09/09/08

Breakfast or lunch Great NE Location with reasonable prices, dedicated staff & outdoor seating

by PortlandParadigm

When I want breakfast in the Northeast without a wait, I go to Violets. The portions are plenty and I like being able to sit outside. More than anything else I like feeling like I am in a small town for a little while. The bar stools offer quick seating or the booths offer a comfy diner experience.

I know that the managment has changed in the past 6 months, and the quality of food and service shows it. No more waiting.

If you must have a drive up and park in front of the door experince to have a good breakfast dont go here. This is for locals that dont mind parking a block away or walking from their home to keep from having to cook. This is a place to take your out of town friends for the Portland experience, like you found it on your own.

• Pros: Service, layout, outdoor seating
• Cons: hard to park within 50 ft

07/28/08

fantastic

by MartyP

It was a great morning place. Nice atmosphere. Indoor & Outdoor seating, local color, The wait staff were fun and engaging. The Coffee was good. The Homemade Cinnamon Buns were incredible.

07/07/08

A formerly great breakfast spot bites the dust

by hrg51675

My husband and I have frequented Violet's for year. In the past, we've had great food and lack-luster service. That has changed. While we had the kindest service ever, the food completely sucked. My english muffin wasn't toasted, the hashbrowns were not at all "browned" but rather still raw and wet potato. The server even brought us replacement potatos, but they were still undercooked. The eggs chewy. The variety of fruit that one garnished the plate is now a single orange slice. The coffee was weak. Real sugar (C&H or Raw) wasn't available at the table, and upon request we were given a total of 4 packets to restock the table and use in our two coffees. The kids toys have been removed for fear of dirt, or so we were told. The good news, you don't have to wait for a table at Violet's anymore.

• Pros: They finally got the service right
• Cons: The food was bad.

06/08/08

Great Food and Incredible Service

by Danielkw

I wasn't expecting much when I walked into Violet's this week. The cheeriness of my waitress, who I believe was named Lydia, was a wonderful way to start out the meal. She said all the right things. I've always believed that the attitude of the server is what impacts your dining experience the most, and Lydia was second to none. The food came promptly and was great quality for the price. Good size portions too. Overall a near perfect dining experience. I'd suggest it to all that appreciate good food and good people.

• Pros: Service, value, service.
• Cons: none.

05/29/08

worst breakfast EVER!!!!!!!!!

by izokv

wow this place use to rock....now it sinks so bad i cant believe we didnt just walk out .the staff are is so rude the food has little to NO flavor at all and the prices are sky high.please do the world a favor and close this restaurant asap go across the street to biscuits they rock

• Pros: it had working lights
• Cons: they let people eat here

05/26/08

renewed!!

by laxler07

Don't worry avid violets fans! As of the beginning of june 2008 violets will yet again be under new ownership. Lets hope it works out this time!!

05/04/08

Horrible, horrible, horrible

by eliot503

I should have read the reviews before I choose this restaurant. The service was horrible from the time I walked in the door, and I should have walked out then. After we got seated, it took a good 10 minutes before anyone greeted us at our table, another 5 or so minutes before we had coffee, and when our food arrived, it was...horrible. The "home fries" were RAW. When I mentioned it to the waitress, it took another 10 minutes for her to tell us the cook is "new" and she explained how she has told him over and over how to cook the potatoes, but he just doesn't understand. She didn't offer us any other substitutes, and had the nerve to give us a 10% off coupon for our next visit. The potatoes were almost half the meal, why wouldn't she comp a portion or the full meal? When I asked her if she would at least comp the scone, she had to go ask the manager. Needless to say, I will never return to this restaurant, it's a waste of time and money, and a terrible place to start my Sunday morning.

• Pros: can't think of a single thing
• Cons: terrible service, expensive, food was raw

03/24/08

Service was ok, food was very sad

by kbgire

I have not been to Violet's since the new owners took over, which I understand was sometime last fall, so about 6 months ago? It was one of my favourite places to go when we moved into the neighbourhood about 6 years ago. First with our dog - he would get a bowl of water and a treat. Then with our first child, and then our second. I took both my girls for an Easter breakfast yesterday morning and I could have cried on my way home. I had a simple breakfast of two fried eggs, home fries (teeny portion - before, they would have been overflowing on the plate) and 2 pancakes and the two driest looking pieces of bacon I've ever seen! The eggs were undercooked, the home fries were soft and tasted a day or two old and the only fruit on the plate was a couple of orange slices. And, all this for $9!! Also, I should have known something was amiss when it was after 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning and I had a choice of seats! It is very sad to see the ratings on here go from 5 stars to one over the course of a couple of months. I thought it was just a bad luck of the draw on my part until I came on here. I really hope they can save it or get the magic formula from the old owners. I miss them!

• Pros: None any more, unfortunately
• Cons: Food and value for money

02/23/08

Higher Prices Lower Quality Food , Very Sad

by badether

Violet's used to be a delicious place for super fresh tasty breakfast NOT ANY MORE. We have been going to Violet's for years and understood when they switched owners that there was going to be some growing pains well 5 mos later and things have gotten worse. The menu prices have gone up, things once included in dishes like the fruit cups are now an additional charge. The orders came out at different times, bacon was cold & so greasy it was limp, home fries were so old they were like dehydrated potatoes-there was no potato in the middle! Oh, but they so seem to be adding more eggs to everything as if that will make up for the fact that there is less of anything fresh. If I want a huge tasteless meal I'd have gone to Biscuits across the street. The wait staff seem to be trying to be attentive however we received our bill before we received our water! This was a really sad miserable breakfast. WE ARE PLEADING WITH THE OLD OWNERS TO OPEN A NEW JOINT! We miss you!!!!

• Pros: You no longer have to wait in line!
• Cons: EVERYTHING

02/17/08

Terrible food, worse service

by jgayla

I used to enjoy taking my daughter for breakfast here when it was under different ownership. My family recently had breakfast here and not only did it take a long time to be seated, it took forever for the food to arrive too. When we asked the waiter a question about something on the menu, he said, "I don't know the answer to that." I heard him tell someone else nearby who had a question, "I may or may not know the answer to that." Nice. The food was simply gross. The eggs were undercooked, the coffee was lame. We will never go here again.

• Pros: fairly good location
• Cons: bad food, annoying service