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    FareStart

    4.4 (368 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated a few days ago

    FareStart Photos

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    FARESTART ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - FareStart

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    Reviews With Photos

    Marielle J.

    I ate here for lunch on a Friday! I heard and saw that they recently reopened. You pretty much order up front and you get a number. The guy that took my order was running around and had to catch his breath bc he asked me what I had wanted again and he thanked me for being so kind to repeat. (Hey, I get it! It's all good) The crispy chicken sandwich and fries is what I ordered -- and their spices they used were phenomenal, something that is different from a regular plain old chicken sandwich. It was really crispy too and was so fresh, flavorful with the juice coming out. All with pickles on a brioche bun. I wanted the original and glad I stuck with this choice (they also make a Nashville hot one.) LOVED the fries! Soft yet crispy and slightly burnt. They also have kombucha with 4 flavors and I got the jasmine Ginger hibiscus to ease my stomach (time of the month lol.) Refreshing and delicious! They have tables and a long table for single eaters. Two things I did notice: Their plates and such were cute but it was a rectangle so needed to make sure I didn't spill anything. It was a bit hard and they didn't provide napkins upon receiving your order so you need to make sure you get napkins at the front on the side or ask the server for it. Literally didn't think about it until my order was received haha.

    Farestart Guest Chef Night
    Carol C.

    This is one of my favorite events of the year - Guest Chef Night at FareStart (1/9/25). My company was given the opportunity to volunteer as restaurant servers for the first Guest Chef Night of 2025! We also recently remodeled FareStart's space. It was a fun evening enjoying delicious food alongside my co-workers and dining with new and old friends. Zac Reynolds from Cook Weaver was the guest chef. I thoroughly enjoyed each course and wished the servings were bigger. I think it's good to leave wanting more ...

    Beautiful!
    eatingaroundthesouthsound e.

    Its so special to have wonderful good, a special night while still supporting a charity. This was such a special evening and they sang to my daughter. These chefs are learning and growing and it's wonderful to watch!

    NY steak with chard garlic sauce
    Tom E.

    What a great experience! People with barriers to employment do a 12-week culinary course working in this innovative restaurant. Guest chef evenings are fun when students get mentioned by a local renowned chef. The venue is tall and spacious and the standard of food is high. A really enjoyable evening.

    Sesame Tofu Noodle Salad
    JoeAnna M.

    My employer ordered box lunches from Fare Start. The food was really great and fresh. The flavors went together really well, the meal was well thought out. I was full and satisfied from the generous but not exorbitant portion, and felt like I was provided a great balance of protein, carbs, and greens. I hope our employer continues to use their service, it was great! Can't wait to try out the Fare Start restaurant next!

    Caesar Salad
    Alan Z.

    Came here for lunch and got the caesar salad. It was pretty good, lots of varieties of leaves inside so it's not just a boring lettuce salad. Chicken was a little dry though but the dressing was pretty good. Croutons were crunchy and they go along well with everything else. Order at the front, and bus your own table.

    Oliver G.

    FareStart is back! Reimagined as a gorgeous cafe with chill music and delicious drinks. The cortado was smooth. My vegetarian breakfast sandwich hit the spot. I decided to work here for a while and enjoy the vibe.

    Steak Frites
    Yegee L.

    Every time I walk by this restaurant the smell invites me in. I finally got to check the place out this week for lunch. I ordered the steak frites with the steak done medium rare. The steak was okay. A little rarer than I would have liked, but it wasn't bad. The side of kale was surprisingly good. It had a nice flavor and it wasn't bitter. The fries were my favorite. They were potato fries but I thought I tasted a little bit of sweet potatoes? In any case they were delicious and fried to a crisp.

    Vegetarian risotto
    Erik B.

    Had a great dining experience here. And the history was related to us by our waiter. This restaurant was first started in 1992 by David Lee, a famous chef. He started it by first serving hot meals at the various shelters, but then turning it into a business called common meals. As the business grew, he knew that he could TRAIN them and give them sustainable full-time jobs. The restaurant also has multiple adult and child culinary programs to help sustain the community. Yes; there is actually a social mission for this restaurant. I ordered a salad with Gorgonzola cheese, cherry tomatoes and well seasoned vinaigrette. The main course was a finely cut steak, and an order of vegetarian risotto. Dessert shortly followed- chocolate mousse cake with raspberry syrup. Really nice taste!

    Main course 8/31/17
    Teri T.

    The restaurant is open for lunch Monday-Friday and then for dinner on Thursday nights. Add the Thursday night dinner to your bucket list and you won't be disappointed. Honestly, you will probably want to become a regular. The Thursday night dinner experience was fantastic! My husband and I went last week and left happy, full and with a heart filled with joy. Every Thursday night a guest chief creates a three course menu which is then executed by members of the farestart program (providing culinary skills to the underprivileged). And get this, you receive this 5 star meal for only 30 dollars per person!! Service is made up of volunteers and no service charge (at least for dinner). Just a spot for a voluntary donation to the program. I love farestart's mission and the work they do. Always happy to support their cause! This experience is just the icing on the cake--fantastic meal, stellar value and it all goes to a great cause! That's one way to not feel guilty for eating dessert! :)

    Kitchen Prep Volunteer Event
    Pam A.

    This is a review for FareStart's weekend Kitchen Prep volunteer event. I came here recently with a small group to help some of the chef instructors and regular volunteers prep shelter meals in the community kitchen. After checking in everyone watches a short video on kitchen safety. Hair nets, aprons, and gloves are provided for each volunteer. Volunteers are randomly assigned various duties such as assembling sandwiches, packing sack lunches, and washing/prepping vegetables. A typical shift starts at 10am and goes to about 3pm. The time goes by fast when you're in the kitchen because there's always something to do. There is a short break with lunch provided. Lunch for us that day were leftovers made by students in the adult culinary program. After lunch we swept and wiped down the kitchen before heading out. This is a great volunteer opportunity for those looking to give back to the community and to brush up on your kitchen skills! Things to know: * Wear closed toe shoes, pants, and no sleeveless tops * Lockers are provided with combination locks (it's like being in HS again!) * Parking is free on Sundays downtown

    Super busy with few open tables. Wait a bit
    Ana M.

    5 stars for the awesome mission and what they do for the community. Of course I would return because I saw some delicious stuff here! Also 5 stars to the staff that even when they were full, they would keep their best attending, taking orders, etc. I was impressed of the cute simplicity of the place. I liked it :) I would give 4 stars to the process of sitting. It is very easy to get into line because you open the door an the curtain helps you to move to the right place. I found it smart and a nice touch :) So waiting for lunch time WA s 25 minutes which wasn't that bad but what came into my attention were various open tables. They get reservations and of course all restaurants would give 15 mins of tolerance. But people started leaving because of the waiting. At the end, they put me into one of the little tables cause I went by myself and another party left. I think that they would have used those tables and people would have been served. I was there for the Burger Week. So I ordered the one topped with crab. It was salty because of it. Patty was dry. It split in half. Taste was regular. Bread was pressed down :( I liked the little cute pickles.

    Sweet potato gnocchi

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    Page 2 of 10

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    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne - Soba Salad

    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne

    4.3(481 reviews)
    1.8 miQueen Anne
    $$

    A peasant friendly budget can eat in the Queen's land here at this gem spot in the heart of…read moreSeattle. Let me start off with how incredible the staff are at this place, it felt like being at your mother's home after a long semester in college, where not only does the food drown your sorrows, but the joy of Meg and Russ makes you walk out feeling refreshed and recovered from whatever life had thrown your way. Russ definitely makes the meanest latte while making muffled grunts, but hey he's a cool guy who will make way for a traveler to feel welcomed. After a long flight in I needed the jolt to make me feel like I was alive like the monster in Frankenstein. If anyone needs any other reason to go, the flapjacks alone are my favorite item. 100/10 would recommend. It was ironic because I don't even like autumn but this redefined my frontal cortex with how explosive the flavor of these are. The last time I was there Meg asked what I wanted and I said "basic breakky with bacon" and she looked at me up and down, almost threatening to kick me out for saying "the B word" and goes "boy the salt alone will kill you, we don't do that here" as she Z snaps me with an Attitude only a mother could provide to check you. . She did have ham, and I went on my merrily Monday through Friday way to cause menacing agendas in the Queen Anne hood. Just as a conclusion, eat here if you want to feel loved and cared for... One of the best places I've been to.

    Cool spot with some super healthy options!…read more We were greeted by a super nice server and were lucky to have some great weather to sit outside. We tried the "On the Wagon" and "Southern 'Not Fried' Chicken", both of which were great! If you're a coffee lover, a latte with their homemade syrup is a must get. Definitely will be coming back.

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    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne - Back behind the cadhier

    Back behind the cadhier

    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne - Clockwise: apple pancakes, breakfast sandwich and scramble

    Clockwise: apple pancakes, breakfast sandwich and scramble

    Bounty Kitchen - Queen Anne

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    Shaker + Spear

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    0.3 miBelltown
    $$

    While visiting Seattle for a few days, I made reservations at Shaker + Spear and wasn't quite sure…read morewhat I wanted to order. I noticed the salmon on the menu and decided to give it a try since I was looking for something a little lighter. I am so glad I did. Without exaggeration, it was the best salmon I've ever had. The fish was cooked perfectly, and the sauce and accompanying ingredients brought everything together beautifully. Every bite was outstanding. Beyond the food, the atmosphere was fantastic, the service was friendly and attentive, and the bar offered a great selection of cocktails and spirits. If you're visiting Seattle or looking for a great dining experience, I would absolutely recommend Shaker + Spear. The salmon alone is worth coming back for.

    Nice and easy restaurant attached to a hotel. Service was rather slow this evening as there was…read moreonly one cook in the kitchen. It's nice to watch the staff cook because it tells you that the food is fresh. I have high expectations for seafood in Seattle. However, I was disappointed with the scallops as it tasted raw and cool to the touch in the center. I'm not a scallop expert but this one missed the mark - the flavors were off with the sauce (tasted earthy). Presentation and color looked good, but this didn't taste good. Also came here breakfast several times. I don't have pictures, but each time the breakfast was amazing!

    Photos
    Shaker + Spear - Welcome note..

    Welcome note..

    Shaker + Spear - Mussels

    Mussels

    Shaker + Spear - Grilled Tiger Prawns*

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    Grilled Tiger Prawns*

    Sweetgreen - Caesar Salad w/ Bread

    Sweetgreen

    3.4(31 reviews)
    9.9 mi

    SWEETGREENS @ KIRKLAND…read more This was my first time visiting Sweetgreen in Kirkland, located in Totem Lake. Totem Lake is a great area to explore, with plenty of shops, restaurants, and even a movie theater all within walking distance. It's a nice spot if you're looking to spend some time around the Kirkland area. I've heard a lot about Sweetgreen, so I was excited to finally give it a try. The concept reminded me a lot of Chipotle since you can choose your base, protein, toppings, and sauces to create your own bowl. They also offer a variety of signature bowls if you don't want to build your own. Options included bowls with pesto, steak, and other combinations already put together for you. Unfortunately, my first impression wasn't the best. The staff didn't seem very friendly, and everything felt rushed. Since my dad and I were both first time customers, we weren't exactly sure what to order. It felt like we were being hurried through the line rather than being helped. For my bowl, I chose quinoa, romaine lettuce, and chicken. They had temporarily run out of chicken, but thankfully a fresh batch came out after only a few minutes, which I appreciated. I also noticed that the tables inside were pretty dirty, so we decided to sit outside instead. The outdoor seating was much more enjoyable anyway. As for the food, I thought it was good overall. I liked that everything tasted fresh and seemed to be made with wholesome ingredients. The vegetables were crisp, and the bowl felt healthy and filling. My biggest complaint was the chicken. It wasn't seasoned very much and tasted pretty plain, so I found myself relying on the sauce to add flavor to the meal. Overall, the food was decent, but the customer service and cleanliness left a lot to be desired. I don't think I would return to this particular location, but I'd be willing to give another Sweetgreen a try in the future, especially to test out some of their wraps or other menu options.

    What a disappointment! I was so disappointed in my whole experience at this trendy "healthy"…read moreeatery. The staff was not friendly at all. The selection was pretty good but the portions were small and not very tasty. The food and service was mediocre, at best, and three salads were almost $90. I cannot with good consciousness recommend this place to anyone. Way over priced and over hyped.

    Photos
    Sweetgreen - The fresh additions to their menu!

    The fresh additions to their menu!

    Sweetgreen
    Sweetgreen - Sweet green

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    Sweet green

    FareStart - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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