Juno

Juno

700 3rd Ave
Seattle, WA 98104

(206) 631-8080
www.junorestaurant.com

Seven out of Ten

Juno has a breathtaking, seasonal menu, a comfortable and modern dining room, and gets my nomination for the best hash browns in the city. And while they are fighting a little on consistency for both food and service as they feel the start up pain, it is definitely a place that is worth the risk. The fresh and changing menu and attention to detail will make this a fine addition to the downtown dining options.

Juno is located in the newly remodeled and converted Arctic Club building. This new hotel lobby is a can't miss part of the experience as the new remodel maintained all the periodicity from which it came. Walking into the lobby is like walking into early 1900's Seattle.

The breakfast menu at Juno provides several great options, including a wagyu scramble topped with shaved Parmesan, and a french toast dish that sounds like heaven. For my tastes though, the standard 2 egg breakfast is what will keep me coming back for more. The hash browns served up are perfectly moist without being oily and perfectly crispy on top.

The comfortable dining room is largely booths and counter stools by a great bar. The coffee cups stayed full and the service was friendly. The main battle of the moment is consistency, which I can forgive as start up pains.

Juno is a really great place to start or end a day in the city. This is a great recommendation for out of town guests or in city retreats. This is a place we will be back at often.

CJ's Eatery

CJ's Eatery
2619 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98121

Six out of Ten

In the heart of Belltown, CJ's Eatery does simple food simply great. With an extensive menu and a hustling dining room, this is a great place to grab a quick eat. The service stands out amongst the ordered chaos that is the packed in dining area.

We were seated quickly and coffee served right away. It is rare for your cup to run empty as well. I had a Belltown Omelet, that was very well cooked, but more of a scramble than an omelet. The food does not inspire, but instead fills you up and is served with great consistency. They were also very accommodating about watching for wheat, and even substituted fruit for toast.

CJ's is a great spot for a quick meal. Somehow it reminds me of the east coast, but the breakfast is all their own.

Dragonfish

Dragonfish Asian Cafe
722 Pine St
Seattle, WA 98101

(206) 467-7777
website

Zero out of Ten


I am certainly aware that on any given day you could dine in any given restaurant and see perhaps the best or worst. Quite simply though, our breakfast at Dragonfish set a new low for the lowest low of any restaurant service.

I knew this was risky to begin with. After all, this place serves asian cuisine, so clearly this is support for the hotel room service. However, I would never expect something to be lack as much in service, sanitary, or food quality. When walking in, there were more tables with dirty dishes waiting to be bused than there were tables with people. However, we still had to wait for a table. I was thinking short staffed, but there were four tables being served by three people.

The food was pitiful. The eggs were runny and bad. The worst was that they ran out of hash browns so they decided to replace them with french fries without telling us. At least they brought ketchup, I guess. Our coffee cups were more empty than full. All for an unreasonable price.

I wish I could find something good to say about this place, unfortunately I can not find anything. Even the decor is slightly tacky. Stay away. If this is any indication of typical, I would avoid lunch and dinner as well.

Cafe Campagne

Cafe Campagne
1600 Post Aly
Seattle, WA
(206) 728-2233
website

Four out of Ten


I really wanted to like the breakfast at Cafe Campagne, and find it very difficult to criticise a place that I have enjoyed so many really wonderful and memorable meals. Unfortunately I find it more difficult to find very much good to say about breakfast. The dining room is crowded and cramped to the point where you will be sharing your conversation with the people next to you. The breakfast menu is pretty limited and the food is just not as good as it is for dinner.

I had a chevre omelet with the sausage. The portions were pretty small. Most surprising was the orange juice cut with club soda (or something fizzy). It was billed as orange juice not an orange cooler cocktail.

The service was mediocre and the coffee cups were empty often. It is not that I will never eat here again, it is just that I will never eat breakfast here. This is still a great dinner.

Celiac In Seattle

For me, breakfast is the easiest meal to have out. There is no wheat in eggs and bacon. So other than any cross contamination, it is pretty easy to go anywhere and be able to find something. However, the anxiety of trying to find something at times for dinner or lunch can be pretty painful, and often times resulting in nothing but some lettuce and oil and vinegar. So here's my list of friendly places for anyone with Celiac or a wheat allergy to enjoy a really nice meal.

Outback Steakhouse and P.F. Chang's

I know I am going to get some pretentious heat for this one, but not from anyone who understands how good it feels when a place actually has a gluten free menu (and a full bar). Both of these chains have a full gluten free menu upon asking, and P.F. Chang's has tamari (gluten free soy sauce). The food is fine. it won't be the best meal you ever have, but you can eat worry free.

The Triple Door

It was a great surprise to find out they had a gluten free menu. The food is prepared by Wild Ginger (and oddly, Wild Ginger does not have a gluten free menu, although they have the same dishes). This is dinner theater, so depending on the show your whole experience will vary. The food is really good with great spice. Ample choices for both appetizers and entrees will satisfy any level of hunger, from a few things to nosh on during the show or a full meal.

Lola

This is a unique and fun dining experiences, and the incredible food makes this a must. A couple of appetizer skewers, a couple of tagines, and an amazing bottle of wine make a very romantic dinner. This place has a great cozy atmosphere, and a very professional staff. The prices are downtown reasonable as well. This did not have a gluten free menu, but the staff was very knowledgeable, and I ate with confidence. A definite treat!

Tango

Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. And still not enough yums. This place will be your new favorite after a single visit. The food is fantastic, and those in the know will leave room for the el diablo. And all wheat free. This is a definite must. I recommend Monday night for half price bottle night (which my wife says doesn't mean you save money, it means you drink twice as much). Every dish we got was full of flavor, and when we looked up we saw we had been sitting there for hours. The ambiance and professional service makes this a must.

Impromptu

If you are reading this because you too have Celiac, you probably already know about this place. This is the mecca for Celiacs in Seattle, but everyone will enjoy the food. A great selection of wine, and a small cafe feel make this a great place to celebrate life.

Julia's on Broadway

Julia's on Broadway
300 Broadway E
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 860-1818
website

Five out of Ten


Julia's on Capitol Hill is a longstanding institution that represents Seattle ambiance at its best. The west coast Victorian decor and ornate decorations make this enormous space with 30 foot ceilings a comfortable place to sit for a long meal. Unfortunately the food does not quite complement the great service, location, and decor.

The breakfast menu is typical and large. The coffee is hot and frequently refreshed. But the portions were heavy and not very well cooked. I had the potato plate with two eggs, but it also came with an unappetizing tomato based sauce that could not be well discerned from oil. She had the standard egg breakfast, but the bacon was overcooked and generally weak. The toast was also from a bag of sliced bread. All in all a bit of a disappointment from such a well known and well established place.

Julia's is a great place with great service. If looking to experience a great Seattle feel for all its charm, and to keep your coffee cup full, this is a great spot. Order carefully and do not have high expectations for the food.

Coastal Kitchen

Coastal Kitchen
429 15th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 322-1145

Seven out of Ten


Having a unique, but limited, menu the Coastal Kitchen had some of the tastiest and well spiced food we have tasted to date. Always crowded, with a long wait that grows quickly, the service here was friendly but inattentive. The ambiance was a combination of typical Capital Hill art and a take on the changing theme, which was currently Roman. But it is clearly the food that holds this place together as a neighborhood favorite breakfast spot.

I had the mushroom Swiss omelet, made with two types of mushrooms locally grown, and fresh chives. Fruit was substituted for toast, and the Orange juice was fresh squeezed from the market. She had the classic EMPT. The potatoes were spicy and delicious and the most noteworthy part of the meal.

Kid friendly, and a great cup of coffee (when you can get it filled) round out a wonderful tasting breakfast. The wait is well recommended.

Breakfast At Home

Since finding out I had Celiac disease, we have experimented extensively with both available products and homemade foods to determine what wheat items can be replaced and what will just be missed. For example, a warm and chewy NY style bagel with whipped cream cheese is just something I have to live without, as is a sandwich on crusty baguette from Salumi's. Some things, however, are easy to make and hard to detect that they are gluten free. Fortunately, for breakfast, pancakes and waffles are one of the replaceable ones. They are just not available on any menu that I know of, except at home. Of course I love the ambiance of this place (home) because of the sweeping city views and soaring ceilings. There really is nowhere else I would rather be or eat, but the service here is, well, not so attentive.

Besides the gluten free waffles, this breakfast had two other special ingredients. Lately, we have been frequenting the University Farmer's market. We have become very enamored with the fresh organic eggs and chickens from one vendor. When we first found him, he asked if we had ever tried his product before. When we told him we had not, he told us that we were in for some big trouble, because now we will never be able to eat anything but. He was pretty accurate. The quality of the product is just so fresh. I can not wait to try his duck early in the summer. For this breakfast, we had fresh organic eggs from the farmer's market.

The second ingredient we have come to enjoy very much is the bacon we got from Wooly Pigs. We first heard about this place from our daughter who interviewed them for a school journalism piece, but later have read about them in Seattle Magazine. Their story is fascinating and their product is incredible. We certainly will never taste pork roast in the same way. Their bacon is just as good, with a thick, chewy and meatier taste. We have done a couple of Mangaliste roasts, but this was the first taste of the bacon, and we are now fans as well.

As much as we love the convenience and ease of breakfast out, there always is no place like home. Its the best way to insure the meal is gluten free and tastes great.

Le Pichet

Le Pichet
1933 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 256-1499
www.lepichetseattle.com

Eight out of Ten


I have to admit that I am completely partial to Le Pichet. It is one of our absolute most favorite restaurants in the city. We have had so many good meals and so many good nights here. It is very hard to separate out all of our great dinner experiences from the breakfast experience. Although there is a limited breakfast menu, and this is far from your classic American breakfast by any means, the food prepared, the great coffee, and the whole experience make this another place easy to recommend.

The ambiance of Le Pichet is very enjoyable. A classic small french bistro done impeccably well. The sights and smells always captivate here. The menu, although limited for a breakfast meal, somehow satisfies. The food is perfectly prepared and presented. I ordered the ham, eggs, and Gruyere prepared under the broiler. I left well satisfied. The Orange juice is squeezed at the bar, and is a great addition to the meal.

This is a very enjoyable place to simply sit, read the paper, or people watch, all with a common thread of really great food. Not quite as good for breakfast as it is for dinner, Le Pichet still provides a breakfast that makes me proud to be downtown.

Elephant & Castle

Elephant & Castle
1415 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 624-99772
www.elephantcastle.com

Three out of Ten


For some reason, I feel tricked. I feel tricked because from the outside this place doesn't look like just another hotel restaurant, but once you get inside you immediately figure it out. I then feel tricked again, because for some reason I thought they could deliver an English breakfast. The Elephant & Castle was disappointing serving below average hotel quality food and bad imitation decor. Cold beans and canned mushrooms made for a horrible imitation English breakfast. Although the coffee was good, and the service attentative, this is not the place to start your day.

Cyclops

Cyclops
2421 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 441-1677
http://www.cyclopsseattle.com/

Four out of Ten


A Belltown institution for years, Cyclops provides decent food at a decent price. Weak service with a strong attitude is made up for by kitchy decor (elvis shrine anyone?) and unique style. This style translates down to the menu choices and food prep...in a good way.

I ordered the 8-Ball omelet (chicken, green onion, swiss, mushroom) and she had the E/P/T. The potatoes are uniquely prepared with a long grilling for an almost roasted taste. The omelet was pleasantly fluffy and tasty. The food made up for the morning service. Hey, I'm sorry your job starts at 9am on Sunday, but please don't take it out on me. Our coffee cups spent more time empty than with coffee too.

This is a unique place to grab a bite, and a fun place to see inside and out. Easy parking on Sunday morning, and a nice menu. You can do much worse.

Lowell's

Lowell's
1519 Pike Pl
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 622-2036

Two out of Ten

Lowell's offers cafeteria service and cafeteria class food aimed squarely at tourists, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, even an out of town tourist. In the heart of Pike Place Market, and offering enormous seating on three levels, the only positive thing to be said about this place, other than the location and longevity, is there a very nice sound views. But it is just as easy to find these views elsewhere, especially if you are looking for a decent meal or something beyond serve yourself.

Nestled inside Pike Place market, ordering begins by walking in the correct door right into line. There is a pretty limited menu, and the people behind you would prefer you not to spend too much time deciding. You place your order, receive a number, and then you go and choose your seat. You pour your own coffee (and we had to go down stairs for any), and gather your own flatware. Somehow the food finds you...but we probably would have rather it not have found us.

The food is pretty awful, and both of us were not feeling very well afterwards. We both got the same thing (hmmm.....) the classic EMPT. No spices on the potatoes, runny eggs, and basically not a very pleasant experience (except for the view of course).

When finished, at least you are in the market, but the market offers plenty of better alternatives. I would not recommend.

14 Carrot Cafe

14 Carrot Cafe
2305 Eastlake Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 324-1442

Five out of Ten


Full of neighborhood charm and breakfast served all day, 14 Carrot is a breakfast spot that we have actually gone to over and over again. Introduced to me by Ethan, my restaurant and spelling mentor, 14 Carrot has a really good cup of coffee, a total lack of pretentiousness, and a great assortment of omelets prepared well and served quickly.

I am finally getting around to blogging 14 Carrot, after having been there multiple times in the last year. This place seems to be one of the first places that comes up when asked, "where should we go?". In the heart of east lake union, 14 Carrot is part neighborhood joint part great place to take visitors. There is ample seating and always a flurry of activity. Half the menu is on chalkboards scattered around the place, which means you pretty much could get eggs with anything you want. I'm not sure what their specialty would be, other than a good endless cup of coffee and fairly attentive service.

14 Carrot is just a great neighborhood place that we find ourselves winding up at all the time. The food, although nothing to rave about, hits the spot. And with the extensive menu, you can find any combination of stuff you are craving. This is a great place to start the day.

Etta's Seafood

Etta's Seafood
2020 Western Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 443-6000
www.tomdouglas.com/ettas/index.html

Nine out of Ten

Finally a breakfast spot that fires on all cylinders. The location, the ambiance, the service, the food, the menu were all worth waking up for. The only possible thing to find to comment negatively on would be the bill, but well worth it given all the other strengths. Etta's is well worth waking up for and heading to on a Sunday morning.

Located at the north end of Pike Place Market, going to Etta's is great for beginning a market run. The view is of Puget Sound, the park, and the totem at the northern tip of the market. Etta's looks to fill up fast so get there early or be ready to wait. But this place is really worth the wait.

The menu is simple and the food is great. There are plenty of northwest styled choices, and of course all the breakfast classics. She had the corned beef hash, which was presented very well. I had the classic EMPT (hold the T). The food had great flavor, great presentation, and good portions. The orange juice was obviously fresh squeezed as well, the bacon well cooked, the toast made from artisan bread, and the potatoes actually heavily spiced (unique for a more touristy place).

The ambiance at Etta's is very enjoyable. Comfortable booths, linen napkins, trendy and fun art and fixtures, and an incredible view make this a place to relax and sip a cup of coffee. The service was impeccable and always kept the coffee cup full. The lounge jazz music makes for a very upbeat mood.

Etta's breakfast is the first place I can recommend without hesitation. A bit pricey, but worth it. With great food and great service, Etta's fits the bill for visitors out of town or locals looking to pick up something at the market.

Breakfast in the UK

I somehow have wound up in the UK frequently, and by frequently I mean an average of once or twice a year for the last few years. This has been either for vacation, stopping through for another destination, or for business (my position is in the UK). So for many reasons, I seem to get there a lot. From the touristy museums, to the wonderful shows, to the off the beaten path areas, it is very easy to be well entertained for a day or a week.

I should be upfront...I am not a huge fan of British food. I find it bland and under spiced, which is surprising given their advanced culture. This is with the exception of a few Indian places. And I must stress, just a few Indian places. More often than not, the Indian food I have stumbled onto in the UK tastes like Campbell's tomato soup poured over boiled chicken and somehow called tikka masalla.
But the one meal of the day I can be happy with is breakfast. There are just some slight modifications from what is standard over there to what is standard here that make it worth waking up for. First, their bacon is better. Called back bacon, it is much less fatty but not nearly as crisp. The other standard that has taken me several trips to get used to and appreciate is the serving of baked beans at breakfast. Also frequently making the plate is a broiled tomato (and said with the longest of ahhhs in tomato) or whole mushrooms. All of which, however, are cooked quite blandly and without many if any spices.

It has been said that to eat well in Britain you should eat breakfast three times a day. This might well be the only meal that you can afford while in London. Coffee and Tea included.

Hi-Spot Cafe

Hi-Spot Cafe
1410 34th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
www.hispotcafe.com

Eight out of Ten


Quaint but cramped, the High Spot is a great neighborhood cafe with a great menu, attentive service, and good food. You better get there early though, or you are in for a wait.. It is, however, well worth the wait, seating is plentiful, and you can get coffee while you wait.

The high spot is a 3 story conversion tucked in the heart of Madrona with a great homey feeling. The decor is modern coffee house hippie, and the tables are as tightly crammed together as they could possibly be. But if I had them lining as far out the door as they do, I would be cramming them in as well. With no white linens and a very kid friendly atmosphere, the high spot has a great neighborhood feel, but this is not the place to go for a nice quiet breakfast. It is the place to go for a unique menu cooked well.

There are many different options on the menu, many with a distinctive west coast flavor. I went the opposite way and had the chirizo scramble. She had the tried and true EPMT (eggs potato meat toast). The food was well prepared and well presented. The toast was a very hearty artisan, and the potatoes actually had spices and flavor. The cinnamon rolls carried by to other tables often also looked intriguing.

The service, although young, was very attentive. The coffee cups stayed full, the meal came quick and hot, and any requests were met with a friendly smile.
This is a top breakfast spot, and although a little off the beaten path, worth the trip.

The Hurricane Cafe

The Hurricane Cafe
2230 7th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 682-5858
website

Four out of Ten


I am not sure when I will ever crave a 12 egg omelet, but at least now I know where to get one. The Hurricane Cafe, open 24 hours, with a room of pinball machines off to the right, and a stop light up front telling you to "Stop to be Seated", gets my pick for top hangover menu, offering up 4, 6 and 12 egg omelets and all-you-can-eat hashbrowns.

Not that you go here for the ambience, but it is a bit rundown, and has a strangely eclectic mix of interior, customers and employees, including full bar, jukebox, and photographs from hurricane Andrew (the second most destructive hurricane in American history). The service was good and attentive with a great cup of coffee that never ran empty.

The food is below cafeteria quality. I had the sausage omelet, and she had the bacon and eggs. Her eggs were undercooked, my omelet was tasteless, and the hashbrowns were bland and greasy. But then again, we were not hung-over, so unfair judges.

With reasonable prices, a good menu, and 24 hour service, the Hurricane is not the place to take your out of town grandmother. I can not imagine what this place is like at 3am when the bars close, but for a quick breakfast on Sunday morning.

Tulio's

Tulio's
1100 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 624-5500
website

Five out of Ten



This week is supposed to be about breakfast at Tulio's. Tulio’s is a popular, quaint Italian place. But we are done with the disappointing hotel restaurants that continually serve a mundane and average breakfast. As convenient as it is to walk to go out, we have decided we can not find the breakfast spot we seek. We need to branch further and take more risks. From now on, white linen at breakfast is a bad thing, and the bland, uninspiring food is to be avoided.

Don't get me wrong. Tulio's is not a bad place, and I am sure the dinner or lunch service is one of the best in town. We continually read about the private dining room occupied by the rich and famous. But the breakfast is just nothing worth waking up for. Nice service, nice ambience, and white linen are all here, but the food is bland, the menu is predictable, and there is no way I could get excited to recommend starting your morning here. If you wake up at the Hotel Vintage Park, and need a meal, fine. Otherwise, dear eaters, we can do much better. And will.