Review of the M & M Restaurant in Gresham, Oregon

The M & M Restaurant in Historic Old Town Gresham, Oregon is a charming diner with a small town feel. Located on 137 N Main Avenue in Gresham (97030), the restaurant has been open there under varied ownership for decades. It is open in conjunction with the M & M Lounge, and my experience with the friendly diner will definitely have me back to Gresham for Karaoke night really soon. The diner is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can contact them at (503) 665-2626.

The diner boasts a friendly atmosphere, and the staff alone is a good reason to come here. I haven't been called honey in years, and I got a good dose of honeys, here (the nice kind, not the condescending kind). The refills keep coming, and the service is fast. Oldies play in the background, and the best part of the décor is the purple and turquoise green color scheme . . . I am so a child of the eighties.

As for the food, it is greasy enough that you know you are in a good old fashioned diner, but it isn't too much. The milkshakes are fabulous (particularly the chocolate . . . as if there is any other flavor). I personally, am a serious connoisseur of patty melts, and the M&M is definitely in my top three . . . with just the right amount of gooey cheesiness as well as onions that actually look like onions, the patty melt is a good bet. In addition to the diner standards, there are plenty of healthier options available. There is a wide variety of salads available, and you can even get your very own bowl of grapefruit wedges if you want. Please note, yummy chocolate milkshake and grapefruit wedges are not a good combination. All the breakfast standards are available. If you like the diner atmosphere, but have more exotic tastes, you can order the Hummus Plate or the Shrimp Wontons.

On the downside, the restaurant does smell slightly like old cigarettes. I am kind of biased, because I love the smell of cigarette smoke (weird, I know, and no, I am not a smoker), but if you have severe allergies or this is going to make you lose your appetite, beware. There were signs up saying the restaurant is being renovated, so this probably will not be a problem for long. One other small negative is that if you are a Portland coffee snob, you probably better stick to the milkshakes. The coffee is not bad, but it is not the gourmet variety.

Overall, the M & M Restaurant should be on your list of places to stop into while visiting Gresham. It is a far cry from the chain restaurants across Division Street, and the friendly staff, delicious food, and fun décor make for a much more entertaining meal.