My wife and I came here for a mid day lunch and were pleasantly surprised. Very clean, great service and very good food. Prices are about average for the area. My wife had the taco salad and I had the beef dip. Both were thoroughly enjoyed. One previous review noted that the bread for the beef dip wasn't very good, maybe that reviewer didn't realize that really fresh bread is supposed to be that way. We also enjoyed an excellent desert selection. We will definitely be returning. We also take exception to people who post reviews with 1 star who have never even tried the food or service because they come during the one day a week that this establishment is closed. read more

Food wasn't bad, service was a disaster. I had called a few days in advance to confirm they would accommodate a party of 6 for my wife's birthday breakfast. Nice lady on the phone confirmed "Yes, but we don't take reservations. Come on in!" We got there at 11am and they quoted a 20 minute wait. 20 minutes turned to 30, 40, then we finally get an update to let us know we'll be missing the breakfast cutoff at noon so there will only be lunch available. We asked if we could order ahead of our seating to still get breakfast.... "nope", zero flexibility. We finally got seated at noon and ordered lunch. A real bummer for my wife who was looking forward to a family BREAKFAST on her birthday. Lunch food was so-so... nice staff, poorly handled. read more

Simply amazing!!! Great customer service and food! The treats are so amazing!! We love coming here. Staff is super friendly and attentive. read more

I heard about this place from a friend at work. Carnation is a little out of the way for me with no plans of going soon.Found myself dropping kids at a football game in duval on a night that might rain. My wife and I ended up at the carnation cafe. let me tell you the description. " Cafes, American (Traditional) "doesn't do it justice .No boxed manufactured food here.My Steak was just the way i like it ,the sauces were wonderful the vegetables were cooked just right . My wife had the shrimp with bacon, really good. The owner and staff were very pleasant. If this restaurant was in the seattle area you would need to get your reservations early .definitely worth the drive. read more

Very overrated in my opinion. Seems like attempting to be a "foodie" restaurant yet simple ingredients (a salad for $14 that had good lettuces, strawberries, and feta). Serve good wines. Overall, not super impressed (wanted to be!) read more

Wow, what a great new restaurant in Carnation! We stopped for lunch on 11/7/2014 and thoroughly enjoyed the Mushroom Swiss Burger and French Dip with side salads. The salads were large and the honey mustard dressing was amazing. The Burger was HUGE and perfectly cooked with a nicely grilled bun. The French Dip had a thick layer of thinly sliced lean meat and a yummy dipping sauce. We also shared a piece of carrot cake that was very good. I also have to comment on the service. An older gentleman waited on us and was so courteous and attentive that we were very impressed. The atmosphere is cozy yet spacious ... they even have a fireplace in the corner. Large windows across the entire front of the builder make it light and bright. Since we are locals, we are excited to have such a quality restaurant in the valley. The breakfast menu looks amazing so we will try that next! read more

If you haven't been to this gem of a restaurant, you've got to give it a try! Great food and even nicer folks that run it. I don't have a favorite dinner because I've loved everything I've tried so far. My daughter also loves it here, and it's not just because of the amazing dessert selection. Can't wait to try the breakfast sometime as well. read more

This is seriously good food. Everything that we have had here has been amazing. The desserts are good enough to fight over. We have had breakfast, lunch and most recently dinner. My husband had a steak that rivaled Ruth's Chris's or John Howie's. Highly recommend! read more

They have the most delicious and awesome pies! Highly recommend it. Pecan pie is my favorite and my family is from the south so I can appreciate it. read more

Had a Sunday breakfast here with my wife, and it was a great experience. The food was well cooked and well seasoned. It was a quiet, pleasant, comforting environment, and the service was wonderful. read more

We had a wonderful dinner at the Carnation Cafe. Quality, quality, quality. This is no ordinary cafe, this is a first class eatery!! The staff is knowledgeable, well dressed, and friendly. The restaurant is very clean and inviting. First we tried the cheese nuggets, and all I can say is wow! Crispy panko type crust and perfectly melted cheese filling, served with marinara sauce with a dash of pesto in the center. I had the fish and chips. Two proportionately large crisp fillets and fresh flaky cod, it was very filling and delicious, the tarter sauce complimented the fish splendidly. We also had the Prawn Fettuccine, prepared with a cajon broth that was delish. The garlic bread was fantastic, the prawns were large and the fettuccine cooked a perfect al dente. a final dish we tried was the bacon wrapped fillet, with mashed potatoes. We consider ourselves steak experts and have eaten at some of the best steak restaurants in Western Washington. This steak was so tender it melted in your mouth with a rich smokey taste and I would highly recommend it, the mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy. For desert we shared the homemade cream puffs in a rich warm chocolate sauce. All I can say is Carnation is one lucky community to have such a great place to enjoy affordable dishes prepared by an expert Chef. We plan to eat here often! read more

Super disappointing! Had heard good things about this place but it was terrible. Got here at 11:10 and opted to wait until 11:30 when they started serving lunch. At 11:45 after I continued to get passed over by the dark haired server, the other server came to my table to take my order (after 35 minutes with only three tables seated). I contemplated leaving several times but at this point decided to see how long it would take for someone to acknowledge me. Once I mentioned I was waiting for lunch, nobody so much as offered me a beverage so I literally sat there for 35 minutes with no food or beverage. When I was finally acknowledged, I was offered a drink and had to ask about the lunch specials. The choices all sounded good so I ordered a few meatball sliders while I was deciding on an entree. They came out very quickly and were raw in the middle. Even the server noticed it and said "wow, that looks really pink". She took them away with her and I asked her not to bother remaking them, and let her know that I would choose something else for my entree. Sure enough she came right back with two more sliders. I reiterated that I did not want them but she was insistent. I'm not a fan of raw meat. I understand a steak or filet being pink, but have never seen raw meatballs and wasn't interested in eating this new or improved version that she brought out after I asked her to please not remake them. Either she flat out doesn't listen or she was pushy as hell. She just came back for a third time with my bill and asked me if I could take them home to give to someone else in my family, otherwise she would ask the manager about taking them off the bill. They're $2.75 each. At this point I'm going to leave a $10 bill and get out of here. It gets more awkward every time she comes to my table trying to get me to eat these meatballs. Or take them home with me. But pay for them regardless of the fact that they were raw and unappetizing, and I wanted to try something different (and of course pay for it). She failed to hear that part and continues (even now) to push these meatballs on me. No! All I want is a turkey sandwich but she took my menu, insisted I eat or take the meatballs and didn't offer me anything else. Omg it's torturous. And she wreaks of cigarette smoke. I'm out!‍ read more

I eat here weekly. The place has excellent homemade food and the folks who work here/operate it are just nice people. For the quality of the food the pricing is good too. Good food, good people, good service, good atmosphere.... just glad I work so close :-) read more

We enjoyed a late lunch last weekend. This was our first visit and we are locals. I had the shrimp and avocado salad which was excellent. It had tons of both. The dressing was pico de gallo and zippy flavorful. Others had pulled pork, steak salad, and cobb salad. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The kids fish and chips was well received also. We will go again. For us, it is very close. The outside isn't special but the inside is very nice. I suggest a bit more pizazz for the front. read more

First time visit to Carnation Cafe today. Much, much better then expected. Very clean and comfortable. Nice to see they had a few breakfast items for lunch. Food was delicious, service was friendly and prompt. Sneaked a look at breakfast and dinner menu and we liked what we saw so we'll be going back soon. All in all, great local restaurant and looking forward to visiting them again! read more

Great breakfast, price and service. Stop by & give them a try!

I ordered the pork tenderloin with the dijon sauce. It was super juicy, quick, and I definitely recommend it. The food always tastes really good here and its a nice cozy environment. It's a good date spot, but make sure you leave room for the chocolate cake! read more

I got a chance to visit twice for lunch recently after the café was recommended by friends. The whole experience could not have been better either time. Three of us ordered a number of items and shared them around to get the whole experience, loved them all, especially the meatball sliders. Then, the desserts, unbelievably good! Can't wait to go back for the breakfast and dinner menu. Will be coming from Colorado to do so which should give an idea of how much we loved it (okay, also visiting friends and family while in town). read more

Great food & great service! Hometown atmosphere with uptown food! The desserts are decadent!

Well we stopped by again for a fantastic-ly great breakfast! We both had the 2-2-2-2 special (2 pancakes 2 eggs 2 bacon slices 2 sausages). I know it is a basic menu item but it was just so perfect. I had the most fluffy eggs and the pancakes were light and fluffy as well. Very very tasty. The bacon was cooked just right and who doesn't like sausages. I can't say enough about the Cafe!! We also come here for lunch and dinner as well. Look for their holiday specials- we had great meals here on New Years and Valentines Day. They are just the most excellent restaurant and you would be a fool not to stop in and enjoy not only great food but also great service. read more

Went there for breakfast what a disappointment I think the people in carnation don't understand what a good breakfast really is the bacon was precooked greasy and rubbery the Swedish pancakes aren't Swedish pancakes they are dowy tasteless the only thing you have going for it had fresh berries. got there around 11 o'clock and they were already out of eggs benny my friend had an omelet was overcooked hashbrowns have way too many onions in it flavorless unless you doused it with ketchup overall we won't be going back read more

Been here several times and the food is always wonderful. Great prices too considering the top notch quality of the food. Service is always friendly and on time, not rushed. read more

We've been there 3 times now and each time have enjoyed our meal. The staff is friendly and the place is spotless. Great pastries made fresh! read more