Great biscuits. Many good egg dishes. Friendly and efficient staff. Good prices. Great for what it

Such a treat after 6 months stuck at home. I walked over this morning thinking they would only be doing take out. Such a nice surprise! But I've loved this place for 4-5 years. It is nice that it's usually never as busy as another popular brunch place. And this intersection is so much less stressful to wait around at it. read more

Everything on the menu tastes fresh & spot on- BOTH breakfast (biscuits/gravy, scones, quiche, grits & scrambles are the favs) & lunch (soup of the day, tuna or turkey blt salad) It can get really busy so it's best to get there at opening or afternoon during the week is slower (phone in order in advance and pick-up makes it easier & get Cookies for dessert to go). The customer service is friendly & warm. Candace & Samantha (anyone that I've encountered that works there) are always cheerful, personable and sweet to our dog (outdoor dining available for the decent weather days to spend with your pooch & they also make dog biscuits!) read more

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French Toast & Mimosa flight (with regular sized mimosas)! Highly recommend this place!

This is the worst restaurant experience I have had in a while. I didn't get what I ordered and the food was beyond rancid. The sandwich bread was burnt and the fruit was mushy. Also, despite the website saying "breakfast served all day" we were told we couldn't order breakfast. On top of this it took more than 30 minutes to get our food. Not going here again! read more

Nice "down home" place with very welcoming staff and solid eats. Definitely a place to just chill and enjoy some comfort food. Those who complain about wait times or not having their feelings coddled properly should probably go someplace where they can feel better appreciated. But if you're not in a rush (the busy staff is doing their best) and want to enjoy a comfortable setting that knows how to make a proper biscuit, then this should be a place for you. Smile, enjoy the imperfections of life, and see you in the morning. read more

AMAZING! Stopped for breakfast on our way out of Seattle. After a few days downtown we were thrilled to be able to park near the establishment. A nice relaxed atmosphere where we were not sitting on top of each other. The portions were both large in size and taste! It was my mother's birthday and when our server found this out she asked if she could sing Happy Birthday. Not only did she sing Happy Birthday but she had everyone in the place join her. What a great place with great food and a lot of heart! read more

Love it here! The chai is delicious. The biscuits are fabulous! The French toast can be a little soggy in the middle though

I went to both ways cafe and proceeded to ask them about Breakfast menu as stated on their page, they then told me i could not order from their breakfast menu and they contradicted their website. A little pissed at the time but thought nothing much of it. I then order ham and Swiss sandwiches and the wheat bread was burnt on the crust and the ham was rancid. I also asked for fruit on the side and it was mushy and soggy. The waiter was also very unprofessional and used slang and cursed. Such a delinquent. The wait time for the food was also quite long for a simple sandwich. I was severely unsatisfied after looking at these reviews. My opinion on both ways cafe has been altered and i thought i should share my story. Thank you for reading. read more

I just moved to the area and have no energy to dig out my pots and pans. Did a quick search of the neighborhood and saw that Both Ways Cafe is open for takeout during the COVID pandemic. I ordered the Denver omelette. Service was excellent and fast. Food was ready by the time I got there. I was ready to dig in!!! Got home to find a perfect breakfast; seasoned potatoes and a fresh homemade biscuit. Omelette had fresh peppers and plenty of cheddar cheese. DELICIOUS!!! Tipped extra as the workers need the $$ and I support local small businesses. Will definitely return again! read more

Plenty of street parking and a private lot at this small-town cafe. With about 20 seats this quaint shop offers a local neighborhood breakfast and lunch joint. However, due to its size, it's understaffed with long wait times even on a weekday, and below par service. The house was about 85% full but the server struggled to get us seated. The server never stopped by our table even to refill our waters. I had to call her over multiple times. I rarely complain about service as long as the food is good, but lower your expectations. I rarely give less than four stars but I don't see what the big deal is about this place. We got our dishes 45 min later, and dishes were overly seasoned. The eggs and salmon dishes were overly salted, and toast was crunchy. Heck. Even the coffee was too intense, and the server agreed so provided hot water. Thank goodness the biscuits and gravy were good. I'd stick with that. Overall, expect 15 min wait, 30-45 min for food, below average service, and mediocre food. Make the trek to Portage Bay Cafe where you can get great quality brunch and better service. read more

See website for updated expanded hours. Now open more days and evenings for dinner! Very friendly neighborhood hang out. One can end up chatting with others at the outdoor tables. Starting June 2023 Both Ways is open for Breakfast, Lunch, AND dinner. Longtime owner just retired & longtime waitress Samantha is doing a great job keeping the same awesome staff and treating her awesome cooks very well. Food is REALLY good. Wait staff is very casual and know lots of the customers personally. Outdoor tables have outdoor heater nearby for nice year round outdoor dining under a roof. Good for single dining or small groups. Dogs can sit outside with you. Great place so wait for tables on a sunny day or weekend. Convenient free street parking and on Bus route 50. Easy walk or bike ride from Lake Washington, Seward Park, Rainier Avenue, Third Place bookstore, pet shop, massage, chiropractor, and other local small businesses. Very friendly feel. Antique wooden bar inside. Old building. You can use the tiny unisex bathroom by walking through the little kitchen. Staff is happy and treated well. If wait is too long to get seated, Zekés pizza is next door and also offers outdoor dining under a roof. If you go inside Both Ways cafe you go up 3 tiny little stairs. Accessible seating outdoors and one table indoors is arranged so a wheelchair could get in. Maybe a little too crowded inside for easy wheelchair access. Non accessible bathroom. All kinds of people welcome. Very friendly. Small business supporting other small businesses with some business cards on the side counter. Many books for kids to read while dining. Little Free Library just outside on 50th street. Very very good food home cooked from scratch. Biscuits are awesome! Everything made on site. Eco-friendly. Indoors is slightly loud from many people chatting. If you are there off hours you could read or study but in general tables are in big demand. Very friendly in demand place! Be specific about what you want and they will accommodate you. You may need to remind them for coffee refills. Very casual & friendly. Everyone feels welcome. Now offering DINNER! Would be a great place to eat outdoors but under roof. Looking forward to trying their new dinner menu designed in coordination with the longtime cook. read more

Thank you to Samantha and the rest of the crew on Sunday, August 25 for the amazing overall brunch experience. Try to visit before summer is over so you can get a cute table outside. Can't wait to go back. read more

After waiting 40 minutes to hear my name called, I went into the restaurant to find that there were 3 tables big enough to handle our party of 4. I asked the person at the counter if they had lost my name. We were directed to choose a table. We had 15 minutes before the kitchen closed. This annoyance cost them 2 stars. The food was amazing. Five star food. Even if you are gluten intolerant, get the biscuit. It is so delicious, that all the time you will spend on the terlit will be worth every bite. read more

A great neighborhood café with easy-going vibes, good coffee, great food (try their homemade biscuits with jam - yummmmmm!!!!) Great for weekend brunch with your friends or family. I went there once by myself and all of the smaller tables were taken so they sat me at a six-person table, and shortly after that a fun family came and joined and we had the best time chatting and getting to know one another!! Unexpected and fun!! read more

Both Ways has been a favorite for the past couple of years. It's a small establishment with both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff are always friendly and conversational. After going there so often I've established a friendly rapport with a couple of the staff members. My favorite meals are the northwest scramble (though I'm not eating dairy or chicken eggs at the moment) and the French toast. The buttermilk biscuit though - heaven! I personally believe it's the best biscuit in Seattle and one of the best I've had. It's perfectly constructed and baked leaving the outside crisp but the inside soft and flaky. It pairs perfectly with their raspberry jam. The coffee is also a special blend for them and good. Did I mention the biscuit? And the staff? And the quaint establishment with a variety of event posters, local newspapers, and fun things for kids to read and do? I love this place and will continue to be a regular. Hopefully I can eat my favorite dishes again in the near future. read more

One word: WOW! Right when we walked in, we were greeted and sat down. I came in around 12pm and it was pretty much filled up already. Its very cozy inside, has sort of a home feeling. This was my first time at Both Ways Cafe. I usually would go over down the street for breakfast but I can already tell this is going to be my new go-to bkfast joint!! I got the spinach and havarti cheese scramble. It filled me all the way up, I didn't feel like I needed more (per usual) The prices are very very affordable and the cafe is minutes away from Lake Washington, where you can take a nice walk after brunch. 10/10 would recommend! I CANT FORGET TO MENTION THEIR BISCUITS ARE AMAZING! read more

This was the most delightful breakfast experience ever. My girlfriend and I grabbed some breakfast here and our server was incredibly friendly, had some fun stories and really made the place feel like a small-town cafe. We told her we were on our way to adopt our first dog together and before we left, she gave us a little homemade dog treat and said "now you'll HAVE to take him home!". I had the biscuit sandwich with bacon (homemade biscuits, amazing!) and my girlfriend had the French toast. 10/10, would eat here again. Sherman thanks you for the doggy treat! Dave & Megan read more

The food at Both Ways is prepared in the most tastiest way! They put a lot of soul into there cooking, and this place is way better in comparison to Geraldine's in the local area. I had the veggie scramble which had the right amount of portions on the plate and the cheddar cheese and chive biscuit was phenomenal. I would recommend anyone to this place for bunch! read more

Both Ways Cafe & Catering - Yummy tofu scramble! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went there today after a shift in the Emergency Room, sat right down and had great service. The food was amazing, didn't get to try the biscuits but that can be for next time since we've heard they are one of the best in town. All the food was very fresh and delicious. Definately coming back again. Our waitress was also very attentive and nice. read more

Both Ways Cafe & Catering - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Pretty much standard fare. Decent prices, decent portions, decent food. Good atmosphere.

Visiting Seattle for 5 weeks (new Grandson). We found Both Ways and have enjoyed breakfast and lunch there. The baked goods are delicious too. Amazed by how efficient the crew is in that crowded little kitchen. They churn out one delicious meal after another. read more

Great food and great service. If I would live in Seattle, I would come here every day.

I would've given 5 stars because the food itself was exceptional. However, we were extremely turned off by the service. We ordered a scone & two platters of breakfast meals. Our server said she would warm up the scone, and it took about 20 minutes or so for the scone to come out which we were really confused about. Then for our French toast & omelette we waited an additional hour from when we got the scones. I've never waited so long to get my food, let alone breakfast food. What ticked me off even more was that a couple that had come in after us and ordered way after us received their good way before us! How does that make any sense? I honestly wanted to just take the check for my coffee & scone and leave but of course my husband had me just stay put and wait. Once our food did finally come out, it was actually so delicious. I wish she came by our table at least once in the hour to let us know our food was a little late or something but she never came by to say anything n just waited for us to ask her where our food was after an hour. L read more

As we were standing at the register, trying to pay and waiting for someone to acknowledge our presence so we could get out of there, another gentleman behind us asked, "Are you guys having the same bizarre experience we are?" Bizarre is a good word to describe our brunch experience at Both Ways. Let me start from the beginning. We walked in, and despite the couple servers walking around, no one acknowledged us or directed us to a table. So we headed to a corner table that was empty of dishes, but had not been wiped down. What appeared to be a father-son duo sat on a similar table next to us. After a few minutes, a server attempted to take their order. They had not yet received menus. She went to grab menus for them. We got her attention and asked for menus as well, but she left too quickly for us to ask her to get our table cleaned. She eventually did return with menus, asked what we wanted to drink, and promised to wipe down our table. She delivered David's coffee and wiped down the table, but again left too quickly before he could ask for some cream. Also, she handed us glasses of water. Which were room temperature. In Seattle summer, that means warm. She returned again, and we ordered, and David asked for his cream. This was delivered a bit later, and for the next HALF HOUR, different servers came and went refilling his coffee. No updates on our order, no apologies that it was taking so long. The next table had ordered after us, but received their order before we did, which at that point we had begun to expect. The basic concept of a single server controlling a particular group of tables seemed to be pretty lost on these people. I had my wallet and card out on the table since we were planning a trip and I was paying for a hotel on my phone. An older lady who was serving as well, asked if I was ready to pay. Excuse me? She then realized we HADN'T EVEN RECEIVED OUR ORDER. As she walked away, a younger guy showed up with our food and we finally ate. My Northwest scramble was pretty good, and David's biscuit breakfast sandwich looked okay as well. The biscuits were flaky and tasty and there was a yummy apricot/orangey jam. There was a lot of oil used to make the omelette and home fries, though, which made me a bit nauseous. We finished eating fairly quickly. During our meal, I asked our original server for some ice, and she gave me a glass-full -- if they had ice to start with, why wasn't this automatically in our water?! Anyway, the next table over had got their bill and was walking out. I asked for the bill, and it was delivered to me by yet another young woman. That's 4 different people having served us by now. I put my card on the table immediately, but of course she had walked away by then. About five to ten minutes later, still no one had taken my card. So we decided to just get up to the register and pay. Five times someone walked by without acknowledging us, asking what we wanted, or anything. A couple people looked like they were looking for something to do, but apparently we were momentarily invisible, I dunno. Anyway, our original server finally said she would be right with us, then walked away again. After another few minutes, the older lady took my card, ran it, and we finally left. It boggles my mind that they are still in business. The basic concepts of running a restaurant seems completely lost on them. Here's a tip: acknowledge your customers, even if it's just to say, "We'll be right with you." Have some basic organization so that servers aren't doing the same thing for a table one moment, and then completely ignoring it for a long time because they assume someone else has dealt with it. Apologize to your customers if you realize they have been waiting a long time. Actually realize and notice what is going on at your tables! I will never return, and I hope this review either helps the business figure out how to make things work, or prevent other unsuspecting Yelpers from falling into this weird, frustrating trap. read more

Where to start. It took us forever to get service. Even in such a small restaurant that wasn't crowded. Then they proceeded to bring us warm water. Warm. Water. When we finally did order it took about fifteen minutes to get two French toast plates. And this is where it really goes downhill. I'm no chef, but typically French toast is dipped in some kind of egg. The 'French toast' here was nothing more than a grilled piece of white bread. There may have been some butter or something on it. It was horrible. We are on vacation here and between the service, food, and water I wouldn't come back here nor would I recommend anyone going here. I'm sure Seattle has better breakfast places. read more

Well I will start with the positives. Well, there was really only one. So the food was definitely good. I had a build-your-own omelette with peppers, onions, and bacon. Came with potatoes, toast, and some fruit. Definitely some good breakfast. The service was HORRIBLE. First, they only had one high-chair and it was being used so the two babies that had been with us had to sit on their parents laps and basically were not allowing them to eat! Secondly, the food took a VERY long time to come out. There was 5 of us, and it wasn't really that busy. Seemed there was only one guy cooking, and everyone else seemed to be standing around. When we finally did receive our meals, a friend of mine had their breakfast w/o bacon. The server then proceeded to grab the bacon with her bare hands, and give it back to her. All in front of us!!! At least take it to the back! I thought this was ridiculous, but we were too hungry to say anything. All in all, this place had good food, but the service was horrendous, therefore I will not come back nor recommend anyone to it! read more

Both Ways Cafe offers good food for those who are patient. If it weren't for their slow service and inattentiveness, I would give this place 4 stars. We ordered 2 coffees as soon as we sat down. The table hadn't been cleaned properly (some food crumbs and ketchup), so we requested *twice* (different ladies each time) for the table to be cleaned --- in vain. The coffee was good, but our cups were empty for most of the time we were there (refilled only once). We also ordered Havarti scramble with a biscuit, and a slice of pear and pecan bread. I was hoping for early arrival of the pear and pecan bread, but no such luck. As I was ready to start eating the jam on the table, the food finally came out!! The scramble came with some fruits and potatoes as well as the flakiest biscuit. I am a huge Havarti fan, so I really enjoyed the scrambles with lots of spinach and cheesy goodness. The potatoes were crispy and seasoned well, and the biscuit was warm, flaky, and delicious with the jam. The pear and pecan bread was moist and sweet with a nice kick from ginger. The quality of food was fantastic. The service was friendly but super slow (even though it was not that crowded...) I'd love to go back there, but not when I am starving! read more

So what exactly is a Spanish Tortilla? Tasty, that's what! When I'm here, I tend towards the breakfast sandwich, the Spanish Tortilla or the breakfast burrito. I've also had the oatmeal, the standard eggs/bacon/toast, and their special-of-the-day omelettes. Only once was I not totally thrilled, and that was really my fault for ordering a special that contained ingredients that I normally wouldn't like anyway. Silly me. For a while the waiter on duty played some really awesome music. I'd go down there just to hear what he was listening to so I could copy him. Not that the rest of the wait staff hasn't been anything but nice or cool since, I'm just saying it's nice to have someone else pioneer my musical tastes for me. They've also always got Soy creamer for the lactose intolerant members of my party. Only problem, and reason I deduct a star, is that they can be very slow on refilling coffee. However, once you ask once, you'll get refilled plenty. They also don't mind if you get up and refill yourself. NOTE: You can call ahead and order a breakfast sandwich to go, 'neat' (no taters). The bread part of their breakfast sandwich is made from the most awesomest biscuit stuff I've had in Seattle yet. We've called ahead and picked up a couple sandwiches on mornings we're going somewhere in a rush. Totally awesome. read more

I can't think of anything they do wrong at this place. I love brunch here! I have never had to wait, and in fact have decided to go straight here many times knowing anywhere else would have a wait. The food is so good! I usually eat too much, because I just can't stop. Love the biscuits. Coffee is also great. Service is prompt and friendly. The menu choices are creative yet comfortable, and they always have a special of the day. The prices are comparable to most Seattle cafes for brunch: $7-$10/plate. The space is a little small, so coming with a big group might be difficult. You have to try this place for brunch! read more

I went for brunch and I was very happy with my visit. I got the Northwest Scramble which was basically a Smoked Salmon and Mushroom omelet. Normally I don't like eating eggs, but there was enough other stuff in the omelet to keep me eating until I finished the plate. The plate also came with some potatoes, a few pieces of fruit, and a piece of toast or a biscuit. I tried both the toast and the butternut biscuit and both were great. They don't skimp on the breads - both were large pieces. Overall, I finished my plate and I was full and satisfied. Their portioning was great for me (normally I either have leftovers or I'm uncomfortably full). I would recommend if you're looking for a nice brunch spot. The staff is very friendly and the food is great. read more

Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits. Word on the street is they have good biscuits. They do. This cute little neighborhood cafe is too cute and crowded for its own good but they really manage it pretty well if you're patient. They have much more space when the weather permits the patio to be open. Get the biscuits, and be patient. Biscuits. read more

They had a special today (but it is not typically on their menu) for eggs Benedict on a biscuit. It was delicious and I hope they one day out this on the menu as a regular item. The mimosas and house potatoes are fantastic too! read more

This is a nice breakfast place. If it is good weather, you can sit outside. Well, I suppose you could sit out side if it was bad weather if you were crazy! I would actually give it 3.5 stars if I could. I normally get the french toast and bacon. It is usually excellent (though I had it yesterday and the bread had not been thoroughly soaked through with the egg/milk mixture so it was bread in the middle and not french toast.) They always cook my bacon extra crispy and I love that they do that! You can get a pot of tea too. One of my friends loves their biscuits. And the fried egg she had yesterday looked fabulous. They have baked goods as well but I've never tried any of them. If I want a weekend "american" breakfast in my neighborhood, this is the place I choose. Oh yeah and the service is always really good and the servers are totally nice! read more

We started coming here when we decided to give up hope on Super Six waitstaff. Although Sarah is amazing....the others....well, if you've been there, you know. Plus, their prices just keep rising while portions of the scramble keep shrinking. :-( So...we walk Seward....and now come here! The service is great and the food is yummy! Lots of options, great portions, and the waitstaff is attentive, friendly, and ambitious. Although the place is really small, the experience is BIG!! read more

Ah the great, reasonably priced breakfast places are starting to migrate back to Seattle. This small and funky cafe/bakery has a great location and a limited yet excellent breakfast menu. They prepare the basic two eggs plate, omelets, burrito, oatmeal breakfast permutations. Prices are good for the quality and quantity of food served. As the other reviewer mentioned, the biscuits are excellent -my Texan spousal unit declares them the best in town, but as I'm only a Yankee I defer in these matters. The potatoes are nicely spiced, perfectly fried and seem to be the starch a la mason for most meals. Most bakery goods seem good and basic, but with Columbia City bakery or Sweet & Savory not too far there are other choices. All in all a very good breakfast and great location. read more

Update: We finally decided to give this place another try, and we are so glad we did. The service was amazing, and the food was fantastic! Our waitress was super kind and friendly, and we were seated almost right away. It must have just been a rough few months for this place, but they are even better than ever! And yes, you owe it to yourself to try the biscuits... You'll thank me later! Original Post: This used to be one of our favorite places to eat. I'm not sure what has changed in the past month or two, but our experience today was abysmal. We waited an hour and a half for our food, and still nothing. The coffee was bad, the service was even worse. No apologies for the delay or even attempts to make it right. Two different waitresses promised to check on our order, and neither one ever returned with an update. What a shame. Will not return anytime soon if ever, and will be sure to let our friends know the same. read more

I went here last weekend and something seemed off. Maybe they got a new cook? The coffee was still strong and the biscuits still as good, but the food was lacking something. I got the Spanish tortilla and it seemed like there wasn't as much cheese and it was SO dry. The potatoes were especially. It made them hard to eat without more salsa (only a little bit came with my plate) and sour cream. I'm not sure if the dish always comes with sour cream, but it really needed some. This doesn't mean I won't be back. read more

I have really wanted to enjoy this place. I really gave it a lot of tries, but now after numerous attempts I am sorry to say this is just a two star joint. It is your average coffee shop but here are some reasons why I give it two stars: Minor things like they say they open at 7. What they actually mean is 7:25. Kind of a pain if you are timing them with your morning walk. The coffee is decent. The baristas/waitresses are really friendly. However, when I experienced their sitdown breakfast with my mother, my mom had to repeatedly get up and get her own coffee because our waitress never really came by to fill up. We were the only people in the restaurant so I thought the service could have been conducted with a bit more alacrity. Finally, I have had two meals here. The biscuits and gravy and the ham & egg sandwich. Both were relatively flavorless yet were quite willing to exact their revenge on me a ways down the street, making the return walk home more of a hustle. So in short, it's okay. I would recommend just the coffee. The baked goods are usually dry but the baristas are really friendly. read more

We moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and decided to finally give this breakfast+lunch spot a try. I ordered the Mexi-scramble which came with black beans and toast. It was delish! My mom had the breakfast burrito which looked great and was HUGE. My stepdad had the Spinach and Havarti scramble, which came with potatoes and toast. It looked also looked great and he was pleased with it. It's a pretty small restaurant and service was slow, but the food made up for it! They also had great looking pastry + bakery selection, especially the cinnamon rolls! I also really appreciated the fact that they were very kid-friendly and had a lot of kids books and even some toys which they brought to the table without even being asked. Thumbs up! We will be back and next time I'm trying some of those sweets... read more