like something that belongs. You move forward and browse the menu. Then you notice that theres a lot on the menu for a tiny caffe with not enough staff working. Then it sinks in that you just dropped 12 bucks for breakfast and a latte, and its been 25 mins. You are hungry. The staff seems to not care. It dawns on you that they actually don't care, and that its been 30 mins now. Another hungry patron goes up to the counter and asks about their egg sandwich. They get a distant shrug and maybe a glance back at the kitchen. You're fucked. Caffe Destino is an illusion in our peaceful Irvington oasis. I wish only positive changes and an actually talented and enthused staff for our neighborhood caffe. UPDATE: the owner contacted me to reach out and resolve some of the things I experienced and I really appreciate that. I'll be sure to pop in and give it another shot :)
(3)Bryan A.
Love this place in Sabin by Irving Park!
(5)Bri S.
There was a time I enjoyed Destino, back when they served Trailhead coffee. I am not in the neighborhood as often as I used to be, but I popped in after an appointment up the street and was disappointed to see they'd changed their beans to Caffe D'arte. That is never a good omen. When I asked the barista about the change he told me it was because the owner-roaster of Trailhead is "really pretentious" and that D'arte is "still really good." Neither of these are accurate statements. He continued to speak poorly about my favorite coffee roaster in a gossipy, unprofessional fashion. I ordered a cappuccino anyway (why?!) and got the bitter, scalded drink I was expecting. I don't know what is happening at Destino, but it's not the friendly, tasty place it used to be.
(1)Alice C.
Mocha was lukewarm. Friendly factor was as well. Their bagel with 'the works' used to be sooo good. Sadly, with the changing of owners over the years, this cafe has lost some of its identity and character. Nevertheless, we'll still support them or Fly Awake (around the corner) any day over Starbucks.
(3)Jessica R.
I think these guys make some of the best espresso out there. Good snacks. Good atmosphere. We stop in here a couple times a month now
(4)Jocelyn M.
Such a nice casual neighborhood coffee house. Great for grabbing beans to grind at home (Trailhead Coffee Roasters), special coffee treats and grabbing breakfast or a lunch sandwich. My favorites: + the acai bowl (cold fruit slushy with sweet crunchy granola clusters and banana on top), + the protein in a cup: scrambled egg with vegetarian patties and sliced tomato and cheese (and I'm not even a vegetarian!) If you're lucky you'll get to run into the coffee roaster as he delivers the beans via his distinctive branded bicycle. Ralph and the crew do a good job of making their place have a sense of community and including you in it- from greeting you by name when you become a regular to having photos on the wall of neighbors and their kids & dogs. Not always the fastest busy morning coffee option, esp compared to the over-staffed Starbucks down the block (three people at the espresso machine- really?), but You always feel better for having stepped into Destino.
(5)Diane C.
I stopped into Caffe Destino after driving by and seeing its very cute facade. I was looking for a coffee shop that served lunch and this was just the ticket. I ordered their soup of the day, which was a 1-alarm vegetarian chili. I was offered a taste of it first and that sold me. I asked for extra onions on top...no problem. The service was friendly and fast. The wi-fi is free and I wanted to stick around, so that was great, too. For dessert, I decided to try their coffee of the day, which was Creme Brulee...delicious! All in all, I'd definitely come back.
(4)Helen M.
I love the warm, friendly atmosphere and great coffee and espresso (I love a latte, myself). Food is good - a nice menu with many choices. Caffe Destino is in my neighborhood, and I love being able to support local!
(4)Sarah V.
Sadly, Cafe Destino is under new ownership. The food is the same and the interior is slightly more chic, but the lost stars are because the service has gone from cheerful and friendly to rude and distant, and there is no more live music to enjoy on Sundays. Bad move, guys.
(3)Ben S.
I only had a cup of coffee. But it was the best cup of drip coffee I've had in maybe months. Cafe Vita coffee from Seattle apparently. Oh, and free wifi! I did have a sip of someone else's espresso, which was very good also.
(4)Sierra B.
This place deserves a recent review, as they are awesome!! They source their beans from Cafe Vita in Seattle, and the product is absolutely top notch. Baristi are friendly, well-trained, and take pride in the art of making good espresso. I haven't tried their food products, so I can't speak to those, but if you're looking for something that tastes better than any Starbucks (there's one a block away), at competitive prices, from local/regional artisans, this is certainly the place to go.
(4)David O.
Excellent coffee. Great food options all day. Prompt, courteous, and friendly service. A great neighborhood coffee shop!
(4)Joshua D.
I am frequently saddened by this cafe. I live about two blocks from it, and will very rarely go in because ... well ... just bad coffee. It's encouraging that they recently got a new hot espresso machine, but I just could never abide on their choice of french roast vs. Sumatra. The two times I ordered espresso from them, one of them on Wednesday, it was terrible. I have had decent shots of Caffe Vita from other places, but these guys just don't know how to pour it. The breakfast sandwiches they serve are decent, but I usually end up going to Whole Foods around the corner to get a breakfast burrito in the morning. I would love to rave about the shop right near my house, but this is not the place I would take anyone that cared about coffee.
(2)Dana H.
I pop in here frequently as I work nearby and the staff always greets me by name (even though I don't remember theirs) and usually remember my order. The coffee is good and the service rocks. They frequently filter art work so it's nice to check out whatever is up next. Great place to go!
(5)Tinna H.
The rating is purely based on the fact that they have a drink called HEATH MOCHA. That would be a mocha with Heath Bar powder [MUST find this in SF] in it! Awesome, and tasty! I haven't tried the food here, but they serve breakfast and lunch. Apparently if you head in there late in their workday (after 1pm), certain items are significantly discounted. Service is excellent and friendly too. However, I am not too sure about their math skills. Our drink order total was a little bit less than what we'd pre-calculated based on the menu on the wall. Guess not everyone can be a mathlete! They have a "Buy 10 Drinks and get your usual for FREE" club - Sprez Club, they call it. Maybe they will miscount and give me the free drink after seven or eight! They are located just around the corner from the Starbucks [1 of over 75 locations].
(5)teresa m.
haven't eaten here for years, but wanted to try it again for lunch after their liquor license was granted. we began with an old german lager, and a regular decaf coffee with bailey's irish cream. next we had the tuna melt and the da vinci. everything was delicious, and the ambiance is relaxing. the server was very friendly and quick.
(5)Julie B.
Nice People, awesome coffee, and cute little atmosphere. They are now serving Trailhead Coffee, and stay open till 5 p.m. If you live in the neighborhood, and want a quaint place to enjoy a cup of joe go here.. as opposed to the Starbucks across the street! Oh, the pastries are to die for!
(5)Sarah V.
Sadly, Cafe Destino is under new ownership. The food is the same and the interior is slightly more chic, but the lost stars are because the service has gone from cheerful and friendly to rude and distant, and there is no more live music to enjoy on Sundays. Bad move, guys.
(3)Erin N.
This is becoming my regular place to go out of convenience. However, Starbucks is a mere half block away, as is the Whole Food coffee bar. Cafe Destino keeps me coming back for their good prices and friendly staff. That being said, wait times can be kind of slow. In the afternoon I'm sure that coffee consumption takes a dive, so less staff is necessary. I get that. But I feel like the poor girl behind the counter is stretched thin. Thank goodness no one in front of me ordered anything more complicated than a latte and a bagel, otherwise it would have taken me 10 minutes to get an iced coffee.
(4)Corinn M.
We love this place. So much better than Starsucks across the street!
(5)Doug P.
Often too busy there to find a seat but a good grab & go option for coffee & sandwich. Staff is pleasant and appreciative.
(4)Michael R.
Baileys and Coffee! Outstanding. Also a wonderful Grilled Cheese Sammich. Pastries were good and on one of my last visits, they had pie! I would recommend this place to anyone in the neighborhood. It's even worth the drive just to read the paper and drink Baileys with my coffee!
(5)Ben S.
I only had a cup of coffee. But it was the best cup of drip coffee I've had in maybe months. Cafe Vita coffee from Seattle apparently. Oh, and free wifi! I did have a sip of someone else's espresso, which was very good also.
(4)Sierra B.
This place deserves a recent review, as they are awesome!! They source their beans from Cafe Vita in Seattle, and the product is absolutely top notch. Baristi are friendly, well-trained, and take pride in the art of making good espresso. I haven't tried their food products, so I can't speak to those, but if you're looking for something that tastes better than any Starbucks (there's one a block away), at competitive prices, from local/regional artisans, this is certainly the place to go.
(4)David O.
Excellent coffee. Great food options all day. Prompt, courteous, and friendly service. A great neighborhood coffee shop!
(4)Joshua D.
I am frequently saddened by this cafe. I live about two blocks from it, and will very rarely go in because ... well ... just bad coffee. It's encouraging that they recently got a new hot espresso machine, but I just could never abide on their choice of french roast vs. Sumatra. The two times I ordered espresso from them, one of them on Wednesday, it was terrible. I have had decent shots of Caffe Vita from other places, but these guys just don't know how to pour it. The breakfast sandwiches they serve are decent, but I usually end up going to Whole Foods around the corner to get a breakfast burrito in the morning. I would love to rave about the shop right near my house, but this is not the place I would take anyone that cared about coffee.
(2)Dana H.
I pop in here frequently as I work nearby and the staff always greets me by name (even though I don't remember theirs) and usually remember my order. The coffee is good and the service rocks. They frequently filter art work so it's nice to check out whatever is up next. Great place to go!
(5)teresa m.
haven't eaten here for years, but wanted to try it again for lunch after their liquor license was granted. we began with an old german lager, and a regular decaf coffee with bailey's irish cream. next we had the tuna melt and the da vinci. everything was delicious, and the ambiance is relaxing. the server was very friendly and quick.
(5)Julie B.
Nice People, awesome coffee, and cute little atmosphere. They are now serving Trailhead Coffee, and stay open till 5 p.m. If you live in the neighborhood, and want a quaint place to enjoy a cup of joe go here.. as opposed to the Starbucks across the street! Oh, the pastries are to die for!
(5)Jeff H.
Good espresso, decent hot chocolate. Pastries are original and tasty, but not a great selection. Nice space to hang out in and service is always friendly.
(4)Benja F.
AIGHT. Saved only by their Borgia, which is essentially a mound of orange flavored coffee with crazy orange sugar on top. Good god, I could mainline these fuckers.
(2)Jack S.
Went to meet a friend. Got a chai latte. Dude at the counter was super nice. Saw a two-year old trying *really* hard to squeeze between an empty chair and the wall. Reflected on the fact that probably when she hits three she'll figure out to move the chair. Aah the heady independence of late-toddler-hood. But I digress. Great atmosphere, bright and comfortable, super pleasant, I could have sat there all day, but I had to go to work.
(5)Howard J.
Be prepared to wait! I have been going to this coffee place for several years as I 1) support local businesses 2) it is in my neighborhood. However, anytime I arrive with 2-3 people ahead of you in line it is 15-20 minutes minimum to get a coffee drink. To boot the friendliness seems to be fading, no smile, no small talk, no feedback that your order will be up soon. Time to move on to somewhere else....
(1)Alyssa H.
I go here for two reasons: A) it's convenient and B) it's very toddler friendly. Staff are cheerful and nice and tend to remember you. Food seems on the mediocre side, I've had some of the pastries which are about as good as Starbucks. This is not where I go when I crave really good espresso, it's okay. But like I said I come here to meet up others with tots and the kids can run around in the play area without us getting dirty looks.
(3)Amy H.
Perfect neighborhood stop. If you are sick of Big Box coffee....this is your place. I love the sandwiches too. I can skip a pickle & some chips in exchange for service with a smile.
(5)Emily B.
Give me a break... $7.79 for a small tuna melt panini sandwich with NO sides - no handful of chips, no pickle, no nuthin'. Austere interior with hard chairs and stools and sunlight glaring through the window. Ugh.
(2)Elaine B.
I'd been a regular for years, but sadly have moved far, far away--I miss Café Destino!! Europe may have good coffee, but nothing beats the friendly, laid-back atmosphere of this little neighborhood coffee shop. I find the food, coffee, prices, etc. on a par with or better than many other Portland locales (you never know how lucky you are to have so many choices until you move away), but for sheer hang-outiness (!) this is a great place. The coffee is good, there's free wi-fi, the café is bright and airy, and the people are fabulous. Go and enjoy--Support your local coffee shop!!!
(5)Christen M.
I first heard of Caffe Destino when I spotted a buddy of mine, who's pushing 3, wearing a Caffe Destino toddler tee. The idea of a coffee shop advertising itself on the backs of little folks who can't drink coffee yet is inordinately amusing to me. Caffe Destino tends to keep pretty early hours (it's pretty much a breakfast and lunch kind coffee shop, i.e. not the kind that stays open until well in the night with the PBR and the sammiches), so until recently I'd only ever walked by it, stumbling out the door of the County Cork or on my way to pick up foodstuffs at Wild Oats. However, the other morning I managed to finally catch the place while it was open. I had my usual green tea (note to loose tea snobs: it was indeed bag tea), plus something called a "protein cup." Scrambled egg, tomato slices and veggie sausage all served in a quaint little teacup. The tomato slices were the sad, bland kind of tomatoes you sometimes get in the winter, but the egg was tasty, and I'm always a fan of veggie sausage. I only wish I'd thought to order a bagel alongside it -- I love me some starches to go down with my proteins first thing in the mornin'. Prices were nice and low, the barista was friendly and cheerful, and the atmosphere is pleasant and quiet, with huge, beautiful windows and lots of natural light.
(4)Bryan A.
Love this place in Sabin by Irving Park!
(5)michael c.
if your destino is a place without booger eating children, this would not be it. Lots of white children with names like Roman. On the other hand, lots of hot MILFs. The coffee? It's just coffee. No big whoop.
(2)Pete H.
Really good coffee. Really good lox bagel. But $10 (!) for a bagel with creme cheese and a little lox? That's way too much. Several dollars more than any other place in town.
(2)Lacey H.
A must-go place for a cup of coffee and a Marco Bolo sandwich when I'm in Portland... it's so good, I'm actually willing to overlook the hipster-pocalypse and slightly grumpy wait staff. Deee-licious.
(4)Karen C.
Cute space and very friendly servers! They have the best quiches. Every time I get one it's delicious. Edit- I've started to order the Mexican mochas and it's soooo delicious. Quiche and Mexican mocha is my new go to combo!!
(4)Jose B.
Love the location! I would much rather support this coffee shop over Starbucks next door. The service is good and friendly. Over all the food quality is good but does not compare to the over all quality that Portland is known for. I do encourage people to support this local business.
(4)Danny O.
So we live in Irvington, right? It's the land of the American dream exceptionally realized. We have tree lined streets, historic mansions, Grandma's tending to their gardens and children running in front lawns with Fydo and Lassie while leaves fall like a cinematic dream sequence. Then there's this caffe. It appears like it fits right in with its semi European appeal, big windows and connection to the Irish Pub and other neighborhood favorites. Then you step inside. It looks like something that belongs. You move forward and browse the menu. Then you notice that theres a lot on the menu for a tiny caffe with not enough staff working. Then it sinks in that you just dropped 12 bucks for breakfast and a latte, and its been 25 mins. You are hungry. The staff seems to not care. It dawns on you that they actually don't care, and that its been 30 mins now. Another hungry patron goes up to the counter and asks about their egg sandwich. They get a distant shrug and maybe a glance back at the kitchen. You're fucked. Caffe Destino is an illusion in our peaceful Irvington oasis. I wish only positive changes and an actually talented and enthused staff for our neighborhood caffe. UPDATE: the owner contacted me to reach out and resolve some of the things I experienced and I really appreciate that. I'll be sure to pop in and give it another shot :)
(3)Bri S.
There was a time I enjoyed Destino, back when they served Trailhead coffee. I am not in the neighborhood as often as I used to be, but I popped in after an appointment up the street and was disappointed to see they'd changed their beans to Caffe D'arte. That is never a good omen. When I asked the barista about the change he told me it was because the owner-roaster of Trailhead is "really pretentious" and that D'arte is "still really good." Neither of these are accurate statements. He continued to speak poorly about my favorite coffee roaster in a gossipy, unprofessional fashion. I ordered a cappuccino anyway (why?!) and got the bitter, scalded drink I was expecting. I don't know what is happening at Destino, but it's not the friendly, tasty place it used to be.
(1)Alice C.
Mocha was lukewarm. Friendly factor was as well. Their bagel with 'the works' used to be sooo good. Sadly, with the changing of owners over the years, this cafe has lost some of its identity and character. Nevertheless, we'll still support them or Fly Awake (around the corner) any day over Starbucks.
(3)Dawn M.
The space is cute, and I love that it's near Whole Foods, so I can grab my groceries and then get coffee. Definitely a fun place to relax. I love that the menu is largely vegetarian, including the lasagna. The coffee? The barista that I've encountered several times just doesn't know what she's doing when it comes to steamed milk. If you want art in coffee, go to Posies. The baristas there steam the milk to perfection - just warm enough that it starts to thicken, but not so warm that it turns into an over-steamed cloud of fluff that turns your latte into an undrinkable mass of air. At Destino, every time I get a latte, the female barista (the male barista made me iced chai and it was great, but I haven't seen his latte-making skills) is sweet, but her lattes? The milk is steamed until it's not a liquid anymore and then fills the cup with this white mass. By the time the foam cools and relaxes, you're left with a half a cup of something mildly resembling a latte. Bottom line - come for the location and space and goodies. DON'T come for quality lattes. Posies is the way to go for magic.
(3)Jen W.
Though I don't see it as an option on their current menu, I've had the best pancake ever here. Just a plain buttermilk pancake yet full of flavor and very fluffy.
(3)Nadirah M.
Went here for breakfast multiple times. It's an okay place as long as long as you don't complain about poor service. The last time I went an entire table and another customer, all of whom came in after me, were served before me. I waited 15minutes for a simple order which consisted of two items. When I complained about my treatment to the counter girl by asking what the hold up was she shrugged and said I don't know as she continued cleaning the tables and going about her business like I had said nothing. She made no attempt at reconciliation, she didn't go ask the cook why I was served after other customers who ordered after me, she just blankly stared, ignored my complaint and walked away like nothing happened. My treatment was extraordinarily rude and the counter girl seems to have trouble personally interacting with customers. I will not be eating here again. I recommend going elsewhere if you want your patronage valued.
(1)Jessica R.
I think these guys make some of the best espresso out there. Good snacks. Good atmosphere. We stop in here a couple times a month now
(4)Imaria C.
When in this neighborhood and looking for a quick and friendly coffee purchasing experience I go here. Their espresso is acceptable (but definitely not great) and the people working here are generally really nice. On the rare occasion that I eat eggs, I get their greek bagel and it is always extremely delicious. They also have jammers from Florio on Sundays, which are world rocking if you like that sort of thing. I recently tried their ice blendy green tea smoothie thing (great description of a drink I can't name right?) and it was quite tasty. Unless I'm totally craving coffee I think I might just order this instead from now on. It would be cool if they were open later though. Why do all the coffee shops in Portland close at 3? Don't they know I need coffee at like 5 or even 8 sometimes?
(4)Kristina G.
Great latte!!! The coffee they use has a wonderful flavor. It makes Starbucks taste like burnt dirt. However, I have to agree with one of the previous reviewers -- the man at the counter was not friendly. I wouldn't say he was rude, but he was very distant. I would prefer a bit more welcoming attitude from the person dealing with customers. He seemed a bit more outgoing with people who had been there before, but if you're not friendly to new customers, then how do you get them to come back?
(4)Lily F.
Two years ago I loved this neighborhood cafe, but lately I've found the pastries are smaller and not as tasty as they used to be. I've been unimpressed by the sandwiches lately as well. The two stars are for the friendly women who get up super early to be there and the Trailhead coffee. Maybe Destino has switched to cheaper products to avoid laying people off. It's worth stopping there for coffee but skip the food for now, tip generously, and hope they see better days.
(2)Tinna H.
The rating is purely based on the fact that they have a drink called HEATH MOCHA. That would be a mocha with Heath Bar powder [MUST find this in SF] in it! Awesome, and tasty! I haven't tried the food here, but they serve breakfast and lunch. Apparently if you head in there late in their workday (after 1pm), certain items are significantly discounted. Service is excellent and friendly too. However, I am not too sure about their math skills. Our drink order total was a little bit less than what we'd pre-calculated based on the menu on the wall. Guess not everyone can be a mathlete! They have a "Buy 10 Drinks and get your usual for FREE" club - Sprez Club, they call it. Maybe they will miscount and give me the free drink after seven or eight! They are located just around the corner from the Starbucks [1 of over 75 locations].
(5)Jocelyn M.
Such a nice casual neighborhood coffee house. Great for grabbing beans to grind at home (Trailhead Coffee Roasters), special coffee treats and grabbing breakfast or a lunch sandwich. My favorites: + the acai bowl (cold fruit slushy with sweet crunchy granola clusters and banana on top), + the protein in a cup: scrambled egg with vegetarian patties and sliced tomato and cheese (and I'm not even a vegetarian!) If you're lucky you'll get to run into the coffee roaster as he delivers the beans via his distinctive branded bicycle. Ralph and the crew do a good job of making their place have a sense of community and including you in it- from greeting you by name when you become a regular to having photos on the wall of neighbors and their kids & dogs. Not always the fastest busy morning coffee option, esp compared to the over-staffed Starbucks down the block (three people at the espresso machine- really?), but You always feel better for having stepped into Destino.
(5)Diane C.
I stopped into Caffe Destino after driving by and seeing its very cute facade. I was looking for a coffee shop that served lunch and this was just the ticket. I ordered their soup of the day, which was a 1-alarm vegetarian chili. I was offered a taste of it first and that sold me. I asked for extra onions on top...no problem. The service was friendly and fast. The wi-fi is free and I wanted to stick around, so that was great, too. For dessert, I decided to try their coffee of the day, which was Creme Brulee...delicious! All in all, I'd definitely come back.
(4)Helen M.
I love the warm, friendly atmosphere and great coffee and espresso (I love a latte, myself). Food is good - a nice menu with many choices. Caffe Destino is in my neighborhood, and I love being able to support local!
(4)