Review: Capers Cafe Le Bar Portland Airport

I have found people to be very generous when using other people's money.

I am surprised people dont just invite complete strangers for lunch on priority pass. I think PP at a basic level is relying on the fact Americans are basically cliquish

Its like an EBT card for travel hackers.

Thanks for this post, Lucky. Your assessment of the food at Capers confirmed my suspicion, and I'm glad you posted information around tipping. This is an aspect of your blog that I, for one, appreciate. We as PP users can gush over this 'free' meal, but it IS a huge negative to servers making a living. I can't blame them one bit for being upset since some users won't tip based on a 'free' meal. This aspect of American behavior is shameful and would hope that your readers educate others that just because the credit takes what you owe to $0, your server still served you $55 worth of food and assuming their service was good, have earned 15% or $8.25.

If one is willing to pay the $450 for that CSR, then they can afford $8.25.

That said, I hope that the owners of Capers see this as a potential huge opportunity. Improving food quality and service and setting a really high standard (as far as airport restaurants are concerned), they will do really well. If they take a 'ho-hum' attitude, then this won't last.

Ben, when you are presented with the check, is there a line for tip to be added? If not, I can see why people wouldn't tip. And many people these days don't carry cash so leaving a cash tip may not always be feasible.

Having said that, I hate visiting establishments where the workers make you feel unwelcomed even if you are rightfully entitled to receive services/goods. I hope that people start tipping these service workers but I also hope that management takes action and makes it clear that under no circumstances is it acceptable to display such public actions of displeasure towards customers.

@ Luis -- 100% agree with everything you say. Unfortunately there's nowhere to leave a tip on a card unless you go over the Priority Pass amount and are given a check for that. So you'll need cash, which is annoying/an inconvenience.

While I don't agree with customers stiffing their servers I do see a problem in not prompting customers to tip in the first place. Assuming most PP users have visited a lounge and are approaching these retail partnerships with the same mindset, it is reasonable to assume that tipping is either included or not accepted like most account based, cashless systems.

Restaurants could easily make a note in their menus that tipping is not included and welcomed. What's more, the restaurant could just include a set 18% service charge and be done with it altogether. I think it is safe to assume that customers want to be good people, so give them the opportunity to do so. I find it odd that one would complain despite saying nothing and making no indication for tips. Be a squeaky wheel--and take the grease.

Flying in and out of PDX next week and will share my bottle to go experience.

Would be nice if there were automated Priority Pass restaurants so that servers could stop whining about tipping. Seems like the only way to get rid of annoying tipping is to eliminate the jobs altogether.

Fantastic post, and, as a former restaurant worker in the DC area during my college days, I appreciate your emphasis on tipping. At the same time, however, this really falls on the restaurant and/or Priority Pass for not emphasizing tips. As a previous poster mentioned, an 18% gratuity could be automatically added for PP users. Or, Priority Pass could emphasize on their website that tipping on the full amount is recommended (just as Groupon and Gilt City do when one buys a voucher).

As far as taking bottles to go, I used my PP at PDX yesterday for myself and my wife. Luckily, we took food to go from the Capers in Concourse C (had no cash on-hand for tip); however, after utilizing the outdated and overcrowded Alaska Lounge in Concourse C, we proceeded to the Capers Market in Course D before boarding. There, we scored big time. Aside from two waters to go, we utilized the rest of the $56 PP allowance to purchase beer/wine to-go for friends/family back home with no questions asked from the Capers Market employee. This is truly a steal, and I'm not sure how sustainable it is. I would recommend anyone traveling through PDX to take full advantage of both Capers locations and the Distilling Market.

Given we don't seem to be moving away from tipping anytime soon and it's unfair to stiff the waitstaff over someone's morals about "sticking it to the man to change tipping culture", would it be legal/feasible for the restaurants to automatically include a 10-15% service charge for all PP diners?

Mr Lucky, you mentioned that "Priority Pass gets you $28 off your bill at Capers per person". If I go to Capers with my husband and two kids, and I'm the only one that has the Priority Pass card from Chase Sapphire Reserve, do I get a credit for $28 total only since I'm the only one that has Priority Pass card? Or does my party of four get a credit of $28*4= $112 since your chart lists 'unlimited guests' for Chase Sapphire Reserve? Thank you.

@Max - you would get credit for 4 people, so $112.

One would have to have great confidence in a dining establishment to order kale and chili prior to boarding an aircraft. Need I say more?

I can't say I'm tempted. Is there anywhere nicer in the airport if you are prepared to pay with your own money?

Just finished lunch there. Agree on all points in review. Noticed Salmon special too late to try it.
I could see them adding more expensive options for PP users to pad their bill. Perhaps they could add "Crackers a la carte for 10 cents" to give a vehicle for loading a tip on a CC.

Frequent PDX flier here. I agree that the food at Capers is mediocre. It never seemed very busy when I passed it in recent years, and I suspect they jointed Priority Pass to drum up business.

I disagree with Ben that Capers is as good a dining option as one will find at PDX. PDX actually has way better food options than the average US airport. The Port of Portland actively tries to get branches of local Portland restaurants to open at the airport, which is a good thing because Portland is now a huge foodie town with tons of great restaurants. (PDX also requires restaurants to charge the same prices at the airport location as they would elsewhere, making dining at PDX way more reasonable than most airports.)

For example, Kenny and Zuke's has great traditional deli food, executed really well. Stanford's (outside security) has good NW cuisine in a slightly fancier sit-down environment (with good seafood options). Laurelwood, Henry's, and Rogue all have decent pub grub (and better beer). I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard very good things about Country Cat, a farm-to-table Southern food joint. The list goes on. Point being, PDX is not filled with Chili's 2 type places.

But if you have time to kill and just want to have some free (or free + 20% tip) drinks on Priority Pass, Capers is a good choice. I would especially recommend the Argyle Brut, a Willamette Valley methode champenoise sparkling wine, made primarily from pinot noir grapes. The winery sells the current vintage for $28, so getting a bottle for $32 at an airport is a steal.

@Clanger - Ben made it quite clear he ate the salad and chili upon arrival, not before departing.

@Evan - the point of this report wasn't a food review of non-PP options at the PDX Airport.

@FrequentPDXVisitor - Are you honestly surprised? You think Ben would deign to try other, non-free airport restaurants? This is the same guy that will stay multiple nights in hotels in the best cities in the world and order room service b/c he thinks for some reason the readers of a 'points and miles' blog would care about such a thing.

I just have to remark about the serve staff at Capers, as I used my PP there last week. I was very pleased by the wait staff that served my husband and I. Full of energy working the busy wine bar and tables on his own, he was quite courteous. I would never think to not leave a tip, even if the meal was free and I never heard a rude peep about 'Priority Pass patrons'.

Everyone can have a bad day - I wouldn't classified the employees of Capers based on one persons experience on one particular day.

@KimJ
I mentioned the bartender at Capers Market, not at Capers Cafe. We actually have had great experiences there.Twice the bartender at Capers Market (bald/shaved head male) has made his displeasure known for PriorityPass. Twice he has said he hates PriorityPass, its users, and that he will move his money out of Chase as this is a loosing proposition for Chase, his words. We saw him once at the start of his shift and another time towards the end of the day...doubt it was just a bad day. Again, servers have been great at Capers Cafe and at the distillery, not this gentleman at Capers Market. I agree with some previous commenters about these places maybe mentioning that a tip would be appreciated. I think business has surged for them here at PDX, but unfortunately it seems the workers are getting stiffed.

The restaurant should pay their workers a living wage; the rest is up to us to add to - if and when we are provided with service that goes above and beyond.

if i go alone, can i ask to be swiped with 2 other guests for a total of 28*3=$84 of allowance and then buy a bottle of Ruinart to go... I'm also gonna put a $10 bill on the table as tip lol don't see any downsides for them

Forcing people to tip is like forcing people to not be racist.

You can't change people by forcing them to do something. It's better to let people be who they are openly.

They should have a no tip option. I put up that flag on the table and its my job to go get the food from the counter and you don't need to come and ask me how my day was. I already know it's all fake BS. I don't want you feel stiffed. I told you up front there is no tip, I don't need the service.

The problem is when we are forced to choose the only option there is. Stop making it like a ethical or moral issue.

US Bank Altitude Card missed again.

PDX is my home airport. Capers + PP finally gave me a reason to not even bother visiting the PDX Skyclub (although I'm a member). Skyclub doesn't have spirits, and beer and wine are more carbs than I want, and the food is also better at Capers.

can you go to PDX lounges the night before an early morning flight with boarding pass for 5 am flight?