Stopsky's Delicatessen
3016 78th Avenue SE
Mercer Island, WA 

This is a blog about brunch in Seattle and Mercer Island isn't Seattle and I went back and forth about adding this one.  I haven't had a good place to review in a while and Mercer Island is really close but mainly it's my blog and I can do what I want!!

I had been here before.  For lunch once.  It was delicious.  And I had another errand on Mercer Island so it was a natural return.

The menu is full of delicious looking options.  The deli is Jewish but not kosher which is my kinda place.  I was really torn about what to order and probably should have gone with the cold fish plate but opted instead for the salami scramble.

Food:  It was good.  And one of the best scrambles I've ever had in a restaurant.  The eggs were perfectly done.  My experience is that scrambles are usually cooked to death.  This sure wasn't.

It needed some salt and there wasn't any on the table and I didn't bother to ask.  The latke was good but, honestly, I can get as good at Trader Joe's.  The toast needed a lot more toasting and butter.

But it was good.

Service:  The service was excellent.   It was efficient and my coffee never even got close to cold.

Everything else:  I love that it opens early (8 on Sundays) and there was no waiting.  I got a great table.  There are lots of little kids but none that caused me to wish it was a bar where no kids are allowed.  It's a comfortable, nice place to eat.  Lots of regular customers which gives it a nice atmosphere.

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Boka Restaurant & Bar
1010 1st Avenue

Several years back, I ate brunch at Boka every single Sunday for about a year.  Everybody knew my name.  I've been back once or twice since but not in a while.  Until today.

I saw that they have croque madame on the menu now.  It's a nice little walk from my house so what the heck!

Food:  It was fair.  The brioche needed crunch.  The egg was cooked too long.  The presentation was sloppy and the ham was really blah plus dry.  If the croque madame at the Bastille is a 10 (which it certainly is), this is a 2.

Service:  The service was excellent with one minor flaw.  My coffee was topped off every few minutes. I had lots of good ice water.  I wanted some time to relax before eating and asked the waitress to slow down my order which she did perfectly without even a hint of fuss. I got my bill promptly and did not have to wait long at all to cash out.

The only weirdness was a pet peeve of mine...  I get that severs need and should take breaks but don't tell me about it.  This waitress, twice - once with me and once with the table next to mine - interrupted out meals to announce she was going on break.  I am not married to a server.  The relationship I want is with service. If you are going on a break, go.  Quietly.  Just make sure I have service while you are gone.  I probably won't even notice.

Everything else:  I have to say that the Boka is one of the nicest feeling places in town.  It just envelopes you in comfort and class. It feels so nice.  I love the ambiance a whole lot.  Next time I'll just order something else!