La Providence Bakery & Bistro

The noise level was absolute pandemonium. Loud, shrieking, yelling voices, crashing plates and silverware. I couldn't hear folks at my table and they couldn't hear me. We left angry, hoarse, and with ears ringing. What a way to start the day. Oh, and apparently they're out of certain menu items - which we only learned after we had ordered them. Pros: good menu Cons: noise more

I have been coming here for about 5 years now and I have since to find a better place. It all started with the mouth watering chocolate croissants mmmmmm. It turned into an addiction when the staff started to recognize me. I have been in the restaurant a few times and was never let down either. All in all this is my favorite restaurant of all time. I think every one here on happy pills.....wait I know it must be the chocolate. If your in the neighborhood this place is a must. Pros: Everything Cons: Addicting more

The last two times I have dined here have not been pleasant. Today when I went to La Provence, the hostess gave me a breakfast menu. It was 2:30pm, so I had to ask for the correct menu. Mind you, there were only two other tables being served. She sat me at a table and it was quite cold so I asked to be moved. After I ordered, the hostess started mopping the floor with a strong bleach. I don't know about you, but I don't want to have lunch with a strong bleach odor in the air. So I asked to be moved again, this time to the other side of the restaurant. My salad came and it was decent, but I just could'nt enjoy it with all the commotion going on. The staff was clearly in a hurry to leave, forget about the client's needs, just let me get off work. If the owner was there today I suggest he retrains his staff. I won't go back, there are too many other great restaurants in Portland. Especially if looking for a french bistro, try St. Honore. It at least reminds me of Paris with a french chef. St. Honore's product is A+, infact why did I even give La Provence another chance. Won't happen again! Pros: n/a Cons: staff in a hurry to close shop more

This place is bogus all the way around. They have coffee, and no real cream (just the funny stuff in plastic capsules). That doesn't matter anyway, because you must have to have a note from home to get a cup of coffee here. Ditto for a glass of water. In fact I had to ask for EVERYTHING....and that was after sitting at my table for 15 minutes before ordering. Also, no bread plates for the bread on the table. My meal arrived WITH the tomatoes I had asked to NOT have. The waitress told me she sometimes can't read the orders she writes because her eyes are bad. Honest perhaps....but not helpful. The food was soggy and lukewarm when it arrived...the second time. The place is NOISEY and the floor needs to be cleaned. And..there is nothing even remotely French about this place. I didn't even see a Croissant in the bakery case.\r That being said....the Hashbrown Potatoes were excellent, Marionberry Muffin was A+, and Salsa quite good. Pros: opens early, great Hashbrown Potatoes, and Marionberry Muffins Cons: Bad service, mostly mediocre food, noisey. more

My husband and I have been eating at La Provence for a while now. Their food is consistently excellent and the atmosphere makes us feel like we are back in Paris. We even have a favorite server, Alicia. She's friendly, attentive and has a great sense of humor. I always get the same thing-- the Tuscan Omlette. It is absolutely mouthwatering with mozarella cheese, chicken, roasted garlic and sundried tomatoes. I just drooled on my keyboard thinking about it. Also they have to-die-for muffins (my favorite is the apple with real apples baked in) and a wide array of baked goods, desserts and other goodies. My husband's favorite dish is the Chorizo Hash but he also loves their French Toast. Good coffee too! Check'em out, chances are you won't be disappointed. Pros: consistently good food Cons: can be crowded but we've never had to wait for more than 25 minutes more

My husband and I were looking for a new breakfast spot when we came upon La Provence. It was the weekend so we had brunch I had the most amazing sandwich. It had turkey and bacon with melted cheese mmmm! My husband had the french toast, talk about generous portions we were stuffed when we left and still had a doggy bag to take home. The service was fast and friendly and the food was great. We will be back. Pros: Sevice, food and atmospere. Cons: crowded but worth the wait! more

my husband and I eat at la provence all the time,he likes the basic breakfast .... bacon and eggs or sausage and eggs and grilled potatoes.he loves it. I on the other hand will try just about anything ... one of my faves is the la provence omelette with feta cheese yummy.... when we bring our kids they usually have the berry crepes with whip cream... they can also get a mickey pancake how fun.The staff and servers are great,always there to help... Pros: food and service Cons: parking more

Can you imagine people actually call and put a reservation on the oatmeal there? It really is that good. I have been bringing my family to Sunday breakfast there for over 10 years. The portions are huge and the french pastries and bread are the best in Portland. They are packed on the weekend, but even though they are busy, the staff always try their best to give great service and lots of smiles. It is always so great to see the same waitresses there for years, there is hardly a turnover with the staff, they must really like working there. A little tip is to go there right when they open on the weekends to avoid the huge crowd. \r \r Pros: Great food, portions, service, atmosphere Cons: parking more

This place had horrible service. My friend and I decided to go there for lunch since we had to buy desserts and they had a bakery on the site as well. Two other groups of people were seated after us and immediately had water and menu's. We on the other hand had to sit for about 10 minutes until a waitress finally came to our table. The food was good, but the bad service made it a waste. Every other table was being attended to and we were ignored. My friend and I concluded that maybe they discriminated against is because we were the youngest ones in the room. Not sure what the reason, but I will not go back there. I'm a pretty good tipper, but not when I'm ignored. more

This place is no better than any third-grade chain restaurant. In some things it's actually worse. We've been there once and we will never go there again. We visit different breakfast places and we can really say what is better and what is worse. This one is the worse one... First: it was dirty under the tables. Second: I accidentally looked into the kitchen and didn't like what I saw (dirty again). Third: all 3 of us had very uncomfortable felling in stomach the whole day after the breakfast. The ingredients they use are clearly not super fresh or good.\r Why does this place has a French name? Why do they play French music? This place is not a French bistro, ok... It's just a standard place where they serve hashbrowns. Go there only if you want to have a huge serving of chip breakfast.\r I rate it 2 out of 5 Pros: no Cons: Dirty. Nothing close to French. Low quality ingredients. more

Nice omelet dishes. I love their homemade sausage in the omelets. Very tasty. Always have left overs for another meal. Quiches (yes, real mean eat quiche) are great and you can buy whole to take home, if so desired. We hope to try dinner one day. Great little place, been there for years and it's adored by regulars! more

We admit, we have become regulars. Weekday breakfast is great. Weekends are very crowded, and the place is not sound proof. I love their omlettes and if you don't like salt, avoid Feta (duhhh). Some people like savory, som don't. Service is always efficient and kind, but over worked usually. Love that they are very close to home. If you haven't given this place a chance, do so. Keep meaning to try dinner, but haven't read anything about it. Keep up the great work! Pros: Food, bakery on-site, rotating menu Cons: crowded at times more

We've been coming to La Provence for years. The service is fast, friendly and efficient, and the food (especially the salmon hash) is scrumptious and filling. Though they get crowded on the weekends, it never takes long to get seated. They can also accomodate larger crowds. It's my favorite go-to breakfast place in town. And in the suburbs! Pros: Delicious food, friendly service, great coffee more

I love this place. I live in LO, and I eat there often. Breakfast is good, but for simple and romantic dinners with a date... yeah, this place is good. If you are single, you will understand.\r \r It depends on what you are looking for, but if you want a French cafe' in Oregon, this is the best emulation that you will find.\r Pros: Quaint, French, Simple Cons: It is in Oregon not France! more

La Provence is one of my favorites. Whether its waffles with the family or a romantic dinner for two, you're sure to enjoy yourself. The staff is always wonderful and the bakery and desserts are amazing! La provence has a quaint charm and is by far the best bistro buy in town. Pros: ambience, staff, dessert more

My family eats here all the time. It is by far the bargain basement of top flight food. NOTHING in the area beats the food quality and the price you pay for it. Try the smoked salmon pasta at lunch, or on weekends try the cheese steak sandwich. You won't believe it! And if the meal didn't keep from walking unassisted to the car ... the pastries will! Ever wonder where Zupan's gets their pastries ... this is one of the places! Try the Versaille. Pros: Great Food, Quality and Quantity, Friendly staff Cons: , No wkday cheese steak more

The service is always great and the food is even better. It's the closest you'll get to a Parisian Pâtisserie here in the Portland area. Pros: Inexpensive, fun atmosphere, friendly Cons: Crowded, Noisey more

THE FRENCH TOAST IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD! Big thick hunks of homade bread french toasted & sliced in the middle with cream cheese slathered inside & smothered in blueberries! The omelettes, and home potatoes are just a hearty plate of goodness! The salmon and eggs benedict dish makes my mouth water! Fresh bread is put out at all of the tables while you wait, and the coffe is quality good stuff. For the amounts and quality of the food the prices are great! Pros: Homemade, Price Portion Ratio Cons: crowded, busy/quick more

This is not the place for an intimate breakfast a deux; within moments of being seated, you'll be treated to a regular cacaphony of the variety of ringers on Lake Oswego wireless phones. But the food is good, especially the bacon, toast (huge slabs; order only one slice, believe me), and orange juice. Sounds crazy, I know, but this place has the best fresh orange juice around. Also, some headachy mornings their little mountain of cut up fruit is just the thing. The hash browns are worse than nothing special; quelle surprise! Stay with anything else and you'll feel like you're starting the day with a big French kiss. Pros: big, varied menu, pleasant service, yummy food Cons: crowded parking, noisy dining room, crowded dining room more

Discover for yourself the many delights of this sliver of France in Lake Oswego Pros: Great desserts Cons: Not enough parking more