Po' Shines Cafe De La Soul

On my most recent trip to Portland, Oregon, for the Street of Dreams with my daughter, we stopped in for a late lunch at Po’Shines Café De La Soul restaurant. Po’Shines is a storied historical, family-owned location in the Kenton district in Portland. These are my Favorite types of places to eat. And Po’Shines did not disappoint. I always gauge a Soulfood restaurant by how well they cook the grits, their greens, and their fried fish. I got the catfish Poboy and it was right up there with some of the best I’ve eaten. I still cannot figure out the vinegary condiments on top which I’m certain must’ve been some kind of pickled greens. It set off the sandwich in a way that I have not tasted before. Baby girl still wanted breakfast fare and she settled on the cheesy bacon grits with a side of scrambled eggs and peach cobbler to go. Both hit the spot (though she said the grits could have been a tad bit more creamy for her taste - like mama’s!). The ambience and the staff set the vibe for what to expect of the dining experience. We had a good time all around. Don’t miss and please patronize this place the next time you’re in town.

The best Soul Food in Portland! The sweet tea brought back memories of neighbors pouring me a glass on hot summer evenings. The collard greens will make even the pickiest kid eat their vegetables. The BBQ is perfection. I can't eat BBQ at most places because they just don't get it right! The black-eyed peas and rice reminded me of sitting at Big Mama's kitchen counter after school and chatting about everything while she made dinner for her family. The sweet potato pie is quite literally the best I've ever had. I've never met a sweet potato pie that I didn't like, but this stuff is what dreams are made of! The service was excellent. There aren't many places anymore where they all introduce themselves and talk about recipes passed down by their great-grandmother, or having a barbecue when their favorite uncle brought over the latest meat he had come across, and their mom instinctively knew the best ways to season it. We will be back again and again and dreaming about it until the next time!

Had the catfish with fries, tartar sauce, and cornbread. The catfish was moist, flaky, and had a perfect breading/crust both in terms of texture as well as seasoning. The fries were great as well, albeit slightly too salty. Not enough to be an issue, but if I order again for dine-in I might ask for extra water and/or ketchup. The cornbread was fine, but I will probably swap it for hush puppies next time. That being said, cornbread is one of those dishes that has a thousand recipes and a million opinions. 4/5 for the sides but the catfish brings the overall to 5/5. Excellent, friendly service, a lovely atmosphere, and modest pricing. Will definitely return!