My partner and I have eaten at Lark’s many times over the years, most recently we had lunch with a new friend, Jeff King (currently playing  XX in The Imaginary Invalid).

First off, I appreciate the fact that they offer non-Coke/Pepsi sodas, so you can actually have sugar instead of man-made chemicals in your drink. Then, they do an excellent job of providing a menu made from locally sourced and organic providers.

I had the house salad. This is a large plate of field greens (which vary by season) with goat cheese, candied hazelnuts, aged rosemary goat cheese and a marionberry balsamic vinaigrette. Served with a side of bread, this is a delicious salad that fills you up.

The boys had grilled cheese and soup. Half of a grilled Tillamook cheddar sandwich with tomato served alongside a cup of (that day) tomato-basil soup. The sandwich was golden on the outside and gooey on the inside and perfectly matched the sweet-sour tanginess of the tomato soup.

Service was a little odd; I think our server was in training. She did great, but the fact that her ‘work; was checked up on by another overly-inquisitive server was unsettling. Then again, it may be the fact that we were sitting with a celebrity. Three sodas and our meals came to less than $40 (not including our tip).

We often have a meal at Larks when we visit, and we think they are best at lunch and brunch. (Brunch is particularly fun as the menu changes based on what is available from local farmers, creameries, meat producers, and seafood providers.)

Greenleaf is a lot of fun, especially during the warmer months when you can sit outside along the river. We were there on a chilly fall morning, so we sat inside.

We had a fairly typical breakfast: French toast for me, a ‘full house’ for him (two eggs, meat, and a choice of toast, muffin, scone, or bagel). The orange juice was fresh squeezed, the apple juice top quality. I had the bacon as a side, and it was lovely to have that natural (no nitrates) taste alongside the sweetness of the syrup. All of the food was well-prepared and tasty.

Service was good – she came by enough so that our water glasses remained full and coffee (a friend sat with us) remained hot and plentiful. Our breakfast, including juice and sides, came to $31 (not including tip).

Serving breakfast until noon, Greenleaf is an excellent choice for a good meal and a good price.