Delta Cafe

04/30/09

You either love it or hate it

by Raven777 at Citysearch

I can't help but notice from the reviews that people either love this place or hate it. It's the attitude. Be prepared for it - be prepared to wait for your order and just enjoy being with your friends/date. The collard greens kick butt, the ribs are delish and the chicken fried steak... well, if it wasn't so fattening, I could live on it. The drinks are the best in town. I live WAY out on the west side and try to make it to the Delta at least 4 times a year. It isn't the cleanest place - but it has it's own charm.

• Pros: Man, those drinks! Yum. Never disappointed in the food
• Cons: slow, slow service.

09/23/08

Great Cocktails, Good Soul Food and Portland-Style Service

by knievil at Citysearch

I've been going to the delta for years now. It's quintessential Portland: a little funky, eclectic and has attitude. I had a Bloody Mary with cucumber-infused vodka (at the waiter's suggestion), meatloaf with mac-n-cheese and tater-tot casserole last time I was there and it was incredible. The Delta is three times the size it was when it first opened (but the kitchen is about the same) and the food takes a little time. My GF is vegetarian and raves about the Tofu options.

This isn't Appleby's...the wait staff isn't going to bring you a side of rainbows with the Corn-Fritters (which are awesome). Our waiter was very busy, but he still had time to make a joke about the vine-ripened tater-tots being in season. I actually prefer service with personality (as long as it's not at the expense of service). It was super busy and the food took 20 minutes or so, the drinks were almost instant. Have a Mojito and don't be in a hurry. There's an Arby's up the street if you're in a rush.

I always take friends from out of town here. The servers and ambiance are Portland style, the food is Southern, and the drinks are Cosmopolitan.

Apparently, they are going to be serving brunch on the week-ends. If it's as good as dinner i'll be eating there more often than I should.

Tip: If there is a wait list tell them you'll be at the Lutz and they'll call down there when your table is ready.

07/20/08

Good prices, good food, Slow service

by jnd005 at Citysearch

I went to the Delta Cafe based on the other reviews. The food was good, the prices were decent, but it was to atmosphere that really pulled me in. It's obvious that the Delta Cafe is a well-loved neighborhood hang-out. The only problems I had were the SLOOOOOW service (although the waitress said she had been there for several years, our drinks ran out, it took about 30-40 mins for our food to come out, and she walked by constantly without actually checking to see if we needed anything) and the TERRIBLE TOFU. It's obvious that no one in that kitchen knows anything about tofu. Oh well. It's still worth it -- the meatloaf is great.

• Pros: Good food, easy to find, great atmosphere
• Cons: slow slow slow slow

02/20/08

walkin with elvis

by Sirisak at Citysearch

have to conceede, dont know all there is to know about soul food, but i'd call this comfy food more than soul.

white trash meatloaf - need we say more. yummy as can be. kitch gone wild, staff and decor - but love it or leave it really fits. bring lots of friends and share.

bbq is good, mac and cheese - especially after a few stiff drink, is a love affair. it isn't haute cuisine, it is happy cusine. have fun, live, let live, enjoy.

loud at times, set expectations to beam me about scotty, set your belt buckle to 'whateva' and have a good time. you'll be fat, happy and smiling. go with that expectation and you'll be glad you're still kicking

• Pros: just have fun and enjoy
• Cons: sometimes tatooed people are bitter about their life choices

01/10/08

Beloved neighborhood hangout

by mle422 at Citysearch

Caution, this place will cause cravings.

Among the delectable, reasonably priced menu, the amazing specials and the friendly service, one could easily find a new favorite at the delta cafe. True comfort can be found in the gooey mac and cheese, or the mouth-watering plethora of flavors that unite in the garlic cheese grits.

If you are in the mood for a whole meal, or just some sweet potato fries and a cocktail created from their in-house infused vodkas, gins, and tequilas, Delta always serves it up right.

• Pros: food, bar
• Cons: cash or check only

01/01/08

You get what you want.

by jkllll at Citysearch

So the Delta isn't for everyone. I agree. Don't go there if you want your behind kissed. I like it that way. The food is good, and not over priced. I live right down the road, and I'm definately happy that it is there. I've read many of the reviews and most of the negative reviews come from people wanting to be pampered. Get over yourself. Fill up your own water for once in your life. People get busy. I understand that you want to be catered to, but this isn't the place. That to a degree is why I like it. Bottom line is good food. Maybe not cajun authentic, but pretty close. Be warned you might wait, but if you care to have an experience, wait. If your not happy with the service tip accordingly, let them know and they will learn. In conclusion don't go. All of you takers, don't go.

05/12/07

MMmmmm... artery clogging goodness....

by kas26 at Citysearch

I concur with some of the below posts: food = great, service = pretty damn bad (and believe me, it's tough to admit). If you're in no rush whatsoever, grab some drinks, sit at a table, and shoot the breeze while you wait for your (obviously not very busy) server to bless you with their presence. You're going to want your orders ready when they show up because if you ask for a couple minutes, you're going to get at least 10, eek. That said, the food you can't beat in this part of town. :) NOTE: DELTA DOES NOT TAKE PLASTIC. Carry cash. :)

• Pros: Mac 'n' cheese, huge portions, gigantic drinks, funky paint decisions
• Cons: Service (over 5 trips in 8 months) is consistently lame.

02/22/07

This place marks the spot for Southern comfort food in Southeast Portland.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
What started as a cool Reed College hangout has since been discovered by the rest of Portland. Drinks are geared toward the college crowd--40-ounce Pabst Blue Ribbons served in a bucket for two and shots of Jim Beam. Dinner entrees include tasty favorites done right, like barbecued chicken and ribs, blackened catfish, jambalaya, gumbo and fried chicken. Most items include a biscuit or cornbread and two side dishes.

08/14/06

Nothing like a 40 oz in an icebucket and a basket of cornbread

by katyayer at Citysearch

I ate here last night after suffering from the insatiable craving for the Delta's incredible cornbread accompanied by a 40 oz in an icebucket (marked up to a mere $3.50). I don't often make the trek, the Delta is far from North Portland, but it is definately worth it.

For the first time, I had their BBQ combo plate and enjoyed the incredibly tender chicken and pork ribs, grilled to perfection and smothered in their signature spicy BBQ sauce. And my favorite side- the stewed tomatos and okra, not to be forgotten.

Our service wasn't exactly friendly but was extremely attentive and speedy, dispelling the rumors of poor service at this spot. As I prefer no nonsense, efficient service to painful small talk and feigned interest in my existence, I thought my waitress did a fantastic job, replacing our 40 almost instantly when it when dry and promptly bringing me a salad when I decided to be a pain in the butt and order one way after the fact.

• Pros: cornbread, great food, inexpensive
• Cons: Location (kinda far away for me)

07/05/06

Good eats cheap, but don't eat here for great service

by juniper420 at Citysearch

The Delta cafe is alone in it's uniqueness, especially in SE where good restaurants are virtually nill (with the exception of the Hawthorne District). The decor is eclectic and makes for entertaining distraction while you wait for your food. Getting a drink is kind of tough because the waitstaff is atrocious!! They never check on you, they are rude when they take your order and you have to practically trip them to get a second drink, or your check. They often smell a little funky as well (this IS a college hangout) which is a bit of a turn off when trying to order food. They only take cash, so be prepared and DON'T bother when the weather is above 70 because the place has no A/C and no ventilation and is hot even when it's not hot outside. The food here is great though, if you want stick to your ribs comfort food, and spicy to boot. Some of the infused drinks aren't very good (think ginger mint) but some of them are worth braving the rude waitstaff and sweltering heat for (if you can get a server to bring you one!!). The prices are cheap for big portions, a college crowd must.

• Pros: Unique and cheap food, big portions and interesting cocktails
• Cons: The rudest, dirtiest waitstaff in town, heat so sweltering you feel like you really are in the south