Comune Accanto for Brunch

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2838 SE Belmont St.
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 235-4900

We finally tried Accanto for brunch Sunday and wow, we both really enjoyed it. It’s the place on the corner of 28th & Belmont, right next to the new Genoa. Actually, Accanto is to Genoa, like Cafe Castagna is to Castagna, I believe. Anyway, I love the curly fennel painting in their sign. That’s some points right there. I called before we left to walk there to see if there was a wait (there was not). I’ve learned my lesson from the not-calling-Slappy-Cakes-first-gate of a couple of months ago.

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When we got there we got a table right in the front window and ordered drinks.

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I got an Apricot Mimosa (Prosecco, Amaretto, apricot puree) and jwa ordered a Belmont Bloody Mary (Pepper infused Monopolowa, Spicy thymetomato juice). They were very good!

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The view out on Belmont Street.

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A latte, nice and strong. Plus, I just like taking pictures of coffee.

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My meal: Poached eggs over creamy polenta with garlicky braised greens. So good! I loved the polenta (big surprise there) and the greens were also very good. I could have used more garlic, but then I am a garlic fiend. It was probably a good amount for a normal person.

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A river of yolk cascades down. We also split a side order of the fennel bacon which was completely delicious. Neither of us thought it tasted particularly fennel-y, but again, it was so good we didn’t care. And actually, if it hadn’t said ‘fennel bacon’ on the menu, we probably wouldn’t have ordered it, so it was a very good thing, even if we couldn’t taste the fennel because Best. Bacon. Ever.

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On the side I also got a Sage Biscuit, which came with its own little side of Blood Orange Marmalade. Wow, this whole part was as if I made the menu myself. That was one of the things I really enjoyed about the brunch — it’s as if they got inside my head and put all my particular food fetishes on the menu (fennel, polenta, sage, blood orange, amaretto), it was crazy!

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Another shot of the biscuit, just because my love of it was epic.

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The only picture I captured of jwa’s meal: Panettone French toast with Amaretto syrup, pear compote & whipped cream (on the side). He ate it very quickly, proclaiming it some of the best French Toast he’s had. I got a quick bite and have to agree — it was very light and flavorful.

So, after a great brunch, I think we’ll be trying Accanto soon for a mid-week dinner. But we do need to go to brunch again at some point as I need to try the Piccante Carotini (Stoli citros, fresh carrot juice with toasted cumin simple & cayenne sugar rim). Cumin! Get out of my head!