There are full buffets and order-from-the-special menu options, and standard brunch items to unusual dishes. by Lynn Marshall
Seattle brunches and restaurant breakfasts tend to be relaxed and informal – but the best choices in town run the gamut from white tablecloths and eggs benedict, to neighborhood cafes and vegan scrambles. All of these spots are a great place to start your day, on a special occasion or just any weekend morning.
SALTY'S ON ALKI BEACH 1936 Harbor Ave. SW, (206) 937-1600 Hours: Brunch - Sat, 9am – 1:30 pm, Sun, 9am – 2pm. Mon – Fri, 11 am – 3pm, Mon – Thurs, 5 pm – 9pm, Fri,5 pm – 9:30 pm, Sat,4 pm – 9:30 pm, Sun, 4:30 – 9:30 pm. Salty’s brunch is a longstanding Seattle tradition – and it is spectacular. Brunch is well worth the drive to West Seattle and the spectacular view of the city skyline is almost reward enough. In the summer, take the Elliot Bay water taxi from the downtown waterfront across the bay to Salty’s. Brunch is served buffet style, but don’t let that put you off. It’s the kind of spread you might expect to see on a luxury cruise ship from a different era. It features fresh northwest seafood, but the options are almost unlimited. The custom made omelets, the eggs benedict and the Belgian waffles are only a few of the sure-fire hits. Estimated brunch cost, per diner: $30.00
ETTA'S SEAFOOD 2020 Western Ave., (206) 443-6000 Hours: Brunch Sat – Sun, 9 am – 3 pm, Mon – Thurs, 11:30 am – : 9:30 pm, Fri 11:30 am – 10 pm, Sat 4 pm – 10 pm, Sun 4 pm – 9pm. Etta’s Seafood is part of Seattle Chef Tom Douglas’s growing empire –its location on the edge of Pike Place Market and the great food have kept it constantly popular, for lunch, dinner, happy-hour, and for brunch. The setting is causal and laid-back, with lots of polished woodwork, and a good view of the activity in the Market. On weekend mornings Etta’s is always bustling, but worth the wait. The menu changes every week, but if the house French toast with huckleberry syrup, or the crab eggs benedict are featured, be sure to give them a try. And the bloody mary is one of the best in the city. Estimated brunch cost per dinner: $20.00
MAE’S PHINNEY RIDGE CAFÉ 6412 Phinney Ave. N., (206) 782 1222 Hours: Daily, 7 am – 3 pm. Mae’s is a Seattle legend. The storefront has been a restaurant since the 1930s, and Mae’s itself, with it friendly cow icons and famous cinnamon rolls has been drawing legions of Seattleites to Phinney Ridge since 1988. You will wait in line on weekend mornings, and you’ll be glad you did. The portions are large, and you may think you should share, but the food is so good, you’ll probably change your mind. The chicken-fried steak with gravy and grits, like the bratwurst and eggs, will transport you to another region of the county, but there are also tofu-scrambles, create-your-own omelets, and spectacular buttermilk pancakes. Estimated brunch cost, per dinner: $15.00
HI-LIFE 5425 Russell Ave. NW., (206) 784 7272 Hours: Daily 8:30 am – 3 pm, Sun – Thurs 5 pm – 12 am, Fri – Sat, 5 pm – 1 am. Chow Foods runs six restaurant in Seattle, and they are all great breakfast or brunch spots, but our current favorite by far is the Hi-Life in Ballard. Set in an old firehouse built in 1911, the brickwork is interesting and the open kitchen, with it’s huge pizza oven, always puts on a show. Hi-life is a kid friendly breakfast place – most of the time the crayons appear even before your menus. There are lots of choices here, both savory and sweet, and there is also always a rotating special menu, highlighting selections from a chosen ethnic cuisine. The fancy French toast, stuffed with mascarpone and dusted with hazelnuts, is sure to be a hit for anyone with a sweet tooth. Estimated brunch cost per dinner: $20.00
14 CARROT CAFÉ 2305 Eastlake Ave. E., (206) 324 1322 Hours: Mon – Fri, 7 am – 3pm, Sat – Sun, 7 am – 4pm. The 14 Carrot Café is a tiny space in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood that’s easy to miss – but once you find it, you’re sure to come back again. It gets crowded on the weekends, and if you are late, you might well miss the day’s special pancake or the biscuits and gravy, but the French toast and the egg scrambles draw raves too. 14 Carrot is very popular during the school year with UW students – it’s easier to get seated during the summer months, and the place is a little less boisterous. But, if you have to wait, the espresso cart outside serves great coffee, and the baristas are very friendly. Estimated brunch cost per dinner: $20.00
MACRINA BAKERY 2408 First Ave., (206) 448 4032 Hours: Brunch Sat – Sun, 9 am – 3 pm. Mon – Sat, 7 am – 7 pm, Sun 8 am – 6 pm. The menu is different every week at Leslie Mackie’s bustling Belltown bakery. During the brunch hours, you’ll find table service and some of the best savory selections in Seattle, along with all the great sweet choices you’d expect from one of the city’s best-known bakeries. There’s even a wine list, not too long, but filled with interesting choices - most menu entrees list a wine suggestion. The herbed potatoes are a knockout and the smoked salmon scramble with crème fraiche is a step beyond the usual. Pick up some of the house-made granola while you’re there. If you arrive before 10 am, or after 1 pm you’ll minimize your wait time. Estimated brunch cost per dinner: $20.00
GERALDINE’S COUNTER 4872 Rainer Ave. S, (206) 723 2080 Hours: Brunch Sat - Sun, 8 am – 3 pm, Tues – Thurs, 7 am – 9 pm, Fri, 7 am – 10 pm, Sat, 4:30 pm – 10 pm. Columbia City is one of Seattle’s up and coming neighborhoods, and Geraldine’s is fast becoming one of the area’s favorite hangouts. It’s a great place to meet your friends or bring your family for a relaxing start to a weekend day. The atmosphere is like a classic east coast dinner and Geraldine’s specializes in American comfort food - really, what else could you want for breakfast? Try the Emerald Scramble or the breakfast casserole, which combines hash browns, cheese and eggs into something sublime. You can order from the lunch menu at brunch too, if you’d like to try a great corned beef sandwich. Estimated brunch cost, per dinner: $15.00
CRAVE 1621 Twelfth Ave., (206) 388 05266 Hours: Brunch Sat – Sun, 8 am – 2:30 pm., Daily 7 am – 11 pm. Crave is right in the middle of Seattle’s Capitol Hill art’s district – in fact, it is located inside the Capitol Hill Art’s Center. The cozy booths and big windows give patrons a great view of all the neighborhood activity. Crave prides itself on using organic ingredients and local produce whenever possible and the care they put into selecting those ingredients shows on every plate. The French toast is really something out of the ordinary – marinated overnight, the bread is wrapped in orange custard and served with a sweet blue cheese butter – try it – it’s an incredible combination. Another standout is the house omelet – made with a duck confit, and served with caramelized onion home fries. Estimated brunch cost, per dinner: $20.00
DISH 4358 Leary Way NW., (206) 782 9985 Hours: Tues – Sat, 7 am – 1:45 pm, Sun 8am – 1:45 pm. Dish is one of Seattle’s most popular hole-in-the-wall spots. Located in an industrial section of Ballard, it’s unlikely location adds to the charm. Most weekend mornings you’ll need to put your name on the clipboard, help yourself to the free coffee, and wait for a table or a seat at the counter. The good news is that this crew moves fast and before long you’ll be inside, seated and eating. The eggs benedict is great in all three incarnations (veggie, salmon or ham), and the tofu scramble is what put this place on the map. That said, most of Dish’s choices are focused on meat eaters – and if that describes you, Dish will be a great fit. Estimated brunch cost, per dinner: $15.00
ANTHONY’S HOMEPORT 6135 Seaview Ave. NW., (206) 738 0780 Hours: Brunch Sun, 10 am – 2 pm, Wed – Sat, 11 am – 3pm, Mon – Thurs, 4:30 – 10 pm, Fri – Sat 4:30 pm – 10:30 pm, Sun 3:30 pm – 10 pm. Anthony’s Homeport is the flagship restaurant of a great regional restaurant group, which specializes in fresh northwest seafood. Located at the entrance to the Ballard Locks, the floor to ceiling windows show off Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains beyond. The location brings home Seattle’s connection to the water, both salt and fresh. It’s a great place to bring kids to brunch, with a special menu for them, and friendly, tolerant servers. All the usual breakfast standards, eggs benedict, scrambles, blueberry crepes, are great, but our two favorite entrees are the planked salmon and the crab quiche. After brunch, be sure to visit the locks. Estimated brunch cost, per dinner: $20.00
The Top List of Best Brunches - Seattle, WA