Beth's Cafe

Beth's Cafe is a local institution and very popular.  They've been around since 1954, on the west side of Aurora across from Greenlake; they're right near where the two teepees used to be, I think.  They're open late (24 hours a day, in fact), and up until the public spaces smoking ban, they allowed smoking.  This meant that they tended to get a tolerant, alternative, raucous kind of crowd.  In fact, they still kind of do, plus you won't leave there smelling intensely of smoke.  It's gonna be noisy and crowded, but really friendly and weird and interesting if you happen to go there.  I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case all day and all night, but I have only been there twice so I couldn't say for sure.  I remember lots of tattoos and hippies and hikers and complicated families, and folks there for the hangover cure or because they weren't done being drunk yet.  The long hours particularly lend themselves to the partying set. 

They do pretty basic and pretty darn large servings; omelettes, for instance, come in 6 or 12-egg sizes!!  Their prices range from $10.50 to $19.50, and you are paying for quantity.  There are also plenty of other basic diner breakfast options, and a basic lunch/dinner menu too.  Prices range from $6 burgers to $11.25 New York steak & eggs with a broad average in between.  If you are a big eater and like a challenge, Beth's is great for that. 

Unfortunately, the two times I went there, I just didn't care for the food at all, and having extra quantities didn't help.  It was cooked with indifference, and the ingredients were of the cheapest quality.  Online reviews also reveal some potential indifference in the wait staff; I suggest you take that with a grain of salt, because it's part of the atmosphere.  This place, for me, is more about the experience than the food.  I wouldn't be against going again if I was with an enthusiastic group, but I'd probably order fries or something really difficult to get wrong.  Sorry, Beth's.

• Address: 7311 Aurora Ave. N.
• Parking: on the street, I think
• Cost: reasonable
• Quality: so-so
• Wait: outdoors
• Coffee (since this is Seattle): it's been too long for me to remember its quality, but the online menu says it's Caffe Vita.  Cheap endless refills.
• Menu/variety: American diner standards with a few house specialties
• Extras: atmosphere and quantity
• Payment: cash or credit, no checks
• Website: http://www.bethscafe.com/index.html

The Dish

Today  my sweetie and I went to The Dish.  Because it's rainy I wasn't sure if we would go in--there's often a wait, and you have to wait outside--but it's a weekday so we went right on in.  We were told to sit wherever, and for some mysterious reason sat ourselves right by the bathrooms, but this did not end up being disturbing in any way.  I didn't notice the art on the southern wall so much, but on the northern wall they had lots of current theater posters, which I thought was a nice community connection.

The wait staff wasted no time coming to serve us.  I did catch them pouring the coffee, but they were so quick about it my sweetie figured it magically appeared.  I ordered what I always order; I forget what they call it, but it's a cream cheese, tomato, garlic and basil scramble with a scone side.  He got the Eggs Benedict, and convinced me to give it a taste: pretty good actually, though I warn you I have no basis of comparison.  Servings at The Dish are pretty sizable and they don't stint on the veggies either.  I ate about a third of mine, and will eat the rest over the next two days.  If you happen to get the scone, slather the butter on and eat the whole thing while you're there--eggs are good leftovers, but I'm not as sure about the scone. 

The Dish is a really good place to see and be seen; I think I would even say that you could consider it a "date diner," if there is such a thing.  It's on the edge of Fremont/Ballard, and the customers are interesting.  I'll bet it is totally full-up when the Solstice parade goes through!  I believe I've witnessed large groups going there, but I have to say you're most likely to actually sit with your friends if your group numbers six or fewer.  I've also seen kids there, but I think it's a bit tight to accommodate high energy levels.

• Address: 4358 Leary Way Northwest
• Parking: they have a decent but invariably cramped lot.  You can enter it from Leary and exit onto Bright, if you want to try your parking karma.  I usually park on NW 44th St, on the other side of the veterinarian's office.
• Cost: saw lots of dishes at about $7-$10.
• Quality: very nice. 
• Wait: can be a little long since the dining area is very limited, and you have to wait outdoors so be wary if it's rainy.  However, they cater nicely to the folks in line.  You write your name on the waiting list, so you know how many folks are ahead of you, and there's always self-serve coffee available.
• Coffee (since this is Seattle): I believe I saw espresso options, but I just got drip coffee.  They are right on top of that; you won't have to wait long.  It's ok coffee too--slightly strong, I think.
• Menu/variety: the menu sure doesn't change much, but I've liked it quite a bit, and they do have specials (today's was a vegetarian eggs Benedict).  Good potatoes: cut in chunks, burnt slightly (which is the correct amount thank you), and a bit salty.
• Extras: among the bread options is the "scone," which is really more like a big piece of not-too-sweet coffeecake.  Highly recommended.  If you like hot sauce, they have a great big selection of that for ya.  Also, they have nicely appointed bathrooms.
• Payment: cash or check, no credit accepted
• Website: none found

Varsity Inn Restaurant

First of all, I don't know to which Wallingford inn their name refers.  Maybe one used to be near this excellently-located cafe, but now it's surrounded by a mix of industrial buildings clinging to their leases and fancy new condos with art in the entryways.  This is no wonder.  The view outside their front door (though not outside their windows) is down towards Gasworks Park and south across Lake Union.  This is a lovely place to have breakfast on a sunny day when you'd like to go for a stroll afterward.

I have a very limited perspective on their food, because every time I go there I eat the same thing: the spinach, swiss cheese and almond omelette.  It's a two-meal portion for me (one-meal for my sweetie), and it's served with crisp hash browns on top, and a toast side.  They even have rye bread, which I enjoy as a treat.  The omelette is stuffed to capacity with spinach.  They could spread the cheese around a little more and it wouldn't go wrong, but I really like the additional texture of the almonds, and this works very well as a leftover.  In general I'm going to say this is no place for a gourmet, but it's clean, pleasantly local, and will suit a decent variety of American standard appetites. 

• address: 1801 North 34th Street
• parking: street--but not usually difficult
• cost: reasonable.  Around $9-12, say.
• quality: fine; well-prepared and not too greasy, but NOT fancy
• wait: there can be a bit of a line on weekends, and the waiting area may be outside, but it sometimes the line moves quickly.  Do a drive-by to check.
• coffee (since this is Seattle): no espressos, I think.  Frequent refills on the adequate drip coffee though.
• menu/variety: pretty impressive variety of breakfast foods, plus lots of sides.  Small lunch and dinner menu also available.
• extras: I like the rye option.  Also, the wait staff has been around for a while and if you like the place you may get to know them a bit; what I've seen of them is very nice though not suck-uppy.
• payment: credit ok
• website: none found

Blue Star Cafe & Pub

This week my sweetie and I went out for breakfast at the Blue Star Cafe & Pub.  This is a particularly good place to go if you are hung over and want some of the hair of the dog.  They're a full bar that happens to serve breakfast, rather than the other way around (see, when I write it, the Wild Mountain review.)  We went on a weekday, but I have rarely gone there on a busy morning, and our visit was no exception.  This would probably also be handy if you're feeling delicate, because it's more quiet.

I like the booths and the nice big windows and the friendly staff.  It's on the corner of Stone and 45th in Wallingford, within an easy walk of Greenlake and a few feet from Archie McPhee's.  For some reason, however, the food doesn't impress me.  I wanted to go again (I haven't been here in a year or so) so that I could offer a better explanation of why--I couldn't remember why I haven't really been interested in going there.

Well, I looked at the menu and there were plenty of interesting options, generally in the $9-$11 range.  Because we were there on a weekday (and so it wasn't a splurge day), I ordered from their Weekday Breakfast Special menu.  I got a egg and cheese stuffed croissant with some fresh fruit, for $7.50.  I bet this would be another great hangover thing, because of the grease involved, but I found I just couldn't manage it.  The fruit was fine, and a refreshing morning treat.  The croissant, though, was so heavy on the melted cheddar cheese (and so plain in other ways) that most of it is still in my fridge in a to-go box, and I suspect the crows will get it.

I think Blue Star breakfasts must just be too heavy for me as a general rule.  If you find you share my taste, keep them on your B list; they're not bad, and if you're feeling famished they are certainly going to give you some good choices to fill you up.  Allow me to recommend them for lunch instead.  They have lots of burgers, a fine selection of beers, big booths with plenty of space for family, and a well-lit seating area separate from the others that seems like an excellent noisy-kid option.

• Address: 4512 Stone Way N
• Parking: street (but it's not hard to find a spot within a block)
• Cost: reasonable
• Quality: see above
• Wait: rarely long; indoors
• Coffee (since this is Seattle): good, frequently filled
• Menu/variety: nice range, allows customer creativity, plenty of both veggie and meatie dishes
• Extras: one of the toast options is an "herb biscuit"--sweet and savory
• Payment: cash/card ok, didn't try check
• Website: http://bluestarcafeandpub.com/

Blue Onion Bistro (now closed)

They were sometimes extremely understaffed, but they made the most lovely Danish pastries I ever expect to eat.  Really, they were so so good--and I don't like Danishes as a rule.  It was enough to make you hope they were understaffed, because they were good about using them to bribe customers to be patient.  This restaurant was also the purveyor of the only plain scrambled eggs I would actively seek out.  I don't know what they did to them, but they were perfect. 

If the former cooks from this sadly closed restaurant should happen to read this blog, for the sake of my readers as well as myself, please let us know where you are cooking now, and if it involves Danishes or scrambled eggs.

The Shanty

You know, I haven't been able to eat out for breakfast very often in the last few months (what with the recession and all).  My reviews are being based on memories and preferences established back when both I and my significant other could afford to go once or twice every weekend.  My current sweetheart has more responsibilities on his plate than those previous, in part because he has a son, so we're eating in a lot.  We emphasize eggs, surprise surprise.  You can make $3 pay for six meals that way--gotta love that.  His specialty is eggs scrambled with spinach and cream cheese.  It's a much cheaper lifestyle, and I do like a cheap lifestyle, but it means my reviews are kind of behind the times. 

Deal with it!  I'll bet they're not too far off anyway.

The Shanty is not hard to find, but it's very surprising that it continues to survive.  It's got its little claws dug in just to the west of lower Queen Anne, off of Elliot Ave W.  The building is on a city block that wouldn't be able to fit anything else on it if it tried.  Everything around it is large and modern, and it looks like a holdout from some earlier pioneer time.  One sees it and can't help wondering what must its secret be.

The Shanty is a fun sort of greasy spoon to go to, especially for a northern California girl like me.  My favorite thing about the place is the atmosphere.  The decor reminds me of restaurants in Eureka (CA), or along the older parts of the 101.  The walls are lined with cheap wood and covered with historic or personal photographs and logging implements; the seats and booths are slightly shabby and worn, and pretty tightly packed.  The customers are a mix of local regulars, blue-collar workers, and random folks drawn in by the singularity of the Shanty's architecture and location.  A true small business, the Shanty's owners work there and mingle with the customers. 

As for its other qualities...first of all, there have been many times when its service was astonishingly fast.  That, in fact, was my main first impression of the place.  The wait to be seated has never been too long either, so if you want to eat out but are hungry Right Now, try the Shanty.  Second, if you like chicken fried steak, my ex from Tennessee had a high opinion of the Shanty's version.  Third, this is an ok option for a semi-vegetarian like me (I don't count bacon) who is outnumbered by meat-eaters.  I think their food hasn't been spectacular by my standards, but it's always been good enough.

• Address: 350 Elliot Ave W
• Parking: only on the street.  You can park all the way around the Shanty's block, but remember, you can also find plenty uphill along Harrison or 4th.
• Cost: around $7-$12 for an eggy breakfast, I believe.
• Quality: greasy spoon level.  Don't expect super-fresh veggies, especially high-quality ingredients and from-scratch everything, but it's perfectly fine for the price/location.
• Wait: can be up to 15 minutes on a sunny day, but waiting generally has to be done outside so give it a drive-by to check first, if it's rainy or too cold outside.
• Coffee (since this is Seattle): adequate, nothing special.
• Menu/Variety: "American comfort food" describes it well enough.  Very standard.  Breakfast and lunch.
• Extras: outdoor seating, though it looks like it would be chilly
• Payment: credit cards ok
• Website: none found

Patty's Eggnest in Seattle

An important warning before reading this review: I haven't been to this location since about 2005 or so.  I can only comment on what my faulty memory provides me, which may turn out to be unsatisfying if you disagree with my opinion or want to hear more justification for it.

My goal is for people to read and be interested in my writing, and I don't want to hurt this restaurant.  However, it remains the case that I gave this restaurant three tries and it struck out three times in the paramount area of flavor.  When I ordered scrambled eggs and bacon, the only palatable foods were the fruit garnish and the water.  The bacon was limp and chewy and the hash browns were bland, excessively greasy and soft.  You got one piece of toast, and were charged extra to exchange for a biscuit or English muffin--pretty cheesy for such a negligible improvement in bread product.  As for the coffee, it reminded me of a Tom Waits song in which his entree starts to attack his cup of coffee, but the coffee's "just not strong enough to defend itself." 

On the positive side, this was what I think of as an Old Person restaurant, and I actually really like those.  The average age of the customer each time I was there was about 70-90 years old, complete with attendant caregivers.  I like the gentle atmosphere of such places, and the wait staff is usually very patient and respectful.  I wish I had liked eating here more, because I would certainly go for breakfast by myself to read or study while I ate, and to people-watch.

I've looked through public review sites, and they seem to either love or hate this restaurant, not much in between.  You may feel the same, so if you have time and you're into breakfast like I am, you should come here at least once or twice.  Find out if you're on the side of the lovers or the haters.  If you'd like, I'll go again and report back with more recent information.  Don't expect me to do so without a push, though.

• Address:  9749 Holman Rd NW (same shopping center as QFC)
• Parking:  Easy and plentiful, since it's by a grocery store & other businesses.
• Cost:  $7-$12 range for my area of breakfasty foods.
• Quality:  See above.
• Wait:  Not bad at all.
• Coffee (since this is Seattle):  see above.
• Menu/Variety:  Very American; a bit more in the standard greasy-spoon range that you'll find in commercial chains and truck stops.  A lot of onions and mushrooms included in the scrambles, which makes them pretty scanty once I've asked for those ingredients to be left out.  If I were to try here again, I think I would order bacon and eggs with hashbrowns, or a House Omelette minus onions and mushrooms (making it a spinach & feta omelette).  Lunches are also served.
• Extras:  I liked sitting in their glassed-in alcove on the north side of the restaurant; it had great light and interesting plantings outside.
• Payment:  not noted on website.
• Website:  http://www.pattyseggnestrestaurant.net/

Silence Heart Nest

Silence Heart Nest is a good option for vegetarian food and people-watching.  They have an open, clean diner atmosphere and you see plenty of families there.  I've enjoyed it for its big picture windows--especially during the Fremont Solstice Parade!  There are several nice seats by the windows, and I like to sit with coffee and watch all the interesting people going by.  

It's a good place to go when having a lazy day of wandering through Fremont; imagine, on a Saturday, walking through the farmer's market and the antique stores, checking out Frank & Dunya (local art), getting pictures of yourself with local icons, and resting up at the Silence Heart Nest.  Don't forget to visit some of the famous Fremont art sites, since they're within walking distance: the statue "Waiting For the Interurban," seen in the movie "Say Anything" and often dressed up by locals; the troll under the 99 bridge; the corner statue of Lenin; and more, actually.  Look 'em up!

I have liked this diner's meals very much, and the servers are friendly and helpful, if sometimes rather quiet.  Their coffee is pretty strong, too!  Allow me to suggest that you get the sweet potato biscuits, hot and buttery.  Definitely worthwhile.  I haven't eaten anything with their cashew gravy, but doesn't it sound intriguing?  They also make good use of pesto. 

I should warn you, though.  I tend to think of it, thoughtlessly I'm sure, as "the culty place."  One review I saw called it New Age-y, which does seem like a nicer thing to say.  It is run by the Sri Chinmoy Center, Sri Chinmoy being the guru who inspires the philosophy of the establishment.  He's about meditation and intention and very nice and good things like that, but the bedsheet saris on the female workers and the proliferation of Chinmoy quotes, art, photos and videos everywhere have weirded more than one person out. 

• Address:  3508 Fremont Place N, Seattle (Fremont neighborhood)
• Parking: on the street.  This is Fremont, which can be bustling.  It has few parking lots, though I know of one pay lot on N. 35th St, east of Fremont Ave, but if you're willing to walk a couple blocks you'll be sure to find parking eventually. 
• Cost: reasonable.  My sort of breakfast would cost around $9 plus coffee & tip.
• Quality: nice.  They are a vegetarian restaurant with vegan options, and their food has generally struck me as fresh and lovely.
• Wait:  not bad.  Let's say 0-15 minutes.  If there's a line, there's places to sit while you wait.  If there's a serious line, there's an awning outside and stores nearby to windowshop.
• Coffee (since this is Seattle): very respectable.  Their online menus don't mention beverages so I can't say if they also do espresso-type drinks, but I thought they did.
• Menu/Variety:  full breakfast and lunch menus.  A good amount of variety--pretty creative within its limitations.  Even if you're not a vegetarian, if you like to experiment with flavors it could be worth coming here.  I always make sure I get the sweet potato biscuits instead of toast.  At this moment I would order the garden spinach omelet (spinach, tomatoes and feta), or the pesto wrap minus mushrooms (scrambled eggs, white cheddar cheese, spinach & homemade pesto in a tortilla).
• Extras: each table has a little jar containing business-sized cards with quotes from the guy who inspired them.  They're kinda fun to go through.
• Payment:  credit cards accepted.
• Website:  http://www.silenceheartnest.com/?pg=home

Pete's Eggnest

The last time I came here my fiance and I had just parted ways the day before, so I wasn't quite in a position to admire the food.  I tell you that, though, because Pete's Eggnest felt like a safe place to go when I was vulnerable and weepy.  I sat at their counter that day and read the newspaper, and no one bothered me.  I guess I think they're decent readers of body-language, because that's what I wanted. 

You should also know that I haven't been there in at least ten months.  I cycle around the diners, but that doesn't mean I don't know their value to me.

Pete's Eggnest is one of the homier diners I  frequent, and that can be good or bad, depending on if you want a friendly familiar face serving you or not.  Sometimes I'm grumpy in the morning and don't want to have to be friendly back; so it goes.  Great crowded family atmosphere, full of chattering families and hung-over friends craving grease, all in one room with steamed picture windows and a view through to the kitchen.  Customers here really do seem to be living it up and enjoying the day.

Pete's is much more a treasured neighborhood "hole-in-the-wall diner" than it is a "fine eating establishment," so you need to keep this in mind if you decide to try it out.

• Address: 7717 Greenwood Ave N (Greenwood/Phinney neighborhood)
• Parking: on the street only.  That said, I've never had to park more than a block away.
• Cost: quite reasonable.  In fact, because of the size of the portions, you could say this place is pretty cheap.  If I eat here, I can stretch my leftovers for at least another two meals.
• Quality: good, basic.  If you like Corner Diner food, you may figure they kick butt and you should definitely come here.  If you want organic, market-fresh ingredients, gourmet cookery, low fat, and special diet options, I'm not as sure it's for you.
• Wait: so-so.  They're often packed, and you generally have to wait outside.  There isn't really any shelter, so if it's windy, cold or rainy, I do a drive-by before deciding whether the line's short enough to commit to parking.  Once you're seated, though, they're quick!
• Coffee (since this is Seattle): don't remember if they do anything fancy, but their drip coffee is fine and they keep it full.
• Menu/Variety: mostly breakfasty.  They're not asking for much creativity on your part, but they're pretty creative themselves.  Lots of options, daily specials, and if you like Greek food you'll be extra pleased.
• Extras: They ask how you want your bacon (extra crispy, thank you).  I think they keep refrigerator jam at the tables, which my sister loves.  The atmosphere is bustling, neighborly, friendly, and the restaurant is family-run.  It's kind of tight space for if your kids are overly energetic, but other than that I'd say they're perfectly family-friendly.
• Payment: I believe they'll take credit cards, checks or cash.
• Website: didn't find one.

The Four Spoons

I go out for breakfast often enough that I just don't have favorites so much anymore.  That said, The Four Spoons isn't the very closest breakfast place I can get to, but it's the closest one that I want to go to (over and over again!).  They're pretty reliable, and I like how the current chef is doing the potatoes that go with the eggs: big chunks, well-browned, not too greasy but pretty salty.  The atmosphere seems to fit me perfectly, being clean and artsy but not pretentious.  Their wall decoration changes, though not too quickly; right now, it's photos of what look like Matchbox cars, close-up and with realistic backgrounds.  It's entertaining that they've papered their bathroom with nautical charts.  I would take my middle-class parents here any old time, and my country-folk grandparents here if we were being fancy. 

The other day I tried a scramble with blue cheese, roasted garlic and tomatoes, which would have cost about $9.50.  Turns out that's too pungent for me, but my boyfriend Jim liked it just fine!  I don't have a current favorite combination right now, and I haven't tested the bacon lately so I'll have to get back to you about that.

• Address: 850 NW 85th St, Seattle
• Parking: 6-7 spaces offstreet, with extra (unsanctioned) parking at the bar across the street
• Cost: reasonable.  I go here when I want my treat but haven't earned something extra special.
• Quality: pretty reliable, right now.  Quality at this physical location went through a bit of a difficult patch last year, but a change of ownership seems to have cleaned that up.  They don't seem to do those sinful chocolate chip scones anymore, though.
• Wait: so far, not much of a wait.  If you do come at an extra-busy time and need to wait, you'll have to cluster awkwardly in front of the door or wait outside.  Still, it's a worthwhile risk even if it's raining.
• Coffee (since this is Seattle): I only see drip coffee on the menu, but it's perfectly decent.  I also see Mexican hot chocolate, which could mean that it uses that Abuelita brand cinnamon chocolate, so I'll bet that's tasty.
• Menu/Variety: they set it up so that you order a scramble or omelette, and have a choice of about 15 items that can be mixed in.  This ends up allowing for quite a bit of variety.  They also have daily specials and a decent number of standard items, covering both breakfast and lunch.  There's plenty for meat-eaters too.
• Extras: on Sunday mornings they have live music that doesn't get too loud, or intrusive in style, for breakfast conversation.  Tips are appreciated, but nobody's staring you down about it.
• Hours: open 7 days/week in the winter.  I didn't see their precise hours online.
• Payment: they won't take checks, so look out for that!
• Website: http://www.fourspoonscafe.net/