Portage Bay Cafe - Seattle - TravBuddy

The Portage Bay Cafe is probably my favorite place in the world for breakfast. The food is just amazing, and I have never had anything on the menu that I didn't absolutely love!!

This little cafe is in the U-District, off Roosevelt. It isn't fancy in presentation; it looks like any number of small cafes in the Seattle area...a room full of tables, large windows, al fresco dining in the courtyard (for nicer weather)... There is a large kayak-looking boat that hangs from the ceiling and pictures of the Portage Bay on the walls, which is a body of water nearby.

The Down Side:
Parking is sometimes a problem (where isn’t parking a problem?), but if the parking lot underneath the hotel is full, there is usually parallel parking available somewhere in the surrounding neighborhood. There is always, always a wait- sometimes over an hour if you hit the wrong day, but the food is well worth the wait (plus you can grab a hot, tasty beverage while you're waiting)!

The Up Side:
The wait staff is usually very attentive. The juices are all fresh squeezed (yum!) and they have a good selection of hot teas (for those of us that don’t do coffee). The food itself is largely organic or all-natural, and the Portage Bay supports local growers and farms. I highly recommend the sautéed fuji apple pancakes, the aged-gouda and chicken sausage egg scramble, or the blintzes (kinda like a sweet crepe filled with all sorts of delectable goodness). Those are my favorite dishes. I’m particularly fond of the breakfast bar items because ordering any of those plates allows you a trip to the breakfast bar. (This is a large counter in the main dining area that has huge bowls of fresh fruit --in season-- such as blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.; house-made whipped cream; nuts; and syrups.)

This place is unforgettably delightful. Even though I no longer live in Seattle, I still pine for my missed weekend breakfasts at the Café. The food is just wonderful! If you visit the Emerald City, I highly, highly recommend stopping by for breakfast before starting your day.