Fuel Café will Make Your Belly Smile

Kevin, the owner of Fuel Café, just might be one of the last survivors from days gone by on Alberta. He grew up in this neighborhood when times were rough and has returned to run a restaurant he likes to refer to as comfortable. His mother still lives a few blocks away and is happy he returned before this location was lost to the new tenants that pepper the area. For the last five years Kevin calls Fuel Café home navigating the new Alberta among the many others now that might be known for their dog friendly service or any number of unhinged, unproven eating experiments that keeps Portland bubbling to the top of food destinations. Although Fuel Café has a great many regulars it’s also noticed for recognizable food options that you want to eat for breakfast and lunch. Once you’ve perused the selections you just know The All American Breakfast goes great with a red beer on any day you can get away with it or the dutch baby waffle deserves a mimosa at its side. Once you’ve visited Fuel Café you will want to eat here as often as possible unless you are looking for a “cathedral for fine dining,” With breakfast for under $10 bucks it makes the decision even easier. “We want our prices to be reasonable so people can eat here anytime they please without worrying about breaking into the laundry money”, Kevin laughs “People wanna wear clean cloths too.”

The carmelized sweet, warm flavor of real maple syrup swirls into fluffy pillowed waffle divots that also host layers of crispy bacon, eggs from Kevin’s own hens, or fresh fruit and cream.  Behind the coffee bar, friendly smiling staff serves up huge hot mugs of coffee drinks that pay homage to Portlands proud coffee centric crazies. And it’s good. The inside has that classic California vibe you’d find in Haight Asbury, or that little hidden spot just down from U.C. Med that really only the locals know, but wait, you’re in PDX, on Alberta, the street of gentrification, an action packed eating destination known for brunches and hipster chefs making names for themselves by never following a recipe. Inside Fuel Café hap hazarded tables beckon for friends over a several lunch dishes best described as “Melting Pot in a Bowl.” One of very few African American owned restaurants, Kevin, is married to an Italian and the chefs are all Hispanic.  Sitting down together to discuss menu ideas, the culturally driven group each throws in their own ethnic additions anytime it seems feasible and this makes noshing so pleasant you immediately think about coming back to try the dish your friend is eating. Like so many pennies in a pocket tumbling through fingers the joyful flavor options jump willy nilly across Fuel Café’s menu whilst allowing you to keep the change for an extra dry.

Fuel Café        1452 NE Alberta Street          Portland Oregon 503-335-3835 Open Daily until 4 p.m.