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    The Park Side Café

    4.0 (89 reviews)
    Closed • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Park Side Café Photos

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    THE PARK SIDE CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Menu is posted on the glass near the register.
    Crystal F.

    Five stars for the full experience. The Victorian-era styled building in West Olympia, The Park Side Café offers plant-based dishes in style. The cafe offers small tapas-like plates of assorted vegan-friendly offerings. I ordered the visually stunning, with loads of texture and taste, Moroccan Roasted Chickpea Kale Salad no dressing. Saving room for dessert, I could not resist sharing one of their giant chocolate chip cookies and a few bites of their German Chocolate cream pie with my kids. Like a typical cafe, you order at the register. We were greeted by friendly and attentive servers. My husband ordered the German potato salad, my daughter enjoyed the Seitan & Rice Burrito, and my son was meh on the Seitan Pepperoni Pizza Hand Pie. I myself, am not a huge fan of Seitan, so I wasn't really surprised they didn't like it either. Once you are finished eating, you can wander upstairs where there is a cute kitchen supply shop and another friendly face to greet you. It was fun checking out the unique building and walking by a gorgeous bed and breakfast owned by the same woman who opened this restaurant. If you have time, I recommend walking around the grounds of the bed and breakfast next door, it is beautiful!

    Samosa with mint chutney
    Ayla B.

    The staff? Incredible! Everyone is so friendly, they answered all of my questions, and even apologized for the wait times. They're such a happy face for this lovely, little space! Did I enjoy my time? Yes. I opted for an oak milk cinnamon bun coffee and my wait for the coffee was easily 20 mins just from this spot being popular! I cannot say it was worth the wait for the coffee... it was beyond cinnamon bun sweet for me. I did like the flavor profile, but I think the sugar content may have been too high for me to enjoy this one. I also ordered the samosa hand pie and it was tasty, but a little bit dry. Now, let me talk about the mint chutney sauce, friends!! THE BEST I've had... ever. If I could drink this sauce like the food gremlin I am without getting worried looks shot my way... I 100% would. It was beautiful. Packed with the fresh mint flavor, but creamy enough to where the mint doesn't become abrasive. I drowned my hand pie in it and I have no regrets. It was spectacular.

    Giant hot chocolate
    Chris C.

    The front of house staff was so warm and welcoming and food was ready quickly- we are a large family of vegans (who have lived and eaten coast to coast for 40 years) and ordered a bunch- cabbage soup, apple handpie, pizza handpie, biscuits and gravy, apple cinnamon cheesecake, peanut butter chocolate pie, breakfast sandwich, apple strawberry cider, a tea , chocolate chip cookie and a hot chocolate. We read reviews before coming here and after eating here find any comparison to Wayside laughable- and we LOVE wayside (it's the west coasts closest version of the Chicago Diner or SoulVeg) but the food here is completely different . The flavors are understated but still there-- meaning your hand pizza has more delicate flavors that start with crust and end with the pepperoni - I'd guess most things are made in house or locally due to the lack of heaviness and saltiness you get with premade foods like beyond (typically used in every PDX vegan eatery). The breakfast sando was small and again not heavy its flavors were light and a bit overpowered by the wheat-yness of the English muffin but still delicious. The desserts were on the sweeter side and really smooth- the strawberry apple cider was too sweet for the adults, but very tasty and loved by the kids. We left feeling full, not heavy and pleasantly pleased. The whole feel is more upscale vegan brunch and while the place isn't "not for kids"- I'd enjoy it more if I didn't bring mine and could savor the food instead of playing fork wars with my offspring :)

    Our quesadillas and hand pies.
    Jessica H.

    We stopped here yesterday during a long, rainy road trip from Oregon. We were tired and cranky thanks to the hours spent in the car and the terrible weather...but this place cheered us right up! It has a bright, warm vibe and tasty food. We each got quesadillas and a hand pie. I got the enchilada hand pie and while it tasted nothing like an authentic Mexican or Tex-Mex enchilada, the flavours were delicious and I would happily order it again. The kale made it seem healthy too, ha. My friend got the creamy veggie hand pie and also loved it. The quesadillas again did not taste like authentic Mexican quesadillas but they were perfectly adequate. They came with salsa and a cashew cream dip that really hit the spot. I also got the PB&J cheesecake. It was decadant, but I would've like a little more of the jelly flavor. I'd like to try their other desserts in the future. This place has lots of little dishes that you can add together to form a "mixed plate," so it's fun to try a variety of things. Service was super friendly and the prices were reasonable. Definitely a great find in the Olympia area and I'll be back

    Alex N Gigi S.

    If I could give 6 stars I would!!! I cannot say enough about the service I received from the Parkside Café! I wanted to express my extreme satisfaction with Parkside. I do not live in Washington State, but our daughter, does and I wanted to send her a birthday surprise. I was looking through Yelp for any vegan pastry's and thank goodness we Parkside ! I called and placed an order with help from a young lady who's name escapes my mind. But I would be remiss if I did not point out how extremely helpful and patient this young lady was with me. I told her about us not living in the state and that to make matters worse my daughters' car (Kia) had been stolen the previous night just before her birthday. I explained what I wanted and she was extremely helpful in helping us (my husband & I) make our selection. In addition, I also asked this kind young lady if she could PLEASE write a HBD to our daughter directly on the box. She was kind enough to say yes. Needless, to say we could not be HAPPIER with our purchase. WOWWWW what a beautiful vegan pie and the amazing detail on the box was truly unexpected. From a pair of parents who miss their daughter and are over 3,300 miles away, THANK YOU for making my daughters day extra special!

    Kade R.

    Seitan Burrito was really good. Couldn't even tell it was meatless! The coconut cream pie was also delicious. Was a filling meal but I didn't feel heavy afterwards.

    Outside of the building from the outdoor seating area

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    Victoria K.

    Won A.! Thank you for the awesome review. We love our customers!

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    Victoria K.

    Erica! Thanks for this awesome review! We work hard for our customers!

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    Thanks for the nice review Carla!

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    2 years ago

    Super friendly staff and yummy vegan food. The vibe inside is mellow, a nice spot to catch up with a friend or get some work done.

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    Iron Rabbit Restaurant & Bar - Rancher Burger

    Iron Rabbit Restaurant & Bar

    4.0(702 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$$

    Great food and service. We had the pasta and burgers, they were so tasty…read more Gabby was excellent! Would definitely come back.

    The service was OK. Our server was attentive and quick and pleasant but just no enthusiasm. She…read morecomped the food my husband ordered because she saw he barely touched it which was very nice of her so we tipped well. The food was just alright, but I was disappointed with what I got and was expecting more quality for the price. I ordered the Chicken Cordon Who and I was given a plate with a small handful of still-crunchy sliced bell peppers and zucchini that seemed that they had been in contact with heat for all of 30 seconds next to a pile of potatoes that were cold from sitting. The chicken breast was just meh, not very thick, not very moist, not very seasoned, not very much of it. Small amount of sliced prosciutto on top. I just think for $30 this was a ripoff by at least 1/3 of the price; I would expect an actual chicken cordon bleu at that price instead of this quick-service deconstruction. The blackberry mojito I ordered for I think $15 tasted pretty good but was missing the presence and flavor of any alcohol so there was no complexity, just ended up being a $15 refreshing fruit drink. My husband ordered an appetizer (Sirloin Diablo) for $27 and got a small bowl of steak tips submerged in a barely spicy (Diablo?) cajun cream sauce like a soup surrounded by some painfully plain, thin, unseasoned, boring grilled bread. It's not bad or very good by any means and just wasn't his thing, but charging almost $30 for that? At their prices and the way they are presented I was expecting a really satisfying dinner but walked away feeling like I would've been just as happy eating some standard fare at a local diner for half the cost.

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    Iron Rabbit Restaurant & Bar
    Iron Rabbit Restaurant & Bar - Lamb curry burger

    Lamb curry burger

    Iron Rabbit Restaurant & Bar - Fresh lemonade

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    Chicory - Partially eaten Sheep's Milk Galette and Smoked Boudin

    Chicory

    4.4(154 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    •$$

    The ambience is beautiful inside…read more The best part of the Baked Eggs dish was the cheese. The cheese was so flavorful, creamy, and delicious. Next best was the bread - it was perfectly soft inside with a crispy crust. Between how oily the dish was and my nose running from the increased spice as I continued eating, I wouldn't return for this dish. The eggs weren't noticeable in appearance or taste- I had to search for them. The "creamy grits" were creamy, but the black pepper taste was STRONG. Definitely ordered the side for the "creamy" factor, hoping when the server said harissa in the eggs would have a mild spice, that the grits would calm my mouth. The amount of pepper made this unsuccessful. But if you like black pepper a lot then you'll enjoy them. My son enjoyed the beignet's. The server was also the host and he was kind. It was easy to get his attention when needed. I didn't see anyone with a grin on their face after taking bites of their food. I looked around quite a bit out of curiosity. So for ambiance, kind and prompt service, and the possibilities of the menu I gave it 4 stars. We only tried the few things I mentioned. I did also appreciate the bottle of water ready on every table. Note that there is no kids menu and it's mostly table seating. So maybe try on your own or with other adults, and leave the kids at home?

    We loved checking out Chicory. Such a cute space. All the staff were lovely from start to finish…read more The pork chop was so delicious and we were in love with the dirty fried rice. The crispy bits in the rice were soooo good. Delicious side salad, loved the vinaigrette, so flavorful. Definitely will be back! Wish they had later hours.

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    Chicory - Whole Blackened Rockfish

    Whole Blackened Rockfish

    Chicory - Chicory Manhattan

    Chicory Manhattan

    Chicory - Nothing left on the Rockfish Bones

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    Cynara Restaurant & Lounge - Artichoke tapenades

    Cynara Restaurant & Lounge

    4.1(182 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    So much flavor. So often restaurants only add heat, not flavor. Cynara was incredible flavor. The…read moreservice was fast. Our server was kind and efficient. The atmosphere was terrific - we even loved the music (some Michael Buble') for a fun upbeat feel. We split an appetizer, salad, and entree and it was plenty for two people. Check this place out. You won't be disappointed.

    BRING YOUR WALLET... 2 at 5pm no reservation. Hostess wasn't…read morepresent but a kitchen staff, taking a break, jumped up quickly and warmly greeted us - the hostess came right after. She was pleasant and sat us in the sunshine on the patio. I was sad to see so few patrons. I will review the best part first: THE COCKTAILS: The spirits and craft cocktail selection was huge / the beer & wine not so much. My Old Fashioned was perfect! Food: Seafood Rosé Pasta (bay scallops, shrimp, northwest manila clams, rosé prosecco cream sauce, grilled bread) -- inconsistent cook on the different seafoods & the sauce was meh. Not worth $42.00 Grilled Romaine Salad (white balsamic bleu cheese dressing, gorgonzola, cherry tomatoes, aleppo toasted hazelnuts) -- plenty of romaine, could've been grilled longer / not much quantity of tomatoes or toasted hazelnuts -- basically a "side salad" for $15.00 Lobster Bisque (house smoked tomatoes, roasted red pepper, cream, butter poached langoustine lobster) -- tasted more like roasted tomato / red pepper soup (no lobster or seafood flavors) - there were 4 small pieces of poached?? langoustine lobster on top - I question poached because the pieces definitely had a bite to them. Worth $15.00 -- no. Due to reviews we had the Baklava Crumble (pistachios, honey, vanilla ice cream) -- basically cut up (very chewy, not crispy) baklava tossed over ice cream for $14.00 -- maybe a bad night for this dessert? We like to support small Olympia businesses and will go back for cocktails but the food costs are too high - we don't mind high costs IF we come away satisfied - unfortunately the food didn't measure up to the cost. As we drove away, we saw the "Budd Bay Cafe" was very busy - I think next time we'll have cocktails at Cynara, then cross the street for food and wine. We were intrigued with the "Clam Chowder Entrée" which is served à la minute (Washington manila clams, bacon, cream, celery, roasted potatoes, grilled bread) -- is it a deconstructed chowder?? $33.00 Sorry no pics.

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    Cynara Restaurant & Lounge - Christmas season in the bar.

    Christmas season in the bar.

    Cynara Restaurant & Lounge - Chocolate marquise: chocolate mousse, raspberry coulis, pomegranate whipped cream, Aleppo toasted hazelnuts.

    Chocolate marquise: chocolate mousse, raspberry coulis, pomegranate whipped cream, Aleppo toasted hazelnuts.

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    Swing Wine Bar & Cafe - A dessert to die for

    Swing Wine Bar & Cafe

    4.0(298 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    •$$

    Cute little restaurant overlooking Capitol Lake, great for a date night or special occasion. This…read moreis a house converted into a cozy upscale dining spot. It was cold the day went but, if you get warm weather, try for their outdoor patio. I ordered the lemon rosemary hummus (delish) with gluten free crackers and it came out with lots of sliced veggies, olives and pickled carrots and onions. A great value! My main course was king salmon and it was perfect. I ordered a lemonade and was disappointed that the tall skinny glass it was served in was full to the top with ice, so there was very little left to drink. My husband enjoyed the Cesar salad he ordered, tasted like a traditional Cesar. He tried the special beef cheeks and found them to be very fatty and gelatinous. He wouldn't recommend them. They did have a N/A beer option he was happy about. Service was attentive and friendly.

    The staff were very friendly but I didn't feel that this was as amazing as other reviewers say…read more We came as a party of 5 and ordered a variety of different dishes. The food was definitely fresh and tasted good, but nothing to rave about in comparison to the price. When the weather is nice, their outdoor seating seems like a nice dining experience. We sat indoors and it was an intimate atmosphere. Parking is only street parking so prepare for that.

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    Swing Wine Bar & Cafe
    Swing Wine Bar & Cafe - Stuffed and Roasted Portobello Mushrooms

    Stuffed and Roasted Portobello Mushrooms

    Swing Wine Bar & Cafe - Perfectly cooked steak

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    Perfectly cooked steak

    The Wayside Cafe - Vegan Cajun chicken sandwich and collard greens

    The Wayside Cafe

    4.5(244 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    •$$

    I have been going here for years. FIVE full stars because: -…read moreFood is amazing. The entrees (my fave is the mac & cheese with yummy tempeh bacon) and absolutely the desserts, too! - Customer service, also amazing - They have a pay-it-forward program that helps those in need get meals for free Do yourself and Olympia a service and go check this place out!

    I have been wanting to try Wayside forever but am absolutely never in the Olympia area. Because we…read morefinally were this weekend, I definitely wanted to take the opportunity to come here. It did not disappoint! I tried the Norma sandwich which was delicious. The tofu skin patty was unlike any other faux chicken I've had and so good! And because I'm always on the search for great vegan mac and cheese I had that as my side. Absolutely delicious! Very creamy. Portions are large here so I brought some of the mac home and am looking forward to having it for lunch tomorrow. My husband tried the dip sandwich with a side of the mashed potatoes and gravy and ate every last bit. He loved it. It's a very cute cafe on the corner with friendly staff. I witnessed a man in need come in and take advantage of the program they have where you can buy a meal for a hungry person to come in in the future and have a free meal. That's a lovely service to the community. So glad I was able to finally patronize this great vegan business! I'll try to come back soon!

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    The Wayside Cafe
    The Wayside Cafe
    The Wayside Cafe

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    The Park Side Café - vegan - Updated September 2026

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