One of the best breakfast and lunch restaurants in Southern Oregon great omelettes and some of best burgers around. read more

Riffle Cafe - American Near Me - Merlin, Oregon

This place was great. I came into town to visit some friends, but I had never heard of this town before. This place has a great small town feel to it and was really good also. There was only one server and she had a group of 20 inside so she was really hustling to keep up so with that said she did a great job keeping all other tables happy given the circumstances. My friend recommended trying the gravy and the chili before you order it as they make it fresh daily and sometimes is not as good as others so it's something to keep in mind. We were all satisfied with the food although for me the portion size was a bit smaller so I would probably order another side to go along with it so I am full, although I can also eat quite a bit haha. parking is a bit limited but I believe you can park on the street if the lots are full. I would absolutly go back when we return to town. read more

Riffle Cafe - Awesome place with great service. An absolute jem in a place most people will never see. - American Near Me - Merlin, Oregon

See all

Always great food and excellent, attentive service. The aloha spirit is served up daily.

Realizing we had about a few hundred miles of wilderness to go through, we opted to stop for lunch here, & this is one of the best road stops I have ever had! This is a small diner with a screened-in porch, locals chatting away on a Sunday afternoon, & a fine selection of pies freshly made waiting to be consumed...the lemonades & iced teas are in containers large enough to bathe in (and there are free re-fills!). All I can say is that I have eaten more than my fair share of BLTs in my life, thus I feel qualified to comment...this is one of the best I've eaten! The restaurant wanted to take no chances with the possible outbreak of salmonella, so they weren't serving the 'T' in the BLT...instead, I got some perfectly ripe avocado, and it was a perfect creamy foil for the smoky, porky product I crave. Speaking of which, the drive was plenty smoky thanks to all the horrific wildfires...please! Some intervention is in order here, perhaps of the Divine sort. I digress... Back to my smoky pork products: happiness on toast, along a pile o' amazing sweet potato fries. Crisp, non-greasy, sweet, slightly salty...great road food! Another feature of this spot which warmed my heart was the friendly banter of the 3 guys on the porch, obviously old friends who feel comfortable enough with one another to refer to each other as "Old Bastard" or "Old Fart"...that's friendship, I guess. I also liked our waitress who is studying Criminal Justice & was regaling us with tales of serial murders in the Great Pacific Northwest. To be fair, she DID mention that CA & NY (as well as FL) lead in actual murderers...still, I was reminded of Twin Peaks, despite the fact I was much too full for a slice of pie.... If you are around these parts, stop in because the food & conversation are the genuine article. read more

Great find in a small town! We only saw one woman (didn't get her name) and it was busy but she made sure everyone felt welcome and were taken care of! Definitely will go again! read more

Was in the area for biz and got two 1/3 Ib burgers with fries to go. Wow! Very good, fresh, hand patted burgers cooked with just a touch of pink and with great toppings. "You can have a regular bun or one of our roll styles", said the friendly waitress. Then she added "They are really good and you'll like it"! Well, she was right! I can't really explain it, but ask her and GET IT if you order a burger. It was toasted as well. The fries, while not homemade, were some of the best I've had in a restaurant. Service was, as I have stated, friendly and FAST. The next time I'm in beautiful downtown Merlin, I'm stopping for a burger! read more

Me and my family had brunch there last Sunday I love the food I love the service but most of all WE LOVED THE AMERICAN FREEDOM to do what everybody should do choose to wear a mask or not.... read more

The only place I have found that serves sourdough pancakes. They only serve them on the weekend and if you wait until Sunday, you may not get any. They only make a certain amount of mix every weekend, but they are awesome. The rest of their food is always excellent, well prepared and good size portions. My wife loves the Loco Moco and is her go to breakfast. Another great place to eat in Merlin, Oregon. read more

Service was great. You know a place is good when the locals are here. We had the chicken fried chicken, which had great flavor and the perfect texture. The fish n chips were tasty, but a little lacking on the amount of fish. The Hawaiian burger was delicious, juicy and flavorful on a ciabatta roll. I was really looking forward to the blt based on the other review, but it was just a regular blt. Sweet potato fries were super yummy as was the mango iced tea. Got the blackberry pie to go - it was delicious! If you want a whole pie, make sure to order it a day in advance. When I go back, I will go for a burger n fries! read more

Love everything about this place. Excellent food from their hollandaise sauce to their fried chicken. Reubens, sourdough pancakes, burgers, bread pudding, berry pies, EVERYTHING! All the food is MADE FROM SCRATCH. Yes people SCRATCH! Staff is super friendly. Owners are from Hawaii. Hence the Hawaiian theme. Tami (owner) gets to know you, especially if you're a regular. She remembers animals, food likes and dislikes, smiley. All the ither waitresses are just as attentive and friendly. Inside the restaurant is Hawaiian themed, some handmade window crystals for sale, crochet hats and headbands, geckos, turtles, fishing poles. If ever in small Merlin, Or this is the only place to eat. All the other restaurants have nothing on this place. Sure if you want prefrozen, processed food, premade then by all means go to the other restaurants. If what you want is home cooked from scratch with quality, quantity and freshness The Riffle is it. read more

Riffle Cafe - Inside - American Near Me - Merlin, Oregon

See all

Took a little detour on our way to Cali from Washington and tried out this little joint. The restaurant has a cute, cheesy hawaiian theme going on. We loved the metal geckos & turtles on the wall. The food was good and the service was excellent !!! I loved that they use cage free eggs :) They definitely have a crowd of regulars coming in, so you know this is a local favorite. read more

If I could leave 0 stars I would. Terrible food, terrible service, and then bugs crawling on the table. Owners response was "wow you're nice". I came here once before and got some kind of Hawaiian burger and a salad... sat for at least ten minutes with 2 hungry kids, finally got water, waited another 15 for her to come back and take the order ..30 minutes later food arrived...teriyaki was burnt, pineapple was definitely from a can, and the burger was a hockey puck and the "fresh gourmet salad was just a pile of wilted leaves...nothing else! Thought I'd give it another try maybe it was just a one off...not the case. Ordered a BLTA..got a BLT with cheese(wtf?) They took it back pulled the hardened cheese block out of it and replaced it with some unripened rubber avacado slices. Bacon was chewy and gross...mother in law got the worst hollandaise ever and then we had ants crawling on the table. And for all this we got to pay and extra dollar per INDIVIDUAL food item. Extra charge for extra crappy service I guess. If u want good food and great service go to baldinis!! ...AND THE STAFF AT BALDINIS ARE ALSO FOLLOWING THE STRICT HEALTH CODES...NOT THE CASE AT THE RIFFLE...ABSOLUTE CRAP! read more

The Riffle is a great place for breakfast. My good friend Mouseley always want to have breakfast there when we're in the area, which is every month or two. We really like the casual feel of the place, the excellent service, the selection of omelets and other standard breakfast fare like two eggs any way you like 'em. There is also a strong overtone of Hawaii in the decor, the food naming conventions, and the food itself. Only place in town for spam and eggs, as far as I can tell. read more

After a long day of river rafting, this was the perfect end. Do not let the eclectic decor scare you away. This hidden gem has excellent food! We were greeted by the most friendly waitress who was cool, calm and collected. We ordered burgers (wow) and all of the kids had breakfast. Very good food. Don't sleep on this place. read more

What a nice surprise to find this place! The atmosphere is nice, the service is great and the food is really good! I had a breakfast scramble and my boyfriend had the chicken sandwich. The hash browns were crispy just like I asked for and his fries were delicious! Skip the chain restaurants and come here instead!! read more

Riffle Cafe - American Near Me - Merlin, Oregon

Amazing mom and pops buisness ! The breakfast menu is good ! The biscuit and gravy off the hook good !

I am halfway through the bacon cheeseburger and I put it down to write this review. This place destroys every other restaurant around it. Food is nothing but straight fire, hand made and freakin fresh man! Don't kick your own ass, eat here instead, then kick your own ass for not trying it sooner. That's what I did.. read more

See all

I have just moved here to oregon 4 months and and I have found the best place to eat!! Hands down!! The food is great and the girls omg!! Barbara and kati and just like family. I feel like I'm part of the family now. Everyone needs to come here it is so great is so many ways. . read more

Great family run cafe. Never disappointed service always fast and friendly. Breakfast is always superb, they have a homemade hollandaise sauce that is second to none! read more

I tried the Loco Moco and it was really yummy except for the hash browns instead of sticky rice. The owner said no-one wanted rice and they wanted hashbrowns. Loco moco with rice is digestible. With potatoes, not so much. The flavor was perfect and it was a beautiful drive. read more

Stopped in today for take-out. Opted for the Wild Salmon Filet Sandwich. IT WAS GREAT. It was greater than great. Big honkin' piece of salmon that overlapped the ciabatta roll. Avacado and pesto inside. Barely finished it at home. 541-471-7000. Tables in or outside. Check for hours. read more

We just had breakfast here. My husband had the biscuits and gravy. He says there is no reason to go to Portland anymore. Says that these are the best. I had the Graves Creek scramble with home fries. Simple and sublime. And excellent coffee. The atmosphere was sort of surfer shack and very comfortable. The service was just attentive enough. Perfect! read more

Riffle, I came to you on purpose! You looked like just what I would need to start my moto adventure Friday. Alas I was sent away malcontent. I sat outside in the awesome open porch at 7:45am and got coffee- only one cup my entire stay. My order: over-medium eggs, pancakes, and a sausage patty. What came out: country fried steak, two eggs, and hash browns. As she quickly leaves the plate, I inquire "Um, I have pancakes?" to which she replies "they're coming". So, I look down, confused, at the meal that was left with me. After FIVE minutes of not getting the waitresses attention, no new information, and a now-cold meal that I didn't order- I start eating someone else's meal. Then, when my order is ready, she brings it out and states "that's not your order.", looking at the half eaten meal- I reply "you're correct". She leaves my correct order, including pancakes, without syrup, and doesn't return. I eat a pancake dry, with butter, no return wait staff. She then comes to my table and picks up all the food, without asking if I'd want my uneaten sausages to go, drops my check, and said nothing. Wow. Riffle, while breakfast was good, I left with a bad taste in my mouth :( read more

We were turned away from White Horse store so we decided to go to the Riffle. I am glad we did. I had the Club sandwich which was great and bigger than any Club I have seen. My wife and friend had the Merlin chicken which both said was good. read more

Riffle Café is a great choice. The service is friendly and relatively efficient, and they welcome dogs! We'll make this a regular stop for meals between home and Portland. read more

I do not recommend this restaurant. Their customer service is terrible. Always a problem with my order. This time I did not receive the large orange juice I ordered, which I really needed for my sore throat. No receipt given for my order. Combined with my past problems with my orders, this will be the last place in Merlin I choose from now on. read more

There is a strong smell of mildew as you walk in the patio door. It is a turn-off. A good cleaning would go a long way. Food was just so-so and def not worth the prices. read more

The food is good, but I will not return until after this pandemic is over. The owner was taking orders and serving food without a mask.

Lunch was a hot mess. Maui burger was so greasy that the grease ran all over my plate, got on me, and had saturated the sourdough bread that fell apart. Strange taste of sausage in the ground beef (totally unexpected). The lettuce was wilted but at least the onions on the burger were good, as well as the sweet potato fries, but I don't think we'll be back. This was a visit hoping they had improved from our last visit, but apparently they have not. Service was good, it's the food that didn't cut it. My daughter had the salmon which was overcooked, and bland. I wanted to have a good meal as I had when the place first opened a few years back. I really wanted to like this place, but what a disappointment. When your location isn't spectacular then the food had better be, but it certainly was not... read more

We have eaten there for several years until she raised the prices so high for the tourist that the locals can't afford it now. No way are we paying $25-$30 for a breakfast. During the winter the quality of the food drops down. read more

In the area for a few days and stopped in with our party of seven for breakfast. Great service, nice funky vibe, and good food. If you're in Merlin, stop in read more

Really bad service. Few patrons, one server who spent most of her time in back. I had to ask for everything from water to the bill. Nothing special about the food and the flies made eating it difficult. read more

I stopped here with my family for a lunch on the road and we were a little unimpressed. The hot dog they served my daughter was too hard for her to eat. I ordered a hamburger with bacon and I got a burger with hot dog instead. After eating it, my stomach felt a little off. A few positives: my girlfriend really liked the ranch and the service was prompt and friendly. read more

This was a great find right off I-5. We had a great burger....really great! Also the french fries were good, and the sweet potato fries were some of the best I've had. I also enjoyed a mocha ice coffee very much....a first for me. The service was friendly and prompt, and we definitely will revisit this place next time we're in the area. read more

Great breakfast and lunch place! The ambers beny is wonderful, the burgers are awesome and you gotta love the sweet potato fries!

The food at this place is amazing. Nothing aggressively fancy, but incredibly well executed. The chicken-fried steak with sausage gravy was better than any that I had during the years I lived in Austin; my kid said his hamburger (with pepper jack and mushrooms on ciabatta) was as good as what he's had at Hubert Keller's Burger Bar. Everyone loved their meal. Even though the restaurant is very casual (and decorated with a Hawaiian theme, as the owner is from Maui), the quality of the ingredients and the preparation was superb. For example, the salad that comes as a choice with the dinner entree was mixed field greens, instead of plain romaine or iceberg lettuce like you'd get at lots of fancier places. And I can't say enough about the blackberry pie. She had just set out a blackberry pie and a rhubarb pie to cool when we got there, and they were ready to eat when we were done. I licked my plate in public to get every last bit. It was THAT GOOD. I'm glad we saved it for the last day because I would have eaten every meal there otherwise. read more

Great breakfast, AMAZING burgers and sweet potato fries! We love having a good burger joint in town! A favorite.

Loved this little Resturant. Great food and owner very hospitable and warm. Will definitely go again.

The Riffle is everything a small town restaurant should be. The service is excellent, the food is served fast and fresh, the portions are plentiful, and the pricing is reasonable. For breakfast I recommend any of the locally named omelets. Try the Hellsgate omelet if you are looking for something extra filling. The corned beef hash is also excellent; homemade with chunks of corned beef (instead of the little cubes that most places serve out of the can) and grilled to perfection. The lunch and dinner menus are equally as impressive. For lunch, try one of the handmade burgers with sweet potato fries. For dinner, the Merlin Chicken is excellent. If you are looking for a quick, fresh, and relaxing meal then give the Riffle a try. read more

Liked the burger, the atmosphere. The waitress was overworked/overloaded so the service on my visit was rather weak. But will give it another try next year. read more