Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Pine State Biscuits

3640 SE Belmont Street
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-3346
Website

Oh, do I love biscuits. Really, really love biscuits. I heard about Pine State, and I was all in. I knew there was a "Reggie" there with my name on it. When I arrived, I was hardly surprised to find a line out the door, and I was also prepared for the standard dining arrangement in Portland. Order at the counter, serve yourself some water, look for a seat and wait until they call your name. When finished, bus your own table. I like this kind of set-up. It reminds me of a lot of places in Philly, and it cuts out the middle man. I am perfectly fine, scratch that, happier when I don't have to tip a (usually) incompetent waitstaff, and nothing irks me more that watching my food sit on the counter getting cold when I could just get it myself. Unless I am going out for a special meal, I would rather not deal with a server. No offense to any servers out there, as I was once one myself, but I am usually going for down-home cheap eats, so what's the point with all the fuss? But I digress...


The "Reggie" is heaven on a biscuit. Straight up. When my order was called, I nearly jumped over the counter. There was a 15 or so minute wait once the food was ordered. This was one of, if not the BEST breakfast sandwich I have ever had in my entire life. However, if one were to eat this more than occasionally, the old arteries would not hold out long. The "Reggie" is a biscuit with fried chicken, bacon, cheese, and sausage gravy. I opted for the deluxe and topped it with an over easy egg. Insane. Everything in it was made with love, from scratch. I was in Southern breakfast heaven. If there is a better biscuit place in the country, I would be quite surprised. The biscuits were light and airy, perfectly moist and buttery. The chicken was really crispy, with a great spicy batter, yet tender inside and perfectly fried. The bacon was thick-cut, smokey and crispy. The cheese was just there to add some creaminess, and rightfully so. There were far too many things going on to worry about the cheese. Such as the runny egg that coated all of the ingredients with a rich earthy yoke, or the gravy. Oh that gravy. Alone, it would be in the running for the best sausage gravy around. When coupled with this breakfast delight, it transformed into the most rich, delightful, egg-yolky gravy I have ever had. I would have a really hard time if this place were in Philly. I mean, just look at this thing.


As if this weren't enough, there was a "Wedgie" on the menu. What is the "Wedgie" you might ask? Fried chicken, fried green tomato, a wedge of iceberg lettuce, and blue cheese dressing. How was it? AMAZING. It was similar to the "Reggie" but different. More of a lunch sandwich, for sure. I love wedge salads. And this was a wedge salad with a slab of fried chicken on it. And a perfectly fried green tomato. As if you can improve on perfection. Pine State Biscuits, you really stole the show.



This was the cover of the local paper. Too good to pass up.

The "Reggie" after it was attacked.



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