Recently, the Kerns neighborhood in Portland was named the “coolest” in the entire United States of America by TimeOut, a magazine based in London, England. As much as I would have liked to review every part of the neighborhood, I could only visit a few places. On the trip, I went along Northeast 28th Ave and made stops at Staccato Gelato, Crema Coffee and Bakery, and Baby Doll Pizza.
Staccato Gelato is, as you would expect, a gelato shop. Located on NE 28th and Everett Street, it has a very cozy feel, and the staff was very friendly and helpful with questions. The prices are fair and affordable with a price range of 1-10$ per person with pints being $8. Their variety is very good, having a daily rotation of around 120 different flavors. Some standouts are Tiramisu, Spumoni, and Stracciatella (Chocolate Chip). On top of this, the building is also reminiscent of a cafe as they serve coffee and have a hangout area with various games and things that you may read. I had a great time there, and will return if given the chance to try some different flavors and try their coffee.
Four blocks down 28th along Southeast Ankeny is Crema Coffee and Bakery, a decently priced place being recommended at $10-$20 per person. Having the normal menu items of a cafe, you can certainly get what you’re looking for as a coffee drinker. They have a short list of signature drink items to choose from: Spanish Latte, Spiced Mocha, Caramel Sutra, Honey Vanilla Latte, Sweet Cream Iced Espresso, and Rose Latte. With such an expansive menu, even if coffee isn’t your thing, they also have a small side selection consisting of hot chocolate, steamer, hot mulled cider, agua fresca (watermelon and lime), lemonade that is made in-house, and assorted varieties of Kombucha by Happy Mountain, Lemoncoco, orange juice, and root beer.
Moving to the bakery side of things, they have three total sections: morning pastries, breakfast and lunch, and desserts. Under the morning pastries, there are 24 options with cookies, buns, danishes, and even bundt cake. The breakfast section has nine options with sandwiches, quiches, turnovers, and soup. Finally, the desserts section has seven options with different assorted cakes, tarts, and cheesecakes, as well as coconut macaroons, buckeyes, cupcakes, and French Macarons. With a sizable building and nice seating, this place is one of my favorite cafes.
The final stop along the trip is around the corner on Southeast Stark Street is Baby Doll Pizza. As the name suggests, it is a pizzeria. When I went there, the building was fairly sizable and felt very welcoming. The staff was very kind and I was pleased to find there was not a long wait for my order. They have very customizable pie toppings and have gluten-free and vegan options. On top of pizza, they also have specialty pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and varied sides that include snacks. There is also a bar right next door that I believe is a part of the same building. Overall, even though I don’t have much to say, it was a place I enjoyed and I would visit again.
