Oh sweet baby Byways, I adore your breakfasts, your beautiful Boca burgers, and your malt (like no other) brings me so much joy!
Sitting amongst memorabilia from all over the country , listening to honky-tonk Hank Williams and Johnny Cash cassettes and savoring its splendid slices, American kitchen cuisine could be compared to watching the sun rise over Grand Canyon from the wheel of a Thunderbird Convertible. Byways is like a road trip at mealtime; it’s truly too fantastic to miss.
When I rambled in last Sunday, the caf퀌� was buzzing with customers and there was a wait at the door. Alone, I was afforded the fortune of a seat at the counter. I ordered myself a large OJ, a fresh cup of Stumptown coffee and got down to perusing the old menu.
The breakfast menu (served until 11 a.m. Tues.-Fri., noon on Sat., and all day Sun.) was saturated with savory and sweet options ranging from scrambles to French toast. From the Miracle Mile, with peppers, mushrooms, onions, spinach, tomatoes and cheddar cheese, to one of Byways’ signature dishes, Blue Corn Pancakes, made with stone-ground blue corn meal and served with delicious pecan butter and pure maple syrup, Byways satisfies any taste.
French toast is always good, but at Byways, it is freaking fantastic! The Amaretto French Toast takes about 15 minutes to prepare, but it is definitely worth the wait. After little delay, four slices of Amaretto-infused brioche, served lightly dusted with powdered sugar, honey pecan butter and 100 percent pure maple syrup will arrive at your table the beautiful representative of French toast perfection. And, of course, you can always get the old standby: two eggs with bacon. You just can’t beat a standard like that, especially when you put your eggs on top of the toast and let the yolk break into the bread.
But that’s only breakfast. Don’t forget that Byways goes beyond the early meal, bringing their amazing array of Americana all the way to lunch. And what a lunch, indeed. While the breakfast menu may be saturated, the lunch menu is soaked with six savory sandwiches and the best damn Boca burger in the lower 48. From the Amazon Veggie Sandwich, served with a taste-tickling cream cheese blend of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and oregano on wheat bread, and stacked with crisp spinach, bell peppers, tomatoes, avocado, and onion accompanied with a pepperoncini on the side, to the best Boca burger ever served, with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo, my beloved Byways will make your mouth proud to be an American.
And then there’s the malt. The malt. The malt! They make a malted just like when you were a kid! You can go to Byways, order a burger or a sandwich, and drink a chocolate malt. It’s a beautiful thing, it really is.
Byways has been around for four years, and co-owners Colin and Megan have created a truly wonderful place to get your eat on. In Byways’ kitchen, Megan prepares desserts and scones daily, which range from good ol’ chocolate chip cookies to fresh scones, to some real fine coffee cake. So the next time you head out looking for something tasty to put in your mouth, make it one of Byway’s old-fashioned dishes. You’ll be surely pleased, and if you get the malt, you’ll be ecstatic. So go on ahead and put Byways in your mouth.
Byways Caf퀌�
1212 N.W. Glisan
503-221-0011
Closed Monday
Tues.-Fri.: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sat.: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun.: 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Breakfast Hours: Tues.-Fri.: 7-11 a.m; Sat.: 7:30 a.m.-noon; Sun.: breakfast all day