Lola's
2000 4th Avenue

I'm pretty sure that Lola's is the only Tom Douglas restaurant I've never tried.  I think it's because nothing on the menu really grabbed me.  But, I saw it on Check Please Northwest this week and decided to give it a go.

I'm very glad I did.

Food:  I had the eggs benedict which was delicious.  Home made english muffins.  Delicate hollandaise with dill.  Almost too much ham and I don't know what kind it was but it was good.  The eggs were done perfectly and the potatoes were crispy and soft and yum.


Service:  The wait for a table was long so I sat at the bar.  The bartender made a decent waiter.  Not the best since he was busy making drinks but pretty good.



Everything else:  The wait for a table was about 30 minutes but the bar had two very nice and different options - stools at the window looking out and stools with backs around the semi circular bar.  Both options had rungs for my feet.

I sat at the semi circle which was a lovely place to enjoy my meal.  I will totally do it again.

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Flo-Anna's Diner
14707 Bothell Way Northeast, Shoreline, WA

I did not realize until I went to gather the info for this entry that this was not exactly a Seattle brunch.  But, it was a good one and so I decided to bend the geography a bit.

This is another found-by-accident-on-the-way-to-somewhere-else.  And it was a delightful find.

Food:  I love the specific menu disclaimer. ("Over easy or sunny-side-up eggs are undercooked."  It was a nice way to let me know they meant business.  So I went with my usual - over easy, extra crispy hashbrowns, bacon and rye toast.  It was delicious.  The hashbrowns were lovely, the toast was good.  There was too much of it all but I enjoyed it enormously.

Two eggs and two pieces of bacon are enough for me but this was priced as if it was two of each and they just tossed more on the plate.  Not a biggie.

Service:  It was good and not quite so good.  My coffee got neglected a little and I thought I was waiting a really long time for my check until I noticed that it was sitting on the table. I did not see it land there so I don't know when it happened.

Everything else:  It's a seat yourself place so I cannot blame anyone but me for putting me in a booth who's seat was a good 5 inches too low.  I won't make that mistake again.  It is  a nice, not crowded place.  I will absolutely stop there again.

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The Original Pancake House
8037 15th Avenue Northwest

I have passed this place about a biscillion times and never once noticed it.  Last week, knowing I was going to be in the area, I google mapped 'search nearby' for breakfast and it popped up.  Always on alert for new eateries - especially breakfast, i can't fathom why this one escaped me but no more.

Food:  I ordered the first thing on the menu - eggs, sausage patties with 2 sides - I got potatoes and toast.






My friend, Russell ordered an omelet and was kindly advised it would take 30 minutes.  ?????  He switched to a scramble.

It was good eats all around.  The sausage was quite tasty and the patty was interestingly thin.  The potatoes were spectacular.

Russell had way too much for one person to eat but it was good enough, apparently, for him to take home for later.

Service:  The service was spectacular.  Coffee flowed like rivers after a rain.   Our water glasses were kept full of nice, iced cold water.  Our waitress was sweet and attentive.

I always order my potatoes extra crispy.  Today when she served them, our waitress waited and asked if they were crispy enough.  They sure were but this is the first time I have ever had anyone ask.  Impressive.

Everything else:  The dining room is very very pleasant. It's bright and cheery with good sound muffle - there were lots of people there but almost zero clatter.  It was hard to eavesdrop! There were a fair number of children but no kid noise - probably cause they have crayons at every table. And the tables were set up in a way that feels open and roomy and not at all crowded.

This place is absolutely on my repeat list as of now!

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Book Bindery
198 Nickerson Street

This is the best of places and the worst of places...  I think if you look up pretentious in the dictionary, this restaurant will be listed as an example.

I had never been here before and had only recently even heard of it.  I read  on some blog somewhere that they were now serving Sunday brunch so on the list it went and today was its turn.

Food:  The menu is imagination in print.  It's actually pretty amazing.  No two over easy here!!  It is one of the few places in Seattle that actually has steak tartare on the menu.  But my love of the croque madame had me order up the sliders.  They were as adorable as they were delicious.  The ham was perfection.

As I finished up the cute little sliders, I realized I would never be coming back an so if I ever wanted to try their tartare, today would be it and I was not full so I ordered it for dessert.

It was pretty and tasty and a nice, rare (pun intended) treat.

Service:  I never saw the bottom of my coffee cup thanks to the guy who came often with the pot.  My waiter was available and quick and as pretentious as the rest of the place.

Everything else:  Its a beautiful place - beautiful setting, surrounded by a waterway, green green grass, mature shrubbery and flora manicured within an inch of its life.  The inside is also stunning.

And even though I was seated in a far dark corner (with zero cellphone reception - I did test over by the window before I left and the reception there was fine), it was still a lovely setting and a lovely room.

But for the first time in a very long time, I got the clear and distinct feeling I was not welcome.  I don't know if it was because I didn't have a reservation (there were only enough diners to fill up a third of the seating) or because I was alone or because I was a woman or because... who the hell knows but it was very clear from the hostess to the waiter and everybody except my friend, the coffee guy, that they would really rather I dine elsewhere next time.  Nothing specific.  Nothing I could take to court but I got the message.

At these prices, I'm not sad.  It was a nice brunch and I don't need to go back.

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Julia's Restaurant
4401 Wallingford Ave. N.

I thought when I first walked in the the place looked familiar but I knew I hadn't been there in years.  Turns out there are two Julia's and I think the one I'd been to is the one on Broadway.

Today, I was there with my friend, Russell and we found very easy parking and there was zero waiting for a table.

Food:  The menu is kind of strange.  There were omelets and scrambles and the obligatory benedict - and burritos but not a loft of imagination.

I had Julia's Basic Breakfast with over easy eggs and pork sausage patty.  The eggs were done well.  The sausage was actually pretty delicious.  The potatoes were pretty much a fail.  They were cubed and seasoned but some were not even cooked and others were over cooked and none were crisp or even very interesting.

Russell had french toast which looked delicious and he said they were.  Crispy on the outside and rich and soft inside.

Service:  We had a cute waitress who was nice and full of service but in way too much a hurry.  She kept coming over to us and she'd start a sentence with her face towards us so we could hear the first few words and then she'd turn and head off and we couldn't even get the gist of the message.  It was rather weird.  She did tell me NO Pictures of the Menu  - teasing - which was funny so I got a great blurry picture of her!!

Everything else:  The past three brunch meals I have had have all been at places usually packed with waits for tables.  And none of them were this time.  Empty tables all over the place.  Weird.  Today's place never did get a crowd.

Oh and I should note that it is a family restaurant and there were small children - one just cross the way from us - who were all amazingly quiet.  Thank you, kids!!!

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Volterra
5411 Ballard Avenue Northwest


Today I set out for either Bastille or Volterra.  My friend, Russell, came with me.  I let him chose (they are in the same block) once we got parked and he picked Volterra which was AOK with me  I love the place.

And this time there was no screeching child which made it all the better.

Food:  He had Francesco's Eggs - Scrambled eggs with Italian sausage, mushrooms, Pecorino Romano and fresh spinach. Served with Volterra hash browns 12.  He said it was good and it certainly looked good.  I'm not so big on Italian sausage for breakfast and he said it was decidedly Italian.

I had Pear and Gorgonzola Fritatta - White wine poached pear, Prosciutto and Gorgonzola Dolce. Served with Volterra hash browns 12.  It was delicious.  The pears were out of a can but that's ok with me.  The Gorgonzola flavor was really delicate and over all it was just yummy.


The hash browns were still perfect.


Service:  The service was good and attentive. Not perfect but good.

Everything Else:  This is just one of the most pleasant places for lunch.  It's bright without being in the direct sun.  There's fresh air coming in and a lovely view of the street.  I just love the dining room here.

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Mae's Phinney Ridge Cafe

6412 Phinney Avenue North

When I need a haircut, it's Mae's time.  She's just across the street from my hair cut place so it's natural pairing. 


Plus Mae's is always heaven.  Home.  Wonderful.  

Today was a bright, sunny, Summer day - one of the first we've had on a Saturday this year and, yet, or maybe because, the crowd was sparse.  Some Saturday's there's a wait.  Today there were empty tables the whole time I was there.  Weird.


Food:  Mae's menu is extensive.  But I usually get the same thing or close to it.  Today, I did not  

Today was trout day - smoked trout, eggs, hashbrowns, coffee and a biscuit.


It may be my new favorite Mae's thing.  It was just delicious.  And a great combo - trout and eggs.  Who knew??


The trout was full of flavor.  Dodging the few bones was a little not fun but worth it.  Seriously, this was outstanding.


Service:  Perfect as always.  I think the only time you ever see the bottom of a coffee cup here is that one second between the time the new cup is placed on the table and it's first filled up.


Everything else:  Besides the great food and the welcoming feeling you get here, this is a great great place for eavesdropping.  It is hard to concentrate on your book or anything else because the conversations around you are so interesting.

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