Zell's - An American Cafe

02/29/2008 Posted by havinfuninptown

I loved my pancakes - they were insanely light and fluffy, but not too fluffy. Quaint and cute. But get there early if you actually want to eat breakfast! Like, before 9am on the weekends especially.

09/28/2007 Posted by buckmandweller

I've frequented Zells many times in the last 3 years since it's so close to my house. And who wants to travel far for breakfast? The menu is a great mix of delectable sweet and savory items. Any type of pancake special they have, you should very seriously think about ordering. They do classics well and have interesting flavor combination for their scrambles. Food aside, the service is very spotty and entirely depends on your server. My biggest complaint about this place is that on slammed weekends where there's an hour wait, the staff does not hustle. Tables remain unbussed for close to 10 minutes. Staff stands around talking to each other right in front of you while you're waiting for 15 minutes for a menu. I've had to wait up to a half hour for a check to come even though we were very obviously ready for the bill. Although, other times (about half the time) the service is perfect. The food is awesome, but the service may leave you completely unsatisfied. I've seen a much better service record at other restaurants in the area. This review would be 5 stars if not for the frustrating service (at times). Although, the food is good enough to overlook it.

Pros: Great menu, free scones with fresh jam

Cons: Service is very poor at times, up to a 45 minute wait on weekends

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

02/16/2007 Posted by fackel

There is just nothing you can say wrong about Zells. Excellent service, excellent cocktails, delicious food and free scones!! We love going here, but try to not do it too often because we love it so much, we don't want to wear it out.

02/08/2007 Posted by sunflower10

We go to Zell's regularly. The breakfast is amazing! The fact that they serve scones right when you sit down is a great added touch(especially when you are huuuuuungry:)) If you are looking for great breakfast, casual atmosphere this is the place to go. Nancy the owner is really nice as are most of the wait staff(a blond woman with a beautiful smile comes to mind -- I forget her name is truly an amazing server) Even though the wait can range from 10-30min, it's worth it.

Pros: the breakfasts, scones, staff

Cons: the sometimes long wait

09/21/2006 Posted by spotspot

This is a great spot for breakfast or lunch. The egg dishes are outstanding, and the pancakes and waffles will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth. I don't recommend going on the weekends, due to the long wait and zoo-like atmosphere, but if you can sneak in for a meal during the week, do it! Very kid-friendly, the staff are great, and they do seem to try to cater to people's special requests. The scones don't excite me much, but everyone else seems to go nuts over them, as they're baked fresh all day long and served free with every meal. The lunch menu is a little sparse, but it's one of the top breakfast spots in town!

Pros: Great food, friendly staff, cozy environment

Cons: No reservations accepted, limited lunch menu

08/07/2006 Posted by herbiv4

We went for a Saturday brunch and really enjoyed our meal at this establishment. The scones are delicious. The staff is friendly. The loose leaf teas are a relief. This is the best breakfast weve had since we moved to Portland.

07/30/2006 Posted by tberks

I cannot go on about how much I enjoy this place. The good-spirited service is always welcoming, despite times where I've shown up with people who decide to order next to nothing. Scones and water are always brought with a smile. Great list of amazing specials. Beautiful building and decor. I am always proud to show of my favorite neighborhood breakfast eatery, be it to a friend, a client or even my scrupulous mother.

Pros: atmosphere, service, complementary mini-scones

Cons: popularity=occassional long waits to get a table

03/01/2006 Posted by mattierock19

Zell's is one of the breakfast places that my friends and I frequent. The wait can be a bit long but what good breakfast place does not have this problem. The food is great including the scones you get before your meal and the wait staff is very friendly. The only downside to the food WAS the soggy potatoes. However, they have recently changed how they preppare them and they are now quite delightful. We visit Zell's a few times a month and are always happy extremely pleased with our dining experience.

Pros: Good Eggs Beni, Scones, Nice Wait Staff

Cons: Long Wait

02/17/2006 Posted by lvsgdfood

Taking my car in for some work, I found this place through City Search. I expected a nice little cafe. But it is so much more! The waitress was genuine, very friendly and helpful. The service was quick and the food... oh my. I ordered outisde of my comfort zone and had the most delicious bacon, avocado and tomato omelette that was perfectly cooked. The potatoes were fantastic. The tea was so fresh. Better then the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills!! I'll be back with my husband next week! Loved it!!

Pros: well-priced, fresh foods, real whole tea

12/02/2005 Posted by versatile

Zell's used to be the best. There was a time when I would wait a long time for one of their ever-changing specials. Not anymore. On my last visit I asked for eggs poached well (they make eggs benedict, so I didn't think poached eggs would be an issue), but I was given a speech from the waitress on how to not expect them well done because it takes too long (the restaurant was half empty on a weekday). Fine. When my breakfast arrived, it wasn't the eggs that were the problem, but the bacon - only one side was cooked. When finished - staff walked by the table time and time again without picking up the dirty dishes. It seemed like the staff didn't care if people were there or not. Don't worry, Zell's staff - you don't have to worry about me anymore, because I won't be back.

Pros: It used to be good

Cons: Indifferent Staff, Raw bacon, Unwelcome speeches

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful