The best. Go here. I had the farmers gallete with ham, the bloody Mary, and the parm soup for the side. Woah. If you want the best that St John's (and possibly portland) has to offer for breakfast, this is it. I love my eggs and ham, but damn... the vegetables here take the spotlight with their amazing combinations. The service was amazing too. Not pretentious like some other spots. Everyone here wants to invite you to enjoy their food in the best mood.
Delicious food, unique cocktails, and a super friendly and enthusiastic employee (a gentleman with a friendly face and beard). Super grateful for the vegan and vegetarian options.
Biscuits were fantastic, all meals where great
To start, the place is charming and the staff seems sincere and friendly. The quality was good and and I wanted to leave the full five stars, but there were a few little things nibbling on my judgements like those little doctor fish that nibble on your toes during a fancy pedicure.It was a nice day and I thought it would be nice to sit outside and bask in the welcome spring, but none of the outside tables had been bussed. In fact over half the tables in the place had not been bussed so choosing a place to sit was more of a what's left than a where would you like to sit. Staff is hard to get and the server was probably on break or something. I ordered Chai tea, which came with no milk or stirring utensils, so I went and fetched those myself. Maybe that's what you are supposed to do, but no one explained that to me.I ordered the BLT, which when done well is a nostalgic joy and this one, when it arrived looked like a veritable tower of fond memories and motherly love. It wasn't bad. I think maybe the bread should be reassessed. It had a good crunch, but lacked a certain chewiness that is not only a good mouth feel, but allows the sammie a structural cohesiveness. When I bit into it broke up like a globally warmed ice flow and I had a heck of a time holding it together. Just a tad too crunchy. Good flavor. Good layered structure with plenty of fixins, but a little hard to actually eat.Does that effect the overall charm and rating of Paiku"s? Not really. The food felt like it was made with love and it was only a minor observation. They get dinged because the service, although friendly was not particularly on top of the game. I would be perfectly willing to try again and see if that was just bad timing on my part or a normal burp in the flow of the day.The name Paiku was a little confusing. My years in Japan led me to think it might be related to fish (Pike), or some other obscure Japanese reference, maybe a Haiku with a P, but on enquiring it turns out to be the term the owner's child used for the word Pie, which makes much more sense and is suitably charming.So it's a gem of a place. A little treasure tucked away in the eclectic twists and turns of Saint Johns. I'd love it if they took another look at their bread and stream lined the service a bit, but none of that would make me not want to go back... If they'd have me.
We stopped in for lunch after a walk around St. Johns and on our way to Forest Park for a hike. My husband had the veggie omelet with a homemade biscuit, and I had the tofu hash with a side salad. We loved our choices! The hash was really perfect -- everything done right, and a lovely miso aioli sauce as a garnish. The tofu itself was smoked and complemented the sweetness of the potatoes beautifully. The salad was perfectly dressed and absolutely fresh.Service was delightfully friendly and efficient. The interior of the restaurant is attractive and welcoming. We will definitely be back.
I love the food at Paiku, It is delicious, original and organic.And the people who run it are great. So happy it is open duringthese difficult times.
I am always shocked when someone hasn’t been here. Delightful atmosphere, service, and food. I eat breakfast here at least once a week, before Covid it was far more often.
French toast & Sam’s Breakfast are my brunch staples. ❤️ Also, make sure you ask for the house-made hot sauce with any egg dish.
Lovely tasty salad, the greens were so fresh! Chicken pot pie and the apple pie was the best. My hubby said it was the best crust he ever had❤
Solid brunch restaurant in North Portland! Veggie gravy is amazing and staff is always great here.