Blue Gardenia

I am so sad that I can no longer get your delicious macaroons at PSU Farmer’s market. They were the highlight of my week, a fabulous indulgence that I can no longer have. I hope you and your sister are simply on hiatus, planning the next big thing that brings your tasty baked goods back to Portland. Until then, I will be dreaming of the chewy, crispy, coconut, buttery goodness that I loved so much.

i miss you, BG, best cinnamon rolls in town and the #1 reason i left woodlawn and came down to mississippi. RIP.

On a walk with the mutt last night, I stretched our six legs and walked to the Mississippi neighborhood nearby. After working for weeks on end, I was glad to have some time off, even if it was because I was sick.
Our walk was brought to a confusing stop (for the dog) when I saw a slip of paper in the Blue Gardenia’s door. They apparently have been closed for business since December 23^rd. Oh, woe!
BG, I adored your iced long brewed coffee, your Russian Tea Cakes, and your so pleasant staff that I would run into around town, and not get the annoyed food-​service glance of remembrance-​they were kind and genuine in and out of BG, even just in passing — I tend to think that the character of a businesses workers is everything.
I will be bummed that they are gone. Even this morning, I was hoping to tend my sick throat with some take out tea and many Tea Cakes.
RIP

RIP BG. Your delicious pastries and addictive roasts will be greatly missed.

Yesterday it occurred to me that since I have started reviewing on Unilocal,I have neglected to review some of the places that are totally dear to me. Blue Gardenia is one such place. This Mississippi treasure not only roasts its own coffee, but has one of the best, down home style bakeries in Portland.
Walking into Blue Gardenia you are greeted by the twin smells of roasting coffee and fresh baked cinnamen rolls (which TOTALLY live up to the sublimity of their scent). The staff is one of the friendliest and close knit of any Portland Bakery/​Coffeehouse. They really make you want to be there, and paired with the amazing baked goods its hard to walk by this place without stopping in. Besides the cinnamen rolls, the ginger molasses cookies are not to be missed and they make their own home made take on Hoho’s and other Hostess era snack cakes.
I could rant all day– check it out, it is worth the visit!

The first two and a half stars are for the very friendly lady who served us and the cozy interior. The other half of the star is for the coffee, Chai, and slice of pumpkin bread that we got. While the pastries looked yummy I was unimpressed by the bread. Maybe we just got the wrong thing, but it had zero flavor, and while it was nice and moist, I just wasn’t as impressed as I expected to be, with all of the great reviews. The coffee was ok, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t amazing, and the bit of the Chai that I sampled was fine, but again, I came for the coffee.
I’m excited to give this place a second shot, I liked the whole package, and maybe we just hit them on a medium day, but I wasn’t blown out of the water the way I had hoped to be :(

I think that this is one of the best places for pastries in town, fresh, tasty and served by some of the best folks in Portland.
Unfortunately the espresso is way over extracted and bitter. Bring up the bar on that and this place would get a 5+

The place is obviously great, as I grab my morning coffee here two or three (or four times a week).
Their in house roasted coffee is delicious, and their cheese biscuits are my favorite.
Their only downside is the price — they are for sure one of the more expensive coffee shops in town. I don’t think it’s unjustified, the service is amazing and their offerings delicious, but the price of their 12oz coffee is what most places charge for their 20oz.
If you’re visiting the neighborhood, check this place out. Unless you’re from Vancouver, Washington. Then just turn around and go back from where you came from.

I’d give this place a 3.7
Having opened about 2007, this small bakery in the Laughing Planet café area with the cutesey blue gardenia stamp as their insignia is rather special. Small, it carries a class unto its own, and somehow manages to put own rich pastries along with roasting their own coffee.
I have tried only pastries, never any cakes or cupcakes, and so I cannot speak to that area of their business. This is what I recall from frequenting them a handful of times.
Yes, the pastries were above average, but never worth it for the price they command (considerably higher price point). And I’ve even found a few that I’d hesitate about saying are artisan in feature. I did discover, though, that they’re willing to sell off day-​old pastries at half price, and that’s where the value-​conscious Asian side of me got really excited.
That worked well. I’m quite happy to see Blue Gardenia still ticking; let’s hope, for a long time… even given all of the new competition with the food carts.

My husband loves a good cappuccino– all foam, no milk. He rarely gets one that way when we go out for coffee. He got a perfect cappuccino today at Blue Gardenia. Not only was it bone dry (they were happy to make it that way too) the coffee flavor was nice and strong but smooth. Will definitely go back, especially when we stop by The Meadow for some fun salt!

After lunch at «Por Que No» and a soft serve at «Son of Flavour Spot», it was time for some coffee at Blue Gardenia. I came for the freshly roasted caffeine and left with a Miss-​A-​Hippie Cookie for the road. Delicious!
Next time, I’m in for the Mississippi Ho Ho…

Hit or miss cupcakes… today was a miss (it tasted pre– frozen). Everything else is good though, especially the coffee.

Once again — convenience. I live right around the corner, and they roast fresh beans daily. This alone is enough to bring me in. A pound of some caramel-​choco-​spicy sumatra will set you back about $ 15, but I no longer drink coffee to excess so this is a monthly supply for meee. My French Press is under pressed.
The drinks are quite good, but expensive. Last time it took 20 minutes with a line of 4 people for me to get my drink.
The cookies and pastries are all quite good. I buy the day old jalapeño cheddar biscuits for like 75 cents. I also like the pigs in the blanket. Go for the cheese!

so while i was waiting for brunch, we popped in for a drink at this cozy place on a crisp fall morning. and although i knew food was in the near future, i just had to add a spectacular looking cinnamon roll to the coffee i ordered. and it was worth every caloric bite. wasn’t too impressed with the drink, and there wasn’t a lot of seating space, but the lighting was awesome the way the sun streamed in through the large windows facing the street.
the other treats looked equally delectable — i would definitely return here when i am in town again — not necessarily for the coffee (its portland, therefore there are too many great coffee places to mess around with mediocre places), but, oh those treats…

Extra good coffee, really yummy treats, and a wonderfully kind staff.
I do however agree that they could have more comfortable chairs.

If I lived in North Portland instead of SE, I’d be there every day. I’m sort of a coffee snob after being a barista for six years, and theirs is the only coffee I’ve found in Portland that I love and don’t just settle for (yes, it’s better than Stumptown).
And if you’re tired of the typical pastries found at most coffee shops, this is definitely the place for you. They actually have savory snacks in addition to their to-​die-​for gingerbread cookies and turnovers. Whenever I go, I simply cannot resist the cheesy jalapeño biscuit. It perfectly moist, buttery, and the best part– served warm.
Finally, the atmosphere is perfect. Really friendly baristas who don’t just force small talk but seem actually genuine, and beautiful vintage furniture. I could sit in there comfortably forever.
Oh– and their prices? Unbelievably inexpensive, especially for the quality they offer.

Live near here and LOVE it. spicy mocha, unlimited coffee refills, delicious baked treats! their sausage and cheese croissant is to die for, and their gingerbread is chewy and spicy-​I could eat a dozen!
The staff has always been helpful, friendly, chatty-​so much so that when I had to run home for an hour, they kept my cup warmed with hot water so when I go tback I could get another free refill!
LOVE IT!

OH MY GOD! I love, love, love Blue Gardenia and I’m so glad they come to the Wednesday farmer’s market downtown. Their ginger molasses cookies are so soft and chewy, with just enough bite that they are cloyingly sweet. Plus they have little tiny pies! I mean, you can’t get much better than an individual banana cream pie.
Overall: I’m in love; did I mention that?

Another plus I don’t see mentioned in other reviews is the cold-«brewed» coffee. Not many coffee spots in Portland offer it and it’s great for folks with sensitive systems who don’t want to give up their favorite addiction.
Minus a star because I wish they had more comfy chairs inside.

These guys know how to make a dry cappuccino, and they even roast the beans themselves. Minus one star for the snotty barista, though.
I had a cinnamon roll — sans icing — that was yeasty & good — not great. It was, however, still warm from the oven. That’s worth a star, at the very least.