Proud Mary

Verdict

Proud Mary is worth booking; and booking is easy. This Alberta Street café from Nolan and Shari Hirte has earned back-to-back recognition on the Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats list (ranked #424 in 2025, #417 in 2024, Recommended in 2023), which is a meaningful signal in a category where most spots disappear from the list after a single year. For a daytime café in Portland, that kind of consistent third-party validation puts it in a different conversation than the neighbourhood average. If your Portland morning or midday slot is open, this is where to spend it.

The Space

Proud Mary sits on NE Alberta Street, a stretch that rewards walking even before you arrive. The café runs on a tight 8 am to 4 pm window, seven days a week, which shapes how you should think about the visit: this is a daytime destination, not a dinner option. The physical format is café-scale; expect counter service energy, a room that fills quickly on weekends, seating that favours the relaxed and unhurried. If you are coming for a quiet solo morning rather than a group brunch, the space suits that well. Parties wanting elbow room and a slower pace should aim for a weekday rather than a Saturday or Sunday.

Why It Works

The OAD Cheap Eats ranking is the clearest signal of what Proud Mary is doing: delivering quality that outperforms its price tier. OAD Cheap Eats lists are compiled from surveys of serious eaters across North America, so a multi-year presence at this ranking level (moving up from Recommended in 2023 to ranked entries in 2024 and 2025) reflects sustained execution, not a one-off moment. This is a café that has found its level and holds it.

Stumptown Roasters in terms of dining-focused ambition and competes comfortably with the better spots in the Alberta corridor. For visitors using Portland as part of a wider Pacific Northwest trip, it offers a useful point of contrast to the more formal end of the city's dining options, places like Langbaan or Berlu require advance planning and deliver dinner-format precision; Proud Mary delivers a different kind of quality, one that is accessible on the same day you decide you want it.

Who Should Book

Solo diners will find this format comfortable, a café counter and daytime hours make it a natural fit for working through a coffee and a plate without social pressure. For a low-key special occasion breakfast or a celebratory brunch that does not require a formal dining room, Proud Mary holds up: the OAD recognition gives it enough credibility to anchor a morning celebration without the booking friction or price commitment of a full-service restaurant. Compare it to what a similar occasion would cost at a destination brunch spot and the case for Proud Mary is clear. It is also a natural stop for visitors building a Portland food itinerary who want to cover different meal formats across the day, pair it with a Kann or Ken's Artisan Pizza dinner and you have a strong day without overextending the budget.

Booking and Practical Details

Booking difficulty is easy. Walk-ins are the standard approach for a café in this format, the seven-day schedule gives you flexibility across the week. Weekday mornings will be quieter than weekend service, so if timing the visit to avoid crowds matters to you, Tuesday through Friday is the call. Dress is casual, nothing here signals otherwise. Hours run 8 am to 4 pm daily, so plan your Portland afternoon accordingly and do not arrive expecting a dinner option.

For context on what else Portland offers across meal formats and price points, see our full Portland restaurants guide, our full Portland bars guide, our full Portland hotels guide, our full Portland wineries guide, and our full Portland experiences guide.

Quick reference: 2012 NE Alberta St, Portland OR, open daily 8 am–4 pm, walk-ins easy, casual dress.

Ratings and Recognition

• Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats North America: #424 (2025), #417 (2024), Recommended (2023)

How It Compares