4. Restaurants

Boat Street Kitchen

3131 Western Ave,Ste 301, Seattle, WA, 98121
  • (206) 632-4602
  • Store is closed

Boat Street Kitchen Menu

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  • Alexa W.

    Exceptional food, service, and atmosphere!

    (5)

  • peter r.

    This is the 4th time I visited in 12 months. Done for a while! While the food is OK+, the staff is what makes this place really annoying. It seems perennially understaffed. Waitresses always rushing around. Almost running, actually. Hurried expression on their faces when finally flagged down. Phew! What a sweat shop. The wait can be formidable. Avoid evenings with music inside: low ceiling, high noise. Better yet, avoid evenings, do a lunch instead.

    (3)

  • Robyn S.

    *This review is based soley on the Bread Pudding. We didn't need menus - we came for one specific dish .... the BREAD PUDDING. After reading the many rave reviews, I had to try it. I love bread pudding!!! So after dinner in Queen Anne, we decided to save our dessert appetites and walk down to Boat Street Cafe. When the dish came out, I was put off...I had never seen bread pudding served in a bowl, literally swimming in cream. Maybe it was an off night? I dunno....it didn't look appetizing. We took a bite and although I liked the flavor of the amaretto, it wasn't as delicious as I had hoped - the massive amount of cream that was surrounding the bread pudding definitely bothered me. Overall, I think it tasted ok....but just worth 2 stars..

    (2)

  • Kris P.

    Wow, if we didn't find this sweet little cafe on Yelp, we'd have never come here because it's a hidden gem. Because the weather has decided to play with us, for the first time in weeks, the outdoor seating here isn't available. Well, unless you like sitting to eat while wet. Not my style, but I'm sure someone could fancy such a thing. Inside is set up like a French Bistro.... with nice decorations. The place was jam-packed, yet the wait was very short. The wait staff was all super friendly, fast and very attentive. I ordered the Red Pepper & Goat Cheese scrambled eggs with salad and baguette. $12, and definitely worth the price. The combination of flavors had my mouth doing cheers from the first bite. And sometimes I would pick up the baguette and put some of the egg mix on it before eating. The salad had a vinegar taste, which accompanied the meal nicely. My wife ordered the Open Faced sandwich with salad. It came with bacon, Sharp cheddar, Strong Dijon & tomato. At $13.50 it was also well worth the price. I don't like Dijon, but I got to try this sandwich, and I have to say that it was perfection. If I thought my mouth cheered with my meal, I'd say that an entire chorus broke out this time. The taste of the bacon was ah-may-zing! The dessert menu had four selections, each for $5. I got the Normandy Peach Pie with cream and my wife ordered the Panna Cotta with Raspberry Sauce. Both were delish, and a great way to finish off this most excellent meal. My ONLY complaint (and I will not deduct a star for such a trivial matter) was, the water was served with no ice, and a piece of cucumber. I can't stand water that isn't ice cold. It's just my thing. So, I asked for a glass of ice, and had one delivered, immediately. Then, I have a little pet peeve about putting things IN my water. I hate when a restaurant puts lemon in your water, and you haven't asked for it. So, I didn't like the cucumber piece that accompanied the glass. And, I don't like the flavor it leaves. But, the water tasted like tap.... so, I guess that they were trying to mask it. Or, that's something that the French do. Oh well.... not a big deal. After all, ice cold Coca Cola, delivered in glass bottles, did the trick. Very refreshing!!!!!

    (4)

  • Susy W.

    I enjoyed my weekend brunch with my girlfriends here, a lot! The space is simple and rustic and it was a great way to start my Saturday. At first I was put off because we were seated by mistake (I guess we can't be seated until everybody in the party was there), but it was 10:30 am and we were the first in the restaurant. It ended up not being a big deal - we got great service even though one of my friends did show up significantly later. The place does start filling up quickly. I got the baked eggs dish and thoroughly enjoyed it! I can't wait to bring my family here next time, as I know they would love this restaurant. Hooray for finding a non-greasy spoon breakfast place!

    (4)

  • JR G.

    Heck yes. Bread pudding. I'll say it again. Buh-read Pood-ing. Order it. Eat it. Be happy with life. Also, my wife loved the anchovy entree.

    (4)

  • Fbio F.

    Great wine selection. Love the fresh oysters. Delicious bread and olives. Too bad the pork belly is not in the menu anymore.

    (4)

  • Emmy R.

    The Rustic Cornmeal Custard Cake is to die for! So good that even though plenty of other things on the menu sound appetizing, I almost always end up ordering my fave. In a fat girl move, I'll admit that I once ordered the salmon benedict just to try something new AND the custard cake and completely devoured both plates as the boyfriend watched in equal parts amazement and horror. I think he fell in love with me a little more that day. True story. The 4-Star rating is mainly for brunch, although in another fat girl move, one night I had a very specific craving for a juicy, bone-in pork chop. Sometimes a girl's just gotta get that pork chop--am I right? The pork chop was good. The bread pudding was tasty. I left feeling very full and satsified, but I think I'll have to do dinner a couple more times to give a fair review. I'm almost positive they won't disappoint. The place itself is a bit quirky, but still very cute. I'm still confused about the Cafe vs. Kitchen distinction though...

    (4)

  • Tanya J.

    Ahhh-Fricken-Dorable! Loved. I went here for a team Christmas lunch and had the best experience! First impressions: adorable! cute! white! adorable! charming! adorable! french! but with some asian accents! clean! oh, did I mention adorable? I had flashbacks of my recent trip to Paris when coming here. You know, the adorable, charming quaint restaurant thing you find in France... um yeah, that was here also. To my surprise I found quite a few vegetarian options and had a tough time choosing. I was not expecting that. Don't laugh but I ended up going with the bacon sandwich then picked off the bacon. Yes, I am the only vegetarian who orders a bacon sandwich. I get it. But it was all the other goodness on that sandwich I wanted and was very pleased with my meal. A couple other interesting menu items I was eyeballing were the garbanzo bean stew and the pumpkin soup! Our team definitely took advantage of the wine selection here too! The location is a bit funky. I think for a place like this, it should be starring in a hip location being front and center for everyone to see easily and love. Perhaps its reclusiveness is all part of the Boat Street Café charm plan though :) I can't wait to come back here for dinner.

    (5)

  • Daniel H.

    The food was indeed good, but too many other qualities degraded the experience. The servers acted annoyed the moment we walked in the door and couldn't muster up a cordial tone the rest of the visit. There were no vegan options for one member of our party and the server acted annoyed when a polite question was asked about other options. At the end of the meal a polite request for separate checks was met with derision and denial, only to be followed by the presentation of separate checks in a huff. I guess since they knew they would automatically add 18% gratuity they didn't think they had to earn it. Finally, Yelp should have it listed as $$$, not $$.

    (1)

  • lauren s.

    We just had brunch here and it was absolutely delicious. The place is adorable and the food was well worth the somewhat long wait. We were a party of ten and everyone enjoyed what they had (along with a few bites of their neighbors'). The service was slightly snooty and I can't believe a mimosa was $9, which is why i say 4 and not 5, but I'd still love to come back for dinner sometime.

    (4)

  • Marilyn V.

    I came here for brunch with some friends and made reservations ahead of time. Upon arrival, I was glad that we had reservations, because it was packed! We were greeted and then seated at a large table. (Knocking a star off, for no available highchair for my friend's daughter.) The food was very fresh! We all had a variation of the benedict and were very pleased with our meals. It was super busy and therefore made the service slightly slow, but everyone was nice and our visit ended pleasant. I will definitely be back to try their other dishes for dinner and to get some of the delicious banana bread pudding!

    (4)

  • Julian G.

    Scrambles are bland... pretty pricey, not very memorable.

    (3)

  • Fried T.

    We went here late last night for dinner. It was a great experience overall. Our server was very nice and helpful. The food was great. Pros: + Outdoor seating. + Area lined with lavender bushes... the place smells heavenly + Good, simple food. Very unique flavors. We ordered the tomato and watermelon salad, which was very unique combo, and very gently seasoned with salt and pepper. Delicious for the summer. Then ordered a side of the dates. Very very unique. I'd never had or would have never thought of coming up with an idea like that. It was very simple and yet very tasty. Then we got the charred broccoli dish. Same thing - an explosion of summer-y flavors, very unique and very light. We got the ginger custard dessert. This was probably the only dish that I thought could perhaps use some improvement - the chef got a little heavy handed with the sugar. Cons: - Not a whole lot of options for vegetarians, which is surprising in this area. I had to request they take off the anchovy in the broccoli dish to make it vegetarian. - I feel the food was slightly overpriced.. If they knocked off a dollar or two from every dish (except the dates), I'd have definitely given them 5 stars. Overall, fantastic place, great atmosphere.

    (4)

  • T N.

    Great food. Loved the pate, pickles, banana pudding. The ribeye was a very good portion The only downside is the service. Our server wasn't friendly and was a snob. :(

    (4)

  • Teresa H.

    When my friend and I decided to go to Boat Street Cafe for a bite last night, I would have thought I'd be giving this 4-5 stars, as I've been here for brunch and it was seriously superb, everything. Unfortunately, the service was surprisingly terrible for last night's visit. I won't go into details but basically it seemed like we were in no-man's land out on the patio (nice ambience) and more or less ignored. Not at all attentive. At one point, I thought it just made more sense to go to the bus station and help myself to silverware. Now for the positive.The food did make up for it, I got the scallops with creamy pollenta which was top-notch and super delicious. I thought they did a good job with the bread and butter, loved the olive oil and fresh olive touch (thank goodness, as our meal took forever). My friend ordered the chicken and he compared it to Shake n' Bake....so definitely a miss there, he regretted not getting the steak. This is a brunch fave so I hope to go back and improve this rating soon.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth P.

    I came here for brunch at 2:15p on a Sunday - just before they stopped serving. However, they were gracious and welcoming even as they were closing up and making lunch for the staff. I ordered the salmon eggs Benedict, which were delicious! They use French bread-like toasts for the bread and served both salad and fruit on the place with the eggs. It was perfect. Then, I let my waiter talk me into ordering the bread pudding - it was phenomenal, certainly lived up to its reputation as being the best bread pudding in Seattle. I can't wait to try their dinner menu!

    (5)

  • Tim H.

    I was reading a best of Seattle magazine and saw a picture of cornmeal custard cake with maple syrup and a sausage. It looks so good I decided right then that I wanted to go wherever that was and try it. So I stopped in for lunch one day. Inside was very loud so I choose a more quiet spot outside. I was all set to order my cornmeal custard cake when I saw cod on the menu with a sort of tartar sauce (I forget the culinary term they used on their menu and their online menu is different) and what amounted to potatoes, broccoli, and salad. Sometimes you know what you want until you get there and know what you REALLY want. So I went for the cod and I must admit the plate was very, very good. The tastes were well balanced and seemed to be well thought out as well. I walked in wanting one thing and walked out utterly impressed by something else entirely. I highly recommend this place but, considering it was just lunch, it did seem rather crowded and noisy inside. That being said I hope to return and actually order what I originally went in there for because it still looks good and I still don't know what that particular dish tastes like. If it's anything like the cod, it will be an experience.

    (4)

  • Potatoes OBrian O.

    Simple food done amazingly. Every bite I had was perfect. Very charming. I look forward to going back when in Seattle.

    (5)

  • David B.

    I love this place. Came for a late lunch, and even though they were close to closing they graciously seated us. Attentive but non disruptive waitstaff. Simple, but delicious menu offerings. I had the perfectly scrambled eggs with piquillo peppers & goat cheese, it came with some simply dressed arugula, and a delicious baguette. This is amazing food, treated properly and with the utmost care. Simple, fresh, well seasoned, properly prepared. Bread pudding for dessert was phenomenal. I love the ambiance and location as well. Seriously wish this place could be teleported to the bay area.

    (5)

  • Anna S.

    Great food and atmosphere!! Recommend the goat cheese Benedict :) cant wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jeff K.

    Cravingly delicious, quaint and cozy seaside chinoise bistro space, and fun/well-informed conversational service. The painstaking quality and love for creating a fun evening shines here just as it does at their newer and nationally acclaimed Walrus & The Carpenter. Both fantastic, though honestly I'd give Boat Street a slight leg up -- at least during the Seattle winter where the warming coziness of their delectable comfort food is a perfect match. The food: - Pickle plate: easily matches the hype, bracing and varied house made brines bursting with coriander, mustard seed, anise, thyme, and more, coaxing fork-licking and bread-soaking yumminess from the beets, fennel, carrot, and spicy chilies on our evening's plate. My wife who loves making homemade jam and preserves but is generally not a vinegar fan was inspired to say we should try pickling... Yay :) - Roasted root vegetables with brown butter and pomegranate seeds. Straight up slap-your-momma delicious. Just about the best single plate we've had in months. This is the dish you want after a long day in the cold wet winter - piping hot, perfectly softened but surrounded by bits of oven-crisped skin and toothsome resistance, sinful brown butter and the tart popping crunch of pomegranate seeds added just before plating. - Pumpkin Roquefort soup - thinner and lighter than it sounds (in a good way given richness of rest of the meal), this was very good. Not same level as the rest, but good. - Double bone pork chop - just as others have shared, this is HUGE, perfectly cooked, garnished fabulously again w well-balanced sweet, tart, and toasty unctuousness. Double bone, triple yum. - House-made pork crepinettes w faro. Also excellent - another wonderful and comforting play on contrasting textures against a perfectly seasoned backbone of earth and herbs. - Bread pudding - I dont need to re-describe this gem given the great and repeated descriptions of it by other reviewers. Absolutely ridiculously good, and unique in two interesting ways -- (1) served mouth searingly hot, how I always want these kinds of dishes but they never are - thanks!, and (2) the custard is very thin compared to any other bread pudding I've seen , far more like some of the best ice cream base you've ever tasted than a heavy congealed custard, making a perfect swimming pool for the crisp and almond-scented baguette chunks to lose themselves in. :) Last point - we had a fun conversation with our -wonderful- server about last month's Seattle Magazine article where local restaurant chefs and staff lamented (quite fervently) "Yelpers"...

    (4)

  • David Y.

    Flipping fantastic. French food and big enough portions that you don't fall back onto the stereotype of French cuisine not filling you up! I had the pork chop, my girlfriend had the crab cakes. My god. That was one of the best pork chops I've ever had in my life! The pork chop came with some kale with cheese on it, it was so rich and filling. The crab cakes were pretty dang good too! The pickle plate - get it. If you like pickles, you'll love this for a pre dinner snack!

    (5)

  • Angie S.

    Well let's see here, I kind of have a huge crush on this place. I mean it's really hard to not be in love with the atmosphere or food. Huge white open space with delicate and dark decor, so cute. I had a chicken with smoked mozzarella, basil, and lemon pepper mayonnaise sandwich. I loved it a lot more than my boyfriends tomato basil soup. Coming here again for lunch, better believe it!

    (5)

  • Richard W.

    The ambience and staff and wine selection is as good as it gets in seattle. The menu shows real innovation. The food itself has become uneven. The owner is one of the best restauranteurs in the town. Boat street needs more of her attention.

    (3)

  • Brian E.

    Delicious Pork Chop, and, easily one of the cutest, romantic venues for a nice dinner in Seattle. It's like Martha Stewart's Country-Home-Prarielands edition magazine. But, wear semi-nice clothes, 'cause I've gone twice in a t-shirt (spending $50-$100 each time) and the douche-bag maitre'd gave off this nasty elitist attitude. Seriously, replace the Nephew-of-the-owner guy and I'll go more often. And make him shave. If you're going to be snippy at a nice restaurant, at least trim the beard. And the olives with bread and butter are delicious.

    (4)

  • Adam H.

    Had the eggs Benedict. It was delicious! The atmosphere is refined without being stuffy. A great find! The specialty coffee was also quite good. Even for Seattle.

    (4)

  • Ben B.

    I stopped in today for lunch and the food was GREAT! The salmon was fantastic and the servers were both great! Friendly, spunky and they made our business lunch a pleasurable one. And the portions aren't so big that you feel bloated afterward (which is a big plus). This place was all about quality, not quantity. With that said, try to keep in mind that it takes time to make good food. It's not that the service was slow, but you need to expect that this is made to order food. So it might take a little big. If you're looking for a delicious lunch and you aren't in a hurry this is your spot! Great place for business lunches because it gives you time to talk to your client.

    (4)

  • Janie S.

    The food here is excellent and quite unique, the menu changes all the time and I have not been disappointed. But expect to be there a long time as the service is extremely slow, a usual lunch will take you 1 1/2 hours to finally eat, get check and go. I still go to this restaurant because I love the food!

    (3)

  • Susan V.

    What a wonderful meal! Ambiance: quaint, comfortable and casual. Food: WONDERFUL! Loved the custard cornmeal cake. (I am a big eater and this was just the right amount to fill me up and also satisfy my taste buds.) Service: excellent! I can't wait to come back here!

    (4)

  • Jen T.

    this review is based on the brunch only. WOW! I was hesitant at first....it was somewhat of a sketch entrance, but after being seated and truly absorbing in where I was...this place was totally cute!! I ordered the cornmeal cake and my friend ordered the eggs benedict....in which both plates were licked clean. SO delicious!!! The cake was extremely crispy and then creamy in the center- nothing I've ever had before....the brat was delicious, not too salty just right. and the banana with the light syrup somehow worked and balanced everything together. I am and have been recommending this little hidden jem to ALL my friends... AWESOME! Can't wait to check out their dinner menu sometime!

    (5)

  • Evelyn B.

    This place is at an interesting location and has an ambiance that seems a little off, but they are able to pull it off. I certainly wasn't expecting the high quality food that they serve here! I don't know who the chef is but he deserves recognition for the fresh, artfully crafted meals he creates here. I came here for lunch which was pretty pricey, considering it appears to be quite casual. I ordered a fish sandwich (I forget the name/type of fish) which was out-of-this-world good. Thick, juicy chunks of fish on a perfect piece of bread, with a side of fruits and veggies. I highly recommend this place, but keep in mind you will be shelling on a decent chunk of change for the delicious food you eat here.

    (5)

  • Melissa B.

    This place was amazing! Great food, great wine, great service and the BEST bread pudding anywhere!

    (5)

  • Estelle C.

    Service might be a bit slow but gentle and nice. Food- I went there for Sunday brunch and had Tomato soup with poached egg and goat-cheese baguette, delicious and healthy- portion is not that big, but was just adequate for me. I like the ambiance and decoration very much as well, it wasn't overly crowded. Definitely not a cheap place to eat, but given the ambiance and the quality of food, I have no complaints. :) oh- hard-pressed pot of french-pressed coffee was so delicious.

    (4)

  • Suz-E V.

    Yum!!! I always order the croque Madame when I come here... One of the best things off the menu. All their desserts are yummy too! Parking sucks... But everything else is great :) the staff is very friendly. It's a small restaurant. They take reservations.

    (4)

  • Alex F.

    Amazing. Go there for the bread pudding alone. While you wait order the pork chop and the pickle plate. Eat everything then order another round of bread pudding to go. Great atmosphere. Friendly staff and superb cocktails. A little spendy but worth it and always call ahead for reservations as they are usually full. If any restaurant could turn me into a foodie, this is the place.

    (5)

  • Marjorie B.

    This place has been on my list for years. My dad asked me to choose a restaurant for his birthday dinner, so he, my mom and I went last Friday night. It was the most disappointing dinner - I want to say "ever" but that might be overstating it a bit. If put in a "cost for taste" category, it was definitely the most disappointing dinner ever. My parents hardly ever come "to the city" and they love it when I take them places. Both of their dinners were tasteless - my dad had the scallops and my mom had the pork shoulder. I had the pork chop - the flavors were good, but the pork was very pink in the middle. I didn't say anything because my parents would have been mortified if I had caused a disturbance. After we left, my mom said, "This is the first restaurant you have taken us to that wasn't good." They never complain. I felt we were treated with "distance" as well. My parents are not used to fine dining, and they felt like outsiders. Such a cute place, too.

    (1)

  • J K.

    Not bad, but not my sort of place. It's hoity-toity and stuffy, but I can see why people would like this place. (Well, I can see why hoity-toity people would like this place.) I'm too pedestrian to appreciate the refined offerings of Boat Street Cafe. The food was great. The service was good.

    (3)

  • Susan C.

    A few vegetarian friends visited from out of town and wanted to come here for Sunday brunch. Great idea! I got there early to get our names in and was seated promptly. Service was fast and professional and my dish - the smoked trout scramble with arugula and side baguette - was wonderful. My friend had the eggs Benedict and enjoyed it as well. Only complaint I'd have was with the bathroom (one stall for BOTH men and women? Please!). Other than that, a perfectly lovely experience.

    (4)

  • Paul M.

    I didn't really know what I was up for on this Saturday morning, well, early afternoon. The idea was to have brunch or lunch, depending on the mood. The place is very cool, has nice greenery around, and an outside patio in front of it. Upon glancing at the menu my eyes stopped on one item, my choice was made: The cassoulet. That, mon ami, is my favorite dish from the Toulouse area in France, and I would travel many miles for a good one. Turns out I only have to walk 10 minutes to get to one. My friend and I decided to order this famous cassoulet, and call it lunch. The place was becoming busy, and the waitress misheard us, and brought us two custard cakes a few moments later. Upon realizing the mistake, she immediately took them back and came to apologize, offering us some freshly baked bread, butter and jam to wait in the while that preparing the two servings of cassoulet would take. And the while was very much worth waiting for. With a thin broiled crust on top, small beans that melt in your mouth, slowly cooked duck confit, and a piece of the typical Toulouse sausage, I'm in love. It reminded me of my bicycle trips along the Canal du Midi, back when I was a student in Toulouse, and filled me with heartwarming nostalgia. The waitress then offered us a complimentary dessert which, luckily for me, was a rather small portion of astonishing sweet pickled walnuts with maple syrup and whipped cream. I don't remember being as pleasantly surprised in a restaurant as today. The bread was awesome, too. And that's the Frenchman speaking.

    (5)

  • Liya P.

    We were looking for some cute little place to have lunch on Sunday after church. And this place was perfect! The atmosphere is very casual/cozy, very laid back. The food is phenomenal. Food portions are perfect too if you're just looking for a quick bite with the ladies. If you're a man you'll probably leave feeling a bit hungry? Overall, loved this place!! It's like a little hidden gem in Seattle :)

    (5)

  • Joe O.

    I just had lunch here and man, was the salmon delicious. From the light couscous to the leafy greens - everything (service included) was spectacular. The only thing missing was some wine but considering it was just a client lunch, that was OK. I'd like to come back for dinner. The one complaint about sitting inside is the noise - as it's part of the NW Lofts building (which is expansive) and subsequently, 100 years old, while I love the aesthetic, it gets very loud. The noise travels from table to table and you can hear each door opening and closing. Not really a deal breaker but I can't imagine how loud it gets when the place is full.

    (4)

  • Jesus D.

    Boat street is amazing ! I love everything from the food to the service. Monday night dinners are bomb too!

    (5)

  • Tracey S.

    So sad it closed. So sad, in fact, I moved out of the neighborhood because my beloved Boat Street is no more.

    (5)

  • Elle G.

    When I first received a text that I'd be meeting here with friends for brunch at 10:30 in the morning I kind of groaned. My stomach usually can't handle larger portions of food that early and after checking the menu out, I decided this was a place where I'd want to go big or go home. Come to find this 10:30 brunch appointment was probably the reason why I had a 5-star experience. I was basically the first person to arrive as the restaurant was opening and I had a few minutes to myself to take in Boat Street's shabby chic and cozy atmosphere. The quiet and dimly lit dining area was a perfect haven from the down pour of rain going on outside. No loud rumbling of people and conversation, no long lines and 20-minute wait times and attentive service; this was the extreme opposite of my weekly brunch adventures. Between my party of five we basically ordered every benedict option, mine being the Chevre. I really enjoyed the artichoke and goat cheese combo and the portion size was filling but left enough room to try more. "More" includes their fresh raspberry creme scone, continental plate and each dessert offered on the menu: amaretto bread pudding, panna cotta with raspberries and a chocolate creme. The bread pudding was pure yumminess, definitely my favorite of the bunch. Our waiter was also helpful in our request to put a candle on one of the desserts in celebration of my girl friend's birthday. Boat Street Kitchen definitely turned my initial morning grumpiness into a delightful feeling of satisfaction and a happy belly!

    (5)

  • Erin S.

    Good food, casual atmosphere, great staff, and a dog friendly patio make this one of my favorite places in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Aaron H.

    The Smoked salmon Eggs Benedict was great! Dave our server was awesome! Blah blah blah.. Just go.

    (5)

  • Katy H.

    So thoroughly impressed with Boat Street. And also ashamed of myself for having never come here before! Lots of friends had recommended it and finally over the weekend my boyfriend and I popped in for brunch. Though I hear all of the meals here are amazing, their brunch was definitely fantastic. Service was polite, the tables were crisp and clean, the location is super adorable and the decorations from the ceiling are simple yet romantic. All I could think of was how perfect this space would be for a bridal shower, a rehearsal dinner, or even a super small wedding reception. Or really any family type special gathering. It's so picturesque and private! With menu items like baked eggs, buttermilk biscuits with honey butter, cheese plates, and the cornmeal custard cake, it was tough to decide what to eat. In fact, we had all of those items! Plus a hard cider which paired insanely well with our meal. I highly recommend people stop through and give this place some love. I know I've got it bookmarked to try lunch and dinner items next.

    (5)

  • Sandeep P.

    I live RIGHT by Boat Street Cafe and it was one of the first places recommended to me when I moved in. I finally decided to check it in when a friend visited me and insisted on a "really Seattle-y brunch" and we had already gone to Portage Bay Cafe. Ok, let's try Boat Street! First off, the space is actually quite hidden, downstairs in the coop building. Look for the signs. It's a great, large space but it seemed like the Sunday we went there, there simply weren't enough staff members running the place. There were empty table abounds but a 20 minute wait for a table. Fine, ok. We wait (the free coffee ran dry before we got there, and no one replaced it despite my suggesting so) and finally get a table in the very far corner. We both order our food- I was a bit disappointed my salad greens were rather undressed and flavorless, but my companion was happy with his meal. It took just as long to get our bill and get OUT of Boat Street which was a bit frustrating given the limited amount of time my friend had left in the city. I anticipate I'll be back to give Boat Street another try on a fully-staffed day, but probably not anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Awesta M.

    I really, really liked the feeling of the space. They did a great job of making it super cute and rustic feeling. I really liked the ambiance and decor. It made me feel right at home. We came here for a bridal shower for one of my good friends. (I think my other friend is going to do a review of how that went down - short version: not great.) The waitress was nice and fairly prompt. Though towards the end of the shower she ended up disappearing for a while and I'd have to go flag her down. The other annoying thing was that we were informed at the end of the meal that they couldn't take more than 5 credit cards for the entire table. There were 10 of us. Ok - that's not a problem if someone had told my friend when she set up the reservation that this was the case. Everyone would've brought cash, but no...we find out at the end of our meal. (I don't know if you guys know where this place is located but it's not like cash machines are plentiful in that area.) Luckily for us several of the women in our party had brought cash so we were able to make it work. (Not cool, dude.) The food was good. I ordered a mimosa which was a pretty hefty serving - I highly recommend it if you have brunch there. I also ordered the smoked salmon benny which was good. I really liked their take on the hollandaise sauce, it was really light. I also ordered the scone which was plum and almond. It was fairly massive and I barely ate a quarter of it, but was pretty yummy. One of my other friends got the biscuit and I really wish I'd gotten that instead...it was lovingly drenched in butter. Yum!! So would I go back? Possibly.

    (4)

  • Aida C.

    First and foremost. This cafe should be listed as $$$ instead of $$. Their menu is very nice and prices appropriate to the variety and way things are prepared. Although, the mark up on beers are a bit high. The food is well prepared. Ordered: Raw Oysters (6 oysters) Salmon Entree - Light portion for the price. Tuna Starter - Nicely served and tasty. Pork chop - really really good, although I was never asked how well I wanted it cooked. Slightly more cooked than I preferred but it was still greatly enjoyed. Drinks: Praga Lager Pilsner Service overall was ok, although we never really felt welcomed. Think this place needs a more diversified clientele. So I encourage one and all in the area to give this place a go, take a wide variety of friends. This place needs a nice batch of diversity to warm it up.

    (3)

  • Valeria C.

    Great brunches, great atmosphere, excellent service. Fantastic croquet madame, great bakes and eggs benedict. Awesome coffee and fantastic mimosas. Beautifully decorated. In a place like Seattle, where fresh ingredients and great restaurants are a plenty, this is a great find. Romantic for dinner, although a bit noise.

    (4)

  • christine c.

    The food it Boat Street is amazing. Truly. Everything we ordered was wonderful and came out in a timely manner, and the wine list was good, as well. it's the service, the attitude, the lack of JOY that this restaurant exudes that gives it 3 stars for my husband and me. We have a place in Provence so were really looking forward to trying this French café near our condo in Seattle. We aren't in Seattle often, but when we are we like to try new places, and we both have a love of French food and wine. So we were really looking forward to our dinner here. We were running about 10 minutes late. I called an hour ahead of our reservation to let the hostess know. She was rude and unfriendly on the phone, but said 'fine'. When we arrived we had a lovely waitress that we thought would make our evening enjoyable. She did not. Neither did any of the other staff. They all seemed to be going through the motions as if they truly did not like their jobs. Very sad because the food is, again, exquisitely prepared. We may try Boat Street once more to see if it was just 'a bad night' . . . but if the fun and love of food is not exhibited by the staff in an upscale restaurant such as this, there is no reason to frequent a place when there are so many other good restaurants in the city. This may be why on a Friday night it was easy to get a reservation and even at 745 it had a couple of empty tables. Sorry to report a 'meh' experience.

    (3)

  • Krishnaja G.

    This is another one of those places- which makes you feel cozy in a luxurious way. The place is tucked on western ave under a flight of stairs. The decor is very rustic/urban - restored wood, blown glass, metal installations. bowl of blackberries, giant hydranges, small votives, white linen- you probably get the picture now. I only ever ate brunch here. The menu is very european inspired and the specials are always amazing. But if you are in a bind about what to order, get one of their poached eggs. You cannot go wrong. The biscut with honey and orange butter is flaky, hot and amazing. They make a mean mimosa too. I did however think the prices were a bit too steep.

    (4)

  • Peter S.

    This is a lovely cafe with a French feel. It is in a renovated complex and just off street level. The crab cake came with a poached egg on top, a green salad, and a piece of bread. It was a wonderful combination.

    (4)

  • Rosenna T.

    This is such a cute restaurant! I love the atmosphere here, especially on a sunny Seattle day! I had their salmon benedict and it was really really good :) I just didn't like their coffee...at all...so minus that everything was perfect!

    (4)

  • James F.

    Love how tucked away it is. I had a lot of dishes here, and everything was good, but the two things that stood out was the grilled octopus and the bread pudding. The bread pudding is better than sex. Seriously. The bread is perfectly cooked and well portioned. It comes out in this soup of creme sauce where you can see the butter just floating on top (tastes/looks better than it sounds) but the best of all was the almond flavor in the creme. It cut the heaviness of the desert. I seriously was about to put a straw into the creme sauce and just drink it.

    (5)

  • Angela R.

    If you want amazing food, beautiful atmosphere this is your place. It is consistently wonderful. It is a great escape in Seattle. Great for a romantic Brunch or Lunch or a large family meal.

    (5)

  • Kateryna D.

    I didn't like the design idea... It' s seems to be like French cafe, but there are Japanese umbrellas... A lot of different stuff.. Looks tasteless ..but this is my opinion! The stuff and food good though. The prices are normal for quality!

    (4)

  • Danielle S.

    We came for dinner the first time with friends, I'm glad we made reservations. The food is fantastic, service is great and the restaurant is a lot of fun! We are excited to return for Brunch!

    (4)

  • Bethany M.

    A delightful dining experience -- the food is just superb. That pate...

    (4)

  • David N.

    The Boat Street Café is a charming rustic restaurant that is inspired by the French region of Provençal. The vision of Boat Street Café is to stimulate an exquisite dining experience by both its food and environment. We went to brunch here a few weeks ago to celebrate my fiancée's sister's birthday. The brunch menu is pretty extensive with a good combination of sweet and savory. Also, I like the fact that their French menu is easy to interpret and you're not left wondering what you just ordered. For my meal, I ordered the eggs benedict with goat cheese and artichokes. The rest of the table ordered the poached egg over pork hash, cornmeal custard cake with bananas, and corn pudding with sausage. The dishes are just the right portions and served with fruit and mix greens salad. The eggs benedict dish was delicious with the right balance of flavor in the hollandaise sauce. The only downside is that there was no meat in the dish, so for meat lovers, be sure to get a side of bacon or sausage. The pork hash was tasty as well with a smoky flavor to satisfy your savory needs. I didn't try the other dishes but everyone looked pleased. The other distinctive aspect about Boat Street Café is their atmosphere with slate tables, wood floors, and bistro lighting. The place looks like a setting for a Kinfolk magazine photo shoot. This space is perfect for socializing, being romantic, and celebrating special occasions. I enjoyed my experience at the Boat Street Cafe and look forward to dinner here sometime soon.

    (5)

  • Thommee H.

    When I think of a good Seattle restaurant, I think of excellent fresh, local ingredients. Boat Street Cafe didn't disappoint. For appetizers we had smoked salmon, which was outrageously good, smoky, complex, and rich. The bread was warm, crisp, delicious artisan baguettes, with an excellent assortment of cheeses. The salumi were similarly delightful, with wonderfully herbed salami and other Italian hard sausages. The arugula salad was great, with delicious fresh figs (and I'm not crazy about figs), goat cheese, roasted walnuts, and freshly made croutons. I had the wild salmon with tahini, mint, cilantro and chiles, on Israeli couscous, with baby green beens and roasted orange. Each element of the dish was superb and fresh, forming a perfect balance of complementary flavors and textures. I'm also not generally a Panna Cotta person, but their version with crushed raspberries was amazing. The Panna Cotta was rich tasting with a perfectly smooth, silky texture, with no heaviness. The raspberries tasted like they'd just been picked and were a wonderful tart contrast to the cool, sweet Panna Cotta.

    (4)

  • Kimberly B.

    Really, really good. Mussels for an entree, tasty oyster appetizers, all sorts of good. Nice service and attentive staff. Then the bread pudding... Let's just say I would sell my soul for that bread pudding. Seriously, we're talking last-meal stuff here. Go eat it!!!

    (4)

  • Peter Z.

    We happened on to the Boat Street Cafe for a Sunday Brunch. Wow. If i could give it 6 stars I would. Ambience, service and, best of all, the food were off the charts good. We had the corn cakes -- never had anything like them. Sweet and delicious. Simply amazing. As were the home-made biscuits with honey butter, and the eggs Benedict with chicken liver mousse. All completely original and incredibly delicious. Awesome place!

    (5)

  • Brynne H.

    I swear, every place I hit for brunch these is as good as or better than the last. Is brunch the most reliably good meal Seattle has to offer? I don't know if I'd go that far, so maybe it's the luck of the Irish here. Wow, Boat Street Kitchen was so good. I mean that. I love the ambiance - seriously, I love these tall ceilinged, concrete places that are made to feel so warm and cozy. I'm behind this trend/movement/whatevski. The staff was warm and sweet and efficient, although one of them had what I feel comfortable in legitimately proclaiming to be the Worst Hair Ever. Seriously, dude, no. The food? C'est si bon! Oh, my gosh, the rustic cornmeal custard cake? Hallelujah. It was amazing. Sweet, but just a touch savory. Perfectly crunchy on the top and bottom and creamy in the middle. So, so good. And the sausage - I didn't notice if they're housemade or brought in from somewhere awesome, but really, really good. My brunch friend and I split the bread pudding, and I'm pretty sure we each experience some sort of nirvana. I'm not even a huge bread pudding person, but damn. I repeat, DAMN. It was just a little good. If by a little I mean all the good in the world. Go here. Go here as soon as you possibly can. Go early, so you get a great seat. Order a brunch item, coffee, mimosa and split a bread pudding and make it out under $35, including tip. You'll be so happy. Ecstatic, perhaps.

    (4)

  • Felicia C.

    Food was a little hit or miss, I luckily ordered a hit. The decor is charming and good for small groups.

    (3)

  • Peter L.

    Boat Street Cafe is Renee Erikson's first restaurant, and as a fan of both Walrus & Carpenter and Whale Wins, it's time to go to the place where it all started. Finding the place can be a little tricky but once there, it's a cute space divided into two very different rooms - one modern, bright and loud and the other darker and more intimate. As opposed to her latter ventures, the menu is not about small plates but has the more traditional starters, entrees, and desserts. We tried the chicken confit and salmon and both were solid. The chicken confit was very flavorful, while the salmon was mild but perfectly cooked. Definitely get the bread pudding, as it is a lighter version but one of the best I have had in Seattle. It's a bit pricey and the portions can be on the small side, but the quality is there. It can also get a bit loud here especially when crowded. Overall, I enjoyed the Boat Street Cafe, and it is interesting to see how some of the concepts have evolved into Renee Erikson's other restaurants.

    (4)

  • Mojdeh S.

    How I heard of this place: Many years ago, when it first moved to the northern-most end of downtown Seattle, my friend Tahirih introduced me to Boat Street Cafe for lunch. Type of cuisine: "A Provençal sensibility inspires both food and space at the Boat Street Cafe. You'll eat simple, sturdy, luscious food-the food of French grandmothers made of the freshest ingredients mostly from local farmers. The room with its slate tables, mismatched chairs, and warm oak floors is bathed in the amiable glow of candlelight and cream-colored walls. Located adjacent to the Boat Street Kitchen." Ambiance: "We're honored to be listed in the top 25 restaurants in Seattle by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine for our "whitewashed rafters to its candlelit slate tables to its nicked oak floors, no restaurant in Seattle spins such an offhand sense of romance as the sure-handed Boat Street." (Full article: Seattle Best Restaurants 2011) Just outside the work lofts at the north end of town, an easily missed sign points the way to the Cafe. Around the corner and one is delightfully surprised by the Mediterranean colors of tablecloths, shaded by white umbrellas with wooden stands and happy people, enjoying their fresh meals. The shallow staircase path leading down to the outdoor patio is beautifully decorated with large sections of lush greenery set against the modern, industrial building scape. Planters of mini trees at the large, windowed, open door create a green space among the cement block building. Large windows open into the restaurant, where fewer lunch-hour diners spend their summer afternoon lunch. What I ordered: Among the four of us, we had one cup of coffee ($2), a cup of grapefruit juice ($4), and water all around. To start, three cups of Tomato Soup ($4.50 each) were enjoyed by the women, while my husband savored the Tomato Soup with Goat Cheese Baguette ($8), and another Goat Cheese Baguette ($3) to wash it down! For our main entrees, tender Neah Bay Marble King Salmon with Basil Sauce ($16), beets, cabbage salad and baguette, one Leek & Onion Clafouti ($14) with salad, baguette and champagne grapes, and one Herb Roasted Pork ($14) with smoked apricot sauce, couscous, salad and grilled zucchini. What I loved: The freshness of the tomato soup with ample fresh herb, the simply prepared, juicy salmon with rich basil (pesto) sauce, and the light lemony vinaigrette of the salad dressing. Why I loved it: I always love the Boat Street Cafe's fresh, local and seasonal selection of abundant flavors prepared in a simple, yet richly profound way. Cost: Average ($10.50 - $15 per lunch entree)

    (4)

  • Chandini S.

    It pains me to give this place three stars. i absolutely LOVE Walrus and the Carpenter, but was definitely disappointed here. We came at 12:30pm for brunch, and they were out of biscuits. No worries; we got the bread with jam and butter. What was that jam? It was divine. I ate the extra with my fork. If I weren't in public, I would have scooped it out with my fingers. Next up, they got my order wrong. I ordered the scrambled eggs with mushrooms but instead got the salad with mushrooms. Sigh. They were great enough to give us a discount, and they did hurry to remake the dish. But they were in such a hurry that they completely overcooked the eggs and loaded up the vinegar on the salad. Both were marginal in the end. He got the meatball and couscous. The couscous was overcooked but the meatball was flavorful. I *know* we didn't experience the best of Boat Street. I'll try it again, but I'm sad that every experience can't be a great one.

    (3)

  • Rahm T.

    I went to Seattle to spend a week discovering great food. Dinner at Boat Street was unquestionably the BEST meal I had in Seattle! Warm dates with sea salt and olive oil to start. YUM! Smoked herring rillette was perfectly herbed - not a strong fishy taste, just perfection on perfectly-matched bread. For the entrees, we had rabbit and the pork loin chop. NOT your typical pork chop, it was flavored with a perfectly matched chutney, and cooked until tender but not at all overcooked or tough as pork chops can be. The care placed into every item was incredible. We wanted to try so many things... they agreed to make a half-size of the roasted broccoli entree to serve as another appetizer. It was DELISH! The waitstaff were incredibly attentive - I see lots of "slow service" complaints, maybe they get slammed at lunch? We went for dinner and were treated royally by a professional waiter that made a custom non-alcoholic drink for my pregnant wife.

    (5)

  • Kristian O.

    My husband and i loved this little tucked away kitchen (although at first we confused it for the Cafe which is right next door and open for dinner) Their Open Face Sandwich is amazing! Cheese melted on a french loaf with tomato slices and thick bacon served with a tossed salad. We also loved their tomato soup and never failed to get a nice cup of coffee! We ate here twice during our visit to Seattle and if we could have gone more than twice we would have. Atmosphere was bright, simple and calm. Staff was friendly and helpful. Menu is a tad scary if you are a simple eater but trust me... Just get the open face!

    (5)

  • Shereen A.

    BISCUITS!!!!!!!!! Now that we have that out of the way. I love this place. It is very charming with lots of natural light (of course depending on whether it's sunny outside and where you're sitting). I've never had dinner here, only frequent brunch. Their biscuits are out of this world amazing. The crumb on these biscuits is perfect, and so delicious. They slather this (legit) European honey butter all over each biscuit when it's slightly warm so each bite transports you to bliss. Having (semi) grown up in London myself, I can tell you it's a taste of home. Anyways,their eggs benedict over smoked salmon is my favorite. Salmon is always fresh and the plates look beautiful. The presentation is so colorful with seasonal fruits and mixed greens. Four stars because the service is pretty slow and it has taken forever on more than one occasion to get our check. Parking can be hard to find, but not impossible. Their cooking classes are on my bucket list. One day. Get here early. Wait can be loooong. They don't seat your party until everyone is present. Sometimes they run out of menu items (sadly, without replenishing) I get hangry if there are no biscuits. Random thoughts of these biscuits nag me until my next visit. Nothing compares.

    (4)

  • C A.

    Good food. Good atmosphere. Cute outside area. Kinda slow service. Expensive bc we ended up paying $60 for French toast, baked eggs, 1 mimosa and 1 biscuit .

    (4)

  • Stan L.

    cute place.. a bit tough to find but it's worth seeking out.. we came here for diner with one of our friends and ordered a bunch of apps and a couple mains.. highlights of the meal include a scallop crudo and the razor clam beignets.. the lamb neck was also excellent.. we also shared a maple pot de creme which was pretty damn good.. not sure how often they change the menu.. but what they have is really good.. the mains are a bit small for price though so you might leave hungry

    (4)

  • Jeff B.

    I had such high hopes. Such great reviews by others. Dashed. We arrived at 11:40 for lunch, while only a few other lunchers were there, ordered within ten minutes, and then waited for another 20 minutes for our food. For soup and a puy lentil salad with poached egg. It didn't put us in a good frame of mind. The soup was blah. A simple soup of what were probably canned tomatoes (which is fine by me in winter), some water, and not much else but a few herbs. The waiter sold it as a spectacular soup. It tasted like watered down canned tomatoes. Not bad, but nothing worth swooning over. It came with a toasted goat cheese baguette piece that was pretty good. The puy lentil salad with poached egg. Puy lentils were mushy. They should be firm. They many not have even been puy lentils. Hard to tell when they were that mushy. The poached egg came hard, not runny. We would've sent it back if we weren't on our way to the airport (hoping for our last great meal in Seattle). It's always a danger to have such high hopes for a restaurant. :-(

    (2)

  • AMY J.

    Over hyped, bland food, and slow service with a splash of attitude. Will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Tim N.

    Meh. Food was overpriced and not worth it. The best thing was the biscuit with honey butter. Actually after we had this we had high expectations for our entree. But my wife's salmon eggs Benedict was over cooked and my herb rusted pork loin was quite tough. And they only have coffee - no espresso machine! Service was good though - out waitress was polite and service was fast.

    (3)

  • Rossana Y.

    This place is absolutely adorable! It has a European cafe style with a very charming decor. The waiting and dining area has a beautiful rustic charm that you can't help but love. There can be a wait for so I would recommend coming here earlier when possible. A lot of the items on the menu are French-inspired that all sound very delectable. I tried the classic croque madame and it was fantastic! The bread was perfectly crisp on the outside, and combined with the soft, poached egg and cheese on top with the ham in between, it made something so simple taste so perfectly delicious. I also tried to order the salmon benedict but they were out of salmon, so they substituted with smoked trout instead. The flavors of the smoked trout actually complemented well with the poached eggs and light hollandaise sauce. I also enjoyed the light salad and fruit that was served to balance out the richness of the benedict. I love feeling like I am being transported to a cute French cafe every time I come here, and I am always impressed each time with the quality of their food. Prices are reasonable and the service is consistently friendly and attentive. This is one of my favorite brunch places!

    (5)

  • Allison A.

    Finally went back to Boat Street years later -- what a different experience! Quiet night, relaxed but prompt service, food was outstanding. I had bone marrow that was marvelous. My salad was a dream. Pork chop was perhaps the best I've had. So glad we went back. Will definitely go again to split the difference between reviews.

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    Had dinner here in December. Yelp doesn't really convey it, but it's a pretty high end establishment. I was just looking for a casual dinner so I sat at the bar. Food was incredible and the staff was a lot of fun. It wasn't a particularly busy night so I had a chance to chat with the owner. Her family was dining. Well curated wine list. Not meant to be expensive, just good and more diverse than many. Mostly French and that's OK...

    (4)

  • J N.

    I didn't even end up eating - I just left. I came in and talked to the host who gave me an estimate of 20 minutes (even though there were 3 open, clean tables up front), and then I went to their wait area. After waiting for 20 minutes, and none of the two groups in front of me having been called, and a now half-empty front of the restaurant, I got tired of waiting. Not to mention that while I was waiting, the host came and cleaned a really dirty table near the waiting area - and left a napkin and set of silver wear from the previous people's meals there, to be used by the next people he'd probably never sit. That was gross - the silverwear should should always be replaced.

    (1)

  • Gilad B.

    Awesome. Strong 4 star. We had an excellent dinner here. All the food was great, we liked the dessert, and staff was nice. We were sad the mad hatcher chicken was not available. enjoy

    (4)

  • Chelsea S.

    Absolutely fresh and fabulous brunch on a Saturday morning. Was worried about having a wait because they don't take reservations for brunch but we were actually seated pretty much right away. And they have coffee and water to drink while you wait for a table anyways. The kitchen is light and airy and had a really pleasant atmosphere. The servers were friendly. For food our table ordered the classic benedict with ham, the chevre benedict, the custard cake, and the smoked trout scramble. Everyone really enjoyed their food. All of the plates were presented beautifully, most with lightly dressed mixed greens and fresh raspberries and watermelon for taste and color. The french press our table ordered was nice and strong. We also ordered a strawberry cream scone to take for the road and it was very delicious. The place is slightly pricey for breakfast but I would say well worth it. I already would like to come back and try more food. I would recommend this place to anyone in Seattle, tourist or resident.

    (5)

  • Ha L.

    I would give 3.5 stars if I could. I've been here twice. I couldn't remember what I had the first time I came here because I was butt hurt that they don't serve other coffee drinks aside from drip. The second time I ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict, which I finally remembered is what I ordered the first time too. It was really good...except I was really hungry when I finished my plate. This never happens when I eat brunch. Weird! I was a bit shocked to see not an 18%, but 20% gratuity tacked onto our bill! There was only 5 of us...

    (3)

  • Emily A.

    My new favorite go-to for brunch, Boat Street is adorable and yummy. One of their hosts/bussers leaves much to be desired in terms of service, but overall the staff is great. The food never disappoints, and the ambiance of the little restaurant is perfect for small groups, couples and a quieter brunch experience. Parking can be found all around on Western or in LQA.

    (4)

  • Nick R.

    My wife, a French speaking Francophile wise family comes from Normandy, says this place blows. I agree. No details required. Trust us.

    (1)

  • Clint W.

    We came for dinner and I'm glad we made reservations. It was pretty crowded and there were times when people waited by the door for a table to open up. I didn't expect it, but dinner is still popular. Opened with some oysters, which were fabulous. The pickles that Boat is famous for were a bit too tart for us, but I still love my veggies. Off the menu, we grabbed the wabbit, roast chicken and the lamb shoulder. I think consensus was that my chicken was the best..moist and tender, with a crispy skin. The lamb was attached to a big rib bone and although flavorful, it was seriously hard to navigate and the meat was a bit chewy. Dessert was the bread pudding, which was outstanding. Laced with streams of almond, it was silky and decadent. I need to make it here more often.

    (4)

  • Mollz S.

    So "meh"... and I had been excited to try this spot! It's near my office and we took some clients there for lunch... party of 8. Food: I ordered the lentils with kale and poached egg. My lentils were watery and bland in their boat, the tiny portion of kale was overcooked, the single poached egg on top was slightly overdone. The best part of the meal honestly was the bread on the side of the plate, which I had planned to avoid until I tasted my entree. I eat pretty simply and don't generally salt my food, but once I did at least it didn't taste any more like something I'd gotten stuck with in a cafeteria... more like OK airplane food. At least I was hungry. Service: We waited an age of small talk for our food, I'd say at least 35-40 minutes. The server botched one order for a colleague who is allergic to egg and had to have her dish remade. Someone splashed water all over my phone when they hurriedly refilled my glass (and rushed off without noticing despite three of my colleagues seeing and exclaiming over it). No one checked on us to ask if the food was ok. At the end of the meal, someone asked about the dessert on the board. The waitress explained in detail what pot du crème was and which flavors were offered last night for dinner, but neglected to offer us coffee or dessert. I've had better service (and better eggs) in a diner. I love eating out but was glad to leave this place.

    (2)

  • Liliane E.

    I've been meaning to go to Boat Street for a while now since it's painfully close to my office and I've heard many good things about this place. I went for lunch with a co-worker. We sat at a table of our choice, outside. The tables are small and quaint. The decor is very repetitive with the stripes, to each their own. The waiter wasn't overly friendly, we ordered our drinks and food. He came back with our drinks (a coke in a bottle and an iced tea). I wasn't given any sweetener, so I had to physically get up and ask for it (waiter didn't came back to our table until the food came). Our food took quite some time to get to our table. We ordered the oeufs plat with ham. Simple enough, and the place was relatively empty when we got there. When the food did make it to our table, it was hot and looked delicious. It was seasoned, and quite tasty. I would have liked to have been at least offered some butter for my baguette, but alas, waiter was scarce. I got a refill on my iced tea from the other waitress and after that I was SOL. Did I mention my tea tasted like run of the mill lipton tea? Come on Boat Street, step it up. We ordered the bread pudding to go, which was very tasty. If you're in the mood for some fancy food at a reasonable price, in a very french atmosphere, and aren't super hungry (portions are somewhat small) then this is the place to go.

    (3)

  • Rebecca S.

    I have been here two times now, and both events were very enjoyable. I recently had their carrot potato pancake for brunch. It was served with a poached egg, salad, a small citrus fruit and a tomato sauce base. I was very impressed with the way each flavor complimented each other if you combined all of it into one bite. Will definitely be coming back.

    (4)

  • Ursula B.

    The first time I went here I had Lambs tongue and it was very nice. Tonight the menu was disappointing. I had shoulder of lamb and it was absolutely inedible. The glass of white wine was also bad. So I came home hungry and had a bowl of cereal. I will never go there again. We googled up the menu and when we got to the Cafe the menu was completely different. Very disappointing.

    (2)

  • Dave B.

    Yum. Such a simple menu but seriously the best sandwiches. I had the artichoke salad sandwich which was recommended by a friend. Honestly it doesn't even sound that exciting to me so I didn't get what was so great but it was so simple and so good. The staff is super friendly and the place is cute. It can be slow if there is a crowd but otherwise always fantastic.

    (5)

  • Sara C.

    I am giving 3 stars not for the food but rather the host, if you even want to call him that. Space cadet is a better title. I food was amazing but I am so over Seattle restaurant staff acting so pretensions. It's food and drink people-not a mixer at Harvard Law. We waited for over 45 min for a table when there were clearly open tables throughout the restaurant. Rather that sashaying through the place, staff could move with a slight sense of urgency. I feel as though I suffer from a case of "groundhogs- day-idous" with restaurants here in Seattle. Just when I am ready to give a small restaurant a try, I am greeted by a Queen-B with a bad attitude and staff that would rather snub me than earn an income. I would recommend the food but unless you are a sadist- don't expect great customer service.

    (3)

  • Jen L.

    So cute! Perfect for a girls brunch! Tucked away, and as if you are sitting for a ladies brunch in someone's home. - mimosas! - biscuits. They are perfectly soft but flakey. Really amazing honey butter. I wish I could eat this every day! - eggs benedicts: I liked the salmon, but the goat cheese was also great. The poached egg was perfect! - Pork hash was great too. Flavorful!! - bread pudding, great to share. The rum was not too strong. The service was perfect. Attentive, but not intrusive. And to top it off, our server was a tall, hot, rugged man...

    (4)

  • Ben P.

    Had my sisters rehearsal dinner here. The food was very good and the restaurant was well decorated. The wait staff was courteous and quick with service. Overall a very good experience.

    (4)

  • angela b.

    Brunch! Yet another place without a non-dairy milk alternative for my coffee. Am I in Idaho? No, but seriously, that's the only reason I can't give this place 5 stars. The atmosphere, the service, the Puffins! (Muffin donuts probably more aptly named Duffins) are all fantastic. It's like a hidden gem tucked away on Western. Would love to try dinner here sometime. 2 wishes: non-dairy milk and more veggie options.

    (4)

  • Stacy K.

    This romantic place tucked away beneath workspaces off a busy road makes it feel like you're stepping out of city life and into someone's welcoming kitchen in the south. It's a very homey atmosphere with a unique menu to boot. We ordered drinks and an appetizer after reading through the main courses, none of which appealed to our palates. We got the prawns which came completely whole, so we had a fun, messy time pulling apart the heads and legs to get to the meat which was fantastic. I'm kind of a picky eater so I probably wouldn't come back for anything but drinks (or the prawns again) but I'd definitely recommend checking this place out if you like trying new things!

    (4)

  • Rachel H.

    Wonderful brunch spot! Could be our new favorite in Seattle. We ended up at Boat Street Kitchen after Seattle Magazine did a review of the Best Brunch Spots in Seattle 2012. This place has been here forever and we had been told to check it out, but it took a write up of their Artichoke and Chevre Eggs Benedict to finally get us to give it a try. No regrets! A simple, elegant, atmospheric dining room with white tablecloths, butcher paper, brightly colored fresh poppies in the dining room, wall to wall windows on one side, whitewashed concrete walls, and exposed, loftlike ceilings create a perfect setting for a solid brunch service. The breakfast was hands down simply wonderful. The maple syrup topped cornmeal custard cake (think maple drenched bread pudding) was a winner, and came with spicy sausage and oozy banana. The straight on eggs benie was perfectly rendered and the slightly sweet and also savory chevre eggs benedict (perfect doneness) with artichoke hearts on toasted rosemary infused baguette were worth the trip. Top-notch, professional service made for an easy, relaxing and seemless brunch experience. Postscript: I subsequently read that Boat Street is owed by Renee Erickson, also the founder of the NY Times praised Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard and the Whale Wins in Wallingford, which we both absolutely love. Here's to building another great food empire in Seattle, Renee --singing the praises of scandinavian decor and great, simple food.

    (5)

  • Nam N.

    Incroyable... oui oui, incroyable en effet! Puis-je parle francais? No? Do I love the food here at Boat Street Cafe? Oui Oui! I came here with a friend to try something new - didn't really know what to expect but upon arrival, I was quite impressed. A small restaurant tucked away in a little business complex. It was a very intimate setting and comfortable feel. A little strange for it being french cuisine but the decor is a lot of japanese style umbrellas and a couple of japanese style lanterns hanging from the ceilings while the walls were decorated with photos of golden retrievers through out the place. The service was great. We were taken care of by Phyllis and she took her time with us answering any questions we had, was always there if we needed something but didn't badger us so we were able to enjoy our meal and have a great conversation. We shared the warm bread and butter for an appetizer. The bread seemed to have been freshly baked. The crust on the outside was crisp and perfectly soft and chewy on the inside. But not so crispy that it would cut the top of your mouth. The butter drizzled with olive oil was smooth, we sprinkled a bit of salt over the butter and it was pure bliss in every bite. for my main course, I had the Carlton Farms Roasted Pork Rib Chop. I was a little hesitant because I saw there was blackened kale (and i HATE kale... it's made for rabbits - not people). But I love me a good pork rib so i figured, just don't eat the kale. The dish was plated beautifully. A perfect plate of drizzled sauce, with a simple side of a roasted potato cut in half. There was a bed of blackened kale in the center of the plate with more sauce mixed in with it, and a top of that was a pork rib cut in a conservative size but had a perfect brown color to it. I cut a piece off the pork and it was smooth and juicy. I took a bite and it was the best pork i've ever had. Succulent in taste, a perfect bounce in every bite. The flavors danced across my palette like a perfect slow dance. I decided to be adventurous and taste the kale as everything else was good so far... and boy am I glad I did... you wouldn't believe how good it was. I mean, perhaps the best preparation of greens i've ever had (former first place was blasted broccoli and garlic pea vines). There was nothing wrong with this plate except there wasn't enough food! The night was finished off with Amaretto Bread Pudding and Olive Oil Ice Cream. The ABP was a bit too sweet for my taste buds. The texture of the bread and the cream was on point... but I was never a fan of amaretto due to its over sweetness but it was good nonetheless. The OOIC was strangely good. The olive oil was so smooth and with a slight hit of that olive oil taste, it was quickly balanced with the sweetness of the ice cream, then some salt sprinkled in the dessert itself brought out more sweetness to assist in the balance of the olive oil. Overall the experience was stellar. Great food, great service, great atmosphere and great company. I really couldn't ask for a better time. Definitely will be coming back to try other items on their menu.

    (5)

  • Daniel B.

    Came for brunch and the food was overall very good, not spectacular though. Got a souffle which was flavorful and decent size. It came with a small light salad as well. For the prices I felt the portioning was a little small, or at least they could have included some potatoes or something else.

    (4)

  • Zha L.

    A darling restaurant hidden on the corner of Western and Denny. It has a charming outdoor patio seating that is perfect for a nice brunch. If it weren't for our local friends, we wouldn't had taken the chance on trying this place! The rustic cornmeal custard cake with sausage is a must get. It's even better than pancakes and french toast! The maple syrup really gave the dish some sweetness, and the sausage on the side made it even more savory. The pate benedict was also a satisfying dish too. The egg was poached perfectly, the pate's texture was right. Everything just tasted great. I would highly recommend any Seattle visitors to try Boat Street for brunch. And try to avoid the line by making reservation or get there right when they open.

    (4)

  • Orlene C.

    A wonderful spot to have brunch with its classy, quiet atmosphere. As we were waiting for a friend and sipping their lovely french press, the waiter suggested the biscuit with honey butter. I am so happy he did because it was out of this world spectacular and a perfect companion to the french press. I like that it comes with the honey and butter already melted on the homemade biscuit to let one experience it in the best way possible as the chef imagined it. As for the breakfast dishes, I greatly enjoyed the egg benedict with smoked salmon. Their menu has a variety of types of egg benedicts. It was a less rich version of the dish which was nice because I left feeling satisfied without feeling overly stuffed. It came with a refreshing salad on the side. I also shared the smoked trout scramble which also came with a side salad. The smoked trout was a bit too salty for my taste, but I have never had smoked trout before.

    (5)

  • Ariel Z.

    We had brunch here on a Sunday. Brunch and lunch are served on the Boat Street Kitchen side of the restaurant, but they seem to share a kitchen and a name, etc. It's cute and quaint, with small, rather cramped tables and European decor. It's a little bit pretentious, in all honesty, but our server was friendly enough and came by with frequent refills of coffee and water. That's all I can ask for on a Sunday morning. I had the Mushroom Duxelles scramble (tasty!) which was served with dressed greens and fresh bread. All very tasty. My husband had Duck Confit, which was delicious, served with a potato-carrot cake and beets. The menu isn't too big (a single page, including beverages, for brunch and lunch), and I was a little disappointed by that, but really, we came here because Toulouse Petit was opening late that day (unannounced). Not quite my cup of tea for brunch, but I suspect dinner here would be romantic and delicious.

    (3)

  • C J.

    I like this place the 2x I've been there so I'm giving 2 stars but last time they were rude and not prepared when opening for brunch. About 30 people were waiting for a table and they were making a list when the entire restaurant was empty. When asked if they were open yet (confused why such a wait) the server who was rude gestured to the restaurant as if 'of course we're open.' We waited for 20 more min then left, never getting seated.

    (2)

  • Stanlo S.

    I came here with some friends after running the St. Patrick's Day Dash due to recommendations of friends. I didn't realize how fancy it would be and we were all in our race gear, so I'm kind of surprised they didn't just kick us out for looking like sweaty goons. I mean, I would have. Would have completely understood. Got in a little bit before eleven and had no trouble getting a seat, but it filled up super fast. The biggest thing that stuck out for me was their $9 Irish coffee which was nothing special, but also $9! There was a virgin Irish coffee (?) that was $7. Am I only getting $2 worth of whiskey? Oh well. I ordered a chevre benedict which was good, not too remarkable. The biscuits with honey butter were great though -- wish I had more of those. The sausage is also very tasty and well seasoned. Overall I had good food and good service, and enjoyed the clean and neat atmosphere. If you like French brunch you'll probably like this, but you'll be paying a bit extra. It's worth it I'd say.

    (4)

  • Robert H.

    Boat Street is excellent and the service is very good. They serve a variety of salads, soups and sandwiches at lunchtime. Everything on the menu is always good.

    (5)

  • Jiexi C.

    Went there with two other friends for brunch on a Saturday, and there was no wait, but parking was a little hard to find. We ordered the Buttermilk Biscuit, Trout Scrambled Egg, Salmon Benedict, and the Duck Prosciutto. They gave us Scrambled Egg with Herbs instead of Trout at first, but they fixed that and we ended up with both dishes. The food was pretty good, but the portions were not worth the price. From all the reviews, we also decided to try the Amaretto Bread Pudding, which was a good decision. However, it is very sweet, so it was hard to finish for one person, but we had three. :) The decor inside is nice and the ambiance was great as well. The service was good too. We would go back for the bread pudding, but not for the other dishes.

    (3)

  • Leonardo R.

    Love it!! I came to this place with a friend of mine for brunch on new year day. I like how tucked in a little corner it's. high ceilings concrete white walls and you get the welcoming and comfy vibe of home. Just from entering I knew I was going to like the food. That's how good this place is,and the service is really nice and peaceful. No sense of rush or lack of attention. Their brunch menu is great and it seems like it suits families and couples that like brunch. Once seated at our table,we promptly got served water and coffee. Look over the menu and after looking at all the wonderful options I decided to go with the Salmon over roasted potatoes with basil cream,and arugula/cherry tomatoes salad. Salmon was perfectly cooked and moist, sitting on top of the roasted potatoes that I wish they'd come with free refill? My friend got some sort of chicken breast that was huge and for what I could see really tasty. I don't know if it helps but in our conversation I had this realization that this place is the "perfect break up place" (yes it exists). I say this because who doesn't like brunch RIGHT? So you come here enjoy a great meal in a nice,bright,happy place break up with the person and go on your merry way! Win win situation. Anyways come here if you like brunch even tho you're breaking up with some one,heck even if you're single. I dare you to do brunch solo!

    (5)

  • Suie C.

    4.5 stars, I will be back for sure, but I usually like to try out a place more than once before giving it 5 stars. Stopped in here for lunch w/ a friend and we ordered the pork n potatoes dish and the steak salad. He LOVED his dish, and I really enjoyed my steak salad. The food they serve here is high quality, well seasoned, and perfectly portioned. My salad had beets, med-rare steak, greens, and these carrots. I have no idea how they flavored the carrots, but they were super tasty! Service was great, my coffee was always refilled and our waitress was informative when we asked about the dishes. Ambiance wise- I liked the place, its a cute, casual set up w fresh flowers on every table. My friend made a comment that on a dark and rainy day it may be a bit depressing cuz it's located in a lower level basement cement building, but I would think it would be kinda romantic, darker, intimate. Anyway, since it was SRW, desserts were $2.50! Score! So, i ordered the bread pudding and it was quite amazing. I ate the WHOLE thing. My friend had the strawberry strata and LOVED it also. Solid food, good service. Price wise, a bit higher, but it's made up in quality. I believe my steak salad was $16. One coffee, one entree, and one dessert (on sale cuz of SRW) was about $23 after tax. Reasonable. Will definitely be back. I'm tempted to come back just for dessert!

    (4)

  • Danielle C.

    Boat Street Cafe is one of the first cafes that I visited when I first moved out to Seattle. This cafe is very cute and is a great brunch place. They charge $13 for scrambled eggs (egads) but the sour cream they provided for my dish was good. I love their salad vinagrette they use here. It's probably something super simple but I could eat their salad all day. Also their baguettes are very doughy and a treat. I would come here solely for the amaretto and rum cream bread pudding they have. It is a small bowl but the sauce is so thick that you should really share with a friend. It is normally $5 but we got it today for half off for some reason!

    (4)

  • Sarah K.

    Incredible food and atmosphere, we were lucky enough to stumble in and out has set the bar very high for the rest of our vacation.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth K.

    We came in for dessert only. A local bartender had suggested this place for dessert, and in special the bread pudding, which is their signature dish. The location and the ambience were just perfect. Clean, uncluttered space with Japanese umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. Beautiful! We went for their signature bread pudding and were not disappointed! It was amazing! The almond flavor in the sauce combined with the crispness of the bread. Perfect! That's all we wanted to end our first night visiting Seattle - to end in a place that probably only locals know about! We looked at their main menu and saw many appetizing dishes. Would definitely recommend and come back here!

    (5)

  • Stev E.

    Service: *Arrived 1:45pm for brunch and took a seat at the bar immediately. *Order taken around 20 minutes later (-1 star) Food *Starters: Out of all starters except toast and jam; I would have tried the biscuits as they are highly regarded. *Salmon eggs Benedict: First bite the word "fresh" comes to mind. The salmon was unremarkable. Eggs perfectly cooked. Bread above average. Greens had a great vinaigrette. I will order something else next time. *Bread Pudding: Excellent! Ambiance: *Perfect for a date (brunch or dinner). *Brunch is casual to "upscale casual" and dinner is a notch above that, whatever that may mean to you.

    (4)

  • Jeff C.

    Very odd location sort of tucked away with no view to speak and difficult parking. Appetizers were good. Excellent pate. Pickled plate was a bit too pickled/sweet. My vegetarian entree was the worst fine dining entree I've had in recent memory (I'm not a vegatarian either) Some sort of bland cubes of I can't remember over a pile of mushy bitter spinach. Other choices people had were a bit better - the phrase hit and miss comes to mind. Somewhat stingy portions considering the price. Going to be tough to make it at this location I think with these prices, small portions, and some bombs on the menu. But maybe worth a try if you're really into French cooking and you choose wisely. Pleasant service. Pleasant atmosphere despite the weird parking-garage entrance like location. Overall: Meh. Overpriced. Your mileage may vary especially if you thrive on a slow-paced Parisian French charm atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Aimee J.

    This was my second time here. The first time was much better than the second. Today I ordered the tomato soup. It was just OK. I didn't even finish it because I was making sure I had room for the lunch item I ordered. I ordered Salmon, which came with potatoes, tomato, and asparagus. The asparagus was overdone, as was the salmon. It was extremely dry. I had to pick at it to find pieces that weren't dry as the Sahara. We were a party of 6 and the service was quite fast. They serve the water lukewarm, which is fine but I had to ask 3 times for a glass with ice. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food and the bread pudding dessert was delicious, although not very visually appealing. This place is close to my work and we frequent it for managers meetings so I'm sure I'll be back.

    (2)

  • K T.

    Simply ordinary.

    (3)

  • Julie V.

    Longer wait for brunches but delicious biscuits and brunch menu!

    (4)

  • Alana R.

    What a lovely and wonderful experience!!! The ambiance left my friend and I feeling so peaceful. The decor was extremely inviting and set the mood for a retreat from the busyness and weather outside. Our waitress was wonderful! For us this was truly a hidden gem. I had the wild caught salmon with pesto sauce and a salad. Everything was fresh, full of flavor, and delicious. Coffee was also amazing! I ordered the bread pudding because of the great reviews and they were right! My friend and I don't even normally like bread pudding but there's was a perfect end to a great meal. The next time I'm in Seattle, I will surely visit this charming restaurant again!

    (5)

  • magrit b.

    Lovely atmosphere, inside and out, and friendly service but tiny and over-prized portions of food with ingredients that seemed to fight each other. My husband's minuscule end piece of halibut was oddly and unappetizingly swimming in a clear broth, together with a few tiny potatoes and topped with leeks or onions that overpowered the fish. My gnocchi were pan fried after boiling. To me, perfect gnocchi are fluffy and cloud-like. These were clumps of dough mixed with greens that were too bitter (I'm usually a radicchio enthusiast) and the bitterness overpowered the subtle flavor of the chanterelles. Although brunch seems to be the better choice here, judging by other reviews, I will not go back.

    (2)

  • Calvin Y.

    "Better than pancakes." That's what it reads on Boat Street's menu for their Custard Corn Cakes. And man, they were amazing -- it was like eating a delicious custard pie for breakfast with its crumbly corn-based crust. Paired with sausage and bananas, the corn cakes hit all of the food groups! Before you leave, make sure you order their Bread Pudding! It is simply delightful!

    (4)

  • Ninette C.

    I am a HUGE Walrus and the Carpenter fan so I was excited to try this place out despite a lackluster menu. I get the idea: simple, fresh, high-quality ingredients with classic preparation Pacific Northwest-style but it honestly did nothing for me. For lunch, I had the smoked trout salad and my friend had the marbled salmon. My friend said her salmon was really good and I thought the baguette was really nice. The smoked trout salad tasted nice enough but it wasn't particularly exciting. Sure I could eat it but I didn't really care about it especially for something like $15. Oh yeah this is in a really strange location under neath some work lofts. There's no parking nearby. Maybe its because I came for lunch as opposed to brunch or dinner. Everything was perfectly edible but I can't say this place lived up to my expectations.

    (3)

  • Rebecca F.

    After spending a little time gazing at the waterfront amongst large sculptures under the chilly gray ceiling that is the Seattle sky, an instant craving for a nice warm cup of something and maybe a small something to nosh arose. With a quick search of what was nearby, this place sounded great! It really is somewhat "hidden" as you need to walk down a ramp to find the restaurant, but there is a sign outside that helped direct us to this gem. The outdoor seating was not an option as we were quite chilly but once inside the bistro-like establishment, we were greeted warmly by both a hostess and the heater. It was somewhat of a late brunch time on the weekend and it was rather empty and quiet, but still quite a pleasant reprieve from the outdoors. I *had* to try the "better than pancakes" Custard Corn Cake and I'm really glad I did. The slice of cake comes in a dish with a little syrup on the bottom, a sausage on one side and a split banana on the other. The cake itself is warm, mostly all custard with the cornmeal acting more like a pie crust on the bottom. It. was. amazing! Not too sweet (unless you somehow get a lot of syrup with a bite), and the sausage was a great complement as it was peppery and flavorful which cut through the sweetness of the syrup. We also shared the bread and house-made jam (blueberry and kumquat!) which arrived as two sides of a warm baguette with both jams and some elegantly placed butter. I'm a huge sucker for good bread and butter and loved this too. The kumquat jam exuded flavor (too much for my husband who isn't into kumquats), and the blueberry was a little tart, still sweet and just divine. This little dish was a real treat! I could see if the cafe was nearby, I'd love to go and have the baguette and a coffee and just relax... ahhhhhh :) We asked to see the dinner menu just to see what options there were for later in the day, and we preferred the breakfast/brunch menu personally. I was thinking about some friends and family who would be in heaven at this place and definitely will remember it when they come up to visit. The service was wonderful, the ambiance clean and with a French feel to it, and the dishes we tried were amazing. Oh, yes, and they brought us a plate free cookies they just baked after our meal too! I'm definitely going to try to get back sometime in the near future... especially because I need to try the biscuits according to the other reviews here ;) A gem!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    Welcome to a cute little spot with delicious food and an amazing atmosphere! We loved the clean and simple decor.

    (4)

  • Vanna P.

    I would have to say I was a bit disappointed when we ate here. I went here with a group of friends because we love finding new spots for breakfast/brunch. We waited a long time for a table because it was a very tiny place. I ordered the cornmeal custard cake with sausage and maple syrup which it was really good, but the portion size was very tiny for the price! We all were honestly still hungry after we finished our meal that we ended up eating again somewhere else when we left. I wouldn't be coming back here, but it was nice to try once.

    (3)

  • Cyndi C.

    Very stylish spot with ok food. BUT has a bad auto added 20% tipping practice? Sorry, it's just not worth the wait. After a recent trip on a afternoon for an event, I will reconsider sending my execs here for lunch meetings. First, it took 20 mins to be acknowledged by our waitress (this was with reservations and was not very busy at ALL) then it took 20 more mins get our beverages for a table of 6, then they forgot mine.. So 40 mins later... yeah... and this was a special lunch party. We order 2 cheese plates, perfect for 6 but only has 4 baguettes, we had to wave down to order two more... we'd pay extra for and that's fine but not 20% insight happening here.. (see where I'm going..) Our meals arrive but the waitress does not even check on our meals which tasted fine, but we wanted checked on as we wanted to add another order for a colleague who missed the lunch... We wave down the host who says "Well, I think we are running low on salmon.." to our request, so?? I don't care if it's low- do you have ONE and then please place the order. Was offputting for sure. Then the waitress appears, we order a dessert to share and she hands us the check and the togo order all cheerfully stating how we are charged 20% Gratuity for our table of six. Wow?.. 15% or 18% auto maybe... but I was NOT impressed that our party was force charged 20%for nonexistent service and w/ a to-go order.. We were not too happy but the waitress was. This is not good customer service practice... I won't be sending anyone there anytime soon after that. Bummer, as it is cute as the dickens there... out on the patio.

    (2)

  • Jeanny M.

    Reservations were made for a group of 4 on a Sunday. One person dropped out by the time we all arrived and when we checked in, they said they don't accept reservations for anything smaller than 4. Hm, ok, but there were plenty of open tables for our/any group of size. If there were no open tables and a long wait, I would have understood this attitude. We were seated anyway, but it wasn't a good first impression. (-1 star) The space is bright and airy with murmured conversations happening at nearby tables. I ordered the corn beef hash with poached egg. EGG. As in singular. I don't think I've ever gotten a breakfast/brunch order that had a single egg, so I was mildly annoyed. (-1 star) The coffee was good and the refills were steady. We all shared an order of the bread pudding (at the urging of our server), which was super rich and sweet. Definitely get it to share. It's in a good part of town where you can find street parking easily and then take a nice walk after to digest your meal.

    (3)

  • Yuan W.

    Boat Street Cafe is awesome for brunch - I absolutely love this place. They make excellent baked eggs - not over or under cooked and seasoned perfectly. Their breakfast custard is amazing. The menu says it's better than pancakes, which is kind of a tall claim, but it really is better. It's moist and sweet, but not cloyingly so, and is like eating cake for breakfast (without all the heavy butter taste). The chicken curry salad is also great. The curry is really flavorful, atop a fresh bed of greens. Mmmm, I think my mouth is salivating as I type. Coffee is good, and not burnt, like many brunch places. Decor and atmosphere are cute. Boat Street has a lot of character, with its clean, white interior and bistro-type feel. My only minor complaint is the service can be slow, but on a lazy Sunday morning, with such excellent food, I'm happy to wait!

    (5)

  • Anna H.

    Great environment. However, both the service and the food were subpar. Steak au poivre was served room temperature and the UN-cracked black peppercorns seemed to be uncooked causing an intense pepper flavor on cold slices of meat. Yuck. The claim to fame is eggs Benedict, which was served on yesterday's baguette with a ton of butter. At these prices, stale bread and cold steak should not be served. Don't believe the hype.

    (1)

  • Mishmash K.

    I forgot my magnifying glass and I can't find my food on this big white plate! Oh, I see something small, on a big leaf. Is that my salmon? I can't tell.. it's too small! Maybe I'll supplement my hunger with some bread? Alas, must pay for that too. Yeah, portions here are miniscule. Be sure to eat something before. But it is a beautiful space! Love the feeling of being here, soaking in the design scene of Seattle.

    (3)

  • L D.

    of all the french restaurants in the city this is trully the best. the pork is the best anywhere, happy hour wine is delightful and the menu changes so you try all kinds of new and delisious things. we are here alot and i love that they recognize us when we go in.

    (5)

  • Savannah S.

    Wow. Just wow. Try these! Smoked salmon eggs benedict and bread pudding for an after brunch fat overload. You will seriously die. This is my favorite brunch place in Seattle. It could be the hidden aspect of it, or the intimate close seating, but I just love it. It's so European and modern, and adds a new spin on brunch. Love love love.

    (5)

  • Michael G.

    Very nice dining ambiance here. The umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, warm lighting, and the decorative wine bottle formations around the restaurant created quite an enjoyable backdrop for dinner. The fish was prepared very well, and the food was generally good.. I liked how they served relatively light "Frenchish" style food. However, the environment including both the diversity of staff and customers alike made it the most interesting... Perhaps a fun place to go occasionally...

    (4)

  • Jennyfer N.

    I only came here for dessert the last night I was in Seattle with my friend. From the moment I came in, it was beautifully lit by candles and soft lighting. The ceiling is adorned with parasols and the decor is very Hamptons-esque casual. The chairs at the tables don't all match. There's this antique-y look to all of the woodwork. It's very charming, comforting, and inviting. The bread pudding and the rhubarb buckle were the choices for the evening. Delicious, delicious, DELICIOUS. The bread pudding came in this lake of creamy goodness. Butter, cream, sugar, and maybe a touch of rum? There was so much of it that I couldn't believe we'd eat all the sauce. Well folks, we did. We were scraping it up by the spoonfuls into our eager mouths. The Rhubarb buckle was beautiful. A layer of tart, barely sweet rhubarb covered with the most softest and delicate crumbed cake, and then the best part...the crispy oatmeal-y streusel and crowned with a dollop of whipped cream. Winner, winner! I wish I came here for dinner. I'll have to put in on the list the next time I visit!

    (5)

  • Lane M.

    For dinner, I saw 4 stars and 2 dollar signs on Yelp and decided to wander downstairs to the Cafe, but in the end, neither of these were accurate. I was under dressed in a polo shirt, and greeted a little awkwardly on approach. All 3 employees I interacted with were stiff and seemed introverted. The $27 Black Cod was disappointingly small and bland. It came with a minimalist portion of potatoes that seemed to be primarily decorative, and a yogurt that did not blend well with the dish. Still hungry after finishing, I decided to take my money elsewhere rather than staying for the bread pudding I used to be looking forward to.

    (2)

  • Georgia W.

    How have I NOT been here yet?! Boat Street is tucked away for sure, but worth finding. Corn Meal cakes?! mmm hmmm! Next time, that's the 1st thing on my order. Anything on the patio along side a mimosa- yes please. One brunch here won't be enough to cover all the menu choices that look good. Def a charming setting. Don't go in a hurry on the weekend though, it's a little on the slow side. Just settle in and enjoy.

    (4)

  • Cathy M.

    Introduced here by a friend and brunched here. We had to wait about an hour, I think there was some shower or event going on, but it was worth the wait. Unfortunately their scones were gone by the time we sat down but I'll have to catch that next time. Baked eggs were yummy and it's been the best brunch experience I've had so far. Service was great and it was overall an enjoyable experience. Good place to bring a date as long as you don't have to wait an hour beforehand hehe.

    (4)

  • Veronica T.

    Amazing place for brunch with great food! The adorable ambiance makes it very enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    Found Boat Street on yelp yesterday and stopped in for brunch - holy wow! The food here is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I had the chevre benedict, the two others I was dining with got the pate benedict and the mushroom eggs. Everyone was beyond happy with their choices. The only complaint - the service was slow. We were there later, toward the end of the brunch service, but still, we had to wait at least 10 minutes to meet our server and then at least 30 for our food. Other than that, this place is awesome! I wish I lived in Seattle so I could go back!

    (4)

  • Carolina A.

    Yes yes yes PLEASE! or should I say "oui s'il vous plaît" what a fantastic surprise this place was. Hidden in a little courtyard, in a fantastically unpretentious setting, your taste buds will get shocked and loved with every bite. We went for dinner and had no reservations. We sat at the bar which ended up being quite nice because it gave us a great spot for people watching and we ended up talking quite a bit with the bartender. She was knowledgeable and didn't look at me like I was insane for asking if she could make me a spiced hot wine. She was chatty and just plain nice! We had the oysters, a white fish dish with capers that was good but not nearly as good as the pork with pickled raisins, which are prepared in-house. We finished our meal with their highly recomended and insanely delish bread pudding. Don't visit this place if you are in a diet or trying to eat sensibly. Everything was swimming in butter, which sounds bad but in reality was amazing!!!! Hey!!! they say the 3 secrets of french cousine are butter, butter & butter... right? Highly recommended, you can diet afterward, for like a whole month after. It is worth it!

    (4)

  • Diane C.

    Boat Street cafe transports you from Seattle to Europe in an instant. The gorgeous cafe/bistro feel is so relaxing and cheerful. I went in for brunch, but I can only imagine how delightfully romantic this place would be in the evening. So the food: I'm a fan. I ordered the cornmeal custard cake, which they claim is better than pancakes. I don't think these are better than pancakes because it's like comparing apples and oranges. What I do think is that the cornmeal custard cake that sits on a shallow pool of syrup is DIVINE. It's both smooth and textured, sweet and savory. It's a slice of heaven that really is a unique breakfast offering. I substituted the sausage for bacon...cause that's how I roll. The bacon was crispy, meaty goodness. My eating companion ordered the salmon benedict, which she really enjoyed, but struggled to cut through the chewy baguette slices that the egg and salmon sat on. Other than that it was perfectly cooked and beautifully plated. Definitely make reservations, because this place gets packed. We came when it opened, which was great because we were seated quickly, however, our food took awhile because the kitchen was instantly slammed when they sat 25 people at the same time. oh well...it's tough being the popular girl that is Boat Street Cafe. Why it doesn't get that last star for me? I don't love the location. It's in a hidden alcove on Western Ave, which makes it a little off the beaten path. I can understand the appeal of that, but it probably means even people who love it see going as a bit of a hassle. Here's the thing though, it's sooooo worth the hassle.

    (4)

  • Megh D.

    Brilliant ambience. Good brunch. Eggs Benedict are to die for. Staff is very friendly

    (5)

  • Mack M.

    OK, now, Boat Street Kitchen has gotten even better! Now, there's Monday Night Prix Fixe Supper, and, it is fan-tastic. But, let's discuss the catering! We had a party of 15, and, everything was won-der-ful. Everybody ate well, had a great time, and there were even some leftovers. And, Boat Street Kitchen made it soooo easy . . .

    (5)

  • Vanny H.

    A great brunch spot especially on a sunny day with their outdoor seating. Came with little expectation.. Fell in love after the first bite of that amaretto bread pudding!

    (5)

  • Gregg H.

    Reviewing for brunch. Showed up in the middle of peak brunch hours on a Sunday and was able to be seated right away, which is simply fantastic. There's plenty of seating, both inside and out, with the indoor area having a pretty open feel on a nice day because all the windows and walls were open. The tables where a pretty neat slate - a nice touch. Coffee came filled to the brim and had nice flavor, but had to request a refill instead of them just keeping everybody topped off. The food came out surprisingly quickly, with me getting the Smoked Trout Salad and my friend getting one of the Benedict options (there were two). I loved the salad. At first I thought they may have skimped on the fish a little, but when all was said and done I was full and didn't feel shorted at all. So. The warm baguette that it was served with was very good, and I was supremely happy with my choice. The desserts were tempting - I was eyeing the bread pudding - but like I said, I didn't really need anything after the entree. Just another cup of coffee and the check. The service was very prompt, even though they weren't overly chatty. They were busy, but a little personality never killed anyone. Since I live down the street, I will be here fairly regularly I think, and I'm kind of upset that I hadn't made the walk before.

    (4)

  • Christine N.

    I took my father and stepmom here for brunch on Fathers Day. What a delightful place! Sat outside in the covered area. For such an interesting location, it was perfect. Wait staff was attentive and helpful, without being overbearing. The food was delicious. We all absolutely loved our meals. Enjoyed the entire experience. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Joshua S.

    Saturday Brunch. Beautiful restaurant, great outdoor patio. Nice, considerate staff, not very engaging though. Ordered the smoked salmon benni and corn meal cake. The benni was OK, decent egg poaching, good sauce, bagget was hard. The smoked salmon was the biggest disappointment on the plate. The piece was small and a bit leathery. Corn meal cake was a big disappointment. Tasted like a big piece of corn bread. The bottom was soaked in syrup. Somehow the corn bread was $2.50 more then the benni. Coffee was just alright. Disappointed in how much we paid for what we got.

    (3)

  • Justin S.

    So yelp you remove my review once because you said it wasn't a new and updated review which it was. Then you remove it because you said it didn't provide enough detail, well let me provide some details for you. What are you working for Boat Street? I arrived for brunch with my family on 27 June. Nobody greeted me and I made eye contact with one of the servers. I waited inside by the counter for someone to help me. The server I made eye contact with walked in didn't say a word, didn't say hello, walked right by me picked up several menus and said "how many." He gave off such a rude vibe that I almost left right then, and I've been to Boat Street many times. He sat us at a table and then walked off. When he came back to take our order he arrived with the same pretentious attitude and complete and utter disregard for our presence. We ordered and our food and it arrived a short time later. The server didn't ask if we needed anything else he literally dropped the food off and then walked away. He never returned after that, he never came to follow up on our food or to see how we were doing. Even though I could see that he was still helping other tables. Another server stopped by and asked if we needed our bill. We were treated with the same pretentious lack of enthusiasm that the other server had shown. It was as if both of these people hated their job with such a passion, that they were unable to contain it. The food was delicious though, so great job kitchen staff! Is that a detailed enough for you yelp? My screenshot says this review is looking pretty epic nice.

    (1)

  • Farin P.

    I go here about once a week for lunch and I love it! The menu changes weekly due to seasonality of food but keeps a lot of it's classic items. The service is amazing! Eric is one of my favorite servers, very friendly and attentive.This is one of the only places I go to and frequently finish all of what is on my plate. I love how consistent the food is. I will have to say whenever I see the French potato salad on the menu I have to order whatever it is coming with. I plan to continue going here!

    (5)

  • Tiffany T.

    Sunday brunch - avg wait time is 45 minutes. Biscuit w/butter and honey: Served very hot and fresh. A large helping of butter, but surprisingly doesn't overpower the bite. The biscuit is a nice buttery, crumbly and spongy texture. Perfect amount of sweetness to the savory of the butter and biscuit. Classic Eggs Benedict: Very good! The use of baguette as the base was really well done. The ratios were appropriate and allowed for the ability to taste every ingredient (bread, cheese, bacon, tomato, egg). Cornmeal Cake: Good. This has an interesting dance of salty sweet on your tongue. Dipping it in the maple syrup puddle is necessary. Texture is good but crumbles easily (as one would expect cornbread to) Bread Pudding: OMG - Yum! I would come here to only eat this. I won't go into detail because it was all around perfect.

    (5)

  • Crystal B.

    Liked it, but the portions were small for the price. The scone made in-house was delicious and they had the BEST peach in the fruit salad with breakfast. My Eggs Benedict didn't have ham or Canadian bacon -- a tomatoes substitute recipe which was disappointing. It's cute, but overpriced.

    (3)

  • Sharon C.

    I chose this place for my birthday brunch last weekend and had a great experience. I previously made reservations via phone one week prior. I had a group of about 16 people including myself. It was a large group for this establishment! The email confirmation I got informed me that this place typically is best for smaller parties. But they catered to us very well anyway! The service was fantastic and the food was wonderful. They're known for good brunch like eggs benedicts! The decor is cute and subtle. They have outdoor seating. Kids are welcome. This place is all around the perfect place for weekend brunch. Thank you, Boatstreet for helping me host my birthday!

    (5)

  • Dustin S.

    I really liked the set up of Boat Street. Seems like they took some under ramp storage space and turned it into a new hip restaurant. But don't get the wrong impression, there was plenty of space.Cool new American French style food. The customer service was great, they were very accommodating and friendly. Now to be honest I wasn't too impressed by my Benedict. They use baguettes as the bread which made it difficult to cut and eat. Servings are in the smaller side. I liked the cornmeal cake, reminds me of a sweet corn bread with maple syrup. I'd recommend people to try this place.

    (4)

  • Tammie E.

    Brunch Review. This place is oozing with Parisian charm, I LAVA it! We finally got around to trying this place and it's good. The Puffins are so delightful! Get two because we shared one and I was wishing I could've had it all to myself. :) The hubs got eggs benedict and I got a custom assortment of breakfast items (scrambled eggs, fruit, potatoes). Yum! The reason it's 3-stars is because they messed up on my husband's order and both times the food came out cold. Meh. It was still good, but just disappointing. And because the service left something to be desired. Also, I'm a bit disappointed with their prices. The prices with the service makes the experience feel stuffy. I'm hoping their better for dinner; I'd love to come back and try it out. So this place is adorable and good, but with so many other restaurants to try, it might be a while until we make it back here.

    (3)

  • Derrick C.

    A wonderful night at Boat Street. Food, ambiance and service all 10's. I recommend the pate, the duck and the bread pudding. The prefix menu is just great!

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    This place is pretty good if you want to treat yourself for brunch. The coffee is excellent, the staff is super friendly and the food is spot on. And the whole decor and ambiance is very east coast and just perfectly delightful. I really enjoyed that aspect. As a huge bread pudding fan, I came here hoping to be floored. It was good, but not great. Chinooks is still the winner of best bread pudding so far! We had the eggs Benedict and it was awesome, some of the best we've had. The portions are smaller than we are used to, so be prepared to leave sated but not stuffed.

    (4)

  • Jerome T.

    I had low expectations. I left in love. Casual, cool, airy and chic. It's some kind of converted industrial complex. There is an outdoor space when you first walk down into the restaurant that's cute and has enough green foliage and light to make you forget you are where you are. The indoor space has tall ceilings and coupled with the light coming in from all angles transports you to a coastal cafe somewhere in Europe...or a marina at The Jersey shore. Meh. The white Christmas lights draped along the metal back walls tells you they don't take themselves too seriously, which might lead you to think the food will not be sophisticated, which couldn't be further from the truth. The staff, dressed in chic long, preppy-striped, cotton aprons are pros who are on point in all facets of the game and will spoil you. Lets get this out of the way... i'm not a mimosa drinker, but I had two and they got the party started right. A third would have had me twisted. Yes, i'm a cheap date. We started with the biscuits lathered in a honey butter spread. Yawn? Au contraire mon frere'. I had a friend growing up whose mom was from the South...as in, Mississippi. She made biscuits from scratch on Sundays. She didn't use fake butter, butter or Crisco. She used straight up...PORK FAT. I remember her telling me she saved it from the rendering of other pork dishes during the week. Now, a lesser man would have run away, but not your boy. Those biscuits, which were her granny's recipe, were THE BEST FUCK'N BISCUITS I HAVE EVER EATTEN. This joint's rich, decadent, buttery-sweet sensations would give Mrs. Roger's biscuits a run for their money. We ordered it at the beginning and again at the very end in stead of the famous bread pudding, because I couldn't help myself. They are CRACK. We had two salmon dishes: She, the Smoked Salmon Benedict with Arugula and Hollandaise, while I had an Alaskan Salmon with Israeli Couscous and leafy greens. A side of bacon also had my name on it. Hers was better then mine. I made the mistake of forgetting to tell my server how I want my salmon cooked (med rare), albeit they should have asked me. That said, my salmon was well done, but not overcooked, per se. It wastn't bad, but it mos def wasn't great. The rest of the components on the plate were a perfect pairing. Her dish was just perfect in every way you think it would be. The end. P. S., the bacon was damn good, but not sure it's worth the extra $3 for two slices, although they were two, large, thick slices cooked to perfection. Seattle has been a pleasant surprise for it's food. For someone who thinks NYC is the center of the universe and all other cities are a bore, the Emerald City is not so bad. Boat Street Cafe & Kitchen, with its eclectic menu, is going to be a stop for me every time I come back.

    (4)

  • L M.

    I think this is so far my favorite brunch place in Seattle. The food is very well done. The menu is simple (but what great French menu isn't right?). The eggs benedict and mushroom scrambled eggs are great. The desserts are ok but I wasn't wow-d. What I live about the place though is the people. They're delightful and that adds that much more to the culinary experience. Even though they're busy, they understand and respect your solitude while enjoying every bite and won't rush you while enjoying your nytimes on a Sunday morning. I highly recommend this place not only for their scrumptious carefully selected dishes but also for its great staff, ambiance and proximity to the ocean. Perfect opportunity to stop by for brunch and then go for a walk by the ocean. Perfect itinerary for a Sunday in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Al M.

    I really like the vibe here. The lunch menu is actually very breakfast-y (and who doesn't like breakfast?). Everything looks appealing --- which is a good thing since it's a small menu. Crab cake lunch entree was fantastic, but small. Strawberry shortcake dessert was very good, but had far too little fruit. Prices seemed right in line with quality and portion size. Definitely a good spot.

    (4)

  • Dee W.

    I was polling friends, clients and co-workers on their favorite place to eat in the city. Half the time they would say "Boat St. Cafe". The ones who recommended it were definitely foodies so I was pretty confident they would deliver. We went for dinner on a week night and had such a lovely time. The staff was very kind and accomodating from the very beginning. We were 45 mins late for our reservation. I had called and left a message but wasn't confident someone would get it. There were only a handful of open tables but they brought us right in after looking at their schedule. The atmosphere is so charming and romantic. We had a table in the corner so we both sat on the bench side and looked out. Great people watching. The food was fantastic: green salad, cheese plate, lamb shoulder (to die for!), ribeye and caramel ice cream. I had our server choose a wine for me that was excellent with the lamb. I would like to try the pate and the oysters next time. This is first on my list to bring my frequently visiting relatives. They will love this place and you will too!

    (4)

  • Jean Y.

    After three visits to Boat St Cafe, I am ready to declare that everything I have had here is delicious!! I wish I'd started frequenting Boat St earlier, and I look forward to my next visit. I've tried a variety of things here, including: * cheese plate - Hard to go wrong with a cheese plate! * crispy pork confit - The fresh beets and cabbage really complement the crispy pork! * smoked trout - Nicely smoked trout served with lentils. * Madhatcher chicken - I've had 2 different chicken dishes on 2 visits here. Both times, the meat was super succulent, and the flavors were wonderful! A friend made fun of me for ordering chicken because it's "pedestrian," but if a restaurant roasts chicken much better than I could ever roast chicken at home, why not? :) * crab cakes - Stole a bite of my friend's crab cakes. Lots of crab, rather than bread crumbs or other filler ingredients. * hazelnut ice cream - Reminded me of the Ferrero Rocher chocolates I loved as a kid! * cranberry scone - One of the yummiest cranberry scones I've ever had * baked eggs - Delicious!! * cocktails - The drinks manage to be tasty but strong :) Boat St Cafe is not cheap, but I think that overall the quality and flavors of the food are worth the price, with a couple of exceptions. For example, I'm not convinced that a small side of roasted fingerling potatoes is worth $6. I also like it better when my bread and butter are free. I love the intimate space, somewhat secluded location, and eclectic decorations - Japanese lanterns (why is there a lantern with the Kimura family name hanging in the middle of the room?) and umbrellas (reminds me of the Wynn but less flashy and more tasteful) hanging from the ceiling, Christmas lights and paper snowflakes lining the windows (I guess the holiday decorations stay up all year long), and a memorable chalkboard drawing of a puppy with captivating eyes (I am seriously impressed by the drawing). A few small minuses, but I'll overlook them cause the food is good :) 1) The wait can be a bit long, so don't eat here if you are in a hurry. The one time I came here for brunch, I waited over half an hour for my food, and I was starving!! Another time I had a reservation but had to wait for over 15min for my table. At least my friend and I got to order drinks while we stood around waiting! 2) The menus on the website are rarely updated. No brunch menu or cocktail list, and the dinner menu is just an example.

    (5)

  • Carey G.

    With much anticipation we went to boat street for our anniversary this year. We sat outside on their cute patio. The inside appeared very nice and comfortable as well. The drinks were amazing, made perfectly. The food and service was a bit of a disappointment. Our waitress was slow to greet us, and take our order (s). We ordered the octopus (chewy/overcooked with potatoes that were mealy) then waited a REALLy long time for our server to check on us. Then the green salad (slimy/not-fresh/translucent). This was not the experience we were expecting. We spoke to the manager who was really lovely and took both items off our bill. Our entrees were very delicious, although I wouldn't say it was memorable. The food has a more rustic feel than other similarly priced restaurants in town. I might come back for happy hour or brunch but with the inconsistencies of our night and the service, I'm not sure I would come back for dinner.

    (3)

  • Lucas D.

    5 Stars for Boat Street Cafe, 2 Stars tops for Boat Street Kitchen. Why are Boat Street Kitchen and Boat Street Cafe rated on the same page? Because it is unclear that they are NOT the same restaurant. I've been a long time fan of Boat Street Cafe's elegant and thoughtful dishes. When I need to impress, this is where I take guests for dinner. I thought I'd switch it up and try brunch for a change and was... confused. The food was mediocre at best. My guests were polite but said they would not reorder their choices if they ever returned. Even the Rustic Cornmeal Cake I'd been looking forward to trying was just okay. What happened? Some quizzing of the (fantastic) waiter revealed that these are two separate restaurants with different owners side by side, the Kitchen serving brunch-only while the Cafe is dinner-only. I wish this had been more clear. The association with their brunch-neighbor does my beloved Cafe no favors.

    (5)

  • Penn D.

    Sometimes anticipation can really let you down. And sometimes it can push a good experience to great. This was the case with my b-day dinner at Boat Street. Coming in, I had high expectations which were quickly matched and exceeded from the moment I walked in the door to the last bite of dessert. I chose this place for my birthday dinner because it had been on my "to try" list for a long time. We were a party of 5 (not a tv reference) and were seated immediately at our reserved time. The restaurant is cozy but spacious and seems to have the right number of tables for the service and the kitchen size. It is decorated like a french living room that makes you feel immediately at home. Wine to start, appetizers of pan fried smelt, chicken liver pate, and the sweetest dates I've ever tasted...everything was perfectly cooked though I really thought the small pickled salad that came with the smelt was a highlight...though I've really been into pickled things lately. More wine, selected by us but approved by our server (who seemed to genuinely care about making our night special). My entree was the pork chop, seasonal peppers, and a mint sauce...perfectly cooked, and perfectly seasoned. Rarely does this happen, but all of the others at the table ordered different things off the menu so we were able to try just about everything on the menu. Crab cakes were outstanding, hanger steak was incredible, salmon was perfect and the Poussin was to die for. all accompaniments complimented their respective dishes to the greatest degree. For Dessert, the best bread pudding I've ever had. to try to describe it would not be just so I will say that you have to experience it for yourself. I look forward to my next time and possibly to check out the well reviewed brunch.

    (5)

  • A. B.

    This was our 2nd trip to Boat Street Cafe for brunch & both times, the food wow'd us! Really loved the baked eggs, roasted poblano peppers with poached eggs, croque monsieur & the raspberry scones were to die for! haven't tried it for dinner but strongly recommend for brunch.

    (5)

  • Tom L.

    This place is totally overrated. The food was not bad but way too expensive. They charge for everything. Paid $4 for a SMALL potato and a half the size of a ping pong ball. Also the bill was over $500 for 12 people and we had a birthday cake. They charged us $36 DOLLARS to just cut and plate the cake!!! That cost more than the cake itself. Don't go here. Not worth it.

    (1)

  • Sonia G.

    Nice place to take a client or coworker when you want a fancy lunch. It is a short walk from the office, which is nice. My first meal here and I don't remember the menu name, but the ingredients were pork confit and cabbage. The was portion size was just right and the food was fresh and flavorful. My coworker ordered a sandwich that he enjoyed and it also looked very good. I would definitely come here again. The space is small but they make the most of it. If you don't have time to sit, they are more than happy to pack your order to go.

    (4)

  • Alex L.

    I am giving this place 4 stars only because I am careful about giving 5 stars and I only ate one item during my visit. That said, the food was heavenly, the service was perfect and the ambience was very pleasant. The food: In my experience the best restaurants have chefs that understand flavors and care enough to create delicious foods. This cafe is one of those places. I had a salmon potatoe cake with a poached egg, tartare sauce, salad, and beets. The combination of flavors in the cake, sauce, and egg was out of this world. I dont like beets typically, but their flavor, juiciness, and crispness helped balance the decadent richness of the cake/sauce/egg combo. Perfect. The menu changes regularly, but I suspect that whatever you order will be masterfully created and very, very tasty. A few other notes: This place is not super easy to spot from the street. Despite the high quality food, the place is casual. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Their most famous dessert is the bread pudding, but their coffee ice cream with maple syrup sounds really good. In the neighborhood? Want great food in a casual atmosphere? Go to the Boat St. Cafe. You won't be sorry.

    (4)

  • Nicholas C.

    The Boat Street Kitchen is the hidden Bouchon of Seattle. Went here on a clear Sunday morning, ate outside with my favorite gal. Food was decadent, sparkling white mimosas lasted all afternoon, and the service was perfect. These kind of places just make you feel glad you went out instead of making pancakes (and I love pancakes).

    (4)

  • Hana B.

    definitely one of the best restaurants in Seattle, with high quality delicious food in a warm and charming atmosphere. The staff are inviting and knowledgeable. For dinner, there are limited vegetarian options, but brunch has numerous non-meat selections. Desserts are truly the best I've had. For those people who are complaining about portion size, go back to McDonalds for your super-sized meal. Kudos to Boat Street Cafe for providing high quality ingredients and reasonable portions and not feeding into to our gluttonous Americanism.

    (5)

  • Jessica N.

    Super cute and super delicious! This little restaurant is tucked away down a big hilly driveway thing. The interior looks like it could have been something really nasty and industrial, but everything is painted a charming cream color and there's just the perfect amount of tea candles, string lights, rustic furniture, and chalkboards with cute animals drawn to make this place super adorable, especially on a cloudy day. I had the duck, and it was fantastic! The portion sizes aren't big, but it's perfect because it leaves room for dessert. As mentioned in basically everyone's reviews, the bread pudding is wonderful and has a great flavor, and I don't even like bread pudding that much. It is extremely sweet though, and thus extremely filling, but you can't beat the $5 price. In all, it was probably more money than anyone would reasonably want to drop on lunch, but it was so well done and wonderfully cute, I'd say you should probably just go anyway. You'll be glad you did.

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    Wow, what a wonderful experience from the very start. My wife and I decided to try Boat Street Cafe on a recommendation from someone else. We were told it was a bit hard to find and seating was limited. We had no issues finding either the place or a table on a Friday night. We started the evening when a Kir Royale and it just got better from there. Oh the food... so amazing. The combination of flavors is truly something I haven't experienced at too many places. Nothing was over powering but it was like a perfect balance of ingredients. We had the Sauteed Dates and a Ricotta and Peppers appetizer. Both dishes offered fantastic combination of flavors. The dates were my favorite and I thought they could almost be a dessert on their own. The dates were sweet, almost like carmel, and the warm olive oil and tiny bit of salt around them balance the sweetness. Amazing. My wife had the Manila clams which were to die for. The sausage in the dish added a fantastic flavor without over powering and taking over the clams. There was a hint of orange in broth. At the end of the meal, there was no broth left what-so-ever... no way we were letting that go. I had the Hanger Steak w/ the olive topenade and local salad. The meat was cooked perfectly and again, no one single flavor was over powering the dish. The olives provided a fantastic balance to the meat. Very tender and very flavorful. I'm a big chocolate fan and their dessert menu had nothing of the sort. My wife loves fruit desserts so we decided to get the Apricot Clafouti, on our waitresses recommendation. It was one of the most fantastic desserts I've ever had and it rivals all my chocolate favorites throughout the years. It was served on a piping hot plate with a cream base and was just to die for. We'll be back many times.

    (5)

  • Beth G.

    Lima beans never accented anything so well. Superbe!

    (5)

  • Larelle F.

    An "in the know" kind of place!

    (4)

  • Becky W.

    10 stars is more like it. A 3 hour brunch where we kept the mimosas and coffee coming and had just about everything on the menu as we laughed, ate, oohed and aaahed. Hands down the best benedict I've ever had. A happy, happy place...

    (5)

  • Laura L.

    I'm surprised there are curently only eight reviews on Boat Street - it is one of the few French inspired resturaunts in the city. My fiance and I went here one Sunday for lunch. We loved the food and the service - I had the roasted chicken on a bed of fall squash and other roasted veggies. It was amazing. I wanted to have desert, and I don't really know why I didn't. I must have been full from that half a chicken I ate. It was totally worth it, I can remember it now. My fiance had eggs benadict and fresh squeezed OJ which he said was great. Portions were wonderful, and although I am not a coffee drinker, I hear they have wonderful coffee and cafe late. I had a delicous green tea which came in a large white mug. The atmosphere is light and airy - lots of windows, and the ceilings are high. My only complaint would be that the place is freezing cold! The one other time we were were, about a year ago- we froze as well! It was hard to eat with my teeth chattering. My tea chilled right down and became like ice tea in the cold, cold air. I put my jacket back on after sitting down, and noticed that others did too. But, no one shut the huge door to block out the cold air. Sigh. The place fills up really quickly - I would recommend getting their a little early if possible to grab a seat. There is really no "waiting space" to stand while you wait for a table, so that can be awkward. We'll be back, I hope, soon!

    (4)

  • S P.

    The Best Bread Pudding Ever. This little french cafe would be my favorite place in Seattle if it weren't slightly over-priced. Their dinners are delicious and their brunches are awesome. If you go for brunch make sure you order the biscuits with honey butter to start--seriously the best biscuit I have ever had. They have great benedicts and their Custard Pie breakfast dish is truly wonderful. Back to the bread pudding, even if its not in your budget to have a whole meal here, go for dessert. This bread pudding is not to be missed.

    (4)

  • Jackson R.

    For what Boat Street has set out to do, I must give it five stars. A gorgeous, clean, crisply lit bistro that puts out a high-quality brunch. Seattle needs more places like this, because I am often hungry on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and I know that Boat Street, The Dish, Portage Bay, and Senor Moose are going to have massive lines out the door. Their coffee is fantastic, and if you're in line you can go ahead and grab a cup while you wait. I've sampled a bunch of different rotating menu items like French Toast, Filet Mignon and Eggs, the awesome cheese plate, and various Quiches. I'm a fan of all the above. Fatties should stay away, for the portions are actually what normal people eat, not dumptruck loads of cheap toast and oily hashbrowns. I find this refreshing. Also, due to the laid back Gallic atmosphere, you won't be ashamed to order up some wine at 11 am. Your check at Boat Street will be more than an average Seattle brunch, but you'll somehow leave forgetting how much you paid. Walk off the 3rd glass of wine at the Olympic sculpture park, or go to Canlis glass and say hi to JP. I am admittedly a little partial to Boat Street since I took my girlfriend here for our very first date, and now we're engaged. Good job, guys!

    (5)

  • Tarah M.

    This place is amazing. I've never been to France, but I can just imagine that finding a quaint little French bistro tucked away from a busy street there would feel the same as walking into Boat Street Cafe. I've been here twice and both times I've explored and enjoyed confusing my tastebuds in liking flavors I hadn't tried before. The cafe is hidden from the busy main streets of Belltown and you will have trouble finding parking if you're dining during the evening or possibly on weekends. However, both times, I've been here for a weekday lunch and parking was a cinch. If you can get here on a beautiful and warm day, take advantage of their patio seating which made my experience even better as I sipped on my ice tea. As other yelpers mentioned, their serving sizes aren't excessive, which is what I like about restaurants that focus more on quality rather than quantity. You will get what you pay for, which is delicately prepared dishes with quality ingredients in a more than satisfactory size! Their lunch menu seems to rotate every season and I enjoyed their salmon crab cakes as well as their walnut and fig salad w/goat cheese. Sooo good! Their baguettes are soft and a perfect accompaniment to their tossed greens salad. Also, I love beets and theirs are sweet, firm, and infused with orange..yum! Finally, we shared their peach crisp which ended my perfectly satisfying lunch. The two times I've been here, I've felt that their staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. My colleague and I were in and out of our lunch meeting in less than an hour due to the swift arrival of our meals and we never felt rushed or hurried. I felt the prices reflect the quality of their dishes and I must try their brunch based on all the rave yelp reviews!

    (4)

  • Tommy K.

    I've been meaning to check out Boat Street for quite some time. I had heard so much about it and used to go past it all the time on my way home from work. This last Sunday, looking for a new place for brunch, I was happy to discover that Boat Street was open on Sunday mornings ... and after my one experience here, I'm doubly desirous (how's that for alliteration!) of getting out here for dinner ASAP. The breakfasts here are not the traditional American fare ... kind of. I guess I would call them Franco-American breakfasts ... think of it as a cross between the 5-spot and Le Pichet ... egg dishes come with a salad and not taters, lots of dishes that are more lunch oriented than breakfast, etc. I had a Moroccan spice rubbed cod which was pretty fabulous. Perhaps it was cooked just a tad more than I liked it but definitely still quite delicious. The wife had a goat-cheese scramble. Both these dishes were quite simple. There's not a whole lot of culinary acrobatics going on but the wow factor came in terms of the quality of the ingredients. We also got a biscuit ... it's not the flaky kind of southern biscuit. In fact, it had more of a short bread sort of texture. We couldn't decide if it was the biscuit itself that was amazing or if it was the honey butter or the homemade jam. Regardless, we swallowed that thing quickly and if it weren't for the fact we had just eaten the last biscuit they had, we probably would have ordered another. Price wise, this place is not too bad. There are definitely cheaper places out there but you get what you pay for. I would guess that $25-$30 per person would be a safe bet (tax, tip, meal, a drink or two). You can definitely cut the cost by not having a cocktail but where's the fun in that?

    (5)

  • Stacy Y.

    Lovely place with its cozy and charming decor, this is Frank and my new favorite restaurant. We found this restaurant because it was listed as one of the top 10 restaurants in Seattle and we totally agreed! We went there with another couple for dinner and were seated inside near the back. The first thing we notice, it is very warm inside the restaurant, it kept us sweating through out our meal. Our waitress kindly opened one of the doors so fresh air can come in, but it didn't really help much... Service was good, friendly staff... very busy by the time we are done (8:00) so I would suggest making a reservation. The four of us ordered the bread (with olive and olive oil, and butter to start) $2.00. The best two dollar appetizer: The bread was warm and chewy (from Columbia City Bakery), great with the tangy olive and butter. Then I had the British Columbia Scallop for dinner, prepared with corn puree on the bottom and crispy leeks on top, great combination and the corn makes the scallop taste even sweeter. Frank had pork belly which is also great, the fat from pork almost rendered out completely so it's not so greasy. Pork is tender and savory. The other two dishes are pork tenderloin chop (not tough and still juicy with raisins on top) and snappers which is our least favorite but still okay. And there's dessert, you must save room for dessert! I ordered Ballard honey ice cream with huckleberry, it is delicious. Their honey is from Ballard Bee Company which has a little floral smell to it. Eat it with the amaretto cookie (is it?), great combination. BUT you absolutely have to order their bread pudding, it is so far THE BEST I ever had. Bread is a little salty with golden raisins, soaked in rich cream. It is heaven! Seriously! And for some reason, this place reminds us our London trip, maybe it's the simple charming decor or maybe it's the food they served.. it just clicked and brought back some good memories. Just imagine come in here in afternoon - order a cup of coffee and a bread pudding, sitting in the courtyard.... I think I have my next Sunday morning all plan out. :D Will definitely come back for a 2nd and 3rd visit.

    (4)

  • T C.

    great food. They tend to have a wait when they open for brunch on the weekends, so go early! Must try thier smoked salmon benedict and bread pudding. YUM!

    (4)

  • Caylee B.

    Such a great location right in the city, but seemingly not. I want to try brunch and the patio! Had a quick(ish) dinner at the bartop tonight. All the servers were helpful, but it wasn't confusing as to who my designated server was. Not overbearing, very attentive. I had a glass of Beaujolais reasonably priced at $9, some warm bread with butter/oil/olives and the clams. The clams: amazingly large portion size for just $16. Some of the fattest clams I've had. Meaty, silky. Really good. Tons of lentils, shallots, and great dipping juices to go with. Finished with Leavenworth Pilsner (quite tasty - good choice for having only one beer on tap) and their super tasty bread pudding. I am enamored with the space and location, and the food was perfectly on par with that. Great spot overall!

    (5)

  • Cynthia C.

    On food alone, I'd give Boat Street 3 stars. Came here for brunch this Sunday with two friends. Two of us got the eggs benedict (one standard, the other with salmon) and the other got the mushroom omelet. I thought my eggs benedict was very mediocre -- absolutely nothing to highlight. The portions are really small (even for a girl who ALWAYS has leftovers) with the plate being a few bites of greens, a few pieces of fruit, and two small slices of cheddar baguette with a slice of tomato and egg. Coffee also tasted funny.. It ended up around $20pp. Service was nice, parking was easy to find, and it's a cozy nook-ish place that's good for dates or small groups. I'd probably come back and order something else.

    (4)

  • kat s.

    Very fine food and nice wine. Highly recommend the pate tartine. Service was perfect. Why three stars? It feels stuffy. Sure the design is nice and casual, but the atmosphere seems too take itself too seriously. Maybe its the prices, which are high, that lead it to feel like a vortex of fun. I will spend my limited fine dining money on a place with a looser feel, like Spur Gastropub or Lesocho next time.

    (3)

  • Yewondwossen A.

    The host takes your name and then make you wait in the entrance area of the next door cafe when he can just sit you right then and then. This maneuver of his will have you believe that this is no ordinary place despite it's rustic ambiance. This is a indeed a great place. I was afraid that the corn meal custard cake would have a creamy consistency, but it was more like a biscuit. I would have liked to see a little more syrup but I was afraid to ask, I did not want to be asked by the host to leave the premises. The accompanying sausage was sweet tasting, with a little bit of a hard casing. I was a bit underwhelmed by the oven baked potatoes, kind of dry. I like my potatoes a little smashed up with a bit of olive oil grease and crunch in um. The waiter talked me into ordering the bread putting, which was incredibly sweet, and rich, with a right balance of mushy and crunchy elements. I believe this signature desert is seriously under priced at $5.

    (5)

  • Danielle F.

    I've been here twice now once for brunch and once for lunch. Both were great. You must order a biscuit here if you come for brunch. Really you need to do it I don't even care for biscuits and don't eat a ton of bread in general and I must say it's the best biscuit I have ever had. First trip my friend had their cornmeal custard cake which was amazing. We coudln't decide what to get so we split three things. I unfortunately can't remember the rest :( it was all really good though. When I went for lunch I ordered the croque monsiuer ( but meant to order the croque madame) our server was so sweet, she ordered me a poached egg and brought out the beets that came on the salad with the croque madame. It was really good. One of my friends had the brisket which they enjoyed and the third had a scalloped potatoes dish. We finished with the amarretto bread pudding which was to die for! I can't wait to come back and have another biscuit and try Boat Street for dinner!

    (5)

  • Dave F.

    This is a 5-star ambiance with 3 star food. I love the simple ambiance, but feel the food is a tad overrated. I've been many times as my office was next door, and I've come for dinner when the food was really bad. Cold entrees! And, slow! Anyhow, decent place for a sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup, but if I get to choose the lunch spot, we'll go elsewhere. My favorite was the Coca Light, but it's no longer on the menu.

    (3)

  • Dana W.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Love the decor and atmosphere, I highly recommend the bread pudding-they make THE BEST bread pudding ever

    (5)

  • Felipe L.

    Food was average, I felt the reviews hype it a bit. I have seen much better in Belltown.

    (3)

  • Julien G.

    In a very French a cute atmosphere, this bistro style Gastronomy restaurant exceeded my expectations. I had been a couple of times for their brunch, and always liked it, but the dinner menu is really creative, fresh, seasonal and simple ! Reasonably sized plates, very well put together, the flavors combined get stronger, and the wine card is prepared with love. Very good and non intrusive service, reasonably price, this place is ideal for a date as well as a group of friends.

    (4)

  • Landon H.

    Best meal I've ever had. Don't know how else to say it. The food meshed perfectly with the sides. The wine selection was vast, and matched perfectly (by our server) with the meal. Decor was simplistic and relaxing. If the plates were $99 a pop... it'd be worth every penny. My only fear in reviewing this restaurant would be sharing such a wonderful place with too many people. To see this gem overrun would travesty.

    (5)

  • K O.

    This is a tough review to write because there is a lot right with this place. The food is excellent, as a Brit I like the authentic European influence which is hard to come by here. Location is also great and they have done an outstanding job with the space. The consistently poor marks come from the service. I've waited up to an hour for food here, which granted, was for a group of 10. However, even for two people you are not getting anything for at least 30 minutes after ordering. I've been here 5/6 times now and this has always been an issue. Unfortunately this removes the Boat Street from lunchtime options as it simply takes too much time out of the office. If you are not in a hurry and would like a leisurely lunch I would highly recommend you try it out, but for a quick work lunch it is not an option.

    (3)

  • Rachid G.

    Food: OK. I had a steak. It was decent; the salad it came with was quite good, came with some cold potatoes that were also OK. Bread pudding: Oh man. So good. Covered in butter, so warm, so gooey, so sweet, so fatty, so delicious. I'll be back just for that and I'll be trying some other food item. EDIT: I forgot to mention that I was really disappointed by the level of noise for such a classy seeming place. I guess it was expected since it was small and packed, but it was hard to hear people right near me. They should hook it up with some padded walls or something.

    (4)

  • Vanessa C.

    I've been here a few times for brunch and lunch and although the food is good the service at my last visit was terrible. My friend and I arrived around midday on Sunday for brunch, and as we were the only people waiting for a table we were told the wait would be brief. A few minutes later when one of the servers approached us to confirm that there were just 2 of us another server approached her and started having a conversation about how he wanted the couple behind us in line to have the better table because he knew them. We got seated at the table closest to the kitchen and watched across the room as the couple who arrived after us were greeted, brought waters and menus and placed their orders before we were approached at our table at all. When my friend ordered coffee she got a cup that was barely half full, and had to wait another five minutes for a spoon to stir it with. We had to ask for water refills more than once, and when my food arrived the fruit had black and mushy parts on half of it. Overall, the crappy service was bad enough to distract from the food and the experience. I'm disappointed and it will be a while before I visit Boat Street again.

    (2)

  • Davette Z.

    Great for brunch! This is one of my Seattle favs.The food is rich and great and the atmosphere is so cozy and rustic. Really cute date place. The best part is the delicious bread pudding for dessert.

    (4)

  • Jen M.

    The food is AMAZING, service is never rushed, the decor is chic and casual. I've been in several times for brunch and dinner and will always be happy to return. I dream about their honey biscuits and am always sad to leave this wonderful gem of a restaurant.

    (5)

  • Jenna C.

    I visited Boat Street for a late night snack / sparkling wine / dessert on a Saturday night in December. It was a mere two blocks from our hotel, and is also walking distance from downtown Seattle. Loved the décor. Loved the family-style seating. I felt like I was in an old country farm house dining room. However, the crowd was a bit...stuffy? Thankfully our server was friendly and full of information, so once we were seated (took about 20 minutes to get seating for two people), we felt much better. We shared an affordable bottle of sparkling white wine, an amazing cheese plate, and based on Yelp Reviews, the bread pudding. The cheese plate was fabulous - it had a wide variety of sheep, goat, and cow cheeses with pieces of fresh fruit. The bread pudding was also tasty. I've only ever had it at one other place, and Boat Street's was comparable to that other place, but I don't really consider myself a bread pudding aficionado. So bread pudding in summary - not mind blowing, but worth trying. Be careful not to burn yourself, it's served very hot! I'd love to come back to Boat Street and have breakfast or brunch. Next time I will make a reservation to avoid having to wait for a table.

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    I agree with a few others on this: the ambiance had me at hello. Both the exterior walkway down to the outdoor seating to the lit trees, white design with sunflowers laid on the tables and just its southern/anthropologie like charm. Very appealing to the eye. However the charm wore off after waiting on our food for quite some time- They did treat us with a complimentary ginger scone for our wait though. I also thought the food was a tad overpriced for what it was. The menu creates a more fancy version of what it really is, But I appreciate simplicity. Don't get me wrong, it was good but nothing that wowed me. I just went a little camera happy with shooting the walls and building- If the food- taste/plating matched what they did with the place....it'd def. be a 5 star in my book :)

    (3)

  • Andrew R.

    Never got to order and eat, but just wanted to comment don't go here with an empty stomach and a short attention span, b/c even the wait to sit down took 10 minutes and that was with several open tables. Seems like they need more servers in the daytime. Plus, as probably obvious to most, don't go here if you want a "big portion, I'm starving" meal.

    (3)

  • GK I.

    The crab cakes are the best in the city hands down. The service is always warm, friendly and inviting. The pot de creme is one of the best desserts ever! This place is always a go to for me on any special occasion. They also have happy hour. In the summertime they set up an outside patio that is lovely. Also, they have special Sunday dinners from time to time. Ahhh, the list could go on and on why I love this place.

    (5)

  • danielle m.

    I'm torn. I LOVE the ambiance. How many restaurants do you know of that still have real candles not only on all the tables, but dripping from every wall sconce and chandelier in the room? Very romantic. The location is a cozy little room with outdoor seating (not with a view, just outdoors and downstairs from the street). It's gorgeous, plain and simple. A date night definite. And the wine list was great. The downsides? A few. The food was good. Not great. My steak was boring. Granted, yes, i did order a steak, so i guess i get what i asked for, but if you're going to offer steak it should be a good cut with a nice somethingorother on it, in it, under it, etc. My girlfriend's crab cakes were good...with a very inventive banana sauce...but they were interesting. One was full of fresh chopped onions, and the other had none. Odd. Also, the waitress hadn't the slightest idea how to help me when I had a question about some of the wines. The desserts sounded great, but were plain and boring and tasted bland when they arrived. Maybe they don't have a pastry chef and focus only on the mains? Or everything is just sort of mediocre? Lastly, if you don't like olives, you're up a creek without a paddle...or motor...or sails....they're in and on everything.

    (3)

  • Jessica R.

    I've had several great meals at Boat Street. The restaurant has a rustic, casual look to it with interesting artwork. The meal begins with a basket of fresh, hot, crusty bread. I had a buttery steak on my last trip that was delicious. The meat is prepared in the French style. Remember to specify how you'd like it cooked or it will arrive will the chill just barely taken off it. Desserts are stellar too. The rice pudding and bread pudding were both sweet, rich and incredibly good. Service is bit cool and stand-offish. Street parking is available but you have to hunt for it. They also do a nice simple lunch with salads and sandwiches.

    (5)

  • Wes K.

    Boat Street Cafe has hopped around a couple times. It started, appropriately enough, on Boat Street near the UW. They had to close that location, and then it popped up again on NW 74th St. off of Greenwood apparently, but now they've settled in a new space in the Northwest Work Lofts, a stone's throw away from the P-I building. The food is wonderful, and the atmosphere very rustic-chic. The restaurant is divided into two rooms: Dinner is served in the Cafe, a large dining room in the back, while lunch and brunch are in the Kitchen, a brighter, smaller room up front. (The Kitchen has its own website at boatstreetkitchen.com , and they also do catering.) A couple things to note about lunch in particular: 1) All their yummy sandwiches are available for takeout for only $6.50 (although, alas, the pate sandwich was apparently a seasonal item). 2) With your sandwich, you can also pick up a Mexican Coca-Cola made with cane sugar and still in the classic glass bottle. Sweet... This restaurant is downstairs in the building where I work, and it's only my feeble attempts to stay on a budget that keep me from getting lunch here a couple times a week.

    (5)

  • Ingrid M.

    I have only gone to this uniquely simple restraunt for brunch. But both times I have enjoyed my meal. I usually have to ask questions about certain ingredients (emmanthal, anyone, anyone?) but the servers are always nice and helpful. You may have to wait for a table, especially one inside. But if you are looking for a touch of fancy to your already homely favorites, this is a good place!

    (4)

  • Jon P.

    Went here for dinner this past weekend. Absolutely stellar experience. Loved the "rustic romantic" ambiance (especially considering what the general location looked like from the street) and was very surprised by the delectable pickle plate (good thing they recommended the smaller plate as an appetizer). My wife's chicken was amazing and my crabcakes were the best I've ever had. And the desserts -- bread budding and the chocolate pot de creme with the salty black cookies really topped off the whole meal. Total taste adventure...can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Jen A.

    An absolutely charming little bistro tucked away in a nondescript space in Queen Anne. I came here for lunch with my mom and sister and had the Croque Monsieur which was excellent (burned my mouth because it was so good and I couldn't wait for it to cool down). Portions were just the right size, service was great, atmosphere is like some unassuming place you'd take a date when you don't want to seem like you're impressing them too hard but is knock your socks off awesome. I'd love to try this place out for dinner.

    (5)

  • Adrienne S.

    We came to Boat Street Cafe for a birthday dinner on a weeknight. We stayed at the bar enjoying some of the appetizers (oysters, radish and butter) and half off wines, until the rest of our group joined us. We all ordered a three course meal, each of us ordered something different. I recommend the crab cakes! The decor of this place is beautiful and the service is friendly. Great casual/semi formal restaurant in the downtown area.

    (4)

  • Andrew C.

    Yet again, The Boat Street Cafe delivers. Open-faced sandwhich was fantastic. Totally great.

    (5)

  • Becky A.

    My coworkers and I decided to go here for lunch. Big mistake if you are going on a lunch hour. We waited 30 minutes to be seated, even though there were plenty of open tables. When I asked if we could sit in the back they said it was for over flow seating, and that their kitchen was behind so they wanted to give them time to catch up. They then proceeded to seat 3 parties of 2 ahead of us, which is more than our party of 5. Seems to me if the kitchen needed to catch up the 3 parties of 2 should not have been seated either. They finally seated us, in the back room where I had asked to be seated originally. The food was mediocre and took another 30 minutes for us to get it. My roasted pork sandwich was cold and very small for the price. we will not be going there again.

    (1)

  • Steve B.

    Went here for Sunday brunch. Arrived when it opened and within 10 minutes they already had a waiting list. The food wwas fresh and delicious. Portions were small but ample. The biscuit with honey butter was absolutely devine. A tad bit pricey but not so much so that it would keep me away.

    (4)

  • Kristina B.

    Simply delicious. Classic French influences on northwestern dishes. The restaurant feels like you are in somebody's kitchen with wood floors, wooden tables and no frills decorations. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. I came here with my boyfriend last night and intended to participate in their restaurant week menu. Of course we were given the restaurant week menu and the regular menu. Some of the choices on the regular menu just sounded so good that we ended up just going for it. I ordered the crab cakes and he ordered the spotted prawns. Both dishes were amazing. THe crab cakes were all crab and not filled with breading and other replacements. They were placed atop some sort of apple like sauce that complimented them nicely. The prawns were a finger food of sorts but so worth the mess. They were also stuffed with some roe, something I thought would be gross but added so much to the flavor and texture of the dish that I wouldn't have it any other way. We finished with their bread pudding. Now I love bread pudding, but I have never had dreams about it. This bread pudding was so delicious that it entered my dream last night and I woke up knowing I had to write a yelp review. This place is a hidden gem and we will definitely be back for more.

    (5)

  • S B.

    Great staff...very attentive. Great place for a casual lunch.

    (4)

  • Alexis X.

    French inspired dishes in a casual and comfortable setting in Belltown. Food is good, but a bit overpriced.

    (3)

  • SR H.

    we got there right when it opened and called ahead of time to reserve, earliest time was 10:45am. when we got there, it took about 10 minutes before someone noticed us and seated us. my cousin was visiting from out of town and we had a tour to attend at 12pm, so we asked that our order be brought out first. the food finally came at 11:55am, an hour after we sat down, waaaaay too late for us to enjoy it and make the tour. we scarfed it down and then left. the service was a bit annoyed that i kept asking about the status of our order, though one of the servers did come over and try to explain how short-staffed they were in the kitchen and offered us free dessert, which was a nice gesture. in terms of food. the honey biscuits were amazing, stopped us dead in our tracks. my cousin's oeufs plat was just ok (as she put it, just ham and eggs in a ramekin), my chevre benedict had a bit too much rosemary in it and i prefer my benedicts on a proper english muffin, not a baguette. overall, nice atmosphere...it was tainted by the fact that we were rushed, but that was partly our fault b/c sunday brunch should be a leisurely affair.

    (3)

  • Karin B.

    I have eaten here twice and absolutely loved it both times. From the tucked away location to the simple but unique decor to the innovative and delicious menu. I agree with an earlier post about the amaretto bread pudding--it is simply divine. The service is reasonably paced and friendly and I would probably eat there all the time if I lived in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Cory M.

    It's been a year or two since I've been to Boat Street, and I finally went back last night. As usual, the food was delicious, and the setting was delightful. I did find it annoying to see "NO SUBSTITUTIONS" in bold letters on the menu -- if I happen to dislike a certain tapenade that comes with my $24 entree, for example, I expect a little flexibility and creativity from the kitchen. Also, our server seemed "ambivalent" about just about everything -- a little food/drink-related inspiration would have gone a long way.

    (3)

  • Jim A.

    It's been a couple weeks since I've eaten here so my memory of the food is a little sketchy. I started with a patatoe leak soup which was awesome and ended with the pork which was pretty good. The food would be worth a return trip. I wasn't too impressed with our server but our busser made up for the lack of attention we got from the server. I think the jury is still out on this place for me. I'll have to give it another shot. I bet with a great server, this would quickly become one of my favorites.

    (3)

  • Maria N.

    A great place for a date but a little too slow during lunch time. They have a great selection of wines and different lunch specials. The food is always great and I hear they have cooking classes. A must-eat in Seattle for sure.

    (4)

  • rob a.

    I was excited to try this cute little place tucked away in the Northwest Lofts. I got there for lunch at around 1:00 and the place was full. I waited behind four folks who were obviosly in front of me as waiters and others were scurrying around. No really good spot to wait so I stood until a couple of tables broke. I was a bit surprised no one welcomed me to the place but thats ok. Service was good although the meal did take a bit too long to arrive. I had the roasted chicken and sourkraut. Very good and simply prepared. No sauces here and that was a good thing. My guest had the grilled cheese and carmalized onion sammy. It was yummy. I wish there would have been some bread to go along with my chicken. A bit pricey. All in $28.00 and that was with no drinks. Throw in a 5 for a tip and I ws out of there for $33. Will I be back? I think probably so....

    (4)

  • Lara S.

    If you're looking for a tasty, non-greasy, clean and cozy dining experience at lunch time, the Boat Street Kitchen is the place to go! We get so used to food being "fast", it's nice to be able to find a place that makes their lunches with fresh ingredients, taking a little more time to prepare one of the most tasty lunch experiences you'll ever have. I recommend the Leek Tarte and the Goat Cheese Cheesecake! TO DIE FOR!

    (4)

  • Yvonne C.

    I came here with seven of my friends. I left full, tastes buds pleased, but wallet unhappy. Why? Well, the food is delicious and there is no argument there, but for one order of eggs benedict (with no sides, just the muffins, eggs, and sauce), it cost me $12, not including tip and tax. Seriously? I know people need to run a business, but... I'm a grad student, and I can't afford prices like that for that piddly amount of food. Someday, when I have money and want a treat, I'll be back.

    (3)

  • Mei-I F.

    Love this place! It is a hidden gem in the city. So freakin' cute! The 5 stars is for dinner. It was fantastic! The highlight of the night was the sauteed date appetizer. Three ingredients: dates, olive oil and chunky sea salt. To. die. for. The pork chop was damn good too. Brunch gets 3 1/2 stars. It was good but nothing like dinner. My baked egg dish was not very flavorful and the side of sausage was just okay. It took 45 minutes to get our food, however, it was Father's Day, so the place was really busy. Dinner all the way!

    (5)

  • Steve C.

    Six stars for this place. I had a delicious hunk o pork and a smoked trout salad. It is exactly the homey, delicious, country French that you are hoping for. The service is terrific, too. Friendly, gracious, knowledgeable. Our reservation was for a big group of 14 that mysteriously turned into a humongous group of 30. The staff handled that little surprise with poise and grace. The service was as good as if we had been a table for 2. Bravo. Oh, and the prices are very reasonable, too. I'm looking for excuses to travel back to Seattle.

    (5)

  • sean o.

    amazing. clean and cozy setting and perfectly done brunch. we'll be back soon. i had the chevre benedict - a perfectly poached egg over an artichoke heart and tasty baguette bread (not the standard supermarket english muffin).

    (5)

  • nausicaa i.

    simple and good. a bit on the fancy side. biscuit is big enough for two people, which the server kindly suggested us to order one instead of two.

    (4)

  • Ms G.

    A superb experience. Discovered this place by accident while walking up to lower Queen Anne for some pedestrian Chinese food. It's a bit pricey for lunch, but worth every Euro. The food is fantabulous. I had their homemade chicken liver pate' with salad, it was as good, or better than any I've ever had, and very stylishly presented. Service was quick and attentive, but not annoying. The French red wine, mediocre at best, at 7 bucks for a not-so-generous pour, was not really worth it. For the overall time out, and the great quality of the food, I will definitely return and recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Bruce L.

    Overpriced, but good food. Portion sizes are more French than American. Sometimes you can be unattended to, usually because of the lunch rush. Probably the best option in the near vicinity in terms of edible food, but again, on the pricier side for what it is (baguette sandwiches). I go there once in awhile to sit or take out. They have most of their sandwiches pre-made and ready to go, which is helpful if you're in a rush.

    (3)

  • Aimee H.

    What a great little treasure hidden in Belltown. I wasn't sure what to expect as I walked down the entrance into this work loft building but was extremely pleased with my first visit. Yummy food and such a cute place! As a goat cheese fan, I was excited to see several items on their brunch menu to have it in the recipe. I will definitely be back to try dinner!

    (5)

  • Denis G.

    Odd location but great atmosphere once inside. French bread straight from the oven was nice start. Fresh oysters, nice salad. Halibut with artichokes was outstanding though the pork belly was overcooked - too dry. The real reason to come here, though, is dessert - the amaretto bread pudding is still one of the top 3 desserts in Seattle.

    (4)

  • michele m.

    I believe this is the best lunch place in seattle. i have tried a good percentage of items on the changing lunch menu. best thing is the oyster po'boy. yes, i know, that doesn't sound like it could be exquisite and yet it is, i think, the best sandwich in seattle. i think it's the best sandwich i've ever had. it is a gourmet version and just so, so sublime. i also love how they open early for lunch which makes it easy for me to go over early, get in a meal, go get a massage at Ananda Spa or whatever else i want to do in the city. other good lunch things (and it does matter what you order) are the mac and cheese, one of the best i've ever had and probably 2000 calories, the quiche or tarts are always great, the kale gratin with sausage, the panna cotta. i think the decor and service are consistently very very nice. they are good with details like the fresh brewed iced tea. i had brunch once and i had the eggs benedict and it didn't knock me out but eggs benedict in a restaurant has never knocked me out. i can make it so much better at home. i had dinner once and it didn't knock me out either. but for lunch, it is tops. that it is a step away from the best massages in seattle is a gift from god. one thing i did not like for lunch was the sandwich with dijon, tomato and bacon, i think. it was too mustardy. update: I tried the sausage sandwich today for the first time. omg, it was art for the palate. thank you Boat St.

    (5)

  • Anne K.

    Not only does this place have fantastic food and a very cool (although a little loud) ambiance, but their staff is truly wonderful. I had dinner their last week with my family, including my four month old son, after flying in from Sacramento. They were so accomodating, giving me a special place to change him and feed him. I felt as though I was in their home, enjoying a beautiful meal with friends. Pate, trout and rice pudding were my choices and I give the kitchen a huge Bravo!

    (5)

  • Sara N.

    This is one of my favorite places. I love the ambience and the food has always been solid. the pork belly is to die for, and last night I had the poached salmon which was probably the most tender fish I have ever had. they even had to cook it further due to my pregnant state, and it still was incredibly tender and delicious. AND, you have to have the bread pudding..also to die for. I am making it my quest to recreate this dessert. very excellent!

    (4)

  • Adrian G.

    Ho Hum. What's all the fuss about? The food is average. The restaurant is terrible. We got there at 8pm for an 8:30pm dinner for two. We walked in and stood at the front door for a while. The greeter's table is in the center of the restaurant. So we walked over and she said to take a seat at the bar. So we did. 15 minutes later someone brought us a menu. They had at least 5 staff members all of which were behind the bar at some stage of the 15 minutes. another 10 minutes later we ordered a drink. I noticed the whole time a 4 top was open. Then another 10 minutes later we were seated, at the 4 top. No problem but lots of staff and no-one really paying attention. 20 minutes later our server said no one told her we had been seated. It's not really large restaurant, I can't see how we were overlooked. Poor excuse and not off to a good start. The food was ok, flavors were good. The lamb's tongue was a delight. The main steak was just that, steak on a plate, brown steak, brown paste, one potato cut in half. Wow presentation was horrible but well cooked steak. The salmon was overcooked. Here's my gripe, there was a 8 top sitting next to us, one guy at the head of the table was obviously drunk beyond his limits. He was yelling at the people on his table. Yelling, slamming the table with his fist and tapping his glass and making ridiculous speeches that made no sense. While most of his table sat there in embarrassment not sure of what to do. It was obvious that all the tables around him were annoyed yet the staff made no effort to speak to him. This behavior grew increasingly erratic of the course of our meal and most people left in disgust. If this was my restaurant you would have been asked to pay your bill and leave. One loud and obnoxious 8 top making all the other tables uncomfortable is not ok no matter how big their tab is. Responsible service of alcohol is also important. The waiter did bring the obnoxious asshole his bill while he was eating his desert (a major FU in the restaurant business is to be presented the bill while you have a mouth full of food) but this guy was way too wasted to pick up on the subtle hint. I'll never go back just because the staff seemed indifferent and unable to deal with a difficult situation and the restaurant is loud and poorly designed. There's no sound dampening anywhere. Thanks for ruining our (and everybody else's) meal asshole.

    (1)

  • Jen C.

    Delicious food and very nice low key atmosphere. Little difficult to find but well worth the search. Excellent service. I'm not a bread pudding fan but wow they are in a whole different league with this dessert.

    (4)

  • Frank G.

    I had brunch there and it was fantastic. The staff was super friendly to my girlfriend and I. They also gave my dog who sat outside lots of love. I had the steak and eggs and was very pleased.

    (5)

  • judy n.

    note: orginal posted feb. 2007 in my personal blog. valentine's day ain't nothing to me except an excuse to dine out. this year, we decided to try out boat street again for the first time. say what? see, boat street is about 100 yards from the habitrail that is scott's office. it's where all the executives go. it's also where scott takes his "interviewees" to lunch. it's also where he eats lunch when he works on the weekend, as a treat to himself. in fact, i've met him for lunch there 2 times myself. (i've had their poached chicken w/smoked mozzarella sandwich & their mac & cheese; their clafoutis kicks some serious ass). if you couldn't guess, scott really likes this place. so, this in mind, we really wanted to try their dinner menu. alas, we weren't able to get reservations for the "cafe" but were able to get a table for the "kitchen" (i had no idea they were separate places since they are basically 2 different rooms in the same basement-level space in a work-loft building). i was a little disappointed because the cafe's valentine's menu had a lot of nice choices while the kitchen menu was set. still, it was a lot cheaper & the options sounded pretty good. appetizer: seafood quenelle w/2 types of fish roe: very delicate & tender with little bursts of briny goodness. the sauce was very smooth & buttery but could have benefitted from being warmer. salad: bibb lettuce w/organic chicken liver pate & pickled prunes: never had chicken liver in any form before nor did picked prunes sound like a good idea but actually, both were quite good. the pate was very smooth & creamy & rich & the pickled prunes were chewy & herby & spicy. all the flavors worked really well together. entree: spring lamb, zucchini, lemon ricotta ravioli w/butter & herbs: i'm not a huge fan of lamb (usually tastes like sweat to me) but i was game. lamb is one of those meats that can be really good or really bad, depending on the freshness, preparation but mainly quality. this here was some fine quality lamb. juicy, lean yet very tender, a pure meat flavor enlivened with the slightest savory tanginess. the zucchini were prepared like mashed pototes, which was really kind of weird. i didn't care for the mushy texture but the flavor was quite nice. as for those ravioli (which looked a hell of a lot like tortellini to me), they were divine. i would order just those for dinner & they don't even have MEAT in them, that's how good they were. the thinnest of pastas, perfectly al dente with a pungeant, fresh lemon flavor, they really complimented the meat. cheese course: french double cream, french creamy goat, & california aged gouda, w/honey: ne huge benefit of eating at the kitchen was that you get a cheese course AND a dessert which rocks the heezy because i always want both. now, usually, the double cream will always be my favorite on a cheese plate but in this case, not so much. not that the double cream wasn't dreamy, it's just that the other 2 cheeses were also excellent. while i don't normally care for goat cheese, this frenchy one was creamy & tangy & much more complex than other goat cheeses i've had. likewise, the aged california gouda was unlike any other gouda i've ever had. it had the texture of a good cured italian cheese (romano or parmesan) with a nutty roundness. i ate the shit out of that cheese. dessert: profiterole filled w/coffee ice cream, drizzled w/dark chocolate or caramel: this was the course i was most leery of because i've never been a big fan of profiteroles. they've always seemed eggy & tough to me & i usually feel cheated because it never tastes like a Dessert. in this case, the pastry was almost crunchy (pleasantly so) & didn't taste at all of eggs. still, it was the sauces that made it. while you're supposed to choose between the sauces, our server (who was charming) brought us one of each, having witnessed our dilemma when were ordering. nice! they were both thick & rich & the coffee ice cream (sitting on a little mattress of whipped cream) was more like espresso ice cream, preventing the whole thing from becoming too sweet. very nice. not nearly as good as their outstanding clafoutis du jour but still good. in fact, the whole dinner was so well done, i was surprised to find that their dinners are actually better than their lunches. it's also got this casual, neighborhood, french bistro vibe going on, which i really dig. i think this place is going to be one of our new regulars.

    (5)

  • Roy M.

    Lovely. Delicious and inventive but straightforward food. A warm and charming interior. A simultaneously convenient yet out of the way location. And friendly and professional service. What could be better.

    (5)

  • Joseph O.

    Let me start by saying that the actual food served saved this rating for me. First, a 5-10 minute wait ended up being almost a 30 minute wait for Sunday brunch. Wouldn't have been a huge deal except that they did seat a person in the back who was a "regular" while we had been waiting for almost 20 minutes at that point. The back was supposed to be for large parties and/or overflow, although I also spotted a table of two back there as well (in addition to the single person). For the food, I ordered the eggs benedict with salmon and my wife ordered the croque monsiuer. My dish was $15 and the the sandwich was $12. The portions were very small and, for some reason, they put a small side salad on the plate. The reason was obviously to fill the plate since the portions were so small. The rating would have been higher if they had actually put a side on the plate. For $27 worth of food, I definitely expected more. We were told the food would be out soon, so we held off on ordering pre-meal bread (which was $4 by the way!). I wanted to try the biscuit but they were out of it for the day (we were seated at about 12:50). My eggs benedict with hollandaise was very good, and the croque was pretty good as well. Had the chocolate bread pudding for dessert and it, too, was very good. Again, the food was very good, but the portions were small compared to other brunch places in the city. The service was slow, but the staff was generally very nice and accomodating. They did apologize several times for our extended wait time, which definitely made up for it. Lastly, there is really nothing on the menu for smaller kids except maybe for a scrambled egg dish (which is like $12) and/or the croque. Hard to blame them for that, they just are not very "young kid friendly." Also, I've read reviews saying this place is great for brunch. I disagree. Besides a few small egg dishes (benedict and scramble), there wasn't much else. A guy at a close table ordered the open sandwich which had french bread with tomato, lettuce, and bacon. It looked okay but not something that would inspire me to really wanna come back to try it. I usually love to see pancakes, waffles, omelettes, sausage, french toast (etc.) on a"brunch menu." I guess they are trying to be more French inspired? Again, I've spent plenty of time in Paris and this place is nowhere close if that is what they are going for. Bottom line, the food is very good but overpriced. There are a ton of brunch places in the city that beat this place hands down in my opinion. Oh ya, they also charged me for a refill on diet soda without any indication that it was extra. Seems refills should be free for such a pricey brunch place.

    (3)

  • dee v.

    venture into a hole in the ground and there you will find a small hidden eatery. white walled, very plain jane, with big windows, that have no view. dinner time and it was "if you don't have reservations, we don't take kindly to your kind around these parts." the food was boring, and actually it is the first time that there was NO taste to the steak. like eating cellulose, air, a rice cake, bland. the menu list a lot of pickled items, but the items varied from sweet pickle to vinegar. not much fun to good from mmmm! to gagggg. the claim to fame was the bread pudding which was bread with hot tapioca poured on top. over all with all the good places to eat in this town i think the only reason this one is able to stay around is that there re few places to eat in that neighborhood. and i also wonder why seattle magazine said it was good? they must have gotten paid. should have listen to the urban spoon they said it sucked

    (2)

  • John S.

    Cafe/Kitchen, a little confusing for a simpleton like me so I'm going to treat it all as one. The location is a little odd, hidden down in the worklofts building in a space that was the original Downtown Dog Lounge (kept envisioning some little yappy dog to come skidding around the corner, drop a little nugget in the middle of the floor, and go running off again yap-yap-yap, but obviously that never happened other than in my imagination). But aside from all of that, the space is really nice and comfortable. I had brunch there but would like to check it out for the dinner ambiance some time. They also do cooking classes for a very reasonable price that include snacks, wine and dinner - sounds like a good time! The brunch was incredible; the rustic cornmeal custard cake was amazing, spicy sausage link was awesome and they serve really good coffee (in BIG mugs so you gulp it, not sip it).

    (4)

  • Laurel B.

    The earlier location (on Boat Street) just killed me. I still decorate my Christmas branches like they did, oh, several years ago. And in the style we have of copying favorite restaurant dishes, poulet pruneau figures in our occasional meal in San Francisco. So when they lost their lease? I was devastated. But the reincarnation, while not quite so amazing a spot from the outside, manages to recreate that architectural, almost shabby chic (but not shabby, just chic) feel. And the food's terrific. It also has space for private parties here. Next time I want to have a dinner party in Seattle, I will have it here. Lots of heart at this restaurant.

    (5)

  • YumYum Y.

    good apps and entrees. nice space. waitress was a bit aloof, but okay. we've all had bad days right? couple next to us was so in love. did they just meet or marry 20 years ago? tough to tell, but they adored each other. then the dessert. pear ice cream with a hair hiding behind the cookie. the dispassionate waitress offered no compensation for such a show stopper just the check. boo, boat street. boo. HISS.

    (2)

  • Alina M.

    This place is a little bit hard to find, but once you walk through the door you enter a friendly and comfortable establishment. The Boat Street eggs benedict with sharp cheddar, tomato, and hollandaise were excellent, as were the mimosas. Great place for a quiet lunch.

    (4)

  • Marta T.

    I've only been for lunch at the current location (I used to go for brunch often at the cafe when it actually was on boat street). The ambiance is great, it's like a quaint European Bistro. The sandwiches, soup, and salads never fail to delight. Lunch is crowded, but worth braving.

    (4)

  • Blake D.

    Coworkers and I made the trek from the Pike Place'ish are to this wonderful Cafe and it was definitely worth it. The roasted Turkey baguette with field greens was delicious and instead of tacking on the Tomato soup, I ended up having amaretto bread pudding. I can't wait to make it back for dinner.

    (5)

  • Henry y.

    I've been wanting to go to Boat Street for a while and recently decided to go for dinner. I was not dissapointed, the decor was beautiful and they serve French Cuisine. The design is french country, most everything is white washed and had a very warm and charming atmosphere. Lighting gave the perfect warm glow to the walls. Our service was great, it was a bit pricy for dinner, but well worth it. I had this roasted chicken where I almost wanted to lick the plate clean, my wife and friend had steak and lamb that was equally great. I would definitely go again, would be perfect for a romantic dinner or a place to take people that love food.

    (5)

  • Jenna l.

    I first went to Boat Street for dinner about one year ago. My impression was that it wasn't bad, but just not so good that I wanted to return. The umbrella chandelier also threw me off for some reason. Then a woman insisted that I try Boat Street again for their brunch, which I figured was worth giving a try seeing as I held no grudge against them. This time we sat in a different room with out the umbrellas. It had calming white walls, high ceilings, and set the perfect mood for a soothing brunch experience. We ordered a lovely french press to split, allowing us to leisurely enjoy the food. The chicken salad my parter had was so wonderful I wished it could be recreated back at my home. I had one of the eggs benedict choices, but can't remember which one. The portions looked small for the price, but I honestly couldn't have eaten any more. Judging by everyone's generous stars, I'll have to think about going back there again and about re-writing this review.

    (4)

  • David S.

    Amazing crabcakes....nothing else to say because they say it all!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    I love the boat street for the design, ambiance and the food! It is perfect for a romantic dinner or with a big bunch of friends. The service is excellent, everyone is always super nice and very knowledgeable about the menu. I recommend it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

    (5)

  • herf j.

    I went here for bunch this Sunday (they closed at 2:30 and we snuck in at 2:15). It was just a quick brunch for us as we walked in just before closing. Everything was perfect. The service was friendly, informative and properly paced ; the decor was simple, nice and clean; and the food was delicious. I had the eggs Benedict on baguette with tomato and Hollandaise and my better half had the leek tart with a nice salad. We also had a terrific glass of wine and dropped $40 total (pre-tip). We'll definitely be back to try their regular lunch and dinner.

    (5)

  • tonya h.

    Love this place! Love the professional service, love the menu and love the experience. We will be back even though I did set a rule not to go to places twice until my "restaurants-to-try" list is shorter....I will break my own rule for Boat Street Cafe!

    (4)

  • Miami S.

    Terrific seafood choices. We loved the crisp French wines and oysters. Their salads and clams were very tasty. We really appreciate our friends recommendation on going to this lovely culinary hide out. When we get more time to dine we will definately return.l Loved the big fall harvest of squash in the court yard...the food was all excellent. We will surely be go back and try the mussels...

    (5)

  • Cori R.

    Totally charming! I love the new little bar, it is just the right amount of sophistication and comfort. The food from the Boat Street Kitchen is also totally pro. These women are Seattle visionaries. I will be going back again for sure!

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    We went here for our 3rd wedding anniversary in June, and were very impressed. We brought our own special bottle of champagne, which they opened for a corkage fee, and stuffed ourselves on appetizers and the main course, combined with the irresistable bread basket and olives. I'd suggest one of our appetizers as a dessert: the roasted dates with sea salt and extra virgin olive oil tasted like rich sea-salt caramels. My wife is a crab-cake connoisseur, and she quite enjoyed their version. I had the salmon, which was also excellent. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed. Parking could be a trick on a busy night, so try to get there a bit early.

    (4)

  • Erin W.

    I used to work near Queen Anne and the Boat Street Cafe was my favorite lunch hideaway. I usually ordered the chicken sandwich with smoked mozzarella, basil, and lemon pepper mayonnaise. Heaven on bread. But you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. Love the rustic-chic bistro setting, amazingly delicious and fresh food, the thoughtful menu, and the great service. The restaurant is a bit tricky to find but it's oh-so worth it.

    (5)

  • Mips P.

    I enjoyed another good dinner at Boat Street last Friday, and finally decided to pull the trigger and write a review. This place is consistently solid on the overall experience. Good menu and great atmosphere (inside and out). It works for date night or meeting up with friends. Not exactly cheap-eats, but definitely worth the price, and worth having on the 'special occasion' list.

    (5)

  • Tony M.

    This place has a lot of nerve. Boat Street was talked up by all of my Seattle friends, so we went one night. The room is okay, but the truth is, you feel like you're in a converted basement. The food was way overpriced and pretty ordinary. Appetizers were tiny for what they were charging. We ordered quite a few to share amongst the table and each appetizer can really only feed one person, maybe two. They are bite size. For my main dish I asked the waitress how the pork shoulder was. She looked at me with a blank, stupid expression. After 5 seconds of silence, I just went ahead and ordered it. Big mistake. When it came, it had no sides, and literally 1/3rd of it was fat. It was disgusting. How the chef had the nerve to send it out of the kitchen was beyond me. They brought me something else that was actually good, but by this time, I didn't care. I just wanted to leave. The service is just horrible. The servers there were so amateur. Also for a table of ten, they brought two very small loaves of bread. Basically everyone got one piece. It should be renamed Boat Suck Cafe.

    (1)

  • Brent M.

    I actually forgot that they moved! It has been that long since I had been here, sadly. After much figuring about where we should eat our Easter Brunch we decided that the Boat Street was it but we wer sure there would be no way we would get a seat with out a reservation. Gladly we were wrong. Everything on the Special Easter menu sounded wonderful but with only 3 of us, we couldn't have all of them so we chose the Duck Confit, the wild mushroom crepe and the halibut with basil sauce. All of the dishes were perfect and served by Ryan our server who was an absolute GEM! He treated us like we were the only ones he had to serve that day. We will be back again very soon. I promise not to stay away long enough for you to move again. PS, The scones are always amazing!

    (5)

  • Stuart Y.

    after having a pretty bad experience here the first time around. i decided to give BSC another shot. this time around things were much better. the service was prompt and polite, and we didn't have to wait very long for the food to arrive. i ordered the open faced sandwich which is bacon, tomato, sharp cheddar, and dijon on a baguette. this sandwich is excellent. nothing flashy or showy, just a straight up sandwich that speaks for itself. my wife had the corn custard thing which she liked a lot, but i found to be a little too sweet. but i'm not to big on sweet stuff. all said boat street is a decent place with decent food.

    (4)

  • Jacob M.

    The place was a little tricky to find. It is located at the intersection of Queen Anne Avenue and Western Avenue but we eventually found it. The atmosphere was very chic,calming with candles lit during dinner hours, and with a sweet touch of french decor. We started off with the delicious sweet dates with a hint of salt (fleur de sel=sea salt) which came in seven to a platter-more than enough for two :) Then we had the crab cakes which also had a sweet but tangy sauce; otherwise it was unusual but indulging to the taste. These crab cakes were non-traditional; made mostly of crab meat and was lenient on the bread crumb crust. While we ate our appetizer and first dish our second dish of a spinach and cheese flan came 40min later (it is supposed to be given 40min for best cooking results). And for the finale and the main thing which led us to the discovery of this awesome restaurant....we had the bread pudding! It was the best bread pudding we've ever tasted. It was soaked in a milky sauce which had a bit of liquor. Overall, the restaurant had great service, they servers were friendly, the atmosphere was perfect for a romantic dinner and the food was all worth it!

    (4)

  • Richard Y.

    good sandwiches and salad, but it can get busy during the lunch hour rush. on sunny days, best to get it to go and sit on the waterfront.

    (4)

  • Julia C.

    delightful. it always amazes me when a restaurant can make melted cheese taste different and decadent, but they managed. also, their hollondaise is practically perfect. the only disappointing aspect of our brunch were the small portions, a potato on the side would be a nice addition. otherwise, totally satisfying and completely delicious.

    (4)

  • Brooke Y.

    My new favorite restaurant in Seattle. Went here for dinner with a friend, and was captivated the moment I walked through the door. Such a lovely, lovely place on such a lovely evening. The atmosphere is so perfect that they could be serving waffles and I would probably still love it. Luckily, the food matches the surroundings and is divine. Fleur de sel on every table, naturellement, short but precise wine list. They don't just bring bread, they bring the most perfect baguette made in Seattle- slightly warm, crusty and perfectly chewy- c'est bon! And it is served with both olive oil and French butter (add that fleur de sel and you have magic, baby). I usually skip the bread in restaurants but I am going back JUST for that bread. For a starter I had sliced tomatoes with vanilla fleur de sel... I almost died of happiness. I could barely speak to my companion the food was so good and I was so giddy. For dinner I had the pouisson with roasted chanterelles and garlic and I am telling you I have NEVER tasted mushrooms like these. Never people! My husband and friends are tired of hearing about the mushrooms but they were so outrageous I will never get over it. Let me finish by saying that I have not been as excited about a meal as I have about this one in a very long time, if ever. Everything was perfect- I highly recommend Boat Street for a special dinner with someone.

    (5)

  • Amber M.

    Now usually I wont write a review unless I really dislike a place, I like the idea of letting really good places spread by word of mouth so they don't lose their charm, and well the bad places... people should be warned! My boyfriend and I went here before an "after the holidays" work party, and needed a place close to the space needle to grab a bite. We had never been here or even heard of this place, but being from France the BF was excited to find a new french place for us to try, and I love pickles, so I was sold. It seems a bit hard to find, nestled in between all sorts of towers and the seattle times building among others, and if you're using a GPS be prepared for a confusing arrival. The parking seemed, shady... We didn't want to park in the hidden pay parking across the street because it was almost invisible from the street and looked like a prime place for break ins, so we ended up after a very confusing turn around, parking behind the restaurant and walking past some dumpsters to get in, but really it seemed best to park on the street given the other options. Boat Street Cafe was wonderful! As soon as we walked up it looked nice, and once inside I was totally charmed by the great dog photos and art work (The very cute dog over the fire place is a portrait of the owners dog!) and paper umbrella light fixtures. We had called ahead and made reservations, that we were a bit late for due to parking issues, but they sat us right away. My only real critique was a lot of the seating was literally RIGHT next to things, like our table was literally butted up against a table for wine storage, one bad elbow and we would have several hundreds of dollars of wine on the floor. I'm by no means a "foodie" so I was put off a bit by the seemingly strange parings of foods on the menu and went for something that seemed a bit "safer" than the others just to see how well they pulled it off. I had the roasted lake trout with lentils, pistachios, some sort of white stuff... lol, and some pickled onions. It was DELICIOUS! Now, my fish was in it's skin and did have bones... that being said, it was at least headless! It wasn't fishy or mushy , it was really tasty and was even better with the sides. My boyfriend ordered octopus for an appetizer, which I didn't try... although he said was also quite tasty and cooked well. His meal was a pork sausage crepette (I'm not sure on the spelling) It was also very delicious! All the flavors were so different but blended so well, it's obvious they have a very talented, passionate chef who isn't intimidated by food and it's really paid off in great combinations of flavors and textures. Our drinks we're amazing and light they went well with the food. The bread pudding, yes it gets its own paragraph. Delicious. I read one review where she had never had bread pudding in a bowl or with cream... This is a FRENCH restaurant and if you don't want cream on your food, don't eat french! It was scrumptious as well, and I don't even like bread pudding! The bowl was dangerously hot but the help was very clear about it and we managed to devour it with out any burns. Really overall, it's a great little place with a nice relaxed atmosphere that doesn't sacrifice it's food quality for it's more casual appeal. The food is made right, it's interesting and filling. If you're looking for giant american portions made with sub-par indigents to make it a "value" move on... If you don't like trying new things and unusual tastes, move on, you're not going to get a burger with fries and ketchup. All the negative reviews of this place clearly came from people with a very narrow minded view of how food HAS to be, like if it's served in a bowl, or not a portion large enough to actually be for 3 people it's not good.

    (5)

  • Kris R.

    Had the boat street salmon eggs benedict, with the bread pudding for dessert. I think $4 for OJ is a bit steep, but the rest was great!

    (4)

  • Matthew W.

    Perfectly poached eggs! I also am a big fan of how you get a salad with breakfast instead of a huge pile of potatoes. I wish I could eat breakfast here everyday. Actually, strike that. I would not like to eat here after a night of drinking. The portion size and aforementioned lack of booze soaking potatoes wouldn't do the job. So I would eat here most days, and BlueStar after drinking!

    (4)

  • Rebecca d.

    This restaurant is superb. The food, wait staff, presentation and ambiance are all terrific. We were a party of 6, all ordering something different from the lunch menu, and each of us had a great meal and very enjoyable experience. Go there.

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    Great place to have brunch and catch up with friends. Amazing menu selection!

    (4)

  • Marcos R.

    Excellent brunch and lunch. Wonderful salads and creative egg dishes. Gotta try it.

    (4)

  • Ingrid L.

    I really wanted to like this place, and when I walked in, I was sure I would. The decor is lovely, and has all sorts of little touches that make it seem like a perfect, relaxing place for brunch. Somehow though, the experience doesn't translate, and the service felt cold and insincere. Our waitress, while never rude, made our group of 7 feel like we were inconveniencing her. Also, when I tried to make a reservation, I was told our desired time wasn't available and that they could do one hour later. I didn't have a problem with that, except when we showed up 20 mins early, literally the entire back half of the restaurant (where we were seated) was empty... Our food was all fine, though nothing spectacular, and the portions were tiny! The eggs benedicts all came on small pieces of baguette with a small bit of salad and a couple pieces of fruit. The custard cake was a tiny slice with 2 pieces of banana and a small sausage. If the prices were a bit lower, I might come back, but as it is, I don't think it's worth it.

    (3)

  • Roger W.

    Wow, people are really missing out because they're in such a secluded place that no one really knows how good Boat Street is. Thankfully, I work nearby and have had the pleasure of eating at Boat St. for both Breakfast and Lunch. The location is quaint and shielded from the hustle and bustle of Western Ave. Service is friendly and not overbearing and although it may seem a bit fancy, the prices are suprisingly affordable for the quality and deliciousness of the food they serve. For breakfast, I adore the custard cakes (better than packages they claim... and they are RIGHT!) Also, the french pressed coffee ($7.50) is delectable and is the only coffee I've had so far that I can drink black with a single sugar cube. For lunch, the sandiches are hot and fresh and nothing beats a dessert from their skilled kitchen staff. I can't wait to go back and try their dinner!

    (5)

  • AM S.

    My boyfriend and I took my mom here for her 60th birthday. We're new in town, but I'd seen this place mentioned in Molly Wizenberg's delightful memoir. The experience was just about perfect, from our lovely server (so on it) to the entrees -- all excellent (the halibut my mom ordered was among the best fish dishes I've had at a restaurant). My man and I will definitely be back to split the mussels (only $15) with an order of bread each (so mouth-wateringly warm and chewy, and with the handful of Nicoise olives on the plate, totally worth the $2). Thanks, Boat Street, for making my mom's birthday an appropriately special night out.

    (4)

  • Ryan D.

    Been going here since it was actually on Boat Street. Always a pleasure.

    (5)

  • Nina L.

    This tucked away breakfast place is a gem. The food took me back to my travels in Europe. Everything from the eggs to the morning mimosa. Great find. Plus I managed to save space for dessert that was heavenly.

    (4)

  • Navin N.

    Went to this place for brunch and loved the experience. I had Boat Street Classic benedict which was very very good. Also try the biscuits with cream. The only thing weird was that, they just refilled my coffee mug without asking me. I usually take cream n sugar with my coffee so when they topped my half full mug it messed up all my settings :) Also, this place is little hard to find, look for the board on the street when you get to the address. Ideal for a group upto 4-5 people. But overall, loved the food. Wil definately go there again.

    (4)

  • Tazzy M.

    Okay. Good food. Though $4 for ONE biscuit is a bit steep. I was picturing something that was worth $4. Not sure what, but avoid the biscuit.

    (4)

  • BOALT HALL G.

    I know a meal is going to be good when the french bread ( baguette) is served hot. I've been wanting to try this since I arrived in Seattle and before I leave. I have absolutely no complaints. My brunch was delicious and my sever, Paul, was great. He even brought me an extra Mimosa. Also tried the bread pudding that everyone raves about-delish! I hope the next time I go, the sun will be out, so I can dine on the patio.

    (5)

  • Jen P.

    YES! This is a French Bistro done RIGHT! So far, I've been impressed with everything I've ordered there! I started off safe by ordering the Chicken Sandwich w/ Lemon Mayo (which was absolutely fantastic). Then I moved on to something a little more daring and ordered the Meatloaf...and it was surprisingly really light but filling. And the very last meal I had was the Mediterrean-style Chicken on a bed of chick peas -- it was interestingly good (if that even makes sense)! I would definitely recommend this place cuz I know you won't be disappointed! I hear that the owners opened up an Oyster Bar in Ballard. I'm really excited to try it out! Be on the look out for a review on the new Oyster Bar....

    (5)

  • Elizabeth H.

    Went here for a special occasion dinner and the food was great but the service was lacking. Drinks were good, pate was awesome, rockfish entree was a hit but the service overshadowed it all. I'll go back, just not on the weekend.

    (3)

  • Elena M.

    Stopped in for lunch one recent day with two friends and a baby. Though Boat Street is not by design a family restaurant, the staff could not have been more accommodating to my friend and his ten-month-old. They let him know they do not have high chairs, but made sure we were seated a table where his baby carrier could be placed on a chair where it was resting against a wall, so the baby was comfortable and out of harm's way. Later, our server offered my friend some strawberries -- chopped very finely, of course -- for the baby. (The jury's still out on how much the little guy enjoyed his fruity treat; he definitely seemed to consider every mouthful.) Anyhow, I thought it was cool that they made my friend know his baby was welcome. Even without this little episode, though, Boat Street would be getting four stars. This was my second time there. Both times I have gone for lunch and both times I have found the restaurant to be comfortable, the staff to be friendly, the service to be efficient and the food to be tasty. What more could you want? I definitely want to go back to check out the brunch one day soon...

    (4)

  • Bea D.

    My favorite breakfast/brunch in Seattle. The eggs benedict are decadent and perfectly sized, served on crisp baguette pieces. The coffee is always perfect, the service cordial and extremely professional. If you feel more like lunch try the meatloaf... it's amazing! Share the bread pudding for a perfect ending. After being here several times for breakfast, I must confess our one dinner experience was disappointing. Too expensive for simple food. For similar prices, I'd recommend Chez Shea instead.

    (4)

  • Dhvani P.

    Went there for dinner one night, and here are my thoughts: The Place: - Very quaint and elegant - Not on a busy street like a lot of Seattle restaurants - Quiet atmosphere - Great service The Food (dinner): OK - the bread is EXCELLENT (came out piping hot) - food is prepared very well, but lacked in flavor - some foods were paired with side items that didn't make sense together (eg. hanger steak with tapenade didn't work well together for me). - Bread pudding was EXCELLENT - I highly recommend it! - Dinner is considerably OVER priced!! Save it for a special occasion

    (3)

  • Colleen R.

    I have now eaten both dinner and breakfast at the Boat Street Cafe and I believe I can safely safe: no matter the meal, it's a win. We both ordered eggs benedict (I had the smoked salmon w/ arugula and he had the artichoke/goat cheese and added a tomato.) The eggs bene came highly recommended by the waitress- mostly due to the show stopping hollandaise - and I would second that emotion. We also ordered one buttermilk biscuit (good god! w/ honey butter melting on top of it! this is a buttermilk biscuit you would serve to your grandma who has been making them flawlessly for decades. So tasty!) and a side of bacon. (2 strips arrived w/ our food.) The biscuit is something I would suggest as it tided us over while we sat and it was just plain divine. Egg dishes come with a tasteful and hyper-euro green salad w/ a tart mustard vinaigrette and some fruit. So classy! The classiness of the place is consistent w/ the prices, wait time (everything is definitely made-to-order and takes a while...) and the inability of the waitstaff to seat us until the 'entire party' (the one other person) arrived. And there were quite a few empty tables at this point. So, come prepared to encounter EVERYTHING french- come here on a romantic date, for a celebration, w/ your out of town parents, w/ your girlfriend's parents (if you want to empress them and can afford to pick up the tab!). This place is the classic Seattle-French experience~

    (4)

  • emily r.

    I am so, so, so in love with having lunch at Boat St. Rain or shine, the room is bright, airy, happy. Love the clean, organic decor, and the European simplicity. Service is friendly in a familial way - conversational, not rushed, happy to chat about the menu or the new president or whatevs. Wine by the glass is largely French, and super unique. You might not recognize anything, but just go for it. Whoever is picking the wine is having a blast, and it shows in the amazing quality you find on the list for next-to-nothing. Tables fill up quickly, daily scones (lavender! ginger!) sell out fast, the room buzzes with the sound of diners in a comfortable place. You kind of get the feeling nobody wants to leave. Or maybe I'm projecting. It's 80% French bistro food, with 20% local influence - incorporated flawlessly. Ugh. I'm being effusive. I can't give it 5 stars because I've never been for dinner. Crazy, I know. But they have an oyster happy hour that I keep hearing about....

    (4)

  • Julianne B.

    Poached chicken sandwich on a Macarina baguette, with smoked mozzarella cheese, fresh basil (the basil plants are just outside), and lemon mayonnaise. Need I say more? Just please tell me the secret ingredient that makes it so incredibly addictive?!

    (5)

  • tarah p.

    I love love love this place - there food is so ridiculously delicious and their bread is just amazing! The only bad comment I have is their service is super slow so if you go here make sure you have plenty of time and don't have to be somewhere in a hurry. We sometime go for lunch but someone always has to leave before the bill comes to get back for a meeting - an hour never seems to be long enough. Slow service won't stop me though as I dream about their cheese plate and salad!

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    Sometimes I forget how spoiled I am living in a city like Seattle that's so laid back. Normally I can just walk into a restaurant without reservations and be seated within 15 minutes max. This, however, was not the case with Boat Street Café. A group of three friends and I tried to walk in with out reservations on a Friday night and we were totally rejected. Luckily they had seating opened at the bar and even luckier for us we decided to stay because it was truly a great dinning experience! I have nothing but the utmost respect for chiefs that can make me like foods I generally don't like. Case in point, Boat Street's pickles. I absolutely can't stand pickles. Just the thought of them makes me nauseous, but after the waitress talk them up, my friends and I decided we'd split their pickle plate as one of our appetizers. The flavors were amazing and it was the perfect balance between sour and sweet. I still don't like pickles, but if I went back, I'd order it again. The other appetizer we had was the fromage which was also very good. For my main course I had the Oregon Country Ribeye Steak. They cooked it by roasting it with Romesco, which I've never had with steak before, but the favors seemed to work. They also served it with beets and roasted potatoes. One of my friends ordered their Baby Leek Flan which he said was good, but it takes them forty-five minutes to prepare and we were sitting on bar stools so by the time we were actually served dinner, we were pretty uncomfortable. I'm gonna put that one on my friend though and not on Boat Street since they warned us it was going to take so long.

    (4)

  • Nathan T.

    Yet another French restaurant I'm giving 5 stars to...but I really think they deserve it! This is so different than many of the standard French bistros in Seattle. They are preparing seasonal dishes that are incredibly flavorful and well put together. I had the roasted chicken with apple dijon cream sauce and was blown away. The flavor combination was so good! The chicken was well prepared too with a very crunchy skin. Great pickled veggies and fruits too- a must try.

    (5)

  • Rachael B.

    If you are having a bad day the most important thing for you to do is go to the Boat Street Kitchen and order the Amaretto Bread Pudding!!! It will save your life. The perfect balance of sweet, savory, crunchy, and soft. Trust me, you will never be the same.

    (5)

  • Ddd B.

    My favorite restaurant in town. French food done right, but bring you wallet. I hope they bring the Olive Oil tasting back! I miss it!

    (5)

  • Melissa L.

    i work in the area and love coming here for lunch. i always go straight for the croque madame, so good!!! i've heard a ton of great things about cafe presse though, so i can't compare, but they do it oh so well here! the only draw back is it's a small (but super cute) place and the service in general is rather slow. i don't mind the laid back atmosphere when i'm on my own time, but it can be a time crunch when i need to hustle back to work. lunch time can get extremely full, so make sure you go early.

    (4)

  • Arni M.

    We went to Boat Street Cafe and Kitchen for brunch. First of all, we were confused because there was no maitre d' by the entrance when we got there at 10:30am, right around when the restaurant opened for brunch. There were 2 entrances, the one with a French door just in front of us as we faced the restaurant, and another glass door on our right side to the other side of the restaurant. We went to the french door entrance since we could already see the line of people waiting to be seated. There were 2 waiters roaming around but noone bothered to greet us. People waiting in front of us didn't have any idea what to do either. A lady told me that she had been waiting to be seated for 30 minutes! After observing for a couple of minutes and seeing people arriving after us got seated right away, I realized that I had to go to the side entrance and catch the host to put my name on his list. My husband asked another waitress if we could sit in the wing where we were waiting because there were lots of empty tables. She said that the whole wing was reserved for that morning, but we didn't see any reserved sign. We tried to book through their website the night before but couldn't. We called the restaurant and was told they could only take reservation for a party of 5 or more (there were only 3 of us). Thankfully, it only took another 15 minutes for us to finally be seated. We were ready to leave to another restaurant with better and more organized service at that point but decided to give it a try. My husband had the cornmeal custard cake and sausage, my daughter the crabcake and I decided to go for the steak with olive tapenade with beet salad. We thought the best was the custard cake. It was crunchy on the outside but really moist and dense in the inside. The maple syrup was thick and generous and the sausage was rich and was perfectly cooked. My daughter's crabcake and my steak salad were just so-so. She also made a comment that her dorm cafetaria made the steak with olive tapenade just like that. Based on many good reviews, we tried the bread pudding. It was good but nothing special. Coffee wasn't special either...no espresso or cappucino...just egular coffee. And when I asked if the orange juice was freshly squeezed, our waiter said yes but it actually wasn't. We felt a bit cheated. We probably won't go back. If we want something French, we'd rather go to La Cote Creperie for brunch or Voila for lunch, and would probably easily spend half of what we got charged for at Boat Street.

    (2)

  • Alexa B.

    Bread pudding is amazing!

    (5)

  • Tami S.

    The food at Boat Street Cafe is scrumptious! I literally CRAVE the poached chicken sandwich, with basil, and lemon mayo (you can even get this 'to go' if you want to pop in and try it out). The hearty tomato soup that comes with it (not available for takeout) is just as dreamy. Frankly, I rarely order anything else when I go there for lunch. This place is on the smallish side and because it's so popular, can get a little crowded -and a little hot in the summer- but it's absolutely charming with its simple decor and white linens. You do have the option to sit outside in the court yard on warmer days, but be warned that those tables are only available if you have a party fewer than 5. (That annoys me, can you tell?) You'll find people there at lunch from work, as well as nicely dressed couples on dates. Overall, this is an excellent place to have lunch, or brunch (which is absolutely fabulous as well).

    (4)

  • Emily W.

    Was my first time here, the menu on their website looked wonderful and it was right in our price range. We heard the bread pudding (boyfriends favorite) was excellent. Beautiful restaurant. I was excited to sit down and enjoy a relaxing meal and wine at the end of a long work week! I squeezed into my chair which was up against the woman behind me. The menu was not the same as online -no biggie, they still looked good - but the entree prices were about $5 more. I asked the waitress for help with a wine choice - I told her what we were looking for: more traditional Chardonnay-like whites, not light, not tart... which we thought would be easy since most of the wine list was French... we told her what we were going to order for dinner and asked for something $40 and under that might pair with the meal. (The wine list was extensive with about 25 different wines under $40.) She brought tastes of three different whites, two had the complexity of a glass of water, the other was tart like grapefruit. She awkwardly walks away to speak with their "wine person" and comes back to tell us there is only one wine on their giant list that we might like - it's $46 - and we can't taste it first. Boyfriend asks what she thought about the wines she brought us... she stumbled over her words, never answered the question, then told us we should try reds. She brings two tastes, one was warmer than room temp and very underwhelming, and the other, tart and dry. I didn't want a red anyway but I tasted them just in case she brought something decent, we would change our entree choice. By now we'd eaten the shared appetizer (figs) and most of the salad, which was snatched from our table about two lettuce leaves too soon. I was not impressed so far and found myself wanting to leave. So we left and had a wonderful dinner down at Zig Zag.

    (2)

  • Michelle S.

    Okay, the food here is delicious. Both times I've been here, the dishes I ordered were great. The cauliflower gratin was awesome! I am still dreaming about it. The sandwiches are good, but I am still not sure if it was worth the 8 dollar price tag. A lot of bread, limited filling. The location is going to be difficult if you plan on wearing heels. It is down a ramp and almost broke an ankle getting to the restaurant. The service was pleasant, they give you space and don't hover. I did have to flag them down for water and such. Things that I would figure they would anticipate, but it really wasn't an issue enough to be conerned. I am going back in the hopes that it becomes my new favourite place.

    (4)

  • Chira V.

    i am a very big fan of their brunch. the menu changes so i am not sure i have had the same thing twice. i usually sticked to an egg dish and it hits the spot. not runny or greasy eggs, just nice fluffy and light. in the summer, they set out a very few select tables in the courtyard, which is really nice. its a shame i have not been here for a sampling of their lunch or dinner. i will have to change that. as a note they will not sit you until all of your party has arrived, however put your name on the list to the door to the right, then you can go to the other side and they have a table with chairs and coffee for you to have while you wait.

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Third visit was Friday night and unfortunately, it may be our last. We (hubby and I) still both love the atmosphere which reminds me of Provence. I also really like the menu. Several items sounded good and it is always nice when we both order different items that appeal to both of us. Anyway, here is the good part: service was very prompt (partially because we were given a last minute table with the caveat that a big party had it reserved for just an hour later- which was fine with us because we needed to get somewhere else), and we liked the bottle of red wine (french, ? one of the ones on the per glass list) and at $30, a fair value. We split the grilled sardine/ fingerling salad and it was delicious. Our favorite part of the dinner. Hubby ordered the halibut which sounded divine, and indeed, it was a lovely piece of fish, but the sauce was totally lacking flavor. I cannot remember what it was, but to me, halibut needs some flavoring or seasoning usually, since it is so mild. His dish also had fingerling potatoes, that were totally boring. I ordered the braised lamb chop and was surprised when it arrived with cold potatoes and radishes on top. Again, the meat itself was cooked well, super tender and yet totally lacking in jus, broth, sauce or whatever, like you would expect from a slow braised piece of meat. Again, the fingerling potatoes, but this time, cold. Intentionally so. I know this was intended to be kind of like a spring potato salad, but it just felt like the chef created a recipe that would save on prep time by throwing some cold, pre-made, underseasoned stuff on top, rather than prepare the meat with a more appropriate accompaniment. It totally did not go with the meat. I actually left some of the very modest portion on my plate because it was so boring and lacking in juices or sauce. How sad. I do appreciate simplicity in cooking, but in the case of both of these entrees, it was a fail.

    (3)

  • Leakhena S.

    My first Seattle Restaurant Week was at Boat Street Cafe, and what a fantastic start! This was my first time at Boat Street and I probably would have not found this place if it wasn't for Restaurant Week. It's tucked away in a nice cozy setting off of Western near Denny. The ambiance was very sweet and warm inside. I was their first customer of a soon to be busy night. My waitress and the rest of the staff were very attentive. They usually are when I'm by myself or the only customer. I, of course, took advantage of the restaurant week menu. Appetizer- Nettles Soup with Goat Cheese- Divine! I gulped it down in less than a minute. Main Course- Trout Filet with Jerusalem Artichoke, Puy Lentil, and eggs. The fish was very moist and my new favorite lentil is Puy. The Beaujolais wine my waitress recommended paired nicely with my entree. Dessert- Boat Street Bread Pudding with Rum and Buttery Cream- very intense dessert. The restaurant specialty is in Southern French cuisine which is French Home cooking with an emphasis on butter. And oh how I do love butter.

    (4)

  • Andrea J.

    Overall, I wasn't too impressed with the Boat Street Cafe. I thought it was a pretty, pretty place, with white washed walls, butcher paper over crisp white table cloths, and handwritten specials on green chalkboards. The service was great. However, the food was just not executed very well. I had the chevre and eggs, while my companion had the croque madame. The eggs seriously lacked salt and were really watery. The chevre was not well distributed, although it was the nice creamy kind of chevre. The croque madame was soggy and undertoasted, bland, and also lacked salt. I was feeling like a little piggy, so even though it was brunch, I insisted that we had dessert - bread pudding. I've never had bread pudding before, but have to say I did enjoy it. I'm actually really torn between giving them three or four stars. But, as cute as this place was, bland food really doesn't do it for me.

    (3)

  • Darcy H.

    The setting is lovely (tho not one that I haven't seen before other places). So that's nice if you want to meet up for tea. I would say wine except our server didn't know very much about their wine list. Otherwise, ooops....THE WAIT CAN BE FOREVER (!), the food is expensive, not very well executed and you'll have to pick up more to eat because you'll be hungry again after the small-ish portions. To go sandwiches are alright. And now for the part that some of you will disagree with: I can't separate a business from its owner, and one of the owners here is quite rude. Really there's a bad vibe about her, she has to force a smile which is not the way a restauranteur should be. Her nature is better suited for a lone office somewhere.

    (1)

  • Alyson M.

    I would never know this splace was here by driving by, but once you find it you feel like you've discovered a little gem of a restaurant. There are three distintive spaces, a patio, a small sparse room with high ceilings and a warm dining room that feels very french with it's old glass front door and marbled top bar. I was here for brunch and the menu had something for everybody. Salads, sandwiches, tarts and egg dishes. My friend ordered the eggs benedict without the egg and it was delicious. Served on a baguette with ham, cheddar cheese, tomato and of course hollandaise sauce. Don't miss out on the bisquits served with honey butter! They melt in your mouth. The service was charming and we always felt taken care of as if we were in someone's home.

    (5)

  • Sophia M.

    I fell in love with the décor and atmosphere at the first glance. I totally see how perfectly it looks with the daylight bouncing off the walls. But we came here for dinner. I had halibut and I do not forgive poorly prepared halibut. It felt slippery, tasteless and I'm sorry to say it, but kind of gross. Yikes. It got me all sad. I liked the wine selection. I see myself coming back here, but definitely not for dinner - maybe, for a pleasant rendezvous with a friend for a glass of wine. And once I will forget and forgive the halibut, I'll try your brunch.

    (3)

  • Peter C.

    OMG, the host for brunch with the very bad hair should NOT have a customer facing job. When he wasn't flying around barking at customers, he was clearing tables....guess he was pissed the bus-person didn't show for work. Food was awesome.

    (3)

  • Chris B.

    I've been here a few times for brunch and lunch, but never for dinner. The location is kinda hidden inside a courtyard of a small mall area near where Denny and Western Ave. meet. Inside, the concrete walls make the place feel just a bit on the cold side, but it's still comfortable somehow. Everything seems about right, from the variety of food offerings, to the service to the prices. The prices are a bit on the higher end, but not outrageous for a classy place like this. There are lots of a la carte offerings. I've had the eggs benedict, which appear very small, but really do fill you up. It's served perfectly poached with generously sized eggs on top of toasted french baguette sliced (a bit too toasty), with tomato. I like their very thinly sliced ham, which you can add on request. That hollandaise sauce is among the smoothest, creamiest, richest hollandaise in town, if not the best. It really is great, and if you are a hollandaise fan, you must hit this joint for brunch to try it out. Extras are things like red potatoes, for $3. Why that's not just included with the eggs benedict, I'm not sure, but that's how things are here. You can also get sausage for $3, which I think is a good deal for this fresh, tasty stuff. For lunch last week, I had their sausage sandwich, which was simply served, with soup (instead of salad, on request). The tomato soup was laced with basil and was just wonderful. It actually tasted like real tomato! The sausage sandwich was served on very fresh french bread and with a sort of cheesy spread. Just. Delicious. And really perfect for lunch, for right around $10-11. I'll take it. Service has always been amiable and competent, but they will let a lot of details go, like keeping your water filled, or asking you if you want pepper with that -- you do need to ask. Also, I often have questions about their menu, but feel like they are too busy to answer them, or really to ask if they "can answer any questions about the menu" like other restaurants often do. But overall service is ok, and doesn't detract too much from the Boat Street experience. Also, they apparently try to get as many local ingredients as they can, but it's hard to tell what's local or not from the menu. So I just assume MOST of it is, but not all. Still, all of the ingredients here really seem quite fresh in the dishes. PROS: Very fresh, quality, (and local?) food. Tastes good. CONS: Prices a bit higher, and count on ordering a la carte sides if you want all the fixins.

    (4)

  • pammy k.

    This used to be my favorite restaurant. I took some friends there and I was so embarrased by the poor service we recieved...not sure when or if I will return. The hostess was rude and the waitress was hardly attentive.... I guess the mice will play when the cat is away.....

    (3)

  • C B.

    The ambiance of the place is truly wonderful. However, the service is a little lacking, the food is overpriced, and the flavor profiles were way off. The best thing that we had were the scones, and I don't know if those are even made on site. It was a decent foray into breakfast in Belltown, but I'm not inspired to go back.

    (2)

  • Ben R.

    Phenomenal little place, tucked away where you'd least expect to find a bistro. I'm at a loss for what to call the decor, so I think I'll just say that it's basement-chic modern rustic, if that makes any sense. The waitstaff was among the friendliest I've encountered, the portions were ample for the price, and the food was excellent. I ordered the ginger and lemon soup to start, and it was even better than I expected. Heed the warning of its strength on the menu, however. There are large slices of ginger that can knock your socks off! The flavor was dark, bitter, and a little mysterious, with a light twinge of lemon to balance it nicely. Next I ordered a fig and walnut cheese torta, which was made with a soft baguette and even softer cheese. It had a well-balanced combination of salty cheese and sweet fig with a slightly sour vinegar that bound the flavors well. This was served alongside a small arugula salad which, although nothing fancy, was a good complement to the sandwich and brightened the plate. Even if this place wasn't close to my work I'd definitely consider making it a regular haunt!

    (5)

  • Michelle Z.

    Oui, oui, j'taime Boat Street Cafe! Boat Street is so charming! Tucked underneath the NW Work Lofts, this little gem of a cafe is noticeable only by an unassuming sign. Yet once you've past the sign, and stepped into the underground nook, there is a garden pathway leading right inside, complete with outdoor tables to enjoy the French cooking in lovely weather. The ambiance of this place is fantastic, totally "un-French," in attitude. The servers were super friendly, the interior is white and pristine, with a few windows to let in natural light, but it's very minimal and simple. The food is AMAZING, the honey-butter biscuits were melt in your mouth (literally) I was tempted to order another round. The artichoke-goat cheese eggs Benedict was delightful, with amazing chevre hollandaise sauce. I am officially in love with Boat Street Cafe. I will be back here, I guarantee it. Plus, this place looks like it'd be a great little spot to rent out for a special occasion, small but not too small, high ceilings, and a coziness that lends itself to a familial gathering.

    (5)

  • Dana W.

    I saw Boat Street Cafe on a "Top 10 Restaurants in Seattle" list in a local magazine. Decided to take my food-obsessed friend (FOF) here for breakfast upon his arrival in Seattle. The decor is rustic and charming, the staff is sweet and doting, and the food is expertly-prepared, fresh, and delicious. The only issue is the portion size. I ordered the eggs Benedict with chevre and artichoke. Excellent! The hollandaise sauce even won praise from the FOF. But the eggs arrived perched precariously atop two tiny slices of baguette. So tasty...but only four bites worth of tasty. (Although the side of fresh fruit added a few more bites.) The FOF was intrigued by the house specialty corn cakes, touted by the menu as being "better than pancakes". He received one small cake, which made but a small dent in his enormous appetite. Everything was great, but we were still hungry afterwards. These two dishes, plus two small glasses of juice, totaled $35. I truly do want to love this place. It's got a lovely atmosphere, a menu full of creative dishes, and a devoted staff. I hope that when I return for lunch or dinner I'll leave with a full, satisfied tummy. (Visited 12/20/09)

    (3)

  • Katie A.

    How have I not been in here before? HOW??! Situated in the courtyard of the Northwest Work Lofts is this little gem. We came by for lunch today and were lucky enough to be seated outside. Gorgeous rustic space with lots of charm. I didn't even have to see the menu to know we were going to enjoy our meal. The lunch menu (Southern French cuisine) had lots of delicious sounding soup, salad, and sandwich options. I opted for the Tuna Nicoise, which was fantastic! Lots of artichoke hearts, green olives, green beans, tasty flaked tuna, seasoned potatoes, tossed with greens and vinaigrette. The service was a tad sporadic, but our server was extremely sweet, and I think it added to the charm of it all. My dining companions had the chicken w/ smoked mozzarella sandwich, and the magali tomato soup with goat cheese baguette. Both were just as happy with my meal as I was. While we were dining, we were told that the giant gardens at the edge of the patio were actually herb gardens, and that the kitchen uses their herbs in their dishes. How cool is that??!

    (5)

  • akzidenz g.

    MY meal, the eggs benedict w smoked salmon, was delish. perfectly cooked eggs, but my dish was a little cold. booo. and the waitress was really slow. and it took a VERY long time to get our meal. my friends did not enjoy their meals. their eggs were overcooked and we waited too long to have them re-poach their eggs. overall, a cute place to go, but they are very inconsistent on the food. and expect to pay alot of $ for brunch.

    (4)

  • Anton Z.

    Pretty place, but the meal gave me motion sickness. Went for our anniversary (since we'd been DP'd), hoping for a tasty diversion. The appetizer of dates warmed in olive oil with salt was interesting, if monochromatic in flavor. I had the crab cakes, which were good though the flavor was thrown of by the purée of banana peppers right next to it. My partner had the halibut, which was well cooked but accompanied by a flavorless pesto and, strangely, artichoke hearts that tasted like they came from a bottle. We had high hopes, but the meal was a roller coaster ride.

    (2)

  • Lauren W.

    Boat Street Cafe is the current love of my life in this town. The current.. does that sound fickle? Let me clarify... it will always be one of the loves of my life, even if another restaurant somehow manages to outshine it someday, somehow. This happening is doubtful at best. Charming but not overly sweet, rustic but certainly not sloppy, French but not pretentious, Boat Street is everything you'd want in your favorite local place. It's not a place you'd go every day, it's a special occasion place, somewhere you can dress up for and enjoy the occasion. That said, it's still comfortable... somewhere you could eat everyday, if you were lucky enough. If you've done any reading of Molly Wizenberg's - co-owner of Ballard pizza heaven Delancey - you'll have heard of Boat Street, and specifically their pickle varieties. These are much hyped and worth every bit of buzz. Order the plate of pickled goodness and you'll be presented with an array ranging from spicy pickled red onions, to tangy and sweet pickled carrots, and even, if you're lucky, some juicy little pickled grapes (another reason to read Molly's book A Homemade Life: it includes the recipe for said Boat Street pickled grapes). Is it socially acceptable to feast solely on pickled delights for an entire meal? I'd like to do just that. If you do manage to get past the aforementioned goods, the rest of the menu is fresh and seasonal, French-American in the best sense of the word. The mussels are incredible when they have them, the salads are simple and perfect (simple and perfect salads are a hard thing to come by in my opinion), the pork belly oh god... the bread pudding. Well, just read any of the other reviews here for more ravings on that particular dish. But really, the pickles. Owner/chef Renee Erickson's love of this place is evident in everything from the menu to the decor to the fact that she'll often be walking around refilling waters and asking how your meal is. I love that about her, and her restaurant.

    (5)

  • sally B.

    I only wish I'd gone there sooner. Beautiful space, beautiful food, and fantastic waitstaff. The wine's not bad either.

    (5)

  • Ronald M.

    Had my annual "Christmas lunch" here with a friend. Totally wonderful food, great ambiance, wonderful, friendly wait staff. (The scalloped scallops were terrific.). Have a real eating out experience: eat here.

    (5)

  • Garbiel A.

    Overpriced is right. But so, so, sooooooo delicious. My God. The crabcakes. the desserts. Take your girlfriend sometime. I took mine. Blow her mind. Two words: Bread. Pudding. They have drawings of a dogs. Is it still overpriced if you've paid the big bucks for the great food and you're willing to do it again?

    (4)

  • Robert H.

    I've been here several times for both lunch and dinner and the staff are very nice. It's an unpretentious place and the staff are warm and they focus on the food. The food is super and I've never had a bad meal here. If you're in Seattle and want someplace off the beaten path that's comfortable with good food check it out.

    (5)

  • Katie R.

    My family and I were turned away at the door on a Saturday afternoon. They said they only took reservations, and the restaurant was empty! If your not dressed well, they won't let you in. Total bummer.

    (1)

  • Jarret F.

    Had a 5 star potential, but didn't follow through. Excellent location, outside seating in the courtyard, and a solid brunch menu. What went wrong? The place wasn't very crowded, but the wait staff didn't acknowledge our presence for several minutes. My friend's eggs benedict was severely overcooked -- the waiter sent the dish back (even though we only asked for extra hollandaise to cover the eggs). My fruit side had strawberries with rotten spots. Coffee seemed weak, surprising since they use lighthouse's. So, why 3 stars? I'm still giving this place a second chance. Our waiter did comp the eggs bene. The atmosphere and food have the potential to be something great, but a few too many things went south to leave a fantastic first impression.

    (3)

  • Shirin S.

    Working right across the courtyard from this place is dangerous. Try their chicken sandwich and you'll thank me for days. Simplicity is key, from the smoked mozzarella, carefully cooked chicken, basil leaves, and delightful lemon pepper mayo all on a crusty Macrina baguette. I've only ordered items 'to-go' and have heard spotty things about service. Don't go here if you're on a time crunch, this place is about the experience as much as it is the food (read: slow service but worth the wait).

    (4)

  • Stacya S.

    i just came from Boat Street, and I have been there before and loved it. I keep forgetting to write a review after! Boat Street is fantastic. Tonight I had oysters, sunchoke soup, and scallops. I also tried my pals food, the pork and the chicken. We were all like....in Babette's Feast. If you don't know what I am talking about, well, rent Babette's Feast. Yummy. I love Boat Street.

    (5)

  • Eric M.

    I've been going to Boat street since they were actually on Boat Street in that concrete utility shed of a space with UW students and professors as diners. I was thrilled to learn that they re-opened across from my office and now I go several times a month for lunch or dinner. I love the industrial space and its hidden location. It was formerly a doggie day care, how's that for good location karma? When I bring colleagues there they always ask me "how did you find this place??", it's like turning people onto a new band that you know they will like. Now for the food--- for lunch I like the basil chicken sandwiches with the lemon mayo- wow, these are addictive and I found out they sell them in a "to go" basket by the register, danger! Whatever you do......order the TOMATO SOUP. It is the best tomato soup I have ever tasted, anywhere. It is not cream based, it's like a deconstructed marinara sauce, with marinated onions, basil, oregano; whole bits of tomatoes floating in tangy goodness. Just trust me and order it people. Next favorite is the salmon cakes. They are crispy on the outside with panko bread crumbs and chunks of warm, moist salmon on the inside. They don't take lunch reservations unless for a large party so get there before noon to get a good seat or eat at the tiny counter. Dinner in the adjacent dining area is also a treat. I ate there recently and was blown away by the brussel sprouts. Not what you expect with a side dish..... They were unlike any sprouts I have had anywhere. They were each caramelized and crispy, I think with some balsamic, and then sprinkled with a generous portion of toasted, crushed walnuts. The plate was huge and we all shared but secretly wished we had our own plates. I had the crab cakes next and they give you a choice of 1 or 2 cakes....I unwisely ordered 2. Why unwise??? Because they are HUGE. I like to eat and one is enough. I took the rest home and paid the price when the bill came. Their wine suggestions were good and they even took the time to let me taste bottles off the "by-the-glass" menu that they happened to have open. Lot's of french wines un-known to me so I just went with their suggestions and was pleasantly surprised to learn something about french wine that night. I'll be back to Boat Street often and will dream of tomato soup and of dogs-past frolicking in the space in the meantime.

    (5)

  • Jeff F.

    For the price and the atmosphere, it's just a solid lunch spot. The chicken baguette is generally solid. I've never checked it out for dinner and have only heard good things.

    (4)

  • Walter E.

    Very tasty chicken sandwich with lemon mayonaisse plus a salad for lunch. The chicken was served cold, and they warmed the delicious crusty bread. I'll be back to try other things!

    (5)

  • A D.

    Great service, awesome food, and a fantastic atmosphere. Go early to get a spot on the patio.

    (5)

  • Joseph B.

    I came here with 7 other people and we practically ordered everything on the menu. (Work was picking up the tab, so....) Everything was delicious. I wanted to note that they now offer cocktails in addition to beer and wine. I'll let the Yelp team know...

    (5)

  • Paul F.

    We had a very nice experience here, Service, was very friendly. I say this because I asked how to pronounce oeuf plat and was not treated to any sort of look or reply, just the pronunciation. Oof pla, oh those frenchies. Food, was very good. I liked the white walls, and the whtie tables, and white plates. The food is very clear, and feels clean in decor like that and tastes to match. I appreciated reasonably sized portions(this might be a negative to others, I'm just not a huge eater). I also appreciated a nice incorporation of veggies into eggs benedict or baked eggs. I just don't think we see enough spinach at breakfast or anywhere these days. Popeye is probably turning over in his grave. Only negative was even on a sunday morning we had to walk a bit for parking... unless I'm silly and missed a cue about a designated lot. But that's the city, a truly small quibble on a pleasant brunch experience.

    (4)

  • Daphne W.

    Brunch is amazing! This is a hidden gem. This place is below street level, so its easy to miss. Must TRY!

    (5)

  • Gina P.

    This review covers lunch. Not sure about the dinner menu but I would go back to try it. We were a party of seven, and we had great food and solid service. It's interesting... the menu is definitely French - and the cafe itself is clean, and basic. It's charming but not over the top... it's just a cozy little spot. The location is sort of strange, right where Western meets Denny in that strange little cement building. Ok the food. I had tomato soup with goat cheese toast. The soup was perfect. Not creamy - it's vegan - just chunky fresh tomato basil goodness. You can also get it with a poached egg in it, but I didn't. There menu is heavy on the eggs - Ouefs - poached, leek tarts, etc. Everyone really enjoyed their food. The dessert was spectacular. Bread pudding. To die for, with a rich rummy caramel sauce. There was also a super dense bittersweet chocolate cake. If you like your chocolate dark and not on the sweet side, this one is for you. Be sure to save room.

    (4)

  • Tammy V.

    i went here for valentine's day brunch and it was pretty good! a veryyy cute place - pretty romantic so a perfect place for vday (my bf picked this place out actually) :D i like to try the eggs benedict everywhere so we always end up ordering that and one other random dish. today, our random dish was chicken pot pie. the eggs benedict was really good - and i think they used a baguette instead of english muffin which was super delish. my only complaint here is the price. i think it was about $12 for the bene. which isn't too bad - until they were like "oh, did you want ham (or w/e it was) in it?" im like wth, is it me or doesn't it normally come w/ some sort of meat or something (w/ the egg and muffin/bread)? but w/e. it came with like a strawberry and some blueberries (not sides/potatoes/anything/that was extra). the chicken pot pie was pretty good - something i dont think i've ever ordered @ a restaurant. they even cut a heart out of the top of the baked later which i thought was pretty cute. this was a little bit more worth the $13 or so :) the potatoes ($2?) were good too, i think they were topped w/ rosemary. overall i'd come back here pretty often -- if i was rich. ;) the food was good and the place was cute.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    After hearing about this place for a while, but never actually knowing where it was (i figured it was in the U-District by Boat Street) I ambled in for dinner with some friends. The atmosphere is pretty laid back, modern, and reminds me a lot of of the vibe of newer restaurants like Zoe. The food itself is pretty tasty, though I will admit a couple of people in my party were unpleasantly surprised by the size of the portions. That said, the food was pretty tasty and I felt the chiefs did a good job of serving up dishes with real complementary flavors. The wine list is pretty heavily international which means it looks impressive, but at the end of it all I have to ask the waiter for help because I never got around to getting my french wine regions straight. In any case, definitely enjoyed the experience, but I can't give it more than four stars as I reserve that type of rating for places that blow me away and boat street didn't quite get there.

    (4)

  • Sean E.

    I hold in high esteem any restaurant that puts a slice of lemon in your glass of water. The Boat Street Kitchen does one better and uses a slice of cucumber instead. Cucumber! They also have a whole lot of inexpensive wine (too bad I'd get fired for drinking at lunch), great coffee, and, get this, Mexican Coke. It's totally worth it. Your $8.75 sandwich isn't some generic pile of meat and vegetables, it's a masterpiece of seasoned meat, delicious mayonnaise, and fresh vegetables surrounded by the perfect baguette. $8.75 may seem like a lot for a sandwich (entrees are $10-$14), but it is worth every penny. Brunch meets similar standards. The menu combines the expected, like scrambled eggs and eggs benedict, with unexpected twists like a cornmeal custard cake served with sausage and a slice of banana. Banana! For a lighter meal they also serve scones (ginger!), yogurt, and other classics. Consider this: the place is at least five miles from my apartment but we didn't regret the drive (or paying for parking) one bit. The space is classic Seattle - the Kitchen looks like France at eye level but the floor and ceiling make it obvious that you're in a Seattle work-loft. Make sure to ask for the table by the radiator if you're cold and looking to warm up. I have not yet had a chance to visit the Cafe, but it is now at the top of my list next time I'm looking for a $35/person dinner. Addendum: sandwiches to go are $6.59 and they usually have a basket of the day's sandwiches at the front.

    (5)

  • Nicole K.

    Loads of light ... check Good location ... check Nice decor ... check Espresso on the weekend ... unavailable. What? This place is nice and pretty with great presentation of food. The food was ok, but not great. The service was not very good (slow). And the weirdest thing is that they don't serve espresso on the weekends. I mean, I would understand not serving it at all, but they do have it during the weekdays. I just found it odd. On the bright side, it was a romantic spot, and I am sure that it is a great date place.

    (4)

  • Kristin M.

    Damn it. I was so disappointed. I have a list of restaurants to try in Seattle, and Boat Street has been on it for about a year. Finally made reservations and went with the husband on Saturday. On our way over, we talked excitedly about what we'd order: Either the crab cakes, the rockfish or the sea scallops. We get seated and about 10 minutes later, we're told that they're out of -- you guessed it! -- everything we were interested in. What remained? Lamb tongue. Pork belly. A pepper flan. We left. And we shan't be back.

    (1)

  • Lesley R.

    I went there for brunch and all I have to say is Buttermilk Biscuit!!! I died and went to a sweet buttery honey heaven. My friends and I HAD to order more. I will definitely be back for more.

    (4)

  • Karen R.

    What a pleasant little place to have a nice weekend brunch. Everyone at our table enjoyed their food and service was as good as their food. They even serve wine that early in the morning... ok it was 11am but I thought it was pretty early :) One of us, I'm not naming names lol actually wanted whiskey LOL! I know, who am I hanging out with eh?! :D I want to return and try their lunch and/or dinner... so many restaurants, so little time arrgh! We all agreed that the best way to end a meal here is to go across from the restaurant and have a nice massage :D

    (4)

  • Nicole D.

    I went here for lunch a few weeks back. I had a po' boy sandwich (~$13). It was good but not great. It had well thought-out flavors, but the bread was waaay to chewy for this sort of sandwich. The oysters ended up smooshing all their guts out as I was taking the first bite. Love oysters, but their insides can be somewhat off-putting to some people. I would like to give it a 3.5. The food was good, service was great, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. It was a bit on the pricey side, so that's why I am not giving it a 4.

    (3)

  • Jessica S.

    Still awesome! Went back for dinner and everything was so good! The apple cake stood out. The service was superb, naturally. I love this place so much!

    (5)

  • Trevin C.

    I consider myself an Eggs Benedict connoisseur and must have tried out at least 20 different restaurants in the city so far. In my opinion, Boat Street Cafe has THE best eggs benedict in town. They don't go overboard on the hollandaise sauce, the eggs were poached to perfection and they use sharp cheddar cheese! Sharp! if you want to know what heaven tastes like, and you're not a terrorist (aka you eat meat), definitely check Boat Street Cafe out. I have only been here for brunch and loved the food both times. However, the wait for a table is almost absurd! One fine Sunday, I had to wait nearly an hour. Considering it's location, the size and the fact you can barely see it from the street, I guess Boat Street Cafe has elevated from "best kept secret in Lower Queen Anne", to "Best Brunch spot for Eggs Benedicts in Seattle".

    (4)

  • Gnat S.

    If this place goes under I will leave Seattle. It's an oasis of great food and refined service in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Kim L.

    Boat Street Cafe was a recommendation from a foodie friend while my husband, daughter, and I were visiting Seattle. We were unsure whether or not we would be able to handle it with a toddler, to be perfectly frank. It is not a restaurant set up for children (as there were even no high chairs), but the waitress was super accommodating, invited us right in and made us feel welcome (although I'm sure it helped that the lunch time rush was well over). The cheese plate was wonderful, the meals were both fine but nothing to highlight here and the bread pudding was a surprising winner. The patrons were interesting to eavesdrop on and super snotty (perfect for a French restaurant).

    (3)

  • L H.

    I finally made it here! Total gem of a bistro hidden in between belltown and queen anne. Being so tucked away I would wonder how they manage to attract so much attention everyday, but one visit changes that instantly! I had a cornmeal custard with sausage and maple syrup sort of dish...didn't look at all what I imagined but the sweet and savory combination was hard to get over! They have lots on the menu that sounded so interesting yet not overwhelming. I think Boat street is everything my dreams of dining in France are made of -- I will for sure be back for their popular weekend brunch and bread pudding. The unpretentious feel of this French restaurant has gotten me quite fond of it after just one visit.

    (5)

  • jen b.

    Like others have said, I must admit, the ambiance had me. We went here on a Saturday for lunch, though it was brunch, about two weeks ago. My boyfriend works practically across the street and it had been recommended by his coworkers. This place is so charming and adorable. It's like that quaint, quiet hold each others hands across the table and stare longingly into eyes type cute. We sat outside, as it was still August and sunny out and everything was great. Except...as charming and romantic as it was, this is where the three stars comes in. Since we were hoping for lunch, it was around 2 in the afternoon, and there was maybe five other tables, tops. We thought, eh, 45 minutes we will be fed, happy and on our way out. However, after ordering and waiting for AN HOUR, we were STARVING. It was excruciating...like elbow on the table and pitiful hand on the cheek long wait. Every table around us had finished eating and all we could do was stare sadly at even a bite left on their plates. We thought we had been forgotten. I had ordered the Croque Monsieur, the bf had the Eggs Benedict. I hate to be snippy but my goodness, how long does it take to make these? So both plates come, and the most unsatisfying part about it was, the plates were so small it was like having appetizers! I think we both finished eating in about five minutes, with everything on our plate gone, and we were still hungry. The saddest thing about leaving a restaurant is if you leave still hungry. Especially at a place like Boat Street where you are paying pretty good money; this is not good. We will probably go back and try for dinner, however I am not optimistic since I see that other people who went for dinner had the same problem. Like I said before, the ambiance is great (in fact I think that is what sold us), and we will probably try it again, but not anytime soon. With such a great indoor/outdoor area, it makes me terribly sad, as this could have been one of our favorite new restaurants. Oh! Because of how much the wait overshadowed our visit I forgot to add, the food WAS good, the wine was good. I just wonder if it's worth it.

    (3)

  • Julian H.

    This place is overrated! I'm mixed on the atmosphere. It's got a certain charm, depending on your taste. I find the ambience to be cold and stark. Lots of white. There are no carpets or window coverings, so it's bright and really loud. Last time we were there the music was so loud we couldn't hear each other over the table, even with no one else sitting around us. The food is okay, some items are definitely home-runs. But the menu is very very small. I think I remember the portions are small and its definitely overpriced. Throw in mediocre service, and I can't go back.

    (2)

  • Shilpa G.

    This time you didn't forget my biscuit, and it made me so happy. Ahhhhhhh.

    (5)

  • shelly l.

    I love the walk-in-and-grab sandwiches in a basket. For eggplant amazingness you plop down your 8 bucks and walk to sculpture park. (it helps that its in the same building where i work! though i'd need a raise to eat here more often...)

    (5)

  • Ling B.

    The food was decent here but I didn't dig the atmosphere. Seemed a little stiff. We came in around the holidays as well and they sat us too close to their tree. There were literally branches next to our pepper / salt shakers. It didn't help that the whole crowd and service seemed not very diverse and the food was decent but not mind blowing.

    (3)

  • Alexis R.

    This was my first time here and definitely my last. The service was terrible! After waiting at least 30 minutes and seating groups that arrived after mine we were finally seated. Then the waitress comes over and tells us that the 3 different items we wanted were all out. Would have loved for someone to let us know while we were waiting! We order and finally get our food. But uh-oh it looks like the cook baked my friend's oeuf plat too long so now he needs to remake it. She finally gets her new dish out after the rest of us finish our meals. She didn't end up paying for her dish but it still doesn't make up for the crap experience. If you want a good alternative go to Cafe Press, where they're never out of madame croques.

    (1)

  • Margaret S.

    This is, without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in the city. I've had food here that transported me to another place. When food is an emotional as well as a gustatory experience, there is heart & soul in the kitchen. Renee is a master at combining flavors, I've had food here I still remember months after tasting it. That, and the warm, welcoming, relaxed atmosphere makes for a fantastic experience.

    (5)

  • Allen L.

    if i'm going to spend 12 dollars on two small pieces of eggs benedict, i except it to be perfectly cooked. instead, i get two eggs overcooked to the point of being hard boiled. ingredients were fresh...i'll give them that much...but i've had more skillfully made eggs benedict at denny's.

    (1)

  • John M.

    Had Sunday lunch in the Boat Street Kitchen. Everything from the apricot jam to the French press coffee was delightful. We especially recommend the trout and the bread pudding.

    (5)

  • Adriana K.

    I had been wanting to go to Boat Street for quite some time, but as it was closed several times I tried, and not the most convenient place to find or access, I was pretty excited when some girlfriends and I went there for lunch. I called ahead 2 weeks to make brunch reservations, as I had no idea how busy they were, and as we had a group of 6, I didn't want to risk it. We were placed in the actual Boat Street Cafe, as the two merge for brunch on weekends, and I was more than pleased - the set up of the cafe is much more creative, open, and artistic. That deserves 5 stars. The "kitchen" feels more formal (IE more expensive) and with the cement walls, much more claustrophobic that the open cafe with solid windows on the front. On to the food. We tried the most amazing brioche I have had with apricot preserves baked in it - AWESOME. Maybe even more so than me, as I had a disappointing attempt earlier that week at brioche. Not easy. It was buttery and chewy and sweet with the preserves...mmmmm. I then moved on to the chevre benedict which was really good as well. This doesn't strike me as a hung over brunch- not cheap, and smaller portions, but with a cup of French press coffee that we shared, it was the perfect amount. Our waiter was present in body but not in mind - he did inform us that most things were made on site except for the bread- which came from some bakery in Pike Place (not La Panier) that he couldn't remember the name of. A shame as I would frequent there if only I knew where to go... I returned a little over a month later with an old friend visiting from the East Coast and raved about it. A little disappointing - I asked for us to be seated in the cafe but was told that was only for reservations and large groups (there were 3 of us). Seated next to the door blasting cold air whenever someone came or went, in the line of traffic, was less than optimal. Sadly, the brioche was gone, so we tried the coffee cake, which was fine - we ate it all. The 3 benedicts we tried were tasty, and the experience enjoyable, and the service about the same as the last. I want to go back and try the Cafe when it is open.. I wait for the day that amazing brioche returns...

    (4)

  • Johnnie L.

    I went here with high hopes of the best pork chop ever. This is what I was told. And truth be told... it was ok. We also had the pepper soup, which was ok, a little on the creamy side for me. Pork belly was not up to par with many other places I have been to. It seemed to be under cooked, which made the fat mushy. Not a fan of the clams, the wine sauce with grounded pork didn't make sense to me. But that maybe just me. The service is good as expected. Maybe go for happy hour?

    (3)

  • Jim R.

    Food was good (not great).....service not too terribly attentive and a bit condescending. Other, better options in this price range.

    (2)

  • Maria C.

    I love boat street, yum. A lovely place for a date or a lovely lunch where you are actually listening to your dining partner. Great food, casual elegance and bubbles! Walk away if they are swamped, I feel bad when someone is sitting in back folding napkins and not helping the lovely and short-staffed folks who rock this place--and you should too!

    (4)

  • Jen P.

    TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE. I work near here, and most others who visit this place do too because parking is difficult. This means people are on a TIME CONSTRAINT over lunch, especially those of us who are hourly. Every restaurant in a metro area should be sensitive ti time over lunch during the week, just like an airport restaurant is for flights. When I arrived there were three other tables filled, so it was definitely slow for them. I was given a water with a tiny slice of cucumber which was refreshing! I thought this place was going to blow my mind. I ordered a tuna salad sandwich and it took 25 MINUTES. No one came to alert me of why. I also found a hair in my sandwich. I couldn't even tell this to the hostess or manager because I had to run back to work, I had already been made very late. The tuna sandwich was amazing, but the portion was small. SKIP THIS PRETENTIOUS OVERPRICED PLACE.

    (1)

  • W. R.

    Ate lunch/brunch here with my toddler. Loved everything about this restaurant--decor, service, food. We had a great time and I plan to go back for dinner with my husband.

    (5)

  • Les F.

    I had no idea the Boat Street Cafe was going to be so remarkable. The sausage was beyond anything I have ever had and they've simply re-defined pickling (You'll find out). The cocktails were made all the more delicious by flawless service. It's the kind of restaurant experience you don't forget for all the best reasons. Please, never change.

    (5)

  • Kyoni R.

    This restaurant was extremely comfortable. We had 2 tables of 14 people fun dining foodies. Serving size was quite hearty. Trout appetizer was mouth watering. All main courses knocked our socks off. Bread pudding was heavenly. Sharing dishes with my fellow foodies was a wonderful time. Placing a candle on Mark's dessert for the Happy Birthday Song was the icing on the Cake. We will return here !

    (4)

  • Neely O.

    I've been here several times, always with a group and with reservations. The service and ambiance are upscale and high quality. I'd go back again for these reasons alone. Then again, the food... Meh. It looks fancy but it's just not that great and the portions are noticeably small. I don't need Claim Jumper-sized meals, but a side of potatoes with breakfast/brunch would be nice. I've just had much better meals in Seattle at this price point. I'd budget $25 for a breakfast entree and coffee, including a nice tip for the excellent service.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth M.

    Oh, God, yes. I love Boat Street Café. The food is amazing. The service is great. The dining room is beautiful, relaxing, and romantic. Why have I not been here lately? Oh yeah, parking is a bit annoying. Maybe I'll petition for a taxi-driven date night. Great for dinner and brunch (brunch may be in the attached Boat Street Kitchen). Dinner is a little expensive ($20-30 entrées) but brunch is only a few dollars above the norm.

    (5)

  • Dae Y.

    started with the tiny oysters - FANTASTIC. the warm bread and butter - good the pork chop main - FANTASTIC. the crab cakes - FANTASTIC. even 2 days later the crab cakes were fantastic with some nuking. the puree again was spicy, sweet, and amazing. and i'm not even a huge crab cake fan. and i noticed in the to-go box the cakes were huge. the plate they were on just made them look small. you REALLY gotta try this little gem.

    (5)

  • Hunter M.

    absolutely incredible a must visit, no matter what at the end of your meal you have to order the bread pudding! Service was great feel bad for not remembering young lady's name and the wait was more than acceptable especially for the end result.

    (5)

  • Phil L.

    Had a salmon eggs beni that was to die for. The combination of flavors was amazing.

    (5)

  • Judith F.

    AMBIVALENT. Each time we eat dinner here, I come away with mixed feelings. I know that other yelpers rave about this place, esp. at brunch, but...is it "just about the food" or is how we rate food, service, ie. the whole the experience. Don't get me wrong: We think the menu and food is as true French bistro as any in Seattle. Uncompromisingly so. Delicious pate, head cheese (tete de cochon), those lovely little nicoise olives, very warm breach, gnocchi, and THE bread pudding. The gnocchi with arugula, sugar peas, and chanterelles is delicious. Absolutely so. The pates are genuine in texture. How often do you find head cheese on a menu? Black cod perfectly done atop sauteed greens. Portions are very small for the price. Gnocchi as Entree is $15. for what I consider an "small plate" portion. I judge the fish to be 4 oz--for the $25 entree, I think it's small for the price. During happy hour a little 6" loaf of bread is $3. We ordered it to eat with our cheese--a delicious but tiny wedge of goat cheese. I estimate the portion to be less than 2 oz. Do you get the picture? The wine list which is 95% French contains some reasonable priced entry level bottles of wine, albeit, they are not particularly memorable. Last but not least, yes, the bread pudding is very fine with the bread infused with almond flavor. Served in a warm cream sauce, it's a fine way to finish the meal. The food does keep us returning. Yet, we would eat here more often if the staff was more welcoming and the service less perfunctory and the portions a bit larger. If so, this place would rate 4 or 5 stars.

    (3)

  • S S.

    Love the look of this place, charming beyond belief but the whole experience was so-so. Maybe they were having an off day, I hope? We went for brunch on a Sunday, it was very slow, there was only 1 other table in the main dining room, a couple of tables on the patio and 1 other party in the back room. I asked if they could put some music on and they said the speakers were broken. There was music in the back room so we asked if we could sit there and they said it was only for big parties. The place was empty, would it really have been a big deal to sit back there? The service was slow and I felt like the female servers were pretty rude. They even looked at me strangely when I complained about the dirty coffee cup they gave me. The food was good but the portions are small. We had to order more food because we were still hungry. I had really high hopes for this place but they made us feel like we were an imposition. I'm apprehensive about going back.

    (2)

  • Jacquie P.

    Breakfast perfection. Good lord, I did not know eggs could taste like that. And such a cute place, too! Sitting out in thecourtyard on a sunny day (the first we've had in a while) gave me hope for the Summer. Baked eggs with spinach, onion and ham. YES. Order this. Hubby had the salmon eggs with chevre and it was a delightful treat. My gluten free friend eats just the sides here - bacon, sausage, potatoes so we got to sample those and they were all stellar. I find it hard to drag my butt out of bed on weekends, but knowing that Boat Street is out there and the menu is waiting for me should provide some motivation. Very excited to have found them.

    (5)

  • Luca T.

    I found this place a little bit banal... Two pieces of sausage that are prepared in a different shape and given a french name still remain two pieces of sausage. Oh, the price is quite high at $22 Service was great, the environment very minimalistic

    (3)

  • Shirley Y.

    If I could auto-downgrade all other reviews I've written by 1 star just so Boat Street Cafe could be the ONLY 5 STAR RESTAURANT in my books, I would!!! It is THAT good. The pickle plate lived up to its hype. Our variety of the day included carrots, onions, celery, turnip, beets, okra and watermelon. Yes, you heard that right. Sweet vinegary delectable pickled watermelon. GENIUS! For our entrees, we got pork chop and scallops. The pork chop was DROP DEAD AMAZING. Seriously.. your taste buds will think it died and went to heaven. The chop was so big it had 2 bones still attached, the side of green peppers were roasted and salted to perfection, and the pepper puree adds yet another level of flavor and interest. The scallops were delectable. The lemon butter sauce, lentils and seared scallops were made for each other. If the food is this good, the dessert must be good too right? WRONG! Dessert was FANTASTIC almost to the point of ORGASMIC! Bread pudding. Don't be fooled by its simple and unpretentious name. This bread pudding will knock your socks off. Who knew bread of all things can quite possibly be the best dessert I've had all year? I love you Boat Street Cafe. Really. I do.

    (5)

  • Luc F.

    Really slow service, rude! Plates wayyyy too small for the price but at least it was good... heading to another restaurant to get more food :-s

    (2)

  • Nina F.

    Omg, the food. It's just insanely good. We had some savory custard with crab and leeks. It was orgasmic. The bread tastes like its freshly made in house. The iced tea is good also. The services staff are a little snobby but always provided good service. It just seemed like my questions were stupid. Also, this is not a place to bring kids. I was surprised to see someone bring their kid in for lunch. The food is priced very reasonably.

    (5)

  • Sarah B.

    I think this is my favorite brunch place in Seattle. The very quaint space with French touches is very comfortable for a late morning meal. The menu has so many options with both brunch menu items as well as a lunch menu to choose from. We had the Kale Gratin with poached egg, baguette and fruit, the baked eggs with Spinach, onions, buttery crumbs and ham and finished with the amaretto bread pudding with butter rum cream sauce. My kale gratin was so good with some cheesy goodness, but not too much, and some crispy, oven singed kale sitting underneath a perfectly poached egg. My mother's baked eggs were very good with a nest of spinach holding the eggs, onions and crispy breadcrumbs. I love the Colombia City baguettes they use too. The best dish in the place I must say is the bread pudding. I love bread pudding and I think that this is the best bread pudding I have ever had. I think it is the almond flavor I love so much. The amaretto really shines through and you feel like you are eating the innards of an almond croissant and then with the puddle of rum cream it sits in...so good! I highly suggest you finish your brunch, lunch or dinner at the Boat Street Café with this dessert! The service is great here as well and never too fussy which I like. The only improvement/suggestion I have...an espresso machine for cappuccinos and lattes would be nice.

    (5)

  • Katya L.

    Eh. Went here for brunch today... the place was fairly busy, but not packed, and they seemed a little understaffed. The decor was nice but it didn't blow my mind, and I wished for a bit more natural light. But, oh well, you work with the space you have, right? The food was okay. The boy got some sort of oatmeal cake with custard and maple syrup, and it was yummy. I got the eggs benedict with wild smoked salmon, and was disappointed. The idea to put eggs benedict on a baguette is a good one in theory, but in practice it doesn't really play off. The baguette crust is too hard to play nice with the other ingredients and it's impossible to cut apart even with a steak knife. Bad move. Also, there was only one slice of salmon on each portion, just big enough to cover half of the bread. Seriously? If I'm paying $12 for eggs benedict I expect more than just a taste of salmon. The server did bring more salmon when I asked her, but I actually HAD to ask her... she did not stop by after delivering the food and ask us how everything was. Nor did she refill our water glasses when they were empty, even after checking the other end of her section. We HAD to ask her for water. Then we HAD to ask her for the bill when we were clearly done eating. In a place that pretends to be so upscale (with prices to match) we shouldn't HAVE to ask for anything. She was perfectly pleasant, but extremely inattentive. This only gets two stars for the French press coffee and sugar cubes. Yummy. But it's not enough to bring us back.

    (2)

  • Christine L.

    I love the atmosphere of this place, but let's talk about the food. I'm a huge eggs benedict fan, but the hollandaise was a little too light, and one egg was slightly over cooked. As I was traveling alone, I couldn't try more things, and there were a lot of dishes on the menu that sounded great. I would avoid the OJ- it cost four bucks and it's from a carton. Service-wise, it takes a long time for food to come out. Overall, I would go back to try out the other plates.

    (3)

  • Theresa L.

    I went with 4 people on a Saturday for brunch, there were about 15-20 people at the restaurant. It took an hour for our food to arrive. The food was good, a bit overpriced. I will not be coming back here because of the slow service.

    (2)

  • Darlene W.

    I love this place. My husband and I have gone a few times. The food is unbelievable. It's also contains a lot of local ingredients. I love the wait staff, the first waitress we had was beyond good at her job, perfect interaction, very professional and well trained. We did take our kids here once and we had a lovely dinner. I don't think this is the restaurant for just any child though. When I want to have a true dining experience I go here. Love the cheeses and the pate.

    (5)

  • Helena P.

    Solid. Great service, ambiance, and most important-FOOD!

    (4)

  • Jay S.

    Please note: my review is coming from the angle that you appreciate fine dining and want your kids to experience it also. I don't have babies - everyone is school age. With a family of seven, you have to decide quickly if a place is worth your buck. I've come to call it a "multipliers quality test", because if you have seven in your party, the worthiness of a place becomes apparent quickly - you cut a wide swath through the menu, you test the service. Up front let me tell you, I don't mind paying $20 per person on average for brunch - but it better be friggin' good. Breeders - there ain't no kid menu here. Wise parents will note: you can order scrambled eggs as a side though it's not on the menu. Duxelles with scrambled eggs - mediocre. I fretted about how they'd combine the eggs & duxelle mixture. I thought, "this is a clever looking little place, they'll surprise me." For $13, I can dump duxelles into my eggs at the last minute the way Boat St. did. In fairness, the accompanying salad was simple & well dressed, the baguette was good. Most everyone "liked" their food. We actually were a party of 10 today. About a third of us were wowed, one third satisfied, one third were not happy. Another "multiplier" test: the required gratuity. I am happy to pay 20% tip, because with a party our size you'd certainly earn it. However, our waitress did not refill water, did not refill coffee once...until AFTER we'd eaten. She was very dry with flashes of clever comments, which led me to believe she just didn't like serving our party. You don't earn $30+ for just over an hour of your time when you don't pay attention to our party on the most basic level - especially when the restaurant is almost empty (it was nearing close for the change over). A pretty place, a spot with aspirations, good for couples but not for families - and I mean families that crave excellent dining, not Denny's. Note to Boat St.: your waitress lost our future business today. Note to restaurants: if you don't wan't kids, cool...but why not just say it up front?

    (3)

  • Brittany R.

    Cute and clean and pleasantly well lit for the location! The croque Madame was done baby bear just right, the mimosas were poured perfectly, and the service was attentive and timely! Very interested in the kitchen aspect of Boat Street, cooking lessons too? Yes please!

    (4)

  • Eliza B.

    Love this restaurant although the waitress left a little to be desired. She wasn't nearly as attentive and often forgot things or spent long periods between checking on our table. However, she was sweet. Definitely some room for improvement, but overall I love this restaurant.

    (4)

  • Michael H.

    I thoroughly enjoy my meal here. This place is super cute, and we had a chance to dine towards the end of summer so we sat out on the patio. Since we dined a while ago, I forgot what we exactly ate.The food was delicious however. It's definitely a great place for a date or special occasion. Parking is relatively easy and they have valet as well.

    (4)

  • Justine S.

    Brunch at Boat Street was very good. The location is a bit hard to spot but it's literally at the corner of Western & Denny. The restuarant is underneath an area made of other small businesses. We went for brunch and was happy to get a seat right away (note: they won't seat you unless both parties have arrived). The menu features traditional French inspired bistro food. I ordered the corque madame - the bread was delicious and the egg on top was cooked perfectly. It included a nice green salad with pickled onions (which were yummy). It's very rich and could only eat half. My friend had the Eggs benedict. Their version included cheddar cheese which gave it a nice flavor. The hollandise sauce was done well. It wasn't too thick or heavy. Eventhough it's a rich sauce it still had some lightness to it.

    (4)

  • Jacqueline T.

    WOW.. WOW! I was never a big breakfast person, but went to this cute little hidden rustic-french cafe for Brunch, and was delightfully satisfied! Read revies regarding their Rustic Cornmeal Custard Cake (and how its better than pancakes).. and was torn between ordering that or their Savory Bread Pudding. Feeling for something more savory, I opted for the bread pudding. Friend got the custard cake. I got to try that, as well as the meatloaf, and another item, which name slips the top of my head. All dishes came out very nicely decorated with a balsamic salad, and some freshly cut fruit. Salad was yummy! and was my savory bread pudding the right choice? OMGOSHH YES! SOOOOOO UTTERLY DELICIOUS! :D was my friend's cornmeal custard cake good? It was good.. but on the sweeter side. Was so happy I went with my selection. Will definitely be back! :D Just on the downside.. a little bit on the pricier side for a small portion breakfast brunch, but I think thats what you pay for quality! I believe their ingredients are all organic as well. Nom nom nom!~

    (5)

  • Sabrina L.

    After hearing about Boat Street Cafe for several years, my husband and I decided to give it a try. It is tucked in a cute little corner under some businesses. The decor is simple but quaint. We were greeted by friendly staff and shown to our table. Then immediately I was a little concerned when reading the menu saw that they charged $3 for bread. We asked for wine and then ordered an appetizer of smelts on toast. It was very good, though just three little pieces. While waiting for friends to arrive we were told by our waitress that this table also had another reservation in two hours. We were not just drop ins. We had made reservations. I didn't like being asked to hurry it along. We ordered clams and mussels - both very meager portions, both tasteless and both served with no bread. So, of course we had to order bread. We ordered a salad - the only salad on the menu, again, tasteless. We ended the evening with dessert. The men both ordered the bread pudding. A small piece of very crunchy, tasteless bread pudding drowning in a thin vanilla sauce. The women ordered the apricot cake which was topped with perfectly whipped cream. The apricots were not too mushy, and had just the perfect amount of tartness. The cake they were sitting on was just a plain vanilla cake. My overall experience - cute, very expensive, and pretty bland food. A restaurant that has been crossed off my list.

    (2)

  • Caroline C.

    A beautiful, quaint little restaurant underneath the main offices of 3131 Western. All the wait staff from the bartender who chatted with me about what drink I was in the mood for and whipped me up something on the fly to the server who gave me recommendations on the best breweries in Seattle to frequent were extremely friendly and helpful. As for the food - I have had an assortment of salmon ranging from so awful I felt bad that a fish had to waste giving its life for it to so delicious my taste buds were in absolute bliss - the salmon and sorrel dish I had at Boat Street ranked among some of the best. The prices for lunch were comparable to some restaurants' dinner prices, but the ambiance, service, and mouth-watering food are definitely worth it. I could not have had a better start to my morning!

    (5)

  • Maple C.

    Came here for brunch... so so so good. *drool* Crab cakes: tons of crab meat, and the accompanying salad and string beans were both well prepared as well Eggs benedict: Looked delicious (and probably was based on the fact that it was completely devoured within minutes). When my husband was done with it, I was sitting there sopping up the leftovers with bread hahaha. it's sad on my part, I know, but it was just so good I couldn't help myself! Biscuit with butter and honey: This is what I said in the restaurant when I finished eating this: "That was f____ing delicious, and I don't even like biscuits!" That pretty much sums up how good it was, but just for good measure and to be more descriptive, they were perfectly crisp on the outside, but soft and buttery (and not at all dry) on the inside. =P One of my friends ordered an egg dish (sadly, I dont know what it was called), but supposedly it was the best eggs he'd ever had. The croque madame also looked pretty delish as well. Note: 3131 Western is a huge building that has a ton of different businesses, so to get to this place you'll have to walk down this sloped area. The restaurant isn't visible from the street...

    (5)

  • Jenny S.

    A group of friends and I went to Boat Street Cafe for Easter brunch. We had a large party, but had made reservations in advance for 12:15. Despite the reservations, we didn't end up being seated until almost 1pm. We waited a long time for a waitress to even come around for drink orders, then waited even longer for the drinks to arrive. Waited even longer for food orders to be taken, then forever for food to actually come out. At one point, the waitress informed us they had run out of biscuits and was offering alternate options. What?!? We didn't leave the restaurant until 3pm because of the slow service. Unacceptable, especially as it was a holiday and people had other plans. Food was ok, but portions were small and I left hungry, probably because we were there so long. Not impressed, especially at the prices. Will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Suzy K.

    It was ok - not great, but ok. My husband had a lunch meeting here earlier in the week and had a cup of the soup. He liked it so we thought we would go back - same thing served for weekend brunch and we were charged a bit more, so I guess that threw me off a little. Some soup, bread, and side of greens for both of us was $35 without tip (no coffee or anything, just water). This is not outrageous - but it felt like maybe it was a bit too much. White linen is not really my style - so there is that to consider. Maybe a little music in the background would have been nice too?

    (3)

  • Linda C.

    Yum! Cute place tucked down a ramp and to the right... Yelp was spot on: - biscuits are fantastic - benedicts (multiple version) were EGGcellent! So soft and yummy! Street parking wasn't bad on a Sunday... t otally a great brunch place!

    (4)

  • Sierra S.

    Every vacation is bound to have one meal, one experience, one excusion that doesn't quite measure up. Maybe it's because you're jet-lagged, grumpy, or have sore feet. Maybe it's because the experience or meal just falls short, lacks a little bit of the charisma or magic you were hoping for. Technically speaking, the food at Boat Street Cafe was cooked perfectly. The eggs in my eggs benedict were a little bit of heaven in my mouth, the hollandaise delightful. Placed over a baguette as opposed to more obvious options, this itself was an interesting and welcoming twist. The decor was charmingly rustic, French countryside meets trendy cafe, set in a lovely industrialish building. Where Boat Street Cafe fell short for me was in it's reserved, nose slightly up in the air atmosphere. Sunday brunch, in my mind, is the epitome of warmth - laughter, comraderie, enjoyment over memories that are probably best forgotten and hangovers that can only be soothed with rich, creamy, savory creations. While the Boat Street Cafe staff was pleasant enough, they certainly couldn't be described as warm. Overall, while the decor tried to create a cozy, intimate feel, instead I felt like I was in a library or chuch, required to be on my best behavior, using my "proper" indoor voice. Where, Boat Street Cafe, is your soul, your passion? I brought mine, but I certainly missed out on yours. Maybe if I had gone for a quiet, slightly upscale dinner; maybe if we had sat in the Boat Street Kitchen section where it certainly sounded more rambunctious; maybe then this review would have been more enthusiastic. As it stands, however, this was an experience that left me wanting, on an otherwise stellar trip.

    (3)

  • Shep G.

    A group of us went to this great place before a concert at the Key, we had a really good time. The service was outstanding, and thanks to early Yelpers I was able to order the Pork chop knowing it was the bomb. YUM! Everybody loved what they ordered including some pretty touchy vegetarians that were with us...We had a table of eight, and they were very helpful figuring out our check at the end....I don't remember what I had for desert but I do remember that it was fantastic too....

    (5)

  • Conrad C.

    Another spot on the grand tour of Seattle that Wife and I went on with my parents. This restaurant is not where you might expect it to be. It's in Belltown but not really near other restaurants. But the space is really interesting and funky - not in a contrived way that you can sometimes find. It's just quirky. For appetizers we got the bread (yay! yay? Paying for bread seems too European for me, but it was good bread, I suppose), plus the pickle plate. The pickle plate is a bunch of different vegetables that have been pickled, not pickled cucumbers, which don't make an appearance at all. There were pickled onions, pickled beets, pickled cauliflower, pickled mushrooms, etc. Wifey and Dad Bey both got the halibut, which they enjoyed a lot. They weren't ranting and raving but it was a damn good fish. Mom Bey got the scallops. I got the pork loin which was fatty but boy was it good. It was also a huge portion, much bigger than the halibut. I got the impression (after sharing some) that the pork loin was the star of the evening.

    (4)

  • Lily S.

    How cute is this place? REALLY REALLY CUTE. Clean (this is good, this is v. v. good), bright, happy atmosphere, super attentive fantastic server (Ryan, I think?), and an awesome meal - tomato soup w/ goat cheese baguette, plus a veggie sandwich AND a glass of red wine to top it off? PLEASE, can I? And this was just for lunch (yeah, I got my drink on at lunch, what're you gonna do? Tell on me?) I think I will come back again for dinner. And this time, I'm gonna have dessert.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    My wife and I have been to Boat Street Kitchen several times for brunch and love it! We were dying to try Boat Street Cafe for dinner and it was terrible. Maybe we had high hopes, but both the food and service weren't great, especially for the price. First, the pickled fruit and vegetable plate only had vegetables on it and they were so acidic they were inedible. The next couple appetizers were just okay, though also very acidic and very small. Last, we split an entree of chicken that was undercooked. To top it all off, they overcharged us twice! The first bill seemed high to us so we checked it and sure enough, they overcharged us for everything. When we pointed it out, they recalculated the wrong price AGAIN. Not even a "sorry about that". Such a disappointment :-(((

    (1)

  • Nick G.

    It's been a while since I've been to a fancy restaurant since I've been single so it was a great experience. Boat Street Cafe is hidden in a little nook and cranny at the edge of Belltown. It has a nice French vibe with a hint of Asian decor. I went with a buddy of mine and we sat at the bar. I would recommend reservations if you're going to dine in as there was no space for us. I had the lamb flank and it was a great dish. The peas really brought out the flavor. Our waitress recommended a French wine which had an oak/spicy flavor which was a mediocre pairing for my lamb. Beware, it gave me a massive headache. This doesn't typically happen when I drink wine so you should do minimal research on the wine list before you go to make sure you're kosher. Anywho, it was a 4/5 experience. Probably a better venue to bring a gf although it was still a good experience sitting with a friend at the bar.

    (4)

  • Glenn F.

    I used to love the Boat Street Cafe in its location on the water, and think the owner did a remarkable job re-creating the feel of the old place in a new location that you wouldn't think at first was suited for it. Tucked down a ramp, and nearly underground, the restaurant has a feeling of light airiness even when you're inside. It's a taste of France without being slavish about it. My wife and I celebrated an anniversary here a couple of years ago, and I just visited for brunch a few days ago. The place was packed on a holiday Sunday morning, and they only take reservations for groups of 5 or more. They provided a pleasant waiting area near the reserved seating in a wing of the restaurant with free coffee. My friends and I chatted away, and the host regularly checked in with us as he gathered others for their seats, letting us know when it was getting close. Much appreciated (and often missing at other restaurants when there's a long wait). I had the chevre/artichoke hearts eggs benedict, which served on a crusty baguette is a little hard to cut, but I don't mind working for something that perfect. My friends were delighted with their food, too. We lingered, drank a lot of coffee and wine, and had a lovely time. It was busy but not crowded. You could hear each other even in a full room.

    (5)

  • Ha T.

    Boat Street Kitchen vs. Boat Street Café - same business, same building, different dining room, different hours, mostly different menu. It has to be a different chef, because the bread pudding is not even close to the perfection I had at the Café. The bread is somehow chewier. It has too much of a butter taste and I actually saw melted butter starting to separate from the cream - not pretty. The menu declared their cornmeal custard cake to be "better than pancake." It is not. The cake itself isn't bad, just different. The texture is crunchy and crumbly, while I prefer the fluffy softness of pancakes. The one good thing about this place: high-quality ingredients, especially the cheese.

    (3)

  • Joyce J.

    Came here for Saturday brunch and got the rainbow trout scramble eggs. It was ok. Got a bit of my friend's custard cake and it was sweet and I would agree that it's better than pancakes. I also tried their famous bread pudding, which I thought was pretty standard.

    (3)

  • Kiesha R.

    This review covers lunch only. The menu is unique and authentically French. I enjoyed the pork and onion sandwich with mayonnaise, which is as simple and tasty as it sounds - no real frills here. Everyone I dined with enjoyed their choices as well. It's worth noting that portions are not very large, but I think the richness of the food compensates for that. It's a cute spot that's intimate while also being somewhat spacious. Service was friendly. I might not have been blown away had it not been for the desserts, which moved them right up to 4 stars. The bread pudding was hands-down one of the best I've ever had - there was a rich liquer that the bread sat in, creating some delightful happiness in the mouth. We also sampled the chocolate flourless cake - darker than most I've had, so if you like very bittersweet, this will be right up your alley. I preferred the banana bread, which was buttery and incredible. My guess is that this is a better choice for dinner - give it a try!

    (4)

  • Mimi M.

    I was looking forward to brunch since I had heard so many good reviews. I was sorely disappointed. We arrived early before they opened because we had heard they filled up quickly. A server got our name and made sure people were seated in the order they arrived. That was the best part of our experience. We were the fourth seated and it took an hour to get our food. People who came in after we had ordered got their food first. We ordered bisquits off the starter menu and 20min later had to flag down our srrver to let them know we wanted them before our meal, which she somehow didn't understand. Isnt't that the definition of a starter? When our food did come it was good, but nothing special and way overpriced. A tiny amount of salmon on the benedict. The side of bacon was just sad. Not even a full 2 slices and the worst part was that it wasn't fully cooked. An hour later. REALLY? Time to step up your game boat street

    (1)

  • Larelle F.

    An "in the know" kind of place!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Brunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes

Boat Street Kitchen

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