We visited this place from out of town, based on past positive memory. The service was good, the server's attire was somewhat dirty. The clam chowder and the split pea soup were good. The sandwich had a stale bread, 2d old or so. read more

I mean it's good. We had a hard time finding a good breakfast place that wasn't so pact and we always end up coming here. It's consistent. It's cheap. You're getting what you think you're getting. The food is good but would I say if you wanna try someplace new you definitely should go here? No. But if you were to ask me if You need a consistent steady breakfast with all the American classics you were looking for. I'd say go here. My husband loves it. For me? I'm just a little wanting more I guess. read more

Worst service I have ever had in a restaurant ever. Seriously awful. It was my birthday dinner, and we were originally planning on going to The Black Cat, but it turned out to be closed for renovation. We chose Skylarks because people seemed to love it. We got there right before the menu changed from lunch to dinner, so we ordered some appetizers and I explained that we would be ordering our meals from the dinner menu in 15 minutes. I also asked if the dish I wanted would be available on the dinner menu as well, and she said yes. A few minutes go by, and our waitress appears with half of our appetizers... and my entree that I hadn't actually ordered yet. I am still confused by this. At no point did I ask for it, I had even explicitly stated that I wanted my food at the same time as the rest of my family. They hadn't even placed their orders yet, and now I had to eat by myself and then sit and then twiddle my thumbs while they ate their meals. In what world would anyone want this awkward experience? When my family tried to order the food they had been waiting 20 minutes to order, they were informed that that item was no longer on the menu and hadn't been for months... which would have been nice to know 20 minutes ago. Another few minutes to reassess the menu, then waiting to flag her down again... We waited forever for the rest of our food, water refills, etc. My husband asked for a side of mayonnaise that never came. We eventually had to flag down a different waitress to get it after his food was already cold. We also didn't get our remaining appetizer until toward the end of our meal after we reminded her because we really didn't want it at this point and just wanted it removed from the bill. She darted off before my husband could finish his sentence and returned with the unwanted appetizer, set it on the table and ran off, never to be seen again. We couldn't even get her to bring our check, we had to get it from another waitress. By this time my husband was positively fuming, and my birthday dinner had turned pretty sour. I've waited tables. It's an impossible, thankless job. I understand everyone has off-days. But the restaurant wasn't even particularly busy that night. We tried to be as cooperative and accommodating as possible. We were not rude, I know how to say please and thank you, and I don't believe being confrontational is warranted in such situations. We waited for the menu to change to order our dinners, rather than try to cajole them into switching for us 15 minutes early (which I have seen restaurant patrons do). She didn't even seem particularly apologetic or make any effort to fix the situation, she just seemed to avoid us more and more as the evening wore on, which only annoyed us more. A little critical thinking and willingness to correct or compensate mistakes on her part would have made me willing to return here. read more

My brother and I decided I'd fly in unexpectedly and surprise my mom for Mother's Day, mohahaha! We decided he'd take her to breakfast and I'd just roll up like, ta-da! Nothing says I love you mom like making her cry in public! Where should she shed these tears of joy? Skylarks in Fairhaven of course. When I'm in town for 2.5 days breakfast there is a must! When I'm California dreamin, I'm not dreaming of California at all, I'm actually fantasizing about Skylarks home made toasted banana bread and after we stunned mom with my surprise visit I got down to business! Toasty banana goodness and BUTTER, oh that's right, BUTTER. The benedict's are notable, the eggs always perfectly cooked. Decent coffee, crispy bacon! A high quality local choice, you won't be disappointed! You can't beat the ambiance, the decor is avant-garde, a little euro sailor chic, with gilded mirrors and dark wood. Mostly 4 tops, call ahead if you have a bigger group. If you go for lunch, the claim chowder is a solid pick! read more

I ventured up north for some quality time with the fam today, first meeting my mom in lovely, familiar Fairhaven. Some things have changed on the Southside: facelifts for several classic B'ham establishments (e.g., Skylarks, Abbey Garden, Village Books, etc.); schmancy condos cropping up left and right . But if you ask me, the old charm of the Southside is still firmly intact. Skylarks might look a little different with its face out for the world to see on 11th Street, but if you walk down the alley and onto the cobblestone path, it's still the same little "hidden" cafe that's been there for years. Today my mom and I both ordered small spinach salads, which are simple and delicious: hard-boiled egg, parmesan, tomato wedges, and crispy bacon (FTW!) over a bed of spinach, accompanied by a sweet-but-not-too-sweet dressing (think it's a sundried-tomato vinaigrette). I bet you're thinking to yourself, "Okay... but how's their French dip?" Well, it's good. Really good. Shoot, it might be the best in Bellingham next to my mother's. In fact, last time Heidi F. and I ate there, we both wished it was more socially acceptable to order a second round. My little brother always orders the Lumberjack sandwich and a milkshake -- this is a great spot if you've got a big appetite, because they def dole out the portions like nobody's business. In the summer, you can sit underneath a big, majestic Chestnut tree on a sun-dappled path and pretend you're in Europe instead of little old Bellingham. Grab a table outside, add a beer/latte/sundae and book/crossword/mag and you're pretty much guaranteed quaintness. Only a select few establishments in Bellingham have my five stars forever, and honestly, I can't add Skylarks to that list -- it's just not a place I make a point of visiting when I'm in my hometown. But I like it better than the Colophon and end up here fairly regularly when I'm in the area. Reliable, comfy, and worth your lunch dollars. Recommended. read more

Been spending a lot of time in Bellingham lately and needed to find some spots in Fairhaven to get my eat and drink on. One morning for breakfast we ended up going to Skylark's Hidden Café. I lived in Bellingham for almost 10 years and have never been to this institution. The breakfast is amazing. My jam is the egg sandwich with a side of hashbrowns. Best hashbrowns in Bellingham hands-down. I've also had the pleasure of eating lunch here. I had a salad of some sort but the more interesting part of this lunch was the bartender and his arsenal of tricks. I learned some great bar tricks here that day. The food is reasonably priced as well are the drinks. Definitely a go-to spot anytime I am in Bellingham. read more

The place has a vintage look about which makes it very attractive. When we arrived, we did not have to wait long at all since only ​one other table was occupied​. Several staff people were walking around. Service​ was prolonged, and food coming out even slower. 50% of the time, I had to make eye contact with the server​ to get them over to our table -- poor selection​ of beers for what looks like a great place to have a beer. Food was OK with a very very small portion​ of fries. The burgers are only cooked one way, and that is MEDIUM. No other option was available​. They charge for condiments​ -- fifty Cents for a tiny bit of Tartar Sauce. And lastly, they need to keep the doors closed or put up screens in the back to keep flies at bay. They were everywhere.​ read more

I love this hideaway for a breakfast with friends. I'm a sucker for the eggs Bennie. The food is so so but the waitress is wonderfully attentive. Early morning and her pleasant perkiness does not grate on my every nerve. That is a big plus in my book. I love the old photos on the walls, the brick patio, and the cocoon of plants. read more

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Mediocre food and service isn't great. They use cheap ingredients but is family friendly. read more

My friend and I stopped by here on our way to Portland. My friend had been here previously and she loves it. I was keeping an open mind but I was so tired that I would have been happy with anything passably edible. This was past passable. I ordered my standby: eggs Benedict, my favourite. There was a little pile of ham (when most restaurants usually only give a thin slice) and the hollandaise had this really bright, lemony flavour that is so hard to find. Delicious. The best part here wasn't the food though, it was the service. We had this really nice young woman serving us. She was friendly and happy but also didn't cling to our table. But what will keep me going back any and every time I'm in the neighbourhood is this: I'd had 3 hours sleep before we started our road trip. We stopped here for food and coffee. The server actually noticed how tired I was and at the end of our meal, she offered me a to-go cup of coffee. I have never had anyone make that offer before. I will be back. read more

Two thumbs up for the Thai Rockfish burger. I love the creative menu and had never tried Rockfish before. Despite being incredibly drippy and messy (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), the sandwich was unique and all around awesome! Wait staff was effective and the food was dang good. Everyone at the table cleaned their plates. The award-winning chowder isn't just award-winning as a marketing ploy. It's creamy and rich. It's everything you'd want your chowder to be. I didn't try it, but someone at the table got the rueben and said it was melt-in-your-mouth good. Apparently, they serve coffee drinks with lunch too. So, you can sip an italian soda or latte while you scarf down a hearty soup and sandwich. It's a little odd that you cannot have a hot sandwich as part of the soup and half sandwich combo, but other than that, this place is recommended! read more

The first time I was here (early afternoon for lunch), I was so enchanted that I returned that same evening for a drink and dessert. Love the decor, jazzy music, and overall ambiance of this place. The food and drinks are mighty fine as well. I especially like the variety on the food menu and the option to make any sandwich gluten free, and the generous pours on the drinks. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is one server whom I've had twice now. Unlike everyone else who's helped me, she wasn't very friendly or engaging... I felt like it was a burden for her to take my order and bring me my food. Everyone else has been just splendid, though, and coupled with the terrific food and drinks, I expect I'll be hanging out here much more often. read more

I've dined here on a couple occasions. The food has never really impressed me. I find it slightly over priced as very under whelming. To be honest, I'm looking over the menu trying to recall what I've eaten here and nothing has jumped out to me that said "Remember! You ate me!". Unforgettable much? But yet I keep coming back. For two reasons: I adore the bartender with the long, braided brown hair. I think she's incredibly witty. She's engaging and attentive without being over chatty. Everything I look for in a bartender. I should actually make an effort to get her name. We could possibly be great friends. BLOODY MARYS! I crave these suckers all the time. They house infuse their own vodka with a ton of garlic. They also have a house blend mix as well as a clever dill and salt rim. I don't know what is in that mix, but my oh my is it wonderful! Whenever I'm visiting Bellingham I make sure to swing by here in the AM to get my vegetable and vodka fix. I suggest requesting it to be a little spicy, I tend to enjoy the extra kick. So go check out the "hidden café". I strongly recommend stopping for a Mary or two and then head over the Harris for breaky! read more

I really love Skylarks. I think that more than anything it is the atmosphere. it is just such an awesome place. The decor just makes me happy. I feel like I am in Europe or in some strange mountain lodge. I cant really explain it. i have always had wonderful servers and incredible food. they make the most wonderful clam chowder. Remember when we had that terrible snow storn in November? I walked from WWU down to Skylarks because I decided that the clam chowder was probably the only thing that would make life worth living. read more

Waited twenty minutes for a server who never came. Honestly really embarrassed to have to walk out of a restaurant for the first time.

I have eaten here half a dozen times, and I wont go unless I am with friends and get outvoted. I'm not impressed with the food or the service. Both have been fair to bad with the occasional just ok, nothing about this place makes me WANT to go there. You might go here and get ok food and ok service, but its hit or miss at best. If the choice is up to you, do yourself a favor and go to Diamond Jims or The Little Cheerful. read more

The food was good and the ambiance wonderful. It reminds me of Cheers. Another place that uses the local veggies, fruit and fish. Wonderful food. Caveat: you will need a breathalyzer test after you eat the bread pudding! One of the best I've ever had. read more

This is one of those interesting places to keep on your Sunday brunch radar if you find yourself in old downtown Bellingham. It has a very unique atmosphere around the bar with the many mirrors of different shapes and sizes decorating the brick walls. I had brunch there on the way back from the border and the food was great except the cinnamon roll was mostly roll and lesser on the cinnamon frosting goodness. Other than that minor detail, it's definitely worth a stop to check it out. * The cinnamon and frosting ratio to the bun size was enough to make it taste like a thick bun with occasional taste of cinnamon. Maybe if the bun wasn't gigantic 5" tall and it had more surface area to slab on some cinnamon frosting goodness. * I got a comment about this...anyways, old downtown Bellingham for me is the Historic Downtown Bellingham or Fairhaven District. I wasn't sure if non-Bellingham people would know about the Fairhaven District. read more

Back for breakfast morning after the 4th festivities. Got the whole place to ourselves at 8am with the best server we could have hoped for. I'm having the Tuscany Turkey and Parmesan Omelet and Donna's having the California Avocado ----- Yummmmmmm. Coffee is perfect. Thanks for being open this morning Skylark's!!! read more

Skylarks Hidden Cafe - Enjoying eating on the sidewalk in beautiful downtown Fairhaven - Cafes Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Use to love coming here. Food is always fantastic, but staff and management need to address major issues. Wait times are unbelievable and never estimated accurately, even with empty tables available. Not planning to go back until infrastructure improves. read more

We'd just missed breakfast and ordered lunch. The people next to us had what looked like pretty good breakfasts. The lunch was good.. They have a cute back area off the 'garden alley' with window seats. The front area is large and open with a cozy fireplace and an amazingly beautiful bar. There is an upstairs/loft area overlooking the main floor where the bar is. There's a pub like feel to it and the Irish Coffee I had was exactly what I expected. Nice, given the fact that we'd just run in from a bitter cold. We would have liked the servers to be more friendly but the service was still OK. Customers are a mix ofl ages though on this day I noticed a steady flow seniors were in the majority. They will be ringing in the NEW YEAR and I'm guessing there's going to be a packed house. read more

A lovely breakfast venue in beautiful Fairhaven! Food is very good, with the various versions of eggs benedict always being a great choice. Parking can be an adventure in downtown Fairhaven, so be prepared to make a short walk to the place. Only knock I have is that they seem to be short of staff everytime I visit. The staff that is there is very friendly and courteous. The dark paneling in the front room is elegant, as is the large bar. The back room is quaint, with plenty of natural light and a collection of antique photos. There is an upstairs area that isn't regularly open, but is nice for groups. Definitely put this restaurant on your list if you get to the Bellingham area. read more

We wanted breakfast so bad and saw an advertisement for Skylark's breakfast. We assumed they served breakfast all day, which I guess we shouldn't have assumed. It was noon and they only had the lunch menu, which was soup, salad, cold sandwiches, and burgers. Not a lot to it. We split a soup and salad combo. I will say their clam chowder was pretty bomb. Good flavor. Creamy. Nice clam to potato ratio. All the works. Would eat again. The salad was as simple as a side salad gets, but that's expected. Greens, tomato and cucumber. The combo said it came with a baguette but it came with saltine crackers. Hmmmm The atmosphere is intimate and cozy. An old fashion feel with antique mirrors and a fire place. Besides the chowder, it was average and unremarkable read more

Skylarks was recommended to us by staff in one of the stores here in Fairhaven when we asked for a family-friendly place to eat. Although they were welcoming of our children and had kids menus and crayons, it's really not geared up for our active threesome. The glass-covered tables in particular made me nervous and higlighted every bang of a glass or tap of silverware. The food was OK. Both adults went for Caesar salads which were huge, although the dressing didn't quite live up to the billing they give it in their menu. I also had the chowder, which was delicious. The kids enjoyed their grilled cheese or mac and cheese or whatever it was too. All in all, I wouldn't hurry back, especially with the kids, but it was a perfectly reasonable place to spend an hour or so. read more

Why is the breakfast so expensive?! The food quantity and quality are not worth the price. The service here is never good and the food is pretty good, but just not worth the price. I have only been here for breakfast so I can't speak for their lunch/dinner menu. read more

Really hate seeing all these nasty, snarky reviews of late. If your food is cold, you're waiting too long for service, your martini too sweet, act like an adult and tell the waiter, ask for the manager, whatever; but trashing a business which adversely affects so many workers and business owners because you're vindictive and narrow-minded over imperfections on your $20 check is vicious, petty and says more about you than the business. Careful your 1st world problems are showing. I'm ranting because looking at some of these pissy reviews about Skylarks totally mischaracterizes what a little gem of a cosmopolitan restaurant we have here in B'ham. I've been to Skylarks at least a couple of dozen times and for all types of occasions. My experiences have all included exceptional hard-working staff, delish meals, yummy cocktails, wonderful jazz and had a wonderful time. Every. Time. Were there errors? Of course, just like anywhere else. These folks are humans not robots. Did they remedy the errors when I brought it to their attention. Absolutely. Did it diminish my experience -- not in the slightest. On to the good stuff from our last visit..... Upon entering, we were timely greeted by the uber-kinetic & sweet host, Gabriel, who sat us in a choice spot to enjoy the jazz quartet & had our water glass filled all night. The music was lovely and I appreciate that there's no cover for live jazz. I have been obsessed with Lemon Drops of late. Skylarks' totally delivered on a Blueberry and then a Raspberry version. Our charming and funny waiter, John, recommended them and the flavor was crazy-good leaving me with a polite buzz. ;) I ordered their Romesco Capocollo pasta which made me want to lick the plate clean but for my polite buzz I begrudgingly abstained. Seriously coulda wolfed down a few platters -- it's pasta crack. My date ordered their Goliath Burger which looks like a sandwich that took Viagra. I think you have to be a teenager to actually be able to finish it. Unbelievably huge one-pound burger that's super flavorful -- they cooked it perfectly and served it with all the fixings. The fries that I stole off his plate where that perfect combination of crispy and salty; thankfully he was too busy with the burger to notice how much I pilfered. Despite being super full, we couldn't resist the Chocolate Decadence with Raspberry puree -- it's the holy grail of chocolate -- just shoot me now. Literally melted in our mouths and the deep, rich chocolate was balanced by the acid from the raspberries. I'll definitely be back. Maybe I'll see you there as I highly recommend it. read more

Very disappointing. The atmosphere is great but the food's incredibly underwhelming; bland flavor with cheap ingredients. I had a salad with clearly out of season vegetables and pale greens. My partner had a burger with a soggy bun and meat that reminded me of college but not in a good way. Won't return, don't recommend. read more

I had a hearing in Bellingham yesterday and decided to do a real lunch before getting on the road to head south. I stopped in here by chance. It was fine. I had a Caesar salad with baby shrimp. it was fine. It was a good basic salad, which is what I needed. I suspect other fishes are good, but never great. My only real complaint is the wait staff were just not particularly attentive. They had a large table in the middle of the room where I sat and they concentrated so much making sure they were served, i felt a bit left out. Actually, it was a server who came on for the afternoon who essentially took over to make sure I got my check. I will give them a try when I am next in the area, but will make sure my schedule is flexible. read more

Five stars for their breakfast! Mmm...I love the banana bread french toast :) It's also fun to go at night for late night dessert. They often have local musicians playing. It's a beautiful space too. read more

So tasty. Went with our group of 6, which included the tiny baby, so like 5 1/4. The music was a bit much for us, but we figured it was part of the atmosphere. Good service. Bro in law had the nova scotia benedict w/ smoked salmon. It looked tasty. Three others had the ranch brekkie, a classic. Pancakes can be hit or miss, according to my sister. Potatoes, i.e. hash browns, could've been crisper, then again I prefer like country taters with onions. I had the Mediterranean scramble. It had tomatoes and parmesan, so naturally it tasted great. Tourist prices, you betcha. We observed that students at the university would probably find this place too pricey, so clients are restricted to tourists, the newly wed and the *cough* nearly dead. read more

My husband and I came in for an early lunch with our two children on a weekday. This place is definitely not kid-friendly. We brought our double stroller in (we have a 2 year old and a 2 week old baby) and parked it out of the way between two tables and sat down. The waitress promptly asked us to move because they were "so busy" even though there was literally no one else in the restaurant but us. At the end of our meal our baby started crying so I sat in one of the armchairs by the fireplace to nurse her. I was using a nursing cover and being very discreet. Another couple came into the restaurant and the waitress very loudly announced that she would invite them to sit by the fireplace but "someone else is there right now." She made us feel very unwelcome there because we had children with us. Like we were inconveniencing her in some way even though they weren't that busy. As for the food, it was OK. I had the coppa caprese sandwich, hubby had the Italian sandwich and a grilled cheese for our two year old. All were decent, but greasy. Food also took a surprisingly long time to come out given how dead the place was when we got there. The pickled veggies that come with the meal were good, but the French fries were horrible. They were exactly the same kind that you buy frozen in the grocery store and bake in the oven. Some of them were burnt around the edges. Overall, I definitely won't be coming back to this place, especially if I have my kids with me. Plenty of other restaurants in Fairhaven. read more

Could be a 5 star rating.. Stopped here while on the road. Nice place. Service is friendly and the food is great. The chowder and peanut rockfish sandwich were very good. Kids menu Mac and cheese was gourmet. -2 stars for the extremely sloooooooow service. Seriously, everything is slow about this place. Didn't seem understaffed but just ineffective I guess. read more

Went here for some brunch and couldn't finish my food. I got a southwest omelette and was very disappointed. It was bland, and full of uncooked items. The sour cream on top almost made it worse. Haven't been back since. read more

Bad food and service. Had two fish dishes very over cooked. Sent one back and the next was still over cooked and inedible. Was told by the waitress "no one has ever sent these back" as if it was our problem, and was not apologetic, borderline rude. Meal was discounted but not comped and manager didn't bother to come talk to us. Very unimpressed read more

My boyfriend's mom & I discovered this place while walking around Fairhaven on her visit from CA. She had been wanting chowder and the sidewalk sign lured us in. So happy we went! The chowder was perfect and we also split a sandwich that we saw served to another patron because it looked so good. We enjoyed the little out door patio and although most outdoor seating was full & most of what we could see inside was full also - our server still managed to be attentive (even agreeing to snap a photo for us!) and fun. It wasn't until we decided to use the restroom before heading out, that we realized this place is much larger than what you see from the back alley patio. Kudos to all the staff for fresh, real food and unruffled service while clearly serving a packed house! I'll definitely be back to try other offerings that caught my eye. read more

The biggest thing about this place that gives me the fits, is their menu and the typos. Holy crap. I hope they didn't pay for a copy editor; they need a refund! Even my friend who isn't a stickler noticed the unprofessional menu. It's embarrassing. I've found lunch to be ok.... I had the soup/salad combo but would've liked very much to have the option of any of the sandwiches if I'd have ordered the soup/sandwich combo. Sadly they only offered a FEW of the "cold" side.... tuna salad, the egg salad, and I think a veg sandwich, maybe a BLT. Therefore instead I paired the Caesar (so-so) with my chowder. Meh. read more

Skylark's cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a beautiful, cafe with lovely turn of the century decor. The eggs benedict with salmon (pictured) was very good and the banana bread french toast was delicious. Great choice if youre visiting Bellingham, or passing by, and looking for a good meal in a great space. read more

Skylarks Hidden Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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If you like to eat dog poop, than this the place for you! Not only the food was unworthy of being food grade, I would feel bad giving it to rats! Truly a master of being the worst. Alright, I'm exaggerating, but the food was awful. Never returning. read more

They play their music SO loud that I can hear it inside my own apartment over a block and a half away. When I called to complain about it, someone named John answered the phone, made a snide remark and hung up on me. When I called back a second time he said "I don't have time for complaints. Email the owner" and he hung up on me again. I emailed the owner and now I'm writing this review. If I could give them zero stars I would but, unfortunately, that's not an option. read more

I think Skylark's decor is great, the floor to ceiling mirrors idea is brilliant-- but let's not get to crazy with all the stars people. The food is pretty good, not great, nowhere near excellent. The sandwich I had was bland, the bread was clearly bought from a bulk food supplier. Which is pathetic if you change over $10 for it. I will say that my dinner companion loved the clam chowder. read more