11/02/08

How the mighty have fallen! Oncre great, The Dish is officially lousy.

by zebdog2

I have eaten at The Dish dozens of times during the past 8 years. But I have gone much less frequently over the past couple of years as the quality has declined, the portions have shrunk and the prices have risen. Today, we went for brunch for the first time in 6 months or so. I was craving the corned beef hash that I remembered from long ago even though the hash seems to have gotten blander and drier with each visit the past couple of years.

The hash was no better than the last few times. But the service which had usually been adequate and efficient was abyssmal. We waited more than 30 minutes for our food (eggs and hash) without any explanation from anyone. When I finally asked, the reaction was along the lines of "what's your problem." And when I commented that, while I don't mind waiting, it would be nice if someone could check on us or tell us what is going on,, the responses to that were "well, if I had thought the timing was off, then I would have said something" and the ever patronizing "I am sorry you feel that way." So much for the customer is always right and service with a smile.

The line is still out the door at The Dish. But we are voting with our feet and won't be going back ever. There are lots of other places with good breakfast in town and no one needs to settle for mediocrity served with a lousy attitude.

• Pros: Can't think of any at this point.
• Cons: Mediocre food and bad service.

10/27/07

The Dish in Freemont Vrs Marcias in Tacoma

by donna2007

We loved it!!!

We are down in Tacoma and don't get up to Ballard orFremont much. But when we do, we eat at The Dish!

My husband and I had been working in the are and noticed a line outside the small cafe. We thlought they must have good food!

WE MADE A WEEKEND TRIP UP JUST TO TRY THE DISH.

My husband is a contisure of Greasy Spoon Cafes. We loved it.

I had an Omelet with Dried tomatoes and spinish in it. It was delisious.

We sat up to the counter, the place was packed.

We have since found our own Special Greasy Spoon, called Marcias Silver Spoon. It's in Tacoma off S. Tacoma Way and Pine St.

The atmospher is like the Dish. And the food is delisious also.

• Pros: Community seating.
• Cons: Crowed

10/13/07

What a hidden treasure with an upscale twist

by metzrus4

Our whole family loved it! It was a bit of a wait on a Saturday morning for our kids, but the chairs and coffee outside made for a nice pre-breakfast conversation spot. There are even treats and water bowls if you bring Fido along. The food was definitely worth the wait! They had all the expected, but with a flair that was a great surprise. And the kids' pancake is a blast! T hanks!

• Pros: Awesome food!
• Cons: A bit of a wait, but that's a good sign, right? And worth the wait!

10/11/07

Absolutely the best down home breakfast in town

by weepingwillow6

We have come here off and on over the past 3 years and are NEVER disappointed. I have a family with very particular tastes and we all love coming here from way across town. The DISH has great Biscuits and Gravy and Eggs Benedict. The Scrambles can't be left out either. The waitresses are always coming by with refills. The wait can be a little long depending on the time of day, but it is worth it. Coffee while you wait outside is always fresh-and refreshing on a chilly morning. Portions are large and if it's too much, for one sitting, you can always take it home and enjoy again later. They have daily specials. The Chicken Fried Steak is excellent.

Mapaqrs: STAY AWAY snobs, with our blessings. The DISH does not need customers like you and I wouldn't want to chance being there when you are to ruin my experience. As the last writer said, it is CLEARLY posted at the cash register, and did you bother to ask before being seated or ordering. Did you not notice there were no VISA, AMEX, MC stickers in the window or door. Don't blame others for your irresponsibility and irritability.

• Pros: Coffee while you wait and refilled often when seated, excellent food-biscuits and gravy, eggs bene, and CF steak, Gazillion hot sauces to choose from,
• Cons: It's cold outside while waiting in winter months and rain, and can be chilly at counter in same weather when door is opened

07/12/07

mapagr is a self-pitying fool

by sobeautifulithurts

Everyone feels really bad for you, I'm sure. Did you ever think that maybe it's just you that has a bad experience everywhere you go? It probably is. I feel bad that your wife had to listen to your b_ing and moaning for the next few days and every time anyone brings up breakfast or lunch or dinner when they're around you. You must be miserable.

This place rocks. There is a very visible sign that says cash only, just for the record. I love everything here, including the service that I've always had.

Go here for sure.

• Pros: Everything

03/12/07

Mediocre food with horrible service

by mapagr

Well, once again, atrocious service combined with poor food makes me deplore everything about Seattle?s restaurant scene, and Dish was the cause this time. As with my recommendation for Crow ? another "local favorite" to which I will never return ? Dish recently provided me with all the ammunition I need to stay home, scramble my own eggs, and save $25.

First, the food here is really bland. Enough said. Due to a dearth of breakfast places in Seattle, I've eaten here three times, each time hoping it would improve and each time leaving disappointed. The restaurant has one dish that is decent ? the Slacker ? and the rest barely meet Dutch standards (which doesn?t say much.) An Egg McMuffin has more depth than the food here.

But then, to top it all, the service at Dish is abhorrent, repugnant, detestable, and any other hyperbole I can elicit. Because Dish doesn?t accept credit cards and we didn?t have cash, a random server (not our waitress) told my wife and I that we would need to ?leave one form of ID, a credit card, and a phone number? (what?!) while we visited an ATM. My wife wasn?t finished with her breakfast at the time, so she opted to wait and finish her plate while I drove to the cash machine, a decision which caused the waitress to VISIBLY ROLL HER EYES at us and say so very politely, ?When you are finished would you please leave so we can give someone else your table?? Are you kidding me?!? So, after finishing, my wife waited outside IN THE RAIN while I returned with cash.

Dish, you will never see us ? and, if we can help it, any of our family, friends, or acquaintances ? ever again.

• Pros: The Slacker, coffee, not much else
• Cons: The food, the service, the service, and the service

02/23/07

I LOVE FREEZER JAM!

by alliespiritu

Omlettes are great, jam packed with any filling you want or with their specialty omlettes too. I advise anyone who doesn't have the option for toast or english muffin to order them because their strawberry freezer jam is to die for! Casual setting yet very homey. Great place to go for a hearty breakfast!

• Pros: Hearty Breakfast foods
• Cons: small setting, come early because it gets busy really fast!

02/04/07

Great Service

by arboreality

Still looking for the Best Breakfast Ever, but this place was pretty good. Remember to bring cash, but if you don't, they'll let you leave to make a trip to the nearby Fred Meyers for the nearest ATM.

12/29/06

Just Okay...

by rate_a_diner

If you're looking for a typical homey diner with okay food and fast service, this is the place to go. I have to say I really enjoyed this place my first few times there. After about the fourth visit, I noticed the food wasn't enough to keep me coming back. I find the ingredients aren't the highest quality. The ham on the eggs-n-benedict seems like lunch meat - I think it is - and the biscuits and gravy is just okay. I find myself biting down on bits of fat from the sausage more often than not. I do have to say that their omlets are pretty fantastic. That's about the only thing I'd go back for though.

• Pros: Fast service, okay food.
• Cons: Loud, uncomfortable seating.

12/06/06

Quirky

by amadio

I enjoyed my visit to Dish. The service was quick, and the decor was homey, though the space is a bit cramped.

The food was standard greasy spoon breakfast fare, though I didn't notice any grease.

I had the homemade Corned Beef Hash, and their popular scone. The hash was unimpressive and took quite a bit of salt and pepper before I could enjoy it. The scone was very good, but unlike any scone I have ever had before. It was more like a moist light cinnimon cake. Speaking for the rest of my party, I would skip the scrambles which were a bit water logged, and stick to eggs made to order.

• Pros: Decor, Staff, Scones
• Cons: Cramped, scrables are watery