This is the 2nd time we made reservations and they let us down. We all got out of our cars and came inside to find that our name was mysteriously crossed off the list. AGAIN. Grandma is 90 and in a wheelchair, Mom is disabled, 2 have hearing aids and need to be away from the kitchen noise, I'm 8 months pregnant, and have 2 littles in tow, plus 2 other guests. There was no where for us to sit! We all piled back into our cars and drove to Shari's. Service is usually good and food is fine, but I don't think we'll be back for a while.
(2)
Kelly P.
You need to rate a restaurant based on what it is. As far as dinners go, Elmer's is about as good as it gets. My spouse and I have been going to the same Elmer's at least once a month for almost five years. We usually stop in for a hearty breakfast on the weekend before hitting the trail or doing yard work. The food is always consistent, and always fairly good. The ingredients for the most part a mid grade, which as far as dinners go is pretty good. The customer service is always great. I have actually never received bad service, and the wait staff always seems genuinely happy. The building is clean, and for the most part comfortable. I really like the over sized booths too. Heck, even the parking spaces are wider. The bottom line, Elmer's does what it does well, which is standard dinner fare at a reasonable price. If your looking for fine dinning then look elsewhere, but if your looking for decent, consistent, and affordable mid ranged fare that will stick to your ribs look no further.
(4)
Steven C.
There are so many good things I want to say about this place! The German pancake, the crepe, and the omelets are all beyond delicious. The really great thing is, however, the service and the kindness you feel the moment you enter this place.
(5)
Ryan P.
The food was great and service speedy. I enjoyed the prices and the lounge was a great setting for my breakfast. Also enjoyed the knowledge and thoroughness of my bartender, Dana. Great work!
(5)
Joan S.
We had a delicious breakfast this morning at Elmers Restaurant in north Portland. Our server was smart, funny and professional. Al had eggs, bacon and pancakes. I had a veg omelette and hash browns. The coffee and all the food was two steps above good, according to Al. I liked the fresh veg in the omelette and the hash browns were fresh and crisp. We have been there on weekends when its crowded and the cooks are stressed. I think when they can take their time, no crowds, the food is yummy.
(5)
Maylene K.
I love breakfast, and in a city known for brunch, I don't take 5-star ratings lightly. Elmer's is often compared to Denny's or Shari's, but that is not an entirely fair comparison. Elmer's compelling advantage is that it pays homage to its Pacific NW roots in art, menu, and community outreach. And the food is *good*, consistent, and priced competitively with the trendier, 2-hour wait outfits around town. This particular Elmer's has excellent customer service, even when they're slammed (with an appropriate amount of patience, of course). Out-of-town guests have even requested coming here because of past pleasant experiences with large groups (of course, a bit slower but not horrible). Suggestions: I crave the buttermilk pancakes. The German pancakes are similar to the Dutch baby at another establishment.
(5)
Elizabeth P.
American dinner meh. Steak had no flavor and was tough. Mashed potatoes were ok but full of salt. Clam chowder was meh. Kids mac and cheese is from a box and the corn was straight from the can. The staff is very friendly and the restaurant is clean.
(2)
Zackie M.
Went for a date. The food was really good, the servers were very prompt, nice, upbeat personalities. My service was above and beyond expectations. The food was quick hot and fresh. Their complimentary dinner rolls were to die for. A must try!!!
(5)
Susan S.
Always enjoy the French Toast here with or without the berry compote. Very tasty. They do a good job of making poached eggs the way u want them. Fast n friendly service.
(4)
L A.
Absolutely recommend this place! Great service, great food and genuine smiles all around. Ask for Lisa, she's one of the best!
(5)
Josie W.
Always delicious pancakes. Eggs were over cooked and the hashbrowns were undercooked.
(4)
BARRY B.
We've eaten in other Elmer's and this lives up to expectations. Bright and cheerful with good food, nice portions and good service. Close to the Best Western Hotel..
(4)
Joe D.
We enjoy coming here any time of the day. Always find the food very good, service is excellent and very comfortable. Good spot without the high cost. You can never go wrong with comfort food at this Elmer's.
(5)
Sparrow P.
In Portland for the rose city classic dog show. Walked across the street to try Elmer's. My friend and I were seated right away. Waitress ordered our drinks. First time I have ever had a strawberry blended lemonade was delicious! I then had a mushroom burger which was great! The fries could have been cooked for just a tad longer. Our waitress was nice but I felt like she was all over the place even though they were not too busy. Would definetly come back again!
(4)
Joanne L.
First meal in Portland. Arrived 10 minutes before closing. Nobody seemed bothered by that even tho there were no other customers. Ordered their German Pancake which was amazing. I also appreciated the over medium eggs cooked perfectly yummy bacon and real orange juice. The basket of bread also delicious. Love this place!
(5)
Charity K.
Elmer's is a great restaurant for "getting it done" in a reasonable amount of time if you want delicious food cooked well without the wait. While the restaurant itself is large and not super-charming, they have done a good job updating and keeping it clean. Servers are usually very good and efficient. Food is predictable and great for substitutions and modifications. The space is excellent for large groups and finding breakfast on a weekend in Portland which can be almost impossible. Recommend if traveling I-5 or if you live in the area and don't want to wait an hour for breakfast.
(4)
Susan W.
Went here last week for lunch with the girls. Clean, bright open restaurant with high ceilings. We got there about 11:45 and there were plenty of open tables. We were all torn between breakfast or lunch but all decided on lunch. 2 of us had cheeseburgers & the other 2 had the chicken, bacon, avocado Swiss and which. We both subbed the French roll to toasted sourdough. I think it should be offered that way on the menu. Also ordered a side of honey mustard & that was way better than mayonnaise on it. The cheeseburgers looked good but I was happier with my selection. Nice amount of perfect French fries. Our server Maddie was excellent. Never waited for anything. Would go back again in a heartbeat & hope she would be our server again.
(4)
Michael L.
The food is a step above Denny's and just average. The staff was very nice.
(3)
Pnw WA C.
No complaints. Great service, yummy food, and good portions. We ate here in Dec also and the food was just as good. If you are staying at Days Inn or Best Western, it is worth the short walk for a reasonably priced full-sized meal: avg $8-10 per sandwich/burger/meal. We had the cod meal ($10) and the BLTA ($9). Tasty and the portions were just right--generous bacon on the BLTA, perfect amount of cod with veggies and mashed potato substitute. The table next to us also had the cod and were satisfied. (as of Feb 2015).
(5)
Gerri K.
We have been staying at the Best Western next door and have eaten 3 meals here. Each one was excellent. We had several changes to the meal ordered and they happily accommodated us each time. The service was excellent. Will keep coming back.
(5)
R O.
The food is really good i mean the pancakes are amazing and the endless fries too ! And the staff members are nice too except one girl. I just wish they close at 12 am and not at 10pm cause sometimes i don't come at time
(4)
Travis P.
This is my first negative post. I ordered a Willamette omelette with the works hash browns. The hash browns were great. The omelette was full of freezer veggies warned, very little meat with no sauce. Drowning the omelette in Tabasco sauce didn't help. It was so bland and tasteless. What happened to this place? They used to be great. Disappointed.
(2)
Matthew M.
I feel like a 4 star rating is a bit high for this place. It's good, but not great. I mean, it was awesome after having that dump of a Burger King that's next door the night before. I had the ham and Tillamook cheddar omelette. Tillamook is one of my favorite cheese brands, so that was a plus. I got hash browns with bacon and cheese on them, which were food. The omelette also looked like a burrito,which was rad because I'm missing great Mexican food from back home. This place is definitely better than any Denny's I've been to. I would give Denny's a 1 star review. They have Mountain Dew which is great so I can get all jacked up for my extreme adventuring I've been doing up here in Portland.
(3)
Julianna L.
Food was fresh and tasty service was awesome!! We have eaten here 2 out of 2 nights here so far.
(4)
Michelle T.
It is not too often that I say wow ... but WOW!!!! AMAZING AMAZING and oh did I mention AMAZING! Being from Florida this was my first time here ... The service was fabulous from the time I walked in to the time I left. Not only did the server check on me multiple time, but the hostess/greeter also check on me when he wasn't busy - how awesome is that. The facilities are clean and the atmosphere is bright and lively. The food - HELLO - AMAZING! I got the Prime Rib Dinner. It was delicious, cooked to perfection! I wish this place was in Florida, as I would be frequent customer! ... And one more thing .... AMAZING!!!
(5)
James M.
Love eating here kids love it too good local food. Prices. Are very reasonably. Priced great breakfasts. And burgers.
(5)
Amber H.
Always a treat when you have a great server at a restaurant! Kevin is awesome and makes us feel more than welcome with being attentive and accommodating. The food is great as well! It's always fresh and made the way I want. I always get the ranchhouse burger! It's always juicy and that BBQ sauce is so sweet/tangy/spicy it has perfect balance. And endless hot to order fries? Hell yeah!
(5)
Chelsea S.
Staying at the days inn right next door, it was the perfect dinner spot for weary travelers.... It far exceeded my expectations of a diner. So much better than any Denny's or iHop! The waitress was extremely friendly as all the staff was. Our food was delicious, try the turkey it warms the soul!
(5)
Hannah B.
Really bad service. Sara was the only helpful one there and she wasn't even our waitress. Our waitress was awful. We sat there for a very long time waiting to order, waiting to pay and many other times. Sara the nice lady would constantly have to do her job and the job of our waitress as well. We would have had a good experience but with that bad of service it made it hard to enjoy our experience.
(2)
Kelly V.
Pretty good...the service was excellent but my blueberry pancakes were pretty stingy on blueberries. My friend said her buttermilk pancakes were really good and my husband's chicken fried steak was decent.
(4)
Kendra C.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Being from Oklahoma, the name Elmer's is associated with BBQ so it took me a minute to wrap my brain around what Elmer's means here. I had a breakfast skillet with a side of French toast. It was amazing! They have a pretty good menu too. Next time, I'll try something with crab.
(4)
Beth T.
I guess you could say this is a high end Denny's. They've got a good sized menu but you've got to be careful what you order. Burgers and sandwiches are good. Never will eat breakfast here again though.
(3)
Terri T.
Super friendly server...great egg white omelets..yummy seasonal pumpkin coffee...little bit of a wait, but not overly long. The place and the food are not fancy, but if it is classic breakfast comfort food that you want, it is a good place to visit.
(4)
Jeff V.
The breakfast crew is excellent
(4)
Nick H.
This place has amazing omelets and breakfast plates. This is definitely a safe bet, and a step up from the Shari's/Denny's type places. I give it a 5 not because it's the best option in town, but because it's good, decent quality, clean, and nice staff. I got the bacon, avocado, and cheese omelet with bacon, cheese, and sour cream hashbrowns breakfast plate. It was $12 but well worth it. I could barely finish it was so big.
(5)
Anthony V.
The host was very welcoming and sat me right away. My waitress was probably the friendliest server I've EVER had, and she got my order perfect and was very attentive and fast. The food was very good and reasonably priced. It was a busy Sunday morning, but the staff kept that place running like a well-oiled machine, seating people and cleaning tables and buzzing around efficiently. I'd see a group sitting at a table, I'd take a bite of food, I'd look back at the table, and there would be a completely different group of people sitting there! They turned those tables quick. Everyone in the restaurant seemed pretty happy too.
(5)
Sheree E.
My spouse and I always have lunch here on Mondays or round about, best server Kevin. Always remembers us and what we eat. Always on top of how we are doing or what we need and very personable. Always enjoy our experience.
(5)
Todd H.
Service was great. I ordered the Denver Omlete, my favorite Omlette. Unfortunately what I was serviced was a greasy Omelette that had had greasy vegetable that were not diced, they were in big chunks. The Tillamook cheese was found to be a big glob of cheese in the middle of the Omelette, gross. The Omelette was luke warm which is why the cheese was in a glob, obviously. The egg in the Omelette resembled "egg beaters" and did not taste real or fresh. I am sure other items on the menu are acceptable but this place is know for breakfast, I was extremely dissapointed.
(3)
David O.
Strong coffee which is good. Would be nice if I can have hot refill rather than topping it up with my half cold coffee. I ordered their signature Crabacado added my spinach and mushrooms onto it. And they gave me no avocado at all. Bacon bite stale and worst of it all, they used ready made omelette instead of real eggs! I was not impressed. The kind waiter said I should have requested. Well I was attracted by their home styled branding to expect home style cooking. Not prepared, pre-packaged ingredients
(1)
Laney P.
Always a day-brightener, we usually come here for breakfast. Friendly greetings at the door and prompt seating even on a busy day. Enjoy when we have Kevin wait on us. He's always charming and even recognizes us. I ordered the Ranch Breakfast with hash browns and apple sausage with fried eggs. My man orders the Mr Elmer's Omelette and always enjoys. I have learned to never order scrambled eggs or the omelettes because of the consistency of the thin eggs. They are not my cup of tea. But that said, everything else is hot and delish. Even like their coffee. Nice taste and strong. Yippee!
(4)
Brian L.
Glad we came in. The staff was wonderful and the food was great. We came in for dinner, but their breakfast menu looks awesome.
(4)
Wendy H.
Great food, great selection, great prices, and great service. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious. Went here several times during my trip to Portland.
(5)
Scott N.
This is one of my favorite places to get some good food. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can get breakfast anytime. They have great service, especially if you have kids. We made a terrible mess in the front part of the restaurant and they just laughed and said kids will be kids. It's a great place to go off your hungry, the price is fair, and the environment is great. Love the place!
(5)
Leigh G.
I've ordered the crab salad and clam chowder which was very tasty. When the food arrived I asked for a ice tea. The waitress ran to grab it and came back with a water instead and that was the last we saw of her... I've been sitting here for 30 minutes for the check, never saw the ice tea. Still don't have the check..
(1)
Reynaldo G.
Awesome breakfast... The place is very nice... The people are friendly... And the food is on point... Great place to eat when your away from home. Won't be in the area quite often but when I do I'll def come here
(5)
Mateo J.
Outstanding service. I was seated in a timely manner. The Gm of the establishment was very courteous and professional. And this was all on a Sunday morning, likely one of their busiest times of the week. Kudos.
(4)
Lavila M.
A wonderful meal! Dining room was clean. Wait staff were pleasant and efficient! Food was hot and delicious. All what we have learned to expect from Elmer's!
(5)
Dave B.
This is one of my favorite places for breakfast. The food quality is much better than the Denny's near me. The service is always excellent. Their traditional eggs Benedict is very good as is their steak and eggs. The steak isn't a cheap piece of meat like you get so many places with steak and eggs.
(4)
Jane S.
I love the Delta Park location. I have many favorites and the latest craze for me is the Looking for the Sun Omelet. I always have a good experience and the food is consistent and well prepared. Jeremy rocks!
(5)
Ryan A.
We went here for Easter brunch this year, and I have to say I was quite underwhelmed. The service was fine (aside from that thing every restaurant does now - seat the worst tables first). The food was just plain mediocre, however. Poor ingredients, poorly cooked. I was actually looking forward to eating here after my last experience at the Elmer's in Woodburn. I had a really good lunch there. Maybe they do lunch well now, but still not breakfast. I don't know, but I'm not eager to go back here. It's probably on par with Denny's, but not even as good as Shari's. Elmer's, at least this one, is still meant for those over 65.
(2)
Veronica S.
While on vacation we stopped in here with our kids to grab a late dinner. They closed at 10 and arrived at 9, we felt plenty of time to get in and out. Our host sat us immediately and quickly took our drink order and returned promptly. Looking around we saw that besides us there was only 4 other tables being occupied as they were slow and getting ready to close. Our waitress took our order and we got 2 kids meals and I ordered biscuits and gravy and my husband ordered the flank steak with a side of shrimp and he opted for a salad instead of a soup. Our food came out and it took about 30 minutes not bad .... but my husband NEVER got his salad, they forgot his shrimp and the waitress only came back once to refill our drinks. The manager came around asking everyone how their meals were and we said we were still waiting on a salad and shrimp...he came back and told us the waitress had forgot to put our shrimp order in and that he would take off the salad from the price....eh... the waitress looked so overwhelmed but from what who knows because there was hardly anyone there. Food was ok. Denny, IHOPish and nothing over the top. We would come back if everything else was not available. Not too impressed and service was terrible in the form of being slow and forgetful. Kids loved their pancakes though.
(2)
Melissa S.
We were working an event at the Expo Center and staying at the Hotel next door. We ate dinner here every night after work in the lounge. Our server Caitlin was wonderful she made us feel very welcome each time we visited. The menu has quite a variety of choices so we didn't get tired of eating there as often as we did. There is a full bar and lottery. The drinks were very good as well as the food. The atmosphere is very relaxing and there are some friendly locals that seem to be regulars. They serve breakfast all day and I had a fabulous crab and avocado omelette that is my new favorite. The food is good and the service is top notch thanks to Caitlin. We look forward to visiting again. Thanks Elmer's staff we really appreciate you!
(5)
Dave C.
I go here every so often for a spur of the moment breakfast or lunch and I have never been disappointed. Always good service and good food. About what you would expect and I have always had a good experience.
(3)
Tom S.
Stopped by for a breakfast on the way to an event over at the Expo center. We had a wonderful breakfast. The manager came over and asked us how it was and told us that we could sub anything we want and could have it our way. Pretty good service. A decent variety on the menu. Had the biscuits and gravy combo. I enjoyed it and my wife had a delicious omelet. I'd rate this place a step up from a Denny's or Ihop. Now, if they could have shut up the loud know it all lady at the next table, it would have been an almost perfect breakfast.
(4)
Lisa W.
Portland location was understaffed and unprepared for Sunday brunch. We were told 25 minute wait. Waited 45. Seated for 15 minutes before a waiter took our order. Food came out quickly once our order was finally taken. The food was really good. Just not sure I would wait that long again for it.
(3)
Holy-foo' X.
For chains, Elmer's is somewhere near the top of the heap. This is a 3.5 review rounded up to 4, for all the years of consistent, artery-clogging vick-shuls. Never had a bad experience at any Elmer's eateries, and how many chains can you say THAT about? Since the one @ the Meadows is the one with which I am most familiar, this is the one that gets the love today. It used to be pretty much a toss up between IHOP and Elmer's in terms of the actual food, but for a while in college I leaned to IHOP b/c several of theirs were 24/7. They shut down the one way out on Barbur near the PCC Sylvania campus, even though the place was pretty much always a-poppin'...so back to Elmer's it was! No Shari's unless it was simply too late for any other alternatives.. The consistency of the fair @ Elmer's is predictable, if you love the scrambles @ one restaurant you'll probably love it at another. I've always loved their scrambles; the more meat, the better, and better smother that sucker w/the country gravy. Also love their chicken fried steak or un-breaded hamburger steaks w/grilled onions. Ever tried the omelets w/the chx-fried steak? Make sure the nice waiter-person grabs a tabasco carousel for you, and set to it! That beast isn't gonna eat itself! For a long time down there @ Delta park, Elmer's was the only place to get a bite, other than the Burger King. That was WAY back in the day, when GI Joes was the only shopping place there, and before Burrito House, Mars Meadows, or that Baxter Auto branch were ever thought of. Remember back when they did firework shows @ Delta there, on the 4th of July? Thanks to a very late breakfast we were always fueled for the shows. Then, gradually, they took our fireworks and GI Joes away. And gave us mattress warehouses and Shari's instead. Ooof. Elmer's I swear to you by all that is gravy-laden, if you went 24/7, you could bury Mme. Shari! (hey---that rhymed!)... or in the very least, keep 'em honest with the wares they see fit to call breakfast... PS: The lounge is their best-kept secret @ Elmer's. I've had many a late-evening study group meet @ Elmer's, and man do they make the drinks strong, and keep 'em coming! It made me look forward to study-time, fa' sho!
(4)
Lauren G.
When my parents visit my brother and I in Portland, they usually stay at one of the hotels near this Elmer's. Elmer's, therefore, becomes the easiest restaurant to have breakfast at before they head out of town on Sunday mornings. The food is exactly what you expect - lacking in flavor and fresh ingredients. I would not come here for breakfast for any other reason, except for the convenience it affords my parents. The servers are always pleasant and cheerful and my coffee cup is always full. For those reasons, I give this restaurant 3 stars.
(3)
R M.
I ordered the chicken-fried steak based on anther review. The flavor was good but the meat was as thin as a slice of luncheon meat. The potatoes tasted a little liked the dehydrated kind. The wife liked her turkey dinner. On the whole, breakfast is the best meal in the Elmer's chain.
(2)
Cynce T.
My boyfriend and a friend of mine were searching for a place that served breakfast all day. Enter Elmers. What can you really say - everything was pretty typical. Food was alright, service was alright, and it satisfied our breakfast at 2PM craving.
(3)
Mary J.
Went back to Elmer's on our last trip to Portland. This time I ordered the California Benedict, and it was great. FRESH FRESH FRESH! This was on the seasonal menu, I think. I am remiss in taking so long to write this as it's been a month since our visit. As usual, the place was clean and the staff friendly and efficient. As is my practice, I slyly checked out the other meals being served around me, and everything looked good. Maybe I'm just hungry, but I wish I was close enough to go to Elmer's right now!
(4)
Mac M.
I've been going to Elmer's since I was a kid, and I can say one thing without a shadow of a doubt: I've never had a bad breakfast there before. Lunch and dinner are not all that great; the menu's sound great, the food is anything but. That being said, I had my usual Ranch Breakfast: 2 eggs (over-medium), 3 slices of perfectly cooked bacon, 4 pieces of sourdough toast, and cheap, but good coffee. I can't ask for much more than that, and it is only about $9.50. I love Elmer's - not because of the menu, but because they are so damned consistent. In today's world, that means a lot to me.
(3)
Josh J.
Elmer's always has a good breakfast, I've yet to be disappointed. There German pancake is my favorite, however I most recently tried there Club deluxe omelet. Excellent!! The service was great and the place is clean and comfortable. I highly recommend for a great breakfast!
(4)
Kayleigh T.
When you're in the mood for "generic diner food", drive past your local Shari's, Peachtree, Denny's, et. all and drive yourself to Elmer's! This is the Burgerville of diners. Many ingredients are locally sourced and everything tastes fresh and a cut above your local breakfast house. Breakfast here rocks my socks off. Plates of food are huge, include your choice of breakfast meat, and the bacon is huge, and thick cut to boot. Pancakes and waffles are fluffy and sweet, and often they have a choice of fresh fruit to top them off with. Everything is better with local strawberries! Not to mention, if you're a bloody mary fan, they are huge and almost count as a meal in themselves. Lunch here doesn't slack either! Recently I had an amazing strawberry salad they had on special. I know...I know, a salad for lunch? But this is the salad of your dreams! Mixed greens, strawberries, apples, bacon, hazelnuts, bleu cheese, chicken and a very light poppy seed dressing. Oh, and by the way, this is BY FAR the Elmer's location to come to. The dining area has been updated and no longer looks like your grandpa's foyer. It is brighter and comfortable. There is a dive-y little bar in the back with crusty old men that have become permanent fixtures of the room. However, they do have Oregon Lottery in case you drink too many bloody mary's and the siren song of Village People Party becomes too strong to ignore.
(4)
Julie H.
Last night, my husband and I and one of our friends dropped by the Elmer's near our motel for some dessert around 8pm. We were immediately shown to a table, and given dinner menus. I'd say three or four other tables were occupied; the restaurant was nearly empty. We waited for about 20 minutes, but no one came to our table. I hailed a passing server and asked for dessert menus. He told us this wasn't his table, that he was new, and that Elmer's had no dessert menus. He fumbled through an oral list of available desserts and went off to find "our" server. Since we were seated near the kitchen, we were privy to the conversation between five or six servers. One server said, "I'm off" meaning her shift was over, and then the subject was dropped. After ten more minutes, we got up to leave. As we passed the hostess stand, a young woman employee said, "I hope you enjoyed your visit" and I replied, "No one ever waited on us." I can't critique the food because we didn't get any, but the service? Less than one star. We went over the Shari's a half a block away, where we were attended to by a friendly and attentive staff, and ate some good pie.
(1)
Brian M.
After a hard race weekend. Elmer's is a like getting a home cooked dinner to me. Keep in mind I'm Chinese and home cooked is Chinese food. So yeah...maybe meatloaf isn't supposed to taste like this. But hey I like it here. Add to that the service is pretty good even for large groups. And we have a winner. Is it the BEST food available...no....but its the best available that's convenient and consistent after a day of racing.
(4)
Paula K.
My husband & I went to Portland for a long weekend. We had breakfast at Elmer's. I had THE best blueberry pancakes. They were light and fluffy. Of course, I used the marionberry syrup.
Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Genevieve W.
This is the 2nd time we made reservations and they let us down. We all got out of our cars and came inside to find that our name was mysteriously crossed off the list. AGAIN. Grandma is 90 and in a wheelchair, Mom is disabled, 2 have hearing aids and need to be away from the kitchen noise, I'm 8 months pregnant, and have 2 littles in tow, plus 2 other guests. There was no where for us to sit! We all piled back into our cars and drove to Shari's. Service is usually good and food is fine, but I don't think we'll be back for a while.
(2)Kelly P.
You need to rate a restaurant based on what it is. As far as dinners go, Elmer's is about as good as it gets. My spouse and I have been going to the same Elmer's at least once a month for almost five years. We usually stop in for a hearty breakfast on the weekend before hitting the trail or doing yard work. The food is always consistent, and always fairly good. The ingredients for the most part a mid grade, which as far as dinners go is pretty good. The customer service is always great. I have actually never received bad service, and the wait staff always seems genuinely happy. The building is clean, and for the most part comfortable. I really like the over sized booths too. Heck, even the parking spaces are wider. The bottom line, Elmer's does what it does well, which is standard dinner fare at a reasonable price. If your looking for fine dinning then look elsewhere, but if your looking for decent, consistent, and affordable mid ranged fare that will stick to your ribs look no further.
(4)Steven C.
There are so many good things I want to say about this place! The German pancake, the crepe, and the omelets are all beyond delicious. The really great thing is, however, the service and the kindness you feel the moment you enter this place.
(5)Ryan P.
The food was great and service speedy. I enjoyed the prices and the lounge was a great setting for my breakfast. Also enjoyed the knowledge and thoroughness of my bartender, Dana. Great work!
(5)Joan S.
We had a delicious breakfast this morning at Elmers Restaurant in north Portland. Our server was smart, funny and professional. Al had eggs, bacon and pancakes. I had a veg omelette and hash browns. The coffee and all the food was two steps above good, according to Al. I liked the fresh veg in the omelette and the hash browns were fresh and crisp. We have been there on weekends when its crowded and the cooks are stressed. I think when they can take their time, no crowds, the food is yummy.
(5)Maylene K.
I love breakfast, and in a city known for brunch, I don't take 5-star ratings lightly. Elmer's is often compared to Denny's or Shari's, but that is not an entirely fair comparison. Elmer's compelling advantage is that it pays homage to its Pacific NW roots in art, menu, and community outreach. And the food is *good*, consistent, and priced competitively with the trendier, 2-hour wait outfits around town. This particular Elmer's has excellent customer service, even when they're slammed (with an appropriate amount of patience, of course). Out-of-town guests have even requested coming here because of past pleasant experiences with large groups (of course, a bit slower but not horrible). Suggestions: I crave the buttermilk pancakes. The German pancakes are similar to the Dutch baby at another establishment.
(5)Elizabeth P.
American dinner meh. Steak had no flavor and was tough. Mashed potatoes were ok but full of salt. Clam chowder was meh. Kids mac and cheese is from a box and the corn was straight from the can. The staff is very friendly and the restaurant is clean.
(2)Zackie M.
Went for a date. The food was really good, the servers were very prompt, nice, upbeat personalities. My service was above and beyond expectations. The food was quick hot and fresh. Their complimentary dinner rolls were to die for. A must try!!!
(5)Susan S.
Always enjoy the French Toast here with or without the berry compote. Very tasty. They do a good job of making poached eggs the way u want them. Fast n friendly service.
(4)L A.
Absolutely recommend this place! Great service, great food and genuine smiles all around. Ask for Lisa, she's one of the best!
(5)Josie W.
Always delicious pancakes. Eggs were over cooked and the hashbrowns were undercooked.
(4)BARRY B.
We've eaten in other Elmer's and this lives up to expectations. Bright and cheerful with good food, nice portions and good service. Close to the Best Western Hotel..
(4)Joe D.
We enjoy coming here any time of the day. Always find the food very good, service is excellent and very comfortable. Good spot without the high cost. You can never go wrong with comfort food at this Elmer's.
(5)Sparrow P.
In Portland for the rose city classic dog show. Walked across the street to try Elmer's. My friend and I were seated right away. Waitress ordered our drinks. First time I have ever had a strawberry blended lemonade was delicious! I then had a mushroom burger which was great! The fries could have been cooked for just a tad longer. Our waitress was nice but I felt like she was all over the place even though they were not too busy. Would definetly come back again!
(4)Joanne L.
First meal in Portland. Arrived 10 minutes before closing. Nobody seemed bothered by that even tho there were no other customers. Ordered their German Pancake which was amazing. I also appreciated the over medium eggs cooked perfectly yummy bacon and real orange juice. The basket of bread also delicious. Love this place!
(5)Charity K.
Elmer's is a great restaurant for "getting it done" in a reasonable amount of time if you want delicious food cooked well without the wait. While the restaurant itself is large and not super-charming, they have done a good job updating and keeping it clean. Servers are usually very good and efficient. Food is predictable and great for substitutions and modifications. The space is excellent for large groups and finding breakfast on a weekend in Portland which can be almost impossible. Recommend if traveling I-5 or if you live in the area and don't want to wait an hour for breakfast.
(4)Susan W.
Went here last week for lunch with the girls. Clean, bright open restaurant with high ceilings. We got there about 11:45 and there were plenty of open tables. We were all torn between breakfast or lunch but all decided on lunch. 2 of us had cheeseburgers & the other 2 had the chicken, bacon, avocado Swiss and which. We both subbed the French roll to toasted sourdough. I think it should be offered that way on the menu. Also ordered a side of honey mustard & that was way better than mayonnaise on it. The cheeseburgers looked good but I was happier with my selection. Nice amount of perfect French fries. Our server Maddie was excellent. Never waited for anything. Would go back again in a heartbeat & hope she would be our server again.
(4)Michael L.
The food is a step above Denny's and just average. The staff was very nice.
(3)Pnw WA C.
No complaints. Great service, yummy food, and good portions. We ate here in Dec also and the food was just as good. If you are staying at Days Inn or Best Western, it is worth the short walk for a reasonably priced full-sized meal: avg $8-10 per sandwich/burger/meal. We had the cod meal ($10) and the BLTA ($9). Tasty and the portions were just right--generous bacon on the BLTA, perfect amount of cod with veggies and mashed potato substitute. The table next to us also had the cod and were satisfied. (as of Feb 2015).
(5)Gerri K.
We have been staying at the Best Western next door and have eaten 3 meals here. Each one was excellent. We had several changes to the meal ordered and they happily accommodated us each time. The service was excellent. Will keep coming back.
(5)R O.
The food is really good i mean the pancakes are amazing and the endless fries too ! And the staff members are nice too except one girl. I just wish they close at 12 am and not at 10pm cause sometimes i don't come at time
(4)Travis P.
This is my first negative post. I ordered a Willamette omelette with the works hash browns. The hash browns were great. The omelette was full of freezer veggies warned, very little meat with no sauce. Drowning the omelette in Tabasco sauce didn't help. It was so bland and tasteless. What happened to this place? They used to be great. Disappointed.
(2)Matthew M.
I feel like a 4 star rating is a bit high for this place. It's good, but not great. I mean, it was awesome after having that dump of a Burger King that's next door the night before. I had the ham and Tillamook cheddar omelette. Tillamook is one of my favorite cheese brands, so that was a plus. I got hash browns with bacon and cheese on them, which were food. The omelette also looked like a burrito,which was rad because I'm missing great Mexican food from back home. This place is definitely better than any Denny's I've been to. I would give Denny's a 1 star review. They have Mountain Dew which is great so I can get all jacked up for my extreme adventuring I've been doing up here in Portland.
(3)Julianna L.
Food was fresh and tasty service was awesome!! We have eaten here 2 out of 2 nights here so far.
(4)Michelle T.
It is not too often that I say wow ... but WOW!!!! AMAZING AMAZING and oh did I mention AMAZING! Being from Florida this was my first time here ... The service was fabulous from the time I walked in to the time I left. Not only did the server check on me multiple time, but the hostess/greeter also check on me when he wasn't busy - how awesome is that. The facilities are clean and the atmosphere is bright and lively. The food - HELLO - AMAZING! I got the Prime Rib Dinner. It was delicious, cooked to perfection! I wish this place was in Florida, as I would be frequent customer! ... And one more thing .... AMAZING!!!
(5)James M.
Love eating here kids love it too good local food. Prices. Are very reasonably. Priced great breakfasts. And burgers.
(5)Amber H.
Always a treat when you have a great server at a restaurant! Kevin is awesome and makes us feel more than welcome with being attentive and accommodating. The food is great as well! It's always fresh and made the way I want. I always get the ranchhouse burger! It's always juicy and that BBQ sauce is so sweet/tangy/spicy it has perfect balance. And endless hot to order fries? Hell yeah!
(5)Chelsea S.
Staying at the days inn right next door, it was the perfect dinner spot for weary travelers.... It far exceeded my expectations of a diner. So much better than any Denny's or iHop! The waitress was extremely friendly as all the staff was. Our food was delicious, try the turkey it warms the soul!
(5)Hannah B.
Really bad service. Sara was the only helpful one there and she wasn't even our waitress. Our waitress was awful. We sat there for a very long time waiting to order, waiting to pay and many other times. Sara the nice lady would constantly have to do her job and the job of our waitress as well. We would have had a good experience but with that bad of service it made it hard to enjoy our experience.
(2)Kelly V.
Pretty good...the service was excellent but my blueberry pancakes were pretty stingy on blueberries. My friend said her buttermilk pancakes were really good and my husband's chicken fried steak was decent.
(4)Kendra C.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Being from Oklahoma, the name Elmer's is associated with BBQ so it took me a minute to wrap my brain around what Elmer's means here. I had a breakfast skillet with a side of French toast. It was amazing! They have a pretty good menu too. Next time, I'll try something with crab.
(4)Beth T.
I guess you could say this is a high end Denny's. They've got a good sized menu but you've got to be careful what you order. Burgers and sandwiches are good. Never will eat breakfast here again though.
(3)Terri T.
Super friendly server...great egg white omelets..yummy seasonal pumpkin coffee...little bit of a wait, but not overly long. The place and the food are not fancy, but if it is classic breakfast comfort food that you want, it is a good place to visit.
(4)Jeff V.
The breakfast crew is excellent
(4)Nick H.
This place has amazing omelets and breakfast plates. This is definitely a safe bet, and a step up from the Shari's/Denny's type places. I give it a 5 not because it's the best option in town, but because it's good, decent quality, clean, and nice staff. I got the bacon, avocado, and cheese omelet with bacon, cheese, and sour cream hashbrowns breakfast plate. It was $12 but well worth it. I could barely finish it was so big.
(5)Anthony V.
The host was very welcoming and sat me right away. My waitress was probably the friendliest server I've EVER had, and she got my order perfect and was very attentive and fast. The food was very good and reasonably priced. It was a busy Sunday morning, but the staff kept that place running like a well-oiled machine, seating people and cleaning tables and buzzing around efficiently. I'd see a group sitting at a table, I'd take a bite of food, I'd look back at the table, and there would be a completely different group of people sitting there! They turned those tables quick. Everyone in the restaurant seemed pretty happy too.
(5)Sheree E.
My spouse and I always have lunch here on Mondays or round about, best server Kevin. Always remembers us and what we eat. Always on top of how we are doing or what we need and very personable. Always enjoy our experience.
(5)Todd H.
Service was great. I ordered the Denver Omlete, my favorite Omlette. Unfortunately what I was serviced was a greasy Omelette that had had greasy vegetable that were not diced, they were in big chunks. The Tillamook cheese was found to be a big glob of cheese in the middle of the Omelette, gross. The Omelette was luke warm which is why the cheese was in a glob, obviously. The egg in the Omelette resembled "egg beaters" and did not taste real or fresh. I am sure other items on the menu are acceptable but this place is know for breakfast, I was extremely dissapointed.
(3)David O.
Strong coffee which is good. Would be nice if I can have hot refill rather than topping it up with my half cold coffee. I ordered their signature Crabacado added my spinach and mushrooms onto it. And they gave me no avocado at all. Bacon bite stale and worst of it all, they used ready made omelette instead of real eggs! I was not impressed. The kind waiter said I should have requested. Well I was attracted by their home styled branding to expect home style cooking. Not prepared, pre-packaged ingredients
(1)Laney P.
Always a day-brightener, we usually come here for breakfast. Friendly greetings at the door and prompt seating even on a busy day. Enjoy when we have Kevin wait on us. He's always charming and even recognizes us. I ordered the Ranch Breakfast with hash browns and apple sausage with fried eggs. My man orders the Mr Elmer's Omelette and always enjoys. I have learned to never order scrambled eggs or the omelettes because of the consistency of the thin eggs. They are not my cup of tea. But that said, everything else is hot and delish. Even like their coffee. Nice taste and strong. Yippee!
(4)Brian L.
Glad we came in. The staff was wonderful and the food was great. We came in for dinner, but their breakfast menu looks awesome.
(4)Wendy H.
Great food, great selection, great prices, and great service. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious. Went here several times during my trip to Portland.
(5)Scott N.
This is one of my favorite places to get some good food. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can get breakfast anytime. They have great service, especially if you have kids. We made a terrible mess in the front part of the restaurant and they just laughed and said kids will be kids. It's a great place to go off your hungry, the price is fair, and the environment is great. Love the place!
(5)Leigh G.
I've ordered the crab salad and clam chowder which was very tasty. When the food arrived I asked for a ice tea. The waitress ran to grab it and came back with a water instead and that was the last we saw of her... I've been sitting here for 30 minutes for the check, never saw the ice tea. Still don't have the check..
(1)Reynaldo G.
Awesome breakfast... The place is very nice... The people are friendly... And the food is on point... Great place to eat when your away from home. Won't be in the area quite often but when I do I'll def come here
(5)Mateo J.
Outstanding service. I was seated in a timely manner. The Gm of the establishment was very courteous and professional. And this was all on a Sunday morning, likely one of their busiest times of the week. Kudos.
(4)Lavila M.
A wonderful meal! Dining room was clean. Wait staff were pleasant and efficient! Food was hot and delicious. All what we have learned to expect from Elmer's!
(5)Dave B.
This is one of my favorite places for breakfast. The food quality is much better than the Denny's near me. The service is always excellent. Their traditional eggs Benedict is very good as is their steak and eggs. The steak isn't a cheap piece of meat like you get so many places with steak and eggs.
(4)Jane S.
I love the Delta Park location. I have many favorites and the latest craze for me is the Looking for the Sun Omelet. I always have a good experience and the food is consistent and well prepared. Jeremy rocks!
(5)Ryan A.
We went here for Easter brunch this year, and I have to say I was quite underwhelmed. The service was fine (aside from that thing every restaurant does now - seat the worst tables first). The food was just plain mediocre, however. Poor ingredients, poorly cooked. I was actually looking forward to eating here after my last experience at the Elmer's in Woodburn. I had a really good lunch there. Maybe they do lunch well now, but still not breakfast. I don't know, but I'm not eager to go back here. It's probably on par with Denny's, but not even as good as Shari's. Elmer's, at least this one, is still meant for those over 65.
(2)Veronica S.
While on vacation we stopped in here with our kids to grab a late dinner. They closed at 10 and arrived at 9, we felt plenty of time to get in and out. Our host sat us immediately and quickly took our drink order and returned promptly. Looking around we saw that besides us there was only 4 other tables being occupied as they were slow and getting ready to close. Our waitress took our order and we got 2 kids meals and I ordered biscuits and gravy and my husband ordered the flank steak with a side of shrimp and he opted for a salad instead of a soup. Our food came out and it took about 30 minutes not bad .... but my husband NEVER got his salad, they forgot his shrimp and the waitress only came back once to refill our drinks. The manager came around asking everyone how their meals were and we said we were still waiting on a salad and shrimp...he came back and told us the waitress had forgot to put our shrimp order in and that he would take off the salad from the price....eh... the waitress looked so overwhelmed but from what who knows because there was hardly anyone there. Food was ok. Denny, IHOPish and nothing over the top. We would come back if everything else was not available. Not too impressed and service was terrible in the form of being slow and forgetful. Kids loved their pancakes though.
(2)Melissa S.
We were working an event at the Expo Center and staying at the Hotel next door. We ate dinner here every night after work in the lounge. Our server Caitlin was wonderful she made us feel very welcome each time we visited. The menu has quite a variety of choices so we didn't get tired of eating there as often as we did. There is a full bar and lottery. The drinks were very good as well as the food. The atmosphere is very relaxing and there are some friendly locals that seem to be regulars. They serve breakfast all day and I had a fabulous crab and avocado omelette that is my new favorite. The food is good and the service is top notch thanks to Caitlin. We look forward to visiting again. Thanks Elmer's staff we really appreciate you!
(5)Dave C.
I go here every so often for a spur of the moment breakfast or lunch and I have never been disappointed. Always good service and good food. About what you would expect and I have always had a good experience.
(3)Tom S.
Stopped by for a breakfast on the way to an event over at the Expo center. We had a wonderful breakfast. The manager came over and asked us how it was and told us that we could sub anything we want and could have it our way. Pretty good service. A decent variety on the menu. Had the biscuits and gravy combo. I enjoyed it and my wife had a delicious omelet. I'd rate this place a step up from a Denny's or Ihop. Now, if they could have shut up the loud know it all lady at the next table, it would have been an almost perfect breakfast.
(4)Lisa W.
Portland location was understaffed and unprepared for Sunday brunch. We were told 25 minute wait. Waited 45. Seated for 15 minutes before a waiter took our order. Food came out quickly once our order was finally taken. The food was really good. Just not sure I would wait that long again for it.
(3)Holy-foo' X.
For chains, Elmer's is somewhere near the top of the heap. This is a 3.5 review rounded up to 4, for all the years of consistent, artery-clogging vick-shuls. Never had a bad experience at any Elmer's eateries, and how many chains can you say THAT about? Since the one @ the Meadows is the one with which I am most familiar, this is the one that gets the love today. It used to be pretty much a toss up between IHOP and Elmer's in terms of the actual food, but for a while in college I leaned to IHOP b/c several of theirs were 24/7. They shut down the one way out on Barbur near the PCC Sylvania campus, even though the place was pretty much always a-poppin'...so back to Elmer's it was! No Shari's unless it was simply too late for any other alternatives.. The consistency of the fair @ Elmer's is predictable, if you love the scrambles @ one restaurant you'll probably love it at another. I've always loved their scrambles; the more meat, the better, and better smother that sucker w/the country gravy. Also love their chicken fried steak or un-breaded hamburger steaks w/grilled onions. Ever tried the omelets w/the chx-fried steak? Make sure the nice waiter-person grabs a tabasco carousel for you, and set to it! That beast isn't gonna eat itself! For a long time down there @ Delta park, Elmer's was the only place to get a bite, other than the Burger King. That was WAY back in the day, when GI Joes was the only shopping place there, and before Burrito House, Mars Meadows, or that Baxter Auto branch were ever thought of. Remember back when they did firework shows @ Delta there, on the 4th of July? Thanks to a very late breakfast we were always fueled for the shows. Then, gradually, they took our fireworks and GI Joes away. And gave us mattress warehouses and Shari's instead. Ooof. Elmer's I swear to you by all that is gravy-laden, if you went 24/7, you could bury Mme. Shari! (hey---that rhymed!)... or in the very least, keep 'em honest with the wares they see fit to call breakfast... PS: The lounge is their best-kept secret @ Elmer's. I've had many a late-evening study group meet @ Elmer's, and man do they make the drinks strong, and keep 'em coming! It made me look forward to study-time, fa' sho!
(4)Lauren G.
When my parents visit my brother and I in Portland, they usually stay at one of the hotels near this Elmer's. Elmer's, therefore, becomes the easiest restaurant to have breakfast at before they head out of town on Sunday mornings. The food is exactly what you expect - lacking in flavor and fresh ingredients. I would not come here for breakfast for any other reason, except for the convenience it affords my parents. The servers are always pleasant and cheerful and my coffee cup is always full. For those reasons, I give this restaurant 3 stars.
(3)R M.
I ordered the chicken-fried steak based on anther review. The flavor was good but the meat was as thin as a slice of luncheon meat. The potatoes tasted a little liked the dehydrated kind. The wife liked her turkey dinner. On the whole, breakfast is the best meal in the Elmer's chain.
(2)Cynce T.
My boyfriend and a friend of mine were searching for a place that served breakfast all day. Enter Elmers. What can you really say - everything was pretty typical. Food was alright, service was alright, and it satisfied our breakfast at 2PM craving.
(3)Mary J.
Went back to Elmer's on our last trip to Portland. This time I ordered the California Benedict, and it was great. FRESH FRESH FRESH! This was on the seasonal menu, I think. I am remiss in taking so long to write this as it's been a month since our visit. As usual, the place was clean and the staff friendly and efficient. As is my practice, I slyly checked out the other meals being served around me, and everything looked good. Maybe I'm just hungry, but I wish I was close enough to go to Elmer's right now!
(4)Mac M.
I've been going to Elmer's since I was a kid, and I can say one thing without a shadow of a doubt: I've never had a bad breakfast there before. Lunch and dinner are not all that great; the menu's sound great, the food is anything but. That being said, I had my usual Ranch Breakfast: 2 eggs (over-medium), 3 slices of perfectly cooked bacon, 4 pieces of sourdough toast, and cheap, but good coffee. I can't ask for much more than that, and it is only about $9.50. I love Elmer's - not because of the menu, but because they are so damned consistent. In today's world, that means a lot to me.
(3)Josh J.
Elmer's always has a good breakfast, I've yet to be disappointed. There German pancake is my favorite, however I most recently tried there Club deluxe omelet. Excellent!! The service was great and the place is clean and comfortable. I highly recommend for a great breakfast!
(4)Kayleigh T.
When you're in the mood for "generic diner food", drive past your local Shari's, Peachtree, Denny's, et. all and drive yourself to Elmer's! This is the Burgerville of diners. Many ingredients are locally sourced and everything tastes fresh and a cut above your local breakfast house. Breakfast here rocks my socks off. Plates of food are huge, include your choice of breakfast meat, and the bacon is huge, and thick cut to boot. Pancakes and waffles are fluffy and sweet, and often they have a choice of fresh fruit to top them off with. Everything is better with local strawberries! Not to mention, if you're a bloody mary fan, they are huge and almost count as a meal in themselves. Lunch here doesn't slack either! Recently I had an amazing strawberry salad they had on special. I know...I know, a salad for lunch? But this is the salad of your dreams! Mixed greens, strawberries, apples, bacon, hazelnuts, bleu cheese, chicken and a very light poppy seed dressing. Oh, and by the way, this is BY FAR the Elmer's location to come to. The dining area has been updated and no longer looks like your grandpa's foyer. It is brighter and comfortable. There is a dive-y little bar in the back with crusty old men that have become permanent fixtures of the room. However, they do have Oregon Lottery in case you drink too many bloody mary's and the siren song of Village People Party becomes too strong to ignore.
(4)Julie H.
Last night, my husband and I and one of our friends dropped by the Elmer's near our motel for some dessert around 8pm. We were immediately shown to a table, and given dinner menus. I'd say three or four other tables were occupied; the restaurant was nearly empty. We waited for about 20 minutes, but no one came to our table. I hailed a passing server and asked for dessert menus. He told us this wasn't his table, that he was new, and that Elmer's had no dessert menus. He fumbled through an oral list of available desserts and went off to find "our" server. Since we were seated near the kitchen, we were privy to the conversation between five or six servers. One server said, "I'm off" meaning her shift was over, and then the subject was dropped. After ten more minutes, we got up to leave. As we passed the hostess stand, a young woman employee said, "I hope you enjoyed your visit" and I replied, "No one ever waited on us." I can't critique the food because we didn't get any, but the service? Less than one star. We went over the Shari's a half a block away, where we were attended to by a friendly and attentive staff, and ate some good pie.
(1)Brian M.
After a hard race weekend. Elmer's is a like getting a home cooked dinner to me. Keep in mind I'm Chinese and home cooked is Chinese food. So yeah...maybe meatloaf isn't supposed to taste like this. But hey I like it here. Add to that the service is pretty good even for large groups. And we have a winner. Is it the BEST food available...no....but its the best available that's convenient and consistent after a day of racing.
(4)Paula K.
My husband & I went to Portland for a long weekend. We had breakfast at Elmer's. I had THE best blueberry pancakes. They were light and fluffy. Of course, I used the marionberry syrup.
(4)