It's been along time since I ate here. This place had always been busy and popular pre-covid.we tool advantage of post-covid slowdown to have a simple and hearty brunch here. Service with a smile and good food. They seemed to be taking the right precautions. My favorite part is definitely sitting outside next to the rose bushes. Easy parking too. read more

Retro diner with a modern twist. This place is super homey and low frills. The coffee is good, the food is standard, the seating is really smashed into the limited space. Add your name to the clipboard next to the front door and grab a cup of coffee from the cart outside while you wait for a waitress to escort you inside. It's a good spot for a hearty, typical American breakfast, but I don't know that I'd wait in the rain and cold for this place. read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - Retro and fabulous! - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I went for brunch here with a friend and was so disappointed with the food. I just got french toast with scrambled eggs and it was lukewarm and thin. I had to flag down the server multiple times and she provided good customer service once I had her attention. It honestly just felt like a waste of money coming here for brunch. read more

Maybe if I wasn't so hung over, I could have enjoyed this place a bit more. I stumbled here real early in the morning, in an attempt to get to Mt. Rainier from Kirkland, but that's a whole other story. Like I said,I stumbled in early, so there was no wait and probably only 5 other groups there, so I had no problem sitting or waiting in any type of line. I did notice a couple police officers in the back...and to me that's always a good sign. The waitress was really friendly and could tell I was in no mood to talk, so acted accordingly. She sounded aussie also, and was very attractive :) ..not that it matters...but hey, doesn't sightseeing always go well with dining? I ordered the Seattle to Portland omelette and homestyle fries. The omelette consisted of bacon, tomato, spinach and parmesean cheese. Everything was on point, from the portions to the service, to the taste, the only thing that I noticed was the parmesan was sharper than I would have liked in an omelette. But all things considered, it was a great meal. oh, and the homestyle fries were awesome...not over cooked to the point of it being a hashbrown, but soft almost pillowy texture with herbs that weren't over powering. Needless to say, I finished the whole meal, and was ready to take on Seattle. ps - after my meal was finished, (I was the last order) the chef came out and chatted up the cops. I think she is the owner. I love that small town feel. Kudos to The Dish! pps - they only accept cash. read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - Seattle to Portland Omelette - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love breakfast, it may be my favorite meal of the day if I actually had time to prepare and eat it everyday. The Dish has some pretty good plates but it can't beat a few of my other favorite Seattle breakfast spots except for one. BISCUITS and GRAVY! It has been difficult to find biscuits and gravy that give me a reason to splurge and yearn for my Nebraska dishes. But this one, is the main reason I have returned here and huddled with the others waiting for a table. The group of waiting patrons milling around the front on the weekends can get pretty large but the delicious coffee they serve while waiting and shivering is a nice perk. read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - two plates of Biscuits and Gravy please - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excellent food, with a hint of Mexican flare, at a reasonable price. $15-20. Will keep you full for hours. Highly recommend the Slacker. By reading some of previous comments I might add that if you're looking for something very sophisticated, French style or something, this is not for you. But if you enjoy simple and yummy fare, then give them a try Bon appetit read more

Been here on more than one occasion and was looking forward to coming back. Food is always good as it was today and the friendly service was notable. I like this place. Here's why I gave it two stars- 1. I had breakfast with my daughter and the bill for two of us for breakfast was 50$ which included tip. That seemed like a lot for an adult and a child. We did not have an unusual amount. Food was ample- not clearly 50$ worth. 2. More importantly and worthy of possibly one star is this- in the age of Covid, with restaurants working hard to bring people in and make them feel ok doing so, The Dish failed to prove to me that they cleaned thoroughly. I saw guests leave their outdoor table after finishing their meal and shortly thereafter replaced by another costumer without any wipe down. I asked for ketchup and was given a bottle from another table that the server did not wipe down first before giving it to me. Should we be sharing bottles? Prob not. Should things be bleached down? Probably so. I don't feel the need to head back here. The cost and lack of cleaning procedures were a turn off. read more

Mmmmmm I think this is one of my new favorite breakfast places. We must have come at a good time because we didn't have to wait long. The food was delicious, and the portions were good. I ordered the breakfast burrito...it was so good and so were the breakfast potatoes that came with it! Can't wait to go back! read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - Breakfast Burrito - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A cute little neighborhood place with an avid following - but I found the interior space cramped, the food OK but not great. I had an omelet - chock full of quality ingredients, but the egg completely separate from the filling (put in way too late). My partner had a different dish - she liked it OK, but wasn't thrilled. And their "scones" - not scones in anyone else's parlance, more like a cake with cinnamon-sugar frosting. It's worth a visit, but it's not one of Seattle's top breakfast places. read more

My local friend took me here because, he said, he's sampled the Eggs Benedict at brunch spots all over the city and says The Dish does eggs benedict the best. Shivering all over with anticipation, I ordered. Result: Hollandaise WIN! Although hollandaise is just one of the complicated factors that must be mastered in order to ascend to Excellence of Benedict, The Dish delivers deftly. In fact, their hollandaise sauce is Plato's Ideal of hollandaise: perfect blend of lemony buttery lightly salty effervescence. Furthermore, they've achieved a perfectly poached egg: runny on the inside, firm white on the outside. There was lovely fresh spinach (for one who opts for meatless Benedict), and the English muffin arrived toasted crisply as ordered, to facilitate a dreamy contrast between the creamy gooey sauce and the crunch of toasty bread. More pluses: not diner coffee, GREAT coffee. You can order a HALF Benedict, which is just ONE egg on ONE muffin half instead of two. (I like that, because I am a small person and I intend to stay that way.) Delicious home fried potatoes. Edges crisp; almost whipped-like creamy interior, outstanding flavor. I suspect they choose the right potato for the job and treat it with skill and love. Great kitschy decor - adorable Grandma's cups and plates. Pleasant & efficient service. HINT: come on a weekday! read more

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They DO take credit cards! I wasn't a big fan of the corned beef, but the eggs Benedict was grrrrreat! read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - The holindase sauce is great! - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Dish serves up some pretty decent diner food in a cute, colorful atmosphere. The staff was friendly and we were seated at the counter after only a short wait. I ordred my usual breakfast: two eggs with breakfast potatoes, cubed, with eggs over easy, bacon and wheat toast. The bacon was great. The toast and jam were good. The potatoes were not my thing -- I preferred shredded potatoes to cubed every time. I would eat here again. read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Absolutely delicious my husband and I split the chicken fried steak and it it was definitely enough for both to split and be full! Great customer service and the food came out really quickly and hot!If ever in Seattle again I will definitely come back here read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been eating at the Dish since.. well, since it became the Dish. One of the things I've appreciated most is that through various owners the menu has remained largely unchanged. Usually the 1st thing a new owner or manager wants to do when they take over restaurant is change everything. At least the people that have run the Dish since its original owners have been smart enough not to screw things up (too badly). Additionally the place has continued to be a "neighborhood joint". Not built to a formula that was dictated by an interior designer who had to make 500 buildings all look the same. I've always imagined that whomever was running the Dish was a working stiff like me who just wanted to do something they liked to do and make a living while they were doing it. The pandemic has been unkind to restaurants and the Dish has not escaped this. To their credit they have persisted in keeping the doors open. I've seen some changes work their way into the place over the last few years and I hope, in a post-pandemic world, these will be reversed. Service at the Dish used to be snappy. Your coffee was always refilled and the wait staff always checked back several times to see if you needed anything. The service is a little slack these days. Portion sizes have shrunk noticeably and I expect this is an attempt to stop the flow of red ink as much as anything. The blueberry pancakes have shrunk considerably in size from those I remember of 10 or 15 years ago. The biscuits and gravy, while still quite tasty, now feature considerably smaller biscuits. The gravy is more white sauce and A LOT less sausage. The coffee isn't smooth and mellow. On my most recent visit I was quite pleased to sit outside where there were no speakers projecting the Overly loud and annoying music that the employees apparently had chosen. What the hell were you people listening to? AC/DC, Metallica, White Snake?? 11:00 o'clock on a Sunday morning is not a time that I want to hear hard rock classics of the 80's & 90's (actually, though I am a child of rock and roll, there is never a time that I want to hear AC/DC, Metallica or White Snake). Music needs to aide in digestion, NOT constipation. The Dish has a good thing going. Eat there. They deserve your support. read more

The best biscuits and gravy of all time, "all over the world," as my grandpa used to say. This place makes it difficult to adventure around to other breakfast cafes because it's consistently and overpoweringly delicious every single time and without fail. There's always a wait, but never too long, especially for a 2-top, and they have hot coffee outside to tie you over. The same waitresses every single Saturday morning, the small space, the generous plates, the incredibly decadent sauces and gravies (we think perfect), and The Dish gets a 5 star for the total package. Moderate prices, but the key being that no matter how much we spend, we end the visit saying, "Thank you, thank you, oh my god, thank you, thank you, Jesus, thank you ..." If you're out of town, city, state, country, come here. You'll remember breakfast in Seattle forever. If you're from here, welcome to a new cultural institution. This is how small breakfast places should be done, classic, comfortable, warm, unforgettable ... like home, with about 50 more siblings at the table, and no dishes to clean up after. Highly Recommended entrees--Eggs Benedict and Biscuits & Gravy. read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - Eggs Benedict and the Biscuits & Gravy (yes, that's a side). Pardon the digging in before the picture. We couldn't wait :-) - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My friends go absolutely batty when they talk about this place, but I don't see it. I'm sure I'll be burnt at the stake for this. Now, understand that I'm not a fan of breakfast food, so feel free to scoff at everything I write. But given the reviews I'd expect the food to be phenomenal when it just seems regular. Not bad. Just, as expected. Fellow yelpers, please don't kill me. ;-) We're a democratic society. All opinions are welcome. And I'm basically an idiot, so what do I know? read more

The food was good but the service left more to be desired. None of the tables I saw were sanitized. At one point I had to move tables because the patio door was continuously being opened and it was 40 degrees outside. When I moved tables the server took hand sanitizer, rubbed it in his hands and wiped it on a towel and wiped down the table. Gross. There was someone's child running around in the kitchen, the staff wasn't very attentive. I sat with an empty iced tea for 10+ minutes and by the time I finished my meal I still hadn't been given a refill. When I was given my check I asked if I could have my drink to-go. The server said I would have to be charged for the drink to-go. What?!?! After telling him, "no thanks," he offered to fill my tea then and there. My tea was never filled. read more

Sunday brunch at The Dish. Yumm. So glad that when the new owners took over several years ago they left the recipes and the decor intact. Hadn't had the opportunity to visit The Dish for quite some time. So on a recent Sunday a.m. my gal-friend and I went in for breakfast. The Slacker Special and the Hot Jack scramble were as good as ever. Even though the staff changes over time they are still friendly and the noise and music level were low enough that we could carry on a conversation (OMG are most restaurant owners aware that their clientele might like to have a pleasant conversation while they eat?? Seems not). Thanks to The Dish for keeping the vibe. read more

This place is so awesome! We were looking for a nice place with good food and The Dish had us beyond satisfied. Our waitress was so awesome and polite and friendly, she MADE our experience!The food is phenomenal, the coffee is outstanding and the cafe itself is so cute and comfortable! Highly recommend for a quick breakfast or brunch! read more

The Dish started doing burritos, tacos, and nachos at night and I've never been happier. Everything I've had has been delicious, and they added the nice touch of panini-pressing their burritos (something I never realized I needed, but was pleasantly surprised by. Their partnership with the neighboring brewery Bad Jimmy's is also great to offer more space! I foresee coming back here quite often read more

uh..YES. Take the huevos verdes, spritz on a little tapatio, load it into a potato cannon and fire it at my face. In the late morning, after a night of scavenging in rowdytown... You go to the dish and get this or the classic eggs beni (classic!) and you put it down. For fucking keeps. It's the solid move. Don't waste your life, son. Just make it out and be blessed by the lords of the kitchen for a meager wage. read more

All the foods your doctor doesn't recommend--they have them here. Loads of butter, oil, fat and carbs--that's what makes life delicious. Be sure to specifically ask if the scones are made TODAY, as the day-old ones they sometimes serve in the morning are a bit stiff. The Hot Jack omlette--OMG--very delicious. You can ask for your homefries to be cooked a certain way, and I like them medium crisp, not burnt, not crunchy, but also not raw. They have more hot sauces here than a Texas BBQ, but all I need is the green Tabasco and I'm good. The sourdough toast is the best. You can get a huge breakfast here for under $15 complete with tax and a reasonable tip, and be good until dinner. Very reheatable leftovers. I also had the French Toast once, and it was equally satisfying. Don't come here after 2:45 in the afternoon, as this place is for early birds only. Parking is a chore on the weekends, but I found parking on nearby N 46th Street. If you're by yourself, it's best if you sit at the counter, as tables are limited and generally reserved for deuces, three's and fours. Coffee is above average for a greasy spoon. Recommended. One of the last of a declining genre of good, home-made breakfast places. I first came here in 1976 when it was Christie's cafe, and you could get a whole breakfast for about $2.00. Now, it's about $12.00. They used to have small pizzas for $3.00 and a pinball machine on the south wall. That's back when "The New Kid in Town" and "Hotel California" was topping the charts. Anyway, glad to see the place is still open. read more

Had to wait to get in but well worth it! The Seattle Slacker was great! Staff exceptionally attentive. Will go back! read more

The Dish Cafe Ballard - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great little breakfast place! He had biscuits and gravy and I had an build-your-own omelet with pepperjack, bacon and more bacon. Both amazing and with drinks, it was all under $30. High quality food and reasonable prices. read more

Amazing! This is off the beaten path and worth it!! I promise you!!! Seek it out for a wonderful start to your day. Try the Roma omelette, most wonderful recommendation from my very attentive server. You cannot finish your food here. My particular children were able to find food and enjoy every bite! Fantastic prices and selection. We are so thrilled to find The Dish! read more

Cream Cheese: The Sweet Sweet Nectar of The Gods. Every cheesecake's delicious base, a staple in every bagel-eater's fridge, unlikely hot dog garnish, and the secret ingredient for Alli D's Savory Chicken Squares (pm me for recipe). It can also be found in the omelets at The Dish. I ordered the 'My Favorite' omelet, which has bacon, tomatoes, green onion, and cream cheese. Add in a cup of dark dark coffee, a 'scone' which seems more like coffee cake but is amazing nonetheless, and some home fries, and you've got yourself a breakfast worthy of the Gods. Personally I prefer my potatoes with a little more crunch and a little less grease, but then again I'm just a mere mortal and don't know what's good and what's not. Case in point: The Boy particularly enjoyed the potatoes. We both agreed that the bacon was divine. You decide whose opinion is more omniscient. Other things to note about The Dish: It's tiny, so be prepared to wait if you come after 9 on a weekend, they only take cash or check, and they have a whole wall full of different hot sauces. read more

What a cute little breakfast place on Leary Way!! It really looks like an old-fashioned home inside, with narrow hallways, flowered carpeting and the yellow-painted walls. You'll definitely be pleased with the food (plentiful, affordable) and service (fast, friendly). Be SURE to get there before 11am if you wanted to be seated quickly and not be Starvin Marvin by the time you do. We arrived at 10:15 and were seated within 10 minutes. On top of the previously mentioned Yelps (cash/check ONLY, blah blah blah), here are some of the cool factors I noticed: 1. A variety of coffee mugs (just like home!) Omar had one with a big cat on it and said "MOM" in pink letters. Ha, ha. 2. There was a big display of dum dum lollipops by the bathroom. Don't mind if I do! (And then I kept singing that song in my head -- "dum dum, dum dum, dum bee doo be dum dum...") 3. Because of the fact it's cash/check only, we split up the check quite easily and were out of there fast. 4. Bacon was niiiiiice and dark and crispy, just the way I like it! Things undesirable: 1. The server charged me more than the menu price!! It listed $5.25 for 2 pancakes and $3.75 for one. (I had one.) Then I added eggs and bacon, which was $3.75. So shouldn't my total be $7.50? But she wrote down $4.50 + $4.50 = $9. Hmmmmmmmmmmm! Oh no she dadn't! (p.s. It was the waitress with the Australian accent and "yoga body" she so loves to talk about.) 2. Quite small, tables crammed too close to one another across the aisle. DON'T bring a big party here, you'll have to be split up. Someone at our table cursed, and the dad sitting next to us gave us a scathing look -- his son was probably young enough to play with Tonka toys. Oops. 3. They keep interrupting you the entire time you're there. Three different servers came up to ask if we wanted something to drink! THREE! Plus with four of us it took three different trips to get our food out. It's a small place -- why don't they ask one another for help on a trip so we can get it at once (or at least in 2 trips)? I worried my food was getting cold and stared at it carnivorously until FINALLY Nicole O's items arrived. Ahem. Otherwise a pretty lovely experience (before 11am). read more

Usually trying to get brunch at 11 am on a Sunday is like black friday at Walmart: make sure you don't get trampled by everyone else with the same idea. But what if everyone else was really really friendly? And there was free coffee? And delicious smells kept wafting out the door? That might even convince me to shop at Walmart and it surly will make me repeat visit The Dish. Showing up at 10:40 snagged me a table for 4 by 11am. To pass the time I sipped the free coffee and chatted with the others in line. Totally enjoyable, and a good start for a lazy Sunday. The servers were totally friendly and not in that harried 'holy crap I just can't deal anymore' mode that you sometimes see during the breakfast rush. The ambiance is warm and charming, especially the hodgepodge of mugs they serve coffee in (pink barbie mug FTMFW!) are adorable. Most of the menu focuses on eggs in omelette or scramble form. Both of my companions went this direction and enjoyed what they got. They both went with the scone as the 'toast option'. Calling it a scone is at best a bald faced lie (dude, it's cinnamon coffee-cake), but what a delicious lie it is. Me? I'm a biscuits and gravy man so B&G for me with scrambled eggs and potatoes. The gravy was excellent, not too heavy, and with a bit of tabasco really hit the spot. The biscuits were large but not dense and working my way through both was no problem. Interestingly the biscuits were slightly sweet. Any sweeter and they would have clashed with the gravy, but as it was I really enjoyed the sweet background note. Also remarkably good were the potatoes on the side. These were nicely cooked and especially well seasoned. There was a good amount of sweet, caramelized onion mixed in that greatly enhanced the dish. All in all excellent. I could see moving to Ballard just to be close by The Dish. read more

When your name makes its way down the wait list and you finally set foot in the narrow little space that is Dish, you'll see why they make you wait outside. Not only is it constantly packed, but there is seriously nowhere to stand indoors that isn't directly in the path of the busy food servers or someone's elbows moving around as they shovel bite after bite of delicious food into their maws. That said, they really do treat their little patch of front lawn as a makeshift waiting room and try to make it comfortable for the expectant eater, with some outdoor seating and a carafe of hot coffee so you can serve yourself a little pre-breakfast treat (and warm yourself up) as you wait outside, exposed to the elements. The wait is also a good time to take stock and make sure you have cash or checks, 'cause if you don't, you ain't eatin' here. Something about that outdoor waiting experience definitely gets the appetite going, and makes it that much more comfy and cozy to walk into the warm diner full of chatter, clanking dishes, and the smell of hot breakfast wafting from the grill. I'm a fan of the scrambles, and love that the folks here are happy to make little tweaks to the menu to suit finicky eaters (kid friendly, check!). The portions are enough to start your morning off right without putting you into a food coma for the day. A word to the wise: forget toast, go for the scone! Don't expect a scone like any you have seen before, though. Expect a mondo wedge of lightly sweet, cinnamony cake-like food substance. It looks something like a 2-inch thick triangular pancake and tastes like a just-baked snickerdoodle. Yu-hu-hu-hummm! read more

This place is a perfect example of, "What in the hell is wrong with all of you people?" We have an office nearby The Dish but have never gone there because there is ALWAYS a line out the door. While that generally says a lot of great stuff about a business, I'm not the kind of person that waits in line for breakfast (I don't like to wait to eat, what can I say). But I FINALLY passed by the other day and it was late enough (almost 11am) that there was no line, so I popped in. Normal looking menu - your usual diner food with pancakes, hash, breakfast sandwiches, etc. Prices were about normal too. I ordered pancakes with eggs and sausage. Took maybe 10 minutes, then it arrived and looked and tasted JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DINER FOOD ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY. Bland eggs, charred, processed sausages, big but otherwise average pancakes, meh coffee, etc. So like I said, what is wrong with you people lined up outside to eat at this place all the time? You could go to at least 10 other places within walking distance that have the same or better food without standing around in the cold. It's actually infuriating. I'm not sure why I care so much, but it really bothers me that you morons slather all over yourselves to go to The Dish. Typical Seattle though. Even though there is a place literally right next door called The Traveler that makes breakfast that stomps all over the food at The Dish, and there's NEVER a line to get in, and they have ALCOHOL! read more

I've only come here on weekday afternoons, so I've never had to endure a massive wait. However, even if I had, I think that the food here is worth it. Service is good, and they top off your coffee (which is very good) every 10 minutes. I've never had anything but the "Slacker Especial" here, but it's awesome. I'm not sure how they do it, but they scramble up this ultra moist, savory, delicious combination of eggs, jack cheese, and green onions, then top it off with tangy salsa, sour cream, and tortilla chips. This is among the best scrambles that I've ever had. It comes with a heap of steaming roasted red potatoes which I'm less of a fan of since I prefer crispy hash browns. Instead of toast, you can elect to get a "scone", which they describe as being "more like coffee cake". Why they don't just call it coffee cake? So silly. read more

They literally offer something for everyone! The menu is big and there are many delicious dishes from which to choose! I love the veggie Benedict, the eggs are poached to perfection! The staff is friendly and nice, they help each other and say please and thank you and they smile! It's a very pleasant atmosphere for brunch! read more

Best Breakfast Ever! I usually have the hardest time appreciating breakfasts. I just find them to be too expensive, especially for what you're getting. I always found it amazing that people can pay around $10 for breakfast food when its just plain ol' bacon, eggs and toast. However at Dish they really make the plain ol' bacon, eggs and toast into an art form. It's the most delicately crafted breakfast ever! I got the Roma Omelette and it was superb. The lady got the "From Seattle to Portland" Scramble and it might have been even better than what I got. The only thing I should warn you about is that this place only takes Cash and Checks. Actually, one more thing if its raining outside then this place has coffee and a shelter outside that people can wait in while they're waiting for their table. read more

I insist I'm not a breakfast person (for instance, I only had a Naked Juice at 9:30 am today, shame on me) but I couldn't resist trying The Dish. The Papa, Little Sister and I shivered and huddled outside after we had scrawled our signatures on the waiting list. And lo and behold, the waitress brings out a cart of hot steaming coffee, cream and sugar! I happily clutched my High School Musical Mug (let's call that kitschy shall we?) and sipped my coffee before being called inside 15 minutes later. On our table: Corned Beef Hash made in-house. Glorious, crunchy, perfectly savory and divine with eggs over easy. Little Sister had the Slacker Special which was basically the insides of a burrito ... but ten times better than any burrito I've ever had. Cheese, sour cream, onions, eggs, tortilla chips, what's not to like? You have a choice of a scone or 5 different varieties of toast, I personally prefer the toast since the scone was a bit heavy and crumbly to accompany dishes that are already substantial. Now a series of short phrases: Cash Only! Long Lines! Friendly Staff! Closes at 1:45 PM! Mmm Mmm Good! read more

It just so happened that the stars aligned on Sunday morning, allowing us to try the much-yelped-about THE DISH. Sir-Cock-A-Doodle-Wake-Up-Call had us up again at 6am, and we were lucky enough to be staying with friends who live just up the road. So at 7:45am we joined the waiting crowd out front and stood in anticipation of the "closed" sign to get the flip. Food was very good. Not blow-your-doors-off, but very good. I loved that B's corned beef hash was the simple, unfooled around with variety. Sometimes just keeping it to the basics is the best. My blueberry pancakes were delicious, but a little tough. Delicious sausage links that reminded me of breakfast at Grandma's when I was little (my ex-hippy parents would never have allowed such a thing to pass their door). Really loved that they brought M a toy (plastic baboon!) to keep him entertained, although we still wound up tag-teaming in order to get our food eaten. Totally solid, but The Dish is pretty small and I can see how it would be a madhouse if you don't get there early. read more

So... I'm embarrassed... I came here for the first time this morning w/ some non-yelp friends and I didn't research on Yelp first to see that it was a non-credit card establishment! Luckily I had my checkbook in my car, but I honestly can't recall the last time I paid for a meal w/ a check. Very trustworthy of these folks! The breakfast burrito was really quite great actually. There was no way to eat all the food I was served! I love it when that happens. It made up for the fact that I thought it was a bit more spendy than I would usually like. I've read some other reviews about the service... personally, I thought it was pretty good, especially since they were very accommodating to the fact that I met up w/ my friends after they were already seated and got my food to me relatively quickly. I'll come back here again, but I'm not sure it's a "destination spot". read more

Maybe I'm wrong and maybe I'm blind, but I didn't see pancakes on the menu, hence the 4 stars. I was kind of in the mood for a breakfast combo type thingee, but sadly, no pancakes. Wah! But I went with the Eggs Benedict, it was out of this world good, maybe the best I've ever had to be honest. Everything about this place was great: the coffee, the service, the food, and the price. It made for a very pleasant experience overall. But, no pancakes? Seriously? Is this not America? Give me liberty or give me pancakes, I'd take the pancakes. Thank you very much! ****It has since been brought to my attention that they, in fact, do have pancakes. I guess I had a brain fart and just didn't see them on the menu. Thanks for bringing this to my attention Carrie L. B. It has been noted for future reference****** read more

I seriously hate this place because I've never had a good experience here. I always HOPE to, but.. Ok, maybe one time it was alright, but nothing special at best. The wait is ridiculous and the pancakes are always too thick and dry. Plus, I don't like cramped and crowded, and I hate kitsch--all 3 define this place to a T. I go back now and again for the novelty of sitting directly under the apartment where I used to live in the early 90s and to gaze out at the small strip of grass where my chihuahua (now dead, dead, dead) first learned to potty outside. read more

I'm in love, friends, and her name is The Dish. Following a walk around Greenlake, we made our way down 8th avenue to a strange little five way intersection that marks the entrance to a spicy little slice of Heaven. On this blessed day, we waited only a minute for space to open up at the bar, and we were seated and brought water by a friendly but efficient hostess. As I glanced around, the first thing I noticed was how well the small cafe was designed. Every inch of space is used and yet no one is cramped or bumping elbows. There is a bit of a shuffle when people are both entering and exiting, but fortunately we are in Seattle where over-polite 'after yous' rule the public. Even the bar seating, which normally I would stay away from, was comfortable and perfectly spread to accommodate the perfect amount of patrons. Everything in its' right place! The efficiency of this restaurant is downright amazing. Your waters and coffees never reach empty, your orders are taken the moment your eyes leave the menu, dishes are being handed through the kitchen window one after another, and always always always you are surrounded by smiling waitresses and hostesses and owners and people with clattering forks and content groans and your head is on a swivel as you watch magnificent plates of this and that go by and disappear and it's almost overwhelming how everything moves in time without missing a beat. *exhale* I tend to find beauty in strange places, but being inside The Dish was beautiful to me. It flowed in a way most restaurants simply cannot. Alive and well! The menu overflowed with delicious combinations but as this was my first visit, the biscuits and gravy was destined to be selected. Many places can make good omelets, many places can make good scrambles, but few and far between are the restaurants that make a gravy that warrants praise. The consistency? Perfect. The amount? Perfect. The flavor? So good I pictured Ego smiling and getting goosebumps as he dug into the ratatouille and reflected back on his childhood. The biscuit was soft and chewy and buttery and wonderful. The eggs were perfect, the potatoes were perfect, the fresh strawberry jam on rye toast... perfect. I only ate half of my plate which is completely uncharacteristic for me and why? Because as I type this, I can see the to-go box on the table, and only a rapidly fading willpower is keeping me from enjoying this fantastic meal all over again. I cannot wait to return a dozen times and a dozen more to try more dishes and experience this new magic once again. My new love, you have made my weekend! read more

Fears of long lines, living too far away, and loving to cook breakfasts are three features of my life that have conspired in mornings past to keep me away from The Dish. But with the man's lovely friend and former Seattleite in town, we three set out to revisit her weekend morning haunt and experience the legend. Walking in around 8:30 on a Thursday morning, we found a plethora of table selections, and I was cheered by the Stumptown Coffee sign in the window. Stumptown signs....welcoming guideposts for the wandering coffee elitist, especially when it comes to diners! And especially when the sign comes after a night of shortened sleep.... Question: why don't more breakfast joints offer their egg concoctions as either omelets or scrambles, like The Dish? Observation: she's right. Breakfast potatoes are great with a little dip of Hollandaise. It isn't like your grandma's powder mix.... Observation: don't expect the scone to be a scone; it's a triangular wedge of a light coffeecake. Oh, and cash or check only. Being with a regular, I was prepared. The food is pretty good; my Seattle to Portland scramble was tasty, with sizeable bacon shards mingled with chunky tomatoes, ribbons of spinach, and topped with a bit of Parmesan cheese. The generous spread of breakfast potatoes were velvety soft with a good spicing, and the scone/coffeecake fluffy and lightly sweet. There are at least ten omelet/scramble options, plus the regular breakfast plate combos as well as a brief mention of pancakes and granola. Nothing overly inventive (hence three instead of four stars), but good food done well, in a friendly atmosphere with large mugs of Stumptown kept as full as you please. Perfect for getting hopped up on caffeine and scheming trans-continental visits, dreams, and ten-year life plans! read more