wow what a good find! my friends and i came in for breakfast on the way home and it didn't disappoint! this place definitely beats the chain spots like dennys and ihop. the portions are huge and delicious. service was quick and our server was so sweet! homey interior with plenty of seating. read more

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge - Bakeries Near Me - Cle Elum, Washington

This place makes me happy. It's a wonderful diner full of charm and happy people. Walking in you could feel the warmth and the positive feel. Our waitress was so nice and made us feel welcome. My wife won on the best order; get the biscuits and gravy and add eggs on top. It's amazing. That being said, the chicken fried steak was pretty fantastic as well! I recommend getting a side of gravy with it though as it is underneath the steak and it's so tasty that you will want more. Was mid road trip and it was so tasty my wife slept all the way home after! read more

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge - Chicks fried steak (gravy under steak) - Bakeries Near Me - Cle Elum, Washington

See all

Fireside Lounge: We stopped in here on a Thursday night around dinner hour. We chose to sit in the lounge in the back and not the cafe space out front (lounge does have it's own entrance or can be entered from inside the café). There was a pre-season Seahawks game on one of the TVs and baseball on the other. There are only five or six tables in the lounge but one of them is round and probably seats 6+, along with 10ish stools at the bar. Not too busy, just enough people filtering in and out. Our delightful server, Bobby Jo, was running the lounge like a master. She was so friendly and attentive to everyone. The vibe was intimate local watering hole. We sat at the table by the fireplace, Bloody Mary and a beer first. Hubs ordered the Turkey Dinner and I had the Blue Cheese Steak Salad. Both delicious with just the right portion sizes. We shared a piece of peach cobbler a la mode. Soooooo good. We will have to plan for a breakfast stop and try the café. read more

See all

Still the best thing going for food in Ellensburg. Great food and awesome service with downhome atmosphere. read more

See all

I love these little cafes. We stopped there after a little off-roading in the woods super hungry. Service was good and the food was awesome. I ordered the patty melt and it was tasty, seasoned well, great onions and flavor, I wish the burger was bigger but great overall. And the tater tots, they were on point. A definite must order!! I have been spending a lot of time exploring the woods here and I will definitely stop in again. Nice work guys! read more

Excellent food, nice ambiance. I am visiting from Orange, Ca. Visiting my brother in Ellensburg, Wa read more

See all

Homestyle cooking in a warm and inviting environment. Old school. Everyone is so nice despite being so busy! Food is awesome - just order your fave. Affordable. Plenty of parking. Did I mention they're packed? read more

This place is the absolute bomb! Only spot open on NYD on our way back to Seattle from an awesome visit to Leavenworth. Absolutely crazy busy but all the ladies hustling had smiles on their faces and kind words. Great prices. Huge portions. Get the hash - it's awesome! read more

I was with some people and I told about this place. Walking in you can hear people talking and it was loud. The place was packed with people inside. Didn't take too long to be seated. I ordered the pancakes with strawberries, hash browns & bacon. Pancakes were good....Hash browns were good.....bacon was kinda burnt but ok. I forgot to take a picture....I was hungry...Everyone I was with enjoyed their food. I recommend this place to everyone. read more

See all

So in a drive back from Leavenworth WA we needed to get dinner. We found this place (yup you guessed it) that n Yelp and it was on the way back to Seattle. It's just as advertised, a local place with a welcoming atmosphere and good food. The food is good and the portions are very good so you will not leave hungry. Everything was done well except the Mac and Cheese as it was a bit dry and under seasoned. It took a lot of salt and pepper to get the flavor up but still a dry dish. Service was good and friendly and we were very happy with everything. So if you're driving I-90 or going or coming back from Leavenworth you must stop and have a very good meal. read more

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge - Dinner - Bakeries Near Me - Cle Elum, Washington

See all

Our server was a very nice lady. That is all I can say good about our dinner. The food we ordered ( a soup and separately the meatloaf) were barely edible. I haven't ever, I don't think, had such low quality food. The meatloaf was gross. No flavor and a soggy texture. I stopped eating it because I literally couldn't stand the texture ( almost like jello) or the weird lack of flavor. The mashed potatoes were , in no way, from actual potatoes. They also were tasteless. The gravy? Yep, was flavorless. The vegetables were steamed and also had no flavor. You know the stereotypes of prison food or cafeteria food or Hospital food? This good had that. This food was exactly what that stereotype was. I can't believe I haven't gotten sick, it was so gross. read more

See all

Omelette with 3 pounds of meat & cheese, was epic to experience & enjoy to the fullest. Gotta do again, and tell family & friends about the Cottage read more

Friendly service and very generous breakfast portions! Bacon was especially great, nice and crispy. Oh and wonderfully huge pancakes. Yum!

We both had Combo omelettes with sour dough bread. We brought half of it home for breakfast tomorrow. It was outstanding and the service was 5 star. Cottage Cafe will be our Cle Elum go to breakfast place. read more

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge - Combo Omelette - Bakeries Near Me - Cle Elum, Washington

While vacationing in Ronald, my family and I visited the Cottage Cafe, which came highly recommended as a local gem. The place itself is charming--very cute and cozy--with attentive wait staff that made us feel welcome. If memory serves, it's been around since 1937, adding a nostalgic touch to the experience. Our drinks were solid choices: I had unsweetened iced tea, my grandson enjoyed what tasted like freshly squeezed lemonade, and the rest of the crew opted for sodas. We kicked things off with fried pickles, which were a crowd favorite--crispy, tangy, and addictive. For my meal, I ordered the pastrami on rye. It was decent, though the coleslaw on the side lacked any real seasoning. My oldest granddaughter had the meatloaf, and unfortunately it was a major miss. The gravy was bland and off-putting, the texture of the meatloaf was reminiscent of spam, and the vegetables looked far from fresh. She didn't eat her meal at all. My youngest granddaughter tried the mac and cheese, but the sauce tasted more like flour than cheese--definitely underwhelming. Thankfully, my daughter's turkey dinner redeemed things a bit. She said it was delicious, well-seasoned, and satisfying. If you're planning a visit to the Cottage Cafe, it's worth going for the cozy vibe and good service, but I'd steer clear of the meatloaf and mac and cheese. read more

See all

So this is an update to my review I wrote 8 years ago (December of 2015 which I gave this place 5/5). Mom and I shared a homemade apple crisp and then I got the Cottage Omelette and subbed the toast out for a pancake while mom got the Denver Omelette. We also had a surprise tax of 4% added to each item we ordered on our receipt and then the normal 8.1% tax after everything was added up. I'll explain at the end of my review. So the good news first. The pancake still tastes amazing and is one of most satisfying pancakes I've eaten at diner or breakfast place. Still warm, soft, moist, airy, buttery, and like last time, after a drizzle a syrup it just melts in your mouth. Delicious and I highly highly recommend getting them! I ate half of mom's Denver omelette which was also fantastic. They really stuff the omlettes with toppings and the cheddar cheese compliment the flavor very well. That's also a solid choice! And now for the bad news. First, with my omelette, the swish cheese just was not a winning combo. Could have been because I never use that kind of cheese with eggs when I make something myself, but the flavor of that specific cheese degraded that the sausage that was actually pretty dang good on its own. The apple crisp was still good but it came out more warm than hot so it was cooled to room temperature soon after. The topping wasn't the crunchy topping I remember but a soft, almost bland topping as it really just soaked into the apple crisp instead of being a topping for it. And finally, the 4% additional tax per item. So both our omelettes were 17.99. Total on the bill was 18.75 each. The apple crisp was 7.99. Total on the bill was 8.31. The Diet Coke mom ordered was 2.99. Total on the bill was 3.11. I'm looking at these numbers very confused as I knew the menu prices and could see the normal 8.1$ tax added to our total. I asked our waiter why these prices for each item were more expensive than the listed menu price and she said, "if you're using a card, we charge an extra 4% fee per item." or something along those lines. The point is, if you use a card here, which most people do I'm sure, you have to pay an extra 4% *per item*. I did the math and to get 18.75 from 17.99, it's actually 4.2% (4.2% of 17.99 is 0.75558. 17.99 + .76 = 18.75) To get 8.31 from 7.99, that is actually just 4% (4% of 7.99 is 0.3196. 7.99 + .32 = 8.31) To get 3.11 from 2.99, that is also just 4% (4% of 2.99 is 0.1196. 2.99 + .12 = 3.11) I docked a point for the food being a hit and miss this time around, but I docked another two points for this scummy business practice. Our waiter just said she was new and this was a new system so that was unhelpful. If there is going to be a 4% additional tax *per item*, it needs to be either shown on the front page of the menu or needs to be communicated to us before we order so we know. Even something as simple as the waiter saying, "Also, we've implimented a new policy with cards so nothing changes if you pay with cash but if you use a card, we charge an extra 4% per item ordered." I'm sure this place gets a lot of business from tourists visiting the area and this feels like a way to take advantage of them. The awesome pancake doesn't make up for this kind of hidden stunt. Please communicate with your customers better and don't hide extra fees or taxes until it we get the receipt. And actually none of the receipts we had even had that 4% shown, just the new totals I listed above. The waiter asked if I wanted an itemized version as she said that would show the extra taxes but she came back and apparently once you print a new receipt off or something, you can't go back and get a previous one so we never got that. Sure, it's only a few bucks, but that's just bad business behavior so hopefully this review helps any future tourists. read more

See all

Awesome cafe with a good menu to satisfy your needs. I was in town for a fly fishing trip and wanted breakfast before my trip back home. Seated right away and greeted with a fresh pot of coffee. Went with the pork chops, eggs, and toast. Huge meal and packed with flavor. Friendly waitress and great atmosphere. I didn't get to try the dessert they have on display but they looked amazing. read more

The Cottage Café Fireside Lounge is a gem -- and Jennifer made our visit unforgettable. From the moment we sat down, Jennifer gave us the kind of warm, attentive, and genuinely kind service that you hope for every time you dine out, but rarely get. Hands down, the best service I've had in ages -- and it made the whole experience even more enjoyable. The food? Absolutely spot on. Classic café comfort food made with obvious care and skill. I ordered their scramble and added a side of country gravy -- savory, rich, and totally crave-worthy. The English biscuit tasted homemade and was so fresh it practically melted in my mouth. My kiddo got the pancakes and orange juice -- and those golden edges on the pancakes? Perfectly cooked. Clean plates all around. Every bite felt like it was made with intention, not just tossed on a plate. This place has heart -- from the food to the service to the cozy atmosphere. We'll be back every time we're in town. Highly, highly recommend! read more

Great food looks like a mom's cafe!! Old school food and bakery! If you're in the area 20+$ is a good deal for a good meal!

Great diner, the best place to stop when traveling I-90. Food is great, staff is so friendly.

We got seated in the bar area and had the best service ever thank you Samantha, We were meeting my boss here to go over work plans and not only was the service excellent the food was amazing also......Thank you read more

driving through/past cle elum? go here, place is crazy good. absolutely excellent experience dining here.

The breakfast was great. The only reason they didn't get a 5 star is because the hash browns weren't crispy and over medium eggs were actually over easy. Service and hospitality were top notch. The French toast and biscuit were the best things we tried. read more

Food is cold . Toast is not toasted. Just dont get the popularity off this place. Way too expensive!

I have been coming here for years and the quality of both the service and the food has gone down quite considerably. I ordered 2 sides of wings, and fries TO-GO, after 15 minutes of waiting I went to the front desk and my order was supposedly ready but only the fries had been cooked. The server bagged my fries and asked about my wings which had not been started, so she asked them to be dropped in the fryer. After 5 minutes I realized what happened and asked for new, fresh fries because they get soggy sitting in the TO-GP box for another 10 minutes on the counter while the wings get cooked. She told me to calm down, like what I asked was rude, and I was out of line. She told the cook to "drop some more fries for him" rolling her eyes. I then asked for a refund and was treated like a bag of garbage. My friends and family will not be back for a good while based on this experience and lack of any compassion for an obvious mistake made by them. A simple apology would went a long way especially after a $53 bill for wings and fries, cooked separately like its normal. read more

Food was great, service was fast and nice. Definitely recommend the chicken fired steak.

My dad recommended this place and stated that they have the best biscuits and gravy. For me, that's a very big statement to make since I judge country gravy very harshly. It needs to be flavorful with a high amount of sausage to gravy ratio. This is exactly what this gravy has. The biscuits underneath the yummy gravy were soft and pillowy. The gravy was layered on top of deliciously cooked hashrowns. The price of the food was much higher than I expected it to be but the portions were large, allowing for a second breakfast tomorrow. The service was excellent, and very friendly. Don't know when I'll be back to Cle Elum but if I do, I'll make a stop. read more

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge - Biscuits and country gravy - Bakeries Near Me - Cle Elum, Washington

See all

Our family enjoyed a wonderful Easter brunch here. The food & service was great. We will definitely be back!

Sat in the Fireside Lounge. Much quieter and cozy there. The service was great and the food was plentiful and delicious!

The food was so delicious! The best hash browns I've had! Definitely coming back. The service was great she was very kind! And friendly definitely felt welcome! read more

We love stopping here for breakfast or lunch and our way through! Have been coming here for many years. Always friendly quick service and delicious food! Thanks! read more

My family stopped here on the way home from Ellensburg. It had great reviews onYelp so we we thought we would give it a shot. This cute little cafe was BUSY but it is obviously a well oiled machine. We were sat and waited on promptly by a sweet, efficient, and friendly server. The menu was diverse with good classic diner fair as well as some unique and creative dishes. I had biscuits and gravy and they did not disappoint. They serve large portions so you will either have some food left over for later or you will wish you had shared. Reasonable prices for the portions. We will definitely stop here again whenever we come through the area. read more

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge - Breakfast as Of 11/2022 - Bakeries Near Me - Cle Elum, Washington

Memorial Day weekend stopped by for brunch on our way to Chelan. The food was good but I am a little upset because additional items were added to our bill. read more

The food was terrible, we have stopped in for a variety of meals for 20 years. Chicken fried steak didn't look like it and didn't taste like it. $22.00, for good mash potatoes and Salad. Barely ate the Meat and veggies where so so. read more

Enjoy stopping here whenever we drive East on I-90. Food is good. Cinnamon rolls are to die for! We stopped in last week just to buy a warmed up cinnamon roll to go and ate it on the road. Fed husband while he was driving. Today on our way back home we stopped for a bowl a soup. I had broccoli cheese. Husband had a bowl of chili. He also had a slice of cherry pie with vanilla ice cream. Two weeks ago we stopped in with my brother. He loved it! We always stop in for a meal and/or a cinnamon roll! read more

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge - Shared half of a cinnamon roll - Bakeries Near Me - Cle Elum, Washington

Just a perfect diner, large portions and friendly staff. The menu is extensive and they serve breakfast all day. Loved to see the smaller portions on the menu too. read more

See all

Basically good diner food. I was a little surprised by the kids meals being $10. I had the hot turkey sandwich and it was good. They provide a pamphlet of patriotic games and facts for the kids (it's not a menu). Little too much about Chris Columbus, if you ask me. Overall it was fine but I'd probably try their baked goods next time read more

Cottage Cafe & Fireside Lounge - 'Merica! It's not even a menu - Bakeries Near Me - Cle Elum, Washington

See all

Burger was really tasty, salad was fresh. I had a great meal and will be back. Our waitress was really nice as well

The food was really good with big portions. I really liked the staff. Very friendly atmosphere.

I love finding new places on Yelp. Usually ratings are pretty accurate but every now and then Yelp is WAY WRONG!!! Having a breakfast in a "cottage" sounded like a good idea. Arrived and the inside was not cute and looked nothing like a cottage. Service was slow and not very attentive. I ordered eggs Benedict and it was the WORST version of Eggs Benedict I have ever had. What they don't know how to POACH an egg. Eggs were done over easy with a crappy hollandaise sauce (probably from a powder). Two slices of lunch meat ham sat on a nothing special English muffin. I couldn't even eat half of the dish. Don't put something on your menu if you can't make it!!! read more

See all