this included a trip to the breakfast bar - where i was able to load up with butter, whipped cream, strawberries, and a couple other fruits also came with a cup of syrup Whew - so this was a sugary rush. I don't know if I've ever consumed so much sugar in as short of a time period as I did here On each piece (that already came with powdered sugar) I spread whipped cream, poured syrup, and ate with butter Being french toast itself has some strong built in advantages - so I can really only compare this against other french toast So while I do wish there was something more solid with this meal - I did know what I was ordering going in The portion size was really good - there were three pretty decent-sized pieces of bread Each piece had an interior that was nice and fluffy but a bit too airy for me - I would've prefered a more solid interior of the bread Eating the toast didn't feel like you were eating something with weight behind it - it felt light - even though the three slices added up to make you full Going off that, the outside of the bread was pretty soft as well - I would've liked it to be more crispy As for the toppings - I thought the syrup was quite good - it complemented the top side of the bread in a nice way Similarly, the whipped cream added a pretty good flavor to the top. It also helped a good amount with the strawberries The butter I'm not sure on. It was hard to spread given the softness of the toast - and I could see that any attempt to spread it would result in the toast breaking apart. Eventually I decided to break off small pieces of butter and eat them at the same time as my toast bite. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - French Toast - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came here for brunch over Valentine's Day weekend. I usually visit the Ballard or SLU locations, so this was my first time at this particular spot. We made a reservation ahead of time and were seated shortly after arriving, which I appreciated. My partner ordered the Vegan Banana Pancakes with a side of potatoes, and I had the Rancher's Breakfast with French toast. Overall, the food was good, but I was really disappointed with the French toast -- it was soggy and not what I expected. Everything else was solid. The service was decent, but when we asked questions about the menu, our server didn't seem very familiar with it, which made ordering a bit less smooth. Unfortunately, the overall atmosphere didn't feel as clean or inviting as the Ballard and SLU locations, and that impacted the experience for me. Because of that, I probably wouldn't return to this location, though I'd still visit the others. read more

This is a review for their catering. My work had breakfast catered and it was really good! Meats: crispy bacon and tasty sausage, what more could you ask for Carbs: pancakes were a little dense and the French toast didn't super taste like much, so I covered everything with syrup, whipped cream, fruits, and granola and that was really good altogether Yogurt: the yogurt was thick, sweet, and yummy! With added fruits, granola, almonds, and coconut it was super filling read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Catered plate of all the things breakfast - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow! Visiting from out of town and went to Portage Bay Cafe on Easter Sunday. Thankfully we had 10:30am reservation because the place was packed and had a waiting list. The restaurant is bigger than expected as it had three dining areas. The food was exceptional! Beyond exceptional! From the first to last bite, we kept exclaiming how good everything tasted. We ordered the carnitas Benedict (which came with fruit on side), breakfast sandwich (which also came with fruit on side) and mushroom omelette. We can tell why this place is so popular. read more

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Always my favorite Seattle brunch chain. I value the " Eat like you give a damn" motto. very local and organically sourced ingredients, great job team! The coffe is strong, I add a little water. They have many options for large group mimosa options and Aprils highlight is hibiscus. I always get great service and it is a fun busy hustle and bustle vibe for chill Seattlites. I love taking out of town guests there to awww them with the berry bar. I love taking my grandog on nice days to sit outside read more

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Great bfast!! I LOVE their idea of the berry bar!! Such good French toast!!! I was craving an American bfast and this place had exactly that. I rarely eat French toast but man it hit só hard. Really cute local place filled with university students. I would have loved to have this next to my uni lol. Great service as well. Thanks! read more

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My go to breakfast spot in the University District. I love this place because it's close walk from my hotel. The service is great and they never disappoint. Note you can make reservations we went game day and noticed reserved tables that is the reason we ate outside thankfully they had one table left. read more

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The pancake toppings bar is awesome. So full from a $25 plate. Don't need to eat for the rest of the day! read more

Portage Bay Cafe - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My friend has been to Portage Bay Cafe a couple times because he loves taking a trip to the berry bar -- which, you can only do if you order something that comes with waffles or pancakes. Three of us stopped by for brunch this past Saturday and it was pretty busy. RANCHER'S BREAKFAST - 24.75 This is a good option if you can't decide between sweet or savory. Also, you can take a trip to the berry bar. My scrambled eggs were a bit over-cooked and the chicken sausage was OK and nothing special. The fresh fruit option was nice! However, the french toast was my favorite part. I topped it with a bunch of raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries from the berry bar -- as much as I could reasonably fit on my plate without embarrassing myself. I enjoyed how fluffy the french toast was, and the fresh berries really enhanced it. Overall, food tasted just OK, but it's the quantity and berry bar that makes the experience worth it. If I come back, I'd definitely skip the savory options and go straight for one of their french toasts. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - French Toast - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My gluten free pancakes were the best ones I have ever eaten!! Seriously,my husband is nit gluten free and he wants to order them next time . Great service and nice vibes read more

REDEMPTION for the PORTAGE BAY CAFE! My family returned to the Portage Bay Cafe due to Hobson's Choice. Thankfully, the service has improved considerably and the staff have improved their skills significantly. Today the Prosciutto and Asparagus Benedict was AMAZING! The DOUBLE SMASHED BURGER however, did not meet the written description... at best, so-so. Am glad to see the improvements over our last experience and will continue to check the PORTAGE BAY CAFR. WATCH THIS SPACE read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Prosciutto and Asparagus Benedict Prosciutto & Asparagus Benedict Prosciutto & Asparagus Benedict - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Nice place to go for brunch with a smaller group once it gets past 4 people per table it can start getting a bit crowded. Food has gone a bit down in terms of quality over the years but I still enjoy it. My favorites are the banana fosters French toast and the herb and roasted potatoes as a side. I like their fruits and nuts bar for the sweet brunch dishes. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Bananas Foster French Toast (veg) - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went here for a birthday brunch and the food and service was excellent! We love taking a trip to the berry bar with our Swedish pancakes. This restaurant is also gluten free friendly! read more

Great spot for brunch near UW! Best part is the efficient service and friendly staff. The food is good quality but quite expensive. The Buddha bowl was chock full of vegetables dressed in a bright and refreshing lemon tahini dressing. Loved that it wasn't over-dressed and the egg was cooked perfectly per specification (over medium). We also ordered a farmer's scramble with added brisket for $3.50 (not pictured). This was a bit of a bummer given that it only came with a sad 1-2 pieces of brisket. However, there was a surprisingly diverse assortment of roasted vegetables including Brussels sprouts and purple sweet potatoes, which made up for it a little. Overall this place probably isn't the best brunch in the city, but it's a solid choice if near UW. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Buddha Bowl (veg) - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a cool brunch spot that is big and open. They have a good variety of items to choose from, including a berry bar, where you can load your own toppings for your pancakes or French toast. I may have to try that next time. For this visit, I ordered the special - Uli's spicy scramble, which included, eggs, uli's sausage, organic bell peppers and jalepenos, caramelized onions, queso con salsa, roasted potatoes and tortillas. I also ordered a side of their gravy. The scramble was good and better when I added the gravy to it. read more

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It's obvious that this is a popular spot. I was intrigued to try it and I think it fell a little short for me. The servers were kind and helpful. The eggs had a weird taste. I ordered "the migas" and I say "migas" because it was not that AT ALL. It was essentially a quesadilla with eggs and carnitas inside. Migas are not traditionally made with flour tortillas so I wish it would have notes on the menu that it was a flour tortilla and I wouldn't have ordered it. The carnitas were good. My friend and I ordered the same peppermint latte except mine was hot and his was cold. For $7 you would think it would at least come in a bigger mug. The only thing we really enjoyed besides the coffee was the banana foster French toast. That was amazing but it was also $20 for 3 pieces of French toast. Maybe that's just Seattle, idk. I don't think I'll be back. read more

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Portage bay is a Seattle classic. There's always a line out the door on the weekends! They have a classic brunch menu that is delicious. For a popular brunch spot, they have a great amount of options and they don't miss! There's a bunch of locations and each one has their own charm. (8/10) Instagram - Madeline's_Dines read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Eggs Classic Benedict - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Still one of the best brunches in Seattle, and still huge lines on the weekends. Every dish we've had is excellent and worth the wait. read more

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4 1/2 stars for the food. 5 stars for the service. They stay busy here and I believe it's because they stay true to their vision of: Sustainable. Local. Organic. The portions here are generous. The food/ingredients taste local and fresh. Our service staff was personable and checked in on us regularly because it was cold and rainy the day we visited and we opted to avoid waiting in the long line and sit on the outside patio. They made sure we had an umbrella and portable heaters near our feet. They also provide small blankets for your legs which are placed over every chair. Stellar service. We had dined near a table who had thee most adorable huge dog. Well behaved. Love that they are pet friendly. Everyone in my party absolutely loved their dishes here, as did I. Definitely coming back, next time I'm in SEA read more

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genuinely one of my favorite breakfast/lunch places in seattle. does get pretty busy on the weekends, so plan ahead by making a reservation or get in the mood to wait. place is pretty big, so you shouldn't wait for very long. offers indoor and outdoor seating (with heat lamps) and the wait staff is always super accommodating. swedish pancakes are delish and get you a trip to the berry bar! specialty coffees are always delicious as well. read more

The "server" had a stench of a wet dog. His jair was greasy looking. When he dropped the food at the table he jad his fingers in the food and proceded to lick them at the table. The food was subpar. Would not suggest this fast food type restaurant. Well actually a fast food place would be better at it. No one wants to smell wet dogs when eating. read more

The food is really good, I ordered a west coast eggs and a chai latte. I really enjoy the food and the ambiance. It is really busy so I highly recommend to do a reservation, mostly on weekend. The service can depends on how busy they are, but it's ok, I owe you the picture, but I will come back and take some photos!! read more

Another amazing breakfast at Portage Bay Cafe in the U District. My server Keith was excellent! Portage Bay is a must visit if you are in Seattle. There are multiple locations. I have only visited the U district one and will be returning here every time I come to Seattle! And the cappuccino's are spot on!! read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Avocado Toast w/side of Hill's peppered bacon - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We had Mother's Day brunch here & it was great! The food was fantastic as usual (had Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Swedish Pancakes, Berry Cobbler French Toast & their version of Huevos Rancheros (subbed poached eggs for their scrambled). The service was great... just the right amount of helpful, fun & checking on us (thank you Michael!!!). Great food, great time! A truly wonderful experience once again (& thank you Amy for your assistance!). read more

Walked in and were quoted 30min wait, as we saw many people coming in and being seated before after an hour of waiting we went up to the host and she explained that those walking in had reservations she acknowledged how long we had been there and said we would surly be next. If we hadn't gone to check our status on the wait list I think they would have continued moving us down the list. Highly suggest making reservations online. Super frustrating feeling like we were disposable to them. Once we were seated food came promptly and accurately everything was delicious staff was super friendly. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Passion fruit mimosas - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Was looking to catch up with some of my best girl friends over a girly brunch and stumbled upon Portage Bay in the University District. I seriously did not realize how popular this place was--but wow, I get the hype. First tip: MAKE A RESERVATION ON OPENTABLE. I was lucky enough to snag one (bless), and even with a reservation, we waited around 15 minutes to be seated. It was a Sunday brunch, so we expected a bit of chaos, but it still felt overwhelming. There was a line out the door with people waiting outside, the level of noise in the space is quite loud. While waiting for our table or even seated at our table, it was a bit hard to hear one another. This is not the space for a quiet girly brunch for sure. That said--would say the food is 100% worth it. Don't come hungry or hangry as it did take close to an hour for our food to arrive (yes, we were HANGRY), but when it did, the first ten minutes was silence of devouring our meal. Service was okay, the servers seem uninterested to be there, barely checked in - we had to ask about status of our food and get his attention. We ordered the Smoked Salmon Benedict, Seattle Benedict (with Dungeness crab!), 2 Rancher Breakfasts (3 eggs your way, house potatoes, one with chicken sausage + pancake, the other with bacon + French toast). Honestly such a cute idea to do a berry bar, the menu lists items that gives you access to a literal berry buffet--fresh berries, whipped cream, butter... The benedicts were the best menu choice--rich, flavorful, and perfectly portioned. The Rancher Breakfasts were huge and hearty--perfect for anyone rolling in with major hunger. The chicken sausage was flavorful and the potatoes were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. I am a BIG pancake girly, and their pancakes were giant, fluffy, with the perfect hint of sweetness. I ate my entire meal plus one pancake and still had leftovers for dinner and breakfast the next day. No regrets. The coffee here is just okay. Seattle has no shortage of amazing coffee shops, would recommend saving your caffeine intake for one of those instead--which we did, shoutout Ugly Mug Coffee, which was the move. read more

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We had special menu items- the spicy corn chowder was amazing. The elote style omelette was so good. The jam is like la provance and we love it. I got the dungeonous cream Benedict which was amazing. Next time get sauce on side. So pretty! Everything was delicious. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Our favorite brunch spot is an institution on the UW campus with convenient street and private lot parking in the back. Expect generous breakfast portions with well-prepared country potatoes that are neither too oily or overcooked. The pancakes and french toast are elevated with access to the fresh berry bar and freshly whipped cream. Don't forget to add a side of 4 thick-cut pieces of smoked bacon. Eggs benedict lovers will enjoy the numerous Northwest flavor choices. Food quality and consistency keep us coming back the past 20+ years. read more

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We love a place with a pet friendly patio! And we also love great food with even better service. Any time I'm in Seattle portage bay is a must. The quality of the food is impeccable and I've never had anything but top notch service at portage bay. Highly recommend the Seattle Benedict or the carnitas Benedict. If you like a more crispy breakfast potato don't forget to ask for them extra crispy as they come not as crispy on their own! read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Pet friendly patio!! - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I really love how close it is to U district/UDub, and how you can go visit their self-serve fruit and toppings bar- even though it looks like I went overboard I promise I ate it all lol Not much parking in the front, street parking only. The burrito was not bad, but I think my favorite is their eggs Benedict or French toast. it does the job, really friendly staff, and really nice for a variety of groups like large groups or just a casual cozy brunch! read more

Portage Bay Cafe - french toast - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My daughter and I went there on vacation recently. They're so rude and I did experience racism there. They made us feel extremely uncomfortable. The food is also ass. Don't go here! read more

I was in town for the weekend and decided to try this particular location of the Portage Bay Cafe chain, specifically because of its reviews. I love a brunch spot that has healthy food options. Food: 2/5 I ordered the goat cheese omelette. Lord. This omelette was *nothing* like I expected. Firstly, it was underseasoned -- no salt/pepper. Second, the cheese in this omelette was in the form of a huge blob of goat cheese atop and underneath the egg omelette. Not only was it an overindulgent amount, but it did nothing to enhance the meal/taste of the omelette because it wasn't cooked/baked into the eggs. I thought that was a really strange way of presenting this meal. Second, the sautéed veggies were hidden beneath the eggs, for the most part, and that also did nothing for the meal. It was the strangest omelette I'd ever had. I selected the side salad, and it wasn't anything special. The gluten-free toast, was, however delicious. A plus was how quickly the food arrived. Service: 5/5 I wish I had noted her name but we had a lovely server who was very accommodating. No complaints here. Ambiance: 5/5 I love this part of Seattle and the restaurant does a great job reflecting the ambiance of this part of the city -- it's a great area because parking is abundant (street parking on Sat.) and it's lively and bright! The restaurant itself is clean and has an inviting atmosphere. Overall take: I'm glad I tried it, but I'm not sure I would not return to this restaurant for a second go. Perhaps it was the item I ordered... read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Goat Cheese Omelette (veg) - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came with some friends for a New Year's Day brunch. There is easy parking behind the building which is convenient. I got the Migas breakfast plate and my boyfriend got the Seattle Benedict. The migas was just ok. Nothing special, didn't quite hit the spot. Service was quick and we got seated right away. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Seattle Benedict - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place has been one of my favorites for quite a few years. Today I stopped in to grab breakfast and it was absolutely fabulous. I was greeted by a lovely gentleman at the door. He was friendly and welcoming, and as a single person, he gave me a table of four. I always appreciate that. It's a way of honoring your guest. It did take about five minutes for someone to see me because they assumed some other people were coming for me. But as soon as I was recognized, I had coffee and less than 30 seconds. The only major disappointment for me was the fact that they no longer make the mushroom biscuits and gravy. I have never had that anywhere else, and it was literally one of the only things that I order from this place every time. I am not a pork person at all. I try to eat vegetarian most of the time. I ended up going for one of the smaller plates of two eggs, potatoes, and their honey wheat toast. It came with butter and jam and it was very filling. And for once, I don't have leftovers to take home. I wanted to make a trip to the fruit bar and get a scoop of that fresh whipped cream for my coffee, but I did not. Next time I'll ask. They had some lovely Christmas music playing that had me bopping along and very happy the whole time. This was definitely a treat. Plus it's all organic. I humbly request to please bring back the mushroom gravy! read more

Portage Bay Cafe - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great service from the front desk to great food on busy Sunday. So appreciate organic ingredients and coffee! Thank you. My fav spot in Seattle read more

This is a MUST try breakfast cafe! We were seated in the covered patio and it is such a cool space! You can still hear and feel the cool air of the rain but you have patio heaters and a covered space- perfect setting. We came on a Sunday morning- early that we were confident that most of the UW students should still be sleeping. . We still had a 20 min wait on arrivals but it's well worth it. I had the special- Reuben Benedict- absolutely delicious- homemade English muffin, hollandaise with dill and seared corned beef. My husband ordered the Rancher's breakfast which comes with pancakes and a trip to the breakfast bar. The breakfast bar is filled with all types of toppings- berries, chocolate chips, fresh whipped cream. Coffee was perfect too! I would totally give this place 10 stars if I could! read more

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When I was a student at UW, this was my spot!!! This used to be one of my favorite, if not most frequent places I use to eat at. It brings back nostalgia of just eating with my friends. It usually has a long wait, but just make a reservation to make your life easier. It's super big inside. There's also parking which is a rarity in Seattle. The food is good. I usually get the eggs bennies, but strayed away from that. The best part about Portage Bay is their fruit stand for their sweet menu items. You can go up once, but you can stack your fruits and whip cream up high. That's what I usually do. I can't say this is my favorite brunch anymore, but you can't go wrong with this place. It just a very home-y feeling and taste. Will forever keep this establishment in my heart!! read more

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This place looks cool, has a good atmosphere, and service is great. The failure is in the food. My table ordered a variety of food, I found the French toast to be stale and the food to be not worth for the price point. I ordered the breakfast Sammy and for $18 it was a giant disappointment. The side salad had the most artificial tasting fruit dressing and the sandwich was just not worth the money (I was expecting it to have more protein, and flavor of the fig jam with everything else was just off putting.) There are better options here. read more

A classic go-to brunch place with large portions!! Love their fresh berry bar and the fresh orange juice they serve. The food is very filling and a bit heavy so plenty to share! This location was particularly nice since it wasn't too busy for a Friday morning and had enough seating. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - Migas (veg) - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We salute Portage Bay Cafe! The green mole sauce is back for the Huevos Rancheros by popular demand. We feel listened to! Now to just get back those most delicious buckwheat pancakes and have some daily soup that isn't the perpetual Tomato Basil!!! read more