A Question About Brunch
Is there a spot around Seattle that truly does it well?
Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Mar 10, 2010 at 10:54AM
15 Comments
I am not a diehard brunch person because I don’t like the idea of two meals in one. I want breakfast, and I want lunch. Especially on weekends when there is time to linger over food. Speaking of time, I kind of resent spending an hour in some cramped restaurant entranceway, just for the privilege of being served a plate of pancakes.
But often I am lured to brunches about town because people love brunch. They just love it. So here is what happens: I go to brunch at some restaurant, have a pretty good experience, think: this brunch thing isn’t so awful. Then I return to that place for brunch, and it is not good: slow service, murky coffee, cold eggs, and the interminable wait for a table. Some of my favorite restaurants, places where I’ve had tasty dinners again and again, have been ruined by frustrating experiences at brunchtime.
So the other day on Twitter, a local foodie (@marcseattle) mentioned something about Spring Hill being the mindblower of the brunch bunch, and the only place that is really consistent. Do you agree, or have you found the Hi Spot to be good every single time? Or is it dim sum at Monsoon that is a sure thing?
I’m trying to learn to love this strange meal that is in fact two, and I need some help.
Tags: Brunch
My brunch companions reminded me of some other spots we’ve hit which are consistently good. Glo’s is great…the kind of diner food you want….no, NEED after a night where you had one (or more) too many cocktails. Eggs, meat and crispy hashbrowns — that’s where you head.
Tilikum Cafe also does amazing brunch. Their dutch babies (sweet and savory) rock, and I’ve never had a bad meal there ANY time of day.
Can’t wait to hear what other people love. We’ve hit a lot of spots which (to your point) serve great dinners, but not-so-consistent brunches.
Agreed about Glo’s, but I can never handle the wait—it’s always at least an hour. Plus, isn’t $11 a bit steep for eggs benedict?
I’ve heard Boat Street Cafe and Cafe Campagne have great brunches. I’ve always found Linda’s brunch to be enjoyable. Though the food isn’t stellar, the bloodies are, and the atmosphere makes you feel like you never even left the bars the night before.
Glo’s is AMAZING- some of the best Eggs Bennies I’ve had on the Hill. But…a bloody buddy really makes for a great brunch, and I’m pretty sure Glo’s doesn’t serve alcohol.
Never thought I’d eat at Linda’s until someone told me the brunch was decent. And it certainly is. It can’t wave a candle at Glo’s but if you stagger in before 10:30 you will probably get seated right away, enjoy good Vitta coffee, bloodies, and pretty darn good Bennies and egg scramblers. Plus meals run about $4 cheaper than Glo’s.
Brunch, to me, is about rehashing the great night before, being a dirtball and not showering, and enjoying the company of friends. Delicious food is a great bonus, but I keep expectations pretty low, but not Golden Apple in Lakeview, Chicago-low.
Holy deja vu!
That’s a good point, I do love a good rehash of the previous night’s mischief. I guess I just usually call that meal “breakfast.” Maybe it’s the same difference.
I would have to say either Madison Park Cafe or Boat Street Cafe. They are both amazing but Madison Park is probably my fav of all time.
It’s all about being prepared. Aspirin and water on the nightstand and make reservations for brunch the day before – that and a good cup of coffee will get your bleary morning off to a decent start.
A brisk walk down to the market, buy a cheap bunch of flowers and off to Cafe Campagne. Oueffs en meurette – poached eggs, red wine foie gras sauce and french fries for breakfast – I can handle the rest of the day after lingering over this with a kir royale and Cafe Vita coffee.
I’m a huge fan of brunch, though I’m always ordering breakfast food, not only because I love it any time of the day but the weekend is the only time I can enjoy a meal with no time limit in the afternoon.
I just went to Portage Bay Cafe a couple weekends ago (SLU location) and thought it was fantastic. We had to wait a bit and it is crowded/loud but every plate I saw go by made it worth it. The toppings bar for french toast/pancakes is phenomenal… fresh berries, whipped cream, nuts….
I love the crepes at 611 Supreme too. Looking forward to revisiting this page for the recommendations!
I agree with many of the suggestions already posted. I also love going to Señor Moose before the Ballard farmer’s market for chilaquiles with eggs or entomatadas; Tilth on a sunny day. Campagne for me is not about the meurette but the consistently good soft-scrambled eggs.
I would give an awful lot, though, for decent biscuits and gravy. I’ve tried, I’ve followed suggestions, I’ve had an open mind (shut up, Marc).
Haven’t found them in this city I otherwise adore.
Mmmm… Senior Moose, Salty’s
I’ve heard a lot about Glo, but never could get in. I love to go to the Market and eat lobster/tenderloin Benedict at Maximilien. It’s so delicate and rich at the same time! They also have the best pastries: croissant?
I love Glo’s, but the rule of thumb is if you don’t want to wait you have go get there before 9am. After that expect to sit with a bottomless cup of coffee for hours outside, which could be pleasant depending on your hunger and your company. At least they already know this and have chairs for you and come out often to refill your coffee. I recommend any of the bene’s and the bagel and lox.
I’ve had really good breakfast at Roxy’s in Fremont – standard diner grub. Same with North Star – try the bacon pancake with sour cream. That was tasty! They ran out of gravy by 1pm and we took it as a good sign and have vowed to come back for biscuits and gravy. Their mimosa comes in one of the largest glasses I’ve ever gotten and just $5 on Sunday. The bloody mary was decent – nothing terribly exciting, but good enough.
Maybe it was a bad day, but we had a terrible brunch at Portage Bay Cafe (Udist) just a few weeks ago. I had gone a few times before and remembered really liking it, but that last time was terrible and I don’t plan to return any time soon. Eggs were almost hard boiled rather than poached (we think they poached them all at once and let them sit).
Crepes at Crepe Cafe and Wine Bar on 65th in the Ravenna ’hood are delicious. And you can get wine, mimosas and french press coffee. A great romantic brunch spot with the lovely feel of a small Parisian cafe.
If you want something different, try the dim sum at Chiang’s Gourmet on Lake City and 80th (it’s more like Ravenna/Roosevelt neighborhood than Lake City). I’ve had a lot of dim sum in my life, including in Hong Kong (where it claims to originate), but Chiang’s offers Taiwanese style and it is radically different from what most people have had. Wow. There are no carts, just a menu with vague descriptions. We tried about 10 different dishes and loved every single one with each being entirely different than steam cart style dim sum. Seriously worth checking out. A long chaotic line can ensue and service can be spotty so go early or go after 1pm, when I noticed the crowd was thinning. We went at 11am and that was a huge mistake – a 30 minute wait and than another 45 minute wait at the table just to get our order in. I’d say don’t go, if it wasn’t for the food! We had forgotten all about it by the time we ate…
Correction my review above – North Star is actually Blue Star Cafe.
Wow Evelyn! I wish I had your motivation—a brisk walk down to the market!? I usually have neither the physical nor the mental capacity to handle that on a weekend morning.
St.Clouds in Madrona is really good — great staff and breakfast burritos!
My favorite, though, is Serafina in Eastlake. I would never have thought of them as a brunch spot until some friends invited me there a few months ago — but it’s perfect! Their staff is always so friendly and accomodating and they just know how to do it right. My two favorites are their frittata and tofeja (depending on if I’m in a breakfast or lunch mood), and they add something special to their bloody marys to make them so delicious!