Boo Hoo... the lines are long/ there aren't enough tables/ they aren't fast enough... Blah blah blah!
I am a very impatient person. I hate waiting in lines and I hate other people wasting my time.
That being said, I did wait for 10 minutes to get my food at Pine State (no longer than one might wait at a crowded Subway) but it never felt like a waste of time. What I see in this venue is a crowded kitchen full of people trying to make gourmet food in half the space they could use and a dining room that seats 10% of what would be necessary if this was a full service sit down restaurant. (which it is not) The atmosphere is hurried and you may end up eating on a bench outside but this is a business that is making the best of what their facilities will allow.
The food at Pine State is warm, fresh and filled with soul. It's creative and unique like we have all come to expect in Portland but retains strong elements of it's Southern roots. The portions are large and the prices reasonable. Just know that this experience will come at a price of comfort and convenience.
So give Pine State a try,even if you are not the ""biscuit and gravy"" type, they have many dishes that will impress.
For those of you complaining about:
1) Slow service/no seating,
Quit bitching and go to Denny's
2) Not southern food like they make in ________:
Southern food is a style, not a specific thing. It's regional, just like BBQ or Pizza. If you want the food to be what you had in South Carolina... move to South Carolina... Just keeps the lines shorter for the rest of us.
I toast Pine State Biscuits and wish them enough success to expand into better accommodations.
Pros: Exceptional food
Cons: Long waits and few tables
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