I'm blown away at how homey this place is. We live in Bellevue, so come here quite often. Every time I'm leaving happy I'm fairly new to yelp so I usually strut by the front door without a second glance of the windows. I did notice the sign that said, "people love us on yelp!" I thought that was pretty cool. But anyway, I had thought the old-fashioned diner had died out years ago. But no, it hasn't, and this is definately one of them. It doesn't try to be like an old-fashioned diner, there are no old coke posters with little boys riding their bikes drinking coke. (how unsafe!) But you can come here early in the morning with bags under your eyes, and leave, the only bags you have are the ones that carry food (you want to get every last bite!) As for food, anything goes. Nothings bad on this menu. If your looking for a good old time breakfast, just call the waiter and ring up some bacon and eggs. You want to pig out a little? Orange-Cinnamon French toast will get you the calories from fat you need! And the service is plain nice, though they're not afraid to tell you just whats happening in their lives, which can get a little awkward. But I shouldn't end on a bad note, this place is too good. So come here! read more

Just stopped in after a long drive from great wolf lodge and thought we'd end with a yummy breakfast. In mind, we had a two year old with us. After reading that it had decent reviews ....We were told to sit wherever. We did so. It took forever to get a child's menu. We wanted to get his meal going because he was hungry and restless. It took three times. I don't think she spoke good English, or I wanted to at least think that was the reason the menu didn't arrive until I asked in Spanish. We ordered three coffees and were given them quickly. But without any sugar or condiments for it. We then waited ten more minutes to order while the two ladies stood there in the front talking to what looked like the only regular customer in the place. We decided to go somewhere else, let them know we were leaving. They apologized and said they were short staffed. Not buying it. They were both standing there and had only one table in the whole place. Bad bad bad. Disappointed, was really wanting to try the food as good breakfast places are hard to come by, for this exact reason. read more

I didn't think there were any good breakfast places in Bellevue until I found this place! It's everything a breakfast restaurant should be: casual, affordable, huge portions, absolutely delish, and the friendliest staff. You usually have to go to south king county for good breakfast, but this place is awesome! I judge a breakfast restaurant on their chicken fried steak and breakfast potatoes, and both of which were so tasty (get the home fries)! Some of the best I've had. Will definitely be back and I'm SO glad to know there is an option in Bellevue read more

I was just so thilled to find a down-home place in Bellevue that isn't run by some huge corporation, quite frankly. These places are getting pretty rare around here so patronize them! The menu is great, the prices are pretty darn good and the service is awesome. Listen carefully to the specials announced by your waiter--these tend to be outstanding. I had the lemon-blueberry blintzes and they were wonderful. My friend had the 2-egg breakfast (off the menu) with country fried potatoes--these LOOKED really delicious, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Unfortunately I was so completely hypnotized by the blueberry blintzes on my plate I forgot to sneak my fork onto his plate to taste these delicate little morsels. Bottomless cup o' coffee - ahhhh, life is good. read more

Haven't been to the brief encounter a few years, went there today ordered a burger it was not a good burger.. really disappointed brief encounter used to have excellent food , hors d'oeuvres Used to be really tasty , what the heck happened ? read more

I heard really good things about this place. I came here thinking it would be a awesome hole in the wall, secret delicious breakfast place. Don't come with high hopes or else you will be disappointed. But don't let that stop you from coming, it is still an OK place. No different than Denny's except more local and smaller. But let's keep our local businesses going by coming to places like these instead of Denny's. It's the same food, for the same price. Just less people which is nice. But keep in mind, nothing special. I would recommend for them to have something special on their menu to keep me coming back because I don't plan on returning unless I am craving Denny's lol. read more

Looking for a new place for breakfast on the East Side. Read some reviews of Brief Encounter and decided to roll the dice. Specifically a person had reported good biscuits and gravy. The service here was fine, we got seated after having to wait about 15 minutes, and the servers were pleasant. We were poured coffee and water. The water was fine, but the coffee had that taste it gets when it has been sitting around for a while. I ordered the biscuits and gravy with a side of home style potatoes. I can pretty much tell you how the biscuits and gravy are made. I have eaten the same junk passed off as biscuits and gravy many times. I worked in a small town diner when I was in my teens. The biscuits came in premade in a box that most likely said "Pillsbury" on it. Then they took ground breakfast sausage and browned it in a big skillet. Next they added water and a foil bag of white powder that said "White sauce mix" on it. A little pre-ground black pepper and you have "gravy". Toss the gravy in an insert and put it on a steam table. Cut 2 biscuits in half, toss them in a microwave, then dump "gravy" on them and you are good to go. For whatever reason, when I eat out for breakfast I expect more than this. The potatoes where also a bit disappointing. They seemed steamed and soft, not much in the way of a crunch or texture. My lady had an omelet and it was fine, but she too did not like her home style potatoes. Needless to say we did not over eat, so I guess that is a good thing. I will keep looking for breakfast options and won't be back to this place. read more

Just stopped in for breakfast and enjoyed Eggs Benedict with Corned Beef Hash and Pancakes. All were awesome. We got there at 9:30, just before the church crowd and got seated quickly. Coffee and juice were also good. We will be back! read more

This is my kinda place, away from hub-hub and cozy looking mom and pop shop. I had the pancakes and tofu omelette. The coffee was not really good but not bad either. The ambience is quite country like. read more

Let's just say it really was a Brief Encounter! I don't know about the rest of the menu but don't order the Huevos Rancheros. We did have a nice hostess though so the 1 star is for her. read more

I love Brief Encounter. I have been going there for years, and the food is consistently good. I love the Raiders Omelet, with shredded hash browns, wheat toast, and OJ. It isn't fancy, and the food isn't gourmet, but it's a great price large portions and a fun casual place to go with friends on weekend mornings. And they are quick! During warmer weather they have outdoor seating. There is usually a line, but it moves quickly and is worth the wait. Brief Encounter is a classic breakfast spot. read more

The location on the yelp map is inaccurate. I walked all the way around the block, even between the buildings and never found it. They also didn't answer their phone, and had no answering machine or voice message. read more

Easy parking, local feel cafe. Consistent basic breakfast. Quick service and always busy. I have eaten here at least 20 times and no complaints. Family owned. read more

Ordered the corned beef hash. This was a mistake. It was hash browns with small bits of corned beef. It should have been called a hash brown. Service also a bit slow. read more

We have tried this place twice now and I am just not impressed. I won't mind going if I am heading down Bellevue Way going to Kirkland for some reason. Food just isn't that great....below average for me. I am happy to say that they serveTully's though! read more

I had the Huevos Ranchos and it was pretty good. I had asked for over medium and it came out over easy but not too worry. I thought it was flavorful. Nothing AMAZING but solid. Thus the A-OK... read more

Pretty decent food, but my potatoes pancakes must've been mistaken for a mix between potatoes and pancakes cause they tasted like batter. My "German sausage" was anything but that, it was a hot dog cut in half, I will not be returning. read more

Can't really mess up breakfast, yet many places still do. This is a busy straight forward diner/locals haunt. Family's, couples, old and young all frequent this place. Lots of neighborhood folks along with those on the way to their shopping adventures at BelSquare. Food is consistent basic warm and satisfying. Service seems very hurried and sometimes slow during peak times, but reasonably friendly enough. Good go,to place to satisfy your most basic breakfast needs. read more

Went there with maybe a bit high expectations, hearing that everything is hand-made....Greek Salad was just OK and the french fries were not great. Service was so-so. Would not go back, especially when there are so many other better places around! read more

Small, little neighborhood cafe, homey decor, aroma of coffee, eggs and bacon. You've seen places like these before. Memories of great heaping plates of breakfast and comfort food along with great friendly service comes to mind. Sorry, not this place. The omelette and hash browns begged for seasoning. The french dip was thin and lacked flavor. Waitresses were busy chatting and looking at their phones, unaware that their customers needed service. I saw several tables actually had to walk up and hand their credit cards to the cashier because they were ignored for a period of time. I had to flag them down to refill my water. And it wasn't even that busy at the time. This place had the makings of a good breakfast/lunch spot, but ended up being a dud. read more

Pretty decent breakfast. I had the carnitas and eggs, very tasty. The place has outdoor seating and pretty quick service. We had a group of 7 and they did a pretty good job managing the group. I'll definitely be back. read more

Excellent spot for a hearty breakfast. You can tell the staff cares and they make sure your coffee cup is filled and you are satisfied. I had the biscuits and gravy and it was perfect. Large portions too! read more

Disappointingly mediocre. Also quite expensive for what you get. They should remodel the place, hire a new cook, and use better ingredients. read more

Like so many reviews here, what's with the front of the house and their lack of hospitality? They aren't that friendly, very slow at times and could care less if you're nice to them. The waitresses need help--training or whatever it takes to make them realize that they need to do a better job. Even my "regular" friend of mine is getting tired of the poor service here that she won't miss their biscuits. I won't miss their corned beef hash. Kudos to the back of the house for making good food but something's gotta change for me to go back there. read more

I am so glad that I found this place for breakfast and lunch! I was so tired going to Dennys and IHop.. This place has a warm small town type of feel in the middle of Bellevue! The food is excellent! I go there almost every weekend an staff always remembers you and what you had ordered before, again small town feel. If I ever move out of Bellevue, I for sure will always make the trek here.. Feels like home! read more

a fun local place for breakfast lunch or dinner, this has the flare of a neighborhood favorite!

Mixed feelings. I ate "breakfast for lunch" here recently when in the area on other business. I initially drove past it, because it's set back from the street and I couldn't see any street addresses from the road. When I arrived around 12:30PM, there was no parking at all in the strip mall Brief Encounter is situated in. Once I found parking, I was seated very quickly. My initial impression was not a great one -- the place is pretty drab and run down (cobwebs on the booth edges, booth upholstery duct taped). But, it smelled good, my order was taken right away, and the server made sure I had beverages. My "Tucker's Veggie Scramble" came to the table very quickly and was better than I expected it to be. Definitely not the best scramble I've ever had, but the veggies tasted fresh and were tender-crisp, not limp like I fear diner food will be. The included fruit salad had a nice variety given the season. Now for the less good -- my freshly squeezed orange juice was... well, not good, maybe the oranges this particular day were past their prime? It took a long time to get my check, and I was never offered a refill on my water or beverage. It seemed like once my order was on the table, the servers avoided making eye contact with me, which was weird because they were super friendly when I arrived and ordered. With that said, I'd consider stopping here again if I was already in the area. Would not go out of my way to visit again. read more

Brief Encounter is incredible, a real hidden gem in Bellevue!! The staff there is kind, friendly and tries to cater to your every need!! Each and every one of their staff is absolutely incredible, but Tona is the best! My family and I have been coming here for decades and it never disappoints! Melanie, the owner, is awesome, she is absolutely FULL of boundless energy and is always working on ways to make Brief Encounter even better. The food is delicious, I personally like their French Dip sandwiches and my mom loves their soup and salads. Only down thing of being such a good restaurant is that it is VERY popular so sometimes you'll have to wait a bit for a place, but your patience will pay off!! Try it, you won't regret it!!! read more

Ordered the Philly steak breakfast burrito. I though it was A-Ok. They use a nice thin slice of beef that's soft. I was worried that it would be a tough cut. The hash browns had no seasoning on it. I don't think it's worth coming here without a coupon. For quality of food and portions they could drop the price just a little. read more

The water served had food and debris in it, the dishes themselves were nothing special, the service - OK. Nothing about the experience was terrible, but I won't be recommending this place to anyone, nor am I compelled to come back... read more

This is my go to spot for breakfast in Bellevue. Never wait longer than 5-10 min for a seat, the staff is friendly and attentive, and the food is good! My favorite dishes are Jake's burrito and bear's scramble. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the coffee could be a little better. read more

I don't understand why this place doesn't have a 5 star rating. Their food is delicious and I love their service. They have a wide variety of items on their menu and their biscuits and gravy was awesome! read more

Great company overall. Really enjoyed working them over the past couple of years. Highly recommend!

Thanks to yelp and having no clue whats good for breakfast in bellevue, well now i know! Its not the most attractive place ever on the outside but cute little home town place in the inside. VERY nice service... there was bit of a line but sitting at the bar was just fine for us. We had the corn beef hash which was recommended by the waitress and the crepes. I requested mine to be extra crispy and it was perfectly done. Came with 2 eggs and Toast... Probably the best i've ever had. The crepes were good, but I wouldnt say anything out of the ordinary. Overall I would definitely choose this little place over any big chain anyday... Will come back to try their other signature dishes for sure :) read more

Well the name was a bit misleading. It sounds like it might be a partner of the lusty lady. The food was not too bad. My omelet was very good as were the hash browns and brilliant they were.Nice and crispy. They also have Texas toast French toast which I was eying. Instead I chose the omelette. A little too brown on the outside for me but shit happens. No big deal. The service was not bad. All I can say is "it is what it was" no bad feeling nor a great one. So, for now 3 stars but would love to return for the Texas French toast to boost that up to a 4 star. read more

I ordered delivery through Doordash. My order was biscuits and gravy with two scrambled eggs for $13.50 with a side of bacon for $5.00. I received my order and my five dollar side of bacon was ONE SLICE of bacon. Usually a side of bacon or sausage would consist of at least two to three slices/links, but nope, apparently this restaurant charges $5.00 per slice for just regular everyday bacon. Will not be ordering from this place again. read more

Found this place on yelp, and loved it. Yummy breakfast and everything made was delicious. Only one complaint was the potatoes were a little mushy for me. Service was also great. We got here at 10ish and there was no wait. Will be back at our next Wa visit. :) read more

If a restaurant has the stones to charge 10 bucks for a small breakfast, it better be damn good - it was only so-so. Nothing was gag me terrible (coffee was close to terrible, just barely acceptable) - but nothing that has me screaming to go back - so I probably wont. Service was friendly but slow. Go get lots more of similar quality at IHOP or Denny's for less... read more

Sunday breakfast at 12 noon, no wait. Carnitas scramble was good, coffee refils were slow and too few. Decent pricing and while server was friendly, was a bit inattentive - bummer. read more

Good service. Good food. A nice local feel diner. It was a little smelly. Might need a good cleaning and airing out.