What’s your favorite breakfast/brunch spot?

August 24th, 2008 · 26 Comments

Aaron, a Phinneywood reader who lives on Greenwood’s north end, is looking for a good breakfast or brunch spot. What do you suggest?

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26 responses so far ↓

1 HL // Aug 24, 2008 at 2:45 pm

Patti’s Eggnest in the QFC shopping center on Holman Road is always good, but crowded on weekends.

Further south, a couple of other popular spots are Mae’s Phinney Ridge Cafe on Phinney & 65th, The Dish on Leary Way, and Blue Star Cafe on Stone Way & 45th.
2 Books for Foodies // Aug 24, 2008 at 2:46 pm

I’ve lived in Greenwood for 8 years. After sampling all Phinneywood has to offer for breakfast/brunch. Unfortunately, my solution is to leave the neighborhood for breakfast. My two favorites are Hi-Life in Ballard and Hi Spot Cafe in Madrona. It’s ironic that they have similar names. Of the two, I prefer Hi Spot as it’s more casual and laid back than Hi-Life.
3 Paul M // Aug 24, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Definitely “Mae’s” on 65th/Phinney
4 Elisabeth // Aug 24, 2008 at 3:45 pm

I love the Library Cafe on 85th for classic eggs and bacon kind of fare (and great french toast) — and it’s nice and northerly, in Greenwood. However, further south, Señor Moose’s Mexican brunch menu is my absolute favorite; they also have some inTENSE coffee.
5 gooner // Aug 24, 2008 at 3:52 pm

never understood the fascination with maes. maybe we just had a bad experience, but our food was boderline gross the one time we tried.

senior moose, petes eggnest on greenwood (no idea if there is a relation to patty), hi life, blue mountain cafe

if you don’t mind traveling a bit, the most consistantly good breakfast in seattle is 14 carrot on eastlake IMHO
6 Neighbor // Aug 24, 2008 at 8:16 pm

Definitely not Mae’s. For some ungodly reason, this joint insists on roasting its own coffee beans. If you’d like to smell like you just stepped out of a French press, this might be the place for you. Otherwise, try Blue Star or Dish in Ballard.
7 Bella // Aug 24, 2008 at 8:44 pm

Mae’s is ok on weekdays when they are not jampacked and can take the time to cook things as they should be. The Dish is always good, but you will wait on a weekend. Tigertail just started doing brunch – we went today and it was pretty good. Not an extensive menu, but tasty.
8 bilsemon // Aug 24, 2008 at 9:20 pm

Count me in w/the Mae’s naysayers. I’ve been there about 3 times and each time the dish I order has been overly greasy and really plain tasting. I’ve done The Dish (good, but crowded) and Patty’s Egg Nest (OK, but too large portions and too expensive). I too prefer to leave the hood and head to Queen Anne where the Queen Anne Coffee Shop has been a reliable favorite for YEARS.
9 eas // Aug 24, 2008 at 11:05 pm

We leave the neighborhood and head to Vera’s in Ballard.
10 zoogrrrl // Aug 24, 2008 at 11:23 pm

Our favorite breakfast places:

Pete’s Eggnest, if we stay close to home
Dish
Mountain Cafe
Chinook’s
Moose Cafe
CJ’s downtown

For brunch, one of my fav’s is 35th St Bistro in Fremont. It opens at 11 am.
11 MonkeyPilot // Aug 25, 2008 at 9:17 am

I’ll second Patty’s Eggnest. I still remember the first time I had their Swedish pancakes. Mmmm.
Down Ballard-way I highly recommend Fat Albert’s. Especially if you’re not on a diet!
12 MonkeyPilot // Aug 25, 2008 at 9:18 am

Duh. Fat Albert was the TV show. Bad Albert’s is the restaurant. On Ballard Ave.
13 Marty // Aug 25, 2008 at 10:20 am

I don’t have much experience with the breakfast scene in the neighborhood but my wife and I ate at the Original Pancake House on 15th one day while our car was being repaired. We enjoyed it. The decor reminded me of being back home (the south) and the omelette my wife had was gigantic.
14 Bella // Aug 25, 2008 at 11:07 am

Oh yeah, the OPH is good, but you will wait for a long while on weekends, and they don’t serve Eggs Benedict on weekdays for some reason. They have enough other yummy breakfasts to make up for the EB, though.
15 Te // Aug 25, 2008 at 2:52 pm

We love OPH too for an old-school breakfast that my grandparents would have loved. Wild Mountain Cafe makes some tasty breakfast grub – the two places are exact opposites as far as the dining experience goes but both great in their own way. If you don’t mind a drive down through Roosevelt the Sunflour Cafe is awesome and you can get some takeaway pastries for the next day. Also, on 70th in Ballard, the Neighborhood Cafe has some great dishes and the new bakery Honore is to die for. We once had an awesome brunch at Pomegranate in Fremont and of course I always love Julia’s in Wallingford because it’s the only place that does bottomless cups of tea (the way coffee is done elsewhere). Obviously, I love going out for breakfast!
16 Jessica // Aug 25, 2008 at 5:37 pm

The Baranof has surprisingly decent breakfast fare. My all-time favorite place though is Portage Bay Cafe… It’s over on Roosevelt @ 42nd but well worth the drive!
17 Tiffany // Aug 25, 2008 at 11:34 pm

I love breakfast with all my heart.
As the Czech say – “breakfast for yourself, lunch share with a friend, dinner for your enemy”

FREMONT: Silent Heart’s Nest, Essential Bakery, Flying Apron Bakery
FREELARD: Dish
BALLARD: Vera’s, Hattie’s Hat (weekends), Senor Moose!, Cafe Besalu, Patty’s Pan (late bfast)
OTHER: Sunlight Cafe, Cafe Campagne!, Hi-Spot, 14 carrot cafe, Squid & Ink, Chaco Canyon Cafe, and finally the KONA KITCHEN (breakfast with a japanese hawaiian touch…rice with your omlett and sweet bread french toast…makes me happy)
18 Tiffany // Aug 25, 2008 at 11:35 pm

almost forgot – The Mars Bar/Cafe Venus
19 fdjsla // Aug 27, 2008 at 5:45 am

Roxy’s! Nothing like latkes with bacon for breakfast. Pete’s is practically next door so we go all the time, even weekdays if we get up early enough. I also love Hattie’s Hat (best bloody marys) and Salmon Bay in Ballard. I’ve been meaning to try Val’s – I think there maybe is some link between Pete’s, Val’s, Patty’s, and Voula’s but I’m not sure if it’s family or what… maybe just a brother/sisterhood of Greek breakfast spots? Voula’s is good too, but way down on Northlake…
20 Paul M // Aug 27, 2008 at 8:03 am

Hopefully Greenwood will get more breakfast choices when the construction project behind Bartells is done. Maybe the Pig & Whistle should pick up some breakfast crowd because there’s obviously a demand for local grub!
21 MonkeyPilot // Aug 27, 2008 at 8:50 am

Ugh. If they go with a breakfast menu that bears any resemblance to their current menu, I’ll steer an even wider berth of that place.
22 Susan // Aug 28, 2008 at 6:27 pm

My favorite is the Wild Mountain Cafe on 85th!
23 Eric // Sep 1, 2008 at 4:13 pm

What? NO votes for the Barking Dog? You all are KILLING me!!!!
24 Ballard Boy // Sep 2, 2008 at 12:53 pm

Hales has a remarkably decent breakfast. They don’t pack the plate like a lot of places. You can actually finish what they serve! Fat Albert’s is also one of our favorites. Love the Egg Sandwich and the Crab Cat Chow. Yummy.

Leaving the area, Kauai Family in Georgetown has the best Loco Moco anywhere on the planet and I have tried my share. Ono!
25 Paul M // Sep 2, 2008 at 3:45 pm

Barking Dog used to be cool until it became THE place to dine with kids, urgh
26 Ethan C. // Sep 4, 2008 at 4:11 pm

We love our hood, but breakfast options tend to be a little too greasy and over-portioned, and I can do that at home. We usually venture out for breakfast for special occasions, Portage Bay in the U District is always a winner, but our favorite brunch spot has become Moxie at the base of Queen Anne. By far the best brunch I’ve had in Seattle. Food is fantastic, service is actually just OK, but it’s never crowded. Check it out.