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Portage Bay Café
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Cafes Breakfast & Brunch, Canadian (New), Cafes [Edit]
391 Terry Ave N(between Harrison St & Thomas St)
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 462-6400
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:30 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
380 reviews for Portage Bay Café
Review Highlights
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"Be sure not to miss the toppings bar for your pancakes." In 87 reviews -
"They make the french toast with THICK slices of toast." In 107 reviews -
"It's local, organic and delicious." In 103 reviews
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380 reviews in English
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Review from Gilad B.
Queen Anne, Seattle, WA
5/12/2012
Fresh, organic, and DELICIOUS brunch. Long line is well worth it, or show up early to avoid the lines; weekends are tough. This is the largest location and my favorite. I almost always get the Rancher Breakfast; its the only meal that has eggs, potatoes, and a trip to the toppings bar.
For first timers: Do not let yourself leave without a trip to the toppings bar. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Seattle, WA
5/3/2012 3 photos
Like: BANANAS FOSTER FRENCH TOAST.
nuff said. -
Review from Phoenix A.
Seattle, WA
5/2/2012
Thanks, Neil, for sticking my fork in your benedict!
That sounds oh so dirty, and I had my own meal to partake in, but that forking sealed the deal for a second return.
Came here for breakfast with the man and Neil, our friend and trainer at Excellence Fitness. We deserved this breakfast for the huffin', puffin' pain we were put through.
The man ordered the french toast and added fruit from the topping bar. I had the goat cheese omelet with home potatoes and wheat toast. Neil had the crab cake benedict.
The meal lived up to its presentation. My omelet was stuffed with cheese and spinach and some other things that were overshadowed by crab cake benny bite that Neil insisted I try. Sold!
Love the openness of the restaurant with kayaks hanging from the ceilings. Good service, clean. Pricey but worth it.
No brainer...as my stupid ex governor in my former state would say "I'll be back". -
Review from Allison Y.
Seattle, WA
5/21/2012
Perfect spot for a group brunch! We had a large group of 8 but that didn't slow down the service. The berry mimosas and the food was fantastic. No complaints! Highly recommend the eggs benedict.
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Review from Michael D.
Seattle, WA
5/22/2012 1 photo
Awesome food! I ordered the Wild Salmon Omelet and it was delicious! Very tasty and fruits were really fresh! Would definitely recommend this place for breakfast/brunch!
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Review from Shawn B.
4/24/2012
We weren't exactly sure how reservations worked, so we decided to go in early (9AM). It was already buzzing when we rolled in. Apparently you can call in ahead of time to put your name on the list to be seated. Thankfully since it was just two of us, we were seated in under 10 minutes (at the bar).
I was impressed with the service; we were quickly served with menus and waters considering how busy it was. Also, the waitress didn't bother us too much and quietly refilled our waters without making a fuss.
I ordered the Phil's Breakfast and then the Oatmeal Cobler French Toast. On the Phil's Breakfast I got it with bacon, scrambled eggs, and it came with a side of their roasted potatoes and a slice of wheat toast. I wasn't to impressed. The bacon and eggs were pretty standard. Unfortunately, the slice of wheat toast was hard as a rock and the roasted potatoes were a little too seasoned for my liking.
The Oatmeal Cobler French Toast was everything. It was perfectly crusted with oatmeal, and then covered in a raspberry compote. I've never really had great french toast at a restaurant because it's usually been too greasy or sweet. This however was savory and just sweet enough from the raspberry compote.
It definitely was a lot of food, but I was curious to try their savory and sweet offerings. If I were to go back, I probably would just go back for more french toast and then just a savory side. -
Review from Juliane W.
Seattle, WA
Portage Bay breakfast is my coworkers Sunday tradition..and a really great tradition at that! Portage Bay is the type of place that fills you up, makes you want more and leaves you content for supporting such a sustainable practice. LOVE this spot.
They have a variety of comfort breakfast food like pancakes and french toast to healthy options like oatmeal and omelettes. My favorites (and I've tried many dishes!) include the rice and tapioca swedish pancakes and anything with their grits mmmmm. My coworkers and I always leave happy with whatever we had ordered. And, extra happy if we had a mimosa or two (they have many flavors!). Oh and mustn't I forget that if you order pancakes or french toast you get to visit the toppings bar which is a table full of HUGE bowls of fresh fruit, almond slivers, whipped cream, syrup, and other heavenly selections.
If you need a quick breakfast, in and out, don't plan on eating at Portage Bay on the weekend. But, if you're down to maybe wait for a table and get the most tasty organic breakfast in the city, Portage Bay will never disappoint! -
Review from Laura L.
5/7/2012
Why it took me so long to try this place is a mystery to me. Several vegan options for breakfast- none of which include toast and a fruit plate; that is progress. I'll take it! I have been back twice in the last month. Conscious choices for people looking to feel good about eating flesh based products, too.
-
Review from Sam H.
Tacoma, WA
3/25/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I don't think you can ever go wrong coming here for breakfast.
Cons: it's gonna be about an hour wait if you come here. So be prepared for that.
Pro: If you smell or see the food... it will be worth it.
Pro: they give you coffee to drink whiel you wait for the line
Con: The coffee is added to your bill later and it's like 2 dollars.
Recommended: The benedict!!! and pretty much any of the scrambles. -
Review from Eric L.
Monterey Park, CA
4/3/2012
I thought this place was good but not the best brunch I've had. They have an extensive menu and lots of options. But it can get super crowded on the weekends and really really noisy and loud. Also, the coffee is just OK. But it might be worth it just for the food.
If you are planning to come here, they take reservatoins over the phone. I called in a reservation for 6 on a Sunday morning and we got seated about 5 minutes after we arrived. I'm sure everyone else had to wait at least awhile to get a table.
There's parking garage right next door that is only $2 per day on the weekends. There's also a lot of street parking but it might be hard to find. -
Review from Jimmy Z.
Seattle, WA
5/7/2012
This place is pretty much the perfect weekend brunch place. The pancakes are great, and there are plenty of awesome egg dishes for people looking for something else.
The highlight (of course) is the pancakes topping bar. This thing is the real deal; every topping you could want and then some. All kinds of fruit, brown sugar, whipped cream, etc. it's perfect. And since it's included with the pancakes the meal really turns out to be pretty inexpensive.
The service was also great, especially considering how busy it can get. Look out for a long wait though, it gets really packed on weekends.
The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because they don't have waffles. That toppings bar is just beginning for some beautiful Belgian waffles! If they ever start serving waffles this place will be a dream come true and I'll update this review to 6 stars! -
Review from Melissa F.
Bellevue, WA
3/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I came here with a companion, but while my food reviews *always* include reviews of dishes all around the table that I've sampled, I cannot for the life of me remember what he ordered much less what it tasted like. Why? I was busy stuffing my face with my own dish.
What was this delightfully distracting food? LEMON CURD FRENCH TOAST sprinkled with blueberries and ricotta cheese. Oh holy cherubic infant creatures... You ever just take a bite of a thing and next thing you know, your eyes are half-closed in a kind of trance and you want that one taste to last forever? Gosh, thinking about it now, it's like a first kiss. I mean the really good ones, not the sloppy weird ones that scream you've had too much beer.
The flavor was sweet and tart and creamy and soft in all the right ways. Every element complemented the others and I didn't feel understimulated or overpowered or overwhelmed (except by awesomeness!) Nothing is like that first kiss, but the second, third, fourth, and so on were all amazing.
Portage Bay Cafe, we are definitely on for a second date! What are your hours next weekend? ;) -
Review from Carol W.
Seattle, WA
3/6/2012
A solid brunch spot! The food is really good and the best part was that we were able to make a reservation for our table of six - I am a fan of that!
The service was a little spotty, I had to ask a few times for a water refill and our friend had to wait about an extra five minutes for her plate to come. But it was a busy Sunday so I'll forgive them. I will return here for another good breakfast! And street parking was pretty easy (and free!) on the Sunday we went. -
Review from Jayme L.
Seattle, WA
3/28/2012
I had been here for lunch once, but not breakfast so we trekked from West Seattle to get a bite. We did wait a bit which was expected but were able to drink fresh coffee while we waited and got in no more than 15 or 20 minutes after arriving.
I had the goat cheese omelet - it was AMAZING. The roasted potatoes were also amazing, I seriously had not one complaint about my food. We shared a glass of fresh OJ which was also great. I had more than a couple of bites of my boyfriend's french toast and promptly was wishing I had ordered it. Both dishes were great, service was quick and friendly.
The place is a bit loud but that was also expected so I was very satisfied. I also enjoyed knowing their ingredients are so fresh, local and organic. This is a plus for restaurants in my book.
Will be back again very soon. -
Review from Jen L.
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yum, fresh, seasonable and sustainable! Here are my faves:
- Migas with chorizo - my favorite (and a tiny bit better than the chorizo sausage scramble). I always ask for extra salsa. It's got a great amount of spices to make it homey.
- Dungeness (or smoked salmon) Crab Benedict - I love cutting into it with the yolk perfectly runny.
- Wild Mushroom Omelette - amazing with multiple types of mushrooms. It's been off the menu for a while.
- Lemon curd and Bananas Foster French Toast - yum yum. And come with the fruit bar. Depending on the season, sometimes the fruit is seems previously frozen (blueberries).
- side of organic potatoes and kale are amazing.
I'd pass next time on the:
- Wild Smoked Salmon Omelette and the Proscuitto Omlette - are both ok. Occasionally the egg has been a little overcooked making it a bit rubbery. And their omelettes seem more of a "taco" of egg as the egg is not intertwined with the contents.
- Wild salmon hash - large! just ok.
Regardless, I still keep going back!!
I go there for the food, not the ambiance, as the SLU place is very loud, crowded and the wait is long. I would avoid the weekends. -
Review from Margaret M.
Seattle, WA
2/25/2012
Risotto Cake Benedict. Just order it... You can thank me later.
"Organic arborio rice risotto cakes with oven-dried roma tomatoes, two poached eggs and a drizzle of 6-year aged balsamic vinegar."
I wish the wait wasn't always forever and a day (an hour and a half when I want brunch NOW? sigh) but everything I've ordered here has been good. Not mind-blowing, but consistently good. -
Review from Kristine C.
Chino Hills, CA
2/27/2012 2 photos
Met here with my Seattle cousins for brunch. Looking at the menu, I realized it was an organic restaurant. But for an organic restaurant, I was very pleased.
We ordered a pitcher of mimosa's and let me say, I was buzzin' after 2 glasses. We couldn't even finish the pitcher. I ended up getting pancakes with scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes. Have you ever heard of a pancake bar?! I've never! After getting your plain pancakes, you can go to the toppings bar and pile on your toppings. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, whip topping, different syrups. It was like heaven.
Maybe because it was Sunday brunch, but good thing we got there when we did because 20mins later the waiting area was packed with people. It got pretty crackin'!
Parking, you can find on the street OR you can park for a couple bucks in the underground parking of the building. -
Review from Alice K.
2/21/2012
Went to this place with a band of Jersey-shore watching techy Californians. Since I was dragged here by picky Cali-dwellers who had been here before that is proof it's extremely tasty.
Actual Food: If you like gobs of pancakes and not actually eating the pancakes but eating the buffet of toppings (all fresh and amazing) then this is the place for you.
If you're on some silly diet don't do it. Everything I've ever eaten here was good. Waffles, eggs, you really can't choose something wrong-- just make sure to get something that needs syrup / fruit for the topping bar.
So yes, to wrap it up. You need to go here at least once in your life.
Why not 5 stars? A few things to expect:
-Huge lines so you may starve for a while. I recommend a big group and don't show up to the group until 30 minutes after or until they call you and say the table is ready. Haha
-Closing at 2:30pm (I don't get up until 2 / 3 some weekends), and
-Parking. -
Review from Brian and Ann Marie E.
Seattle, WA
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
In the words of the young people, FAIL.
One of the only times we've ever seriously considered dining and ditching.
The service was so bad, my wife said, "I can't even remember what the waitress looks like."
Has the ambiance of a crowded college cafeteria at $20/head. Overrated and overpriced. Let it be known that crowd size is not an indication of the cafe's quality.
Don't waste your time. Go to The Dish on Leary Ave. between Fremont and Ballard. Order the Eggs Benedict or Florentine and you'll remember it for the rest of your life. -
Review from Margaret D.
Seattle, WA
5/13/2012
The hostess is incompetent and the manager is condescending. Tried to make a reservation in advance and was told they weren't doing that today. We get there and are told the wait is thirty minutes to an hour. An hour and a half later we were about twenty names from the top, but they were seating people from another reserved list. Inconsistent reservation policies. No apologies. Won't be returning.
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Review from James E.
12/31/2011
The café proudly boasts "Eat like you give a damn," and yet its food is prepared with the assertiveness of a wallflower at a middle-school dance.
We ordered the vegan banana pancakes and the tofu scramble. I was genuinely happy to see vegan items on the menu; my weekend breakfasts haven't been the same since Michael and his partner closed The Globe on Capitol Hill. I was initially trepidatious about ordering the banana pancakes since they were topped with a Nutella-like spread, but I figured "How bad can it be?"
What I neglected to see on the menu was the mention of rice flour used in the pancakes. The pancakes had the crisp exterior of a dosa and the gravity of a lead balloon in its starch. Syrup barely moved these pancakes off the roof of my mouth, and I was having a hard time tasting any banana in the mix.
The tofu scramble came with a slice of thick, toasted wheat bread and a wrapped tab of butter. I'm surprised neither the kitchen nor our server took a moment to consider something other than butter with two vegan plates.
My partner was the first to sample the scramble. "The tofu...it's cold." and so it was! And not very well flavored. At best, we figured the kitchen tossed tofu into ready-made items, threw paprika on everything and called it good. Not only was the tofu cold but it tasted almost like cheese. I wonder if the kitchen properly separates its tofu from dairy products?
The worst and greatest offense during our meal was the discovery of meat in our tofu scramble. Our server apologized for the meat in our meal, followed with a recited disclaimer of "the kitchen does its best to keep the line clean, but sometimes these things happen." So, neither the kitchen nor its staff possess the integrity that's required of such a bravado café credo.
Before our meal, I was suggesting the café as a great way to eat with family or friends without veg*ns or omnivores having to sacrifice their eating habits for the sake of culinary harmony. After our meal, I am quite content to never eat there again.
The café's slogan looks great on mugs and tees, so that's worth a star. -
Review from William T.
Tempe, AZ
2/3/2012
This place really has an amazing thing going. Locally sourced, organic and excellent food. The only issue is the seating/serving situation. They have a beautiful waffle and pancake service area where you add your own toppings but don't allow any sharing...and are apparently pretty draconian about this.
Nonetheless, this was an amazing place to eat. The food was sooooo good! I recommended this to a friend who was visiting Seattle just a couple of weeks after me. He did not end up going, but said that he mentioned it to some people and he was impressed at their excitement. That is exactly what Portage Bay is though. An exciting place to eat! -
Review from Howard C.
Seattle, WA
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Crab cake benedict and the french toast are always delicious. I love their organic ketchup and we always load up on the fruits. Come here; the other locations lack the consistent service and food execution of the SLU one.
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Review from Jeff S.
Seattle, WA
2/23/2012
It's constantly crowded for good reason - ze food is wwwwaaaaaayyyyy tasty.
Generous portions of health-minded organic ingredients make for a breakfast that I'll definitely be coming back for very soon. The coffee was good too, not sure what it was though. -
Review from Adam R.
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is a solid three. I have been here a couple of times and the selection of food is always good. Usually the special menu is where I stay as something always (except this time) sounds good and it's special, so why not?
On this trip, I had the apple and pork omelette which was ok but seemed very dry. When I think apples and pork I think sauce and sweet but not this one. The sausage and was good but the apples seemed far a few between.
Would I recommend this place, sure, especially if you have allergies or other issues that make most restaurants out of the question. They are health conscious and certainly have options for everyone. A friend of ours on this trip can't have gluten, tried their gluten free bread and loved it. -
Review from Anja O.
King, WA
5/20/2012
To be honest, this is the third time I've been here. It's been consistently mediocre- a bit above bad. We made a reservation, but it was a consistent 45 minute wait for a table for two and we had to wait an additional 10 minutes after our reservation was made. Also, they have a toppings bar, and only the strawberries were fresh. The peaches and pears were canned and the raspberries and blueberries had been frozen and were complete mush. I understand that it isn't the right season for raspberries or blue berries, but I would rather have fresh cut up apples than mushy raspberries. My boyfriend ordered an omelet and the eggs hadn't been spiced at all and was frankly, incredibly bland. He poured on a bunch of salt and pepper and then it was "alright". The atmosphere reminded me of a high school cafeteria, it was loud and chaotic. The only plus was the service, the woman who served us was very nice and attentive. I think the cafe used to be good and now is riding on it's own reputation, relying on the fact that people with 100K paychecks don't mind paying 15 dollars for a Denny's quality meal.
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Review from Liz M.
Seattle, WA
2/17/2012
This is for the catering service only!!
I have never eaten at their restaurant but have only heard rave reviews which is why my fiance and I decided that they would be in our top 4 list of caterers to try and decide between for our wedding.
Problem #1 When filling out the quote request online they ask you what your entire event budget it is... sorry but you are not our even planner and really should only be asking what our catering budget is.
Problem#2 After telling Tracy twice that we would not be able to attend a tasting event on a Tuesday as my fiance teaches Tuesday nights she suggested I bring someone else. (this may work for other people but I had obviously expressed our need to both be there to be able to make the decision.)
Problem #3 The last straw, they refused to do a private tasting knowing that our schedule would not allow both of us to make it to a single one of their events as they are all on Tuesdays.
This made my fiance and I feel like they did not care about us because our event wasn't going to be making them enough money to put in any extra effort.
As I said to Tracy... Truly Disappointed. -
Review from Ce Y.
1/9/2012
The break down of the stars - the food was only a 3 star, the wonderful service, their berry bar, and amazing coffee brought it up a notch. Have to say a little disappointed and was hoping for something a bit more from a place which boast about their wonderful organic ingredients.
Eggs - run of the mill ok, not overly aromatic, and the yolks are not golden orange like top quality eggs
pancakes - again ok, not orgasmically wonderful buttery fluffy cakes I have enjoyed so sinfully in the past at other brunch places (Hershey PA, St Louis, MO)
French toast - nice really think brioche type bread - but wheres the custard? their was a tiny little external brush of it and the middle of the humongous slices were dry! with that said, I had the banana foster and the sauce is to dye for! we started slathering that on everything.
Berry bar - nice touch but I guess when berries are not in season they use frozen or canned stuff, loved the cream- light and milky without too much oiliness, real maple syrup - this was great!
The potatoes and meat portion of our meal was just as expected as well and nothing too exciting to write about here.
Coffee - finally an awesome cup of joe although paying 2.75 was a little steep.
We had our baby with us and was late for our reservation - but they were kind enough to save our table and seated us right away. We were put into a room with other parents and babies, which I actually appreciated so when Edi started singing or throwing her breakfast all over the place our neighbors didn't get angry. We weren't rushed or anything during the meal (despite a huge line outside) and our server was always super nice. Edi's warm milk was steamed to the perfect temp for a baby/tot - not too hot! -
Review from Patty S.
Seattle, WA
2/6/2012
I don't know what all the fuss is about. We went for breakfast and it was really nothing special at all.
I mean, if you want all the fresh berries you can eat on an overpriced pancake, then it's probably much better.
Let me start with the service. It's lacking. We were told the wait was 20 minutes, it was 40. The server wasn't attentive and never checked to see if everything was good or we had everything after dropping off our food.
The atmosphere is bad. It's a giant open room, so it's very loud. It is not private or cozy. It's like eating in a cafeteria. The tables are very close together, and you have a better chance of a conversation at a concert.
The food is totally forgettable. It's so bland I didn't want to eat it. I got the grits with kale and eggs, and the whole problem was it tasted like nothing. Like nothing. I love grits too, and these tasted like water. I had to practically grab the the waitress as she ran by, because she was steadily ignoring us, to get some hot sauce. I shouldn't have to put hot sauce on my grits.
My husband got an omelette that had sausage of some sort and apples, and honestly it was not very good. The problem with their food is that it's not special in any way. It is totally without character.
The big issue I had with the menu is that they charge SIX DOLLARS to share an item, but they also serve normal restaurant sized portions. What am I getting for those six extra dollars? Am I getting more? Or are you just trying to keep people from sharing food? I'm not going to eat all of my food, why should we have to order so much and then throw it out. Because I am NOT bringing that tripe into my home. -
Review from Eli W.
1/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
"Eat like you give a damn." If I did, then I would not be eating at Portage Bay Cafe.
I used to have a great experience every time I went to Portage Bay because of the good food, toppings bar, and service.
Portage Bay has declined so much in the way of their food since I first started going to their University District location several years ago.
This specific visit I had the Crab cake Benedict, which I had before and really liked. However, this visit the person who made the cakes decided to stick in nearly tic tac sized pieces of ginger. This may seem like a small issue, however every bite of my food was overpowered with the taste of ginger; and I went to have the taste of crab cakes in my mouth not ginger.
Additionally, I have noticed during the last few visits to Portage Bay that they have not had fresh fruit at their toppings bar. The toppings bar has mainly been comprised of thawed frozen fruit. I understand there are seasons for fruit, but I'm sure there is some fruit in season every season, I mean I can go to my local QFC and find some.
Bottom-line is that I have always justified the somewhat higher prices that Portage Bay charges with the fact that they provide higher quality ingredients, well prepared food, and a quality experience. As of late, Portage Bay has not been coming through; and I can say that the combination of mediocre food, high prices, and usually a wait to get seated is not worth it. -
Review from Bob S.
Seattle, WA
4/2/2012
I would have liked to contact the restaurant with this feedback prior to placing the review. Unfortunately, their website has no "Contact Us" link or email address.
I've lived in Seattle for about 13 years now. For the majority of those years, I'd known PBC to be a breakfast/brunch place, and I had never been very pleased with the experience (previously, this was based entirely on U-District location). I have always felt their food was mediocre and extremely overpriced.
Recently, I discovered they had some lunch options that made this a viable consideration, especially given the convenient South Lake Union location. My favorite option was the Pear Salad. Though there is some variability in quality, it has been a pretty reliable (if still expensive, at $15 with chicken) option for lunch. I have been going there regularly for about 6 months; sometimes up to 3 times a week.
Much to my dismay, they've removed the Pear Salad from the menu due to "seasonal updates". There were a number of other menu changes. The most similar alternative, which I tried, was a spinach salad, with bacon, pinenuts, and raisins, and a sherry-based dressing. It was very greasy and heavy, and definitely not a substitute for the pear salad.
The positives of PBC are (mostly) very friendly waitstaff (in particular, always had great experiences with Nichole), and convenient location.
The negatives of PBC are price, sometimes a very long wait, and food quality (particularly breakfast foods) is nothing to write home about, and certainly nothing to warrant the breakfast and lunch prices they charge.
Not sure if I will be attending again. -
Review from Sherilyn t.
Honolulu, HI
12/16/2011
Few things I love more than brunch at Portage Bay Cafe (here or in the U-District)-- have yet to visit the Ballard location). The food never ceases to delight, prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly.
You will NOT regret the Swedish pancakes topped with lingonberries and incredibly tasty LINGONBERRY BUTTER! Can you dig it?! Lingonberry butter?! I'm sometimes tempted not to visit the amazing toppings bar because I want to give my undivided attention to the lingonberry butter... but then I get a look at the fresh berries and homemade whipped cream...
Street parking for the Terry street cafe isn't too hard to comeby, and this location is large! That said, expect a wait regardless but know it is worth every minute. -
Review from Will M.
I give this 5 stars for two reasons:
1 - Migas! They aren't very authentic, but they are awesome.
2 - Berry bar. Order pancakes and get a trip to the most awesome berry bar you'll ever see.
I've never had a sub-par meal here, service is friendly, and the coffee is always good.
Get's super crowded by 10am on weekends. Come early to avoid an hour long wait. -
Review from Jaymi W.
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place takes breakfast to a new level. I was with a large group of people... sitting in the middle of the restaurant, which feels a bit cafeteria to me. Not it's selling point. Focus on the food people.
The portions are huge! I tried a lot of the dishes on the table...and they were all good. The waffle bar is genius and allows a completely personal take on your breakfast. Fresh berries, nuts, whipped cream.... yum.
I had the chicken sausage scramble, hubby had the classic eggs benedict and both were DELICIOUS! We also had a banana pancake to share with the table, it was also scrumptious!
I would highly recommend this place for breakfast... but just know you may have a wait. Be patient, it's good enough to wait for. -
Review from Celeste T.
Seattle, WA
12/16/2011
Came here for a light lunch one day. Somehow I avoided the long wait mentioned by several other reviewers, and ordered an iced tea and a vegetarian quesadilla. It's fusion-y, with a very light and crisp flour tortilla, light on the cheese (not greasy at all) and sour cream and pico de gallo, but still having a somehow "Northwest" feel. Maybe it's that there wasn't a corn tortilla, and it was enough for two meals for me regardless of the fact that I was looking for a light lunch?
The atmosphere is bright and pleasant, and the service is great. Highly recommend for a quick lunch, if you can time it just right! -
Review from Wellington C.
Mission Viejo, CA
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
During lunch time on a weekday, this place gets packed. Looks like a lot of folks working in the area eat here. One thing i really liked about this place was the toppings bar for our pancakes of french toast. Most places kinda skimp on the fruit toppings but since this place was self serve, you could add as little or as much as you wanted. I tried my friends french toast and it was excellent. Since it was lunch I had the duck confit baguette with the potatoes. I loved the potatoes since they cook them with chorizo. The duck confit was good and fatty. I was on vacation so i didnt care about indulging a little. Overall service was good and the wait staff was very nice. They didnt try to rush our large group. Prices were ok but as others have mentioned its not a cheap eats place. I ended up spending $20 on lunch.
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Review from Stephanie M.
Seattle, WA
Seattle people seem to love Portage Bay because there is always a line of people waiting to be seated. Whenever I see the line I think to myself, "Is the food/service REALLY worth waiting for?" and I do always end up waiting--I've even waited for up to 45 minutes before!
I usually meet my girlfriend here about once or twice a month and we like it enough to keep coming back. My greatest tip: if you're in a small group of 2 or 3, wait around by the bar. The bar is open seating and you can usually get seated pretty quickly. :)
Consistency is usually what I look for in a meal and I'm never dissatisfied with my orders here. I usually get the "Pepper Bacon Hash". It's like a scramble with their organic pepper bacon and an array of fresh, in-season organic vegetables with that thick wheat toast that I love. I can never finish, but the leftovers as a mid-day snack is always a win for me. Portage Bay is kind of "known" for their toppings-bar, but I'm not a fan of sweets for breakfast so it's just not my thing. BUT...I always see people enjoying their waffles with a ton of syrups, fruits and whipped cream on top.
As far as prices, it's definitely not the cheapest, but I think for organic products, it's not bad. I'm also a big fan of their mimosas--with fresh squeezed juice--and their barista in-house. You can always order that latte that you always drink instead of drip coffee. :)
**Eat like you give a Damn!** -
Review from Marisa C.
Seattle, WA
1/16/2012
I am writing because I can't stop thinking about the hash I had this morning and the take-home portion that I accidentally left on the table, but which I ran back (in the snow, nonetheless!) to retrieve, but which was already long gone, and which I cannot stop being sad about...because it was so damn good.
Today, my bf and I braved the snow to have brunch at Portage Bay because I had raved to him about the gluten-free Swedish pancakes I had there a few weeks ago with a friend. We were excited that there wouldn't be a line because of the weather. Ha. We got there to a packed entry and a 30-minute wait. Though, when, after a minute, we asked if we could sit at the bar, the host just sat us at a table anyway. So much for the wait! Yay!
I was really excited to order the hash (perfect-sized chunks of root veggies) with salmon (a little salty, but really really tasty). I opted to not get the eggs on top, but I could see that, with some of the meat options for the hash, the eggs could be pretty awesome on top. It was so tasty! And I wanted to save the last half for later in the day. But, alas, read above.
I think Portage Bay has great service (I assume that was the manager walking around the entire time I was there making sure everything was running smoothly), fresh-tasting and delicious food, and--especially today--wonderful floor-to-ceiling windows through which to stare outside at the snow whirling down. Lots of gluten-free and some vegan (and even gluten-free vegan) options. -
Review from Vinit J.
Bothell, WA
10/2/2011
A few years ago I would have given PB 5 stars. Now that I have experienced more of Seattle's brunch scene, Portage Bay's hit or miss experience is increasingly more annoying.
I enjoy tofu scrambles and Cafe Flora's knocks it out of the park every time. For $12 I expected a kick ass butternut squash scramble today and left dissatisfied and this wasn't a first. The Miga (sub tofu) is usually good but I like to try new things with more confidence.
Combine inconsistency with a 60 minute wait (when you're told 30 minutes) and well, no thanks.
There's too many other great options around! -
Review from Del T.
Glendale, CA
2/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
wow, what a waste of time.
i don't understand why so many people go there? i suppose because of the fruit bar.
The food is lack luster, i've had better at Denny's; the service is terrible. To top it off I even had an under cooked entree..
Boo hoo, this place is a pass for me.
