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/