Daily Cafe at the Tram

It’s been a few years since I enjoyed that wonderful Double Lemon Muffin here at the Daily Café. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it!
Today’s review is for the classic American lunch that I am enjoying, Grilled Cheese sandwich and Tomato soup.
SO GOOD!!!

Rude cashier. Came in for a banana. Totally rude and hears him talking about me when I was right there. Never again. This is my experience for the third time visiting.

The last time we came to OHSU (two weeks ago) the line was out of the door… With limited seating, it didn’t look like a good idea. We came in (from out of town) today and famished. We thought we’d give it a chance this time of it wasn’t so packed. We were just ahead of lunchtime traffic or not that many people are here today (on account of it being thanksgiving tomorrow). Anyway, we were able to try it. I got Salmon & Asparagus risotto which was really good, I recommend it. The hubs had salad and half a sandwich which he liked as well.
So if you are ever here (OHSU) and need to eat before after your appointment, it IS a good place to eat. If it’s too packed, there’s a fresh food cart outside. Enjoy.

I was on crutches coming to this Café after seeing the doctor. I asked the woman working behind the coffee shop if she could walk this over and she looked at me funny if I had asked her something new. Perhaps I did. I looked over at the cookie case and saw fruit flies flying all over in the case. However, the worst part was coming to put my stuff away and walking out on crutches when I see a gentleman smashing the bugs inside the case on the windows. I just about lost my lunch.
I won’t be coming back.

Visiting from Thailand… Chicken Panini is the best thing I’ve ever had in Portland. Very high quality and fresh. Good environment and a place to relax.

Really great sandwiches and baked snacks. Needed a quick bite and was very surprised at how high the quality of the meal was. Great stop to sit and eat or to take on the run.

Ok I was a bit wrong. I have been back a few times now and they do have a combo menu at lunch. The service model and price is maybe just slightly above that of a Panara bread. Just get your order in a to go box because seating is very limited and there is a park ½ block a way with outdoor seating. Eat there without bumping your elbows into someone else’s. I think they might just be the only deli at the OHSU campus that takes AMX. I might just miss this place a little once my rotation is over.

I love the staff here. So nice. Great food in a clean little café right near the tram. Yummy pastries in the morning, often still warm from the oven. Best cookies! Dawna, Sasha, Paulina, Mark (the barista in the lobby), and Matt (manager) are all very helpful and they take pride in their café. I love their sandwiches, but they have awesome freshly made daily specials, too. Highly recommended!

I’ve spent much more time here recently than I’d like. There are more positives than negatives in my experience. If I had to compare it to hospital food from fifteen years ago, there’s no question it’s a giant leap forward.
Fresh salads, huge drink selection from sodas to Kombucha — loads of coffee drinks, salad options to go or to made to order. Soups, paninis, pastries and yummy cookies.
It’s usually crowded but I’m sure there’s different times of day it’s quiet I just haven’t been lucky enough to find that. There’s a few more private tables and in the summer you can sit outside and of course there’s many spots along the waterfront to take your lunch.
It’s light and bright and the music is refreshingly different than what you’d expect from a hospital café.
Reading other reviews I’ve noticed some comments about grumpy attitude from some servers. I’ve noticed it too, but if I had to work around certain doctors all day, had to serve people who’s lives have just been changed forever for the better or worse, as in quite often the bottom has just dropped out, it would have an affect on me as a server as well. High stress environment, certainly.
Simultaneously, I’m certain the servers could make more of an effort to look the customer in the eye and remember this café’s surroundings are much different than say, a Salt and Straw after a soccer game.
It’s a two way street. I’ll keep going there, I’ll keep tipping well, and most of all I’ll be glad that I get to leave because being in the hospital sucks.

Overpriced okay food for people who are too lazy to get outside of the building.

I have been to the Daily Café many times. There are very limited options in the South Waterfront. And if you have to spend time at OHSU, your time may be limited. Enter the Daily Café. Always busy. Hard to get a seat sometimes. But so worth it.
They have a couple of fresh soups every day and they are a great choice. I love the half sandwich with either soup or salad. And they don’t give you just a teeny cup of soup, either. They give a generous bowl. Sandwiches are tasty. Service is fast and friendly.

Great staff and good food. Wish they had a gluten free option for sandwiches but other than that it’s great. My favorite is the yogurt parfait, as well as the veggie sandwich (when I could still eat wheat).

Daily Café by the Tram — what to try when you’re on a budget:
1. Breakfast panini (oh, the bacon is sooo good)
2. Baguette with jam (baguette comes toasted and they give you the BEST marionberry jam, I believe)
3. Lemon curd scone (so buttery and soft — not a hard/​scone texture so if you’re looking for something «sconey» this isn’t it)
4. Brownie with raspberry (so rich and chocolately, what’s there not to love?)
The Coffee Bar in the foyer of CHH (an extension of the Daily Café) has a bit less options in terms of their baked goods. Always check out both places (the Bar and the Café) because they may have different selection.
When I’m at OHSU I only get my white chocolate mochas at the coffee bar by the tram (made with Stumptown coffee). There is a gentlemen who makes the cup so creamy and fluffy to perfection. The texture is very different from any other mochas I’ve had. Since I’m not a hardcore coffee drinker (cream over coffee) I’ve had my fair share of white chocolate mochas in my lifetime — this one I tell ya, is different and hits the spot. :)

Excellent food and lattes. I just wish they were open on the weekends for neighbors who live here!

Needed a quick bit, I was very surprised at how good and tasty the quality of the meals was.

Amazing food. Excellent chef and variety. The daily specials are amazing. I love waiting to see what will be served. The daily specials will span all cultural foods. While they are not traditionally authentic, they have s great taste unto themselves. Amazing salads!

This place is VERY good for a little, hospital café. Great surprise. I could see eating here a lot.

I love their well-​priced and delicious breakfast sandwiches. Yesterday I had a daily special — spinach and beet salad — OMG, it was dreamy and a good portion. Love this place.

Service has gotten a bit better, and their catering salads are quite good.
OK sandwiches for the price.

Located conveniently inside the beautiful OHSU Center for Health & Healing just outside the lower station of the Aerial Tram, this is a great place to catch a quick bite. They have a number of standard and more unique sandwiches to choose from. I had a smoked turkey sandwich on foccacia bread with an avocado and chipotle spread… I’d recommend that one. The potato salad that comes on the side is really good as well.
The Daily Café gets bonus points from me for serving Mighty Leaf teas! Seriously the best tea brand ever. Ever.