Since smell-o-vision isn’t quite ready yet, you’re just going to have to trust us on this one. The next time you are anywhere near NE Fremont and 44th, do your family (and yourself) a favor and wander into Batter, Griddle and Drinkery. This breakfast (and lunch or dinner) spot offers an extensive menu of both sweet and savory pancakes, waffles, crepes, as well as smoothies, four kinds of Bloody Marys and eight different types of mimosas. Here’s what we discovered when we checked it out and why you should go right now.
photo: batter, griddle and drinkery via Facebook
The Scene
Step inside the door (or through the open garage door) just off Fremont and you’ll find a bright, airy and modern space with plenty of wooden tables and booths, visible open duct work and industrial light fixtures. The vibe is definitely relaxed and the waitstaff is super friendly. If you’d rather sit outside and watch the world go by as you dine, plop yourselves down at one of the wooden picnic tables on the sidewalk out front.
photo: Batter Breakfast Bloody Mary by Suzie Ridgway
The Drinks
Start with coffee (lattes can be made dairy-free), one of four Bloody Marys or a mimosa. Trust us when we say to try the Breakfast Bloody Mary. This lovely concoction features a stout float and is garnished with skewered tiny, silver dollar-sized pancakes and thick squares of bacon. For the spice-lovers, there’s the P.B.H. made with pineapple bacon and habañero infused potato vodka.
If mimosas are more your style, they have eight to choose from, including straight up orange juice, as well as Marion-orange and blueberry.
Need to sneak some fruit into your kid’s diet? Order up a thick, frothy smoothie, like the Maple Blue, made with blueberries, maple and cinnamon or a tropical Mango Madness, with mango, lime and ginger.
photo: Batter via Facebook
The Food
Sweet breakfast lovers and savory ones alike will love the menu here. Check it out online here to see it in its entirety.
A wide selection of sweet things made with batter include plenty to choose from for the tiny tots, like Happy Jacks, classic buttermilk pancakes with buttermilk syrup. There are also plenty of fruit-filled noshables, including Bananarama, Strawberry and True Blue blueberry pancakes. Love bacon? Get the Maple Bacon pancakes with thick cut bacon inside, topped with maple whipped cream. If your sweet tooth really has a hankering for sugar, just go for it and get the Red Velvet. It’s a cake in a pan, stacked with cream cheese frosting and covered in sweet, buttermilk syrup.
photo: Batter via Facebook
If you’re into savory pancakes, waffles and crepes, you are in luck in a huge way. One of the offerings is Mu Shu Crepes, with shredded pork shoulder, shitake mushrooms, eggs, ginger, scallions and drizzled with hoisin sauce. There are also mac ‘n’ cheese crepes, which are exactly what you’d imagine — crepes wrapped around creamy mac ‘n’ cheese, then topped with cheese sauce. Throw bacon in there for $1. Another must-try, is The Cumberbatch, a savory pancake masterpiece topped with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.
The Details
Batter uses local and organic ingredients when possible. The maple syrup and flour are 100% organic. Sugar-free syrup is available, as well.
4425 NE Fremont St.
971-271-8784
8 a.m.-11 p.m., Tues.-Sun.
Online: batterpdx.com
Have you been to Batter? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below!
—Suzie Ridgway
