Blueplate

Blueplate is an old-time lunch counter & soda fountain in SW Portland at 3rd and Morrison. It was featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and Guy has even signed the wall near the door. They have a small menu, with a set group of items available every day and two additional daily specials to chose from. They also offer special hand-crafted sodas, milkshakes, ice cream, and other delicious sweets. They are only open for lunch, from 11am-5pm, and seating is very limited.

Since the space is so small, there isn’t even a traditional kitchen.  Instead, there is a small counter where hot items are placed in warmers and cool items are in a tiny refrigerator.  I sat right in front of the potato buns and Texas toast, and across from me was this:

Where the burgers and other items are cooked and buns are toasted – a small electric griddle that could only handle 2 sandwiches at a time! The place was packed full when I visited, and it was interesting to watch the crew crank out orders so quickly in such a small space. I had to wait at least 10 minutes to even have a server greet me and ask for drinks, but the wait was totally understandable. I ordered the following:

NorthWest Sliders – Two little cheeseburgers with Tillamook Cheddar and special basil spread. Side of mashed potatoes. $7.00 – Add fresh tomato and/or bacon $1.00

I wasn’t too enthused for the side of mashed potatoes, but I was hungry and didn’t really care. I braced myself for a long wait, considering the staff-to-patron ratio, but my food was delivered very shortly after I had finally been able to order it.

The sliders were incredible. The 50/50 beef/pork patty was seasoned with garlic, onion, and 2 types of chili powder, ground fresh. The flavors and texture are amazing. The basil spread is what really sets these apart, taking them from ‘great’ to ‘holy-shit’.  I think you can improve the taste of just about anything by adding this basil spread to it.

Burger Ratings:

Burger: 9

The sliders are unreal. Nicely toasted potato bun, juicy flavorful patty, generous portion of shredded Tillamook cheese, and – the best part – the insanely tasty basil spread.  I can’t say a single negative thing about them. “Perfect” sums things up nicely.

Side: 4

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love mashed potatoes. I love them in all forms, in all ways – but just not along side a cheeseburger. It’s much too filling for me personally, and I would just rather have french fries. The mashed potatoes were average, and kind of cold even, but were still okay. It’s too bad they don’t have any space for a fryer, because these sliders, some hand-cut skin-on fries, and a milkshake would be my ideal meal. Still, though, I’ll settle for 2 out of 3.

Environment: 8

The environment of Blueplate is what you would expect from a place trying to recreate the look and feel of an old-time soda fountain. There isn’t really much going on decor-wise, and there are a few shelves with clear jars filled with candy and similar items. You can actually buy pieces of candy from the jars (10 pieces for a dollar), which is a nice touch.  Even though the place was intensely packed and busy, I still felt comfortable and relaxed. Plus, each table/counter area had it’s own little glass jar of lollipops. What’s not to like?

Value: 9

Truly delicious food and a full stomach for $7. Can’t be beat. The only drawbacks are the hours of operation and small space.  If this place was open for dinner or even for lunch on Saturdays, I would be here as often as possible.

308 Southwest Washington Street Portland, OR 97204 \\ (503) 295.2583

Tags: blueplate, ice cream, lunch only, mayonnaise lovers, portland, sliders, soda fountain, SW

Listed Under: 8 - Fuckin' good