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    Colophon Cafe

    3.6 (245 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Colophon Cafe Photos

    COLOPHON CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Chicken Avocado Croissant with salad and...Tim's Cascade Chips!
    Maureen M.

    It's in the historic Pythias Building and has been serving up some of the most wholesome and tasty food in Bellingham since 1985. A little bit of an old hippie vibe which I love. Cozy wooden booths and lots of local art work. During a recent weekend stay (at the Fairhaven Village Inn- wonderful place) a friend & I found ourselves returning to the Colophon a few times. Great food and prices. Don't forget to visit Village Books - next door -while you're there.

    Housemade bagel sandwich
    Laura M.

    Definitely a place to return to! The food was as described. The homemade bagels were delicious. Cappuccino and chocolate chip cookie topped it off. Fast service even though it was a sunny, busy Saturday. Great a view of the Fairhaven Village Park. Sit outside- it is wonderful. Enjoy!

    Raspberry turnover $4+. July 2024
    Carolyn L.

    I finally got to try the food here after bookmarking it for several years. We came here after 11 am, just before the lunch rush. It got busy to almost full capacity closer to 12 pm on a weekday. It was always crowded when I was here on weekends. Maybe that was why it took me a few years to try the food too. The breakfast/brunch menu is until 1 pm, even on weekdays. That is great! I like the breakfast menu more than the lunch/dinner menu. I was tempted by the shashuka and clam chowder. In the end I decided to try the July special - biscuits and gravy. I also ordered a side of clam chowder. (Un)fortunately the server didn't bring it to me. I think he forgot to write it down. I was stuffed with the biscuits and gravy so I didn't ask him about it. He also forgot to write down my friend's added order of the turnover. The biscuits and gravy was good. I liked the gravy, very flavorful with the mushroom and sausage. The biscuits were not dry and just a bit crumbly. I couldn't finish the dish. It would be perfect if half order was available. Then I could probably have half biscuit and gravy with a side of soup. It did take a while for the food to arrive or to catch anyone's attention. Come here if you're not in a rush. It feels like being on "island time" here.

    Chicken Pot Pie with Caesar Salad
    Hailey C.

    Best artichoke dip I've ever had!! Also delicious Chicken Pot Pie, and good coffee. The vibe is incredible here as it's directly next to and connected to the bookstore, I loved it. Will be back :)

    Prices
    Jeffrey G.

    We ordered food to go. We ordered chicken pot pie, a sandwich w/chips and a side of potato wedges. What they did was throw a small amount of wedges in with the sandwich and did a 50/50 mix with the chips. This is not what I asked for nor is it what I paid for. When I called back to speak with a manager, a woman, by the name of Lily.W, was handed the phone (this happened to be the same person who took my order) and she proceeded to argue with me that Colophon did nothing wrong. She said that she was not willing to do anything to fix the situation aside from come in and get a couple more potato chips. I thought this was very unprofessional of her to argue with me and a very wrong way to handle the situation. I've been coming to this place since I was a kid with my auntie but I will not be returning. Just a god-awful experience.

    Black bean burger

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Our second time of eating here. All five of us absolutely love this place for lunch. Great food and good service.

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    3 years ago

    A cozy place with yummy healthy food and friendly help staff. They have a good selection of vegetarian options

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    The Black Cat - Gouda Pesto Chicken, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts

    The Black Cat

    4.1(497 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    First of all, my server, Sierra, was perfectly awesome. She answered questions, was timely and…read moreservice-oriented, and she gave great food and drink recommendations. Wonderful food and drinks. I started with oyster shooters (Willapa Bay) along with a Lion's Tail cocktail. Sierra said the bourbon and lime complement each other. I wouldn't have thought so and thought it a bit of an odd choice. But she was right and I was wrong: it was fabulous. One of the most delicious drinks I've ever had, for my tastes. She gave me several recommendations for dinner. I picked the Jalapeño Chicken. It was luscious and flavorful, but the best part of it was my choice of Balsamic Brussels sprouts as my side--oh my! These were so delicious I ordered two more batches to have at home. Lovely espresso martini to end it all.

    We were looking forward to trying The Black Cat after reading strong reviews. I had taken the day…read moreoff to have lunch with my wife, and we were excited to visit somewhere new. We were seated promptly by a friendly hostess at a table in DT Fairhaven, and our server was the bartender. After being seated, we waited a long time without anyone taking our order. We eventually asked if we had a server and were told it was him, with no apology or explanation. We ordered drinks and food, but after more than 40 minutes, we noticed two tables seated after us had already been served, finished eating, and were leaving. At that point, we asked for the check and said we would not be staying. About 15 minutes later, the server returned with our food instead of the check. We declined the meal and sent it back. He then asked if we wanted it boxed to go, which we also declined. His reaction suggested frustration rather than understanding. We never got to try the food, so we can't comment on it. The service, however, was well below expectations given the restaurant's reputation. This was lunch on July 15, 2026. We may try The Black Cat again in the future, hoping this was just an off day.

    Photos
    The Black Cat - Entrance

    Entrance

    The Black Cat - Black Cat Breakfast with bacon and a side waffle

    Black Cat Breakfast with bacon and a side waffle

    The Black Cat - Crab cake Benedict

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    Crab cake Benedict

    Avenue Bread - Fairhaven Cafe - Sedona Salad - packed with healthy ingredients! IG - @bilalandjesseatfood

    Avenue Bread - Fairhaven Cafe

    3.9(115 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Great little breakfast sandwiches, some of the best I've had. Lunch menu is a bit pricey for what…read moreis offered but it is good quality across the board. Right in the middle of lovely Fairhaven, a nice spot to grab a bite before hitting a book store or some of the numerous other stores available to browse.

    How I heard of this place: While Avenue Bread has been a Bellingham staple for a number of years,…read moreit was my sister, visiting from out of state that introduced us to the Fairhaven Cafe. Type of cuisine: Bread. All things freshly baked: bread edition. And all things on freshly baked bread. Sandwiches, pastries, coffees and more. Ambiance: Cozy, and vast, the space is equal parts grandma's country house charm and idyllic Fairhaven. The front is quickly bustling as we enter right as the doors open for the day, a line immediately building up behind. us. This spacious entryway full of menus in chalk and digitally are graced with a plethora of tasty options for snacks, meals, and treats enjoyed in the large, expansive restaurant or outside in the parking space-turned patio seating area. What I ordered: We selected four of their breakfast sandwiches on signature rosemary bread, each one as delicious as the last. For beverages, a mocha, an americano, and two steamed milks made their way to our table. What I loved: The sandwiches. Greasy, full, tasty and full of a novelty of tastes. They were devoured. Why I loved it: Quaint and cozy, a space for couples, families, friends and everyone in between. Cost: Average to high

    Photos
    Avenue Bread - Fairhaven Cafe
    Avenue Bread - Fairhaven Cafe
    Avenue Bread - Fairhaven Cafe - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Maikham

    Maikham

    4.4(152 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    The best Thai food I have had in a long time! The flavors, textures and heat levels were perfect!…read moreThese chefs definitely know what they are doing! We had a nice variety including Satay Gai, Tum Tang, Nam Tok, Phad Thai and sticky rice. The menu on their website explains what each item is if you don't recognize what we ordered. We also tried their in house made hot sauce which was full of flavor and heat! The server was so wonderful and knowledgeable! And the ambiance is so lovely! I could write a novel to explain every amazing bite but you must just go experience it for yourself! And then write a review to let me know how much you enjoyed it!

    There were tons of options at Maikham. The server was super friendly and helpful and talked to us…read moreabout gluten free options. I ordered the Panang with Tofu. I am not sure if it is made with fish sauce, but it tasted a bit fishy to me. The dish wasn't super fresh, and hence the loss of 1 star. Also, I prefer a bit more liquid in my Panang. This seemed like a mix between a stir fry and other Panang dishes I have had. The server asked us how spicy we wanted our food from 1-5 and our dishes were made accordingly; which was nice. I also liked that our table of 4 was given 2 wine bottles of water, so we didn't need to wait for refills. The flavor and freshness wasn't quite where I would like it to be, for me. I react to high histamine foods so I usually eat pretty fresh foods, and this meal did cause a histamine rash. For most Thai food fans, this place is alright, just not knock-outta-the-park, write-home-about good.

    Photos
    Maikham - Thai Iced Tea

    Thai Iced Tea

    Maikham - Grilled chicken, fresh papaya salad & sticky rice

    Grilled chicken, fresh papaya salad & sticky rice

    Maikham - Triple Combo Lunch special

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    Triple Combo Lunch special

    Estelle - Confit duck leg with spiced orange glaze

    Estelle

    4.1(66 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Beautiful food with very fresh ingredients and a lovely staff. A pleasure. I enjoyed my mealread more

    4 of us, 2 locals and 2 visitors, dined here for the first time. The ambiance was nice when we…read morearrived, but it can get loud when the restaurant starts to get full. There is some outdoor seating for those warm summer evenings. The service was fine. The drinks were also fine and fairly priced. The menu choices are fairly limited, and the entrees are all on the pricey side, especially the scallops. We shared the ricotta & toast appetizer and the chicken liver mousse. The ricotta consistency was very soft, almost whipped and needed salt, but there was no salt or pepper on the tables. The flavor of the chicken liver dish, under a rather thick layer of fat, was excellent; however, "mousse" is supposed to be soft but this was so cold that it was hard. Both items were served with an inadequate portion of toasted baguette which insured that more had to be ordered! Still, taste-wise, this and the duck fries were the hit of the night. The 4 beautifully large scallops were partially undercooked, the burgers came topped with "sauce chien" (dog sauce) with no warning that it might be too spicy for some, and the "creative" duck confit, left me wishing for the "classic" preparation! I don't see a return visit for us.

    Photos
    Estelle - Lacinato kale pasta with pecorino, pistachio, and black pepper

    Lacinato kale pasta with pecorino, pistachio, and black pepper

    Estelle - Brussels with apple cider, ginger, and sage aioli.

    Brussels with apple cider, ginger, and sage aioli.

    Estelle - Dungenness crab pasta with 'nduja butter and Meyer lemon

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    Dungenness crab pasta with 'nduja butter and Meyer lemon

    Mediterranean Specialties - Beef gyro

    Mediterranean Specialties

    4.2(85 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    This restaurant is a dual store/restaurant. I was just walking by looking for someplace to eat and…read morewandered into the restaurant. I ordered the beef gyro and it was pretty good. The store has a huge selection of hard to find Mediterranean products. The restaurant was very clean including the bathroom. 5/4/2026

    I had the Sampler Plate, which includes baba ganouj (baba ganoush) or hummus (your choice -- I…read morechose both, half & half), falafel, dolma, roasted veggies (broccoli, which was a bit burned, and eggplant, which was sooo delicious), couscous, and pita. First, the couscous is not the usual couscous we've all had. This is Lebanese couscous, which is so different as to be unrecognizable as "couscous". It is so very good, I could have a whole meal of that and be happy. I generally prefer baked falafels, but this fried one was great; crispy on the outside, and soft and green on the inside. I've avoided dolma in the past, as I had it once years ago and it was terrible. But this dolma was good enough for me to stop avoiding it in the future. People were very nice, and it took less than 10 minutes for my order to be ready. It's a grocery store with a deep selection of many items, such as spices, pastas, canned fish, .... (see photos). I enjoyed this enough, I came back again about a week later for another Sampler Plate meal. My only slight peeves are, I wish there were a bit more to the salad (which isn't even listed as one of the sampler items, so a bit hard to complain!), and that the pita had some whole grains in it (I find white wheat boring).

    Photos
    Mediterranean Specialties
    Mediterranean Specialties - A toothpick

    A toothpick

    Mediterranean Specialties - Sampler plate (baba ganoush and hummus)

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    Sampler plate (baba ganoush and hummus)

    Colophon Cafe - salad - Updated August 2026

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