St Honore Bakery

12/28/07

Not living up to it's potential

by mzwong at Citysearch

I had really high hopes for St. Honore when it opened but it just isn't living up to what it could be. The croissants should be much better. The baguette tastes like it was baked the night before, even at 8:30 am. The salads are expensive but they used to at least be huge; the last time I got one it was half it's normal size with the same price. There are some good/great items there but overall I think that a French bakery, run by a French man with tons of experience (he was the opening baker for Le Panier) should be much better.

Oh! Also, any time I have asked for an 8 oz. espresso drink they serve it in a 12 oz. cup. Being a French bakery, I would think that they should be able to make a European sized drink instead of a huge American one. Very dissatisfying. I recommend Pearl Bakery or Ken's for much better pastries and baguettes.

• Pros: it's cute and some good sandwiches, etc.
• Cons: should be much better, especially for the prices

09/23/07

Excellent treats, coffee, atmosphere

by lacorota at Citysearch

I haven't had a bad treat, salad, or sandwich here. The coffee is worthy of "writing home" about. However, I almost always expect a long line and table wait there. I avoid busy times.

Don't expect to get out of the joint for a bargain, but I promise the flavors and overall quality of the food is worth the price. Once, I ordered a salad, and they forgot my order, altogether. Although, it was a busy day and that was an anomoly out of the many visits I've made there.

In particular, I like the large, rectangular, community style table. Shared tables like that aren't uncommon in Europe, and I think it's a great way to bring folks together, as opposed to our typical American style of keeping isolated and gated from the mix of society. I've had some superb, impromptu discussions with total strangers at that table regarding all manner of topics -- usuallly praise on the food, and discussions about local politics or other current events.

• Pros: great flavors, light and cheery place
• Cons: expensive, frequent lines, full tables

09/04/07

response to foodue

by matt26 at Citysearch

I have worked in small bakeries making croissants, we did not have a large dough sheeter or a small sheeter. It is possible to make them by rolling out by hand.

08/26/07

Worth Every Penny

by tiffmay at Citysearch

I worked at St. Honore for 1 year, in 2005, and have been frequenting the restaurant ever since. Employees are well treated, and the staff is consistent so employees are well trained.

The oven is a true French brick oven, with parts brought from France. The owner is a France native, a great chef, and kind person.

The ingredients are fresh, seasonally rotate, and local. Try the strawberry desserts in the summer, they're my personal favorite. The chicken crudite sandwich, quiche lorraine, and gruyere croissant are all delicious entrees, served with side salads. Fresh soups and breads are available daily, as well as a full espresso selection, and a limited alcohol selection.

It is quite crowded on weekends, and at breakfast, lunch and dinner especially in the summer. Head there on a cold day, or in between meals for a quieter environment. If you love hustle and bustle go to St. Honore during the Tour De France, it's a fun experience- a whole restaurant cheering and eating.

Especially when compared to other European restaurants in Portland, St. Honore is a great value, and a simply great place.

• Pros: The food, service, and atmosphere
• Cons: Parking, of course, it's on 23rd!

07/04/07

Good coffee, nice pastries, snobby snobby service

by foofoo23 at Citysearch

My husband and I went in for our second time last night around 7:00. Apparently, the boss must have been gone, because they decided they were going to close early. They served us as if they were doing us a favor and forced us to take our pastry to go. They locked the door, locking us in. Their large side door was open and a couple of old ladies came in and they quickly kicked them out. Needless to say, it kind of made my pastry taste bad when I got home, after being treated that way. A shame too, the first time we came in, the place was bustling and the service was efficient. I don't know that I want to return again, there are plenty of places in town where they don't belittle you for simply wanting to patronize thier place.

• Pros: Yummy pastry, coffee
• Cons: Caustic service

04/21/07

Burnt Croissant, Snobby Service - something strange about that croissant?

by fooddude123456 at Citysearch

Get over yourselves this place is not that great. Some things are really good but it is not to die for and the croissant was burnt and had a really wierd taste. I have been all over the world eating croissants - France, Mexico, New York, etc. and I have made croissants too for years. Where was that butter taste that coats your tongue? I hate to say this but I don't know how they make them? All the bakeries I have seen have a large dough sheeter that is atleast 8 ft long with a conveyer belt on each end. The dough gets very long as you sheet it out. They have a small table top sheeter that i can not figure out how it makes the croissant dough? I would have to guess they get in frozen croissants. I would not normally say anything but I just thought it was strange the taste and the layout?

• Pros: Great Cold Pastry and Bread
• Cons: What is up with those croissants?

04/11/07

Some highs, some lows...

by jenzhen at Citysearch

I'm just as crazy about the atmosphere and tartes au citron as the next St Honore patron, but there is definitely room for improvement at this establishment. I was seriously disappointed with their pain au chocolate, and the croissant, often used as the standard by which a bakery of this sort is measured, was average at best. Honestly??? I've had better croissant at El Globo, a chain of bakeries in Mexico, of all places!!! That said, the aforementioned tarte au citron is stunning, I raved for weeks about a baguette I sampled with prosciutto, brie, and roasted (or grilled?) Bartlett pears, and the minestrone soup and accompaning bread on another visit were lovely.

• Pros: bread, baguettes, tarte au citrone!!!, atmosphere
• Cons: croissant, pain au chocolat, parking

03/28/07

Perfect!

by s12 at Citysearch

Great food, great atmosphere! I absolutely love this little spot - wish they were all over the country.

03/26/07

My favorite bakery in Portland

by secretlola at Citysearch

This is the best place to have pastry in Portland. Always packed, but worth the wait. They have the most excellent baked goods and pastries, and you can see them making it! Plus, they have the best quiche that I have ever eaten!

03/05/07

Love it.....worth the wait!

Contributor at Citysearch

I absolutely love St. Honore. The quiche is the best I have ever had, and the canneles are superb. The breads and pastries are just as good as the ones that I have eaten in Paris! The lines and wait for the tiny tables can be a pain, but once you sink your teeth into a divine croissant....all is forgiven!

• Pros: Delicious fresh baked goods, friendly staff
• Cons: Always crowded