(206) 547-8230
4130 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle,
WA
98105
47.6576
-122.3177
Neighborhoods: Northeast Seattle, University District, Northeast
What People Are Saying About Portage Bay Cafe
The Editor
Anna Roth
Citysearch
The Scene – Bleary-eyed UW students and neighborhood locals line up on the sidewalk during weekend brunch, sipping mugs of tea while waiting for their tables. Inside, the light, spacious room pays homage to Portage Bay's history: an old-fashioned crew boat hangs from the high ceiling, and old area photos grace the walls. The harried-but-talented waitstaff has service down to a science. – – The Food – During brunch, a sweet order gets you a trip to the breakfast bar--a long line of bowls of all-you-can-eat fresh fruit, whipped cream and maple syrup for toppings. The…
10/25/09
bring a hotplate
by gwaltney53
I was disappointed. Our food arrived quickly but was cold! Toast, potatoes, pancakes and the plate all cool or downright cold to the touch. WTH?!! My corned beef hash was a roasted vegetable variation. My guess, the ingredients are all pre-cooked and tossed in a skillet for a quick warm up before service. In my case too little warm up and too much pre-cooked. As mentioned elsewhere, the corned beefed was sliced lunch meat chopped and tossed into the mix to reheat. Chunks of unseasoned and un-browned potato complete the "hash." The whole was oily, wet, unappetizing and expensive. The pancakes were okay for flavor but cold, again. Service was cheery but there were many plates stacked on the warming table waiting a long time to go out. Weirdly, the warming lamps on the warming shelf appeared to be turned off. Not a place I am going to return to or recommend.
- Pros: pleasant atmosphere
- Cons: Kitchen staff unskilled, servers understaffed
05/18/09
Not sure what the hype is about.
by cheeseholm
Imagine trying to re-brand a university cafeteria as a mom-and-pop brunch destination, and you pretty much end up with Portage Bay Cafe. It suffers from this identity crises in that they are trying to be all things to everyone- a mass eatery with community sensibilities. I love the idea of local and organic going to the masses, but the problem is in the the execution of the idea. Consistently hit-or-miss dishes (stay AWAY from the Swedish pancakes), loud impersonal atmosphere (think food service cafeteria), really overworked servers, and a very obvious commitment to keeping things this way. Want brunch? Go somewhere else.
- Pros: focus on local/organic, some decent options
- Cons: Cafeteria style atmosphere, some sub-par and over-$$$ food
04/30/09
Great place for organic, healthy brunch!
by TechGuy206
Portage Bay Cafe is a great location tucked away near UW. My girlfriend brought me here during lunch and we had to wait about 45 minutes to get seated. Sipped on a latte and spoke with people around me while waiting. When I got our food it was amazing and everything is organic. You definitely must try out the french toast w/ trip to the fruit bar along with the eggs benedict. If you go there during an off-hour (around 9-11am) or when it's rainy you don't have to wait in line. This place is growing on me the more I go.
- Pros: Organic, Fruit Bar, and Clean!
- Cons: Long lines if you go during lunch time.
The Details on Portage Bay Cafe
Catering:
Ask about healthy, organic catering options. The space is also available for rent in the evenings.
Know Before You Go:
The portions are mammoth--share and pay the minimal split-plate charge or be prepared to take a doggy bag.
Parking:
Park for free in the lot behind the University Inn, but make sure you register with the cafe to avoid the tow truck.
What to Drink:
There's no alcohol served, but they do offer fresh squeezed juices, Mighty Leaf tea and organic, free-trade coffee.
The Extras:
On nice mornings, an outside patio offers alfresco brunch.
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