Both Ways Cafe
4922 S Genesee St, Seattle, WA, 98118
Both Ways Cafe Menu
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Address :
4922 S Genesee St
Seattle, WA, 98118 - Phone (206) 722-5799
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Tino Q.
Yelp, you let me down this time. Really excited to try this place because of the great rating. Unfortunately, the food was mediocre, the cost did not reflect the quality or quantity of the food, and the service was terrible. I went with two of my friends - I had the breakfast burrito which had maybe one egg in it, a few pieces of potato and a few pieces of meat (appx $10) on a flour tortilla. My friends ordered the french toast and breakfast biscuits. They said the biscuits were dry and the French toast portions were only two slices. We waited for an hour and fifteen minutes for our food - and it wasn't even busy! We only ordered four dishes. In a city with many great brunch places where the cost reflects the quality, I will not be returning. Next time I'm going the short distance to the hangar cafe.
(1)Linda R.
How cute is this place?! Driven by this place a million times and finally tried it! It's a small and cozy with yummy breakfast. The Nw scramble was delicious, with salmon, cream cheese and veggies. The cream cheese in it was something I had never tried, but I loved it! It is small inside, so not great for groups. A few outdoor tables too.
(4)Mike C.
These two stars are for the nice cheery people who staff this eatery. I'd like to give them more stars but... Heading out to breakfast this morning to Stone House... they were closed for the day. Glad they treat their people well on Labor Day. But where to eat. I kept driving along that road till I got to Both Ways Cafe. I've passed this place many times but never stopped there to eat. I didn't want to drive all the way into Seattle to find a place, so I parked the car and went there. The staff was cheery and helpful but the food was not up to par. I ordered a spinach and feta omelette which came with potatoes, toast and a little fruit garnish. I asked for a side of bacon with some decaf coffee. All that came to $20 with tip. The omelette was the best part but it had very little feta and barely some spinach. I ordered some salsa because all they had for hot sauce was tabasco. Note to all restaurants: Tabasco is crap! Find some of the other great hot sauces out there! The potatoes were dry, dry, dry... like they had been cooked yesterday and left out till this morning and barely heated up. The toast faired a little better but it was still dry. The bacon I ordered as a side dish was pitiful!!! 2.5 pieces of mostly crunchy fat. Not much meat on them at all and very dry. The fruit garnish was days old and very small. Tiny square of watermelon, orange and green melon and the tiniest grape ever. The place was packed and I can't see the appeal, except that all the locals must be going there because they are too lazy to go to someplace good. Ugh! A waste of money. My poor stomach.
(2)Dalina L.
Came here for brunch for the first time and i thought it was delicious. It's this nice little place on the corner at sewaed park on Genesee. It's kinda small but there's a couple benches outside to sit as well. I ordered the home made fries with bacon and 2 eggs on top. the menu says 11 but it's actually 12, the girl didn't charge us for a coffee for her mistake. When you think of "fries" you literally think fries, but they're just potaoes on the bottom of the eggs, with pico de gallo, which tasted super fresh! i really liked it, and it's really filling. I would love to come here again! The waiter was kind of awkward, not sure if it was because i was asian and they're used to seeing their usual seward park faces, other than that food was good!
(4)Tyra D.
What a gem. We were escorted here by friends that just happened upon it. Everything is made in house. Old town vibe, locals favorite. We had brunch and it was all delicious. I had a scone (yum)! With amazing homemade jam. The scone was a Scottish scone and had great texture flavor, hubs had a cinnamon roll with raisins- he said it was ok, nothing special, but he would order it again. We all had grits. Very good! We would go out of our way to come back here. Thank you Both Ways!
(5)Lemme K.
This was a very good breakfast place. Their biscuit is amAzing!!!! It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. And all the dish we had was delicious. The portions was pretty generous and you can tell the food is of high quality. And the service was good as well, the waitress keeps coming over to make sure we are good and water/coffee was constantly refilled so we never had to ask. The only thing that I have to criticize on is the size of the restaurant. It's pretty cramped and we had to sit crunched up with another group so it kind of ruin the atmosphere. Other than that, everything is amazing there. Would definitely come back for sure.
(4)Aimee K.
Not quite in the questionable stretch of Rainier Ave and a couple of blocks from the lair of the lake people. You can find street parking close by pretty easily. Typical cafe environs in there: wood floors, a small collection of odd wooden tables and a glass display case in the back by the register where they sell house baked goods such as scones, rolls, pastries etc. It's cozy and you'll definitely get to see what your neighbors ordered but focus on your own and you should be good. Or you can gamble on the weather and eat at one of the several picnic tables outside which would better suit a large group. We ordered the daily special which was a Canadian bacon, mushroom and leek scramble and a spinach havarti scramble both with home fries and a biscuit. The service is a little spotty. While they seated us right away and took our order quickly considering we told them we needed more time, the first cups of coffee stayed half full or less for a while. Then they noticed us and we couldn't keep the cup below full. Longer wait then typical for your entree, too. Very tasty eggs, but the home fries were just so so and the biscuit was too sweet for my taste (you'll be disappointed if you've tasted one from Morsel in the U-District). Average prices for the times. Still, the chill vibe and tasty eggs wins a star above A-OK.
(4)Gillian G.
I love their food and atmosphere! I've come at least 3 times, with my bf, friends, and for my birthday brunch with family. Their biscuits are delicious and their hash-browns. I cant remember what all i've had for breakfast but i was never disappointed. The only bummer is getting a table, but they have reserved a spot for me when i called 20 minutes ahead. Thanks both ways! Another tip- it isn't very accessible- no railings on the 1-2 steps to enter, and no room for my dads walker. Though we managed by linking arms.
(5)Madison G.
***Wild King Salmon Scramble*** Order that for breakfast and then come back and thank me. I'll be waiting. Other than that, I don't have much else to say. I was completely amazed at how wonderful my breakfast was though, so I will for sure be back. They have outside seating, which was pretty nice since it was a nice sunny morning. And surprisingly, we were checked on consistently while eating outside. I feel like places usually forget about you when the majority of their customers are inside. =\ So, that was a plus.
(4)Kayan H.
Came here for breakfast and loved everything! Good service, reasonable prices. We tried: Frittata special with bacon, potatoes and some veggies. Delectable! Salmon scramble was really delicious as well. I couldn't decide which entree I liked better so was glad my husband and I were able to share the two. We chose biscuits as our side and it was the right decision. With the butter and freezer jam it was awesome. Potatoes came with egg dishes and those were yummy as well. Glad we discovered this place. Will definitely come back!
(4)Allison M.
Met a friend here for lunch on a Friday and it was pretty busy but we were able to get a table to problem. It's a seat yourself type of place and super laid back with limited but eclectic seating options. The servers were very attentive as I waited for my friend to arrive and didn't rush us to order. Our waitress was very knowledgable about the menu and was able to answer our many questions (we both have weird diet preferences) without appearing irritated. She even recommended the fresh fruit as a side instead of the bread options, and they didn't charge us extra for it. I had the Spanish tortilla omelet which doesn't actually have a tortilla, the egg is the tortilla, and has cheese, potatoes and pico on the side. Only issue was that the menu said sour cream comes with it but I didn't get it and when I asked for it they charged me $.25 but didn't tell me it was going to be extra, although it should have been included, irritating but not a big deal. The food took a long time to come out but they were busy, I was in good company and the food was worth the wait so again, wasn't a big deal. I would have given 5 stars if not for those 2 things. Bottom line, go here, you won't be disappointed, good food, great service, and good for infants and kids. My friend is 8 months pregnant and the waitress made a point to tell her to come in after she has the baby to just eat and hang out because they won't kick her out and they have books and games for kids.
(4)Esther S.
First off, since this is a SMALL breakfast place, expect to wait forever for a seat. I think my coworker and I waited outside (after our 5k) for about an hour to an hour and a half. I wanted to leave but my coworkers wanted to wait. So finally we get seated, and the food takes a bit of a wait too- like 30-40 min. But! The food was good! I ordered the breakfast sandwich with veggie sausage. Delicious. So I give it an "ok". Also, bathroom is hidden. You literally have to walk behind their counter lol
(3)Anthony F.
Hmmm more of a coffee shop and pastries than anything. It was alright, but found a hair in my sandwich which was the end of that lunch. They were very understanding and they took good care of the situation. But after a hair in my food let's just say no thank you.. Hmmm probably will not return to try anything else.. Just my prerogative I guess..
(2)Fumi W.
Perfect for: fueling up before a lake ride, multi generational brunch, biscuits! The best biscuit in Seattle. Delicious and simple breakfast, relaxed atmosphere, big round table for group, event posters on the walls are always updated. Kids friendly. I always get biscuit with butter and jam, coffee and bacon. The service can be a bit slow, so be patient, not a good recommendation for when you are in a hurry!
(4)Razel M.
As we were standing at the register, trying to pay and waiting for someone to acknowledge our presence so we could get out of there, another gentleman behind us asked, "Are you guys having the same bizarre experience we are?" Bizarre is a good word to describe our brunch experience at Both Ways. Let me start from the beginning. We walked in, and despite the couple servers walking around, no one acknowledged us or directed us to a table. So we headed to a corner table that was empty of dishes, but had not been wiped down. What appeared to be a father-son duo sat on a similar table next to us. After a few minutes, a server attempted to take their order. They had not yet received menus. She went to grab menus for them. We got her attention and asked for menus as well, but she left too quickly for us to ask her to get our table cleaned. She eventually did return with menus, asked what we wanted to drink, and promised to wipe down our table. She delivered David's coffee and wiped down the table, but again left too quickly before he could ask for some cream. Also, she handed us glasses of water. Which were room temperature. In Seattle summer, that means warm. She returned again, and we ordered, and David asked for his cream. This was delivered a bit later, and for the next HALF HOUR, different servers came and went refilling his coffee. No updates on our order, no apologies that it was taking so long. The next table had ordered after us, but received their order before we did, which at that point we had begun to expect. The basic concept of a single server controlling a particular group of tables seemed to be pretty lost on these people. I had my wallet and card out on the table since we were planning a trip and I was paying for a hotel on my phone. An older lady who was serving as well, asked if I was ready to pay. Excuse me? She then realized we HADN'T EVEN RECEIVED OUR ORDER. As she walked away, a younger guy showed up with our food and we finally ate. My Northwest scramble was pretty good, and David's biscuit breakfast sandwich looked okay as well. The biscuits were flaky and tasty and there was a yummy apricot/orangey jam. There was a lot of oil used to make the omelette and home fries, though, which made me a bit nauseous. We finished eating fairly quickly. During our meal, I asked our original server for some ice, and she gave me a glass-full -- if they had ice to start with, why wasn't this automatically in our water?! Anyway, the next table over had got their bill and was walking out. I asked for the bill, and it was delivered to me by yet another young woman. That's 4 different people having served us by now. I put my card on the table immediately, but of course she had walked away by then. About five to ten minutes later, still no one had taken my card. So we decided to just get up to the register and pay. Five times someone walked by without acknowledging us, asking what we wanted, or anything. A couple people looked like they were looking for something to do, but apparently we were momentarily invisible, I dunno. Anyway, our original server finally said she would be right with us, then walked away again. After another few minutes, the older lady took my card, ran it, and we finally left. It boggles my mind that they are still in business. The basic concepts of running a restaurant seems completely lost on them. Here's a tip: acknowledge your customers, even if it's just to say, "We'll be right with you." Have some basic organization so that servers aren't doing the same thing for a table one moment, and then completely ignoring it for a long time because they assume someone else has dealt with it. Apologize to your customers if you realize they have been waiting a long time. Actually realize and notice what is going on at your tables! I will never return, and I hope this review either helps the business figure out how to make things work, or prevent other unsuspecting Yelpers from falling into this weird, frustrating trap.
(1)Forrest H.
Menu is limited and missing key food staples. Service is slow and dining area is cramped. It's a unique cafe and if you like this sort of thing then you will probably give it a good review. But for me it was a sub par place to go in that water is all I ordered. 3 stars because the food looks good, just nothing I like.
(3)Danielle C.
My boyfriend was keen on taking us to this cafe because last time he was here he really enjoyed the food. However today was just a bizarre experience and judging on a few recent reviews, I suspect that lately this restaurant has been in a bad funk! First off it took forever for someone to give us menus. Then it took forever for someone to take our order. Then it took about 45 minutes for the food to come out. There was literally no explanation from the people. I don't know if they were just short staffed today or what. I even saw a table just walk out because it took so long to get food. The french toast I had was OK. I am inclined to agree with another reviewer that there was not much egg. The bacon was a bit overdone although was glad to see many pieces of bacon. They gave you one small piece of cantaloupe, one small piece of honeydew, and one small piece of watermelon which I thought was a bit insulting. Either have a few more pieces than that or none at all. The northwest scramble was tasty, I will admit. Very little service + mediocre food + long wait time = terrible experience.
(2)Krysten T.
Boyfriend and I had a great Sunday breakfast! Giant buttermilk biscuits - need I say more? I had the Northwest Scramble: eggs with smoked salmon, mushrooms, spinach and cream cheese. It was just what I wanted on a grey Seattle morning. His sausage and egg biscuit breakfast sandwich was huge, but he wasn't a fan of the sausage they used. Will definitely be back to try more of the menu!
(4)Shannon M.
Tasty breakfast, super crowded because it was a nice day but no wait. I'm still partial to a few other businesses in Columbia City when it comes to brunch, but this was a really good meal as well.
(4)Tyquan M.
What a great little place! A friend brought me here for lunch and I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing food! I had the eggs with apple sausages which came with home fries and an incredible biscuit as well. It was a great amount of food and I pretty much cleared my plate. The service was also the best I have experienced in a whole. Our servers were warm, attentive and respectful. I can't wait to come back and feast on some more of their yummy food!
(5)George Z.
Yeah, service sucks. I think they hire high school kids as servers. Though actually my first time there service took forever. All other times it's ranged from decent to very good. I've gotten their different scrambles, which are good, and the home fries are excellent. But recently I got their breakfast burrito. I really think it is the best I've ever had. In Arizona I've had fresh made from scratch flour tortilla's on the Navajo Rez, and this one reminded me of that. And the home fries with eggs, cheese, spinach and chicken Apple sausage were in perfect proportion. It is quite pricey especially with the chicken sausage, but it makes for a nice way to treat yourself on the occasional Sunday. They make pretty good coffee, and have some nice baked goodies at the counter as well.
(4)Michael G.
We tried this little cafe on Valentine's Day morning and it was wonderful! The service was very attentive, even with a busy morning. The biscuits are delicious and the home-made sausage gravy was just perfect. It's a small cafe that seemed filled with families with you children. There was even a children's book rack near the door! Being close to the park makes it an easy weekend morning stopover for sure!
(5)Jessica D.
I'm not sure I should bother writing a review since everyone else seems to have nailed it... the service here is... weird. Honestly what I suspect is that the service here is young, or at least that was my experience. While I was seated and acknowledged when I came in (eventually but they were busy), after my order was taken my server NEVER checked on me again. I had to flag someone down every time I wanted something... a refill on hot water, cream for my tea, you name it. I should add that by the time I was seated the rush I came in to was largely gone... they weren't that slammed that they couldn't find time to check on me. More importantly my table was right by the counter... they literally had to walk past me every time they did anything. As a former server it's very rare I don't leave a tip well over 20% especially when I'm dining alone. This time I pulled out a calculator to figure an exact 15% tip. I don't know that I've ever done that before but honestly the service just wasn't worth more than that. As for the food, my eggs were good and everything else was fine. Nothing to complain about but nothing to go out of your way for either. Train your servers better Both Ways and you'll receive much better ratings.
(3)Ann W.
I enjoy this quaint and unpretentious cafe with day long breakfast fixins and fresh homemade baked goods. I have been here twice, and I have had their savory mushroom and cheese quiche, large buttery biscuits, perfectly seasoned potatoes, and fresh fruit plate. I enjoyed everything with my favorite being the biscuit! The customer service is also great--friendly and efficient. Also it is so easy to find parking around here. Don't overlook this little place!
(4)Shawn R.
Update: We finally decided to give this place another try, and we are so glad we did. The service was amazing, and the food was fantastic! Our waitress was super kind and friendly, and we were seated almost right away. It must have just been a rough few months for this place, but they are even better than ever! And yes, you owe it to yourself to try the biscuits... You'll thank me later! Original Post: This used to be one of our favorite places to eat. I'm not sure what has changed in the past month or two, but our experience today was abysmal. We waited an hour and a half for our food, and still nothing. The coffee was bad, the service was even worse. No apologies for the delay or even attempts to make it right. Two different waitresses promised to check on our order, and neither one ever returned with an update. What a shame. Will not return anytime soon if ever, and will be sure to let our friends know the same.
(5)Kyle F.
Where to start. It took us forever to get service. Even in such a small restaurant that wasn't crowded. Then they proceeded to bring us warm water. Warm. Water. When we finally did order it took about fifteen minutes to get two French toast plates. And this is where it really goes downhill. I'm no chef, but typically French toast is dipped in some kind of egg. The 'French toast' here was nothing more than a grilled piece of white bread. There may have been some butter or something on it. It was horrible. We are on vacation here and between the service, food, and water I wouldn't come back here nor would I recommend anyone going here. I'm sure Seattle has better breakfast places.
(1)Lily S.
Not bad, not bad. I had the biscuit sandwich with veggie sausage and it was quite yummy. The biscuits were flaky and solid (as in solid good, not solid as a rock), not doughy, which is a plus in my book, the egg perfectly cooked and it was drenched in cheese, which was also a good thing. I love veggie sausage, so no complaints here. My dining comrade ordered the biscuits and gravy. I stuck my fork in the gravy and found it to be way. Too. Sausage-y. I don't really like normal sausage anyway, but damn, this tasted like all sausage all the time. Needless to say, my dining partner pushed the gravy around and ate mostly the biscuit portion of the dish. That being said, I'll definitely come back if I'm in the Seward Park area, as the breakfast biscuit sandwich I had was yummy!
(4)Zach P.
Had a scramble. It was delicious. They have Morningstar vege sausage which is the best vege sausage period and transforms any breakfast into a phenomenal experience. My wife thought her 2 egg breakfast was good but not amazing. Prices were high but not unreasonable. Staff seemed pleasant.
(4)Peter K.
Total neighborhood joint. Reliably good food and biscuits that keep u coming back. Outdoor seating in summer on basic tables.
(5)John C.
Seems to be back on track.
(4)Chalker S.
I Love their salmon scramble, I wish they were open all day!
(5)Amy L.
This is an awesome brunch spot, in a lovely neighborhood. The staff at both ways Cafe is friendly and serves up their coffee and pastries with a smile. I ordered the smothered potatoes, such a treat. Homefries covered in cheese, with bits of bacon, topped with sour cream can it get any better? Also, the waitress was too sweet, when I wanted extra foamy cappuccino she made me an extra special mug filled with my cappuccino and it was brimming with foam. Their house made seasonal jams are always great, and it's a perfect excuse to order up some toast of biscuits to smother it on. Such a wonderful neighborhood cafe.
(4)Josh T.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits. Word on the street is they have good biscuits. They do. This cute little neighborhood cafe is too cute and crowded for its own good but they really manage it pretty well if you're patient. They have much more space when the weather permits the patio to be open. Get the biscuits, and be patient. Biscuits.
(4)L H.
What the heck is going on here? Walked up and went inside. 3 or 4 different employees passed right by us at least a dozen times, without acknowledging us. No greeting, not even a polite smile. We asked an employee if we're supposed to seat ourselves, and he gave us a vague answer along the lines of yes, but maybe not because there are other people waiting, I'll be back. We waited for him to come back. Never did. Meanwhile, an employee pushed passed me with some chairs, without so much as an excuse me... it was more like move or get hit. After waiting for the employee who said he'd be right back for about 5 minutes (we've been there for about 12 minutes now), we sat ourselves at a table for 4. Again, plenty of employees squeezing by without acknowledging us. Aforementioned guy brings us silverware, leaves, wipes down our table, asks us if we want drinks, then leaves. We look at the menu for about 10 minutes (we've already decided within 2) then he comes back to take our order. He says they've been super busy and their kitchen was super behind and hopes it isn't still. We order iced tea, arnold palmer, biscuit sandwich and two eggs meal. He comes back about 7 minutes later with the drinks and says he was still brewing iced tea so it's probably weak. It is. He comes back about 20 minutes later to refill our beverages, the tea is actually properly steeped now, so he refills the iced tea, and instead of making another arnold palmer, just pours iced tea into it. Our food comes and looks pretty good. Small, random amount of fruit on the plate with my eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes. Eggs were ordered over medium, and are very over easy which is a surefire sign a breakfast place doesn't know what they're doing. Bacon is average. Potatoes are really very roasted, they look fried, and they're below average. The toast, which is made in house says the menu, is very dry. Like cut the roof of your mouth dry. The biscuit used for the sandwich is sweet - not savory. This blew my mind... as they had savory biscuits up on the pastry case. Why would you use a sweet biscuit to sandwich eggs and sausage?! Gross. No one brought us our check.... so my partner stood up to stand by the register, where 3 other people were standing and not being helped. At one point, some other lady asks me if we want our check, and I say, oh he's up there already. So, she brings us our check instead, but doesn't stay long enough for us to just hand her our card... our actual server returns about 5 minutes later, takes the check, and brings us our change. We run away and never, ever, ever plan on returning. What a joke. Go to Geraldine's or any other great brunch place within a mile.
(1)Jacob B.
Comfy vibe and atmosphere. Servers were nice. Tasted like a good home cooked breakfast with good coffee. Good amount of food for the price unlike some other cafés around Columbia city.
(4)Anthony H.
I went for brunch and I was very happy with my visit. I got the Northwest Scramble which was basically a Smoked Salmon and Mushroom omelet. Normally I don't like eating eggs, but there was enough other stuff in the omelet to keep me eating until I finished the plate. The plate also came with some potatoes, a few pieces of fruit, and a piece of toast or a biscuit. I tried both the toast and the butternut biscuit and both were great. They don't skimp on the breads - both were large pieces. Overall, I finished my plate and I was full and satisfied. Their portioning was great for me (normally I either have leftovers or I'm uncomfortably full). I would recommend if you're looking for a nice brunch spot. The staff is very friendly and the food is great.
(4)Stacey W.
Oof. Waited 10 minutes to sit down. Waited another 45 to get food. One staff member got us coffee while we waited for a table, and otherwise, we were completely ignored. The biscuits and gravy were bland. My scramble was good, but there was no butter for the biscuit. Will never return.
(1)Chelsea S.
So I don't live in the area and hardly ever have a chance to come here but I will make the effort to come back. Namely, my first date with the bf was here so it holds a sweet spot in my heart. Plus, who is not to love sitting outside at their adorable little tables on a rare Seattle sunshine kind of morning during Seafair weekend?!? I had heard rave reviews about their biscuits so I had to try them. I ordered just your standard breakfast with sunny side up eggs which also came with the biscuit, some fresh fruit, and homefries. Everything was really good and perfectly cooked. The biscuit was really good, especially with their homemade raspberry freezer jam. I had a very good meal here with a great dining partner and can't wait to come back again.
(4)Chris H.
The food is pretty good for the price. Definitely not top 10 for breakfast food in Seattle. Service is awful though. I'm not sure where they find these people. They're either high or just complete idiots. Food is three stars.
(3)amy c.
The restaurant is adorable. It's small (which means there's a wait on the weekends and you may overhear every word your neighbor says) but they open outdoor seating during decent weather which is a perfect option for someone who needs more space. The staff are friendly, the food is creative and tasty, the portions are generous, and if you don't need much to eat (like me) then you can order anything on the menu at half the size for half the price! The salmon scramble is my favorite... A must-try.
(5)Liz O.
Their house baked breads and pastries are consistently delicious. Scrumptious comfort food desserts like fresh cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, pecan and fruit pies, jumbo assorted freshly baked cookies, tender cheese danish and coffee cakes, like cinnamon-cardamom. This place gives loving attention to food preparation and you can taste it in every bite. The breakfast plates are piled high with bacon, sausage and biscuits. The sandwiches made on their freshly baked bread, are seriously almost too big to bite into. My favorite is tuna on honey-wheat. I love the sticky buns and outrageous, buttery, caramely, good pecan pie. The staff are always friendly and attentive even when it's busy. So glad I live near this place.
(5)Danica S.
The best cafe in the neighborhood. Try their omelets, fresh homemade biscuits and the home fries which are to die for! You can even get a half order :)
(5)Caitlin C.
I was a little confused about how to order when I went in, as I'm used to cafes being places where you order at a counter and then go sit down, and Both Ways seems to be more of a sit-down place where someone will come and take your order. Strawberry scone, brewed coffee, and breakfast burrito with veggie sausage were all excellent, and kept me going all day on a trip to Mount Rainier. I'd definitely come back if I needed to fuel up before a road trip.
(4)Maren H.
A friend just moved up the street so we gave this place a go. It's cute, the servers were really nice but the food was super average. I liked the look of the menu but was somewhat disappointed with my meal. I had the spinach and Havarti scramble with potatoes. The scramble was pretty okay, the biscuit was a bit dry and the potatoes were really mealy. My friend got a tuna sandwich and it came with thick bread so it was hard to eat. Totally an okay place but nothing spectacular.
(3)James K.
Old school, earthy crunchy seattle before SUV's and high tech took over. Good coffee and wonderful baked goods.
(5)Lindsey K.
Omg...my fave! They have the best homemade biscuits ever!! I always order the Denver Omelet when I'm there but I honestly go there for the biscuits that it comes with. Not that the omelet isn't good of course... everything is delicious! And the service is always great~ :) This is my go-to breakfast joint.
(5)Daren D.
Great breakfast spot - and breakfast available all day. :D I swung by this morning for some fixin's: a tofu scramble and --well, just see the pic! + a soy chai and water. It's small and definitely busy for the first meal of the day. Great food and that AC sausage was quite good. The bar seating at the giant mirror is neat for easy/incognito people watching. =P I think it'd be fun for a breakfast club outing - if a reservation could be done.
(4)Theodore P.
Breakfast is not a meal to be taken lightly. Despite this, our society consistently disregards the foundational component of any good day, instead opting for a rushed bagel eaten hastily before running out the door or on- the- go cereals consumed in one's car. At Both Ways, you'll notice things work a little bit differently. After a recent pilates class, the wife and I dropped in for a mid-morning brunch. I had raved to her all about the attentive young rock and roller waitress, and lo and behold, there she was at the door. "Welcome to Both Ways, where Breakfast is a state of mind", she said as led us to our spacious table. Indeed! The staff at Both Ways Cafe is truly passionate about the art of Breakfast, and making sure that you take a chill pill from the pressures of 21st century living. The wife and I camped out at Both Ways for several hours, enjoying many cups of strong black coffee and french toast cooked to fluffy perfection. When we looked up, it was four o'clock and the restaurant was closing! At Both Ways, time doesn't matter. Breakfast does.
(5)Michael M.
My new favorite breakfast place in Seattle. Very small, so there may been a bit of wait but its worth it. The Northwest Scramble was heaven and the homemade bread - the bomb. The little details are what makes this place great. The people are friendly and coffee is gourmet. Try the homemade gravy if you dare. Its delicious and you will fell guilty afterwards.. A good guilt...
(5)Yumiko K.
Both Ways Cafe offers good food for those who are patient. If it weren't for their slow service and inattentiveness, I would give this place 4 stars. We ordered 2 coffees as soon as we sat down. The table hadn't been cleaned properly (some food crumbs and ketchup), so we requested *twice* (different ladies each time) for the table to be cleaned --- in vain. The coffee was good, but our cups were empty for most of the time we were there (refilled only once). We also ordered Havarti scramble with a biscuit, and a slice of pear and pecan bread. I was hoping for early arrival of the pear and pecan bread, but no such luck. As I was ready to start eating the jam on the table, the food finally came out!! The scramble came with some fruits and potatoes as well as the flakiest biscuit. I am a huge Havarti fan, so I really enjoyed the scrambles with lots of spinach and cheesy goodness. The potatoes were crispy and seasoned well, and the biscuit was warm, flaky, and delicious with the jam. The pear and pecan bread was moist and sweet with a nice kick from ginger. The quality of food was fantastic. The service was friendly but super slow (even though it was not that crowded...) I'd love to go back there, but not when I am starving!
(3)Jennifer C.
We live walking distance to Both Ways, and over the last year have - for a variety of reasons - wound up there for breakfast. The last time was a couple of days ago and it's time to write a review. The food is perfectly good and reasonably priced. Sitting outside is lovely, and sitting inside is nice. The service, however, is awful. It's become a joke in our family, because it is just that bad. We've never ended a meal with the same server we started with, and you need to have a lot of time to wait for your food.. I went 30 minutes with no water or a refill on my coffee this last time, and no server came by at all after the food came out. We had to walk in to hand over our card - and it wasn't the first time. The servers aren't jerks, they are just bad. Very, very bad.
(2)Ashley S.
The first time I came here, I ordered biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs. It was delicious. loved the chopped up sausages in the gravy and the biscuit was buttery and flakey. there was also a good amount of sauce which I enjoyed. The second time I came here I ordered the same thing. But this time it wasn't as good as the first time. The biscuits were a little hard, there wasn't much sauce, and my sunny side eggs were over cooked. It was like a piece of rubber on top of my biscuit and gravy. Overall, the wait for the food is long; both times I've been there it took 30+ min to get my food,and the service is okay.
(3)Dakota H.
It's a great neighborhood spot with relatively easy parking (it has a lot too). The food is good and the atmosphere is low key and friendly. The service is also great (friendly and smiley) :)
(5)Michael T.
Outstanding biscuits, good breakfast food, but absolutely dreadful service. When we left they had a line out the door, open tables, several of which were still laden with dirty plates and crumpled napkins. Definitely room for improvement here.
(2)Jane M.
The salmon scramble was out of this world and to quote my husband "this is the best biscuit I have ever had". And he is an expert!
(5)Laurie K.
This is my go to place for breakfast and it is consistently yummy! Their biscuits are the Bomb and their staff is helpful, even when run ragged! Note that on a weekend, and especially on a Bike Sunday, this place is packed and there is little room to move. The sun shines directly into the front windows and it can get uncomfortably hot inside at times. So make sure you find a place to sit at one of the outdoor tables!! Try the jam they offer on all of their tables, it's sweet and tasty without being too sugary. Their coffee drinks are really well done (not always a given at a place that offers full breakfasts) and the pastry is to die for. I love their chicken sausage and it's always a struggle for me to decide whether to have bacon or the sausage when I decide to have eggs. Really like their Juevos as well. Do yourself a favor and try to get there early, if on a weekend, and often if during the week. Great folks, great food. Love it!
(4)Gina B.
yumminess... it's a small little cafe which gets packed on weekends, but let me tell you totally worth the wait.. they don't have a kids menu, but everything on their menu can be kid portioned.. quaint little spot, great atmosphere and OMG wonderful food. so happy we found this spot
(5)Chelsea G.
This place has a small cafe/bakery with an unrefined, industrial feel to it. However, it is charming, and the staff is courteous and ... Smiley! There seems to be There's lack of that quality in customer service around these parts. Their espresso is actually good, and not just tolerable, like a lot of places that serve it. I ordered the oatmeal for breakfast, and for $7.50 it's quite a large portion, with nuts, raisins, and fresh banana slices piled on top. Pretty darned good!
(4)Rafael R.
It isn't just about the biscuits....almost.... Fabulous neighborhood standby features breads and pastries baked fresh on-site. These guys know how to scramble eggs, and the home fries are laced with colorful pepper slices adding just the right touch of sweet/char to the mix. I always take my eggs with the biscuit, which can't be beat when topped off with a slathering of hot honey they keep stored atop the espresso maker. Lunch is what you'd expect from a counter that takes pride in their meals. Espresso from a real machine and not a push button makes this almost the perfect place for me. A lot of quality breakfast/lunch spots only serve drip coffee and it's nice to find a place where they pull a good shot of espresso. Nice days are best enjoyed from the outdoor seating area, and after lunch head down the hill to take a stroll along the lake and enjoy the sailboats bobbing in the marina.
(5)Sara A.
I can't think of anything they do wrong at this place. I love brunch here! I have never had to wait, and in fact have decided to go straight here many times knowing anywhere else would have a wait. The food is so good! I usually eat too much, because I just can't stop. Love the biscuits. Coffee is also great. Service is prompt and friendly. The menu choices are creative yet comfortable, and they always have a special of the day. The prices are comparable to most Seattle cafes for brunch: $7-$10/plate. The space is a little small, so coming with a big group might be difficult. You have to try this place for brunch!
(5)Ian B.
I love the food and atmosphere here and have written about BWC before and raved about their biscuits (like so many others), but I am sadly going to amend my raves due to a disappointing visit. For the third time I have gone for a weekend breakfast I was a little bummed to be told that they are out of biscuits. It seems to me that if you have a signature item of renown, you'd make sure to make more than enough for your busiest hours/days. It's biscuits, for cryin' out loud - the ingredients are common, inexpensive, keep well easily, and they can be made in advance! To add to the disappointment: it took over an hour to get our food - just eggs and such; nothing difficult or labor intensive. Being pumped full of strong coffee on an empty stomach as you wait, without explanation, for an indefinite amount of time, is a kind of agony. At the one-hour mark, my breakfast partner got up and left to walk up the hill to the grocery store for some food while I waited for the order to get it to go - he ended up eating before me. My guess is that when they ran out of biscuits, the kitchen put our order on hold, and after we adjusted our order the server never gave the "go ahead" to the kitchen - as I said: this is a guess as no explanation was ever given. Inadequate prep in the kitchen, poor server/kitchen coordination and lack of server/customer communication made for a crumby weekend breakfast. I regret that after today's hour-plus long wait to be served (at our table), in the future I'll need to make sure no one in my party is hungry before we go - in which case: why not just make eggs for breakfast at home?
(2)Kelly W.
We moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and decided to finally give this breakfast+lunch spot a try. I ordered the Mexi-scramble which came with black beans and toast. It was delish! My mom had the breakfast burrito which looked great and was HUGE. My stepdad had the Spinach and Havarti scramble, which came with potatoes and toast. It looked also looked great and he was pleased with it. It's a pretty small restaurant and service was slow, but the food made up for it! They also had great looking pastry + bakery selection, especially the cinnamon rolls! I also really appreciated the fact that they were very kid-friendly and had a lot of kids books and even some toys which they brought to the table without even being asked. Thumbs up! We will be back and next time I'm trying some of those sweets...
(4)Lori H.
The sox were great but I wish the clerk had more knowledge about neckties. Can't wait to come back here with the snow club!
(4)Claudette S.
Sebastian is the best chef ever
(5)Jason Z.
My wife and I love The Both Ways Cafe! It's in our neighborhood and there are not a lot of breakfast options in this part of Seattle so we have developed an appreciation for the balance of convenience and quality that this little cafe provides us. Their biscuits are the best in the city. In fact they consistently win the "best biscuit in Seattle" award. My favorite's are the egg/biscuit sandwich and the Northwest scramble. The service is sometimes slow, but we have come to except this reality because the food quality usually makes up for the wait.
(4)Dante M.
Well I will start with the positives. Well, there was really only one. So the food was definitely good. I had a build-your-own omelette with peppers, onions, and bacon. Came with potatoes, toast, and some fruit. Definitely some good breakfast. The service was HORRIBLE. First, they only had one high-chair and it was being used so the two babies that had been with us had to sit on their parents laps and basically were not allowing them to eat! Secondly, the food took a VERY long time to come out. There was 5 of us, and it wasn't really that busy. Seemed there was only one guy cooking, and everyone else seemed to be standing around. When we finally did receive our meals, a friend of mine had their breakfast w/o bacon. The server then proceeded to grab the bacon with her bare hands, and give it back to her. All in front of us!!! At least take it to the back! I thought this was ridiculous, but we were too hungry to say anything. All in all, this place had good food, but the service was horrendous, therefore I will not come back nor recommend anyone to it!
(2)Don C.
I eat here at least every two weeks. The service is very friendly and the kitchen rocks. The food is delish'. Try the biscuits, the curry chix salad, and the home fries. Much love to you Both Ways!
(5)ryan r.
Can't stop bragging about this place. This wonderful neighborhood cafe has a truly great scramble with fresh ingredients. To go or in house, this is not a place to missed. Next door to flying squirrel pizza. My recommendation is to get a breakfast burrito or breakfast sandwich and walk to the lake. Only complaint would be the slightly high end prices.
(4)Jaie R.
Delicious. I love the biscuits and the service is super-friendly. A great place for a nice relaxed brunch.
(5)Penny R.
This place has the best food, REAL food, that you can get in this area. The people who complain about slow service are apparently too good to get up and get their own coffee. Hello, the pots are right on the counter so help yourself! The servers are nice people and they bust their butts to make you happy, you don't see them sitting around anywhere do you?? The cooks are incredible and Dick the owner is a genius baker and cook. I will never forget those black beans I got with my special of the day breakfast. OMG so good! The biscuits and breads are delicious and the menu items are all good, the specials are usually brilliant so I usually order whatever is on the blackboard. We love Both Ways! btw the coffee is great!
(5)Steven I.
Down to earth breakfast, Both Ways is your place. We come here for real food, a breakfast that satisfies. Especially enjoy the baked goods. This spot is great when you want breakfast after a crazy work day, anytime.
(4)Selena B.
This is a cute little local breakfast/lunch place near Seward park. Its superbly laid back (meaning, service isn't speedy), and has that ..neo hippie organic 'we-recycle, and bought all our furniture at Salvation Army' feel. The items on the menu were normal, something you could cook at home but probably are too lazy to do so, type stuff. The real goodies are the scones.. OMG HOT FRESH BUTTERMILK BISCUTS... danger zone.. highly suggest stopping by and picking some up after a run at the park :)
(4)Sandy H.
I can't wait to go back. Always searching for a place to go for breakfast after a fun run with the TEAM in Training group we stumbled upon Both Ways Cafe. The only thing I knew before suggesting it was it had good biscuits. Boy was that an understatment. Those biscuits are worth writing home about. They are huge and flakey. Whether you get the biscuits and gravy or just have a biscuit with their homemade jam, you will be smiling and thankful for having ordered one. In addition to the biscuits, the Cafe also has terrific egg dishes. I chose April's Special Omlette which included bacon (nice big squares) camelized onions and Gruyère served along side some of the best pan fried potatoes I've had in a long time. The plate was finished off with a simple but tastey garnish of strawberries and melons.
(5)Nick B.
I have really wanted to enjoy this place. I really gave it a lot of tries, but now after numerous attempts I am sorry to say this is just a two star joint. It is your average coffee shop but here are some reasons why I give it two stars: Minor things like they say they open at 7. What they actually mean is 7:25. Kind of a pain if you are timing them with your morning walk. The coffee is decent. The baristas/waitresses are really friendly. However, when I experienced their sitdown breakfast with my mother, my mom had to repeatedly get up and get her own coffee because our waitress never really came by to fill up. We were the only people in the restaurant so I thought the service could have been conducted with a bit more alacrity. Finally, I have had two meals here. The biscuits and gravy and the ham & egg sandwich. Both were relatively flavorless yet were quite willing to exact their revenge on me a ways down the street, making the return walk home more of a hustle. So in short, it's okay. I would recommend just the coffee. The baked goods are usually dry but the baristas are really friendly.
(2)Courtney P.
This is our favorite breakfast place in town. We end up here almost every weekend. The atmosphere is great and the food is amazing. As everyone else said the biscuits are amazing but so is everything else here.
(5)ken q.
Soaking wet, I found shelter in the Both Ways Cafe. I was immediately charmed by the decor and the intimate atmosphere. The tables and the great music humming in the background gave this place a very welcoming feel. The breakfast menu is fairly straightforward and simple. For that, I was a bit disappointed. There were not a whole lot of options and I begrudgingly settled for whatever felt most appetizing. The service was average at best. But given the place being fairly quiet and sparsely attended, it wasn't anything too upsetting. I actually liked feeling very relaxed in this place - not crammed in like some breakfast joints on a Sunday morning. Anyways, the food was good. I got the breakfast burrito with bacon. Add a little ketchup and hot sauce and you have the makings of an early morning smile. The potatoes in that item were particularly good. All in all, what a great place to have a great get-together. However, if you are on the hunt for an adventurous meal, this may not be the ideal place.
(3)Michael M.
Just found this great little breakfast / lunch spot in a quiet neighborhood commercial district near Seward Park. We both ordered breakfast. I ordered the french toast with honey wheat bread and a side of chicken/apple sausage. The two large pieces of french toast were delicious! My partner ordered the two egg breakfast with home fries, bacon and a huge biscuit. Both meals were well worth the price. Staff was very attentive and friendly. We will be back!
(5)Heather Z.
My favorite spot to get breakfast in the Seward Park/Columbia City area. It's just got that awesome neighborhood Seattle vibe, and you can almost always get a table even at 11am on a Saturday or Sunday. Sometimes the service is slow, but it's never malicious. I love the breakfast burrito, biscuit and egg sandwich, and staring at the posters of upcoming arts events. I also love picking up a couple of biscuits to go and making my own egg sandwiches at home. De-lish!
(4)Spencer N.
Best breakfast in the Mt baker, Columbia city, Seward park area in my opinion. Their biscuits and gravy are delicious and you can't go wrong with their daily breakfast special. The fried egg sammy is great for those who have a small tummy. The down side, for some, will be the service time. If you're ready to relax with family or friends this weekend breakfast stop is the choice.
(5)Rachel P.
Such a great neighborhood spot! Homey and comfortable with great food. Everyone we take here loves it. Extremely friendly staff that remembers you by name. Everything is homemade, including the breads and pastries. And, they offer the best biscuits I've ever eaten. (the biscuits and gravy are hands down the best in seattle). Great place to bring kids, too. Both Ways rules!
(4)Rose R.
Delicious food and friendly waitstaff. You have to get their early to enjoy the biscuits on a weekend, but it's totally worth it! A great place to enjoy brunch on a sunny morning at one of their outdoor tables.
(5)Christabel F.
I went here last weekend and something seemed off. Maybe they got a new cook? The coffee was still strong and the biscuits still as good, but the food was lacking something. I got the Spanish tortilla and it seemed like there wasn't as much cheese and it was SO dry. The potatoes were especially. It made them hard to eat without more salsa (only a little bit came with my plate) and sour cream. I'm not sure if the dish always comes with sour cream, but it really needed some. This doesn't mean I won't be back.
(3)Whitney k.
Yes the biscuits are amazing! Loved them and the jam and butter with them made them pop even more. I was sad that they were out of gravy when i got there so i could not have biscuits and gravy but i will be back and I'm very excited to go back. The place is so cute and the waitress was chill, laid back and very nice. The biscuit egg sand which was really good and so was my scramble. Very nice place to have a breakfast.
(4)Sam C.
Both Ways Cafe has always been a great place to relax on a lazy weekend day; come rain, come shine. The menu is classic and they do it really well. I have a hard time straying away from the biscuits and gravy but every time I've strayed, I haven't been disappointed. It's a small place, so settle down and enjoy your time there.
(4)Heather L.
Cozy cafe with good coffee and breakfast. Friendly staff - would definitely come back again. Highly recommended.
(4)Catalina C.
Inconsistent food quality and bad service. My first experience was great because of the biscuits, but the next time I had them, they were flavorless and doughy. Plus the wait staff are indignant and dismissive. Definitely not worth it. All in all it was a LAME experience.
(2)Jeff G.
I've driven by this place hundres of times but it's aways looked like a bakery cafe from the outside so I've never gone in. Long story short we wanted to go to Silver Fork for breakfast but they were on vacation(that was actually a good thing since my wife's the one who likes that place anyway.I'm not a big fan). So I suggested we check out Both Ways to see what they might have. Inside it's a funky little place with mismatched wooden tables, event posters and delicious smells wafting from the bakery. We got a table right away and the server brought us coffee almost as quickly(big points for that!) We had a side of biscuit gravy, the tofu scramble and the home fries melt. All of them were piping hot and delicious. I used to go to a funky little place in California called Easy Street. It was a tiny place with very friendly staff and lots of unusual but tasty dishes. I've been looking for a place like that in Seattle for years; I think Both Ways might be it!
(4)C B.
Excellent little place! My wife and I went here - she had the buiscut and egg sandwich, I had the Denver Omelette. Both were excellent plates of food served piping hot. As an added bonus, the server whipped up what I consider to be a textbook-perfect dry vanilla cappuccino and an excellent latte. We found the place to be laid back and the waitstaff to be extremely personable. The buttermilk biscuits were just about perfect. We'll be going back - it could be that this place is the perfect antidote to the excellent but far too trendy (read: overcrowded) Geraldines.
(4)Geri S.
Hubby and son love the breakfasts and I enjoy the turkey sandwich. Yummy food and the service is very friendly! This has turned out to be one of my favorite places to eat!
(5)Jav V.
The best sausage gravy and biscuits I've ever had. The OJ is really good too. Friendly service.
(5)Leo O.
Small, intimate, great food.
(4)Will L.
So what exactly is a Spanish Tortilla? Tasty, that's what! When I'm here, I tend towards the breakfast sandwich, the Spanish Tortilla or the breakfast burrito. I've also had the oatmeal, the standard eggs/bacon/toast, and their special-of-the-day omelettes. Only once was I not totally thrilled, and that was really my fault for ordering a special that contained ingredients that I normally wouldn't like anyway. Silly me. For a while the waiter on duty played some really awesome music. I'd go down there just to hear what he was listening to so I could copy him. Not that the rest of the wait staff hasn't been anything but nice or cool since, I'm just saying it's nice to have someone else pioneer my musical tastes for me. They've also always got Soy creamer for the lactose intolerant members of my party. Only problem, and reason I deduct a star, is that they can be very slow on refilling coffee. However, once you ask once, you'll get refilled plenty. They also don't mind if you get up and refill yourself. NOTE: You can call ahead and order a breakfast sandwich to go, 'neat' (no taters). The bread part of their breakfast sandwich is made from the most awesomest biscuit stuff I've had in Seattle yet. We've called ahead and picked up a couple sandwiches on mornings we're going somewhere in a rush. Totally awesome.
(4)Bridget L.
Love this funky breakfast/lunch place. Craving b'fast for lunch I had the egg sandwhich which is served on a biscuit. Yum! My friend's lunches looked just as good. The coffee is good and I hear the baked goods are baked that morning on site. The price is right too. Friendly staff w/o overdoing it. A cozy nook on a cold day.
(4)S S.
Great coffee. Foods better then expected. Not a lot of space to sit, but on nice days its great to sit out side.
(4)nelson a.
Yay bothways has some dank food. Gotta go for the biscuit and potatoes. The hot blonde waitress is an amazing perk!
(5)Sasha D.
Ah the great, reasonably priced breakfast places are starting to migrate back to Seattle. This small and funky cafe/bakery has a great location and a limited yet excellent breakfast menu. They prepare the basic two eggs plate, omelets, burrito, oatmeal breakfast permutations. Prices are good for the quality and quantity of food served. As the other reviewer mentioned, the biscuits are excellent -my Texan spousal unit declares them the best in town, but as I'm only a Yankee I defer in these matters. The potatoes are nicely spiced, perfectly fried and seem to be the starch a la mason for most meals. Most bakery goods seem good and basic, but with Columbia City bakery or Sweet & Savory not too far there are other choices. All in all a very good breakfast and great location.
(4)Helen N.
The food is pretty simple things embellished and made well. I had a salad and I would kept chomping on those veggies, cheese, etc until a salad became fattening, it was really good and the bread there is awesome. My only problem with Both Ways Cafe is that I hate their service; there was no breakfast or the special when we went there around noon, the salad arrived five minutes after the grilled cheese, and my apple cider arrived after my friends finished their drinks and food.
(3)Marie L.
My husband and I decided to try this place out after meeting one of their staff working at another nearby location, Bent Burgers. When we arrived there was almost no one there and had no problem with service taking our orders promptly. I had hot tea and the havarti scramble. I ate a few of the potatoes but I usually love traditional hashbrowns where the potato has been grated; but these had some nice spices. The bread that accompanied the dish was delicious, soft and thick and tasted even better with a little jam and butter on top. The scramble was just ok. I would have preferred fresh spinach but it appeared and tasted like frozen spinach that you buy at the grocery store. I also love cheese but the havarti had a very barely there taste and started rethinking my order. When we were finished and ready to pay our bill it took more time then I would have like to settle up. Granted, more people had entered the establishment since we arrived but no one seemed to notice that we were simply just waiting to pay. I would go back to try it again though.
(3)sally B.
Hooray it WAS just on off day- Both Ways is back on the good list!
(4)David R.
I've only been here for breakfast or brunch ... do they serve anything else? Strong-@ss coffee and incredibly delicious biscuits -- particularly when they're fresh out of the oven! I've had one or two of the savory omelets or scrambles that have been fine breakfast fare. At least twice when I've been at a table of four, we've gotten a warmed giant sticky bun to share as an "appetizer" while waiting for our breakfast. I love sitting outside having breakfast here during the summer.
(4)Ryan D.
On the next sunny Seattle Saturday, grab a late breakfast and some coffee here before taking a leisurely stroll through Seward Park; I promise you won't regret it. Delicious brunch menu... salmon and cream cheese omelet is great. The outdoor seating is pleasantly shaded and allows for relaxed people-watching. The inside area is quaint and eclectically appointed. Laid-back atmosphere, so come when you're looking to lounge around for an hour or so.
(4)Jonathan M.
Met some friends there for lunch around 1pm on a Thursday. Nice comfy seats by the window. 5-7 other people in the cafe made it nice and quiet for book reading had I the time that day. We got menus quick and I got water and ordered a perfectly hot spinach scramble item on the breakfast side of the menu. I think they serve breakfast all day...which is nice for me. That came with a yummy biscuit and butter and jam. Not sure if they have outside seating in the summer, but they might. Paid with a Visa and headed out to a lovely South Seattle day. Oh yeah, plenty of free street parking that day.
(5)Andrew D.
When you come, get something that comes with a biscuit. Prices are good and the food is routinely tasty (only a couple of misfires). The service is very friendly, but falls short otherwise. Overall, it's a great laid-back breakfast place for the south end.
(4)Vanessa F.
Love the brunch and the service. The biscuits and gravy are off the HOOK! I dont want to hear anyone complain about the service. Its wonderful! The coffee is also lovely. Another plus....I can walk there.
(4)Rachel B.
This is a nice breakfast place. If it is good weather, you can sit outside. Well, I suppose you could sit out side if it was bad weather if you were crazy! I would actually give it 3.5 stars if I could. I normally get the french toast and bacon. It is usually excellent (though I had it yesterday and the bread had not been thoroughly soaked through with the egg/milk mixture so it was bread in the middle and not french toast.) They always cook my bacon extra crispy and I love that they do that! You can get a pot of tea too. One of my friends loves their biscuits. And the fried egg she had yesterday looked fabulous. They have baked goods as well but I've never tried any of them. If I want a weekend "american" breakfast in my neighborhood, this is the place I choose. Oh yeah and the service is always really good and the servers are totally nice!
(3)Lindsay O.
I love the location of this cute neighborhood breakfast and lunch place. Small and feels like the kind of place many locals have gone to for years. Great cup of coffee, and the servers are great with giving frequent fill-ups. My husband ordered a Denver omelette, which came with potatoes and thick homemade toast. He really enjoyed his meal, and the omelette was nice and fluffy, as well as cheesy. He highly recommends the omelette breakfasts! I ordered a large green salad for $6.95. I was very disappointed in how small it was. Their homemade dressing was very good, and not a bad, simple salad...just really small, and not filling. Also, the menu noted it came with a slice of bread, but I had to ask the wait staff several times to bring this to me. I found that many of the items at this cafe are high in carbohydrates, and was disappointed that none of their salads include meat. Great looking bakery case, however, if only I could eat those! Also, meal took about 30 minutes to bring out, and we were waiting with much hunger. I would go back again, but would definitely try for something other than the salad.
(2)Angela W.
This is my favorite casual place to go for breakfast and conversation. It's simple, it's homey and I feel welcome. There is only one small issue but it won't change my rating: a particular wait staff just isn't on the ball they way the others are. One time we went in and sat in the big table in the middle of the restaurant. It was twenty minutes before someone came and took our order (it was moderately busy) and it wasn't even our server. When she came to us, we told her someone else came and took care of us. We managed to get one cup of coffee each. It wasn't the guy's fault--he was running around like crazy while at some point she was actually sitting down herself with a friend and eating in the cafe! Another time, same scenario: the guys working their butts off while this same server seems to be in the clouds--came and asked us if we wanted anything to drink and then walked off. We never received anything. Again--one of the guys stepped in. I love this place, though, but I try to avoid it when this staff person is on the floor.
(5)Kate C.
Wow, what a great way to ruin a perfectly great morning. Waited 35 minutes to be seated. Had to go get coffee myself, then had to get up myself to have it refilled 3 times. Had to go find menus for my table. Then after specifically telling the waitress that someone in our group was super allergic to mushrooms, his food comes with mushrooms. No apologies or money off our bill, not even an offer to bring him his correct food!! Had to track someone down to get our bill. The food was just okay but probably the most HORRIBLE dining experience I have had in some time. Not the quaint neighborhood brunch spot I was hoping for. This owner should do himself a favor, fire every single employee in there before he looses all customers for good. Never going back and letting all my neighbors know how bad our experience was.
(1)Renea S.
Biscuits are fantastic. And breakfast overall was very good. In fact all the baked goods look yummy. Service was very friendly/attentive when we finally sat down but I was a little surprised when they sat another patron (who was still waiting for the rest of her party) at a huge table and made our entire party of 4 (which included a person on crutches-me) wait for another table to open up (which just happened to be a tiny table in the corner). I'll definitely go back as this is a great neighborhood breakfast place but they should probably revisit their "seating policy."
(4)Aimee K.
Not quite in the questionable stretch of Rainier Ave and a couple of blocks from the lair of the lake people. You can find street parking close by pretty easily. Typical cafe environs in there: wood floors, a small collection of odd wooden tables and a glass display case in the back by the register where they sell house baked goods such as scones, rolls, pastries etc. It's cozy and you'll definitely get to see what your neighbors ordered but focus on your own and you should be good. Or you can gamble on the weather and eat at one of the several picnic tables outside which would better suit a large group. We ordered the daily special which was a Canadian bacon, mushroom and leek scramble and a spinach havarti scramble both with home fries and a biscuit. The service is a little spotty. While they seated us right away and took our order quickly considering we told them we needed more time, the first cups of coffee stayed half full or less for a while. Then they noticed us and we couldn't keep the cup below full. Longer wait then typical for your entree, too. Very tasty eggs, but the home fries were just so so and the biscuit was too sweet for my taste (you'll be disappointed if you've tasted one from Morsel in the U-District). Average prices for the times. Still, the chill vibe and tasty eggs wins a star above A-OK.
(4)Gillian G.
I love their food and atmosphere! I've come at least 3 times, with my bf, friends, and for my birthday brunch with family. Their biscuits are delicious and their hash-browns. I cant remember what all i've had for breakfast but i was never disappointed. The only bummer is getting a table, but they have reserved a spot for me when i called 20 minutes ahead. Thanks both ways! Another tip- it isn't very accessible- no railings on the 1-2 steps to enter, and no room for my dads walker. Though we managed by linking arms.
(5)Madison G.
***Wild King Salmon Scramble*** Order that for breakfast and then come back and thank me. I'll be waiting. Other than that, I don't have much else to say. I was completely amazed at how wonderful my breakfast was though, so I will for sure be back. They have outside seating, which was pretty nice since it was a nice sunny morning. And surprisingly, we were checked on consistently while eating outside. I feel like places usually forget about you when the majority of their customers are inside. =\ So, that was a plus.
(4)Lemme K.
This was a very good breakfast place. Their biscuit is amAzing!!!! It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. And all the dish we had was delicious. The portions was pretty generous and you can tell the food is of high quality. And the service was good as well, the waitress keeps coming over to make sure we are good and water/coffee was constantly refilled so we never had to ask. The only thing that I have to criticize on is the size of the restaurant. It's pretty cramped and we had to sit crunched up with another group so it kind of ruin the atmosphere. Other than that, everything is amazing there. Would definitely come back for sure.
(4)Allison M.
Met a friend here for lunch on a Friday and it was pretty busy but we were able to get a table to problem. It's a seat yourself type of place and super laid back with limited but eclectic seating options. The servers were very attentive as I waited for my friend to arrive and didn't rush us to order. Our waitress was very knowledgable about the menu and was able to answer our many questions (we both have weird diet preferences) without appearing irritated. She even recommended the fresh fruit as a side instead of the bread options, and they didn't charge us extra for it. I had the Spanish tortilla omelet which doesn't actually have a tortilla, the egg is the tortilla, and has cheese, potatoes and pico on the side. Only issue was that the menu said sour cream comes with it but I didn't get it and when I asked for it they charged me $.25 but didn't tell me it was going to be extra, although it should have been included, irritating but not a big deal. The food took a long time to come out but they were busy, I was in good company and the food was worth the wait so again, wasn't a big deal. I would have given 5 stars if not for those 2 things. Bottom line, go here, you won't be disappointed, good food, great service, and good for infants and kids. My friend is 8 months pregnant and the waitress made a point to tell her to come in after she has the baby to just eat and hang out because they won't kick her out and they have books and games for kids.
(4)Esther S.
First off, since this is a SMALL breakfast place, expect to wait forever for a seat. I think my coworker and I waited outside (after our 5k) for about an hour to an hour and a half. I wanted to leave but my coworkers wanted to wait. So finally we get seated, and the food takes a bit of a wait too- like 30-40 min. But! The food was good! I ordered the breakfast sandwich with veggie sausage. Delicious. So I give it an "ok". Also, bathroom is hidden. You literally have to walk behind their counter lol
(3)Anthony F.
Hmmm more of a coffee shop and pastries than anything. It was alright, but found a hair in my sandwich which was the end of that lunch. They were very understanding and they took good care of the situation. But after a hair in my food let's just say no thank you.. Hmmm probably will not return to try anything else.. Just my prerogative I guess..
(2)Fumi W.
Perfect for: fueling up before a lake ride, multi generational brunch, biscuits! The best biscuit in Seattle. Delicious and simple breakfast, relaxed atmosphere, big round table for group, event posters on the walls are always updated. Kids friendly. I always get biscuit with butter and jam, coffee and bacon. The service can be a bit slow, so be patient, not a good recommendation for when you are in a hurry!
(4)Razel M.
As we were standing at the register, trying to pay and waiting for someone to acknowledge our presence so we could get out of there, another gentleman behind us asked, "Are you guys having the same bizarre experience we are?" Bizarre is a good word to describe our brunch experience at Both Ways. Let me start from the beginning. We walked in, and despite the couple servers walking around, no one acknowledged us or directed us to a table. So we headed to a corner table that was empty of dishes, but had not been wiped down. What appeared to be a father-son duo sat on a similar table next to us. After a few minutes, a server attempted to take their order. They had not yet received menus. She went to grab menus for them. We got her attention and asked for menus as well, but she left too quickly for us to ask her to get our table cleaned. She eventually did return with menus, asked what we wanted to drink, and promised to wipe down our table. She delivered David's coffee and wiped down the table, but again left too quickly before he could ask for some cream. Also, she handed us glasses of water. Which were room temperature. In Seattle summer, that means warm. She returned again, and we ordered, and David asked for his cream. This was delivered a bit later, and for the next HALF HOUR, different servers came and went refilling his coffee. No updates on our order, no apologies that it was taking so long. The next table had ordered after us, but received their order before we did, which at that point we had begun to expect. The basic concept of a single server controlling a particular group of tables seemed to be pretty lost on these people. I had my wallet and card out on the table since we were planning a trip and I was paying for a hotel on my phone. An older lady who was serving as well, asked if I was ready to pay. Excuse me? She then realized we HADN'T EVEN RECEIVED OUR ORDER. As she walked away, a younger guy showed up with our food and we finally ate. My Northwest scramble was pretty good, and David's biscuit breakfast sandwich looked okay as well. The biscuits were flaky and tasty and there was a yummy apricot/orangey jam. There was a lot of oil used to make the omelette and home fries, though, which made me a bit nauseous. We finished eating fairly quickly. During our meal, I asked our original server for some ice, and she gave me a glass-full -- if they had ice to start with, why wasn't this automatically in our water?! Anyway, the next table over had got their bill and was walking out. I asked for the bill, and it was delivered to me by yet another young woman. That's 4 different people having served us by now. I put my card on the table immediately, but of course she had walked away by then. About five to ten minutes later, still no one had taken my card. So we decided to just get up to the register and pay. Five times someone walked by without acknowledging us, asking what we wanted, or anything. A couple people looked like they were looking for something to do, but apparently we were momentarily invisible, I dunno. Anyway, our original server finally said she would be right with us, then walked away again. After another few minutes, the older lady took my card, ran it, and we finally left. It boggles my mind that they are still in business. The basic concepts of running a restaurant seems completely lost on them. Here's a tip: acknowledge your customers, even if it's just to say, "We'll be right with you." Have some basic organization so that servers aren't doing the same thing for a table one moment, and then completely ignoring it for a long time because they assume someone else has dealt with it. Apologize to your customers if you realize they have been waiting a long time. Actually realize and notice what is going on at your tables! I will never return, and I hope this review either helps the business figure out how to make things work, or prevent other unsuspecting Yelpers from falling into this weird, frustrating trap.
(1)Forrest H.
Menu is limited and missing key food staples. Service is slow and dining area is cramped. It's a unique cafe and if you like this sort of thing then you will probably give it a good review. But for me it was a sub par place to go in that water is all I ordered. 3 stars because the food looks good, just nothing I like.
(3)Danielle C.
My boyfriend was keen on taking us to this cafe because last time he was here he really enjoyed the food. However today was just a bizarre experience and judging on a few recent reviews, I suspect that lately this restaurant has been in a bad funk! First off it took forever for someone to give us menus. Then it took forever for someone to take our order. Then it took about 45 minutes for the food to come out. There was literally no explanation from the people. I don't know if they were just short staffed today or what. I even saw a table just walk out because it took so long to get food. The french toast I had was OK. I am inclined to agree with another reviewer that there was not much egg. The bacon was a bit overdone although was glad to see many pieces of bacon. They gave you one small piece of cantaloupe, one small piece of honeydew, and one small piece of watermelon which I thought was a bit insulting. Either have a few more pieces than that or none at all. The northwest scramble was tasty, I will admit. Very little service + mediocre food + long wait time = terrible experience.
(2)Krysten T.
Boyfriend and I had a great Sunday breakfast! Giant buttermilk biscuits - need I say more? I had the Northwest Scramble: eggs with smoked salmon, mushrooms, spinach and cream cheese. It was just what I wanted on a grey Seattle morning. His sausage and egg biscuit breakfast sandwich was huge, but he wasn't a fan of the sausage they used. Will definitely be back to try more of the menu!
(4)Shannon M.
Tasty breakfast, super crowded because it was a nice day but no wait. I'm still partial to a few other businesses in Columbia City when it comes to brunch, but this was a really good meal as well.
(4)Tyquan M.
What a great little place! A friend brought me here for lunch and I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing food! I had the eggs with apple sausages which came with home fries and an incredible biscuit as well. It was a great amount of food and I pretty much cleared my plate. The service was also the best I have experienced in a whole. Our servers were warm, attentive and respectful. I can't wait to come back and feast on some more of their yummy food!
(5)George Z.
Yeah, service sucks. I think they hire high school kids as servers. Though actually my first time there service took forever. All other times it's ranged from decent to very good. I've gotten their different scrambles, which are good, and the home fries are excellent. But recently I got their breakfast burrito. I really think it is the best I've ever had. In Arizona I've had fresh made from scratch flour tortilla's on the Navajo Rez, and this one reminded me of that. And the home fries with eggs, cheese, spinach and chicken Apple sausage were in perfect proportion. It is quite pricey especially with the chicken sausage, but it makes for a nice way to treat yourself on the occasional Sunday. They make pretty good coffee, and have some nice baked goodies at the counter as well.
(4)Michael G.
We tried this little cafe on Valentine's Day morning and it was wonderful! The service was very attentive, even with a busy morning. The biscuits are delicious and the home-made sausage gravy was just perfect. It's a small cafe that seemed filled with families with you children. There was even a children's book rack near the door! Being close to the park makes it an easy weekend morning stopover for sure!
(5)Jessica D.
I'm not sure I should bother writing a review since everyone else seems to have nailed it... the service here is... weird. Honestly what I suspect is that the service here is young, or at least that was my experience. While I was seated and acknowledged when I came in (eventually but they were busy), after my order was taken my server NEVER checked on me again. I had to flag someone down every time I wanted something... a refill on hot water, cream for my tea, you name it. I should add that by the time I was seated the rush I came in to was largely gone... they weren't that slammed that they couldn't find time to check on me. More importantly my table was right by the counter... they literally had to walk past me every time they did anything. As a former server it's very rare I don't leave a tip well over 20% especially when I'm dining alone. This time I pulled out a calculator to figure an exact 15% tip. I don't know that I've ever done that before but honestly the service just wasn't worth more than that. As for the food, my eggs were good and everything else was fine. Nothing to complain about but nothing to go out of your way for either. Train your servers better Both Ways and you'll receive much better ratings.
(3)Ann W.
I enjoy this quaint and unpretentious cafe with day long breakfast fixins and fresh homemade baked goods. I have been here twice, and I have had their savory mushroom and cheese quiche, large buttery biscuits, perfectly seasoned potatoes, and fresh fruit plate. I enjoyed everything with my favorite being the biscuit! The customer service is also great--friendly and efficient. Also it is so easy to find parking around here. Don't overlook this little place!
(4)Shawn R.
Update: We finally decided to give this place another try, and we are so glad we did. The service was amazing, and the food was fantastic! Our waitress was super kind and friendly, and we were seated almost right away. It must have just been a rough few months for this place, but they are even better than ever! And yes, you owe it to yourself to try the biscuits... You'll thank me later! Original Post: This used to be one of our favorite places to eat. I'm not sure what has changed in the past month or two, but our experience today was abysmal. We waited an hour and a half for our food, and still nothing. The coffee was bad, the service was even worse. No apologies for the delay or even attempts to make it right. Two different waitresses promised to check on our order, and neither one ever returned with an update. What a shame. Will not return anytime soon if ever, and will be sure to let our friends know the same.
(5)Kyle F.
Where to start. It took us forever to get service. Even in such a small restaurant that wasn't crowded. Then they proceeded to bring us warm water. Warm. Water. When we finally did order it took about fifteen minutes to get two French toast plates. And this is where it really goes downhill. I'm no chef, but typically French toast is dipped in some kind of egg. The 'French toast' here was nothing more than a grilled piece of white bread. There may have been some butter or something on it. It was horrible. We are on vacation here and between the service, food, and water I wouldn't come back here nor would I recommend anyone going here. I'm sure Seattle has better breakfast places.
(1)Lily S.
Not bad, not bad. I had the biscuit sandwich with veggie sausage and it was quite yummy. The biscuits were flaky and solid (as in solid good, not solid as a rock), not doughy, which is a plus in my book, the egg perfectly cooked and it was drenched in cheese, which was also a good thing. I love veggie sausage, so no complaints here. My dining comrade ordered the biscuits and gravy. I stuck my fork in the gravy and found it to be way. Too. Sausage-y. I don't really like normal sausage anyway, but damn, this tasted like all sausage all the time. Needless to say, my dining partner pushed the gravy around and ate mostly the biscuit portion of the dish. That being said, I'll definitely come back if I'm in the Seward Park area, as the breakfast biscuit sandwich I had was yummy!
(4)Zach P.
Had a scramble. It was delicious. They have Morningstar vege sausage which is the best vege sausage period and transforms any breakfast into a phenomenal experience. My wife thought her 2 egg breakfast was good but not amazing. Prices were high but not unreasonable. Staff seemed pleasant.
(4)Peter K.
Total neighborhood joint. Reliably good food and biscuits that keep u coming back. Outdoor seating in summer on basic tables.
(5)John C.
Seems to be back on track.
(4)Chalker S.
I Love their salmon scramble, I wish they were open all day!
(5)Amy L.
This is an awesome brunch spot, in a lovely neighborhood. The staff at both ways Cafe is friendly and serves up their coffee and pastries with a smile. I ordered the smothered potatoes, such a treat. Homefries covered in cheese, with bits of bacon, topped with sour cream can it get any better? Also, the waitress was too sweet, when I wanted extra foamy cappuccino she made me an extra special mug filled with my cappuccino and it was brimming with foam. Their house made seasonal jams are always great, and it's a perfect excuse to order up some toast of biscuits to smother it on. Such a wonderful neighborhood cafe.
(4)Josh T.
Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits. Word on the street is they have good biscuits. They do. This cute little neighborhood cafe is too cute and crowded for its own good but they really manage it pretty well if you're patient. They have much more space when the weather permits the patio to be open. Get the biscuits, and be patient. Biscuits.
(4)L H.
What the heck is going on here? Walked up and went inside. 3 or 4 different employees passed right by us at least a dozen times, without acknowledging us. No greeting, not even a polite smile. We asked an employee if we're supposed to seat ourselves, and he gave us a vague answer along the lines of yes, but maybe not because there are other people waiting, I'll be back. We waited for him to come back. Never did. Meanwhile, an employee pushed passed me with some chairs, without so much as an excuse me... it was more like move or get hit. After waiting for the employee who said he'd be right back for about 5 minutes (we've been there for about 12 minutes now), we sat ourselves at a table for 4. Again, plenty of employees squeezing by without acknowledging us. Aforementioned guy brings us silverware, leaves, wipes down our table, asks us if we want drinks, then leaves. We look at the menu for about 10 minutes (we've already decided within 2) then he comes back to take our order. He says they've been super busy and their kitchen was super behind and hopes it isn't still. We order iced tea, arnold palmer, biscuit sandwich and two eggs meal. He comes back about 7 minutes later with the drinks and says he was still brewing iced tea so it's probably weak. It is. He comes back about 20 minutes later to refill our beverages, the tea is actually properly steeped now, so he refills the iced tea, and instead of making another arnold palmer, just pours iced tea into it. Our food comes and looks pretty good. Small, random amount of fruit on the plate with my eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes. Eggs were ordered over medium, and are very over easy which is a surefire sign a breakfast place doesn't know what they're doing. Bacon is average. Potatoes are really very roasted, they look fried, and they're below average. The toast, which is made in house says the menu, is very dry. Like cut the roof of your mouth dry. The biscuit used for the sandwich is sweet - not savory. This blew my mind... as they had savory biscuits up on the pastry case. Why would you use a sweet biscuit to sandwich eggs and sausage?! Gross. No one brought us our check.... so my partner stood up to stand by the register, where 3 other people were standing and not being helped. At one point, some other lady asks me if we want our check, and I say, oh he's up there already. So, she brings us our check instead, but doesn't stay long enough for us to just hand her our card... our actual server returns about 5 minutes later, takes the check, and brings us our change. We run away and never, ever, ever plan on returning. What a joke. Go to Geraldine's or any other great brunch place within a mile.
(1)Jacob B.
Comfy vibe and atmosphere. Servers were nice. Tasted like a good home cooked breakfast with good coffee. Good amount of food for the price unlike some other cafés around Columbia city.
(4)Anthony H.
I went for brunch and I was very happy with my visit. I got the Northwest Scramble which was basically a Smoked Salmon and Mushroom omelet. Normally I don't like eating eggs, but there was enough other stuff in the omelet to keep me eating until I finished the plate. The plate also came with some potatoes, a few pieces of fruit, and a piece of toast or a biscuit. I tried both the toast and the butternut biscuit and both were great. They don't skimp on the breads - both were large pieces. Overall, I finished my plate and I was full and satisfied. Their portioning was great for me (normally I either have leftovers or I'm uncomfortably full). I would recommend if you're looking for a nice brunch spot. The staff is very friendly and the food is great.
(4)Tino Q.
Yelp, you let me down this time. Really excited to try this place because of the great rating. Unfortunately, the food was mediocre, the cost did not reflect the quality or quantity of the food, and the service was terrible. I went with two of my friends - I had the breakfast burrito which had maybe one egg in it, a few pieces of potato and a few pieces of meat (appx $10) on a flour tortilla. My friends ordered the french toast and breakfast biscuits. They said the biscuits were dry and the French toast portions were only two slices. We waited for an hour and fifteen minutes for our food - and it wasn't even busy! We only ordered four dishes. In a city with many great brunch places where the cost reflects the quality, I will not be returning. Next time I'm going the short distance to the hangar cafe.
(1)Stacey W.
Oof. Waited 10 minutes to sit down. Waited another 45 to get food. One staff member got us coffee while we waited for a table, and otherwise, we were completely ignored. The biscuits and gravy were bland. My scramble was good, but there was no butter for the biscuit. Will never return.
(1)Chelsea S.
So I don't live in the area and hardly ever have a chance to come here but I will make the effort to come back. Namely, my first date with the bf was here so it holds a sweet spot in my heart. Plus, who is not to love sitting outside at their adorable little tables on a rare Seattle sunshine kind of morning during Seafair weekend?!? I had heard rave reviews about their biscuits so I had to try them. I ordered just your standard breakfast with sunny side up eggs which also came with the biscuit, some fresh fruit, and homefries. Everything was really good and perfectly cooked. The biscuit was really good, especially with their homemade raspberry freezer jam. I had a very good meal here with a great dining partner and can't wait to come back again.
(4)Chris H.
The food is pretty good for the price. Definitely not top 10 for breakfast food in Seattle. Service is awful though. I'm not sure where they find these people. They're either high or just complete idiots. Food is three stars.
(3)amy c.
The restaurant is adorable. It's small (which means there's a wait on the weekends and you may overhear every word your neighbor says) but they open outdoor seating during decent weather which is a perfect option for someone who needs more space. The staff are friendly, the food is creative and tasty, the portions are generous, and if you don't need much to eat (like me) then you can order anything on the menu at half the size for half the price! The salmon scramble is my favorite... A must-try.
(5)Liz O.
Their house baked breads and pastries are consistently delicious. Scrumptious comfort food desserts like fresh cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, pecan and fruit pies, jumbo assorted freshly baked cookies, tender cheese danish and coffee cakes, like cinnamon-cardamom. This place gives loving attention to food preparation and you can taste it in every bite. The breakfast plates are piled high with bacon, sausage and biscuits. The sandwiches made on their freshly baked bread, are seriously almost too big to bite into. My favorite is tuna on honey-wheat. I love the sticky buns and outrageous, buttery, caramely, good pecan pie. The staff are always friendly and attentive even when it's busy. So glad I live near this place.
(5)Danica S.
The best cafe in the neighborhood. Try their omelets, fresh homemade biscuits and the home fries which are to die for! You can even get a half order :)
(5)Caitlin C.
I was a little confused about how to order when I went in, as I'm used to cafes being places where you order at a counter and then go sit down, and Both Ways seems to be more of a sit-down place where someone will come and take your order. Strawberry scone, brewed coffee, and breakfast burrito with veggie sausage were all excellent, and kept me going all day on a trip to Mount Rainier. I'd definitely come back if I needed to fuel up before a road trip.
(4)Maren H.
A friend just moved up the street so we gave this place a go. It's cute, the servers were really nice but the food was super average. I liked the look of the menu but was somewhat disappointed with my meal. I had the spinach and Havarti scramble with potatoes. The scramble was pretty okay, the biscuit was a bit dry and the potatoes were really mealy. My friend got a tuna sandwich and it came with thick bread so it was hard to eat. Totally an okay place but nothing spectacular.
(3)James K.
Old school, earthy crunchy seattle before SUV's and high tech took over. Good coffee and wonderful baked goods.
(5)Lindsey K.
Omg...my fave! They have the best homemade biscuits ever!! I always order the Denver Omelet when I'm there but I honestly go there for the biscuits that it comes with. Not that the omelet isn't good of course... everything is delicious! And the service is always great~ :) This is my go-to breakfast joint.
(5)Daren D.
Great breakfast spot - and breakfast available all day. :D I swung by this morning for some fixin's: a tofu scramble and --well, just see the pic! + a soy chai and water. It's small and definitely busy for the first meal of the day. Great food and that AC sausage was quite good. The bar seating at the giant mirror is neat for easy/incognito people watching. =P I think it'd be fun for a breakfast club outing - if a reservation could be done.
(4)Theodore P.
Breakfast is not a meal to be taken lightly. Despite this, our society consistently disregards the foundational component of any good day, instead opting for a rushed bagel eaten hastily before running out the door or on- the- go cereals consumed in one's car. At Both Ways, you'll notice things work a little bit differently. After a recent pilates class, the wife and I dropped in for a mid-morning brunch. I had raved to her all about the attentive young rock and roller waitress, and lo and behold, there she was at the door. "Welcome to Both Ways, where Breakfast is a state of mind", she said as led us to our spacious table. Indeed! The staff at Both Ways Cafe is truly passionate about the art of Breakfast, and making sure that you take a chill pill from the pressures of 21st century living. The wife and I camped out at Both Ways for several hours, enjoying many cups of strong black coffee and french toast cooked to fluffy perfection. When we looked up, it was four o'clock and the restaurant was closing! At Both Ways, time doesn't matter. Breakfast does.
(5)Michael M.
My new favorite breakfast place in Seattle. Very small, so there may been a bit of wait but its worth it. The Northwest Scramble was heaven and the homemade bread - the bomb. The little details are what makes this place great. The people are friendly and coffee is gourmet. Try the homemade gravy if you dare. Its delicious and you will fell guilty afterwards.. A good guilt...
(5)Yumiko K.
Both Ways Cafe offers good food for those who are patient. If it weren't for their slow service and inattentiveness, I would give this place 4 stars. We ordered 2 coffees as soon as we sat down. The table hadn't been cleaned properly (some food crumbs and ketchup), so we requested *twice* (different ladies each time) for the table to be cleaned --- in vain. The coffee was good, but our cups were empty for most of the time we were there (refilled only once). We also ordered Havarti scramble with a biscuit, and a slice of pear and pecan bread. I was hoping for early arrival of the pear and pecan bread, but no such luck. As I was ready to start eating the jam on the table, the food finally came out!! The scramble came with some fruits and potatoes as well as the flakiest biscuit. I am a huge Havarti fan, so I really enjoyed the scrambles with lots of spinach and cheesy goodness. The potatoes were crispy and seasoned well, and the biscuit was warm, flaky, and delicious with the jam. The pear and pecan bread was moist and sweet with a nice kick from ginger. The quality of food was fantastic. The service was friendly but super slow (even though it was not that crowded...) I'd love to go back there, but not when I am starving!
(3)Jennifer C.
We live walking distance to Both Ways, and over the last year have - for a variety of reasons - wound up there for breakfast. The last time was a couple of days ago and it's time to write a review. The food is perfectly good and reasonably priced. Sitting outside is lovely, and sitting inside is nice. The service, however, is awful. It's become a joke in our family, because it is just that bad. We've never ended a meal with the same server we started with, and you need to have a lot of time to wait for your food.. I went 30 minutes with no water or a refill on my coffee this last time, and no server came by at all after the food came out. We had to walk in to hand over our card - and it wasn't the first time. The servers aren't jerks, they are just bad. Very, very bad.
(2)Ashley S.
The first time I came here, I ordered biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs. It was delicious. loved the chopped up sausages in the gravy and the biscuit was buttery and flakey. there was also a good amount of sauce which I enjoyed. The second time I came here I ordered the same thing. But this time it wasn't as good as the first time. The biscuits were a little hard, there wasn't much sauce, and my sunny side eggs were over cooked. It was like a piece of rubber on top of my biscuit and gravy. Overall, the wait for the food is long; both times I've been there it took 30+ min to get my food,and the service is okay.
(3)Dakota H.
It's a great neighborhood spot with relatively easy parking (it has a lot too). The food is good and the atmosphere is low key and friendly. The service is also great (friendly and smiley) :)
(5)Michael T.
Outstanding biscuits, good breakfast food, but absolutely dreadful service. When we left they had a line out the door, open tables, several of which were still laden with dirty plates and crumpled napkins. Definitely room for improvement here.
(2)Linda R.
How cute is this place?! Driven by this place a million times and finally tried it! It's a small and cozy with yummy breakfast. The Nw scramble was delicious, with salmon, cream cheese and veggies. The cream cheese in it was something I had never tried, but I loved it! It is small inside, so not great for groups. A few outdoor tables too.
(4)Mike C.
These two stars are for the nice cheery people who staff this eatery. I'd like to give them more stars but... Heading out to breakfast this morning to Stone House... they were closed for the day. Glad they treat their people well on Labor Day. But where to eat. I kept driving along that road till I got to Both Ways Cafe. I've passed this place many times but never stopped there to eat. I didn't want to drive all the way into Seattle to find a place, so I parked the car and went there. The staff was cheery and helpful but the food was not up to par. I ordered a spinach and feta omelette which came with potatoes, toast and a little fruit garnish. I asked for a side of bacon with some decaf coffee. All that came to $20 with tip. The omelette was the best part but it had very little feta and barely some spinach. I ordered some salsa because all they had for hot sauce was tabasco. Note to all restaurants: Tabasco is crap! Find some of the other great hot sauces out there! The potatoes were dry, dry, dry... like they had been cooked yesterday and left out till this morning and barely heated up. The toast faired a little better but it was still dry. The bacon I ordered as a side dish was pitiful!!! 2.5 pieces of mostly crunchy fat. Not much meat on them at all and very dry. The fruit garnish was days old and very small. Tiny square of watermelon, orange and green melon and the tiniest grape ever. The place was packed and I can't see the appeal, except that all the locals must be going there because they are too lazy to go to someplace good. Ugh! A waste of money. My poor stomach.
(2)Dalina L.
Came here for brunch for the first time and i thought it was delicious. It's this nice little place on the corner at sewaed park on Genesee. It's kinda small but there's a couple benches outside to sit as well. I ordered the home made fries with bacon and 2 eggs on top. the menu says 11 but it's actually 12, the girl didn't charge us for a coffee for her mistake. When you think of "fries" you literally think fries, but they're just potaoes on the bottom of the eggs, with pico de gallo, which tasted super fresh! i really liked it, and it's really filling. I would love to come here again! The waiter was kind of awkward, not sure if it was because i was asian and they're used to seeing their usual seward park faces, other than that food was good!
(4)Tyra D.
What a gem. We were escorted here by friends that just happened upon it. Everything is made in house. Old town vibe, locals favorite. We had brunch and it was all delicious. I had a scone (yum)! With amazing homemade jam. The scone was a Scottish scone and had great texture flavor, hubs had a cinnamon roll with raisins- he said it was ok, nothing special, but he would order it again. We all had grits. Very good! We would go out of our way to come back here. Thank you Both Ways!
(5)Kayan H.
Came here for breakfast and loved everything! Good service, reasonable prices. We tried: Frittata special with bacon, potatoes and some veggies. Delectable! Salmon scramble was really delicious as well. I couldn't decide which entree I liked better so was glad my husband and I were able to share the two. We chose biscuits as our side and it was the right decision. With the butter and freezer jam it was awesome. Potatoes came with egg dishes and those were yummy as well. Glad we discovered this place. Will definitely come back!
(4)Jane M.
The salmon scramble was out of this world and to quote my husband "this is the best biscuit I have ever had". And he is an expert!
(5)Laurie K.
This is my go to place for breakfast and it is consistently yummy! Their biscuits are the Bomb and their staff is helpful, even when run ragged! Note that on a weekend, and especially on a Bike Sunday, this place is packed and there is little room to move. The sun shines directly into the front windows and it can get uncomfortably hot inside at times. So make sure you find a place to sit at one of the outdoor tables!! Try the jam they offer on all of their tables, it's sweet and tasty without being too sugary. Their coffee drinks are really well done (not always a given at a place that offers full breakfasts) and the pastry is to die for. I love their chicken sausage and it's always a struggle for me to decide whether to have bacon or the sausage when I decide to have eggs. Really like their Juevos as well. Do yourself a favor and try to get there early, if on a weekend, and often if during the week. Great folks, great food. Love it!
(4)Gina B.
yumminess... it's a small little cafe which gets packed on weekends, but let me tell you totally worth the wait.. they don't have a kids menu, but everything on their menu can be kid portioned.. quaint little spot, great atmosphere and OMG wonderful food. so happy we found this spot
(5)Chelsea G.
This place has a small cafe/bakery with an unrefined, industrial feel to it. However, it is charming, and the staff is courteous and ... Smiley! There seems to be There's lack of that quality in customer service around these parts. Their espresso is actually good, and not just tolerable, like a lot of places that serve it. I ordered the oatmeal for breakfast, and for $7.50 it's quite a large portion, with nuts, raisins, and fresh banana slices piled on top. Pretty darned good!
(4)Rafael R.
It isn't just about the biscuits....almost.... Fabulous neighborhood standby features breads and pastries baked fresh on-site. These guys know how to scramble eggs, and the home fries are laced with colorful pepper slices adding just the right touch of sweet/char to the mix. I always take my eggs with the biscuit, which can't be beat when topped off with a slathering of hot honey they keep stored atop the espresso maker. Lunch is what you'd expect from a counter that takes pride in their meals. Espresso from a real machine and not a push button makes this almost the perfect place for me. A lot of quality breakfast/lunch spots only serve drip coffee and it's nice to find a place where they pull a good shot of espresso. Nice days are best enjoyed from the outdoor seating area, and after lunch head down the hill to take a stroll along the lake and enjoy the sailboats bobbing in the marina.
(5)Ian B.
I love the food and atmosphere here and have written about BWC before and raved about their biscuits (like so many others), but I am sadly going to amend my raves due to a disappointing visit. For the third time I have gone for a weekend breakfast I was a little bummed to be told that they are out of biscuits. It seems to me that if you have a signature item of renown, you'd make sure to make more than enough for your busiest hours/days. It's biscuits, for cryin' out loud - the ingredients are common, inexpensive, keep well easily, and they can be made in advance! To add to the disappointment: it took over an hour to get our food - just eggs and such; nothing difficult or labor intensive. Being pumped full of strong coffee on an empty stomach as you wait, without explanation, for an indefinite amount of time, is a kind of agony. At the one-hour mark, my breakfast partner got up and left to walk up the hill to the grocery store for some food while I waited for the order to get it to go - he ended up eating before me. My guess is that when they ran out of biscuits, the kitchen put our order on hold, and after we adjusted our order the server never gave the "go ahead" to the kitchen - as I said: this is a guess as no explanation was ever given. Inadequate prep in the kitchen, poor server/kitchen coordination and lack of server/customer communication made for a crumby weekend breakfast. I regret that after today's hour-plus long wait to be served (at our table), in the future I'll need to make sure no one in my party is hungry before we go - in which case: why not just make eggs for breakfast at home?
(2)Kelly W.
We moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and decided to finally give this breakfast+lunch spot a try. I ordered the Mexi-scramble which came with black beans and toast. It was delish! My mom had the breakfast burrito which looked great and was HUGE. My stepdad had the Spinach and Havarti scramble, which came with potatoes and toast. It looked also looked great and he was pleased with it. It's a pretty small restaurant and service was slow, but the food made up for it! They also had great looking pastry + bakery selection, especially the cinnamon rolls! I also really appreciated the fact that they were very kid-friendly and had a lot of kids books and even some toys which they brought to the table without even being asked. Thumbs up! We will be back and next time I'm trying some of those sweets...
(4)Lori H.
The sox were great but I wish the clerk had more knowledge about neckties. Can't wait to come back here with the snow club!
(4)Claudette S.
Sebastian is the best chef ever
(5)Jason Z.
My wife and I love The Both Ways Cafe! It's in our neighborhood and there are not a lot of breakfast options in this part of Seattle so we have developed an appreciation for the balance of convenience and quality that this little cafe provides us. Their biscuits are the best in the city. In fact they consistently win the "best biscuit in Seattle" award. My favorite's are the egg/biscuit sandwich and the Northwest scramble. The service is sometimes slow, but we have come to except this reality because the food quality usually makes up for the wait.
(4)Dante M.
Well I will start with the positives. Well, there was really only one. So the food was definitely good. I had a build-your-own omelette with peppers, onions, and bacon. Came with potatoes, toast, and some fruit. Definitely some good breakfast. The service was HORRIBLE. First, they only had one high-chair and it was being used so the two babies that had been with us had to sit on their parents laps and basically were not allowing them to eat! Secondly, the food took a VERY long time to come out. There was 5 of us, and it wasn't really that busy. Seemed there was only one guy cooking, and everyone else seemed to be standing around. When we finally did receive our meals, a friend of mine had their breakfast w/o bacon. The server then proceeded to grab the bacon with her bare hands, and give it back to her. All in front of us!!! At least take it to the back! I thought this was ridiculous, but we were too hungry to say anything. All in all, this place had good food, but the service was horrendous, therefore I will not come back nor recommend anyone to it!
(2)Don C.
I eat here at least every two weeks. The service is very friendly and the kitchen rocks. The food is delish'. Try the biscuits, the curry chix salad, and the home fries. Much love to you Both Ways!
(5)ryan r.
Can't stop bragging about this place. This wonderful neighborhood cafe has a truly great scramble with fresh ingredients. To go or in house, this is not a place to missed. Next door to flying squirrel pizza. My recommendation is to get a breakfast burrito or breakfast sandwich and walk to the lake. Only complaint would be the slightly high end prices.
(4)Jaie R.
Delicious. I love the biscuits and the service is super-friendly. A great place for a nice relaxed brunch.
(5)Penny R.
This place has the best food, REAL food, that you can get in this area. The people who complain about slow service are apparently too good to get up and get their own coffee. Hello, the pots are right on the counter so help yourself! The servers are nice people and they bust their butts to make you happy, you don't see them sitting around anywhere do you?? The cooks are incredible and Dick the owner is a genius baker and cook. I will never forget those black beans I got with my special of the day breakfast. OMG so good! The biscuits and breads are delicious and the menu items are all good, the specials are usually brilliant so I usually order whatever is on the blackboard. We love Both Ways! btw the coffee is great!
(5)Steven I.
Down to earth breakfast, Both Ways is your place. We come here for real food, a breakfast that satisfies. Especially enjoy the baked goods. This spot is great when you want breakfast after a crazy work day, anytime.
(4)Selena B.
This is a cute little local breakfast/lunch place near Seward park. Its superbly laid back (meaning, service isn't speedy), and has that ..neo hippie organic 'we-recycle, and bought all our furniture at Salvation Army' feel. The items on the menu were normal, something you could cook at home but probably are too lazy to do so, type stuff. The real goodies are the scones.. OMG HOT FRESH BUTTERMILK BISCUTS... danger zone.. highly suggest stopping by and picking some up after a run at the park :)
(4)Sandy H.
I can't wait to go back. Always searching for a place to go for breakfast after a fun run with the TEAM in Training group we stumbled upon Both Ways Cafe. The only thing I knew before suggesting it was it had good biscuits. Boy was that an understatment. Those biscuits are worth writing home about. They are huge and flakey. Whether you get the biscuits and gravy or just have a biscuit with their homemade jam, you will be smiling and thankful for having ordered one. In addition to the biscuits, the Cafe also has terrific egg dishes. I chose April's Special Omlette which included bacon (nice big squares) camelized onions and Gruyère served along side some of the best pan fried potatoes I've had in a long time. The plate was finished off with a simple but tastey garnish of strawberries and melons.
(5)Nick B.
I have really wanted to enjoy this place. I really gave it a lot of tries, but now after numerous attempts I am sorry to say this is just a two star joint. It is your average coffee shop but here are some reasons why I give it two stars: Minor things like they say they open at 7. What they actually mean is 7:25. Kind of a pain if you are timing them with your morning walk. The coffee is decent. The baristas/waitresses are really friendly. However, when I experienced their sitdown breakfast with my mother, my mom had to repeatedly get up and get her own coffee because our waitress never really came by to fill up. We were the only people in the restaurant so I thought the service could have been conducted with a bit more alacrity. Finally, I have had two meals here. The biscuits and gravy and the ham & egg sandwich. Both were relatively flavorless yet were quite willing to exact their revenge on me a ways down the street, making the return walk home more of a hustle. So in short, it's okay. I would recommend just the coffee. The baked goods are usually dry but the baristas are really friendly.
(2)Courtney P.
This is our favorite breakfast place in town. We end up here almost every weekend. The atmosphere is great and the food is amazing. As everyone else said the biscuits are amazing but so is everything else here.
(5)ken q.
Soaking wet, I found shelter in the Both Ways Cafe. I was immediately charmed by the decor and the intimate atmosphere. The tables and the great music humming in the background gave this place a very welcoming feel. The breakfast menu is fairly straightforward and simple. For that, I was a bit disappointed. There were not a whole lot of options and I begrudgingly settled for whatever felt most appetizing. The service was average at best. But given the place being fairly quiet and sparsely attended, it wasn't anything too upsetting. I actually liked feeling very relaxed in this place - not crammed in like some breakfast joints on a Sunday morning. Anyways, the food was good. I got the breakfast burrito with bacon. Add a little ketchup and hot sauce and you have the makings of an early morning smile. The potatoes in that item were particularly good. All in all, what a great place to have a great get-together. However, if you are on the hunt for an adventurous meal, this may not be the ideal place.
(3)Sara A.
I can't think of anything they do wrong at this place. I love brunch here! I have never had to wait, and in fact have decided to go straight here many times knowing anywhere else would have a wait. The food is so good! I usually eat too much, because I just can't stop. Love the biscuits. Coffee is also great. Service is prompt and friendly. The menu choices are creative yet comfortable, and they always have a special of the day. The prices are comparable to most Seattle cafes for brunch: $7-$10/plate. The space is a little small, so coming with a big group might be difficult. You have to try this place for brunch!
(5)Michael M.
Just found this great little breakfast / lunch spot in a quiet neighborhood commercial district near Seward Park. We both ordered breakfast. I ordered the french toast with honey wheat bread and a side of chicken/apple sausage. The two large pieces of french toast were delicious! My partner ordered the two egg breakfast with home fries, bacon and a huge biscuit. Both meals were well worth the price. Staff was very attentive and friendly. We will be back!
(5)Heather Z.
My favorite spot to get breakfast in the Seward Park/Columbia City area. It's just got that awesome neighborhood Seattle vibe, and you can almost always get a table even at 11am on a Saturday or Sunday. Sometimes the service is slow, but it's never malicious. I love the breakfast burrito, biscuit and egg sandwich, and staring at the posters of upcoming arts events. I also love picking up a couple of biscuits to go and making my own egg sandwiches at home. De-lish!
(4)Spencer N.
Best breakfast in the Mt baker, Columbia city, Seward park area in my opinion. Their biscuits and gravy are delicious and you can't go wrong with their daily breakfast special. The fried egg sammy is great for those who have a small tummy. The down side, for some, will be the service time. If you're ready to relax with family or friends this weekend breakfast stop is the choice.
(5)Rachel P.
Such a great neighborhood spot! Homey and comfortable with great food. Everyone we take here loves it. Extremely friendly staff that remembers you by name. Everything is homemade, including the breads and pastries. And, they offer the best biscuits I've ever eaten. (the biscuits and gravy are hands down the best in seattle). Great place to bring kids, too. Both Ways rules!
(4)Rose R.
Delicious food and friendly waitstaff. You have to get their early to enjoy the biscuits on a weekend, but it's totally worth it! A great place to enjoy brunch on a sunny morning at one of their outdoor tables.
(5)Christabel F.
I went here last weekend and something seemed off. Maybe they got a new cook? The coffee was still strong and the biscuits still as good, but the food was lacking something. I got the Spanish tortilla and it seemed like there wasn't as much cheese and it was SO dry. The potatoes were especially. It made them hard to eat without more salsa (only a little bit came with my plate) and sour cream. I'm not sure if the dish always comes with sour cream, but it really needed some. This doesn't mean I won't be back.
(3)Whitney k.
Yes the biscuits are amazing! Loved them and the jam and butter with them made them pop even more. I was sad that they were out of gravy when i got there so i could not have biscuits and gravy but i will be back and I'm very excited to go back. The place is so cute and the waitress was chill, laid back and very nice. The biscuit egg sand which was really good and so was my scramble. Very nice place to have a breakfast.
(4)Sam C.
Both Ways Cafe has always been a great place to relax on a lazy weekend day; come rain, come shine. The menu is classic and they do it really well. I have a hard time straying away from the biscuits and gravy but every time I've strayed, I haven't been disappointed. It's a small place, so settle down and enjoy your time there.
(4)Heather L.
Cozy cafe with good coffee and breakfast. Friendly staff - would definitely come back again. Highly recommended.
(4)Catalina C.
Inconsistent food quality and bad service. My first experience was great because of the biscuits, but the next time I had them, they were flavorless and doughy. Plus the wait staff are indignant and dismissive. Definitely not worth it. All in all it was a LAME experience.
(2)Jeff G.
I've driven by this place hundres of times but it's aways looked like a bakery cafe from the outside so I've never gone in. Long story short we wanted to go to Silver Fork for breakfast but they were on vacation(that was actually a good thing since my wife's the one who likes that place anyway.I'm not a big fan). So I suggested we check out Both Ways to see what they might have. Inside it's a funky little place with mismatched wooden tables, event posters and delicious smells wafting from the bakery. We got a table right away and the server brought us coffee almost as quickly(big points for that!) We had a side of biscuit gravy, the tofu scramble and the home fries melt. All of them were piping hot and delicious. I used to go to a funky little place in California called Easy Street. It was a tiny place with very friendly staff and lots of unusual but tasty dishes. I've been looking for a place like that in Seattle for years; I think Both Ways might be it!
(4)C B.
Excellent little place! My wife and I went here - she had the buiscut and egg sandwich, I had the Denver Omelette. Both were excellent plates of food served piping hot. As an added bonus, the server whipped up what I consider to be a textbook-perfect dry vanilla cappuccino and an excellent latte. We found the place to be laid back and the waitstaff to be extremely personable. The buttermilk biscuits were just about perfect. We'll be going back - it could be that this place is the perfect antidote to the excellent but far too trendy (read: overcrowded) Geraldines.
(4)Geri S.
Hubby and son love the breakfasts and I enjoy the turkey sandwich. Yummy food and the service is very friendly! This has turned out to be one of my favorite places to eat!
(5)Will L.
So what exactly is a Spanish Tortilla? Tasty, that's what! When I'm here, I tend towards the breakfast sandwich, the Spanish Tortilla or the breakfast burrito. I've also had the oatmeal, the standard eggs/bacon/toast, and their special-of-the-day omelettes. Only once was I not totally thrilled, and that was really my fault for ordering a special that contained ingredients that I normally wouldn't like anyway. Silly me. For a while the waiter on duty played some really awesome music. I'd go down there just to hear what he was listening to so I could copy him. Not that the rest of the wait staff hasn't been anything but nice or cool since, I'm just saying it's nice to have someone else pioneer my musical tastes for me. They've also always got Soy creamer for the lactose intolerant members of my party. Only problem, and reason I deduct a star, is that they can be very slow on refilling coffee. However, once you ask once, you'll get refilled plenty. They also don't mind if you get up and refill yourself. NOTE: You can call ahead and order a breakfast sandwich to go, 'neat' (no taters). The bread part of their breakfast sandwich is made from the most awesomest biscuit stuff I've had in Seattle yet. We've called ahead and picked up a couple sandwiches on mornings we're going somewhere in a rush. Totally awesome.
(4)Bridget L.
Love this funky breakfast/lunch place. Craving b'fast for lunch I had the egg sandwhich which is served on a biscuit. Yum! My friend's lunches looked just as good. The coffee is good and I hear the baked goods are baked that morning on site. The price is right too. Friendly staff w/o overdoing it. A cozy nook on a cold day.
(4)S S.
Great coffee. Foods better then expected. Not a lot of space to sit, but on nice days its great to sit out side.
(4)nelson a.
Yay bothways has some dank food. Gotta go for the biscuit and potatoes. The hot blonde waitress is an amazing perk!
(5)Sasha D.
Ah the great, reasonably priced breakfast places are starting to migrate back to Seattle. This small and funky cafe/bakery has a great location and a limited yet excellent breakfast menu. They prepare the basic two eggs plate, omelets, burrito, oatmeal breakfast permutations. Prices are good for the quality and quantity of food served. As the other reviewer mentioned, the biscuits are excellent -my Texan spousal unit declares them the best in town, but as I'm only a Yankee I defer in these matters. The potatoes are nicely spiced, perfectly fried and seem to be the starch a la mason for most meals. Most bakery goods seem good and basic, but with Columbia City bakery or Sweet & Savory not too far there are other choices. All in all a very good breakfast and great location.
(4)Helen N.
The food is pretty simple things embellished and made well. I had a salad and I would kept chomping on those veggies, cheese, etc until a salad became fattening, it was really good and the bread there is awesome. My only problem with Both Ways Cafe is that I hate their service; there was no breakfast or the special when we went there around noon, the salad arrived five minutes after the grilled cheese, and my apple cider arrived after my friends finished their drinks and food.
(3)Marie L.
My husband and I decided to try this place out after meeting one of their staff working at another nearby location, Bent Burgers. When we arrived there was almost no one there and had no problem with service taking our orders promptly. I had hot tea and the havarti scramble. I ate a few of the potatoes but I usually love traditional hashbrowns where the potato has been grated; but these had some nice spices. The bread that accompanied the dish was delicious, soft and thick and tasted even better with a little jam and butter on top. The scramble was just ok. I would have preferred fresh spinach but it appeared and tasted like frozen spinach that you buy at the grocery store. I also love cheese but the havarti had a very barely there taste and started rethinking my order. When we were finished and ready to pay our bill it took more time then I would have like to settle up. Granted, more people had entered the establishment since we arrived but no one seemed to notice that we were simply just waiting to pay. I would go back to try it again though.
(3)sally B.
Hooray it WAS just on off day- Both Ways is back on the good list!
(4)David R.
I've only been here for breakfast or brunch ... do they serve anything else? Strong-@ss coffee and incredibly delicious biscuits -- particularly when they're fresh out of the oven! I've had one or two of the savory omelets or scrambles that have been fine breakfast fare. At least twice when I've been at a table of four, we've gotten a warmed giant sticky bun to share as an "appetizer" while waiting for our breakfast. I love sitting outside having breakfast here during the summer.
(4)Ryan D.
On the next sunny Seattle Saturday, grab a late breakfast and some coffee here before taking a leisurely stroll through Seward Park; I promise you won't regret it. Delicious brunch menu... salmon and cream cheese omelet is great. The outdoor seating is pleasantly shaded and allows for relaxed people-watching. The inside area is quaint and eclectically appointed. Laid-back atmosphere, so come when you're looking to lounge around for an hour or so.
(4)Jonathan M.
Met some friends there for lunch around 1pm on a Thursday. Nice comfy seats by the window. 5-7 other people in the cafe made it nice and quiet for book reading had I the time that day. We got menus quick and I got water and ordered a perfectly hot spinach scramble item on the breakfast side of the menu. I think they serve breakfast all day...which is nice for me. That came with a yummy biscuit and butter and jam. Not sure if they have outside seating in the summer, but they might. Paid with a Visa and headed out to a lovely South Seattle day. Oh yeah, plenty of free street parking that day.
(5)Andrew D.
When you come, get something that comes with a biscuit. Prices are good and the food is routinely tasty (only a couple of misfires). The service is very friendly, but falls short otherwise. Overall, it's a great laid-back breakfast place for the south end.
(4)Vanessa F.
Love the brunch and the service. The biscuits and gravy are off the HOOK! I dont want to hear anyone complain about the service. Its wonderful! The coffee is also lovely. Another plus....I can walk there.
(4)Jav V.
The best sausage gravy and biscuits I've ever had. The OJ is really good too. Friendly service.
(5)Leo O.
Small, intimate, great food.
(4)Rachel B.
This is a nice breakfast place. If it is good weather, you can sit outside. Well, I suppose you could sit out side if it was bad weather if you were crazy! I would actually give it 3.5 stars if I could. I normally get the french toast and bacon. It is usually excellent (though I had it yesterday and the bread had not been thoroughly soaked through with the egg/milk mixture so it was bread in the middle and not french toast.) They always cook my bacon extra crispy and I love that they do that! You can get a pot of tea too. One of my friends loves their biscuits. And the fried egg she had yesterday looked fabulous. They have baked goods as well but I've never tried any of them. If I want a weekend "american" breakfast in my neighborhood, this is the place I choose. Oh yeah and the service is always really good and the servers are totally nice!
(3)Lindsay O.
I love the location of this cute neighborhood breakfast and lunch place. Small and feels like the kind of place many locals have gone to for years. Great cup of coffee, and the servers are great with giving frequent fill-ups. My husband ordered a Denver omelette, which came with potatoes and thick homemade toast. He really enjoyed his meal, and the omelette was nice and fluffy, as well as cheesy. He highly recommends the omelette breakfasts! I ordered a large green salad for $6.95. I was very disappointed in how small it was. Their homemade dressing was very good, and not a bad, simple salad...just really small, and not filling. Also, the menu noted it came with a slice of bread, but I had to ask the wait staff several times to bring this to me. I found that many of the items at this cafe are high in carbohydrates, and was disappointed that none of their salads include meat. Great looking bakery case, however, if only I could eat those! Also, meal took about 30 minutes to bring out, and we were waiting with much hunger. I would go back again, but would definitely try for something other than the salad.
(2)Angela W.
This is my favorite casual place to go for breakfast and conversation. It's simple, it's homey and I feel welcome. There is only one small issue but it won't change my rating: a particular wait staff just isn't on the ball they way the others are. One time we went in and sat in the big table in the middle of the restaurant. It was twenty minutes before someone came and took our order (it was moderately busy) and it wasn't even our server. When she came to us, we told her someone else came and took care of us. We managed to get one cup of coffee each. It wasn't the guy's fault--he was running around like crazy while at some point she was actually sitting down herself with a friend and eating in the cafe! Another time, same scenario: the guys working their butts off while this same server seems to be in the clouds--came and asked us if we wanted anything to drink and then walked off. We never received anything. Again--one of the guys stepped in. I love this place, though, but I try to avoid it when this staff person is on the floor.
(5)Kate C.
Wow, what a great way to ruin a perfectly great morning. Waited 35 minutes to be seated. Had to go get coffee myself, then had to get up myself to have it refilled 3 times. Had to go find menus for my table. Then after specifically telling the waitress that someone in our group was super allergic to mushrooms, his food comes with mushrooms. No apologies or money off our bill, not even an offer to bring him his correct food!! Had to track someone down to get our bill. The food was just okay but probably the most HORRIBLE dining experience I have had in some time. Not the quaint neighborhood brunch spot I was hoping for. This owner should do himself a favor, fire every single employee in there before he looses all customers for good. Never going back and letting all my neighbors know how bad our experience was.
(1)Renea S.
Biscuits are fantastic. And breakfast overall was very good. In fact all the baked goods look yummy. Service was very friendly/attentive when we finally sat down but I was a little surprised when they sat another patron (who was still waiting for the rest of her party) at a huge table and made our entire party of 4 (which included a person on crutches-me) wait for another table to open up (which just happened to be a tiny table in the corner). I'll definitely go back as this is a great neighborhood breakfast place but they should probably revisit their "seating policy."
(4)