We walked in, on Saturday for brunch, had a 10 minute wait, and enjoyed every minute of our experience. Our food was great, the waitress was great, and people working there would check in on us if our waitress was busy which I think is a sign of incredible customer service. read more

The fact that any dish can be made vegan is why I want to try everything on this menu. Our waiter was super nice and attentive. I had the huevos rancheros, and OMG. I can't speak for any other dish but mine, but HOLY SHIT this dish was amazing. It didn't miss a beat. Being Hispanic from the south. Im a hard critic when it comes to Mexican dishes. Especially when it's so scarce this far north. I will say without question this is one of the best vegan dishes I've had here in Seattle. The lemon poppy seed waffle was phenomenal. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I loved the small business card on the table encouraging cash payment to support small business. The energy was very warm, and welcoming. We can't wait to go back and enjoy more menu items. read more

Food is very mediocre and almost non-existent service. We came for brunch and my wife had the sesame waffle and I had the deluxe (which is basically a huevos rancheros). The deluxe was not bad but not great either. Eggs were over cooked and their was literally nothing else on my plate other than eggs, tortillas, cheese, and potatoes. Also there was an "enchilada sauce" that was smothered on top that tasted like a bottled pasta sauce. They really should add some sort of veggies on top, at least onion and peppers, since it's pretty bare minimum ingredients. My wife's sesame waffle was also too simple, all it was served with was butter and syrup on the side. It was a small waffle as well. For the price it wouldn't kill them to give some fruit on the side at least! Lastly, during the entire time we had our water filled only once and I waited 20min for a second time but never saw a server to flag down. I wouldn't say servers were bad necessarily, just non existent. They were friendly but perhaps way under staffed. Took 15min to sit down at the beginning as well even though there was an empty table and the hostess told us she would wipe off the table right away to get us seated when we walked in. read more

Friendly staff, and a relatively quiet, comfortable atmosphere. Call in and take out is available, but here's the catch. I love these people, but sometimes they forget the sauce I ask for on the side (steamed veggies with lemon tahini sauce - yum!) . In fact, they did this several times, and I was starting to despair a little (my dad doesn't always check the bag when he picks it up, I tell him to!) and voiced my concerns to the staff. Lo and behold... They gave me a $25 gift card for my trouble! Since then they haven't forgotten once. Thank you Sunlight Cafe! HOMEMADE BREAD HERE ROCKS! read more

I've gotten the vegan highlander twice and I absolutely love it. It's so delicious. I had a lentil daal soup the first time and it was amazing. The second time I had a "Lima bean gumbo" which was good, but I would not consider it gumbo. My boyfriend had the tempeh burger with red pepper spread both times and loved it. The service is a bit slow bc they seem a tad understaffed but as long as you're not in a hurry it's not a big deal. Will definitely return. read more

Sunlight Cafe - The vegan highlander. So. Damn. Good. Tempeh will never be the same. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I've been here three times and all three times have had sub-par service. They always seem like they're annoyed to have to help customers and when we're ready for the check or ready to pay, we have to sit around, even if I try to get the server's attention. I've gone weekday morningss when there aren't that many people in there so it's not because they're busy, either. It's not really vegan friendly, either. I really like their tofu, but they charge over a dollar to have it instead of eggs. When I asked if they had non-dairy creamer, the waitress said they just had soy milk; I think it was completely unsweetened, so it didn't help much. When I asked for sugar she said there was honey on the table, even though we'd already established that we're vegan. I asked if she had other options and she said she COULD bring some sugar over if the honey wasn't okay. Clearly it's not or we wouldn't have asked. I like that the portions aren't gigantic and the prices LOOK reasonable but if you're vegan you're going to pay about 50% more for the substitutions anyway. read more

We got seated immediately at 11:30 on a Saturday. Then probably waited about 7-10 minutes before a server came by to check on us. To the point where we asked if we had been forgotten. The food however was great and not that expensive. I had the french toast. Which was really thick and delicious. It came with a fruit cup which was a good start. I also ate some of my friends huevos rancheros which was overfloweing with black beans. Which I also like and would order. Definite hippie earthy vibe to the store and staff. Grab a seat at the bar. People there get served much faster. Worth Checking out. read more

First - avoid the Portabella Mushroom Burger. This is essentially warmed over death on a soggy bun. Second - this place really is great (despite the tasteless 'shroom) and I would highly recommend checking it out if you find yourself on Roosevelt. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the service is amazing. If you're looking for my opinion on the best eats... Tempeh Tacos. Hands down the best thing on the menu. To refresh... PORTABELLA = BAD TEMPEH TACOS = GOOD read more

This is my favorite sit-down vegetarian diner. The right vibe, the right light, the right real energy complete with homemade kombucha, hearty specials for any diet preference, alcohol, local art for sale, colorful staff and clientele, a warm and historic feeling without being pretentious. Oh and always delicious. Every meal I've ever eaten. read more

My family came with twin two-year-olds and the service was absurdly terrible. Nobody took our order for at least twenty minutes and it was almost as if we were being purposefully ignored. The food was overly salty and while this spot may have once been trendy, brunch and vegan/vegetarian dining has long surpassed what was offered here. My side salad was disgustingly tangy (I love vegan tahini dressing, and this was off putting) or the tempeh which had great potential but was so salty I couldn't tell if it was good. Also who charges extra for Nutritional Yeast? What really bothered me was the message of healthy living and wholesome food that was clearly not embodied by the employees who didn't seem to care enough to even make sure they brought us the correct food and seemed to openly be annoyed with our two-yeaar-old's behavior? Save yourself the trouble and try out Chaco Canyon, Wayward Vegan Cafe or one of the other many options doing this same concept a million times better. read more

The only reason there is minus one star is that service can be slow sometimes... Usually only in the evening, though. But you just have to go there expecting that and you'll be fine. I always get the same few dishes when I go: Salad with Tahini dressing, The Huevos Rancheros sub tofu (their little tofu cubes are seasoned and fried to perfection!), or the Waffles with fruit! Also, the yogi tea is a must (endless cup) - just add a little honey and you'll be set. I tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie tonight - mmmmm. Not really chocolatey, but so peanut buttery. Like ice cream, but not cold and pie-y. :p They also make really great soups and have the best fresh baked bread in town. This restaurant is all veg. read more

Nice space. Nice staff. Great vibe. Uninspired brunch menu. (They have waffles, fruit, and 20 different egg-black bean-potato combinations). There was also enough salt in my potatoes to give an elephant a heart attack. They were so salty that they were displeasing to even put into my mouth. I didn't enjoy anything on my plate, and left half if it there. When I said something about the potatoes being incredibly salty and difficult to eat, there was no offer to bring me a new side of potatoes, and no comp came on the bill to reflect the fact that I was served bad food. I don't care which you choose, but when a customer points to her plate and uses the word "inedible," one of those two things needs to happen. We are now hitting the breakfast buffet at Whole Foods across the street, despite already dropping $20 on breakfast. read more

This place is the SPOT. I'm not a vegetarian and I couldn't care less that this is a vegetarian joint...I go all the time. The food is flat out fabulous, no matter if you're an omnivore or an herbivore. I guess if you're a carnivore you might fall a little short. But even so, their portabello mushroom burger is meaty in that "veggie tastes like meat" kind of way if you know what I mean. Whenever there's any out-of-towners visiting, this is the first place I bring them. They have wonderful service - the kind that not only makes you feel welcome, but feel appreciated as well. The floor to ceiling windows creates a great ambiance...that is until it gets dark out. For we all know that there's nothing better than natural lighting. If you've never had the sesame waffle, you haven't lived. Same thing goes if you haven't had the nut-burger. tis to die for. read more

Went here for the first time on a whim for brunch this morning. Was pleasantly surprised! I ordered the McKenna (eggs, swiss, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, w/ home fries & english muffin) and my family ordered the Deluxe Huevos Rancheros and daily special (some type of omlette, with lots of garlic). For starters, the coffee was delicious. The cinnamon roll I ordered was a tad dry, but it looked to be whole wheat, so I felt pretty gulit-free about slathering on the butter. (They cancel each other out... right?) The rest of the food was fantastic, though just a tad too salty. The one item that I couldn't stop eating, however, was the jam. SUCH GOOD JAM. The service was also extremely good. Our server was very polite and friendly (and brought us more jam - !!) The atmosphere was casual and perfect for a weekend brunch. As a vegetarian, it was nice not to have to worry about avoiding meat items. I'll be back for sure (and I'm definitely getting more of that jam. YUM) read more

I've got to admit, I'm a little mystified by all the negative comments regarding the service here. My roommate and I enjoyed brunch at Sunlight Cafe this afternoon, and our server - along with all the other staff members who visited our table - was laid-back and pleasant. We were attended to promptly and not hovered over - it was a pretty great experience. The food as well was stellar - we both got the Euripides - a phenomenal egg (or tofu!)/red pepper/garlic scramble served over spinach and seated nicely alongside Sunlight's glorious Home Fries (more like a delectable combination of hashbrowns and mashed potatoes than actual french fries) and even with the economy in the state it's in, I had to order a second mimosa, the first being so delicious and refreshing. All these, paired with the sunny and open atmosphere that the cafe's high ceilings and large windows provide, made for an unexpected and perfect way to enjoy a lazy Saturday afternoon. We can't wait to visit again (and bring friends!) read more

I have eaten at the Sunlight Cafe many times over many years. The food is tasty which has, in the past, made up for the slow service. I tend to get frustrated here waiting for my coffee or water to ger refilled, and I have actually sent my boyfriend up to the counter to get me more water because it has taken so long! I usually get the Vegan Highlander on the brunch menu. I've also had a few other items all of them were good. And then I had a bad experience....My friend ate her brunch only to find a hair at the bottom of her plate hiding under her food! When we brought this to the attention of the server she apologized and took the plate in the back. She then offered my friend a free dessert....she had just found hair in her food! She did not want to eat anything else! After declining the dessert the server brought us the full price bill...no discount for hairy food given here. Which is just rude. In general, good food, slow service. I had gone back time and time again even though the service was poor. I don't know if I will go back again, I think that hair is gonna haunt me. read more

This is my favorite restaurant, and I've eaten my way around this blue marble. I've eaten at "The Light" since 1978. My friends and family move to other states and other countries - they all miss it and mourn the lack of anything comparable wherever they are. There is just nowhere like the Sunlight Cafe! The noobs think the service is slow now... LOL -you shoulda seen it in the 70's! There were living crickets that made the coolest noise, and always the reggae music back then. And I STILL get my own coffee refills. No worries. If you can't tolerate not beeing catered to by fear-drive laborers, and insist on McDonalds-like uniformity... Stay Away. Otherwise, welcome home. Chill, and leave healthier and happier than when you walked in the door. Some get it, others never will. read more

Honestly disappointed. Everything is vegetarian but not necessarily healthy. Their plates reminded me of diner food - greasy and not inventive. Customers next to me were waiting a long time for their check read more

Still love sunlight. For me, its one of the best breakfast places in seattle. Fresh Juice, healthy options, straightforward food. Anytime someone mentions "hey lets go to portage bay!" I always daydream about relaxing with a cup of sunlight tea instead of standing around with the douchiest of seattle breakfast eaters. read more

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that gets shitty service here. I thought maybe they had a personal vendetta against me or something. Apparently, bad service is just par for the course here. Like, SERIOUSLY bad service. They probably get 3 out of 10 things right there (and that's a fact, I actually counted one time). That said, their food is beyond delicious. BEYOND. The tofu they scramble makes me want to beg for the recipe. I have to hold myself back from crawling across the restaurant on my knees. I don't know why I'd do that, but food THAT good makes you do crazy things, people. To be honest, all together, the bad service makes it 3 stars, but the food is like 10 gazillionbazillion stars. read more

This place is around the corner from my apartment and I'd live inside the restaurant if I could. They have a great selection of vegetarian and vegan food to choose from and serve breakfast until 3pm. Everything I've eaten here is terrific, although my go to is the vegan highlander. Service can be a wee bit slow but that's generally due to the small size of the kitchen. Everything is hand crafted as it's ordered. Definitely a great place to go on a rainy day for a pick me up read more

Sunlight Cafe - Vegan highlander = happiness food - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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THIS PLACE ROCKS!!! From our server to the food, all the way to the environment this place is awesome. Me and my wife came in about 2 weeks ago and are still to this day blown away by how good their food is. We are both vegan and have a super hard time finding restaurants that are dairy free and test food, But this place knocked it our the park in both!! The breakfast came out to around $50, and honestly we'd go there again, and actually will be this weekend. Totally in love, and can't wait for more. Would recommend to everyone vegan and non vegan read more

As we walked through the entrance I wondered what a 'vegetarian' breakfast place was like. You see, I have never been...until now. It was perplexing to think of a morning meal without the traditional accouterments of breakfast that I'd imagine would make most health conscious folk cringe: bacon, sausage, ham...you know, the normal pig-inspired, cholesterol laden greasy spoon fare. This is not that type of breakfast place, nor am I complaining...in fact, I quite like it. I ordered the sesame waffles, or something of the like. The batter was thick, somehow putting all other waffles to shame, resulting in a thick and crunchy yet not overdone masterpiece that I soon obliterated with syrup over a glass of freshly pressed apple juice. First though, we were served a dish of fresh fruit...a pleasant surprise. I'm told the french toast is equally as delicious. Again whole grain, tasty and filling. Nice atmosphere, nice place in general. I noticed some people complained about the wait staff, we didn't have any problems? Hmm, anyway...enough said, I'll be back. read more

The food is good, not stellar, but good. The soups are usually a great highlight and the portabello mushroom burger and tempah tacos are delicious. The real problem with this place is the mediocre service. No, you know what?, it's past mediocre. I've been going here in the afternoons lately and being in the service industry, I get it, on occasion being a waitress sucks but if you can't at least pretend to give somewhat of a shit, do something else. Most of the time, this place isn't very busy when I'm there and yet multiple times I've been told off-hand to" find a seat anywhere". The only problem with this is that the menus and seats aren't necessarily together. So... okay, that's cool, they're piled up within view, I'll just grab my own. It's the waiting for fifteen minutes, never a smile, just a surly "okay" and a grab for my menu when I'm ordering. Getting my check always seems to be a hassle, so I wouldn't recommend going to the Sunlight if you're on a tight schedule. I've only had one waiter who smiled and made eye contact with me. Good job, tall, redhead, beard guy! read more

First, let me say that I did not try the food at this place. It did look pretty good when I saw what my neighbors had ordered. I went here to grab a quick lunch and was disappointed to find that 1) the menu consisted of like 4 different things, rearranged in slightly different packages. 2) it was a little on the pricey side 3) you are charged extra for literally everything. Extra salad dressing = $1.25 extra, split a meal between two people = $2.50 extra, add tofu to a meal = $4.50 extra (that's all a vegetarian place sells...why doesn't it just come with it?), and the list goes on. My girlfriend and I decided not to get food due to the limited options and obnoxious up upcharging. We got a tea and a cider and spent $10. I was surprised because she was the one who commented on how ridiculous it was, and she is normally willing to overlook that sort of thing for a niche food like Vegetarian. This reaffirmed my theory that if you want vegetarian food, you should just get it at a regular, full-service restaurant. Vegetarian restaurants have limited competition and charge more as a result. They also just have fewer options. read more

Dirty guy handling silverware & water glasses. I mean dirty, stained clothes some grit black stuff from his hands left on the water glasses! I was so freaked out I ordered a sandwich so I could eat it without silverware. Too bad it wasn't that good of a sandwich with a bland cup of soup $11.50, really! Half way through I just could not eat it. My husband though his was pretty good. Server didn't seem to care. I wouldn't come back. read more

Nice vegetarian menu with vegan options, that comes out as tasty food. Packed and slow on a Sunday morning, but that's generally what I expect anywhere decent, it was a little frustrating to have to wait for coffee though. Again, I don't understand why people don't prefer self serve coffee. Staff was friendly and showed up more as things slowed down. Everyone in the group liked their food and it was a nice weekend brunch alternative. read more

So I have to start out by saying that I was pretty let down. For starters, the dinner prices, in my opinion are too high $13-$20 if I remember correctly. The server was ok, nothing amazing just sort of there, we had to flag him down for water and other items. I wouldn't recommend the house salad. If you want a salad, I'd suggest eat one before you come and save your self $4 for a pretty damn small plate of greens. I ordered egg plant parmesan and... wow what a mistake! The top layer was so thick it was like biting into cheese-flavored rubber, the entire meal was luke warm, and the egg plant was a little bitter and under cooked. Seriously, I've got a much better recipe that costs a fraction of the price if you're interested. To be fair, it was dinner, and I haven't had any breakfast or lunch menu items, but at this rate I'll probably skip the entire place. read more

My go to place for a cup of excellent yogi tea! I didn't realize how often I go here until my personal assistant on phone (Cortana) started asking if this was a place I worked or lived at.. lol My favorites are yogi tea, enchiladas, nutburger, a kombucha+alcohol drink (that's such a brilliant combination). Everything is made super super fresh. Totally healthy, totally fresh, pureness in every way.. read more

Even if you're not a vegetarian, I recommend you come here for the Euripides scramble (you can get it with scrambled tofu or eggs). It's a heavenly concoction of spinach, roasted garlic, red peppers, and feta cheese that is, hands down, one of the best original dishes I've ever had in Seattle. As far as the rest of the menu, it's all worthwhile, if you're in the mood for healthy fare. read more

I'm not a vegetarian or vegan. However, I can appreciate a good restaurant with good food. At this place, all I can really speak for is the waffles. Oh god, their waffles. They are so delicious, quite large, come with flavorful syrup, and are pretty much made of magic when consumed with plain yogurt sloshed over the top of every bite. Magic waffles and tea for a magnificent start to your morning will run you a very low price here as well. The problem? As mentioned in several other reviews, the service leaves something to be desired. The staff always seems too busy to care that there are customers eating at their restaurant...even on the rare occasion the place isn't all that busy. For those waffles, I can deal with having food set on the table, lacking any sort of friendly smile or happy remark, and then am content to be ignored while I savor my meal before being glared at until I leave. If you wake up one morning and think "man...cereal will just not cut it. I need something special", go for it! Get them waffles! If not...well, definitely settle for the cereal. I like frosted mini-wheats myself. read more

I had "Fresh Pasta with Basil Pesto" Sorry to say the the food is bland flavorless and the desert (chocolate pudding pie) was gritty. The best part of the meal was the Scrimshaw Pilsner. The best part was the wait staff they were attentive and very nice. read more

Wow. I love a place that is not only vegan but has a plethora of gluten free options and this is the place. I came here for an early morning breakfast before a big day and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of fun breakfast options. I came back later in the day for some gluten free pastries. read more

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My friend julie introduced me to this place last week. She grew up in the neighborhood and has many fond memories of the cafe as a child. So, I figured it was worth a try... I was pretty skeptical at first, especially since I was having a bit of difficulty finding something on the menu that sounded appetizing and was vegan too. We ordered the sweet potato and tofu cakes which were nothing short of to die for... I very rarely like tempeh (unless I prepare it!) but I went for it anyway, ordered the grilled tempeh burger with grilled onions and red pepper spread. My god, it was amazing! So amazing, a few days later I took my boyfriend there... now he too loves the place. I'm also quite impressed by the soups there... I've had the black eyed pea and the navy bean soup and both were really really hearty and filling! This place is definitely worth the drive! read more

I wrote a review of the Sunlight with 3 stars last summer, saying I loved the food, but service and cleanliness was an issue. Unfortunately a couple weeks ago while visiting my family, my sister and I ate there and violent/painful food poisoning ensued soon thereafter. After retracing my eating steps, I feel certain that I got it from the veggie sandwich and salad I had, most likely the sprouts. This totally bums me out, as I like their food and mellow atmosphere. However I think when it comes to a safe food environment, they are not working hard enough to maintain a clean kitchen (food, surfaces, tools and staff). After I got sick (I lost 2 lbs!) my family and I had to decide to never eat there again. If they got their act together and maintained a visibly more professional kitchen, I would return. But until then, no way. read more

This is the best food in Seattle if you're into things like love, empathy, sustainability, quality, quality time, organic ingredients and protein that is not an animal (they prepare the food with all of the above). I was born and raised in Seattle and this place embodies my favorite elements of this city. On top of all of this, every single time I leave the Sunlight, my body feels like it just got a massage from the inside out. This is not a place for people who like ego, guns, or blood in their food. P.S. they have what appears to be the world's largest vintage Pez collection. read more

Sunlight Cafe - Seasonal smoothie. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is an awesome place. Brunches SMELL good. Something about those waffles baking, the potatoes frying and the papayas exhaling sweet essence. The coffee is organic, and I swear the drip is so deep you'd think you had pure expresso in the cup. Try the melted Avacado and Cheese on homemade andadama bread for lunch. It is huge, but eat it slowly. It is worth savoring. Have it with a cup of soup - never a disappointment. I like the sauteed vegetables on brown rice for dinner. I like that this is a restaurant that is human, that seems to form relationships, that makes a home for many who have lived and worked in the neighborhood. Sit at the counter. Share some stories, swirl some honey in your tea, eat without guilt, and leave with a sense of having done something right. read more

This was awesome. I had the peanut curry soup and Vegetable Lasagna. I'd certainly come back. The decor is modern and simple, which matches the reasonable prices. There are both vegan and vegetarian options. The staff were courteous and reasonably prompt and the food took awhile to come out but not too bad at all. read more

Vegetarian food with an eye to nutrition. The Nutburger is the shxt. No lie. Brunches are weighted toward the Mexi-Vegetarian options, but my kids went for the blueberry-yogurt hotcakes like they were Spongebob Squarepants-branded crack. Can't speak to the poor service experiences of others here. In my experience the waitstaff has always been friendly and timely. A good place to stop for lunch/breakfast if you're going to Whole Foods. read more

This place has always been solid...and I've been coming here fairly regularly for the last 15 years. Yes, the service may be a little slow *sometimes*, but it exists! The people are always nice, if not a little shy :) The food is always super delicious and fresh and fabulous--breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. I have eaten practically everything on their menu and I have never been disappointed. When I lived in another city for several years, I would still get SERIOUS cravings for their brown rice salad. Since we are once again not living in the city, I keep a bottle of their lemon tahini dressing in my fridge just to keep myself from going into the DT's. Chill neighborhood place for healthy, delicious, well-prepared food. read more