» posted on Thursday, May 31st, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
Tell Me About It
Linda Burton posting from Salem, Oregon – I ask everybody where they like to eat; it’s how you find the good places in a town that’s new to you. And knowing where people eat is one measure of a town, it gives a sense of what the people there enjoy. I stopped at an excellent trusted chain my first night in Salem, and when the manager stopped by my table to thank me for coming in, I asked him what “other” restaurants he would recommend. “I’m not looking for the most elegant,” I clarified, “I’m just interested in where people really enjoy going.” He sat down at my table, seriously thinking about his answer. “I eat out a lot,” he told me, as he jotted down some notes, “and to me the entire package is important.” We discussed what we appreciated in a restaurant – good food, of course; good service, parking, and location; but most of all, the right atmosphere. It’s that indefinable thing that’s hard to rate called, simply, love. “You can tell when an owner, or a chef, loves the business they’re in,” he said. And you can tell when people love to go there, too. It’s called “word of mouth,” meaning they tell other people about it. Rob handed me his notes, nicely categorized into the three basic meals of the day, three restaurants listed for each meal. “That should keep you busy while you’re here,” he smiled.
Breakfast
- Word of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro, 140 17th Street NE, 503-930-4285, Breakfast and lunch, 7 days a week. http://wordofsalem.com/
- Alcyone, 315 High Street SE, 503-362-5696, Breakfast and lunch, Monday-Friday. http://www.alcyonecafe.com/index.html
- Busick Court, A Restaurant, 250 Court Street, 503-370-8107, Breakfast and lunch, 7 days a week. http://www.busickcourt.com/Contact.html
Lunch
- Wild Pear Restaurant, 372 State Street, 503 378-7515, Monday-Saturday 10 AM – 5:30 PM, Wednesday to 9 PM. http://www.wildpearcatering.com/downtown/downtown.html
- Casey’s Café, 466 Court Street NE, 503-399-0643, Monday-Friday 11 AM – 5 PM, Saturday to 3 PM. http://caseyshotdogs.com/
- Napoleon’s Creperie & Gelateria, 1st Floor, The Reed Opera House, 189 Liberty Street NE, 503-581-4560, Breakfast, lunch, dinner. http://www.reedoperahouse.com/directory/restaurants.htm
Dinner
- Al-Aqsa Middle Eastern Cuisine, 1326 State Street, 503-581-1160, Lunch and dinner.
- Taj Mahal, 1220 State Street SE, 503-990-8679, Lunch and dinner daily. http://www.tajmahalsalem.com/index.html
- Christo’s Pizzeria, 1108 Broadway Street NE, 503-371-2892, Lunch and dinner, hours vary. http://christospizzeria.net/
Now a list of restaurant names and addresses doesn’t tell the whole story, so I’ll add this. Rob went on to invite me to join him and his wife Natalie for breakfast at the first place on the list, a place that’s succeeding due to the very thing we were talking about – Word of Mouth. Everybody’s talking about it! I joined them today, and now, I’m talking about it too. Love the coffee, love the Crème Brulee French Toast, love the atmosphere. And I love the friendship offered to me by two Salem residents. Thanks, Rob and Natalie Gardner-Mungia, for telling me about your town.
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A good read in itself, the Breakfast Menu at the Word of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro.
Honest food made from SCRATCH by owners Steve and Becky Mucha, read their story. 
http://wordofsalem.com/wordofmouth_salem_story.html
Eggs, Potatoes & Toast
2 eggs cooked any style, served with our delicious Smashed Baby Yukon Gold Breakfast Potatoes and your choice of Cascade Bakery’s breakfast bread. 6.95
Substitute Fresh fruit for potatoes, no extra charge. Add meat for $2.
Meat Choices:
-House Sausage patties (made with Granny Smith apples, shallots, sage, savory),
-Super-thick bacon (almost ½ pound before cooking)
-Hand-cut 6 ounce Ham Steak.
Biscuits & Gravy
Simple is best and this is simply the best. No secret spices, just a well made gravy with lots of sausage and lots of flavor. Served with 2 eggs and 2 strips of our super-bacon. One biscuit covered in gravy and another on the side. 9.95 Both biscuits smothered? Add 1.50
Filet Mignon Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs
We’re pretty sure you won’t see this anywhere else– Filet Mignon, the king of steaks, hand-crafted into a chicken fried steak. Is it Blasphemy or Genius? You decide. Served with sausage gravy, 2 eggs, breakfast potatoes and a hot buttermilk biscuit. 13.95
The Incredible Flying Biscuit
A tower of “Breakfast Power”! Buttermilk fried chicken, fried egg, melted cheddar cheese and bacon on a fresh-baked buttermilk biscuit layered with sausage gravy and served with a side of Smashed Baby Yukon Gold Breakfast potatoes. 11.95
Eggs Benedict
Three poached eggs, sliced ham & velvety Hollandaise on an English muffin. Served with fresh fruit or smashed baby Yukon gold potatoes. 10.95
Spinach & Tomato Benedict
Fresh spinach, diced Roma tomatoes, three poached eggs, & Hollandaise on an English muffin, served with fresh fruit or smashed baby Yukon gold potatoes. 9.95
Prime Rib Benedict
Slow roasted prime rib & you know the rest… 11.95
Pancakes & French Toast
“From Scratch” Buttermilk Pancakes
1 pancake, 2 bacon, 2 eggs, any style. 7.95
2 cakes, 2 bacon, 2 eggs, any style. 9.95
With blueberries add $1.
Oregon Blueberry Pancakes
Two home-made buttermilk pancakes laced with local blueberries. Brushed with clarified butter. 9.95
Crème Brulee French Toast
You can only get this here! 2 pieces of French Toast with a creamy custard center and caramelized top, just like Crème Brulee.
Served with 2 eggs and 2 strips of bacon. 10.95
Or…One decadent piece with 2 eggs any style. 7.95
One piece of French toast, ala carte 4.95
Toasted Burritos
Bacon Florentine
Chopped bacon, fresh spinach and diced tomatoes scrambled in three eggs with cheddar cheese, wrapped in a flour tortilla, pressed in the Panini grill, and served with your choice of breakfast potatoes or fresh fruit. Fresh chopped “Backyard Salsa”on the side. 10.95
The Meatlover
Bacon, ham and sausage scrambled in three eggs with cheddar cheese, wrapped tight in a flour tortilla and pressed in the Panini press. Served with your choice of breakfast potatoes or fresh fruit. Fresh chopped “Backyard Salsa” on the side. 10.95
The Woodstock
Fresh broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, fresh spinach, tomato and roasted bell peppers with three eggs and cheddar cheese wrapped tight in a flour tortilla. Served with your choice of potatoes or fresh fruit, and a side of fresh chopped “Backyard Salsa” on the side. 10.95
Sausage, Artichoke & Feta Wrap
Pork sausage, fresh spinach, artichoke hearts, diced Roma tomatoes and Feta cheese scrambled in three eggs, wrapped in a flour tortilla and toasted Panini- style. Served with your choice or breakfast potatoes or fresh fruit. 10.95
Specialty Omelets
All omelets served with our Smashed Baby Yukon Gold Breakfast Potatoes or Fresh Fruit and your choice of thick-cut fresh baked bread: 10 grain wheat, Salem Sourdough, or Sunflower Seed.
The Accidental Omelet
Sausage, mushrooms, melted provolone cheese, fresh sage, paprika, garlic, shallots and pepper in a three egg omelet. We were making Thanksgiving stuffing and thought we would try it as an omelet. It is delicious! 11.95
Caprese Omelet
Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella & fresh basil. 11.95
Asparagus and Brie Omelet
Fresh asparagus and rich, creamy brie. Add ham for no charge. 11.95
Prime Rib Philly Cheesesteak Omelet
Tender, slow-roasted prime rib, caramelized onion, mushrooms and melted provolone in a scrumptious three egg omelet. 12.95
Green Eggs (sans ham) Garden Omelet
Broccoli, fresh spinach, sautéed button mushrooms and feta cheese in three egg omelet topped with diced Roma tomatoes. 11.95
Designer Omelet
You choose what goes into this one. Begin with a three-egg cheddar cheese omelet for 8.95 and add items for .75 each.
Choose: mushrooms, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, caramelized onions, roasted bell peppers, fresh basil, bacon, sausage,ham, zucchini, broccoli or spinach
Hash
Comfort food at breakfast! Want to make your hash more amazing? Add cheddar cheese to any hash for $1.
Plate O’ Love
Two of our most popular (and amazing) dishes on one plate! A lovely slice of our Crème Brulee’ Vanilla Custard French Toast and a lovely choice of any of our lovely hashes. Served with two lovely eggs cooked your way. We think you’ll love it.
With Corned Beef or Prime Rib Hash $11.95 With Heavenly Veggie Hash $10.95
Trucker Love…
Your choice of any of our delicious Hashes alongside our biscuit & gravy, and two eggs cooked your way. With Corned Beef or Prime Rib Hash $11.95 With Heavenly Veggie Hash $10.95
Heavenly Veggie Hash
The incredibly popular hash that could change the world. Fresh veggies- broccoli, zucchini, caramelized onions, bell peppers, spinach, artichoke, shredded carrots and spices, chopped into baby Yukon Gold potatoes. Topped with diced Roma tomatoes, grilled artichoke hearts & served with two eggs any style and your choice of breakfast bread. 9.95
Try the deluxe version topped with grilled portabellos and melted cheddar. 11.95
King of the Hill
Delicious house-made hash made with slow roasted prime rib, caramelized onion, Portobello mushrooms, roasted bell peppers and steak spices, chopped with baby Yukon Gold potatoes. Served with 2 eggs any style and your choice of breakfast bread. 11.95
Signature Corned Beef Hash
Made with slow-roasted corned beef, caramelized cabbage, baby Yukon Gold potatoes and a special process that sets it apart from all others. Served with 2 eggs cooked your way and your choice of breakfast bread. 11.95
Best of Both Worlds
Prime Rib Hash and Veggie Hash side by side, served with 2 eggs any style and your choice of breakfast bread. 11.95