Brief Encounter
2632 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA, 98004
Brief Encounter Menu
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Address :
2632 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA, 98004 - Phone (425) 822-8830
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Zachary E.
Food was good. Service was friendly. We wanted to sit outside but were told that they had lost the key to the lock for the chairs. I had the Raider's Omelet, big portions for a great price. Would probably add some vegetables to the omelet next time.
(4)Joshua P.
Good place. Came for breakfast. From out of town and seems like a locals place to go, which I like. Would come back again. Great service and staff. Serve tully's coffee which is tasty. Cozy diner.
(3)Chris S.
Super friendly family run staff. Great food! We'll be back! We were looking for a quick easy hassle free breakfast and this was it. We sat outside as the weather was nice. I have nothing bad to say at all. Super happy.
(5)Marilyn W.
The water served had food and debris in it, the dishes themselves were nothing special, the service - OK. Nothing about the experience was terrible, but I won't be recommending this place to anyone, nor am I compelled to come back...
(2)Andy C.
Disappointingly mediocre. Also quite expensive for what you get. They should remodel the place, hire a new cook, and use better ingredients.
(1)Ryan M.
I think Brief Encounter gets some mixed reviews because (a) service is friendly but not uniform and (b) what you get for your money in Bellevue is just not that much. The good: I often look for speediness of the food, readiness of the coffee refills, and a reasonable amount of options in my breakfast venue. Brief Encounter is just that -- not all that memorable, except practical enough to bring me back every time. Specifically, I have never had a breakfast there that I did not thoroughly enjoy. My favorites are the corned beef hash and veggie omelet. I don't recommend the juices. Stick with coffee.
(4)Holly K.
WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. I ordered a 2 egg scramble with a side of bacon and was charged $17. Good food but in no way worth $17!!!
(1)ParisAnne D.
I was excited to find this place listed online. It was close to where I was, and I didn't know of many options for breakfast near downtown Bellevue. I was seated immediately at 9:15 on a weekday morning, not too crowded. The lady who sat me asked if I wanted coffee and brought it right away. However I wasn't offered cream. I sat there for over ten minutes, in no-server land (even though a gentleman, obviously a regular was seated 5 min into my arrival and he was given attention). There was a woman behind the seated counter chatting it up with some customer almost the entire time I was there. She was too concerned with herself and talking to see if I needed anything. She was probably supposed to be my server, as I didn't see anyone else around. Never tried the coffee or the food, I got up and left when I'd reached the end of my patience with waiting for someone to see if I needed anything, anything at all. Wish I'd saved myself the frustration and read more of the reviews further down. I realize lots of places have off days, but I won't bother with this one again if their employees are so poorly trained. The food like some others have mentinoed, seemed a little pricey. The cornbeef hash I was going to get was $13 and I think two pancakes was close to $6.
(1)Leona Y.
I went here today for brunch with a friend since he lives really close to this place and wanted to try it out. Since it was a really nice day out, there was a good amount of people eating outside and enjoying the sun. We arrived around 11AM and we got seated right away. I think the location of this place is why it wasn't as busy as I thought it would be. Since it's located next to a QFC inside a small strip mall, most people wouldn't know of this place unless they were actively seeking it! I got the fish tacos which weren't bad. You get three of them which comes with fish, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream, and red cabage on top of a flour tortilla. I asked the waitress for a lime but since they didnt have any, she brought me some lemon instead. Squeezing some lemon juice on top of the tacos is def. recommended! It gives it that acidity which brings out the flavors :) My meal also came with a small cup of soup (I think it was chicken vegetable?) which was really yummy. The reason I don't give this place 5 stars is because of the price. I paid about $13 with tip and tax for my meal which was much more than I would usually pay for just three small tacos and a cup of soup. I think Taco Del Mar has a better deal with their fish tacos! I most likely won't be coming back unless there was a special deal (I wish I knew there was this $2 off Yelp deal!) or was coming here with my family since I know there are places which offer fish tacos at a fraction of the price.
(3)Kathryn H.
Went for brunch this morning and sat at the counter. The food was mediocre at best. Watched the food come out from the kitchen. Bright yellow eggs benedict, thick floured biscuits and gravy and my simple eggs over medium, sausage and english muffin dish was terrible. The eggs were over easy, the sausage had a weird off taste and the english muffin was as hard as a board. A lady next to me had ordered a sausage patty and it came out completely burned. She had them re-make it and it didn't look much better when it was cooked again. The staff spoke only spanish to each other right in front of us the entire time. The restaurant was filthy too. The water was poured from a plastic tub and my water glass had lipstick marks from the previous customer. The windows were not clean and neither was the kitchen. Won't ever go back.
(1)Amy B.
Been twice to the Brief Encounter with the boyfriend and I like it! Today we sat at the counter and chatted. We caught bits of the news on a flat screen above the bar - which was on caption because it was silenced, and I can appreciate that. We drank some ice water and coffee. Both were refilled when needed and with smiles. My order of ham, egg and cheese sandwich with hashbrowns was delicious. The potatoes were all that I wanted them to be- crispy and plain. I hate it when they add spice to my hashbrowns. I just want them old fashioned with salt and pepper that I add myself at the table! My love cut off bites of his breakfast burrito, which usually I care nothing for or atleast my stomach doesn't, yet this one was quite tasty. Breakfast was delicious without being heavy on our stomachs and we were full the entire morning, even with a hike up to Rattlesnake Ledge and back.
(4)Mike F.
Had breakfast today for the first time at Brief Encounter. On the whole it was a so-so encounter. The wait staff doesn't seem especially well trained. They're functional but that's about the best you can say. My corned beef hash with 2 eggs over medium was so-so. Eggs were cooked properly but greasy overall. Had trouble getting a second cup of coffee. Never got around to a third cup. Never got the water I'd asked for. Hey the wheat toast was okay!
(2)Ti B.
I have been in this Seattle area 4 times in the last year...and every time I come I end up here. My lovely mate dad frequents this place. He seems to suggest this spot every time we come into town. He knows the staff, the menu options, the substitution options, and the hours...all by heart. I have been pleased with everything I have tasted, from the breakfast to the lunch. I hear they have private parties here sometimes and nights where you can reserve a table to try special meals. I don't know all the details, but it sounds nice. Overall I am a fan not just because of the food, but the service paired with it.
(4)Robert K.
This place is the average local breakfast spot. The wait isn't nearly as bad as other good breakfast joints in the downtown area. The food is average, same with the quality, taste, and price. It's pretty consistent so would definitely check it out as an alternative to long waits. Disclaimer: Not a breakfast food expert but I do like the more homestyle type joints and this is close but just not on par with others nearby.
(3)Michael E.
Sunday breakfast at 12 noon, no wait. Carnitas scramble was good, coffee refils were slow and too few. Decent pricing and while server was friendly, was a bit inattentive - bummer.
(3)David F.
As written in previous reviews, the service here is top notch, and the atmosphere cozy. I probably drank a gallon of coffee due to the attentive waitresses, which always gets things off to a good start in my book. If you enjoy sitting at the counter, it is easy to skip ahead of the crowd at Brief Encounter. My girlfriend had a nice scramble mixed with sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, spinach, and onions. I had the biscuits and gravy (neither of which were homemade). Overall the food was pretty good, but nothing special. Bellevue is definitely in need of a true country-style/homemade breakfast place. Until that day comes, we'll swing by here every once in a while.
(3)Maureen S.
I am a huge fan of breakfast, but I don't always want to go someplace fancy when I just rolled out of bed. When I first read about brief encounters I was unsure.. who doesn't have a website nowadays? but I wanted to give it a try nonetheless. The place is small and in a strip mall of all places. The servers are nice but are very busy most of the time and sometimes need a friendly reminder. The menu seemed to have mostly standard breakfast fare, but a stood out to me for must trys, mainly the Carnitas breakfast. Wow.. was I happy with my choice! I have been back a few times since my first visit and each time I struggle to get something new. The carnitas are cooked perfectly and served with a delicious sauce that tastes perfect with the eggs and tortillas served with it. My dad had the corned beef hash which he was really impressed with. This last visit I ventured from my favorite with the Bear Scramble, vanilla latte and a side of biscuits and gravy to split at the table. The Bear scramble was good, but I still liked my regular carnitas better. The biscuits and gravy were some of the best I had ever had. Light, melt in your mouth goodness! And surprisingly the coffee drink was great as well (I don't usually expect good coffee from outside of coffee bars) Anyway i hesitate to recommend because it is a small place and I want to keep my wait to a minimum, but I probably shouldn't be selfish and share my opinion in case you want to give it a try!
(4)Tim M.
Great local breakfast place in Bellevue. Fairly small diner with some outdoor seating on nice days. It's not a very big place, and it fills up pretty easily. I've had to wait a little bit every time I have been, but they get people seated quickly when a spot opens up. There are local posters of events and stuff on one corner wall which is a really nice local touch. It's got a small diner feel. Service has always been friendly, even with a smile on their faces usually. The coffee stayed filled and it was easy to ask for service. You are served fairly quickly as well. Food is a good size, and I typically eat a lot. The price is fair for what you get. The food tastes as good as a small diner breakfast food can taste. If you're in the mood for this type of breakfast food, it's great. It's not fancy breakfast dining at all. Overall, it's a good value - quantity, price, and taste. I'd recommend this place, and I probably plan on making it my go to local destination spot for breakfast.
(5)Giovanna F.
This was the perfect place to eat after my New Year Eve celebration. YUM-O. I was attending a NYE wedding in Bellvue and after ringing in 2011 and barely sleeping I woke up with hunger pains! We found this spot on Yelp. The restaurant is in a small little shopping plaza. It's a small cozy place with booths, tables and a sit down counter. The menu has your typical breakfast/diner food. Eggs, sandwiches, burgers, fries. We shared the Carnitas Scramble, a side of potatoes and a cinnamon roll. The roll needed more icing! I was expecting gooey, soft and warm. I was a little disappointed. For $3.50 I thought we'd be getting more for our money. Maybe I'm spoiled with Cinnabon. The carnitas had good seasoning. The eggs were fluffy. The food was not greasy which was a pleasant surprise! They were nice enough to split the order for us. Portion size is sufficient for a hungry hunter. Overall, I'm glad to have had a Brief Encounter with this cafe! ;)
(3)Erickson E.
I heard great things about this place, and decided to give it a try: after encountering my small yet expensive breakfast, i finished it off in just a few brief minutes. rarely do breakfast places leave me feeling hungry for more -- unfortunately, 'twas the case here. the bacon was exceptionally crisp, the eggs were decent and the hash browns were pretty good. the best thing about breakfast was the OJ, which was nearly but not quite fresh squeezed and evidently is locally made each week. my coffee was frequently refilled, with a decent brew. kirkland is admittedly no ballard when it comes to breakfasts, so Brief Encounter is still one of the better choices for a good breakfast in the area. I can recommend it for those who can't quite make the drive over to better options on the west side, or don't want to go all the way down into bellevue. I'll be back, when I'm in kirkland for breakfast.
(3)Kat L.
I read the review about them ignoring the paper list and giggled thinking, what a bad day, that can't happen.... and it happened to me! Someone just walked in and got seated while we waited with our name on the list, but we did get seated right after them. Compared to other resturants that specialze in breakfast they weren't very attentive. The menu wasn't attractive, everything on the breakfast menu was in my fridge. I got the breakfast special which was your choice of french toast or pancake, 2 eggs, and your choice of bacon, sausage, or ham. Everything was thrown on one plate, so crowded that when I put syrup on my french toast it spilled off the side. I also hated that my over easy egg yoak got all over my french toast, there was no way getting away from it on that plate. I also had a tad bit of uncooked white in my egg. To sum it up: service was friendly, but not great. Food was nothing to talk about.
(2)Casey P.
Did takeout breakfast with my gf. She asked for a vegetarian version of Jake's burrito and the waitress suggested black beans instead of (meat)chili, so that would have great...except it came back with black beans and ham! So that was a bust for her, but I ate it instead and thought it was good. I ordered the breakfast sandwich and which is like a sausage mcmuffin, except it costs $9. The food was ok, but overpriced (the burrito was $11 and change) and they got the order wrong so I can't recommend this place. It was really busy though so maybe our experience wasn't the norm.
(2)Greg B.
If a restaurant has the stones to charge 10 bucks for a small breakfast, it better be damn good - it was only so-so. Nothing was gag me terrible (coffee was close to terrible, just barely acceptable) - but nothing that has me screaming to go back - so I probably wont. Service was friendly but slow. Go get lots more of similar quality at IHOP or Denny's for less...
(2)Katie A.
Very solid breakfast fare in Bellevue and reasonable to boot! I had the small breakfast sandwich which consisted of an english muffin, bacon, egg, a little cheese, and some mayo. It was exactly how I like it. Not too much, just right. it came with the choice of fruit or potatoes. I went with fruit, opting out of the gut bomb option. The service was great and while there was a little bit of a wait for our food, this was fine by me. Bellevue's got a real deal diner... highly recommend if you're in the 'hood and just want standard good food, served up with a smile.
(4)Krisha D.
3 Stars = A-OK according to Yelp, itself. And that is exactly what Brief Encounter was. I wrote on the receipt that I would be back so I will update when that happens. But as of now, they can only get three stars and that's being pretty generous. The home-fries were the absolute worst. Poorly seasoned, soft and boring. Then my Orange-Cinnamon french toast - pretty decent - but throughout the entire meal I got this weird chemical-laden taste. I asked for fruit on my french toast that I never received, I never got my butter, the coffee was poor and the waitresses seemed irritated with each other - maybe because it was family owned? AWKWARD. I didn't give a tip and wrote that I've be back to review again but as of right now - only "Meh".
(2)Jarrod L.
Ok everything. OK eggs. OK potatoes. OK toast. OK service. OK coffee. Nothing was great but nothing was bad. It's a solid diner-style meal. I went to try the biscuits which are supposedly great, but they were out of biscuits when we went. I'll go back and get them some time.
(3)Jared S.
Hash-slingin' diner fare perfect if you're in the mood for a "two eggs and ______" kind of breakfast. No issues. Nothing stellar, nothing bad. Everything as it should be with this type of place. Just a solid place to go. They're open pretty early as well, so it is great if you want to sit down for breakfast before work.
(3)Mat W.
Bellevue needs more of these places, but this is the only one I can think of in the city limits. It is a solid diner type breakfast which can be worth its weight in gold some weekends. I got an omelet which was about 7.5-8/10ish. Maybe too much eggs and not enough delicious inners, but pretty solid nonetheless. Breakfast potatoes were pretty good and crispy with soft center. Coffee was refilled on the regular. Service was good. The place itself is in the strip mall neighboring the QFC and a little hard to see from street. Parking is ample, since QFC and other businesses next door. They have some outdoor seating for nice days. But, those spots are against the parking lot which make them a bit less sexy.
(4)Katie V.
I love Brief Encounter. I have been going there for years, and the food is consistently good. I love the Raiders Omelet, with shredded hash browns, wheat toast, and OJ. It isn't fancy, and the food isn't gourmet, but it's a great price large portions and a fun casual place to go with friends on weekend mornings. And they are quick! During warmer weather they have outdoor seating. There is usually a line, but it moves quickly and is worth the wait. Brief Encounter is a classic breakfast spot.
(5)Anthony J.
Don't believe the hype about this place - mediocre breakfast food (Not even in the same universe as Village Square, Couzin's, and numerous others) that isn't worth the price. Food is all fairly bland, options are fairly limited, and good service is hard to come by. Just about the only thing this deserves an extra star for is the decor and the fact that we didn't have to wait an eternity for a table as we normally do at places like Village Square. Unfortunately, once we got one, it meant waiting 10-15 minutes for someone to come take our order (And they had already served multiple people who came in after us by then, no less). After that we were treated to their array of nothing-special food, including French Toast that is hardly above the national chain restaurants, bacon that was flavorless and overcooked, and hash browns that lacked any hint of character. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
(2)Bill W.
I met a friend from out of town here for breakfast today after reading the reviews on yelp. I am happy to report that this place lived up to its reputation. The waitress was attentive from the moment we walked in. Once seated she brought us coffee right away and kept bringing it. This seems to rarely happen to me. Most places bring you coffee and fill it up once maybe twice. Not this place. The service was top notch! I ordered the special, a meat lover's omelet. I honestly thought it would be a greasy mess since it contained a lot of meat and cheese but to my surprise it wasn't. Instead it was one of the best omelet's I have ever eaten. The home-style hash browns were yummy as well. I will go back and eat here again.
(4)Aid W.
Small, homely, casual, consistent quality, quick service, friendly ambience, everybody from grandparents to couples to book clubs to families with kids - has them all! Easy to get to, easy to park and has been a local icon for years. And, I have been a satisfied client for over a decade. As good as it gets....:)
(5)katie l.
Named after a 80's porno, this place is yummy. Upon walking in the joint is small and sunday mornings it is extremely busy. I would suggest eating at the bar if there is a line. The waitresses are friendly, and try to service you as quickly as possible. Although I've never been there for anything other then breakfast, there lunch menu looks pretty tasty.. Pretty much all american, with nice size portions.. Not too big, not too small. If you are looking for something lighter this place has it, as well as something richer... they even serve wine in the morning... that can cause a little bit of havoc if you ask me
(4)Molly A.
Go to spot for breakfast!! Great for kids and adults alike. The servers are always warm and remember faces. Easy parking and there is even a playground next door too!
(4)J K.
I was born and raised in Bellevue. Whenever I return to visit, I always include Brief Encounter in my plans. Love the food and the staff!
(5)Nicki W.
It is terribly hard to find a breakfast restaurant in general, especially on Mondays unless you're willing to go to Denny's and I just can't go there! We were planning our own little brief encounter, the friendly breakfast version, not one of which perhaps this name may suggest. A friend was visiting from out of town, was staying in Bellevue and thankfully Yelp didn't let us down and led us to this little diner. Located in a strip Mall, this is a small space and there isn't much to look at here, the cracked vinyl bench seats and rickety tables don't say much but Breakfast is their thing and I personally enjoy a purist approach. They had a perfect selection of choices on the menu from sweet to savory. One thing to note is that they do have large portions so definately come hungry or prepared to share. Our friend chose the friench toast with bananas, I believe it was Challah bread and looked delicious. My husband went with their special for that day, a meat lover's omelet. I was a bit concerned as I'm trying to get him eating healthier these days but to my surprise there was little grease and the potatoes were cooked to perfection. He really enjoyed it. I chose a breakfast burrito. Now I have a pet peeve when people use chili in mexican food. This could just be my thing, but I don't feel that chili lends to a burrito taste so this greatly detracted from my enjoying this meal. It may be that I just don't really like chili in general and don't get me wrong the burrito was good but would have been better had they just put some sausage and black beans in there, the salsa, sour cream and avacado would have given me the flavor I was seeking. It would have even been better had they added some fresh cilantro-just sayin'. All in all it was a good breakfast stop, the staff was very friendly, kept the coffee cups full and our food arrived warm and timely. I don't know that I will ever come back, not that I wouldn't but I enjoy more of a full experience that includes atmosphere and food. Plus the coffee, although they were generous with the refills, was just not that great and I'm a bit of a snob this way.
(3)Ken M.
Good breakfast food and service. Friendly. I recommend it!
(3)Elizabeth S.
Absolutly the best breakfast I have ever had!
(5)Danny R.
Definitely tops my lists of Breakfast joints on the Eastside! Great service, good portions and high quality food. This is my go-to spot for weekend breakfast!
(5)Ivan M.
i checked this joint out on the strength of yelp reviews the other day with my sick kiddo. she ordered the 2 egg bfast with sausage patties. i got the cornbeef hash and eggs with a side of bacon. we were seated relatively quickly because we got there right before primetime for lunch. after getting seated it still took our waitress about 10 min to come get our order, tho. busy busy bees! she was courteous and attentive, tho. portions aren't very big (boooo) but i guess every meal doesn't need to be super sized for my fat *ss. i ordered my eggs over easy and they were more medium but that's my only real complaint. the kids food was just as she wanted it. i dunno if i'll be back anytime soon cause it's a lil more pricy vs the portions. still, it's much better than denny's.
(3)Kathy S.
I was just so thilled to find a down-home place in Bellevue that isn't run by some huge corporation, quite frankly. These places are getting pretty rare around here so patronize them! The menu is great, the prices are pretty darn good and the service is awesome. Listen carefully to the specials announced by your waiter--these tend to be outstanding. I had the lemon-blueberry blintzes and they were wonderful. My friend had the 2-egg breakfast (off the menu) with country fried potatoes--these LOOKED really delicious, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Unfortunately I was so completely hypnotized by the blueberry blintzes on my plate I forgot to sneak my fork onto his plate to taste these delicate little morsels. Bottomless cup o' coffee - ahhhh, life is good.
(4)Tim L.
Good food, good service. I was in by 9 on a Saturday and got seatting right away.
(3)Tonya N.
Thanks to yelp and having no clue whats good for breakfast in bellevue, well now i know! Its not the most attractive place ever on the outside but cute little home town place in the inside. VERY nice service... there was bit of a line but sitting at the bar was just fine for us. We had the corn beef hash which was recommended by the waitress and the crepes. I requested mine to be extra crispy and it was perfectly done. Came with 2 eggs and Toast... Probably the best i've ever had. The crepes were good, but I wouldnt say anything out of the ordinary. Overall I would definitely choose this little place over any big chain anyday... Will come back to try their other signature dishes for sure :)
(4)Mike C.
Well the name was a bit misleading. It sounds like it might be a partner of the lusty lady. The food was not too bad. My omelet was very good as were the hash browns and brilliant they were.Nice and crispy. They also have Texas toast French toast which I was eying. Instead I chose the omelette. A little too brown on the outside for me but shit happens. No big deal. The service was not bad. All I can say is "it is what it was" no bad feeling nor a great one. So, for now 3 stars but would love to return for the Texas French toast to boost that up to a 4 star.
(3)G S.
Go to McDononalds, you'll have a tastier breakfast, friendly service at half the cost.
(1)Philip A.
The place was packed at 11:00 when I got there, but the service was pretty quick and helpful. Got the cornbeef hash and it was pretty tasty and contrary to what other people said I was quite full after eating what was given to me. I'd go again :)
(4)Krishna V.
Despite being named like an extremely shady massage parlor, this is actually a pretty nice restaurant. The service is pretty good. There is one huge problem with this restaurant: the chicken fried steak (which is for some reason not on the menu or the specials menu, but instead written on a blackboard towards the back of the restaurant with a few other items) is clearly the best thing they have, creating the palpably awkward situation where everyone at the table orders the same dish. This isn't to say that the other food is bad, but basically the other items are the Barkleys and Malones to the chicken fried steak's Jordan.
(4)Ryan S.
I'm blown away at how homey this place is. We live in Bellevue, so come here quite often. Every time I'm leaving happy I'm fairly new to yelp so I usually strut by the front door without a second glance of the windows. I did notice the sign that said, "people love us on yelp!" I thought that was pretty cool. But anyway, I had thought the old-fashioned diner had died out years ago. But no, it hasn't, and this is definately one of them. It doesn't try to be like an old-fashioned diner, there are no old coke posters with little boys riding their bikes drinking coke. (how unsafe!) But you can come here early in the morning with bags under your eyes, and leave, the only bags you have are the ones that carry food (you want to get every last bite!) As for food, anything goes. Nothings bad on this menu. If your looking for a good old time breakfast, just call the waiter and ring up some bacon and eggs. You want to pig out a little? Orange-Cinnamon French toast will get you the calories from fat you need! And the service is plain nice, though they're not afraid to tell you just whats happening in their lives, which can get a little awkward. But I shouldn't end on a bad note, this place is too good. So come here!
(4)Shelly T.
Found this place on yelp, and loved it. Yummy breakfast and everything made was delicious. Only one complaint was the potatoes were a little mushy for me. Service was also great. We got here at 10ish and there was no wait. Will be back at our next Wa visit. :)
(4)Hope N.
What a nice homey breakfast place! Nothing super special on the menu but if you want a simple breakfast done well then come and get it. Service is good but gets a little slow towards the later half of the morning.
(3)Janelle A.
Just moved into the neighborhood and stopped here when my sister was in town to give it a try. We came early on a Sunday. My sister was meeting us there so we arrived a couple of minutes early and they needed to put a table together for us. There is a bar when you walk in and they asked if we wanted a coffee while we waited. My husband and I immediately took that as an omen that this place was going to be pretty awesome. We got seated and the wait staff and service was great and the food was delicious. I was glad we got there early because within the next 1/2 hour people started pouring in. We'll definitely be back here regularly.
(5)Dee P.
Great diner food served in a genuine diner environment . The breakfast sandwich (large or small) with breakfast potatoes is my favorite go-to order. Another great thing about this place; they keep your ice tea full!
(4)gina m.
Love the biscuits and gravy and love the service. Best breakfast on this side of Lake Washington. The Family that owns and runs this place are super-nice and make you feel very much at home. I have eaten here a few times and love the fresh hot food.
(5)Murray S.
After seeing how many 4-star reviews this got I was expecting better. Definitely not one of the better breakfasts I've had. There were cold spots in the eggs, the home fries were disappointing and the coffee was awful. On the up-side, the service was pretty good and I didn't have to wait for a table.
(2)Lana L.
Nice little find in the Bellevue area. I had some time to kill and needed breakfast. The food arrived a little cold for my taste especially because they were not busy on this particular morning. The coffee was good. I get the carnitas and eggs and I did not see any of the enchilada aside on my meal so that was disappointing. The carnitas meat was well seasoned and had a nice surprise crunch to some of the pieces. If it came hotter and with more sauce I think it would have been a home run. I also got a pancake which was good not excellent but good. Again, it was room temp at best. I upgraded to the real maple syrup which was not heated so it looked like a rookie mistake on the breakfast front. It took me a few minutes to put my payment on the board and I was not offered another top off on my coffee which obviously became cold. A few little changes and my visit would have gone from just ok to great. I would be willing to come back and try again.
(3)Jeffrey S.
Fast paced breakfast/lunch spot. Food is pretty good. Parking is ample. Biggest complaint is that it's pretty small and, at times, tough to get a table.
(4)Kyle S.
Great little cafe! Food was delicious and service was friendly. Had the chile burger which was unique and very good. Love it and will be back!
(5)sofi t.
it's hard finding a good breakfast place in bellevue, but i was pleasantly surprised by this place. i'm basing this review based on the specials they had last sunday, so i don't know how their regular menu stacks up against it. i had the strawberry crepe, and my bf had the eggs benedict. crepes were good, crispy, and maybe a bit too sweet/syrupy, but i tend to like my food on the bland side. no complaints about the eggs benedict. i would go back to this place if i am craving breakfast food on a weekend morning and don't want to make the drive across the bridge.
(3)Tara K.
The nicest people, the best pot roast special and a favorite neighborhood hangout.
(5)David W.
I eat at the Brief Encounter every time I am in the Seattle area. It has consistently been a great place to eat for many years. This family operation is run in the tradition of the best independent cafes that were a maintstay in the 80s and 90s. All the staff are warm and friendly and seem to keep everyone happy. The food is very good and, as another reviewer stated, the specials tend to be excellent. When I think of breakfast or lunch in the Bellevue area, I always think Brief Encounter. I am a traditionalist so I am looking forward to eating at the Brief Encounter for many years to come.
(5)Corinne P.
Not a fan. I did not like this place at all. The server was very slow in taking our orders. Since there were only 3 of us, it seemed she didn't even want to be a part of the team. I ordered the chicken salad, and when I received it.. they put so much dressing on it, where it was disgusting. I took a few bites then refused to eat the salad. The server comes over and asks why i didn't like the salad. I told her that it had too much dressing, and that it was just gross. She just goes ok, I'll get you, your check. Yep had to pay for a 13.00 salad that I didn't even touch. I don't recommend this to anyone... you're just wasting time and money.
(1)Ben C.
Great food, Friendly family owned restaurant. I live next door so its very convenient.
(5)Joyce J.
The encounter was indeed brief and I don't expect another encounter in the near future. I ordered German potato pancakes with sausages. My pancakes were a minute or two under, so it actually tasted slightly raw. That was not a pleasant experience. I end up not finishing my pancakes. Although I asked for my eggs pouched and they were pouched well. This place has TVs and all the wait staff were in a Seahawks shirt when I went on a Sunday. So this is probably a decent place to watch a game. The service is decent. If you don't care as much about the food, then this is fine.
(2)Wendy T.
Not bad. Not great. I had heard so many great things about this place that I just had to go with my husband and son. Parking is non existent. Just keep that in mind. There was a wait when we arrived. There was a clipboard on the counter so people could sign in. The staff ignored it and took whoever was closest to them. Finally got a table. A waiter asked what we wanted to drink. I asked for water, my husband got orange juice, my son got chocolate milk. OJ on the table. Milk on the table. The water glass was practically thrown at me. The waiter says Oh, sorry, then walks off leaving the table covered in water. I expected him to come back with something to wipe it up. Nope. There were no napkins on the table so we sat with our arms at our sides so our sleeves didn't get soaked. We asked a few times for napkins and got them after far too long. I ordered the Wild King Salmon scramble with fried potatoes. The eggs were cooked perfectly but the salmon tasted canned. The potatoes were really good! Some crunch on the outside but fully cooked without being mushy. Very tasty. My son ordered a sausage breakfast sandwich from the regular menu, with hash browns. He liked it a lot, but the English muffin was a bit tough. My husband had eggs with French Toast and bacon. Bacon and eggs cooked perfect. He said the French toast was good but not anything special. Our bill came to $50. I thought it was pricey but my husband didn't. Not sure we'll go back. I really wanted to like this place!
(3)Heidi M.
Mixed feelings. I ate "breakfast for lunch" here recently when in the area on other business. I initially drove past it, because it's set back from the street and I couldn't see any street addresses from the road. When I arrived around 12:30PM, there was no parking at all in the strip mall Brief Encounter is situated in. Once I found parking, I was seated very quickly. My initial impression was not a great one -- the place is pretty drab and run down (cobwebs on the booth edges, booth upholstery duct taped). But, it smelled good, my order was taken right away, and the server made sure I had beverages. My "Tucker's Veggie Scramble" came to the table very quickly and was better than I expected it to be. Definitely not the best scramble I've ever had, but the veggies tasted fresh and were tender-crisp, not limp like I fear diner food will be. The included fruit salad had a nice variety given the season. Now for the less good -- my freshly squeezed orange juice was... well, not good, maybe the oranges this particular day were past their prime? It took a long time to get my check, and I was never offered a refill on my water or beverage. It seemed like once my order was on the table, the servers avoided making eye contact with me, which was weird because they were super friendly when I arrived and ordered. With that said, I'd consider stopping here again if I was already in the area. Would not go out of my way to visit again.
(3)Rob L.
Excellent spot for a hearty breakfast. You can tell the staff cares and they make sure your coffee cup is filled and you are satisfied. I had the biscuits and gravy and it was perfect. Large portions too!
(5)Maggie L.
I just moved here and was not expecting there to be a good breakfast place right near my home. What a wonderful surprise. Good food - stick with the sweet items. The other items need to be improved.
(3)Theresa F.
Breakfast is my most favorite meal of all time, period. I love breakfast, all kinds of breakfast, except for the breakfast at Brief Encounter. If you are looking for basic and bland bacon and eggs, you found your place. For a place that is only open until 2 PM and specializes in breakfast, Brief Encounter fails at meeting my basic expectations. I ordered the "Jake's Burrito" which is not a burrito at all. The burrito is some scrambled eggs with cheese and about two tablespoons of "homemade" chili, the chili seems more like a sauce that comes out of a can. The contents are placed inside of a tortilla that is folded in half and topped with a tablespoon of sour cream and once super thin slice of avocado. The tortilla is pretty thin, so the empty sides were not edible as it was dried out when the food was sitting under the heat lamp. (If it wasn't under a heat lamp, I'm not sure what happened) The burrito did not come with anything else, so I also ordered a side of 1 biscuit and gravy. The biscuit tasted like the type that comes from a can and the gravy does not taste house made and was not very flavorful. I make biscuits and gravy at home often, and the biscuits and gravy at Brief Encounter is pretty sad in comparison. When I go out to eat, I expect for the food to be much better than what I have received at Brief Encounter, sadly, that is not the case. The price of my burrito was $11.99 and the single biscuit with gravy was $5.99, plus the price of a drink tax/tip was over $25, I expect a great deal more for $25. I have visited the Brief Encounter six times in the last few years and am writing this review to remind myself not to go again.
(2)Jack L.
This is my go to spot for breakfast in Bellevue. Never wait longer than 5-10 min for a seat, the staff is friendly and attentive, and the food is good! My favorite dishes are Jake's burrito and bear's scramble. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the coffee could be a little better.
(4)daniel w.
Good simple diner food. Excellent pancakes and chicken Apple sausage. Coffee is pretty good too.
(5)Jenny K.
3.5 stars Hubby bought a groupon to this joint and we went yesterday for some brunch. I, to my & hubby's surprise, didn't get the eggs benedict but instead opted for a mixed berry pancake, two poached eggs and a side of hash browns with a cup of joe. Everything was good! Mmm, mmm good! The pancake tasted like it had some cake batter or lemon zest (or both) in it, making it taste sweet & slightly different than every other diner pancake I've had. The poached eggs came in a small bowl that had a little too much egg juice on the bottom of it but all was fine when I scooped the eggs out onto my plate and left the juice in the bowl. The hash browns were greasy, crispy and delicious. I would've preferred free form, not patty form, but I'm just being picky. Coffee was strong and hot = awesome. Menu prices seemed 10-15% higher than I would've expected, but I guess it is located in Bellevue. I'll probably be back since it's a local restaurant that serves good food with friendly service. Check it out for yourself soon!
(3)Barbara H.
I'm from TN and here for a conference and was looking for a local spot for a good inexpensive breakfast. This place was right on the money. Service was friendly, the other patrons not so much. Food was great came twice while in town. Be mindful that this place is small so there may be a wait in the early part of the morning. Would definitely recommend!
(4)Brandy E.
This place is called Brief Encounter for a reason. It's an encounter I never want to have again. The boyfriend and I came in here and driving around town trying to find a good breakfast spot. I just recently moved to Bellevue, and we were just so hungry that we went to the closest place we could find, and this place looked really good...ONLINE. We pull up and its in a strip mall, and I'm all like "Oh it looks so cute, and there's no line...I'm sure its going to be a cozy little place with great food!" Boy, was I in for a shock. I've had better food AND service at a truck stop. We got seated and the waitress grabbed our drinks. My boyfriend ordered an orange juice and it was $3.50, and he said it tasted like orange juice he could've had at home. It came in a tiny cup too. The server wasn't very friendly at all, and took our orders. Our food finally came out. I got the Carnitas Scramble and it was very bland. For $12 I would've expected a lot more. It didn't even come with has browns or toast. Just eggs and shredded beef...with a folded stale tortilla. The food had no flavor whatsoever. I don't know what it needed, but I have a huge appetite so for me to say I didn't want to eat something is saying a lot! He got the Jake's Burrito and he said it was pretty good. We've had way better though. I tried it and I definitely wasn't impressed. His burrito wasn't even rolled up like a REAL burrito...it was just food shoved into a tortilla that was falling apart. Like, come on, if your'e going to have a burrito on the menu, at least learn how to roll a burrito right!! If the food wasn't bad enough, the service was even worse. I'm a server so I'm pretty patient, and can understand when people are busy. However, it's not that hard to come by and refill someone's water at least once during their meal. Especially if you're going to give them small kiddy cups. I even placed my empty glass on the edge of the table to give her a hint and she just ignored me. My bf even mentioned the fact that she never came back to check on how the food was tasting, until his plate was completely empty. If you're busy, you can at least ask a table if they're doing okay while you're walking by, but once she took our order, she pretty much didn't care about us. The bill finally comes and its *** *** $31?! I seriously could have made this breakfast at home. We're definitely going to be going back to Pancake Corral again next weekend, or eating at home. I'm in shock at how terrible the service was here, and the food was something we could have made at home. If you're going to charge outrageous prices, you better have some bomb food. Skip this place, for real, you'll thank me later and so will your pockets. One star because Yelp won't let me give a half a star.
(1)Joy H.
I got a GroupOn deal to this place and decided to check it out (I'd never heard of this place nor have I even seen it before) ~ we came for brunch during a weekday so it wasn't too busy. There were still some diners so that we didn't feel weird about going in but not too much where there would be a wait. We got the Jake's breakfast burrito (chili, scrambled egg, salsa, sour cream, avocado - all wrapped loosely in a tortilla shell) and the corned beef hash. The menu itself wasn't too exciting - there was your standard breakfast fare, nothing fancy. The breakfast burrito was surprisingly good - better than I had expected actually. Must be the chili or that I was hungry . . . but the avocado was a little brownish looking (not to the point where it was obviously overripe, but it just didn't look perfect). My husband LOVED his corned beef hash and said that it was the best one that he's had in a loooong time. He almost ALWAYS gets corned beef hash at most brekkie places we go to, so he knows his hash! Their corned beef hash isn't chunky like I'm used it . . . it's actually shredded and mixed in with the hash brown so that it's all one congruous crispy breakfast! Yum yum . . . we'll probably be back for the corned beef hash. Nothing else on the menu looked too exciting for me though - but it is a solid breakfast place!
(3)Calvin Y.
Many open tables, yet we have to wait? This confusion allowed us to instantly bond with the other patrons also -- we shared a look of confusion as to why we're waiting. Eventually after a 5-10 minute wait, we were seated in a corner booth. After perusing the menu, I ordered the Potato Pancakes because I like potatoes. I like pancakes. But together, it was disappointing because it was hash browns topped with apple sauce. Not what I was expecting. However, I also ordered their take on the breakfast burrito, Jack's Burrito which was quite tasty -- chili, loads of cheese, and avocado! Overall, this restaurant is not like the best ever, but does the job of feeding you.
(3)Roseanne J.
Have come to this restaurant for years, even before the present owner, who has had it for years. Husband And i stopped by this past Thursday for breakfast. Waited forever to be seated, and took menus with us when we were pointed in the direction of a table. There were a few open tables all along. After waiting again at our table with no service, we left. We probably spent 20 minutes there in total. The waitresses were very busy. I think there were three of them. I just don't think they could keep up. It was 10 in the morning. Don't know if they were unusually busy. Went to a different spot and probably won't be returning. Makes me sad.
(2)Jingwen Y.
I just started a new job and ran into the dilemma of where to eat lunch. So I used my trusted Yelp app and found this place. This café is definitely homey and at the time when I visited it, they put up Halloween decorations. I always picture eating at a diner like setting similar to the ones in the movies and this place definitely fits with that. However, the food was only so-so and left me with that greasy and unhealthy feeling. The place was packed with regulars who frequent this place, sadly I will not be joining them any time soon.
(3)Igor B.
The food is par with a steep price for breakfast food, however the service was superb, which is why they got 3 stars from me, if you are looking for a diner with flawless customer service it's great!
(3)Kevin B.
Had great service and great food for a small cafe. I like the mixture of breakfast American food with Hispanic style. It was delicious and I would say get the "Bear special." Although WAY overpriced for the food. I mean $7 for two cups of orange juice?!? The service was really good as well the waitress wasn't around all of the time breathing over our necks but was attentive enough to satisfy our needs.
(3)Brandy S.
I grudgingly love this place. The servers know my partner and I and they are always friendly and do their best to get us taken care of. The food a step above your typical greasy spoon, satisfying and consistent. I've noticed that lately they've been a bit shorthanded and have some new staff people but I'm sure they'll get everyone trained up soon. Not quite on the same level as other Bellevue places but I think that just makes me like it more.
(4)Kerri K.
Went there with maybe a bit high expectations, hearing that everything is hand-made....Greek Salad was just OK and the french fries were not great. Service was so-so. Would not go back, especially when there are so many other better places around!
(2)Nate C.
Pretty bad coffee and subpar food at best. I had the Carnitas scramble which was very bland. My girlfriend had the German sausage and potatoe pancakes. Both equally unimpressive and not worth the nearly $30 it cost to eat there. Will not be returning.
(1)Stu H.
If you need a decent breakfast, don't hesitate to go here. The main courses are good and the service is consistently excellent. While this place is not in our top five breakfast joints, we go here occasionally to break things up. My two star rating is because this place has the potential to be one of those great breakfast joints. Unfortunately, the food lacks excitement, hence my "Meh" vote. Their potatoes (hash browns and french fries) are the cheap, boring, mass-produced in a factory, frozen blandness variety. How about putting some fresh potatoes into a grinder or fry tool, adding some of your own spices and kicking it up a notch? And in Seattle, if you're serving coffee it better not be the same stuff served at the gas station next door. This is one of those places that has the potential to be amazing...someone just needs to kick it in the butt.
(2)Flora C.
Interesting name: Brief Enoucnter (I wonder is it good or bad...) This is a cozy family operated restaurant. I saw a lot of local resident dine here. Service: Friendly Food: Ok Environment: Family oriented Location: Between QFC and behind Chevron (you really have to look for it)
(3)Anastasia C.
We have tried this place twice now and I am just not impressed. I won't mind going if I am heading down Bellevue Way going to Kirkland for some reason. Food just isn't that great....below average for me. I am happy to say that they serveTully's though!
(2)Heather H.
Went on Saturday Feb 9 to check this place out. They were really busy. We waited about 15 or 20 minutes to be seated at a table. The food did not take long to get either. The server was definitely busy and it took a long while to get our check. However, once we asked for it, it was already prepared and immediately brought to us. I ordered the biscuits and gravy. Definitely delicious. The biscuits and gravy came with an option of breakfast potatoes for hashbrowns. I'm a hashbrowns kind of girl and they were tasty but was the shape and texture of McD's hashbrowns, although twice the size. I'm from the Midwest, so I'm a hard judge on biscuits and gravy. My friend ordered the Bear Scramble - amazing. Would definitely go back, but looking to pick a less-busy time. They simply need a manager/host to keep things in order and to greet guests as they enter so the servers can do their job of serving their guests. I am very likely to return because everybody has a bad day every once in a while and when understaffed for an unusual amount of business then the best you can do sometimes is be pleasant and smile (which all of the staff did). And because the food was delicious.
(3)David S.
I've been back a few times, always with one or two of my young children, who enjoy sitting up at the counter. The good part about the counter is that there's rarely a wait even when they're busy. We've found that splitting items ends up being economical in terms of cost and waste. The corned beef hash is consistently good and is refreshingly home made and the espresso drinks are good.
(4)Conner W.
My encounter with Brief Encounter was, well, brief. And fortunately, I'm the only one to blame ;) I recently agreed to meet a few friends at Brief Encounter for breakfast and I ended up being about 25 minutes late. I called them to let them know not to wait for me and t order ahead of time. They offered to order for me but even then, the food came before I did. Our waitress was very nice and put my food under the heat lamp until I arrived. When I got there she promptly asked me what I would like to drink and brought me a delicious breakfast scramble and OJ. Overall, I think they have good service and good food. I do think that given their diner-style model, their menu items are slightly overpriced.
(3)Johnny N.
I definitely recommend this place for breakfast on the "Eastside." Very anti-Bellevue, so the address is for show only. It's very homey and comforting, with a very good breakfast. They had a lunch menu too, but it was early. The dining room was small and it gets busy, but plenty of staff to go around once you're at your table. If you're waiting, you can kill time getting gas at the Chevron or getting your grocery shopping done at the QFC. Coffee was good, though a little dark for my tastes. The homemade corned beef hash wasn't your typical pork mush with little potato cubes... it was shredded hash brown potatoes mixed with shredded corned beef. Tasty, not fatty, and not salty.... some of the best I've had. The pancake was nice and fluffy, the sausage was bland (I thought it was turkey sausage, but I guess not?), and the ham was much better. The side additions seemed to be overpriced, but it wasn't unreasonable. I would come back again, especially if I stayed in Bellevue again. Why eat at the hotel?
(4)Bruce Y.
No pretenses, just consistently good food! I've eaten both breakfast and lunch here DOZENS of times, and they always deliver good food with friendly service! I've got some specific recommendations for what to order below... This is a traditional small-town-cafe-style breakfast and lunch diner like you would find in little towns all over America (that have been there for 50 years - you know the type). It is family owned and run, and Melanie and/or her daughter Amanda are likely to be waiting tables on any given day, with a long-time wait-staff that seems to have very little turnover (so they must be treating them well). Atmosphere is VERY casual, and you can tell that most patrons are return locals with family/friends. For breakfast, they have numerous great omelets (named for things like Melanie's dogs), but I usually get Eggs Benedict when it's on the special board (which it often is on weekends). And if you have a gluten intolerance or celiac (or other dietary restrictions), just say so; they go out of their way to accomodate, e.g., they'll make your eggs and hash browns in a separate, clean pan! For lunch, they have excellent homemade-tasting soups (ask the waitress for a rec.), but frankly, the one thing you CAN'T go wrong with is the French Dip (slathered with sauteed onions), which is as good as I've ever had anywhere! I often meet friends or take relatives here for breakfast, and meet business associates here for lunch. Be aware that on Saturday and Sunday mornings at peak times (e.g., 9-11AM), there is likely to be a 10-20 minute wait with 5-10 people ahead of you. But that's a GOOD thing - it means they consistently pack the place with repeat customers (like me). Other than that, you're likely to get a seat quickly, and can either take your time eating/chatting, or order and eat quickly (e.g., a half-hour lunch). Prices are certainly higher than Denny's, but I think that's a reflection of the broader-than-usual menu and experienced, friendly staff!
(5)Kristy S.
This place is A-OK. A bit of a greasy spoon, so we don't eat here too often. But the service is great and the food is tasty. Stick to the egg and hashbrown dishes for breakfast. The B&G is just meh, and the pancakes are really heavy.
(3)Anthony P.
Looking for a new place for breakfast on the East Side. Read some reviews of Brief Encounter and decided to roll the dice. Specifically a person had reported good biscuits and gravy. The service here was fine, we got seated after having to wait about 15 minutes, and the servers were pleasant. We were poured coffee and water. The water was fine, but the coffee had that taste it gets when it has been sitting around for a while. I ordered the biscuits and gravy with a side of home style potatoes. I can pretty much tell you how the biscuits and gravy are made. I have eaten the same junk passed off as biscuits and gravy many times. I worked in a small town diner when I was in my teens. The biscuits came in premade in a box that most likely said "Pillsbury" on it. Then they took ground breakfast sausage and browned it in a big skillet. Next they added water and a foil bag of white powder that said "White sauce mix" on it. A little pre-ground black pepper and you have "gravy". Toss the gravy in an insert and put it on a steam table. Cut 2 biscuits in half, toss them in a microwave, then dump "gravy" on them and you are good to go. For whatever reason, when I eat out for breakfast I expect more than this. The potatoes where also a bit disappointing. They seemed steamed and soft, not much in the way of a crunch or texture. My lady had an omelet and it was fine, but she too did not like her home style potatoes. Needless to say we did not over eat, so I guess that is a good thing. I will keep looking for breakfast options and won't be back to this place.
(2)Rikku C.
Friendly service. Decent food. The waitress was patient with me as it was my first time here. I went around 8:30am on saturday and it was already getting full.
(4)Chris D.
Can't really mess up breakfast, yet many places still do. This is a busy straight forward diner/locals haunt. Family's, couples, old and young all frequent this place. Lots of neighborhood folks along with those on the way to their shopping adventures at BelSquare. Food is consistent basic warm and satisfying. Service seems very hurried and sometimes slow during peak times, but reasonably friendly enough. Good go,to place to satisfy your most basic breakfast needs.
(4)Kjell S.
Some dickhead came in and sat himself without using the "sign in sheet" which in my opinion is a newer and less professional system that some restaurants are seeming to choose. The waitresses didn't seem to care. But for me, it really pisses me off. Seriously, put the list behind the counter and manage it. I'd like to think that all people are fair minded but they ARE NOT. So do not trust them with their own waiting list for tables. Food was okay, a bit pricey for breakfast though. Don't go out of your way to go to it.
(2)LB D.
a fun local place for breakfast lunch or dinner, this has the flare of a neighborhood favorite!
(4)John V.
Pretty decent breakfast. I had the carnitas and eggs, very tasty. The place has outdoor seating and pretty quick service. We had a group of 7 and they did a pretty good job managing the group. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Jason L.
Small, little neighborhood cafe, homey decor, aroma of coffee, eggs and bacon. You've seen places like these before. Memories of great heaping plates of breakfast and comfort food along with great friendly service comes to mind. Sorry, not this place. The omelette and hash browns begged for seasoning. The french dip was thin and lacked flavor. Waitresses were busy chatting and looking at their phones, unaware that their customers needed service. I saw several tables actually had to walk up and hand their credit cards to the cashier because they were ignored for a period of time. I had to flag them down to refill my water. And it wasn't even that busy at the time. This place had the makings of a good breakfast/lunch spot, but ended up being a dud.
(2)Kazuo O.
Ordered the Philly steak breakfast burrito. I though it was A-Ok. They use a nice thin slice of beef that's soft. I was worried that it would be a tough cut. The hash browns had no seasoning on it. I don't think it's worth coming here without a coupon. For quality of food and portions they could drop the price just a little.
(3)Ponarett X.
Can someone please tell me why this place is named "Brief Encounter"? Breakfast definitely does not come to my mind! Once you get your mind out of the gutter, you'll realize how cute this place is. It's located in a small strip mall (if you can even call it that) on Bellevue Way. The great thing about this place is that it's far enough away from downtown Bellevue that you avoid all the yuppies that tend to roam the area. I ordered the biscuits and gravy combo with eggs, bacon, and hash browns. I was expecting one split biscuit with gravy on top but what I got instead was an entire plate of biscuits with tons of gravy! I think it was two split biscuits but it was hard to tell because their biscuits are big to begin with. I ended up taking half home with me and eating it the next day. Overall, this is a solid breakfast place and I will definitely be back for more.
(4)Ken L.
I go to Bellevue often and decided to visit due to some interesting reviews. Found that service was just OK and there seems to be some kind of attitude by the waitress. Maybe she is having a bad day? The corn beef hash was good but the price to palette ratio is low. It was about 10 bucks or so for one plate that was just barely enough to fill me. Flavors are there but again the service should be a lil better and portions more appropriate for the price. Gotta love the name.
(3)Josh A.
So I tried it today for the first time because my groupon was going to expire in a few days and my aunt had recommended it. Shared the cinnamon roll with my sister and that was pretty good, except for the edge being a little over cooked. Where I had a problem was I had the Veggie Scramble and it was ok. The issue was when I got home I threw up all of it and have been having stomach cramps and a fever. It was the only thing I had ate so it couldn't be anything else. My sister mentioned the fact the fresh vegetable was just coming in as we were leaving. If the veggies were not good don't serve it. My Sister though her food was decent but then again you can't mess up scrambled eggs and potatoes, but she said her bread was kind of stale. Also I can't imagine paying $3.50 for orange juice and my sister said it tasted store bought. Moved to Bellevue but if I want GOOD breakfast I'm making my way to Wild Wheat in Kent.
(1)Strax T.
The wife talked me into going back to use the second of three Groupons. Turned out to be a much better experience this time knowing what to order. I got the Early Bird Special (despite the name, you can get this at any time) with pancakes. Their pancakes are really very good. She got the Early Bird with French Toast. It was also good. In addition, we ordered the corn beef hash as a side. Be forewarned, it's not the same style that you get at most restaurants (and out of the can). It actually looks like hash browns at first glance. Having said that, I still can't give more than 3 stars due to price - the cost without the Groupon would have been $30 ! Just too pricey for the quality you're getting. With the Groupon, it's decently priced. Also, again the wait staff are courteous and friendly. Now, if they would only use more spices and lower the prices, I'd be here every week :)
(3)Clinton T.
We were pretty hungry and the food was good enough. We went because I had a Groupon for this place. I don't think I would go back without the Groupon due to price. Nothing spectacular and there are other breakfast places in Bellevue with more interesting options for a competitive price.
(3)Patrick L.
The bad news is, it takes FOREVER to get your food. That has to do with the kitchen though, and not the wait staff. They always have plenty of waitresses that stay pretty busy, since this place is usually stays pretty full. They also happen to be some of the friendliest waitresses I've been served by. Very casual atmosphere, and despite how busy they are, they don't ever appear flustered or annoyed, and you never feel rushed. I love that they serve breakfast all day, so that's all I've ever eaten here, regardless of what time I go. I highly recommend the corn beef hash, as it's probably the second best I've had around here. Lots of long, thin slices of onion throughout, and cooked so that one side is cripsy, just like when you order a side of hashbrowns anywhere. It's the perfect portion, too. After eating every bite, I leave very satisfied, without feeling bloated!
(4)Sherry W.
First trip here - the food was decent, the atmosphere leaves a little to be desired, old diner look. Will probably give it a second try....
(3)Angela S.
We were going to Bellevue and wanted some breakfast so I came on Yelp and found this place. Lucky me there was even a coupon in the Entertainment book! We got there and laughed at the random strip mall location but it was cute inside and the service was good. We both got the egss benedict which was pretty good. I did find a small little egg shell and my meal was quickly comped and my coupon returned! I will be back for sure if I find myself in Bellevue again, looking for breakfast.
(4)Sarah M.
This place is always packed on the weekends for brunch!! I've come here a few times for some yummy breakfast burritos. The place doesn't look like much - it's inside a strip mall with a liquor store and QFC - kind of an odd place to have this place. But they've got an impressive breakfast with HUGE portions! It's kind of got an upscale, dinerish feel to it. Not too much more upscale, but nicer than a typical diner. If that made sense. :) There really aren't too many good breakfast places around Bellevue...I'd recommend this place but try to get here earlier in the AM or later in the afternoon to get a spot! It fills up fast!
(4)Linh T.
As terrible as I think my relationship with East side is, my relationship with Brief Encounter couldn't even start because first trial was so bad. I live about 5 minutes from this restaurant, so I decided to give it a try for my brunch on Sunday since I no longer live near my beloved Easy Street Record cafe. It was semi-crowded but we didn't have to wait long to get a table, which was good. After some waiting time, the waitress asked what we would like for drink. I asked for some cappuccino and my boyfriend wanted some OJ. She got him the OJ almost immediately and get me a glass of water while waiting for my cappuccino. We surfed through the menu. Let me tell you, it is overpriced and the portion is fairly small for what you pay. All i'm looking for was straightly English style breakfast: egg, English muffin and bacon. It took a while to find something like that and I personally think the menu was confusing. Well, back to the service: it was a mess. During the entire brunch, we were approached by 3 different waitresses and none of them knew what the other has asked. So another waitress came and asked what i'd like to drink. I politely told her I was waiting for my cappuccino. Well, that cappuccino took a very long to arrive and it was served in a paper cup with foam overload. I was pretty unhappy already. My boyfriend asked the 2nd waitress for a cup of black coffee and water since he has finished his OJ. We ordered as well. The waitress took off and the cup of black coffee never came. Even after the brunches were brought out, coffee and water were nowhere to be seen. We managed to catch another waitress on her way around and asked again. She said she would be right back. Well, only with a glass of water. I really thought their coffee machine was broken or they were out of coffee, so we kept on waiting. NO, IT WAS NOT THAT AT ALL. They were just absent minded and did not care. We finally asked ANOTHER waitress for the third time and she managed to bring us a cup of black coffee. The service alone costed this place all the stars and not to mention the bacon was so thin and oily. The entire time i was wondering how could this place stay in business? The best part was the paying part. This brunch costed $30 for nothing-special food and worst service. I asked for the bill and put my card almost immediately. The waitress came right away to take it (?!?!?!). um...WE WAITED A VERY LONG TIME and no one brought back my card. I caught the waitress and asked. She was like "there were about 10 people paying at the same time so yours should come right out". Then she grabbed another waitress and I could hear their conversation behind me very clearly. She asked if the other waitress was still running any credit card and that girl said "no, not doing any credit card". I almost laughed out loud, really. So thank god, they "managed" to find out where my credit card went. Bottom line is: whatever this business is doing, they should really close because they're hurting this neighborhood's reputation and should really do everyone a favor. I have never been more pissed off. NEVER COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)B W.
We have been here on a while and was really disappointed with breakfast. The first thing we notced was thy have really raised their prices. I had eggs Bacon and hashbrowns and my wife had has a veg omelet for at total of $28.02 plus tip. The hashbrowns were just mush and looked like they spent a long time warming on the grill. I had to ask for each coffee refills. Eggs were ok but the Bacon was also dead. Next time we will drive out to the Raging in Fall City for breakfast.
(1)Sonia L.
My fruit side had the correct color and texture but somehow they managed to find fruit that was impressively tasteless. My cheese omelet was cold and unremarkable enough to call for not only salt and pepper but ketchup. The service was okay, but nothing to write home about. The coffee -- well. I've had worse, but in the Seattle area, we ought to expect better than "not awful". Look, I know there isn't much in the way of breakfast choices out there in Bellevue, but c'mon guys -- surely we can do better than this. This is one of the top-rated breakfast places in the area, and I don't want to be mean, Bellevue, but -- really? Seriously: eggs and cheese and fruit -- not that challenging, even in the burbs. Get a grip.
(2)Steve M.
Had to wait to get in at lunch...always a good sign. Its a neighborhood place in Northtown of Bellevue. Breakfast anytime and burgers and sandwiches. Great escape from pretentious Bellevue Square. We go at least once a month and always are happy with service.
(5)J A.
Good service. Good food. A nice local feel diner. It was a little smelly. Might need a good cleaning and airing out.
(3)Jenny W.
Been here numerous times for breakfast with my boyfriend and we really like it! good place if you're in the mood for a hearty breakfast . It is casual and comfortable, the coffee is good and service is usually pretty quick and always friendly. I like the eggs benedict (they are sometimes out) and breakfast sandwiches. I recently ordered the huevos rancheros and it was good but I wasn't crazy about all the black beans on it. Over all good little cafe, I still have yet to try anything other than breakfast!
(4)Ani K. O.
I had the Huevos Ranchos and it was pretty good. I had asked for over medium and it came out over easy but not too worry. I thought it was flavorful. Nothing AMAZING but solid. Thus the A-OK...
(3)Burt R.
The trifecta of bad: weak menu, terrible service and over cooked, poorly prepared food. The prices seemed in line until I got my food. They wouldn't even fill my coffee.
(1)Crispina T.
A great place for breakfast. Their Corn Beef Hash is to die for. The service is very good and the staff is very friendly. I am definitely going back. Give it a try.
(4)Chris C.
Nice atmosphere, very good service. Downside....I wasn't over impressed with food or prices. The portions were relatively small, though that's possibly a good thing. What bothered me, though, was that things that ought to just naturally go together, did not forcing you to buy sides to make up the meal. Examples: Corned Beef Hash did not come with eggs, only toast. You'd have to get eggs on the side to make it seem "complete". Biscuits and Gravy came with nothing, also forcing you to get eggs on the side to "complete" the meal. The food I did have was tasty, but nothing "fantastic"...just good. It did not taste "home made". The sausage was in small pieces and reminded me of the same sausage McD's uses in their breakfast burrito. Portion was a little small and price was a little more than I'd have expected. I'm giving stars more on the atmosphere and friendly service than anything. The food wasn't bad, just nothing special.
(3)