Tin Shed: Portland, OR

Tin Shed:

1438 NE Alberta St

Portland, Oregon

A few blocks down from where we've been staying on Alberta St. is The Tin Shed Garden Café. This brunch hotspot has been on point with it's breakfast game for the past 11 years. Serving up some comfort food favorites with a unique addition, Tin Shed is no place to pass up on.

I don't really know if there is any way to put this lightly. So i'm just going to right out and say it. This place serves a dish called The Cure. And I know what you're thinking. 

"Oh, that dish is named after a cool band, how rad." And you wouldn't be wrong. But you would be missing the point. So... 

Lets look at the break down:

Now, I know what your eyes immediately went to but take a cold shower, perverts. Lets start from the top. 

1. Cheese Grits 

If you are talking about having a breakfast of proper comfort food, and you don't use the word "grits" at least 5 times; you obviously weren't enjoying proper comfort food. This dish comes with a generous portion of fresh, warm cheese infused and smothered grits that sets the stage for what you are soon to encounter. 

 2. Potato Cakes

This crispy and delicious potato cake can be found on almost every plate here at Tin Shed, though usually smothered with wild and unique omelette's, this cake is still dreamy with a dollop of sour cream. It also happens to be vegan, gluten free, and a total contradiction of what's to come. 

3.BACON GRAVY

That's right. This isn't your average gravy. This isn't even unusual, it is literally one of a kind, f*ckin' gravy. It has all the tastes and textures that you love in gravy. But then it tickles you under your chinny-chin-chin with a smack of BACON. 

4. Buttermilk Biscuits

Though not a secret family recipe at Tin Shed, they have been experimenting for the last couple years with different concoctions for an old fashioned buttermilk pancake, and let me just say they nailed it. And what better way to enjoy it than smothered with their legendary BACON GRAVY (sorry, it just only looks right in all caps.)

Before moving on, I must insist you click on the above photo and really, and I mean REALLY look at the glory of that BACON GRAVY sweetly blanketing those biscuits. Go on. The below content will wait for you. 

GOOD DOG/ 

I ordered this guy as per the recommendation of our server. This dish starts with two of their potato cakes, pork sausage, scrabbled eggs, fresh chopped onion, jalapeños, bell peppers, tomato, cheddar cheese, and their homemade chipotle sauce. It's a sloppy spicy breakfast wet dream. 

If you still desire an extra kick, I recommend splashing on some of their local Aardvark Habanero sauce. It is a great match up for this dish.  

EVERYTHING NAUGHTY/

So, You're at breakfast with your friends. You realise there are so many awesome sounding eats from The Cure to the Tim Curry, and you already have a reputation with your friends as being indecisive as f*ck. This puts you in a panic as the server approaches the table to take the orders. Take a deep breath and do as I say. 

- Order the Everything Naughty. That, 2 eggs, a potato cake, a BACON GRAVY smothered biscuit, and a side of BACON... OK, so you could substitute the BACON gravy for their Rosemary Mushroom Gravy, and some Veggie or Vegan Sausage substitute for the BACON. But you are not going to do that. Here is why.    

When you get your plate, respect must be given where it is due. Taste the individual items on the plate and get a good feel for what you are about to start shovelling in your mouth mixed together on a fork in a couple moments. 

After you experience the different tastes and smells on the plate. Pick up a piece of BACON. Now I need you to trust me on this. Take that piece of BACON... And dip it generously into the BACON GRAVY. I know, I know, it sounds mental. It down right sounds dangerous.

And it is. Because after this bacon overload takes over the senses, you will find yourself sobbing at every breakfast you ever have that doesn't consist of hot BACON on BACON action. 

Eventually, your loved ones will find you barricaded in a dingy Portland Motel with cut lines of spam and syringes filled with BACON grease. Trying, always trying to relive that first high. But you wont ever reach it, indeed you never catch the Dragon. Or the Pig in this case. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is. Go eat at Tin Shed already so you can understand what put me in such a giddy mood while writing and reminiscing on my culinary experience there. 

ALSO, remember to check out our Tin Shed video linked below. 

-until next time.

Mako Bites: Tin Shed (VIDEO)