Love this small quaint cafe. Food was delicious. I had the pork with vegetables and potatoes. Simple and good. My guy had a Kobe burger which was done well. Bummer, the waiter forgot to ask how he wants it cooked, which is not well done. But nevertheless we will return. It's on a quiet neighborhood street which allows you to escape from the hustle of strip malls or downtown. The connected store is one of Bellingham's original establishments which definitely adds to the charm. Folks were coming in for a beer and sitting at the counter. I might do that one day! read more

Love Marlin's low key atmosphere. Nice neighborhood place. Food is always well prepared. I really enjoy their breakfasts. Like huevos rancheros and omelettes. Outdoor cafe in summer. read more

One of my favorite breakfasts in Bellingham. A true hidden gem. One of the best eggs Benedict you can get anywhere and I've tried em allz

Review only of the pizza. This is a sweet little neighborhood joint that isn't in my neighborhood, but I drove over after seeing rave pizza reviews. I like their style, I like their laid back manner, and I like the choices and quality ingredients. I think they need a little tweaking as far as keeping their pizza moving around, and how long to cook, given that the 2 we bought were charred just slightly much to be really tasty. We had to scrape a lot of black off the bottom. Fix the timing, and this will be a slam dunk. Fair prices as well. read more

Giant portions and tasty food, in a laid back diner/general store, that felt like it must've been there for a long time. HUGE breakfast burrito and biscuits and gravy, both really tasty. read more

A perfect place for locals and newcomers looking for fresh meals. My friend and I got the two egg breakfast, eggs cooked perfectly, bacon thick and crisp, the potatoes were deep fried a little too long and only ate half, lol. My sis got French toast, bread from Avenue, thick slices, lots of egg batter and cinnamon. read more

Nice menu, breakfast is great but dinner and lunch are good as well. Great and reasonably priced beer selection. Old school neighborhood store, half convenience store half diner. read more

wow. that is all i have to say. the food? amazing. the quantity? enormous. the ambiance? wonderful. i recommend the veggie supreme benedict. also, they have really cool sweatshirts for sale. please go support nelson. read more

Food was delicious friendly service first time there defiantly going back would highly recommend!!!

Nelsons is a hidden treasure! The absolute BEST Biscuits and Gravy in town!!!! oh my, I will be happily full for the rest of the day from this delicious breakfast! A cool little cafe with a rich history in Bellingham and delicious meats! It was the hemplers sausage that made the gravy so dang good! I will be making a return trip here for sure! And will always be numero uno if I'm feeling like B&G or good hangover breakfast. read more

What a little neighborhood jewel! Tucked away in Nelsons Market corner grocery store, the breakfast is great. Banana stuffed french toast and Veggie omelet started our Saturday with a smile. It's a simple menu of omelet's, different Benedict's, and other goodies. Plenty of veggie options. The special today was chocolate chip coconut pancakes, and the coffee drinks put Starbucks to shame. Can't wait to go back for lunch or dinner - everything is fresh & homemade, and the service was great. I was almost reluctant to write this because this little neighborhood gem is almost too good to share...almost! read more

Reviewing based on location location location would be 5 stars. This quaint restaurant attached to a barebones mom and pop grocery is nestled in an old residential area of Bellingham but is a quick left from Ellis Street traffic. I waxed nostalgic for the 1960s small town diner I've only imagined...where everyone knows each other by their first name. This small diner with rusting signs advertizing soda pop and the wood screen doors with peeling paint is charming. Still, an outsider may miss it since the old signage advertizes the mom and pop convenience store we entered which is as attached as a head and a neck.Relaxed and friendly, efficiency, expeditousness and goumet cuisine are not qualities this quaint establishment possess. The inside matches the exterior with a half dozen booths and fewer tables. It is comfortable and a familiar throwback from someone's chilhood. After a couple of minutes of confused lurking we seated ourselves. Aat a solid 5 minutes beorre grabbing 2 menus from a vacant table. S.l...o....w but nice peeps, making me feel a bit the heel for being in such a rush for no good reason in Mayberry. I ordered two poached eggs which sat in a cup with hot poaching water. I specifically asked the cook for soft runny yolks. Bathing in hot water did not help the fellers. We requested jam and few minutes later pleasant waitress rolled by with a 1/2 oz container for the 2 of us. Strawberry jam was very good. My friend enjoyed her 3 meat/cheese omelet and my coffee was surprisingly good. The potatoes were seasoned with salt and mostly white baked chunks. Half had some flattop color on one side. No fancy herb or onion in sight. That being said, something (like other yelpers feedback) tells me to return to try lunch. After all my yammering and whining I admit it is a cool place and was mostly enjoyable. People can make or break a place just by setting a vibe. read more

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Marlin's Cafe is fantastic! It is hidden away on a street corner in a residential neighborhood. The walls are filled with local historical memorabilia & signs, and they have a great traditional diner menu. I had a very good omelette, my colleague had a single gigantic waffle which she said was one of the best she'd ever had. The main reason I'll be back to Marlin's Cafe is the comfortable setting and relaxed atmosphere: it's a perfect place to go when you want to have a good conversation. We went on a weekday, mid-day and there was plenty of seating and not much going on. I imagine the cafe is packed with a line out front on a weekend morning...I'll have to come back to find out... read more

Best Eggs Benedict in town. Great service and ... Grapefruit mimosas! Yes, please. Nice having a market attached in the same space. Local tap beers are also great. read more

Stopped by Marlin's while exploring Bellingham based on a previous review indicating their onion rings were as addictive as crack. I had them, and I wouldn't go that far, but they were decent. Better than the onion rings were the burgers and fries. Had the bacon cheeseburger which was perfectly cooked. The toppings were all fresh and the bun was great. Fries were salty and perfect. Will definitely return again. read more

I love their food! Specifically the wings which are generous and delicious! I often get the wings and a side salad and it's exactly enough! Their specials are awesome too. They also have a small patio for outdoor brunch in the summer :-) read more

I love Nelson's for many reasons. First, I love that it's an old school, local neighborhood grocery stores of the type that no longer exist. Nelson's is a relic. Second, the food is great. Their meaty omelet is amazing. I believe they have the best cheeseburger in town. Specials are super foody and creative. You won't leave hungry. Third, it's a great place to hang out and relax with friends. They have an old school lunch counter with about 4 rotating craft beers and other domestic beers in their cooler. Occasionally there is live acoustic music, or can be a great and intimate place to watch the big game. Finally, the owners John, Anne and their son? are pillars of the York neighborhood and Bellingham in general. Simply put, their service to this community and their small grocery store/oasis make Bellingham a better place to live. Thanks Nelson's! read more

Always a delicious hidden gem in Bellingham whenever we stop in it's always great food and friendly service, the market inside is one of the last original gems in Bellingham! read more

Quickly seated. Great friendly service and good food. Bacon a little too crispy but other than that a quick and simple food spot.

Wonderful breakfast menu. Get the fruit plate, by itself or as a substitute! And the outdoor seating makes for a pleasant meal!

In case you didn't know, not only is Nelson's a great place for a decent old fashioned diner breakfast in an old fashioned restaurant but they also have a pretty good selection of beers on tap. Stop in, buy local, eat local! read more

The worst service ever. I wish I could rate this place on their food, but we didn't get a chance to even try a glass of water at this place because once seated, we didn't ever (after about an hour) get even acknowledged. read more

Excellent breakfast stop with the kids. Half cafe' half market store. Kids and daddy had delicious buttermilk pancakes and bacon. Mommy had the smothered chorizo burrito. Tony's coffee. read more

Giant greasy burger, average, slightly overcooked fries. Quesadilla lacked salt was bland. Not great, just OK home style food. The best part is the unique neighborhood ambiance. read more

Been here fo almost an hour and still waiting Just for water. Needs more wait staff. Terrible terrible terrible place. No one waited on us. It seemed like they purposely ignored us. We went there because o the reviews. Even one star is more than they deserve. Worst place I've ever been. I can't emphasize how bad the service was at this place We had two little kids with us and they weren't crying being loud but I feel they were hoping we would leave. This has got to be the WORST diner ever read more

Great food, good prices, and lots of character. We had the Chicken Fried Steak, Chicken and Waffles, and Corned Beef Hash. The sausage gravy was awesome! We had the opportunity to speak with the owner and he was full of great area info. The Marlin will become one of our go to spots when traveling through the area. read more

Third time to Nelson Store/Marlins Cafe. Hearty food served fresh and hot. My husband, son and I have had burgers, the Full Nelson, Reuben and cheesesteak, all have had generous meat portions. This is a good place when you are hungry. Choices of craft beers are different each time we go, and there is always something I like (kind of a picky beer drinker). Friendly staff and retro atmosphere with booth and a counter make for an enjoyable meal. We'll be back! read more

Great food, generous portions! Just bummed we didn't know they don't serve lunch food until 2pm on weekends.

What a great find! Tucked away in a great little neighbourhood - there it is. Everything we have had is to die for. We love the fries, but attempting to stay healthy, we do not often order. They are, however, made right from scratch. Onion rings - OMG. Usually get a side salad for the fries. This salad - probably the best salad I have had. It is very simple with a mixture of FRESH lettuce, sunflower seeds, cherry tomatoes; lots of reg. parm. shaved on top with the most delicious lemon dressing. It will activate your taste buds and is home made. Sandwiches - all delicious, especially the Reuben; Clubhouse is great as is the BLT (I get mine with a fried egg). LOVE this place and the people, who work there are very friendly. Do not get me started on breakfast!! GO try it for yourself! read more

Love the food! Cool market atmosphere. Don't expect amazing service but they get the job done. Worth the visit

A few weeks back I was on my way to the park with my young son and his three friends. It was almost dinner time so I decided to stop at Nelson's to grab them something in the mean time. Turns out they were all really hungry and ready to eat. I got them all yogurts, mixed nuts, fruit, crackers and milk. We were sitting at the picnic table eating and sharing when the cashier came out with a big tray off hot fries and chicken wings with condiments. I explained to him that we didn't order and they couldn't be ours. He nodded put the food down and simply said " yes they are" and gave us a big smile! I was so surprised. I just wanted to give a huge thanks to Nelson's Market (also person/'s if that be the case) for your thoughtfulness and generosity. You just don't see acts like this very much these days. THANK YOU! :) read more

Got the veggie burrito, which was pretty bland. It was huge,though, so if you're ever really hungry, would recommend ordering just for the calorie count. The waitress was amazing about refilling coffee cups, she called herself a coffee pusher and she wasn't lying. We got four cups within the hour and a half we were there, some of my friends claim best coffee they had all trip. Speaking of hour and a half, the orders were slow to fill. Overall a decent time, it was in the historic district so it's nice place to walk around after. read more

Nelson's Market is a great neighborhood grocery store. We live right down the street and frequently visit for breakfast. Prices are a little high for what you get, but the food is great. Eggs Benedict is the greatest breakfast item on their menu. Good neighborhood feel. read more

This place is really cute and tucked away. I only learned about it from a friend who worked there. I went there on my lunch break and sat outside on their little patio. I ordered a caesar salad and cheese and bacon french fries. The salad was ok, but the fries were delicious. They do have some pretty interesting specials. I would maybe try those out. Not being able to eat gluten limited my options, but they looked like they had some pretty good stuff:) I love the fact that this place has been there forever, and it is such a nice place to go for a quiet lunch or breakfast. They are also a bit of a convenience store if you need a snack. Come check out a local place! read more

Marlin's Eggs Benedict Supreme was one of the best I've ever had! Everything was fresh and service was prompt. We will definitely be coming back again. read more

Amazing breakfast! The jam is off the hook. Also, they sell old school big glass bottled soda.

My friends and I go here on Monday night and it is just a chill, neighborhood place. It's open to 10 and would be a great place to study if you live in the York neighborhood. The guy running the register is way nice and makes friends with everyone. I have been here for breakfast as well, and I would have to say, it's one of my favorite spots. The waitress is always nice, the food is alright and it just feels like a cozy place to hang out. read more

Great food in a great local business! Love being able to walk to get brunch on a Saturday morning... they have great scrambles, great portions, and a very cute interior. I like being able to grab a drink from the market half and bring it over to my table for brunch. Awesome neighborhood find. read more

There's a great hometown / nostalgia feel at this diner and it has pleasant service. The supreme Benedict was pretty good: however, the wait time associated with our food was quite long. It also was a bit pricy, but the portions are quite large. Feel free to stop in if you have plenty of time to kill. read more

Great little neighborhood joint for great homemade breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Delicious good and ample portions. Waffles were also good. Friendly servers. Easily accessible from downtown Bellingham. read more