My Father’s Place Keeps Portland Fed From Breakfast to Late Night

A side of bacon can tell you plenty about a diner. At My Father’s Place in inner Southeast Portland, it arrives thick, carefully cooked and substantial enough to stand on its own—or to turn up again in a BLT, a club sandwich or beside a full breakfast plate.

This is a Portland restaurant with several personalities under one roof: classic diner, relaxed dive bar, neighborhood late-night stop and, off to one side, a place to play a few games. The food stays firmly in American comfort-food territory, but the setting gives a simple breakfast or sandwich more character than the usual all-day grill.

The layout is useful because the mood can change with your plans. One room carries the quieter, diner-like side of the operation, where booths and counter seats suit a solo breakfast, an unhurried lunch or a straightforward meal with family.

The central room is more bar-focused, with a livelier current of conversation, drinks and activity. It is also where much of the venue’s funky visual personality comes through in unusual lamps, lights and assorted old-fashioned decorative touches.

Then there is the game-room area, a separate setting that adds an arcade-style diversion to the meal. It keeps My Father’s Place from being just a diner with a bar attached; a group can eat, linger and move between spaces without needing to make a big evening of it.

The walls offer their own odd little survey of American history: distinctive artwork includes portraits of deceased U.S. presidents. It is an unexpectedly specific detail, and exactly the sort of thing that keeps the room from settling into generic diner décor.

Breakfast is one of the strongest reasons to come by. The menu has the familiar, welcome spread of scrambles, omelets, eggs Benedict, corned beef hash, steak and eggs and other plates built for people who do not want to leave hungry.

The Chicken Fry Delight belongs in the more committed-breakfast category, while steak and eggs and corned beef hash cover two old diner standards. Scrambles and omelets make it easier to choose something a little more customized without leaving the comfort-food lane.

A single pancake as a side has its own following, which is a good reminder not to overlook the smaller additions. A pancake is not a dramatic order, but a good one can improve a plate of eggs and bacon considerably.

The broad breakfast selection also helps when a table cannot agree on brunch. One person can go for Benedict, another can get a hearty skillet-style meal, and the bacon enthusiast can make a very easy decision.

Lunch and dinner do not ask anyone to abandon the substantial-portion approach. Burgers, French dip sandwiches, club sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks are regular comfort-food choices, generally paired with the sort of fries that make a sandwich feel like a full event.

The French dip is a notably large sandwich, packed with shaved meat and served with fries. It is the order for someone who likes a classic sandwich done with enough heft to carry dinner.

The club is another good example of the kitchen’s lack of restraint: oven-baked turkey, bacon, ham and two kinds of cheese. With the bacon playing such a prominent role, it is less a dainty lunch sandwich than a stacked diner classic.

The Philly cheesesteak also comes in a hearty portion with fries. On a menu this broad, it is useful to have several reliable routes to the same destination: a hot, filling plate that does not require much explanation.

My Father’s Place does not stop at the standard breakfast-and-sandwich playbook. Spaghetti brings a home-kitchen note to the menu, with the sort of straightforward, familiar appeal associated with family cooking rather than a fussy pasta presentation.

Fish and chips, Portuguese soup, chicken wraps and chicken wings widen the choices further. A table can reasonably divide between breakfast, soup, seafood and bar fare without anyone having to settle for a token menu option.

There are clearly labeled vegetarian dishes as well. The larger personality of the menu remains hearty and indulgent, but the labeling is helpful when diners at the same table are ordering with different appetites in mind.

Cocktails and beer give the place a second shift after the coffee-and-eggs hours. Drinks have included stronger pours along with more playful ideas such as cucumber-infused vodka cranberry drinks and Bloody Mary variations built around garlic and cilantro.

That blend of no-nonsense bar service and offbeat details suits the room. The décor can get especially ambitious during Halloween, when seasonal decorating has filled the place with considerably more than a token strand of cobwebs.

Special occasions have also brought small personal touches, including a Mother’s Day gift prepared for mothers. It is a modest gesture, but it fits the friendly, low-key tone better than anything overly polished would.

Few restaurants serve the same purpose at breakfast, lunch, brunch, after-work drinks and a very late meal. My Father’s Place does. The combination is particularly handy for a mixed group: someone can order a club, someone else can go for eggs, and the bar-minded person does not have to wait until after dinner.

Food service has extended late into the night, with diners finding meals well past the usual dinner hour. Hours can change, so it is worth checking the current schedule before counting on a late-night plate.

Seating includes booths, counter spots, indoor dining and the bar area, with street or patio seating sometimes available. The choices make it easy to match the visit to the moment rather than forcing everyone into one style of room.

The restaurant and bar areas do not operate as one identical space. Age access can vary by room and time, and the bar side has restrictions and ID checks; current rules are worth confirming, especially for a family meal later in the evening.

Street parking is available in both free and paid forms, though finding a space can be difficult. Once inside, though, the decision becomes more pleasant: breakfast at the counter, a booth for a club and fries, or a drink near the more animated middle room.