11/02/09

Too cool for me

by Bike Guy

The weekend host is completely incompetent. Go here if you want to be ignored for hour(s) unless you are a hipster. I am a long time Portland resident and this is by far the worst breakfast place I've been to since Denny's in 1986. Actually, that's not fair to Denny's because they have better service...

• Pros: Nice post-Genie's BM! (bloody mary)
• Cons: Worst service ever?

09/21/09

How hard is it to cook a tofu scramble

by dangus

I ordered a tofu scramble after the server was very short with me when i asked if other menu items vegan. What I got was a wet pile of luke warm tofu and beans. There was so much water left in the unscrambled tofu that my sausage and tortilla chips were limp and soggy.

Genies, Tofu scramble is extremely easy to prepare, I would suggest that you take 10 minutes and look up a recipe online (there are many good ones). Then experiment until you find one that is actually worth serving

• Pros: good looking non veg fare
• Cons: i had poor service and even worse food

05/02/09

Burnt food, burnt service.

by ThomasWellington

I used to come here every week, then they changed the service sometime last year. Since then its a miserable place to go for food.

Bottom Line:

Either revamp the service/cooks or close the place.

• Pros: Decent location
• Cons: Service, food.. Everything else.

04/27/09

Only hipsters need apply for a table

by grasspig

We went to genies to meet with some friends. 4 adults 3 kids. We waited for an hour and twenty five minutes to finally be seated. We watched as 13 parties were seated who had arrived after us. They waited only 5-10 minutes each. Am I suppose to believe that they couldnt put two tables together to seat us. When we finally sat down our waitress was cold and rude and never saw her after we got our food. No coffee refills. These people think they are too cool. I will never come back. Seems that they have a lot of similar reviews. Does the manager even care? Maybe next time I will get a few tacky tatoos and dress like a slacker, then I would be accomadated.

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: Horrible service

04/13/09

Consistently Atrocious Service. At least they are consistent

by treebeardpdx

I have been to Genie's enough times now to finally write a review and feel that I am valid in my findings.

Skipping the dozen times I've been to Genie's before and always ended up with rude, inattentive or painfully slow service-- this most recent venture I went to Genie's will absolutely be my last.

A lot of times my boyfriend and I go there with other friends that suggest it. We sigh, and think, well maybe it will be better this time. It is about a 50/50 shot on getting some half way decent food for a good price.

This particular time, we were in the area, hungry for breakfast and thought: "eh, lets give it a go."

We followed protocol, signed in on the sheet, just 2 of us. Got our coffee and sat in the waiting area. It was not a particularly busy time of day, there were 3-4 people in front of us. We waited. And waited. And waited. We had waited for 45 minutes when I finally went up and looked at the sheet.... SIX groups had been seated after us. Our name was way up at the top, uncrossed off. Just sitting there. We brought it to the attention of the barista and asked her why we had been skipped and been waiting all this time and she said 'she didn't know' and that was all. The utter unfazed look on her face was enough to make me scream. And that sums up the service I have found to be consistent at Genie's. A general distain for the paying customer, lack of concern or responsibility when they screw up.

Perhaps it seems like a dumb thing to get upset about, but for all the dozen other times myself or friends have experienced the awful service there, it was the straw that ended that poor camel.

• Pros: leaving... or never going
• Cons: Horrid- terrible, service, burnt food that takes forever

04/11/09

Food is good, service suckys, except for Theran

by Babymaker

My wife and I have gone to Genie's off and on for years,

and always liked the food enough to put up with the bad

and unfriendly service. Than we had a baby, and we

got treated with passive agressive cooler than though

hipster art school drop out angst ( especially by the female servers) until we ran into Theran. I'm probably

spelling his name wrong, but he is a tall blond guy

that rocks. If you get him, you will have a wonderful time and enjoy the food. Heaven help you if you have

a young child with the " Lady " servers. Good luck!

• Pros: Good food, great Eggs Bene
• Cons: Unfriendly service,

02/26/09

Good Food, Mediocre Service

by Nitengale22

I tried Genies based on a friends recomendation. The service was slow at first, it took our waiter at least 15 minutes even to come and say hello to us once we had been seated. He was cordial enough, but not friendly like I am used to from service in Portland. The food was good, but their Hollandaise sauce was AMAZING!! It was the only redeeming quality, and the only reason I would return would be if I was in the mood for great Hollandaise. If I just wanted good breakfast I would go to the Tin Shed instead...

• Pros: the Hollandaise sauce on the Eggs Benedict
• Cons: service, ambiance

01/10/09

man thats good

by uuummmbacon

It was my first time in Genies, I'm a big breakfast guy but don't make it to that side of town too often. I almost didn't go because of some of these reviews about bad service but I'm sure glad I went. I don't know what these people are talking about, I started with the best bloody mary I have ever had, the bartender was super nice even though they where really busy and we where seated quickly by a chipper red head. Our server had a big smile on his face, gave us great recommandations and my coffee never got below half, hot and strong just they way I like it. Our food was great and came out really fast, everyone in there seemed o be having a great time, staff included. When I left I was thanked and told to have a great day, I walked out of there all warm and fuzzy, and not just from the bloody mary's.

It is worth the travel, I will be back....

• Pros: delicious morning cocktails
• Cons: can't think of any

01/04/09

Depending on Luck: good food, Always bad service.

by caitlynpdx44

I haven't been back to Genies in a while because the last 3 times I went there it has been a disappointing experience. Being someone that works "in the industry" I am unusually patient and understanding for whatever happens in a restaurant. But, this place has been consistently bad in the last few months.

I used to eat there as much as once a week with different friends, now I'm not sure I'll go back anymore.

The food has been barely edible, whether it be undercooked or burnt, they can't seem to get it right, the waitstaff are clearly pleasant people, but seem to be so concerned in behaving "casual" at work that they barely "serve" you and the coffee has tasted very strange. (Which is a sin, it's stumptown!)

Anyway... just thought I'd put it out there... perhaps the owner or manager could find some use in this to try and salvage Genies to what it once was.

• Pros: price
• Cons: service, apathetic wait-staff, inconsistent food

11/01/08

Amazing

by vttaco

There are a lot of good breakfast places in Portland, but I'd never been to Genie's. After today, this is top of the list. For reasonable prices (7-10 dollars) you get great breakfast food with a lot of class (crab cake eggs benedict; black truffle omelet). The jalepeno bloody mary was the one of the best I've tasted. However, be willing to wait in line for a bit - but maybe that's because we went on a Saturday. If you're trying to find a good place to go for brunch, Genies should be your first stop.