Little Red Bike Cafe
A Kiwi-inspired cafe spreads the love one spoke at a time.
July 23rd, 2008
Dish • CARBONI’S | The pizza has real potential; the barbecue is a lost cause.1 comment
July 16th, 2008
Table Scraps • Openings, closings and dishy gossip0 comments
July 16th, 2008
Green Means Go | The Green Dragon finally fires up.2 comments
July 2nd, 2008
Table Scraps • Openings, closings and dishy gossip1 comment
July 2nd, 2008
Loaf, American-Style | Little T is baked in the U.S.A.1 comment
June 25th, 2008
Table Scraps • Openings, closings and dishy gossip0 comments
June 25th, 2008
Masa Me | Milwaukie’s Casa de Tamales puts the real casa in cooking.1 comment
June 18th, 2008
Meat Country, U.S.A. | Loco’s takeout Tex-Mex is crazy good.4 comments
June 11th, 2008
No Eggs, No Gluten, No Problem | Two bakeries redefine yeasty goodness.1 comment
June 11th, 2008
Table Scraps • Openings, closings and dishy gossip3 comments
![]() Liquid Love: Co-owner Ali Jepson with Bike’s drinking chocolate machine. IMAGE: Amy Ouellette |
[January 2nd, 2008]
Engaged couple Evan Dohrmann and Ali Jepson got the idea for their recently opened Little Red Bike Cafe in St. Johns while traveling around the South Seas three years ago. After sustaining a long-distance relationship through college, the two set off post-commencement on a ’round-the-world journey where they met the cafe of their dreams in South Island, New Zealand.
After building up a small Portland catering business last year, sharing their edible wares at local farmers markets for several months, they opened Little Red Bike Cafe in late September on North Lombard Street.
The tiny breakfast and lunch spot, with five tables and a window bar, in addition to a couple sidewalk tables and a bike-thru window, packs a lot in the small space—much of which is in or around the prominent dessert case.
Locally made, raw, vegan chocolates; Fleur de Lis pastries; baked-in-house sweets, such as doughnut holes and cupcakes big and small (pastries $1.75-$2.50); and old-fashioned, hard-to-find sodas crowd the case, while a drinking-chocolate machine, brimming candy jars, and locally made jams and preserves surround it.
Hidden in the freezer are several stunning small-batch ice creams (one scoop $2.50, two scoops $4.50). Although the blends constantly rotate, recent favorites include pink-grapefruit champagne sorbet, dark-chocolate pudding ice cream and a maple-and-bacon blend.
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But don’t just stick to the front of the house—order something plated in the kitchen. Just about everything is made from scratch and features local ingredients, including delicious soups like purple potato, cheddar, bacon chowder and North African peanut stew. Sandwiches are also tasty. The roast beef ($6 with chips or mixed greens) stacks the goods on a flour-dusted ciabatta with Gorgonzola, caramelized onions and a horseradish-buttermilk spread.
Jepson and Dohrmann are taking their bike-friendly cafe one spoke at a time, but they hope to branch into dinner by way of housemade pot pies in upcoming months. When asked about the pot pie prospectus, Dohrmann rattles off a few ideas that include meaty as well as veggie and vegan options. You can get a hint at lunch, where Thai curry and Mexican-inspired chilaquile pot pies have recently made appearances.
I don't know what you had to eat, but I've been to the cafe twice now and everything I have had has been very tasty. The service and atmosphere were great as well. I've recommended it to a few friends who live in the area and they love it too!
I have been to the cafe a couple of times and had quite a different experience than Rob. I've never felt an ounce of superficiality. In fact, the owners seem as genuine as they come. While it is a small space and it can get quiet crowed, the neighborhood atmosphere and delicious food make up for the fact that there is at times a wait. My favorites include "the messenger" and their tuna sandwich.
I love this place. The simple atmosphere and wonderful food makes me keep going back for more!
Everyone is friendly at this tasty little neighborhood cafe, and is the only interesting place to eat walking distance from my house. Thank you Evan and Ali.
We're quite lucky here at Mid Lombard to get a special place like the LRBC. For the record, I never liked Bloc Party.
I like the $.50 cyclist discount. It's really not much but it's the thought that counts and it gives me an excuse to ride out that way from NW on Sunday mornings.








Little Red Bike is long on superficial and short on taste. Trend-following, well-heeled hipsters who used to love Bloc Party but now swear by Menomena should totally spend their money here. Or whatever.