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Everyone loves the Waffle Window

February 19, 2010

by Mayme Berman

  Attached to the Bread and Ink Café in the Hawthorne district, you can find one of breakfast’s best keep secrets: The Waffle Window.

The Bread and Ink has been a breakfast destination in SE Portland since the ’80s, the Waffle Window, which opened in 2007, offers a quick and low-key alternative for breakfast, lunch, or just an indulgent snack.

On the menu you can find sweet, savory, and simple options – the Waffle Window serves traditional Belgian waffles with sugar glazes or more elaborate versions that have pretty much any type of topping you could – or would want to – imagine.

And if you find yourself here without a waffle craving, they have the somewhat misplaced offering of biscuits and gravy which they cleverly call the “Not a Waffle” ($4).

For my first Waffle Window experience, I decided to try something sweet as well as something savory.

The “Banan-o-rama” consisted of a sugary waffle topped with caramel, bananas, whipped cream and granola and was as delicious (and sweet!) as it sounds.

My savory choice, a waffle called “The 3 B’s,” had pepper bacon, Brie, fresh basil and house-made peach jam stacked atop a plain waffle. Both waffles were served warm and with fresh ingredients (no canned fruit here).

 I recommend ordering two and sharing with a friend because despite a small price tag ($4 each) the waffles are thick and there is no skimping on the toppings.

  While the tasty menu is enough to convince most to take a trip to the Waffle Window, I find that what makes me want to go back is their quick service and budget friendly prices.

Going out to breakfast is a Saturday morning “must” for me and the Waffle Window offers fresh breakfast fare without the aggravation of having to wait on a sidewalk for 45 minutes.

Instead, within minutes you can enjoy your waffle while perched at one of their picnic tables and watch the Hawthorne crowds go by (or take it to go and savor your waffle in the comfort of your bed).

And, with locally roasted Kobos Coffee for only $1 a cup, you can leave full and caffeinated (with money left over for another weekend endeavor, hooray!).

The Waffle Window is located at 3610 SE Hawthorne Blvd, adjacent to the Bread and Ink Café. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.