Friendly staff. Excellent Caramel Macchiatos. I loved this coffee store and the fact I could go there at night, when almost every other coffee was closed. The food is good and the only bad experience (with a terribly cold french fries) was instantly solved by our waiter. It is expensive but it doesn´t stand out in UDistrict´s prices. The place is cool and has free wifi, that works pretty well. It´s a good place to avoid libraries and spend some hours working on your stuff.
(4)
Mandy T.
The first thing that struck me was the price of the food items on the menu. Quite pricey, it can range up to $10 for a salad. Oh yea, definitely not wallet friendly for my fellow struggling college students out there. So I ordered something more simple from the menu, an iced tea (unsweetened). Quite reasonably priced at $2.50 and quite refreshing for a hot weather, but it is what it is. An iced tea. Nothing more, nothing less, and definitely nothing amazing. My sister got the iced latte. It was fine, but it was also nothing special for her. A simple iced latte. If you decide to dine-in, you have to bus the tables yourself. Not an issue for me, but something to note for visitors! The environment is quite peaceful. Most people come in individually or with a few friends, but when I visited they all kept a respectable volume. Very friendly! Service- Upon first visit, the cashier was nice. Nothing notable, the baristas were just very respectable. Definitely won't be my go to cafe, but hey it doesn't hurt to try!
(3)
Brittany L.
HOW and WHY people (including myself) still come back here is beyond me. I wanted to sit outside with some wifi so here I am on my lunch break. The workers are still rude and disengaged and the food is still bad. At least they're consistent??? I'm currently sipping on a chai tea latte and to be honest I should've just gotten a water. It would have been cheaper and it would have tasted the same. Breakfast, lunch, snack time, thirsty?? Save your time and money and happiness and skip this place!
(1)
Yuka H.
The early bird special for breakfast is cheap for the portion. I had scrambled eggs with toast and hash browns, and it got me pretty full for the day thank goodness. I got it for under $5 for that much so I was satisfied, but the egg was unimpressive, man I could make that - kind of quality. The place does feel really nice in the morning though.
(3)
Kate B.
This place is always packed and I'm not really sure why. Maybe its because their wifi is much better than the Starbucks' across the street? That's the only explanation I can think of. Their food is simple but not cheap. A sandwich and salad or fries is going to cost you at least $10 with tax, and that's without a drink. Its a decent amount of food but the mediocre quality makes it not worth the price, honestly. You could go to QFC and buy all of the sandwich ingredients for less than the price of it here. I've had the California club sandwich a few times and it wasn't special. I could easily make it at home with a croissant bought from a grocery store. There are a lot of tables and nice places to sit and do work, if you don't want to go to the library or further up the Ave. There's no waiter service, except that the food is brought out to you. You have to bus yourself when you're done. That doesn't bother me, and that is similar to most other places on the Ave. Overall, not a bad spot to maybe order some cheap coffee and get work done. If you're starving and don't want to go anywhere else, the food is perfectly fine. But I wouldn't go out of my way to go here. The same money can go further for better food elsewhere.
(3)
Helen T.
This place is nothing amazing, but I will say that they're able to charge you a lot for drinks and food because of how close it is to campus. The good thing is that they have a lot of tables and outlets, so it's a great place to study. They were playing R&B music not too loudly in the background, but this place is definitely not the quietest place to study. I had a chai and thought it was okay. I also got a slice of banana bread (which was okay), and the total came out to be ~$8, which I thought was pretty steep for just those two items. But when you need to get some studying done, you gotta do what you gotta do. Plus, you just bus yourself here, so it's not like they're paying their workers to clean...so I don't really think the price is justified. But overall, it's a decent cafe to study at if you don't mind it being too noisy.
(3)
Liz M.
Nope. Don't go here. As much as I hate corporate coffee, go across the street and get Starbucks. The customer service here is horrible- the baristas just glared me down and looked dumbfounded when I said thank you to them. I had a breakfast burrito and it was pretty expensive considering it tasted bland. Never coming here again.
(1)
Lyna N.
Average place, nice for lunch with friends. They have a lot to choose from which is a huge plus, from breakfast platters to sandwiches to pasta and even Korean dishes. They also have a large selection of desserts that include pastries and cake. The staff is okay. The first time I went here I ordered poached eggs with avocado and other veggies (I forget the actual name), and for some reason all I got were avocados and toast. They heard me wrong, but at least they charged me less because they didn't know I wanted eggs... I didn't want to get back in line and order again and wait since I had a limited lunch break. The second time I came I got the veggie omelette which was super good. It's nice that they have a lot of condiments available (I needed more salt and pepper, and hot sauce). I ordered a latte here as well and it was pretty good. The third time I was here I ordered a k-bowl and the spicy Korean sauce was super good. Definitely need to buy myself a bottle of that from Uwajimaya or H-Mart soon. Although, this dish gave me diarrhea (I know because I saved it for lunch the next day and I got it again). It could have been the raw fish, who knows.
(3)
Taya A.
Food: 3/5 - it's a bit of hit-and-miss. Quality is usually decent, but the overall dishes can be underwhelming. Atmosphere: 3/5 - it's hard to find a table here usually, but hey, at least there's free WiFi! Price: 2/5 - some items are just ridiculously priced. Even Happy Hour pricing fails to impress. Service: 2/5 - would be higher, but during my most recent visit a waitress rolled her eyes and let out a sigh at me when I asked a question regarding my order... Wasn't expecting that kind of response. Don't expect to find a table easily or great service, but consider it an option for a venue if you need WiFi and food late at night or early morning.
(2)
Nick V.
Extremely pricey and no strawberries in the fruit bowl...they are quite stingy with their food and menu
(2)
Victoria L.
As far as coffeehouses go, this place was okay. The prices are relatively expensive (probably because of the proximity to campus) and it's always pretty crowded. The food was okay and the drinks were okay, it wasn't anything particularly special. I did however like the environment, pretty standard, but it had a nice aesthetic and I liked the playlist they had on so much I asked where I could find it! It's just about as average as a place could get, so I don't have really much to say. Stop by if you're in the area, but there's no reason I would suggest this place over any other.
(3)
Diane S.
This place is nothing amazing, (i remember it years ago having some better quality food) but it is pricey for what you pay. They do have a large variety of menu items, and lots of seating and outlets for a study session. But nothing to go out of your way for.
(3)
Ken I.
I like to come here for breakfast on the weekend because it is fairly cheap decent breakfast. I usually get the Eggs Benedict which is not bad. The hollandaise is a bit thin but tastes good. The hash brown are decent though the tend to need a bit of seasoning. This is also a decent place to come sit and grab a cup of coffee and use the free wifi.
(3)
Shane B.
The food here is the definition of "alright." The creamy mushroom chicken and rice is pretty good, but a lot of the other dishes are underwhelming. It is a good place to study though, as it's open pretty late compared to other places on the ave. If you're looking to have a good meal, i'd recommend going elsewhere. If you're looking to find a place to grab a meal and study/work on a group project, this is probably the place for you.
(2)
Gwen S.
Good, everyday food that is reasonably priced, relatively quickly served for college students. The Cafe on the Ave was close to my graduate classes, and I ate here several times a week during grad school. Friendly staff, and small modifications/customizing orders was possible. Basic American cafe food that is reasonably priced. Breakfast croissants with bacon and eggs, or salmon and cream cheese, a croissant BLT sandwich, and eggs benedict with extra extra crispy bacon on a croissant. A very yummy treat when you need one. Awesome desserts. Can be a little loud inside (hard floor, metal chairs), high ceilings, a lot of hard surfaces. A good place to sit for hours and study for a midterm and have a meal.
(5)
Mallory M.
Good food, horrible staff. The seat yourself cafe seemed like a chill relaxed atmosphere and we enjoyed ourselves until we got to the counter to order and the people behind the counter were beyond rude. I have never seen expressions of hatred like that from someone I do not know. Won't go there again.
(2)
Maggie C.
If you want to pay a lot for poor service from the cashiers and baristas, this is a great place to go!
(1)
Kayla E.
As someone who typically visits Cafe Solstice and was sick of the loud music, I needed to find some place a bit quieter with more seating options. I decided to adventure up the Ave and found this place. I've given up drinking coffee but they had a great selection of tea available. I also haven't had their food yet, but looking around to what other people are eating, it looks and smells pretty good! And here's a plus! Free WiFi that you don't need to awkwardly ask for a password.
(4)
Jaleh S.
I've come to Cafe on the Ave many times. During the summer it is a nice place to have a $2 draft on the patio. I don't even mind that you have to bus your own table. The breakfast menu is your pretty standard menu but it is a little on the expensive side. My favorite thing on the breakfast menu is the Eggs Benedict's with Avocado, Asparagus, and Tomato. This morning I came in and ordered my usual. The Eggs Benny comes out and I cut into the first egg. It is soft boiled, not poached. I check the other eggs and they are all soft boiled not poached. I really enjoy having a runny yolk for eggs Benedict, and dipping the English muffin into the yolk. I took my eggs back to the counter and and brought it to the attention of the cashier. She proceeded to argue with me that these were in fact poach eggs. Instead of offering to re-cook the eggs the way I'd like them, she insisted that these were poached eggs with much attitude and a smile on her face as if it was funny. She offered a refund instead of a better meal. The manager comes over and says that she can cook them the way I would like them. I give her back the Eggs Benedict and the hash browns. When the new order finally arrives, there are no hashbrowns only the eggs. I take it to the counter to get a refund because I do not want to have to wait even longer to get my correct order. A new cashier decides to argue and say that the first order was in fact poached eggs. Never apologizing for their mistake either time. This is establishment has horrible customer service and does not value providing a good meal and good service to customers. The cashiers were laughing in my face when all I wanted was to enjoy my breakfast. Now I understand why the reviews and the rating is so low. I will not be returning for my once favorite meal.
(1)
Jordan M.
Drafts for $2.50 after 9! And it was decent beer, too. I didn't have any coffee - I was doing some late studying but didn't want insomnia - but it's probably not better or worse than anything else on the Ave, with the exception of Trabant which is really the only option if you care about good coffee (not that there's anything wrong with cheap coffee!) I had a brownie and it was delicious. The staff was good-humored and genuine, so I didn't mind returning to the counter for more beer. You can drink slowly and read for hours in a well lit environment without feeling like you're in anyone's way, and that's surprisingly hard to find.
(4)
Kevin W.
I often see a restaurant having bad reviews on Yelp, but then I decide to give them the benefit of the doubt anyway. Especially if it's an independently-owned place. I think next time if I get the feeling that a place is going to be bad, I'm just going to trust my intuition and stay away. I looked on Cafe on the Ave's website for their breakfast menu. Their "Cafe Breakfast" caught my attention. Why? Because I was looking for a breakfast, I guess. Unfortunately, the website doesn't list the price, obviously because nobody would come here if they had been forewarned about how overpriced the food here is. Since I didn't know any better, I figured I would find out just how much a "Cafe Breakfast" costs right after I walked in. In an ideal world, maybe. Too bad this place isn't willing to make your life that easy. I walked in here one morning, was greeted by loud and terrible music playing on the speakers, and looked at the menu posted on the wall behind the counter. It was the same menu as the one on the website and did not mention price. What kind of a menu doesn't list the price? Politely, I asked the guy behind the counter how much the cafe breakfast cost, since it wasn't indicated on two out of two menus that I saw. He said to me, "Have you looked at the menu? Menus have prices" in an impatient, mocking tone. Well apparently not, if I had to ask after looking at two menus! He pointed to his right, saying "Right where my finger's at, see where I'm pointing?" as if I couldn't figure it out without him asking me. I did in fact see the menu. $8.50 for a cafe breakfast. Got it. But for some reason, he picked the menu up for me and waved it at me, like wildly flailing it in my face was going to tell me the price. I said, "I know, $8.50." He said, "But there's other stuff too. Did you take a look?" What an idiotic response. I specifically asked about the price of one thing, so what was the point of telling me to look at "other stuff"? Why bring up items that I showed no interest in? Plus, when the customer says he knows the price of what he wants, there should be no further need for a smart-ass attitude! More importantly, why not just tell me "$8.50" in the first place? It wouldn't have been that hard, and it might have made me be more lenient on the rating. And why do the two most conspicuous menus not list prices while the less obvious one does? Is it this place's goal to make sure I never return? This is obviously my first time here; are you trying to make me feel as unwelcome as possible? I mean at 8:30 in the morning, your day probably hasn't gone on long enough for you to be so miserable that you give a customer such an attitude. But this is by far the worst kind of service I've received in recent memory. Nevertheless, I just played along instead of walking out the door. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride a bit if you don't want the servers at restaurants to spit in your food, which I suspected this guy was going to do if I talked back. Thanks a lot, whoever you are, for being the rudest person to serve me since I started reviewing on this site. I don't know the guy's name, but his ears were enormous. I clocked in the wait time at about nine minutes. When it arrived, I was worried because it wasn't steaming hot at all. That's a problem. Another problem is that I had to take a number. These people don't have the decency to deliver. They don't have the decency to give me a drink, no milk or coffee or even water. And no decency to give me a simple fork or other dining utensil. I had to get up from my laptop while yelping to pick up my food. Why is it like this when you don't have to take a number at Portage Bay Cafe, and the people there deliver the food to your table in much less time? Portage Bay Cafe also gave me a glass of iced water, a fork, knife, napkin, even a bottle of organic ketchup. Here, nothing. The service is pretty abysmal, but the horrors apply to the food as well. The toast part was just a single slice of toast, lightly buttered and not warm. I could easily make the same thing myself in a minute, so I'm not impressed. My poached eggs were watery and tasteless. The hash browns were also tasteless. No lie, the ones at McDonald's taste better. I probably could have walked up to the shelf and gotten some salt, but nah. I shouldn't have to modify the food after it comes to me to make it taste like anything; that part's not my job. The pork sausages and toast were tolerable. But generally, I expect food at a restaurant to be a tad bit better than "tolerable," especially if the total came to $8.89. This whole meal was horrible and got cold way too fast. This might be one of those restaurants where you bus your own table, but I didn't care. They'll never see me here again, so I don't feel too bad. It's a pay-at-the-counter place, so I just conveniently gave them eleven cents as a tip. That's more than they deserve if I'm more satisfied by the daily bowl of cereal I pour for breakfast.
(1)
Daniel T.
A chill spot to sit and grind through work. The noise level is as expected of an college street but tolerable with a pair of headphones. The head manager is a nice dude and will try to accommodate for the shortcomings of the other waiters or assistant managers.
(5)
Masha M.
I've often thought that Cafe on the Ave was massively overpriced - home cooking for really exorbitant prices. But, if you want eggs (and not an breakfast sandwich) and fruit, and you go before 9:30, the early bird prices can be worth it. However, today I had a real scrambled egg craving and it was not during early bird time. It was not a rush, there were lots of seats open and I was the first in line. I ordered just fine - a Cafe Breakfast (8.50) with bacon, fruit subbed in for hashbrowns (.50) and some avocado slices for the eggs. Somehow this came to over $12 which means that my avocado was close to $3. It was MAYBE 1/4 of an avocado. But actually the worst part is that I got my breakfast to go and when I got to my destination, I realized that they had forgotten my bacon. So with tip, I paid almost $15 for scrambled eggs, a quarter of an avocado, and a slice of toast. THEN I got an eggshell in my scrambled eggs. Enough is enough. I just can't justify going here again.
(1)
Tracy S.
This was my go to cafe to meet up with friends over breakfast or lunch when I was attending UW. Free wifi, good eats, and quick service. Order the london fog or green tea steamer, it's amazing! Only downside is that the line gets long and it gets very crowded so come early or call ahead and reserve a table if its a large gathering.
(3)
Dan C.
Starbucks next to
(1)
Hyunmook W.
Don't order any food from here. It takes 50min to come out and it not good at all. Don't waste money
(1)
Dean P.
The cafe environment was very laid back and was great for our group to enjoy our conversation...and its a good thing we had a good conversation because there was no rush to get the food out. There wasn't a line to order when we arrived but it still took 10 min to get a drip coffee and half an hour to get an omelette, turkey sandwich, and eggs Benedict. I ordered a veggie omelette with bacon and sausage because how else do you make veggie stuff better. When it arrived it looked great but a little thin, I asked about the meat and was told it was included inside...but it wasn't. The "waiter" quickly returned with a plate of bacon and sausage and apologized and I successfully made my veggie omelette better. My coffee order was also misplaced on the counter of drinks and she quickly pumped out another cup when I asked about it. The staff was great and never questioned if something was wrong and needed to be fixed, but I never received a receipt for my order if they were to question anything. The food was decent, coffee wasn't, staff was friendly and nice, but damn it was slow for no apparent reason. $20 for an omelette and coffee, I'll pass next time.
(2)
Tami W.
Was here for a show last night, a charming little play that was looking for the realism this cafe provided. It was significantly more crowded than I was expecting but we still found a table. I am confused as to what this place wants to be, honestly. There is a 5 page menu of food, although I didn't partake in any, that seems overwhelming. The coffee smelled amazing though, so if you're looking for a nice robust cup of joe then you've come to the right place. There was a tiny little stage there that looked like it was designed for speakers, or singers which looked interesting as well. Sadly though I gathered that most of the clientele prefer to plug in their headphones and study then actually listen to what's going on. Also there is a selection of beer and cider which threw me because I thought it was a coffee shop. Though, as the neighborhood dictates I think this place is a little bit of everything all together.
(3)
Yajun A.
Food is fine. But one of the waitresses always has horrible attitude. She smashed a plate in front of me today when I went to grab my coffee. Rolls her eyes and sighs constantly. I guess she just really hates her job. If you get such treatment from her, don't feel like it is your fault. I have tried smile big to her. No use. The original owner was super friendly though, he was a short nice Korean guy. Really miss him. Hope he comes back.
(1)
Manolito Daniel M.
came in around 9:30 today for a sunday morning breakfast. we (husband and i) placed our order with a new employee being trained by another. when asked our choice of bread we asked what they had, sourdough and wheat being the answer. i asked if they had white and was told by the trainer that sourdough is white. i replied that it is "a" white but not "white bread," she clarified and i choose wheat and my husband sourdough. when our order arrived we both received sourdough, and not one piece was toasted. i did not get what i ordered and the same new employee seemed very confused and spoke/mumbled so softly i could hardly hear/understand her. i told her i wanted the wheat and make sure its toasted, my husband asked for new, ACTUALLY toasted sourdough. i attempted to eat my mushroom and sausage omelette but found it most unpleasant, the hash browns were oily and half over/undercooked. 4 pieces of toasted sourdough then arrived, i took the plate of bread up to the counter to point out the new mistake. i pointed it out to the trainer who began to argue with me as to what bread i order, despite the fact that the wrong bread was on the plate between us. after explaining the mess up i was giving what can only be described as attitude by three of the employees standing at the counter. one girl in a ponytail angrily said with eyes rolling "do you want the wheat?" i said of course not i'm done at this point. before i left i went back up to the counter and said "i only have one more thing to say, no one even apologized or said sorry, not one person." instead of an apology i rudely got a dismissive goodbye wave from the guy making coffee that was meant to cut me off and tell me to just shut up and leave. i sarcastically told them their service was great. frankly the staff had unconstrained contempt the second there was any discussion. too much $ to pay for crap food and i certainly wouldn't pay for the indifference to customer satisfaction. never. again. ps i was still burping that nasty omelette around 4pm. gross.
(1)
Bk L.
The food here has always been delicious. I especially love the breakfast hot croissant sandwiches. The service here is generally pretty good as well. However, I was grabbing lunch here yesterday at half past noon and encountered a situation that I just have to share. I had thought I heard my number called so I went up to the counter and asked the barista/employee behind the counter if the box was mine by telling her my number. She rolled her eyes at me and replied with attitude "That is what he just said". I don't expect anyone to be overly peppy or cheery, ya don't even have to smile, but a simple YES would have sufficed. I wasn't expecting the attitude over a simple question. I would've given a higher rating if it wasn't for this employee's poor service.
(3)
Matt J.
Been here three times this summer. I really like the space and volume levels for working. Some negatives though which aggregate to me not wanting to come back. Ice cold baristas: One of them seems particularly irritated to be there and taking drink orders. I'm afraid to even make eye contact! Marginal fish: Ordered a chirashi. Wasn't expecting it to be good and it wasn't. Fish was clearly of marginal quality, miso was mega-salty and accompanying ginger was waaay sweet. Plus, rather expensive for the portions. Weak internet: Kinda hit or miss with the internet. Unacceptable since there are plenty of places with strong internet.
(2)
Amanda K.
Green tea steamer. Get it.
(5)
Sierra M.
Cafe on the ave is perfect in every way. Cool art, outdoor seating, open late, breakfast all day, free wifi, big tables for studying in big groups, large menu that's consistently good, sports on the tv, nice ambience, and good noise level. People complain about the service and bussing your own table and all that nonsense but this is a place you can come and just do your own thing. The staff won't pressure you to leave if you've been there for a while. I've stayed here for 6 hours uninterrupted and only ordered a coffee. Because you're not always being approached and served by a waiter, it's the perfect place to just post up and study or talk with your friends. Kinda spendy (for a college student) but since there's hardly any service I never feel like I have to tip. And the food is really great and in large portions. Definitely get what you pay for.
(5)
Andrea O.
Loved the food and coffee from here! You have to bus your own table, but I didn't mind at all. The food was pretty good, and the prices weren't that expensive. It was really quick service. Would definitely recommend visiting!
(4)
Alaina W.
A fine establishment that makes me question why I never frequented it when I went to UW. A friend is a regular here... She's the reason I'm able to write the review. Hash browns crispy-- just the way I like it. Delicious strawberry lemonade! Kimchee fried rice. Great selection of desserts. Free WiFi! Great place to study. Large tables. Awesome breakfast. Lots of tables. Good music mix. The staff is hit or miss. Last time the gal at the register had no emotion and everyone else was chipper. Today's barista seemed put off that I asked for my strawberry lemonade in a plastic cup. (My order was to-go.) Serve yourself condiments, water, and espresso fixins.
(4)
Elyse M.
If today was my last day on earth, I'd eat Eggs Benedict. If I was going to do that, I'd probably eat them here. That's good hollandaise. The service is almost non-existent. They take your order and eventually someone might show up with the right food while not looking you in the eye. It's a touch pricy for lousy service, but the food makes up for it.
(4)
Ty Y.
I visited this place two times and both times I was cold inside. So just a heads up. In terms of ordering, the process is a bit silly and confusing. You order your food and then get a number which they bring over. I was not aware of that so I didn't really tip them. In terms of ordering drinks? They shout out your name and you have to come forward to pick it up. The girl on the counter did not take my mocha order after telling her twice to do so which was all kind of silly and annoying. Thank god I can share my A-Ok experience with y'all. Aside from that, I like their kimchi spaghetti with bacon that comes with a side of salad. Their breakfast menu runs all day so that is something nice as well.
(3)
Michelle K.
Food here is just fine. Nothing special but not a disappointment. Coffee is coffee. Great study spot but it can get crowded.
(5)
Louise K.
This is a great place to hang out. Not ideal for studying. I've been here multiple times in the last 4 years, and I love the sweet potato fries, although they occasionally come out burnt. Not really worth the price, but good for sharing with a friend. Don't order french toasts. Their cakes are amazing.
(3)
Sophia C.
Wow, this place is terrible! If it weren't for the space (I love the large windows, numerous tables, and electrical outlets), I would have given Cafe on the Ave just one star. Their food tastes so bad that it makes me want to go home and just make it myself, which defeats the point of eating out. The cakes are dry and tasteless. The coffee isn't all the great either. You're better off going to Starbucks across the street. No joke.
(2)
Thyda S.
My cousin introduced me to this place earlier this week... and since then, I've been back there three times! I kind of like the atmosphere... everyone just chill and minding their own business... over coffee and good eats. I've only had the nachos here and it was a decent quick snack... loved the fresh avocado on it! The Milky Way is now my new favorite drink... yum! The internet connection could have been better though... sucks getting disconnected every few minutes!
(3)
F.R. C.
I've been here a time or two while I've lived here. Last time I got a tall latte and a meager slice of banana bread, and it came to NINE FREAKIN' FIFTY. NINE FIFTY. NINE. FIFTY. It wasn't anywhere nears good enough to qualify that price, and the guy who took my order was indifferent to me and a jerk to the folk he was managing. Me no likey. I do not recommend this place. It's always too loud and crowded, anyway. I hate to tout the Starbucks across the street, but the coffee's the same and it's cheaper--believe it or not.
(1)
Fred Chong R.
Slow. Undercooked mushy hashbrowns. Over cooked tasteless eggs. They serve minute maid orange juice (based on the taste at least). Also, for a place with no service it is pricey. Bleeh!
(1)
Katherine T.
My experiences at Cafe on the Ave are pretty good for the most part. Last year I would specifically make a trip every week to buy a slice of their AMAZING coconut cake. I don't know if they still have it, but it is so freaking amazing! The breakfast there is also pretty good. I ordered the Ave Omlet (egg, ham, onion, tomato, bell peppers and cheddar cheese. The omlet was delicious and was packed with ingredients! The red potatoes that came with the omlet were also really super good. The employees are also pretty nice there. Sometimes there are so many working that it's a bit hectic, but it's cool. The only downside I have to the cafe is the price. Suuuuuppper expensive. You can tell that whoever is making the decisions around there is a tiny bit stingy! All you can eat pasta for $8.99....but only for an hour? Yikes! Anyway, I will still go there occasionally, but if they lower prices I will be there more often for sure!
(3)
Can C.
I love the internet and outside seating at this place. Food and coffee are meh, but the setting almost makes up for it
(4)
Rachel T.
Nasty nasty nasty. I had french toast that tasted like scrambled eggs on stale bread. I took one bite and sent it straight back. Their staff doesn't seem to give a crap about anything.
(1)
Jason W.
Dear potential Cafe on the Ave customers, I would strongly advise not spending your money at this over-priced and poorly run establishment - if we can even call it that. The cook was not wearing gloves, and after the employee(r) handled money then touched the food without washing his hands. Two health code violations within a matter of seconds. I'm someone who supports a business that practices good customer service. Based on my experience, the baristas that work there are generally pretty nice, but watch out for the owner. He's the gay asian guy who sometimes shows up to do some "work." Here's how it went: Guy - "What can I get for you?" Me - "I'll have the soup and half sandwich combo, with cream of br" Guy - "What kind of sandwich do you want? Me - "The tuna melt." Guy - "... ... ... What kind of soup?" Me - "The cream of broccoli soup." *hands credit card to guy. Guy swipes card, and hangs on to it. I still had my wallet out. Me - "Could I have my card back?" Guy - "I have to swipe it again." *He swipes it properly this time... Me - "Alright, could I have my card back now?" *this is where he starts giving me attitude. Guy - "You will sign the receipt first, and then I will give you the card!" Me - "I just want it now so I can put it in my walle" *guy cuts me off again Guy - "We have a way we do things here." Me - "Okay, you don't have to give me attitude." Guy - "You need to just sign the receipt." *The guy then tried to stare me down while I was waiting for my food. He insisted many times saying, "you need to take a seat, we'll call your number." I've worked in the restaurant management for about 8 years, and that is NOT how you talk to customers, I don't care what they say to you, it's your job to be nice. I was not rude, but I did become upset when I was repeatedly disrespected by the worker, even after I had already paid for my food. If this guy is part of the management, it makes sense why I had to pay $9.00 for food that was only worth about $5.00. So if anyone who works there reads this review, send a message to the our little delinquent friend - treat people with respect or go home with a broken nose. And remember, you violate many health codes in your little shit-hole, so one phone call to the health department = $1,000 fine for you. Keep your head up.
(1)
d k.
For what its worth - and the location - I am totally impressed that new ownership could vamp up a place so much. The fact that Cafe on the Ave is the only place to get drip Caffe Vita is fantastic in that the place is a 1/2 block from my work hovel. The egg sandwich in the morning is also a good thing. The old Cafe Roma, nostalgic in my mind's eye, was a crumbling den of iniquity for the unsavories of the Ave. And of course, its much better if you're a regular. The sweet gals behind the counter will buy you a cup of your favorite joe, every now and then. I give it 4 STARS!
(4)
C K.
Been going here for years and I find myself in agreement with many of the other reviewers here. The coffee is pretty good, the environment is dim but comfortable, with lots of table space to get studying done. The food is definitely WAY overpriced and not usually worth it. I tried one of their "gourmet" burgers last night and was not impressed. The picture on their banner is blatant false advertising -- it's just a stock photo of a cheeseburger, what I received didn't even have the same ingredients. The ciabatta-esque bun was nice but everything else was dry. Should have taken my burger business across the street to A Burger Place.
(2)
Karyn G.
Since Cafe on the Ave is one of the view places where you can have a good sit-down breakfast, I decided to try out a small culinary adventure last week. What a disappointment. The eggs (sunny side up) were a tasteless mass, and the sausage looked like it had been microwaved. The toast and the potatoes were fine but halfway through the potatos they became tough and undercooked. Since the meal cost me $10 (incl tip but approx 8.75 otherwise) this was certainly a waste of money. I have often wondered about their food but now that I've tried it I feel no reason to go back.
(1)
Hans N.
Cafe on the Ave is a step above the predecessor coffee shop in the location. It is clean, efficient, offers a pretty good range of food options, and is a pleasant experience. The staff are kind, and the large windows, outdoor seating, and comfortable seating make it a good place for a sunny afternoon. That said, the prices are well above what they should be for counter-service deli food. Food is marginally above cafeteria-grade, but they charge the same as much nicer places.
(3)
RowerRob C.
Good coffee and excellent teas. Could use a few more A/C outlets...
(4)
Paul M.
Pricey with mediocre food - and no prices on sign above counter $10 for a sandwich. Disappointed will not be returning.
(2)
Kristin F.
Unimpressive. Our coffee drinks tasted watered down, and took forever to be ready. The food was very tasty (great herb cream cheese!), but for relatively simple breakfast food (bagel w/ cream cheese, ham & cheese on a bagel), it took way too long to come out. And the prices are really too high. Though, the employees seemed all reasonably friendly. It's a shame, because the inside is very cozy, so I really wanted to love it...but, alas.
(2)
Vanessa A.
Their mocha was surprisingly good and the people working there were friendly enough. In the early afternoon it's a nice place to study but by 5 or 6pm it gets loud and busy and then it sounds like they turn up the music so you can't even hear yourself think.
(3)
Jon B.
In a word: yuck. While the setting is nice, we experienced severe problems every step of the way through our breakfast. - The person ringing us up was only half paying attention to us. She double-billed us for one of the things we ordered. No one working knew how to process a refund, so we stood around for several minutes while they worked it out. - Our food (french toast and the breakfast combo of hash browns, sausage, toast and eggs) sat on the window from the kitchen for a couple minutes before anyone bothered themselves to bring it to us. - The french toast was absolutely, utterly vile. They charged $6.50, not a terrible price for real french toast, but this wasn't real french toast. It was two slices of bread, apparently just toasted in a toaster, wrapped in scrambled eggs. They gave us a refund, but that they serve this dish at all is awful. - The breakfast special cost $8 and was not worth half that. The hash browns were burnt on the outside and soggy on the inside, there was a single slice of burnt toast with no jam or anything to accompany it, and the "three eggs" looked like two at most and were poorly scrambled, cold and dry. To their credit, the sausage was actually pretty good. Still, most greasy spoon type diners would charge $5 for a similar breakfast and it would be a lot better. The coffee was average, but expensive. Plenty of far better (and cheaper) places to get breakfast around here.
(1)
Kellan M.
I enjoy this cafe as a reliable place for coffee, lunch or dessert. Today I had a roast beef sandwich with a salad. The sandwich was great but could have used a bit more meat. The salad was really good and the dressing was equally tasty. I also had a latte and they hit it just right. It is a bit pricey for food but I don't mind usually because they are consistant. I was happy to see it very busy today. :)
(4)
Joelle A.
My first time here was amazing, but my following dining experiences failed to live up to my expectations for the most part. My first meal was the salmon Eggs Benedict, which is served on a croissant, which I must say is an absolutely genius idea. The salmon was herbed and baked, and I remember it being flavorful and moist, the eggs were runny, the croissant was crisp, and the hash browns were tasty. When I went back went I was having a bad day and craving some Eggs Benedict comfort food, I was left sorely disappointed - the fish tasted fishy, and the eggs were not runny at all, which is key. On a later visit, I tried the vegetarian version of the Eggs Benedict and specifically asked for extra runny eggs, and when the yellows came out solid, I had to send them back and wait for them to make it over. I have had a Caesar salad here as well, which was good, and the hot beverages are fine also, but I've given up on my Eggs Benedict dreams here.
(3)
Fumi S.
I often go there to get their chocolate and oat bar (don't know the real name...sorry)...it's addictive. I have no complaints and I still go there to get some coffee and the chocolate bar :)
(4)
Alicia B.
whenever I'm shopping on the ave with friends, we always make sure to stop by the cafe for a bite to eat. I love that they're open late! the atmosphere is nice and the art work is beautiful. and it's not true that you always have to bus your own dishes... they usually bring out the food to you, and bussing is opitional. great for a date :)
(4)
Christine K.
Way way way overpriced! A place geared towards students that charges $10 for a sandwich, no thanks! The menu prices are expensive themselves, plus they charge you extra for EVERYTHING. Granted, the food is pretty good and it is a nice place to go study, I definitely can't afford to visit it more than a couple of times per quarter. The Wifi connectivity is really poor... I usually end up bumming off of Starbuck's connection next door. Seriously, if I'm going to pay this much to have something to eat while I study, please let me get on the internet!
(2)
Mike N.
Great service. Their breakfast foodstuff is superior to lunch. I found the pesto chicken sandwich inedible. The coconut cake amply made up for it though. The wifi is moody; some days are better than others. The coffee is not Vivace, but palatable. The natural light on sunny days is yummy, but I question lighting at night and on cloudy days.
(4)
Elisa M.
Went to breakfast with co-workers here this morning. I ordered the Ave omelette. The omelette itself was fairly good, nothing special about it, but my hashbrowns were a big pile of mush with no flavor, those were left behind. My co-workers ordered pastries, cinnamon rolls and a croissant, both of which they asked if they could be heated, but unfortunately they do not have the capability. Odd! And when our food came out for those of us that ordered food the pastries had yet to come. Only 1 person ordered a latte which they didn't get right, and instead of apologizing for getting the order wrong the barista was annoyed that she had to make another latte. Really? So I very much doubt we'll be having breakfast here again, I honestly am shocked they are still in business with horrible service like that. For the price I can think of better places to go that will seat, serve us, and bus our tables for us. Not worth it.
(2)
Robyn H.
New management turned the old Cafe Roma into Cafe on the Ave and added sandwiches and a small breakfast menu. Spacious and open with lots of tables invite people to stay and sip a while. Wifi is available. I choose to sit by the large windows because the interior has a dark feel due to the choice of color for wall paint. Try the ham, egg and cheese crossiant for a quick breakfast on the go.
(4)
Heather H.
MEDI-O-CORE to the core. I can think of at least a dozen other cooler, cheaper, and nicer spots in the U-District that will give you more pizazz. The burgers were just about the only thing that looked fulfilling, other than that the sandwiches and sides are bleak for that you pay. Also very limited in the vegetarian options: Hummus and veg or a veg burger. Waitstaff 's attitude is even bleaker than my sparse plate of veggies and hummus. Lets just say they are slow to respond. I basically left feeling bored and unfulfilled.
(2)
Brad P.
Today is my second visit to the Cafe On The Ave. Most of the people here are obviously students, or at least academics. It is a busy spot, and while there are tables for groups of 4 - 6, most of the tables seat two. There are a reasonable number of outlets, but again, these may be hard to come by depending on how busy the place is. My bottomless cup of coffee was $2.75, which seems perfectly reasonable to me. The food I have ordered has been pretty good and all in all it is a positive food and drink experience. I generally tend to think positively about a place where you can get free internet, a coffee, lunch, and then a beer. If I was to list downsides they would be relatively minimal. You order at a counter, and food is called out at the counter, rather than table service. The menu on the wall is NOT the complete menu, so make sure you investigate before ordering. Also, condiments (salt/pepper, ketchup, sriracha) and silverware are in the corner of the place and not at the table, so make sure you grab everything you need before you sit down. You also act as your own busser and will need to take your dishes to one of the bustubs around the restaurant. With all of that said, it is a pretty cool location and certainly provides a better alternative to chain coffee houses in terms of atmosphere. I wouldn't recommend this place as "destination" spot, but you won't be disappointed if you happen to stumble in.
(3)
Ian S.
Solid spot, open early, decent prices. The coffee isn't great, but servicible. The food is pretty well priced, but not outstanding. I've been there when the staff was great, and I've been there when the folks working were entirely off-putting. I no longer go there.
(2)
Elizabeth T.
Great place for breakfast/brunch. Their entire menu is delicious.
(5)
Krista S.
I (like many people in the district) only came here because I work nearby. I had been craving a grilled cheese and fries and this seemed to be one of the few places in the U-District that could satisfy that craving. I'd never had their fries or grilled cheese and never will again. The fries were lukewarm and very oversalted. However, the grilled cheese was the worst I've ever eaten. It was super greasy and the cheese had absolutely no flavor. The only thing that made eating part of it tolerable (because I had meetings for the rest of the day and needed some form of sustenance) was the salt from the fries that had stuck to the sandwich.
(1)
Chris T.
Oh, Cafe on the Ave. How deceptively quaint and cozy-looking. Things I like in cafes include friendly staff, comfy chairs and tables where I can spread out my work or read for hours, and free wifi. Oh, and the actual goods (how could I forget!): good pastries and tea. The staff here are pretty frigid and although they seem to get along and always banter behind the counter, you'll be lucky to see a smile from them when they're serving you. The chairs and tables are average: the chairs are decent but the tables have a habit of rocking slightly when I write...can you say flimsy? The couches are awesome but I am sad to say that my life has not been leisurely enough to warrant my enjoyment of these couches for quite some time. The wifi is free but I think they cut you off after 3 hours or so...sad times. I come here about once a year on those rare days when I decide that Solstice is too noisy and that Cafe Allegro is too hipster-y and bare for me. But I never really look forward to these visits: they're more of a forced decision than anything else. I've had quite a few of their cakes and although looking at ten+ cakes all neatly lined up and looking their finest makes my mouth water, it usually turns out that they're dry and not half as delicious as they looked (I could be talking about cakes OR men!). I usually go to cafes for tea and not coffee and the tea here? It's all right. I like that it comes in a big mug and that they shovel their loose leaf tea into a big fat bag but even the Earl Grey isn't that strong... WHYYY. Every time I walk past and see the outdoor seating, the perfect dim lighting, and the comfy couches, I want to like this place...but never do.
(2)
Amanda P.
I have never been treated so poorly by...well...anyone, especially not by anyone who runs a business to which I frequent. It was around noon on a Saturday, I only decided to go there because Kane didn't open until 1PM and I needed to work on a group project. My group and I sat down and were getting everything situated when the manager walked over and started yelling at us about not ordering anything. I tried to explain that we were just about to order food and coffee when he got extremely angry and started telling me how much the rent for the building was. He slapped down a menu and demanded that we order something, so we just left in shock. I used to study here often, and I've brought several friends to this place, but I will definitely never return and will tell everyone I know about my terrible and embarrassing experience. This place exceeded bad service--the manager was down right mean.
(1)
Danielle W.
I came in here and politely ordered the banana with yogurt. I asked if I could add granola, offering to pay for the extra item. The guy at the counter, with brown hair and glasses, flat out told me "No, we can't do that. You have to get the other one." The other one had berries, and I didn't want berries. He told me again, that there was no way for me to get granola added to my dish (WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING ONLY WITHOUT BERRIES)... um, OK. Totally rude. It's not that I was asking for something extravagant, luxurious or even unreasonable...it's GRANOLA. The coffee smells and tastes burnt, and the internet was so bad that I had to connect to Starbucks' internet. Not worth high prices and snobby (lack of) service.
(1)
Cat J.
Cafe on the Ave is such a disappointment. It has a great location on the ave which is why it stays open I guess. Cafe on the Ave has a ridiculously large menu. All of the items are overpriced and just OK quality. If you are a newbie to the area, it seems great, but the more mom and pop places you try nearby, the more you realize that Cafe on the Ave is a huge ripoff. You can get better, cheaper food in at least 20 other restaurants within 3 or 4 blocks of it. You have to bus your own table which is alright, but this isn't a fast food place. They will bring your food out to you, but you don't have a waitress. Or some things you have to pick up from the counter. It's confusing and unclear. Cafe on the Ave tries to be too much, and every aspect of the business suffers as a result.
(2)
Dominique F.
I have a lot of good memories in that cafe. I actually spend more hours here than in any other cafe on the ave ;) The sandwiches are good, and the drinks are ok. However, the menu is a bit pricy especially if you're planning to study there 7 days a week. The place is always spacious though and you get internet access if you're buying something. Enjoy!
(3)
John M.
The staff was unfriendly, they don't clean the tables, they make you pick up your food at the coffe bar but still give you a number to make you think they're going to bring it out, and then to top it off you have to bus your own table when you leave! The food was ok but kind of expensive especially since there was no customer service to speak of. Not even napkins or salt and pepper on the table.
(1)
King C.
Oh terrible, terrible place. Manager, manager's wife, and employees were constantly hovering over us, trying to get us to order as quickly as possible. I wasn't sure why there was a big rush; there was plenty of space in the restaurant. After the third round of obnoxious hovering, our group finally ordered. Mediocre food. Bleh.
(1)
RoR o.
After having a sub par french toast and bacon dish at Costas (which i wrote about in a previous post), I still needed to satisfy my craving for french toast. This place did it right. Not overwhelmingly cinnamony, not too eggy.. just good old fashioned french toast. I had it with bacon, which was perfectly crispy and over easy eggs, which was runny and yummy. The only thing I didn't dig was the price. 4 pieces of French Toast 3 over-easy Eggs 2 pieces of Bacon =$12.32 w/tax Considering that I really didn't need to eat anything for the rest of the day, maybe it is a good deal... either way... it made me happy.
(4)
Nick S.
Went here with a friend from U-Dub who called this place the "quintessential Seattle cafe" experience. And he wasn't wrong! Cafe on the Ave has a pretty good vibe, and is nice and spacious. It doesn't exactly have the fastest service, but who cares? The lattes are huge and basically the same price as Starbucks, and I can vouch for how awesome their Mexican Mocha is - liquid perfection. I didn't need to use the wifi while I was here so I can't comment on its quality, but given the number of coffee shops nearby, I imagine you could connect to half a dozen networks from anywhere in the place. That notwithstanding, this seems like an excellent local alternative for someone who's sick of Starbucks and Tully's.
(4)
Caroline B.
As someone whose worked in the service industry for nearly 12 years, I think I have a pretty high tolerance for bad service. Everyone has bad days, right? Sometimes it's a server, sometimes the kitchen, but I like to give that restaurant a chance for redemption. The Cafe on the Ave has failed every time. The first time I went there, I was surprised about the high prices on the menu. I had a breakfast sandwich and a coffee for $10! Then after sitting for about an hour studying with a friend, the manager came over to our table and threw down a menu. He demanded that we buy more to stay there! Although we were both about to order another drip, we left and went to Soulstice because we were so appalled by the service. I don't know why I didn't lean my lesson, but I went back a second time. The service was ok, but again the food was overpriced and this time just plain bad. I had the ham and egg scramble which was way overcooked and had hardly any cheese. The toast was actually the ENDS OF THE LOAF!!!! Really, for $15 I should get an actual piece of toast to go with my mediocre coffee and cotton-mouthy eggs. So If I could give this place NO STARS I would, but yelp won't let me. Please don't go to this place, it should be called the Trap on the Ave because it is a trap for poor students to waste their money. I will be telling everyone I know about this place and I hope this review causes you to go elsewhere.
(1)
Denise L.
I've grown to love Cafe on the Ave! Although everything is a little pricy, I enjoy the fun atmosphere with upbeat music and plenty of seating. Cafe on the Ave has a wide variety of food choices. I recommend the strawberry lemonade, the sandwiches, and some of the desserts (who can resist a warm slice of apple pie with a giant glop of vanilla ice cream slathered on top?!). I always get the 1/2 deal: a small cup of soup and half a sandwich order. It's perfect for a lunch. For dinner, I normally order the whole sandwich order which comes with tons of fries. It fills you up quick! They do have a burger deal (I believe it's a deal after 5 PM) and it's buy one burger, get one free! But of course there's a catch: you do have to order drinks along with them. But in the end, the deal is a pretty decent one because the burgers are huge! I also just recently came here for brunch. It was bumpin' at 2 PM on a Saturday, so prepare to stand in long lines on a sunny weekend. I ordered an eggs benedict with baked salmon on a croissant, two buttermilk pancakes (a favorite), and a side of bacon and eggs. I ate it all!!! Muah hahaha! Just kidding, I did share with one other person. We were both completely stuffed, but I was a little disappointed with the eggs that came with the bacon. It was supposed to be two eggs, but it seemed less than that. I felt robbed, since the bacon&eggs together were an extra...2.50? 3.50? 3.75? Heck, I can't remember. The pancakes were a bit undercooked with the batter still melting in my mouth. I guess it was the massive rush of people that caused the food to be rushed made. Some people study here, but I personally cannot study in such a dark place (at night) and especially with a loud crowd occupying the seats. Overall, I've had a majority of good experiences here.
(3)
Daniel L.
This is a nice cafe with good baristas. You'll like it
(4)
Dave L.
I joined Yelp to give a review on this place. That's how displeased I was with the place. Bad service to start. Then there was a long hair in my eggs. I wanted a refund and I eventually got it but it came with a lot of attitude.
(1)
Esther C.
Okay. This is very NEW and HOT review. I am still sitting in this cafe. I've been here since 3pm and now it's 8pm. I've bought 3 coffees and one pasta because I know that the staff and seller wouldn't like it if I just stay here without buying anything. I had two americanos, one vanilla latte and one shrimp pasta. I think I spent more than $25 here. I cleaned the dishes and cups right after I finished it because I was worried if I am going to drop them on the ground and break them. After finished the pasta, I was really full so I didn't order more coffee. and one..(I don't know maybe he was a owner because I heard this cafe's owner is Korean) old man came to me and said "You know, you've been here for 4 hours now and we have time limit which is 2 hours and no Starbucks coffee is allowed" The reason why he mentioned about the Starbucks coffee was because I bought one glass of Starbucks coffee from 7eleven before came here because I was going to go to the library but decided to come to this cafe. I WAS AWARE that I shouldn't bring any other foods to the cafe so I didn't put it on the table. I did NOT even open it. It was in the plastic bag. (Well, I put it on the table for 10 seconds because he asked me to turn on the outside lights and the coffee was next to my seat so I had to remove it from my way) so I said, "It was in the bag. I didn't even open it. and I already ordered TWO COFFEES and ONE PASTA" and he said "I didn't know. and here's the menu. You can order any foods here" and then he left the menu on the table and just walked away. DID NOT EVEN SAY HE WAS SORRY. I am a person of manner and etiquette. I know I should not drink or eat any other foods from outside. SO I DID NOT. and you know what? A girl who IS SHARING this table with me DID NOT buy anything and staying with me right now. DO NOT GO TO THIS CAFE UNLESS YOU NEED A PLACE TO STUDY DURING WEEKEND because the library closes early on Friday and Saturday. I suggest you to study at home, Starbucks or other cafe instead I haven't mentioned anything about the foods yet so here they are 1. Americano: I've never seen an americano with this much of oil on the surface. The taste is fine but it just looks gross. 2. Vanilla Latte: I know that Latte contains some milk but this one just tastes ONLY MILK. 3. Pasta: Expensive and taste is just fine. Overall, compared to the money I spent here, I got treated very poorly. The cleaners are so lazy and the tables are so dirty. I wanted to move to smaller tables but they were so dirty so I had to stay where I was which was fairly big table in the corner. If I HAVE to come to this place to study, I will NEVER clean my plates! EVER AGAIN. How rude they are asking customers to buy more! How greedy!! The old man's attitude was really rude. I am honestly shocked !! P.S: You NEED TO BUY SOMETHING TO USE Wi-Fi because the password is on the receipt
(1)
Kyle P.
Wow, I'm not the only one who feels this way. I wish I would have checked Yelp before I went there yet again. I've tried this place more than a couple times. Today was my last time. 6 bucks for a bowl of soup?! Expensive, bad vibe, bad lighting. Internet didn't work. The only thing they have going is a good location, which is the only thing that explains why they are always full. Save your money, there are numerous better options within a block.
(1)
Calvin Y.
There are a lot of things in life I don't understand. This is one of them. Whenever I pass by, this place is always packed and I never understand why. The food is just not good here. I came here last Sunday for a book club meeting and I ordered a raspberry chocolate cake... the outside looked good, but the taste? Terrible. The frosting was solid so it felt like I was letting a chunk of chocolate butter melt in my mouth the whole time. However, props to them because they finally took away the floral/vegetable decorated vinyl table cloths -- it always irritated me when I tried writing on the table and it would leave indentations in my paper.
(2)
Samantha O.
I didn't have a terrible experience here. They had a pretty good selection of different types of food which was nice. They have a lot of vegetarian options as well. I also didn't find that the staff was rude, on the contrary, the girl at the counter was really nice and funny. A lot of people were in there studying so it was a pretty casual environment. As for my food it was fairly good, I got a tuna melt. I had asked for no onions but there were definitely onions on it. The fries were good. I wouldn't order it again because there are so many other things on the menu to try. The food came at a reasonable time. One thing I had an issue with was that the soda costs $2.25 and you only get one free refill. That's stupid. I rarely see places that do this and it just irks me. If I want to drink more than two refills then I want to without paying extra, gosh darn it! I think the menu also said that if you don't have a bill larger than $3 then you don't get a refill... which is weird. And stupid. Sorry, I love my soda. If I decide to come here again it will probably be for the convenient location near UW and the free WiFi. The tomato basil soup with a grilled cheese sandwich looked pretty good so maybe I'd try that out next time if they have it.
(2)
Randon A.
Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside ...maybe the best hashbrowns!
(5)
Nicholas H.
With all the square footage, and the raised outdoor seating, it's a shame to me that this place has such inflated prices on the food. Prices aren't listed on the menu online, but I recall coming here and ordering a sandwich -- not a hefty deli sandwich mind you but a meager portion seemingly for someone watching their weight -- and paying around eight dollars. It's not an outrageous sum and the ingredients were certainly high quality but, I don't know, if there was some new aged pricing strategy in place where you 'pay what you want to,' like Radiohead used with 'In Rainbows" back in 2007 I would not have forked over eight dollars for that sandwich. I would have given them six dollars, and that would have been fair. This isn't somewhere I'm pining to go back to, but I don't object when a friend who really likes the local art on the wall, or the board games in the back, or the black on blacker than black paint really wants to get a drip coffee and scones from somewhere other than the Starbucks across the street.
(3)
Laura B.
After two weeks in Seattle and only visiting this place twice it might be premature to write a review.... but I really like this place. The music is great. I've fallen in love with a painting on the wall and the apple pie, chocolate biscotti and coffee are all great. I will be going back to this place often!
(4)
Faith Y.
They are evil evil evil since I know I'll keep coming back regardless of the sky-high prices, the rubbery/bland food and coffee that should be ashamed to call itself that. Why? It's in a primo location which is probably the only reason they stay in business and the tables are good for study sessions. And the service isn't bad. They've played CD's on repeat which can make one never forget their headphones again. Smoothies are possibly worse than the coffee as they have no resemblance to real fruit and taste like (bad) pureed Yoplait with ice. Even their damned ice teas are pricey and they only have one flavor. *runs to Zoka's* And chai lattes are one of my favorite drinks in the world which happened to taste nothing like chai ... or much milk. Just a vague watery concoction of nutmeg. Blegh.
(2)
Sovannary S.
EEK! Is right. I went here before the UW game on Saturday, and I was pretty dissapointed. Two years ago when I came here I thought the service was bad because the place was packed to the door, so everyone was rushing. But on Saturday, the place wasn't packed at all, it was actually a bit dead when we arrived. When we walked in; no one said hi, I mean, c'mon give me SOME kind of ackknowledgment. When we got to ordering our food, I was kind of back and forth about what I wanted, I hoped to get some insight from the lady behind the counter but she just gave me that "hurry up and order, you're wasting my time" look. I was about ready to walk out of there, but my stomach said otherwise. I got the eggs benedict, and it sucked. My eggs were over-cooked AND why are they so sparse on the hollaindaise sauce? I love that stuff, everyone who orders eggs benedict EXPECTS that stuff, but I get about a teaspoon full on each egg. You guys just suck all around.
(1)
Evan J.
I walk in for breakfast specials "starting at $2!", alright, so I expected that one french toast, one pancake or two pieces of average toast would be that minimum. What I don't appreciate is being told, after attempting to order, that these specials are only available with a purchase of a drink. It mentions on their menu that this is the case, but only on the separate page for lunch specials. If this is the case for both separate pages, print it on both pages or print the menus on the same page. No, I don't want a drink, I just came down here from Sureshot because their wireless is broken and you supposedly have cheap breakfasts, alright? So I order my two eggs over medium (or hard, whichever your cook/s can do-- they also come with no toast or hash browns like the specials states they do) and fruit cup, without being told the price of each item, only my total of $6.87. That's absurd. For less than $2 of food, 3/4 of which is hardly even touched before serving. I get my fruit cup, I notice, oh awesome, a decent amount of this is banana. I'm allergic to banana, but that's my fault for not mentioning. How are my eggs? Barely sunny-side up. That's -gross-. I appreciate your service at the counter as a meek attempt to make up for your failings, but this is just bad. You're not worth the time. I'd rather go to Starbucks.
(1)
Logan V.
Bad coffee, greasy hashbrowns, and uninspired eggs; too much money for the quality. Am I paying for the fast wifi? Because it is pretty alright here... that gives them an extra star. They left a spot on the receipt for a tip. What for, busing my own table? There are better places that don't have to put "On the Ave" in their name to be truly local.
(2)
Zahira P.
Cafe on the ave boasts strong, flavorful coffee; a wide variety of desserts; slightly surly but mostly cute baristas; tons of of seating options; lots of art everywhere; and an old theatre-like decor indoors. Their outdoor patio is lovely during the summer. Maybe Cafe On the Ave is truly a cafe at heart, complete with everything listed above, but judging from these reviews, perhaps we are better off not forcing COTA to be someone it's not -- a brunch place.
(4)
Tim U.
Food is good, one of the only places in the u-district to serve a decent breakfast. Coffee if good, much better than Starbucks across the street. Quite overpriced though. A waffle was something like $8, much too much for a plaid pancake.
(3)
Jennifer B.
WHAT DID YOU SAY? I heard about half of the conversation with my friend. This place is packed and you wouldn't notice until you stepped inside.The drinks and food are good if you have time to wait for them. The staff is really friendly and nice.
(4)
Landon N.
Great vibe in the cafe awesome place to chill do homework and see familiar faces
(4)
Alex M.
I was actually surprised to see that so many people find the employees here to be rude. You won't be waited on, but everyone at the counter has been friendly enough during my visits. One of the main reasons I stopped coming here to study is the terrible wifi. I am almost never able to connect. You can usually pick up the signal from Starbucks across the street, but even that isn't reliable due to the distance. Cafe on the Ave is a nice place to come hang out if you have a larger study group and don't need Internet access. The food is decent, but unfortunately it is overpriced. Try using the PIRQ application if you plan on spending more than $10; you can frequently get a discount of 20-30%.
(3)
Ben D.
Nevermind, they got rid of their super cheap morning happy hour, a "one week experiment." Know why it didn't work? Because they gave too huge of a discount. I wish they would have just scaled it back and kept it in place. Now, I echo all the concerns others have: -Not great coffee -Overpriced -Meh food. Go somewhere else unless you're on the hunt for available seating and outlets, or mid-afternoon (mediocre) breakfast.
(2)
Lily L.
I have been here twice. Twice I hated it. The only reason I am here for the second time is because my boyfriend likes "hashbrown,toast, and egg" and portage bay didnt have reservations until 1130. anyways, this place consists a lot of fruit flies ( like those you spot on rottening bananas) they messed up my drink, instead of redoing the whole drink, they just add the chocolate. I ordered a black and white mocha, i got a white mocha, and when i told the barista, she just add two pumps of chocolate.. and she also messed up the foam art. How lazy and pathetic is that? Obviously every cup of coffee isnt a piece of art. The field is realllllllly low quality. Go to portage bay instead! The taste is bleh..., pho opens early and there are plenty.. go get some pho! DIRTY TABLES... so you bus your own tables, so if you see an empty table, the table has not been clean.. that's disgusting. It is like going into a gym and the machine hasn't been wiped down!
(1)
Alison V.
A friend and I were up on the Ave after I had showed her around UW. We decided to pop into here to grab a bite to eat since it looked inviting. The food was pricey and less than impressive. I had a chicken sandwich and the chicken itself was clearly the frozen cheap, almost patty-like, type. The vibe had a strange feel and lots of people were giving evil glances to people chatting even though they were just reading magazines. Also, they had no napkins out and when I asked they only gave me like 2 of the cheapest things you've ever seen.
(2)
Le M.
REGRET. That was the first word that popped in my head when I took a plate of sandwich and salad from the counter to my table. We may be in recession, but does my sandwich need to look like from Depression era? It is the anemic type served at school cafeteria. The bread is blah, the meat is thin. It is sparsely filled with little slices of mushroom and onions. The cheese is the discount-grocer type. My 7-year old niece can make a better sandwich. As for the salad, even rabbits would wounder if it will go past the small intestine. This corner cafe with black awning, big windows, cozy interior and open deck is deceiving. Like an angler fish, it lures you in only to be snapped a few bucks lighter. The service? Forget it. It's McDonald's without the clown. You walk to the counter, you order, they shout your number, you pick your order, and you bus the plates. The last word that popped in my head: FORGET.
(2)
Bijan H.
I've had the breakfast here about 5 times and my experience has been consistent. The bacon was cold, the hashbrowns were flavorless, and the eggs were undercooked. The drip coffee is the worst on the ave. It's weak and oddly sour. However, the toast was good and the place has free wifi. Although you pick up your own food and wipe your own tables there is a space on the check for a tip. No thanks. As it's the only place on the lower AVE that serves breakfast, the only thing going for this place is location. A note for the owners: turn up the stove, add a pinch of salt, choose thicker cut bacon, lower your prices from $10-$6, find a better source for your drip coffee.
(2)
Megan A.
Cafe on the Ave is the perfect mediocre spot (if such a thing exists). I do not think they are an amazing eatery, but I do not hate the place either. The cafe has a great space - its cozy and inviting, which is a plus. I have never stayed there to study, but I have found that it is a good spot for meeting friends for catching up between classes. The service is okay. They have never been very friendly, but they have never really been rude to me either. The only problem I have had with them is when I ordered a bagel with herb cream cheese (which costs extra) and they gave me regular. I went up to the counter to just ask for the difference in cost back because I did not want to waste food, but the girl took my bagel and just scraped the cream cheese off. It was a little bit strange. I can't really comment on their food because I usually just order a bagel to go (which are delicious if you are looking for a good bagel!). I have also ordered a peppermint mocha, which they insist on calling a grasshopper, and it was not good at all. If I am paying extra for a mint syrup, I expect it to taste like mint!
(3)
Jessi M.
I went here for the first time to meet a friend for a quick dinner so she could have a break from studying. I think the best phrase to describe this place is "okay not great." I ordered a fresh basil sandwich-- essentially a caprese sandwich (which is one of my favorites, usually). It was almost $9, plus $2 more to sub in sweet potato fries for regular fries. $11 for a sandwich and fries is a bit much, in my opinion, but I was hoping for something tasty. I got a sandwich that was okay, not great. It had the bare minimum mozzarella cheese with thin, pale tomato slices. The basil *was* fresh, and the bread was pretty flaky, but it overall disappointed. The fries were good, but I'm not sure they merited a $2 upgrade for the amount I got. The strawberry lemonade I got, advertised on a big sign near the register, was overly sweet. It was okay, not great. It was also $3. The atmosphere was pretty nice, and the food was okay, but I was left still hungry after a $14 meal.
(2)
CHRISTOPHER G.
I like to come here to eat and work(like i'm doing right now). I finished my drip coffee 10 minutes ago, and a nice gentleman with a Dodgers hat came up and just refilled it for free. That warm refill was more than enough to make me come on here and write a positive review. Amazing. Huge fan of the friendly service here.
(5)
Alli D.
All I needed was an Americano and a place to do some reading, so this place had everything I required. The coffee was good, and the couch was comfy (although it attempted to eat the belt on my coat, a fact I didn't notice until I got halfway home). I was all jazzed to go back to try breakfast or a burger, but after reading the other reviews I'm not so sure. Maybe I'll stick to the early-morning coffee and pastry. At least I know that's safe.
(4)
Tyler M.
Went in again a couple times just to see, and made sure to order the exact same thing as last time, and this time the coffee was excellent. Service was quick and the barista making my coffee was friendly and attentive. All around, pleasant. Food was also pretty good. A little bit pricey, but pretty reasonable.
(4)
Suzanne M.
They have a good breakfast deal (3.99) for alight breakfast, but the rest of the menu is really expensive. I think the panini are nearly $9 and I saw an omelet for $11. Granted, it had smoked salmon in it, but really? The early bird breakfast comes with coffee (small up charge for latte) and your choice of about 6-7 different foods. One day i got sourdough toast and an egg over easy. The buttered the bread liberally with real butter. Yum, but small. Today I got the same deal with a pancake. Much more food. You bus your own table and pick up your meal when they call out your number or what you ordered (it was different on different days), so there's no need to tip. Its pretty quiet in the mornings. There aren't many sit-down breakfast places on the Ave, so its a good option if you need it.
(3)
Angie P.
It was suggested I go to this cafe instead of heading to the local Starbucks for the free wifi and the hearty breakfast. I really liked my eggs and hashbrown breakfast, but the wifi wasn't working at all. I had initially wanted to go there for the sole purpose to just hang out and get work done, but I found myself scarfing my food, drinking my coffee and walking across the street to a Starbucks anyways. I don't know if the employees knew their network was down or not, but I saw a lot of frustrated college students looking around to see if others were experiencing this network heartbreak. The breakfast and coffee was good anyways and the employees were really friendly!
(3)
L H.
Food nothing to go back for, and customer service SUCKS!!! No offense this place is good for just what it should be a place to sit on your computer and have coffee. They don't believe in service here and the food just about anywhere else is better.......
(1)
Kellie C.
They serve beer and have outdoor seating.
(5)
Maggie L.
A good to place to study, and the wireless is reliable, which is more than can be said for some other coffee places in the area. The food is consistently good, and the coffee is delicious. I usually order the breakfast burrito, and it never fails to satisfy. The fries are not fantastic, a little too McDonald's-like for my tastes. Why the average rating? The waitstaff is what you would expect from part-time college students: inattentive and a little too "chill" for my tastes. Seems like they are all standing around texting or changing the PA music.
(3)
Kim L.
If you're a student who needs a place that: 1. You can study at; 2. Has coffee and food; 3: Has wifi; 4. Has a plethora of outlets and seating; and 5. Has late hours (they're open til past midnight during the school year) Then Cafe on the Ave is golden. Cafe on the Ave specifically caters to the student who needs a reliable place to study at, NOT to the connoisseur of gourmet food. The food here is decent (my only reason for not giving it a five-star is because the food is good enough, but not the greatest), but maybe you should go elsewhere if you're looking for mind-blowing food--you really can't expect to have that at a place where students sit and study for hours on end. Admittedly the wifi can be a little shakey (I've had a few occasions where it just doesn't connect, in which case I just connect to the Starbucks wifi), but Cafe on the Ave is by far the most reliable place for a student to study or hang out at--from what I know, it has the latest hours for a coffee shop on the Ave and you can always find seating somewhere, which are the two main problems I've had at the other coffee shops. The workers there are also really nice and usually will make conversation with you while you order. But if you don't order anything and just sit down to study, then they do have a right to say something. They ARE running a business.
(4)
Inna B.
I've had some great coffee and finished a couple of papers here. It usually seems filled with studying students, so... it's definitely not an exciting place to be. It's usually super busy so there are few (if any) seats available. The food is a tad expensive and I usually don't like to order it because you have to wait around for your number to get called (and, from my experience, they are kind of slow). My favorite thing about this spot is the (small) outdoor seating area. It's perfect for enjoying a warm beverage (during cold weather) and people watching.
(3)
Graeme B.
I've been to cafe on the ave twice. First time was just for coffee, and the second time was for lunch. Both times the experience was mediocre. Coffee was decent, but more expensive than comparable coffee shops, eg starbucks. The food was overpriced and for the quality recieved. My burger was over cooked and my salad was tiny. Nothing was outright bad, nor was it good. 3 stars.
(3)
Stevi C.
I've never had the coffee here, but the lunchtime foodstuffs really aren't worth it. They're overpriced and extremely slow to the pass, and totally blase. And then there's the problem of table space, which is that there isn't any. And if that weren't enough, a lot of people seem to study here, but I can't quite figure out how because it's always so loud, dark and distracting. There's also a wall that apparently leaks every time it rains that the owners haven't bothered to fix, despite numerous customers informing them of said leak. Hmm. That speaks very highly, doesn't it?
(1)
Alex L.
Disgusting. Hash browns were soaked in oil. My toast was soggy with too much butter. Bacon was not good either. Overall just a fatty fat fat expensive meal. 22 dollars for 2 people. The only reason we came here was because Portage Bay Cafe had a long wait. Biggest regret of my life.
(1)
Ryan J.
Almost was scared away by the bad reviews, but was in desperate need of a great coffee shop. This IS the sumertime, so no doubt the lack of students helps. Advantages: 1) GREAT tables and chairs! Sweet baby jesus they are solid as a rock, unlike the vintage furniture found in most local joints. 2) GREAT staff. They were very kind- I did not encounter any rude staff. 3) GREAT atmosphere. Music, room temperature, and setup were all conducive to intense studying or just handing out. Why 4 stars? Internet was horrible, had to steal starbucks...
(4)
Carly L.
I miss Roma. When I was a student at UW, I would often walk by Roma, and the outside seating was full of smokers, with sullen looks, reading The Stranger, and speaking loudly in disdain of something. I would walk in warily, order a drink, and head out, always satisfied with my order. Fast forward X amount of years, and now it's this place. The walls are warmer, with paintings, curtains etc... but it now seems to have lost its soul? I met a date here this morning for coffee/breakfast. My latte wasn't bad, enough vanilla, but at the end, I swallowed some grounds. Fail. My date ordered an omelet that he seemed to like. As I stared out the window, bored with the date, I realized that this soulless place wasn't the place where I wanted to be.
(2)
Michael E.
Went for coffee and to do some work on my computer. I was lucky enough to snag a seat on the outside porch. Coffee was good and I ended up getting a chicken sandwich for lunch. Overall, great place to study in, food is a little expensive for getting a casual lunch. Also, the wifi kicked me off after about an hour and a half. Worth an occasional visit!
(4)
Brittany S.
People either love or hate this place, and quite simply I'm a regular here. The pros: Friendly and good looking staff ;), lots of tables and outlets for you free wifi users, a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu (unusual for a cafe), and early morning specials until 10am/ "happy hour burger" PLUS they serve cafe vita! Also there are cheaper menu items to cater to the students (like the bagel pizza $5, you get a whole bagel sliced in half with chicken and cheese etc on it) And they're open pretty late every night (like 11pm?) The cons: You have to bus your own table, it can get really crowded (especially when us students have midterms, finals etc) and the food is just ok, nothing very special. Also the food is a bit pricey for what you get for most items. I go here a lot because if I want to get in a good full day of hw and studying done, I can get good wifi service, a meal, and good coffee. Which means I can sit my butt in my seat for 7 hours there (I've done it before many times). I do have mixed feelings about this place though. It's a good breakfast place during the weekend, you'll see a lot more families, and less students doing hw. I think their breakfast menu is good but the lunch is sort of sad, and a good deal for dinner is getting the 1 burger + 2 drinks and getting a free burger. For me, it's one of my favorite places to study because there are a lot of tables and plugs. I like the music most of the time: it's not too loud and it's more current.
(3)
Ky B.
I pretty much go here because it's a convenient location to study. But every time I do, I wish I had not, for the same complaints everyone else has about this place. I go here quite often, I buy my coffee, my cookie, my salads, etc. I KNOW for a fact that the manager knows my face and recognizes that I am a frequent customer that frequently buys food and drinks from them. So this evening, not being in the mood for coffee right away and having an epic food coma from mother's day dinner, I decided to hold off on ordering something. OF COURSE THEY NOTICED. One of the workers came over and told me that there is a 15 minute policy for buying or they would have to kick me out. That's fine and all, but he did not have to be RUDE and INSENSITIVE about it. The place was not crowded at all. I can tolerate a little mean mudding by the managers when I buy my coffee and study for long periods of time there. I can tolerate overpriced food and drinks. I can tolerate blaring music. But when some guy in an apron marches over to me and tells me i have to buy something or leave, and asks me, "Did you hear me, lady??", I'd rather spend my money elsewhere, less convenient, than be yelled at for not buying something right away. It's astonishing how poor the customer service is. Having worked in the food industry for five years, I can understand having a bad day, but most employees I encounter have a stinky attitude, including the manager that is always walking around hovering and staring at customers. It's really frustrating.
(1)
Kristi F.
One of the major reasons I won't go back to a restaurant is if the restroom isn't clean. This one is pretty gross. The service is pretty slow and I ordered a sandwich that was boring and too expensive. I was not impressed by this place and probably won't go back, especially with all the other spots on the Ave to get food and coffee. Also, the baristas are kind of grouchy. If you are going to work in the service industry, at least put on a fake smile. I can give you a break once in a while, but an entire staff that obviously doesn't like their jobs is a little much.
(2)
Geoff B.
Mediocre food, mediocre coffee. I've tried their baked goods (nothing to write home about) and the coffee is alright when they get the order right. Free wi-fi is a big plus, and the atmosphere is pretty good for studying-- it's more interesting to study here than a library. I only really come in here because there's guaranteed table space-- that is until I was informed by staff member that I need to order something or get out. I'm not a freeloader, if I'm by myself or thirsty/tired, I'll order a drink. But when I'm meeting someone who has bought a drink, and the place is dead as a doornail, why would you give the guest of a paying customer 15-minute countdown to get a drink or leave? A third of the tables are empty! I know I can get a tea for a buck-- but it's the principle of the thing. Very stupid policy, and I will not be returning.
(1)
Megan H.
First off I ordered the Veggie Omelet which comes with hash browns and toast. It says on the menu that it is possible to exchange the hash browns for fruit. I am gluten intolerant and so I ask the cashier to exchange fruit for toast or give me a lower price or more hash browns. She refused to do any of these things because she didn't have a "button" The food was incredibly mediocre for the price. The omelet was bland. Now for the grand finale... The food made me sick. I do not know if it was the excessive grease, or poor ingredients, or if the cashier ignored the fact that I made it clear that I am gluten intolerant. I will never be eating here again. It was a very disappointing experience.
(1)
Theo S.
Decent. Lots of seating and power outlets. Free wifi with purchase [ limited to 2 hours I believe] - make sure you don't throw away your receipt because it is where the wifi code is. $3 credit card minimum - ordered a large coffee with an extra shot instead of a small coffee - ended up bouncing off walls till the afternoon. WEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
(3)
Justin P.
Terrible service. I had to get my own silverware and condiments. I would never go back here.
(1)
Allie S.
Still on the expensive side, but I can say that if I'm gonna be eating at Cafe on the Ave, I'm there for the Eggs Benedict. Rich, creamy hollandaise and some really damn good Canadian bacon on surprisingly tasty English muffin... it tasted really fresh and quite yummy. I returned here on a whim when I needed food before the test I had this morning -- who knows, maybe they're on the up-and-up? :) Or at least I can hope...
(3)
Elaine J.
Yikes. Went here before graduation for a quick bite because of the convenience. That was a mistake. For only three of us, seating was hard to find but on a saturday morning, one can't complain too much. We ordered our food and waiting literally, 25 minutes for one order of eggs benedict and one waffle with eggs. Both were actually pretty good. Except for the fact that the waffle was only ordered with strawberries and came with bananas and blueberries too. The Mr. doesn't eat bananas so this is why that matters. Just those two things, $25. Way, way too overpriced. this did not include drinks! Then i ran out of water, it's self serving so you have to go get your own water...low and behold, the jug was empty. When I bussed the table and scraped off my plate, my hands got a bit sticky and no where in site was there anything to clean off with. So i waited almost ten minutes for the one staled bathroom to open up. No thank you!
(1)
Melissa S.
This is my second time to Cafe on the Ave. When we visit Seattle, we stay at the College Inn and this place is a good walk from there. I could easily go to Starbucks, which is closer, but I like supporting the little guys, ya know? I ordered a 12 ounce soy cap with an extra shot of espresso (my old standby and the drink I have painlessly enjoyed everyday for almost 15 years). The gal at the counter started at me blankly and said, "do you mean a 16 ounce soy latte?" Um, no? Last time i checked those were two totally different drinks. I replied with, again, what I wanted. Again, blank stare. What I got was a 16 ounce soy latte. Not wanting to argue, I sat at a bistro table and drank it. It was ok- kind of lukewarm, borderline cold. Not sure what the snobbery/'tude is all about. Sure the space is big and has decent artwork on the walls, but it is hardly unique. I think I will check out Slapshot coffee next time, a block up the street.
(2)
Matt S.
This place is is not terrible and not exceptional, very middle of the road with average food and average service. I've tried both breakfast and lunch items, most seem to be lacking flavor. I don't think the cooks season most of the dishes very well, a bit more salt, pepper and other seasonings would go a looooong way. I tried the hummus plate and am pretty certain there was no lemon juice or tahini in it, or if there was the proportions were off, it basically tastes like smashed chickpeas straight out of a can. The staff are not quite as friendly as the University Starbucks but not quite as snobby as the baristas at Solstice. They are polite enough, just don't expect an overabundance of hellos and conversation (the typical Seattle freeze). This place has tons of potential, great location on "the Ave" and they have a large enough physical footprint to accommodate a lot of people. But nothing here really stands out as unique or interesting. I think they need to kick the flavor up several notches on their dishes and inject a tad more enthusiasm in the servers and baristas. I am sure they always have a crowd given the location to students and dorms but I am hoping for a bit more something out of this place to attract me there regularly.
(2)
Melissa H.
This was one of the WORST dining experiences I've ever had. 12:35pm First of all, there's a "wait to be seated" sign, but then you see people at the register ordering, and it's confusing. 12:45pm Ten minutes after I've been seated, I realized that no one has come to take my order or even give me water. I guessed I had to order at the register... 1:35pm I got involved in my reading and realized my order number hadn't yet been called. And what do I see?!?!? Older folks getting waited upon. 1:40pm I learn that they assigned my order to the wrong number and that it had been called 30 minutes ago. My burger had been sitting there for 30 minutes! They didn't give me a new burger, but made me ate the soggy cold one. They said they'd put in a new order of fries for me (because we all know how unpleasant cold fries are), but I had my burger finished and no one had dropped them off. This place infuriates me. Overpriced, confusing mess. And apparently, you get treated like shit unless you're an emeritus professor.
(1)
joe m.
The only reason I really go to this place is because it is a convenient location from the campus. Other than they, the service is slow and mostly apathetic people working there. Food is okay, drinks/espresso are nothing to shout about. It all ought to be cheaper for what they serve and how they serve it. For the record, I miss ROMA!! That place had character. This place has...something that is the opposite of character.
(2)
Michelle B.
My French Dip Sandwich should have only contained shaved roast beef on a roll accompanied by some au jus (otherwise known as meat coffee) and maybe a handful of fries. It's not a complicated dish. I don't know if they were trying to fancy it up, but here is what I got - A store bought bun with some roast beef lunch meat, raw onions, raw mushrooms, plastic cheese, and bacon! So weird and so salty and so not good. And the fries? Well, those were replaced with stale tortilla chips. Maybe I should have known not to order food when it seemed like no one else was, but it was cold and rainy, and a French Dip sounded good. Silly me.
(2)
Nana L.
I had to wait 20 minutes to get my order of a tall mocha. The girl making the drinks asked me politely what I was waiting for, and I told her, expecting her to make mine immediately since my order had seemingly gotten lost. Instead I had to wait for another 10 minutes while she made drinks for all the people that came after me before she finally got around to it. I only came here because my mom is friends with the owner of this place. But while the food is alright (albeit a little overpriced), the service definitely has a lot of room for improvement.
(3)
Andrew I.
The worst service I've ever had at a coffee shop. My friend and I came there to work on a project for a little bit. He ordered his coffee while I was still deciding what to go for. After about 3 minutes, the barista started yelling at me, basically across the entire room (!!!), that I had to order something or get the hell out. He wasn't even trying to sound more or less polite. We left immediately and will never ever come back. I would strongly recommend against visiting this place.
(1)
Julie K.
This is my first review to ever post at Yelp to warn yelp users to NEVER EVER go to this cafe. I am a student at UW and have been living in U-district more than 3 years. I have been to all the cafes in U-district... THIS IS THE WORST CAFE I HAVE EVER WENT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!!! expensive drinks, bad lighting, bad internet connection, over-priced foods, and the WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had two bad experiences at the cafe, one with the employee and the other with the owner --------------------------------------------------Â------------ The tall skinny white guy who works there INSULTED me right in front of my eyes. I did not say anything to him because I was in a hurry but he was literally talking crap about me for being a picky customer to his co-worker. I really don't care how he talks about me behind my back, but what kind of manner is this to do it right in front a customer? I just couldn't believe my eyes!! --------------------------------------------------Â------------- and about the owner(tiny Asian guy) ... he often walks around the cafe NOT to check if customers need anything else, but to catch the "criminals" out who have ANY kinds of food out in the table. Once he catches you, and will tell you to leave or to hide the food ! and if you spent less than five dollars in the cafe and stay long to study or something, he will shove the menu right in your face to order something. one time i was waiting for my friend in the cafe. I was planning to pay for my friend's drink so I didn't order right away when I walked into the cafe. About 10 minutes later, the guy came and put down the menu on the table to order something if I wanna stay. The tone of their voices and their facial expressions were so cold and stern. their manners are just shocking me. The owner does not know how to run a business. He's lucky that he got a good location to run this cafe. P.S. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YELP USERS TO CHECK OUT Solstice, ugly mug cafe, Madeleine's, and allegro.
(1)
Stephanie S.
Cafe on the Ave, above anything else, is a great space to sit down with a laptop (free Wi-Fi) or a book and get work done with an espresso drink. The seating is perfect for spreading out your workload in front of you while also fitting in a mug and a plate of one of their great (though somewhat pricey) menu items. I recommend the two-for-one burger special to share with a friend (I opt for the veggie burger), the hummus sandwich or the oatmeal with fresh fruit for breakfast (they don't skimp on berries and bananas). The cafe is also open later than most others on the Ave. It's taken some time to truly grow on me, but Cafe on the Ave has become an indispensable piece of my academic life in the U District.
(4)
Andrea H.
This place has potential to be great. Sometimes they play extremely obnoxious music, the servers are hit or miss, and the food is as well. I would like to be a regular customer here but they need better customer service and maybe clean up a bit more as well.
(2)
Lindsay B.
I've given this place several chances to impress me, but it has disappointed me continuously. I have always experienced poor customer service. I don't know who these "baristas" think they are, but a little friendliness goes a long way. Today I ordered a simple glass of iced jasmine pearl tea. I am used to most cafes steeping the tea in hot water and then pouring it over ice when ready, but this place just put the tea bag in a glass of cold water and ice. Did they really think it was going to steep? It definitely didn't and I just ended up with a tea bag floating in ice water . I asked to exchange it for the hot version and the guy behind the counter was really rude about it. The espresso is mediocre and everything is generally overpriced. Go elsewhere.
(2)
Rich X.
The place was really loud and dirty so it was hard to study. Plus it is always crowded so its rare to even get a spot in there. The food is simple and decent. But way over priced for what it is. For a simple and small breakfast with eggs, toast, and hash browns it will cost you well over 10 dollars. The service is always cranky every time I've been there. I recommend going down the street and going to another place to eat or study.
(1)
John J.
The only reason this place is getting even 2 stars is because of the quality of the "actual space". The location and space are prime - and only highlight the dismal failure that is Cafe on the Ave. First: the wifi. I've been in this establishment numerous times, and I would argue that perhaps 75% of the time there has been some "issue" with the wifi. And on the occasions when it is working....it is slow. Second: the $$. This would not be an issue if I felt like you received in kind what you paid for. But, this place is overpriced low quality fare. Their food offerings are meh? and their coffee is certainly subpar compared to all the wonderful offerings of our area. Their Americano is on par with Starbucks......and, this is not a positive thing. I'm hoping something truly worthy of this prime real estate eventually opens up.
(2)
Dan M.
The HH deal is pretty good at first glance, but you have to buy TWO drinks to get the free burger. There is next to no charm here. It's as if this is some extension of Suzzallo Library, full of transient, self-absorbed students.
(1)
Riley M.
reading the other reviews on here, i guess i'm not alone in experiencing terrible customer service. the food is actually decent, 3 stars, probably, but my experience with a server who was old enough that he seemed to be a manager made me say to myself that i'd never step inside this joint again. in a neighborhood with a dozen cafes why would i come here again? oh yeah, i guess i won't
(1)
Joe M.
I stopped in at 12:45 on Thursday to pick up a sandwich to go, figuring I'd have plenty of time to get back to my office a half block away in time for a 1:00 teleconference. Unfortunately, although there was no line at the counter when I placed my order, my roasted tofu sandwich was not ready until 1:10. Not only was I late for my conference call, the sandwich was not all that good, especially given its $9 price tag. Hillside Quickies makes much better tofu sandwiches, even though that is also not a good place to go when in a hurry (despite their name).
(2)
E A.
Cafe on the Ave. is my favorite breakfast restaurant on University Avenue. It is located a convenient distance from campus and serves one of the best scrambles I have ever had. My favorite breakfast items are the $5 breakfast burrito, the ave. scramble, and the original eggs benedict. If you are looking for the perfect place to study while enjoying a great breakfast this is it! I must say that I am at a complete loss as to the number of bad reviews on yelp regarding this restaurant. The only rationale I can think of is that bad reviews beget more bad reviews. I do not think that Cafe on the Ave. deserves such bad ratings. The barristas are all very friendly (they have even taken the time to get to know my name) and the service is impeccable. The only time the service gets remotely slow is when there is a rush of people. Generally, I only have to wait between 5 to 10 minutes to receive my meal and I have been eating here all year. I think that the longest I have had to wait is 15 minutes and this is only for the eggs benedict. This is perfectly understandable given the fact that good poached eggs take slightly longer to cook than other breakfast items. I will continue to visit Cafe on the Ave. in the future! This is truly a wonderful restaurant and affordable (the cheapest place to get a full breakfast on the Ave.).
(5)
JP P.
Here's what you should do when you go to Cafe on the Ave. Take the bathroom key. Go inside the bathroom. Take out your wallet. Flush money down toilet. Then, go to a barista and ask them to give you a swift kick in the crotch because that is what their service feels like. Came here on a recent trip to Seattle, and wanted to get a quick bite before I leave for the airport. I was craving breakfast, so we decided to take them up on their offer. So my group settled on the following: a waffle, a croissant bagel sandwich, and a tuna salad sandwich...and we were all left disappointed knowing that we had overpaid and were still hungry. I had also ordered a latte, and it came in the smallest cup i had ever seen - like water cooler dixie cup sized small. Do not be deceived by the latte art - it tasted terribly. Watered down and gag-inducing. Then, don't get me started on the service. The girl taking our order was so flaky. She acted like she didn't even want to be there, and she forgot to give us our number so that our food could be delivered to our table. When I went to ask her if we can have a number, she said that she would bring it out to us since we were sitting outside. Uhmm 15 minutes later, we went back inside to get our cold food, and all we get is a "whoops, my bad..." Yeah. All the folks in Seattle should avoid this place.
(1)
Sarah O.
Looking at the other reviews I definitely wonder of if one of Cafe on the Ave's biggest problems is consistency. This morning I had 45 minutes to kill before work and was looking to grab some breakfast. CotA was one of the few places open where I could get cooked food. Thanks to the early hour (9 am) and the interim (few students) it was not crowded and the service was speedy. How many of my stars would last a second visit during peak? Who can say. My eggs were good, my potatoes were tasty if uninspired and my bacon was a little bit too well done (the dryness!). I got a pot of tea to drink and there's really not much anybody can do to screw up pouring hot water over a bag. It was pricey considering the amount of food I got. Overall I'd say the meal was "meh". The nice decor and the fact that it's open so early earn it the third star.
(3)
Jimmy L.
I'm visiting from outta town; lucky for Cafe on the Ave for the followng reasons - 1. I went for a 2-hr run and was hungry... 2. I originally wanted to go to Portage Bay Cafe, however, they were closed. I then walked up Roosevelt and down University, and nothing caught my eye until gettin' to this corner. I actually glanced in the window, walked by and crossed the street, then realized that if I didn't find anything fast, I'd pass out! 3. I'm a Yelper, and hadn't read these reviews yet. Had I done so, I would never have gone in.,. It's actually a cool space. It's got some bar-height tables; regular tables and chairs; and couches w/coffee tables. The decor is kind of bohemian. Though there is a lot of natural light filtering through the many windows, they also leave the space dark. Granted, I am still skeptical for the following reasons - I checked out the case of desserts, and the cakes looked ginormous, sugary, and possibly dense and dry - at least, that is how they looked. I made a mental note to stay away from them, Most of the hired helped look totally disenchanted, disengaged, and grumpy, which made my skepticism shoot through the roof. It left me wondering whether or not they looked like coffee-shop-material. I was hungry for a burger and took the risk, cuz the only way someone could screw up a burger is to not cook it fresh, and/or overcook it. I also ordered it with extra cheddar, and extra avocado (it was called the Cali Burger). The hamburger came, and it looked to be more than a quarter pound, yet less than a third. It also was just barely cooked, and this is exactly how burgers should be cooked - not well, yet still juicy. Fortunately, they met both of my criterium, except that the avocado equated to be about a teaspoon worth! ...and they chose the wrong person from which to scrimp the avocado cuz I'm an avocado whore! I wondered whether or not they were paying attention to the food ticket, or whether or not it's normal to serve such a tiny morsel! I asked someone to add more of it, and she was pretty nice about it. I ordered an iced tea; and when I was finished with my first glass, and sauntered over to the ice tea canister on promonent display, and it was water. They should've really labeled it properly! The fries were standard. Actually, they were hot and freshly made, though I probably would've cooked 'em a tad bit longer if I were them. They were kind of pasty white. The meal came with quarter of a pickle, which was a nice touch. Actually, the chocolate chip cookies looked like the homemade kind (rather than the commercial pre-made ones) and I took the risk and bought one to-go. I just finished eating it, and it was pretty good. I used the restroom, and it was almost spotless! I made mental note... I'm *not* surprised that everyone else here had such choice things to say, cuz I sensed that they'd just be OK. Luckily, the gods were with me today, and my meal turned out decent. The burger with iced tea came out to about $12, which I expected.
(3)
Ben H.
Great coffee, great food, great atmosphere AND a GREAT place to study. What more can you ask for in a coffee shop near UW?
(5)
Andrew L.
Let's just say I've had better sandwiches.. Anyways other than that I love their coffee here. Carmel machittio with a leaf created with cream. Mmm delicious! When coming here you should stick with the Cafe not the Food, just saying.
(3)
Julian H.
I signed up on Yelp solely for the purpose of panning this cafe. I have gone back there time and again hoping to have a better experience, and every time I am disappointed. A lot of the positive reviews seem to be based on the fact that Cafe on the Ave is better than it's really bad predecessor, cafe roma, but that's not saying much. Food: always disappointing (the potatoes served with two egg breakfast are bland and unseasoned) and overpriced (their breakfast sandwich is a dollar more than the much better one you can get across the street at Starbucks; a skimpy two egg breakast and coffee will run you $8-$9), the coffee is mediocre (don't let the rosetta fool you, the coffee down the street at Cafe Solstice is much much better) Service: mediocre (pick up your own food, bus your own dishes, the workers don't seem very happy to be there) Atmosphere: They have made some cosmetic improvements to the inside over the years but that hardly makes up for the awful customer experience; the men's bathroom is a gross disaster (the urinal has been out of order for months), the cheap IKEA furniture is uncomfortable, and the music is bad. Even at 9 am they are usually playing the kind of screeching guitar solo rock that is fine at night but makes it impossible to study during the day.
(1)
Colin S.
It's a nice little cafe, but the food is a little pricey and the music/people within can be really loud. Their chai (made with Morning Glory chai mix) pales in comparison to the actual stuff from Ballard and their food is usually just ok. They do accept the Husky Card though, which is a definite plus for any college student who doesn't want to spend "real" money. It's a nice place to sit down and chat but don't try to do any work in here.
(3)
Rossana Y.
Meh. I've been here once to study for my final with some friends. There are plenty of tables to sit and free Wifi for the most part. It can be a little loud so it's not suitable for quiet studying. I had a chai latte here and it was gross. It tasted like water....with a tiny hint of chai? I dunno for sure. I can't say much for the other coffee drinks here since I haven't tried it. It is true that a lot of the food here is overpriced, but I guess that's what you get for convenience. If I were you, I'd run over to one of the restaurants nearby and get the food to-go for your study break....and maybe even to Starbucks across the street for a decent chai latte.
(2)
Susan N.
The chai lattes are well made and not too sweet. But this place is really loud and not good for studying. I thought coffee shops were for relaxing, not screaming on the top of your lungs about the party you went to last night. They also make a good cappuccino.
(3)
Cara L.
Free music from a classical string quartet was a nice touch. Plenty of seating and tables for customers to talk and/or study. Free wi-fi but not enough A/c outlets. The larger-sized tables were all taken by the time we arrived and my group of four waited a solid 10 minutes until one was available to us. I bought an 8 oz. iced mocha and a plain, toasted bagel for around $7. A little pricey for the average customer (students), the fact that I had to bus my own dishes, and the amount of food/drink I received. Staff behind the counter were aloof and unhelpful. Nice to visit once, but I doubt I'll be back.
(2)
Anastasia M.
This place is way overrated. There are way better cafes in U-district (such as Ugly Mug or Starlife on the Oasis). For some reason, it comes across as commercial to me, but that's not the main issue I have with it. It is way overpriced for the quality of the food. Yes, the coffee is very good, BUT, it is almost $2 for a cup of drip (12 oz.) You can get an excellent cup a block away at Ugly Mug's for $1.25. They do have morning breakfast specials that are okay. However, they insist on blasting Praise the Jesus music at 6:30 A.M. I'm fine with some religious music (like Handel's Messiah) but this stuff is so bad, even if it was about somebody's girlfriend it would still be awful. They really need to reconsider their music selection if they want to be the cool, hipster-art cafe that they seemed to be at first glance.
(2)
Adam ..
Nothing particularly memorable, but a nice place to have a cup of coffee and, unlike some of its neighbors, it's not always so hard to find a seat. Service has always been great when I've been, so judging by other reviews it must vary quite a bit.
(4)
Jonas C.
They've really spruced this place up (at least the menu), since I was here last. I recall this being a decent study spot simply because it wasn't quite frequented by quite so large a student population as say Starbucks or Shinka or other establishment (probably since they weren't open as late). The waffles, were good, but you paid for it. Literally, one waffle on a plate. The burgers intrigue me though. Not enough to go out of my way to try to find parking near central U-District just for a meal though.
(3)
Cathy G.
It is dull. The food was mediocre and expensive for mediocre. The staff was one friendly and another lack-a-daisical. I picked up a NY Times and got growled at that I took someone's paper. How would I know!!!!???? Regulars rule! Never going back.
(2)
The-Hoa H.
Is it a bar? a cafe? a restaurant?....it's a little bit of everything...Came in this morning after my early class to grab a quick bite to eat. I've heard good things about this place and how fresh the breakfast was so I was definately looking forward to trying it out. I ordered "the ave" omelette which came with a three egg omlette stuffed with a handfull of chopped bellpeppers, onions and diced sausage. There was a descent side of hash and a piece of wheat toast sliced into two. All this for about....close to 11 bucks after tax.....Overall it was a good meal, the portion was enough to fill me up but wasn't anything near satisfying. Service was kind of dull...wouldn't hurt to smile at customers once in a while. The food was really fresh and delicious...and although the hash was a bit greasy I still liked my food overall. I wanted to give four stars for that alone, but really.....10 bucks for a 3 eggs omelette, a slice of toast and some hash? The profit margin is like....7 bucks. I would price it at 7 or 8 bucks max. If you're going to overprice your food at least do it with good service that would put a smile on people's face. This is a cafe...not a high school cafeteria.
(3)
Ankur P.
Cafe on the Ave has the possibility of becoming a good place to spend a lazy sunday afternoon. There is ample space to accommodate large droves of students working on their assignments or just "facebooking" under the pretense of the former. The crowd is young and vibrant. Surprisingly for a cafe, the food is nice. There are 3 things which go against allowing it to achieve glory; 1) Competition - Given a choice I would pick one of the many bubble team joints in University district. It feels more cosy and personally I love bubble team; not to mention the cute patrons. 2) Coffee - For a non Starbucks aka corporate cafe, the coffee isn't much to write home about. As a coffee lover, I would expect a lot more from a standalone coffee joint. 3) The free wifi isn't free - In order to access the wifi, you need to order something and the password is printed on the bill. Granted that there are many ways around this, in principle I disagree with the tactic. So for an afternoon, when you do not want to experience the standard atmosphere of starbucks; or not in the mood for bubble tea - its a good option but not a place I would frequent much.
(3)
Paul F.
When I meet up with friends I usually go here. To me it feels warmer and friendlier than solstice or trabant. I'm just not the kind of person who can stand bad service of any kind, so being ignored and looked down upon by baristas at hip spots doesn't sit with me. I'm also not knowledgeable about the difference between good and bad coffee, but the baristas smile, it's not starbucks(no I do not want a starbucks card for the third time this week) and they have comfy couches and board games. They have a cafe too, but I found the food kind of so-so and expensive. But the breakfast sandwiches weren't bad. Oh, also the blueberry muffins, when they have them, usually have an absurd amount of blueberries. It's very refreshing.
(3)
Jennifer Y.
Mediocre. The one pro is that there is consistent free wi-fi and a lot of table space, but the service is rude and the food is sub-par. I have tried the bagels and cream cheese, the cookies, the cake slices, breakfast sandiwches, and croissants. Overall it tastes like Costco food or smth --just not something I'd be willing to spend $3-4 for although I have on those late nights that I needed something. The drinks are very very average. I ordered a hot chocolate one of the first times I came here and was a bit surprised at the method of making it --two squirts of Hershey chocolate syrup and some hot water. Disappointing since I could've made that at my apartment. The second time, I gave their latte a try since it looked pretty in the picture. Also disappointing and lukewarm. Only if we need a place to meet and other shops are busy, then will be back.
(1)
Sarah L.
Coffee is decent. Overpriced menus. Okay service. On the other hand, spacious and open late.
(2)
Kevin Y.
I've been coming here at least twice a week for the past few months. Once the staff (Song and Chrissy) started to notice that I was a semi-regular, they bothered to learn my name and greet me with a friendly hello every time I stop by. I think that deserves a few stars. As for the stuff that you pay money for, I have to agree that most of the food is mediocre and overpriced. However, the bagel sandwiches are the exception; simple and made with quality ingredients. The same can be said for the pancakes and eggs benedict. They are a tad bit overpriced, but ever since IHOP closed there's really no other place near the ave to get decent breakfast food (excluding Portage Bay Cafe, when I feel like paying $15 for an omelet). I'm one of the few Seattlites who actually likes black coffee, and these guys happen to serve Cafe Vita, so no complaints there. Basically, this place is awesome if you like good drip coffee and decent breakfast food, pretty average for everything else.
(3)
Nicole L.
This place is expensive yes, but the sandwiches are delicious! The roasted vegetable sandwich is to die for! And the salads that come with are always scrumptious.
(4)
Jody Y.
Seattleans are so lucky to have mom'n'pop coffee shops everywhere. I don't have that luxury in So Cal. Anyway, my awesome hostess took us to explore the beautiful U-Dub campus and afterwards, we were all ready for some HOT coffee. Cafe on the Ave is definitely one of those college joints - lots of students studying; I imagine that there is free wi-fi. The place is outfitted with sofas, chairs and tables, and bar area. Oh yeah, Cafe on the Ave also serves sandwiches too. I had a maple coffee latte thing and guys, it was amazing. It wasn't too sugary, the coffee wasn't charred (like CHARBUCKS) and it had the right amount of milk. My cohorts ordered a strawberry lemonade and a pumpkin latte, which were both good (by their accounts). If I had to knock on this place it would be the slow service. I think there were two baristas and we waited quite a bit (7 minutes?) for our order. :\ ETA: Wow, maybe I came in on an off day?
(4)
Anna I.
I spend enough time here that they should probably just start charging me rent. The food is relatively overpriced ($2.50 for a teeny weeny little bottle of Perrier? No thanks, I'll sneak my own in.) and the service isn't anything to write home about, but the location, hours, and menu selection can't be beat. When you're sick of staring at the walls in Odegaard, and you know you won't get even a smidgen of work done in your apartment/dorm room/sorority/whatever, Cafe is a great place to go. They're open until midnight and the people are pretty friendly. The menu covers everything from breakfast through dinner and late night snacking, which is great. But be aware, you don't know packed until you've been here at finals week. Show up early and don't be at all surprised if you don't get one of the few tables in reach of an outlet.
(3)
Jessica S.
I've been here a few times, to study with people from class and to meet friends. It's ok. The staff is usually really friendly. I had soup once...it was good. One time I had a cookie and it was good, too. It's cozy. The best thing about this place is that they serve Cafe Vita.
(3)
Kate L.
Even if there are a lot of people giving one star reviews, I still give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt. Even the best places mess up sometimes, and most of the time if someone has had a very bad experience (one star level) then they won't come back, leaving that to be the only experience they've had at that place. However... trust the one star reviews given out to this place! My friend used to work there, so I ended up going there a lot for the free food and coffee. The food is actually okay, maybe a bit below average, just outrageously over priced (especially for quality). A lot of the staff consist of the stereotypical Seattle hipster, "I'm such an enlightened person because I've been to Thailand" people. They are also very rude, but I think the numerous bad service ratings below describe it enough. Also, NEVER GET TAKEOUT. I got a cobb salad to go and when I got home and opened the box, it literally looked like it was left overs. There was 1/3 the amount there is when you get it at the restaurant, no bread stick, just horrible.
(1)
Kidron C.
Been here a few times. The first time I went with my girl and we got some coffee. The coffee was good, the staff was friendly, and the vibe was rather peaceful and relaxed. The decor is fairly modern-classy, and we enjoyed sitting at a leather couch. The place attracts a lot of laptop wi-fi users, but its a pretty calm place. The second time we came for a bite to eat. After 5:PM if you purchase two drinks you get a buy one burger and get one free deal. That was pretty awesome, and their burgers were pretty good, for a little unassuming cafe. Each time we've been back we've had a pretty solid experience here. My usual drink is a chai, or a lemonade, both of which are satisfying. Overall I would say that this place is pretty awesome. I'd give it 5 if they had any sort of wait service. I have bad hearing and don't always catch my order when it comes up immediately.
(4)
Wes W.
Rising from the questionably smoky ashes of Cafe Roma is Cafe on the Ave, reborn as a quaint little coffee plus light meal haven for student studiers and laptop toting web warriors. The new owners have done a good job renovating the pirate den interior of the old locale into a more inviting place that is great for hanging out in, complete with a row of leather couches down the middle with board games and reading materials ready for use. Good coffee, free wifi, and CAKE round it all out to make for a great lounging experience. One tip: there aren't too many outlets for your laptop power supply to go into. Most of them are located on the north wall with the not-so-comfy wooden slab tables and unpadded benches. If your notebook has a beefy battery life you're probably better off taking one of the tables by the windows, or better yet the outdoor seating if the weather is being kind.
(4)
Janelle B.
Overpriced for a cafe, food was bland, and it was too loud.
(1)
Alex Z.
This place makes me sick and angry every time I think about it. The coffee is TERRIBLE. Kind of reminds me of the tobacco spit after someone is done with a pack of Skoal (chewing tobacco). Let's assume you don't drink coffee. The pastries are also terrible. The service is horrendous, totally do not understand the concept of a coffee shop.
(1)
Ellie L.
Horrible food, horrible service. I asked for a side of boiled egg and they said they could only give me a cold egg, they couldn't boil me one and give it to me... They didn't even know when the eggs had been boiled... It's disgusting there.. Don't go...
(1)
Juyoung L.
Honestly, idk what the bad reviews are about. The food is good and the portions are HUGE. Maybe because the owner and most of the workers are Korean so they are more friendly with Koreans. I come to study sometimes and the owner is very friendly and gives me a free coffee sometimes :) Their kimchi pasta, kimchi fried rice and sashimi salad are all very tasty. The atmosphere is good for studying and stopping by with friends. The price is good and the food is consistent every time. Good place!
(5)
Anya H.
I was excited to get a bogo free meal, as advertised on the street sign, being the cheap person I am. I got two very sad meals and two extremely overpriced drinks and was so upset that I made a yelp account just to write about it.
I am glad that I hadn't read the reviews before seeking a place for a quick bite in the University District or I would not have come to Cafe on the Avenue - and would've missed out on a very good place. The one negative point I'm seeing in reviews, which I agree with, is that it was cold. Otherwise, it was very good. I didn't mind the "self-service" instead of waiters and waitresses as I went in knowing that. Some of the most excellent places (Macrina Bakery, Red Twig in Edmonds) do a similar thing as far as having you order at the counter, take a number, and then they deliver the food to your table instead of taking orders at the table. We had trouble deciding as the menu is extensive, with items in numerous categories. We ended up with the bowl of vegetarian lentil soup and one of the breakfast sandwiches on a bagel. The soup was excellent - a huge quantity, well-flavored but not too salty - and the sandwich was "workmanlike" - bagel, egg, cheese, and bacon (you can get other items in place of bacon too) - but I'd still say "good" to "very good." I noticed lots of attractive-looking pastries in the case too so we went back for some shortbread cookies. There is a whole sushi section complete with sushi chef making it fresh. We did not try it, but it like everything else I saw being delivered to tables, it looked very good. Contrary to others' experiences, we found the staff to be very helpful. After our food was delivered, I went up to the counter for an empty bowl so we could split the soup, and shortly after that the young woman I'd asked (who, of course, did give me one) came over to our table and asked if we wanted her to split our sandwich (which we did) - that was a "proactive" move on her part which belied the claims of bad service. Any encounter with the staff was very positive. The overall "vibe" of the place is college-y, filled with young people studying. The tables are large, the music is not blasting too loudly, and overall it is very pleasant. And there was none of that "hipper than thou" attitude that we members of the "grey-haired set" sometimes can run into.:) All in all I'd give it a high rating if you're not expecting a formal dinner place, and don't mind a slightly chilly temperature.
(4)
K T.
$4 breakfast special of 2 eggs any style, hash browns and toast! I wasn't expecting much for the price but my over easy eggs were perfectly runny and hashbrowns extra crispy as requested. This place fills up with college students looking for cheap and quick breakfast.
(4)
C. K.
This place is most of the time cafe, but sometimes turns into sports bar&restaurant. Although I would leave a review on the whole aspect of the place with food and beer, I am only going to focus on the cafe aspect of it. The place is right on the ave, literally at the most crowded location of all. I do not know what is with local cafe owners, but they really love to have their place across from the starbucks (I mean look at ballard coffee works and storyville). Just like most places competing directly with starbucks chain, their place is pretty big with plenty of open tables. Big windows to people watch and many outlets for college students to sweat for hours over soon-due papers. Could be tidier since there are tables just scattered around across the cafe. Popular and busy most of the time, basically UW meeting room. To account for lot of actions, they have 2 baristas, 1-2 cashiers, and people in the kitchen working most of the time. So far my experience was that there are friendly employees, but some can do better. But no one really gave me displeasing services. Now now, this is why I wrote the initial statement. I have read so many of the reviews complaining about food, menu prices, and how horrible they were. However, since I regard this place as a cafe, where I primarily come for coffee, with occasional service of lunch and dinner for those desiring it, I do not think it should be judged so heavily on the food aspect. Coffee-wise, I think their blend for drip and espresso are great, at least better than many places around. The aroma is nice and caramelly with sweet/sour taste, low bitterness, and medium body. Generally milder and softer, and easy to swallow. Pricing can be a little on the high side, but I would say better than spending 50 cent less on not-so-pleasing-to-drink coffees. The coffee and the environment really makes it worth it to come here. Flavor profile: dark chocolatey toasty piquant soft-saltiness delicate
(4)
Michael Y.
Really surprised by the negative reviews. The Cafe On The Ave has always been welcoming and a favorite of mine to study at or just grab a quick bite. The owners and employees truly care about the comfort and experience of each of their customers. I'm always greeted with a friendly smile and served on with the upmost professional care. It seems like they are always thinking of innovative ways to keep the students at the University healthy and well. Whether that means remodeling every single year to open up more spaces to sit or thinking up healthier dishes to keep students from fainting during finals week. Five stars people. Go find out why.
(5)
Jay M.
When I was a student at UW, people would want to meet here. I have no idea why. The food is overpriced and terrible, the coffee is overpriced and terrible, and the staff can be pretty rude.
(1)
Dat N.
The atmosphere is nice, there's a good Internet connection, and it's very close to a university campus. All these factors are enough for a steady stream of relatively undiscerning customers, even if it is a bit pricey for the quality. Don't get the chicken fingers and fries, though. It's essentially just store bought freezer burned breaded chicken with no seasoning. Other than that, it's a typical place of first convenience.
(3)
Boop B.
Every time I come here, it's always mediocre or just insanely annoying to be here. But the convenience keeps me coming back. Wow. The owner is a greedy son of a b---h! Two friends and I came in to study. We ordered a few cups of coffee and over the course of an hour, finished it all. Half an hour later, he comes up to us and THROWS a menu at our table, demanding we order something or he'll have to kick us out. We're confused. We already ordered something and weren't in any rush to eat anything. 10 minutes goes by, and I guess he was tired of eye balling us so he proceeded to march over and told us to get out. Rude. I'll never come here again.
(1)
Doctor Z.
Food is kind of lack luster. Got it once, won't get it again because it's waaaay over priced. But why I really gave it one star is because today the counter boy literally charged me for the wrong thing, at the wrong price, and when I corrected him he told me it cost the same and wasn't a big deal. This was a flat out lie. I get the same drink every day and it costs the same price. I know it's only about a dollar that I just got robbed for, but sheer incompetence backed up with BS will make sure I never even stop in here for coffee ever again.
(1)
Bianca M.
Food is mediocre and overpriced. Most importantly, staff is RUDE and makes you feel subhuman with the way they treat you. Avoid at all costs. You will be better off eating at Starbucks across the street.
(1)
Tabitha M.
The coffee was delicious! I love when a vanilla latte is a little sweet. The interior is great, I don't know why this place has only 3 stars? My service was amazing and THEY HAVE SRIRACHA!!!!
Nope nope nope nope nope. I have easily paid less for better food, better service, and less confusion. I haven't been to Cafe on the Ave in years, but this past weekend, the BF and I decided to stop by and grab breakfast before heading out to an event. I remembered it being pretty decent, so it seemed like a safe choice for a somewhat hurried brunch. In retrospect, we would've been better off going to Starbucks across the street. First of all, this place has what is easily the most confusing organization system I have ever encountered. You seat yourself and then go order at the register. Easy enough. Except if you order a drink, it comes separately and you have to come back to the counter to get it. The food is brought to you, but then you bus your own table. Also, every employee seemed to be doing every job - from taking orders to making coffee to sweeping to bringing food. So, if, say your drink gets lost in all this manic shuffle, it takes forever to find the person who took your order, let alone someone who knows what might've happened to it. I think you can deduce from this that my coffee ordering experience went awry. I guess at least this meant that I had my drink and food at the same time..? My poor boyfriend, on the other hand, had to watch me eat my sandwich while he waited and waited and waited for his food. Again, no one was around to explain what was going on, because they were all running around doing multiple jobs all at once. He finally got his waffle and eggs about 15 minutes before we had to go catch the bus and he had to scarf it down. The only consistent thing in this meal was how subpar both the food and the service were. I have no problem with having "okay" food in a bind, especially for a weekend brunch, but this just isn't worth the annoyance of trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
(1)
Marin J.
The locals won't give this place much love, but when you come from afar, and the language of coffee isn't spoken with such finesse as those in Seattle are accustomed to tasting...well I can understand. But I give it 3 stars and wish that this was at least the benchmark where I live. Nothing special, nothing fancy. Has the feel of a Hotel lounge than a coffee shop. Good place to perch in an emergency. A bit expensive but the java was drinkable.
(3)
Christy H.
The hot barbecue sandwich here is awesome!! The kimchi fried rice is wonderful as well!! Definitely a good coffee shop for reading and relaxing~
(4)
Sabrina D.
I came to Cafe on the Ave as this was one of the few places still open late night. The servers and the environment seemed very laid back, which I did enjoy. I do however have a huge complain on the food. My partner and I ordered the kim chi fried rice, korean ramen, and the fresh basil sandwich. The korean ramen was instant ramen. INSTANT RAMEN! (Shin ramyun to be exact) Can you believe it?! The basil sandwhich has no basil, the fries were slightly burnt and cold, and the fried rice was OK. It was a sad lost of $25 for me today.... hahaha.
(1)
Jason Z.
Vegetarian sandwiches were as bland as you get, almost all bread. The staff was nice, but because it's self service, interaction with them is limited. A lot of room inside and good porch for sitting outside. If I ever go back, it may just be for a beer to drink while people watching on front porch. I will not order their food.
(2)
Rebecca P.
Pretty cool place. I'm a 1st timer. Nice chill atmosphere, but you bus your own dishes.
(3)
Justin W.
PROs: can always find a seat, nice amount of daylight, air conditioning, very diverse menu (from burgers to sushi to pastries to cake), clean, cozy, front porch is good for working. CONs: Internet is occasionally spotty (2 of 10 times maybe), only certain seats have electrical outlets nearby.
(3)
Jack M.
I was hoping to have a good lunch but some guy wearing a bandana was openly creeping on my friends. He was overly aggressive about it too. He obviously works there too, he was going in and out of the back carrying dishes. Absolutely the worst experience I've ever encountered. I will never come back as long as I see that guy working there.
(1)
Alyssa Z.
This placed used to be a decent go-to for coffee and a decent bite. The coffee is still decent but the food sucks now. They cheap out on the burgers and the poor quality is noticeable. The dessert used to be nice and rich with each serving enough for two. Now there is still enough for two but now the frosting is just a ball of cream cheese and sugar. Skip it and find something better.
(2)
Angie W.
This place is trying to do too much. They serve breakfast, sandwiches, pasta, coffee, tea, cakes, sushi, beer, and much more. It confuses me. There are too many options and honestly a place that is trying to do too much will not excel at any of them. They will only be mediocre. I've had their breakfast, coffee and kimchi fried rice before. It is not bad, but like I said it is only mediocre. The customer service is not great and I think it is too loud and crowded in there for my liking. I've noticed that they are super friendly and nice to people that they recognize, but as a customer that only visits once in a few months, they are not so nice... Also, they kick people off the Wi-Fi after a couple (or maybe a few) hours. That's a bit rude...
(2)
Eduardo G.
Their menu is extensive to say the least. Everything from caffinated drinks to sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers. Ambience is relaxed and you bus your own table.
The set-up is the opposite of user friendly. I wasn't sure whether I needed to pick my food up and the counter or someone would bring it. We went on a Saturday morning and man was it loud. Fine for a breakfast with 3 people but not a place for studying at that time. The food itself was quite good. My mocha was much too sweet as warned and my bagel sandwich, while pricey was very good with real egg and lots of turkey.
(3)
Maria G.
I have been back many times. Mostly for meetings. It is just a much bigger spot and easier for other people to find it. During my most recent visit, staff walked around serving free cookies. That was very nice of them! I think years ago, I would come here and study. But there are two things that make me choose other coffee shops over this one: 1. lighting is pretty bad. Good for laptop use, not great for reading textbooks. 2. music is way too loud. It is hard to hear what others have to say during meetings. Otherwise, I try to avoid here whenever I can.
(2)
Michelle C.
What a great place to study! Went there a couple weeks ago for the first time (in awhile) on a Sunday night around 10pm . There was a plenty of room to sit, and I was able to find an outlet too. I guess its open till 12am everyday? I ordered a 12oz vanilla latte, which was not too bad. I think it really dependson the barista, of course, and I'd have to say that I've had better. Of all the drinks I've gotten there, I think the caramel macchiato was my favorite :) "Free wi-fi" when you order something - the password is usually printed out on the receipt.
I was super hungry before class (and needed some caffeine too) so I ducked in here at 10 am. I was confused upon entry; never a good sign, cause the layout of the place is confusing and I couldn't figure out what to do or where to go or what to order or what the options were. As a business owner, you want to make that process as SIMPLE and EASY as you can for customers. I navigated between chairs and tables to the front counter where all the menus were being looked at so I stood around a bit until one of the menus was freed up. The menu is also laid out in an unclear manner. When I made my order at the front, the server, who was really nice, informed me that the cafe breakfast would be cheaper than my order of 2 scrambled eggs+chicken sausage+hash browns+short coffee+toast, so I went with that, the only difference being there were 3 scrambled eggs. After paying you are given a number on a stand that you take to your chosen table and wait. The back right corner of the cafe has cups, water, ketchup, butter, jam, salt, pepper, etc. It was very unclear this is where the condiments and water are, since it has no signage and is behind a counter, so I had to wander around a few times before figuring out this area was where you self-serve said items. I ended up paying $15 with a $2 tip for everything and I think it was very overpriced. The quality was just ok, the experience, not good. The food is brought over to your table, but for some reason (?) you have to pick up the coffee from a separate counter near the cash register. They filled the cup up to the very brim, and not one to complain about getting too much coffee, but they left no room for cream or sugar, so my cup overflowed and it was messy to carry back to my table. It dripped everywhere! Ugh. The hash browns were well cooked but they were obviously the shredded, prefrozen kind, and the chicken sausage...there was just ONE sausage. Cut in half. What?? I've never been served breakfast sausage that way and I don't like it. I probably won't come back here because the price is too high for the quality of food served.
(2)
Casey P.
A friend dragged me here - we were looking for someplace to chat but didn't want to order anything. So we dropped in for a few minutes on a weekday night. The place had plenty of spots open and we chose a corner booth. This is a cafe in the best sense of the word, because you can lounge around and do your own thing without annoying servicepeople in your face. If we wanted to order, we could have gone up to the counter and done so. We were fine just hanging out. Sit down in one of this cafe's many booths to catch up with friends, grab some coffee, or get in some studying. Cafe on the Ave works for me.
(5)
Briana T.
good place. Nice decor and good music. A good and spacious place to catch up with a friend and sit down for coffee or if you're flying solo, you can feel free to use up the wifi and study. The wooden chairs are kinda hard though, and uncomfortable. It also can get quite loud quite easily. The food is decent, but a bit too pricey. The sandwiches and pasta are what I would recommend :) One of the cool parts is that the owner and employees are very sweet! When my friend and I were eating there, they accidentally forgot her soup and then the owner came up to us and gave us a free huge, delicious chocolate chip cookie. And I'm a huge sucker for free stuff. ;)
(3)
Maria K.
This is conveniently located to UW, so I frequented it as a student, but since have only been back a handful of times if I was in need of internet or it was late in the night and not many other things were open. There isn't much about this place that particularly stands out except for their selection of tea, which I appreciate. It is a good spot if you are trying to get some work since they have lots of small tables available, they are open late and they have internet.
(3)
Julia C.
They offer a huge variety of menu items, the food is always okay: never bad, but never great. You can end up waiting a while for simple menu items like a sandwich. The place itself has a good ambiance, wifi (not great but they have it), power outlets, bathrooms, it's a good place to camp out and get work done, it's a good place right off campus to share a lunch with a friend, but not nice enough to bring your parents to.
(3)
Eri K.
My tip: With so many better options for food and actual customer service around, why eat here? Not worth your time and money. Quick Review: I admit, I am officially a food snob. *sigh* Seattle, look what you have done to me! *shakes fist* Here is the low-down on Cafe On The Ave... It has a great location and the ambiance is alright for a cafe. Alas, the food and drink quality was very poor, especially for the high prices. What caught me off guard though was the service. This is the first time in Seattle that I have tried requesting something "dairy free" only to be met with a lost expression & a "what do you mean?" question. I explained that I would prefer not to have cheese on my eggs (she understood at this point). I also tried to order a side of grilled veggies and no one on staff could figure out how to charge me for them. I even offered to over-pay for them with cash, and the answer was that that was not possible unless I paid $5! Seriously?! Basically, this place caters to students and I should have adjusted my standards perhaps. Oh well - I lived, I learned, and I will not return.
Cozy, free wifi and the food isn't that bad. But what really got me was my experience that I had at this business. When I first when up to order, I stared down the 3 people behind the counter who were all talking while I was ready to order. Then all three people just left. I was flabbergasted to say the least. Once one of the guys came back, he stared at the ground for a bit, and then a minute later finally asked if I was ready to order. Once I finally got my order and was just sitting down to the booth, there was a nail sticking out of the booth that ripped into my jeans. Not only was the service not great, but the seating was unsafe and could have very well ripped into a persons leg rather than my jeans this time. They need to take a weekend to do a little staff training and just check the overall quality of the business because it will be a shame when someone eventually hurts themselves.
(2)
Alex G.
Pros: big menu, breakfast served late, good fruit cup side, some food is good, like the omelettes. Cons: busy place and hard to find seats in groups more than a pair, price makes me wonder, "is this worth it?", not much by way of service, some food unimpressive (ie sandwiches on regular store bought bread) Good for occasional lunch if in the area.
(3)
Felisa D.
If it weren't for its location and size, I don't know how this business would thrive. I've had really good service a few times, really bad some other times. It almost always takes forever for your food to get to you. I remember it took them like 15 mins to get my hummus plate to me which was amazing because I can't imagine it takes that long to plop some hummus on a plate and slice up some things to dip in it. The food is mediocre at best. If you take into account how much it costs for what you get, it leaves a worse taste in your mouth. The soups are often lukewarm. The sandwiches and burgers are okay. Breakfast isn't anything special. Their coffees and teas are a-okay. The only thing I like from here are their fries -- they're actually pretty tasty. Then again, I could say a million of things to express how I'm far from impressed about everything here but I will probably be here in the next couple of weeks or so for a group meeting or to meet up with a friend or to study. It's just too conveniently located and there are lots of outlets and the wi-fi works pretty consistently.
(2)
Joe S.
the hash browns were undercooked.
(3)
Adrienne R.
Needing some lunch on a day I hadn't even had breakfast, I went up to the Cafe on the Ave on a Sunday when I was at work at UW. They had a decently large selection. I was looking for something vegetarian, so I got the Mediterranean omelette with whole wheat toast and hash browns and coffee. What I ordered for coffee, what was listed on the menu, and what they called out when my coffee was ready was not the same. It being after 1 pm (and having been up since 7 am without anything to eat) having different names for the same thing was not helpful for me. They have a strange, call out your order number and you come get it and bus your own table thing going on for the cost and decor and set-up of the cafe. The food coming up was slow. Like 45 minutes. That's pretty bad. It was past lunch rush, so there's no reason for an omelette filled with vegetables to take that long. And then have the wrong kind of bread on it. And they put way too much butter on the bread, so I couldn't eat it. The omelette was greasy. How do you even make a greasy omelette? The coffee was good. The guy serving the coffee and coffee drinks was friendly. The rest of the staff was stand-offish. The rest of the customers sat like they owned the place and therefore getting anywhere in the cafe was a difficult maze of a walk. Overall, the place was okay. I won't make any effort to go back. I'd like to like it, but it's just not worth the time and cost.
(2)
Rachel A.
Mediocre, yet overpriced relative to quality, salads & coffee-- I wish I had checked Yelp before coming here! Well, never again. Too many other places to try!
(2)
Bob C.
Clean, decent prices, free wifi, and okay service. Maybe they'd get three stars anywhere else, but they get a bonus for being on the Ave. Good place for studying or meeting up with someone.
(4)
Lindsay S.
Food: I've come here a few times and ordered breakfast, a sandwich, and a pastry. The food was always very tasty, although VERY expensive for what I actually got. The London Fogs are fabulous and I always order one! I also got sushi here once, and it was surprisingly excellent. I was a little suspicious of coffee-shop sushi, but after moving from Japan only recently, this is the first sushi I've ordered that was worth paying for. Service: None to speak of. The employees always seem very busy and orders tend to get lost. You bus your own table. Atmosphere: This cafe has a very extensive menu but you wouldn't know it from the ambiance. The decor is cheap and rundown. I was a little embarrassed to meet my mentor here.
(3)
Michael H.
Ah, Cafe on the Ave. Food that's not that good, and not that bad. Not ridiculously expensive but not that cheap. Not that fast, not that slow. Mediocre food and value all around. On the plus side, they have free wi-fi, the staff were friendly to me, and they are a convenient place to get a full American breakfast. But I don't think I will bother coming back.
(2)
Lucie W.
I never cared for Cafe on the Ave much, until I discovered their mochas. Probably one of the best mochas I've had. It's the perfect amount of chocolate and the chocolate doesn't sink all the way to the bottom, it's mixed in well. I refuse to buy coffee on campus because it's so inconsistent and often poorly made by students. Cafe Solstice's is way too chocolate-y for my taste. So yes, I come here for the mochas (they have good Americanos too), not so much for the food. The food is okay/good but that's all. It's overpriced for only being okay. But I'll still order a meal from time to time if I'm in here studying.
(4)
Chris B.
I am saddened by the poor reviews for Cafe on the Ave. I went here the other day for the first time, and had a great experience. I ordered a roasted veggie sandwich and a cup of coffee, and got some work done at my laptop for a couple hours. I thought the ambiance was great, very early-90s Seattle. I actually like the hustle and bustle of this place, personally. I feel like there aren't a lot of these classic-feeling places left in Seattle, so I was glad to spend my money here. Rock on, Cafe on the Ave!
(4)
Anna S.
Holy chairs!!! If you like the sound of nails on a chalkboard, this place is for you. The sound made by the chairs scraping the floor is just insane, I don't understand how anyone can talk or get any work done here.
(2)
Opal D.
Terrible chai lattes. The art is terrible. My beau drags me here because he likes it...
(2)
Priyansh P.
Is aiiiight
(5)
Joshua C.
Stopped in here before a basketball game for lunch on a whim. Not impressed. Staff friendliness is...questionable. Prices are high for a place that expects you to buss your own tables and get your own condiments. I ordered a turkey sandwich on wheat with a green salad. Salad was just a salad, so no complaints but the sandwich was dry, particularly the bread. Generally I'd say it's hard to make a bad turkey sandwich. Cafe on the Ave managed to do just that. On a positive note, my friend's fries were good, almost tasted like McDonald's. The coffee is served in these big mugs which I love (can't speak to the coffee). The eggs benedict that another table ordered looked amazing. But...I wouldn't come here again with the abundance of dining options in the village.
(2)
Shengyao Q.
I go there a lot, simply because it's convenient. It's almost the only place that opens whenever I need a place to study. Although it's loud and can get a little dark in there if you want to read and write on papers. And it's super crowded during finals week. They have nice food. But a little bit to cheesy I'd say. I always order Mayan Mocha, it's nice taste of mocha.
(3)
Samantha E.
I decided to post an update since I've now had their coffee. Their mocha is definitely good-- on par with Starbucks, not quite Cafe Solstice level. Espresso drinks are reasonably priced, and they give you a punchcard, which is nice. I tried a smoothie recently too and enjoyed it, but then again I like anything with mango in it. I prefer coming here for lunch because I love their sandwiches and paninis, but it's a solid breakfast/coffee choice as well.
(4)
Masha J.
Although this place by no means deserves 5-stars, I feel like the one-star reviews are a little uncalled for. Because this place is very popular with college students, they get a lot of people going in and out constantly. The food, which is mediocre (not incredible, not awful) is served quickly and tastes good for the price. Again, nothing amazing, but it's erring on the side of a little bit expensive. Yes, you do clean up after yourself, but it's not that much of a hassle. The coffee is good. I understand that they are often cranking out a lot of orders, so sometimes they've forgotten to add whipped cream to my espresso con panna doppio. However, if you remind them gently, they'll do it for you without a problem. The music is classical, which is great if you want to study, but the environment can get a little bit loud because everyone is talking over one another. This can be irritating, but if you're working on a laptop and plug in your own headphones, it's not too bad. The wi-fi is free. The baristas and cashiers are very nice. I like coming back here, but it's by no means my favorite spot on the ave.
I used to love coming here when I was a student. Its nearby, serves my needed coffee and does it well, sandwiches/soups and they have free wi-fi. I also liked to come here to catch up with a friend. Over time, more and more people have discovered it and its now louder. Too bad, but nonetheless, a pretty solid cafe for working/studying.
(4)
Nolan H.
I'm not sure why so many people have been "harshing" on this place. It wasn't the most memorable eating experience that I've had, but it was far from the worst. My breakfast was absolutely delicious and filling. The only thing keeping this place from getting a better review is the lack of clarity involving where to get the silverware and condiments. I think it is a bit of a stretch to journey to the back of the restaurant to obtain your ketchup, butter, hotsauce, fork and napkins without being told in advance. Just a little weird. Otherwise, if I was in the area and wanted another early breakfast, I'd still come back. The food was good!
(3)
Miles R.
Whoa. I was NOT expecting Cafe on the Ave to have a poor rating. I suppose it's up to me to convince some people it's actually quite good. Yes, it can sometimes be very crowded, but it's not constant. I generally go when there is low-to-medium traffic, and I do not have a problem with the noise level at all. Contrary to what some others have said, I have thoroughly enjoyed the food here. It's certainly not mind-blowing, but I always feel satisfied with what I get for the price. Their breakfast items are decent, but I much more enjoy their sandwiches. Also, as an occasional tea drinker, I have enjoyed their choice in teas. They're fresh and certainly help clear my mind. I love this place for talking in small groups of friends OR for posting up at a table with my laptop and headphones and getting some work done. I'm not going bananas over this place, but it's definitely a solid location in the heart of the U-District.
(4)
Kayla N.
Decent food, I had pasta with alfredo sauce, typical decent dish. The best part was sitting on the patio and watching the people walk by. The inside was crowded with kids on laptops. Like I said, it was decent, not sure I'd go back.
(3)
Danny M.
I eat here every Tuesday and Thursday with a friend between my classes at UW. I love the vibe of this place, and the service is also pretty good. However, the reason I was compelled to write this review was the tomato-basil soup they offer (16 oz for $5.00). Simply put, this is some of the best soup I've ever had, PERFECT for a blustery day (and I'm generally not a soup fan). I can not think of a way the soup could be any better. seriously. If you have to order one thing from this restaurant choose the tomato basil soup. You're welcome.
(5)
Michael M.
Don't get the tiramisu. Thick and flavorless. It looks good. But that is about as good as it gets. It did not live up to its appearance. Even the latte was poorly served - not hot. Almost lukewarm. I should have went to Whole Foods.
(1)
Kimmy C.
I can here in the morning for breakfast because my friend and tried out this place. This place is really clean, open space lots of tables and ideal for studying in groups if you order something to drink. Its convenient for students in the university area. In the summer time I always see people hanging out at the porch studying away and drinking their coffee. FREE wifi is a plus. The menu has quite a few selections but I was not impressed with the food here. It is overpriced and mediocre. I think I could make a breakfast burrito taste better than this place with less money. I had the breakfast burrito and it was really cheesy. Maybe too much cheese. My friend ordered Jose which is a scramble that didn't have enough cheese. His plate cost 9 bucks! I also ordered the grasshopper. I didn't even taste any mint flavor in my coffee. :( sad I had maybe 3-4 sips and decided it was an awful drink. I don't think I will be coming back here. Bye Cafe on the Ave... It was nice meeting you but we won't ever be friends.
(2)
Allie C.
I am also actually really surprised by the negative reviews. At night it'll be packed with students studying and chatting but in the morning I have never had a problem finding a spot. The location is also perfect if you're a student at UW, live near the ave, and are just looking for a place to study off-campus. Pretty decor makes me a fan. I got the Northwest Omelet, house baked salmon with onion, capers and sour cream, which was definitely on the pricey side (12.50) but it was still really delicious and filling. They have a good variety of food, with salads, snacks, breakfasts, and coffee.
(4)
Jess M.
Never have I been more insulted from a manager. I would highly recommend NEVER visiting this cafe. This man yelled at me on 3 different occasions during my afternoon attempts to study. I purchased coffee and a bagel. First I was moved to a smaller table because "people who were actually eating a meal" needed to sit at my seat. Apparently your portion determines your table hierarchy. When I was sitting at a table with other empty seats awaiting a study group I was literally yelled at by the manager a second for taking up too much room. I politely explained anyone was welcome to sit here, but would need to make room when my group arrived. Then when my group was situated - he kicked out someone else, and forcibly moved us to a smaller table. And an hour later said we had to leave in 15 if no one would buy anything else. Like he would ever get a cent more of my money. If you enjoy getting forcibly reseated every hour, like unreliable wifi and find it pleasant to have a jerk manager yelling at you for being a patron -- then I highly recommend checking this place out. Otherwise even Starbucks is better.
(1)
Joshua R.
They served Vita coffee. It seems like a nice place if you got some studying or work to do. They offer beer. Their food is kinda..whatever. Nothing bad..but, nothing outstanding either. I'm guessing it's just for the local college students to grab a bite while they work. I wouldn't mind if there was some sort of snack for less than 5$ though.
(3)
Kendrick R.
5 bucks for instant ramen. Very interesting. Great place if you like to drink beer and write. But forget about the food.
(2)
Isaac P.
No one eats here for the food. The portions are tiny. The food is unsatisfying. The prices are way too high. People eat here exclusively for the WiFi. Unless your need for WiFi is greater than anything else in the world and this place is truly the ONLY option open, AVOID.
(1)
Victoria C.
Okay. The coffee is decent, but that's about it. WIFI sucks! Why do I always come here when the internet is always cracked out?! If you need the internet to do HW, do NOT go here. But, if you want a place to read/study withOUT distraction from the internet, suit yourself. Every. Single. Time. I. Go. Here. There. Is. No. Internet.
(1)
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Address :4201 University Way NE
Seattle, WA, 98105
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Belu M.
Friendly staff. Excellent Caramel Macchiatos. I loved this coffee store and the fact I could go there at night, when almost every other coffee was closed. The food is good and the only bad experience (with a terribly cold french fries) was instantly solved by our waiter. It is expensive but it doesn´t stand out in UDistrict´s prices. The place is cool and has free wifi, that works pretty well. It´s a good place to avoid libraries and spend some hours working on your stuff.
(4)Mandy T.
The first thing that struck me was the price of the food items on the menu. Quite pricey, it can range up to $10 for a salad. Oh yea, definitely not wallet friendly for my fellow struggling college students out there. So I ordered something more simple from the menu, an iced tea (unsweetened). Quite reasonably priced at $2.50 and quite refreshing for a hot weather, but it is what it is. An iced tea. Nothing more, nothing less, and definitely nothing amazing. My sister got the iced latte. It was fine, but it was also nothing special for her. A simple iced latte. If you decide to dine-in, you have to bus the tables yourself. Not an issue for me, but something to note for visitors! The environment is quite peaceful. Most people come in individually or with a few friends, but when I visited they all kept a respectable volume. Very friendly! Service- Upon first visit, the cashier was nice. Nothing notable, the baristas were just very respectable. Definitely won't be my go to cafe, but hey it doesn't hurt to try!
(3)Brittany L.
HOW and WHY people (including myself) still come back here is beyond me. I wanted to sit outside with some wifi so here I am on my lunch break. The workers are still rude and disengaged and the food is still bad. At least they're consistent??? I'm currently sipping on a chai tea latte and to be honest I should've just gotten a water. It would have been cheaper and it would have tasted the same. Breakfast, lunch, snack time, thirsty?? Save your time and money and happiness and skip this place!
(1)Yuka H.
The early bird special for breakfast is cheap for the portion. I had scrambled eggs with toast and hash browns, and it got me pretty full for the day thank goodness. I got it for under $5 for that much so I was satisfied, but the egg was unimpressive, man I could make that - kind of quality. The place does feel really nice in the morning though.
(3)Kate B.
This place is always packed and I'm not really sure why. Maybe its because their wifi is much better than the Starbucks' across the street? That's the only explanation I can think of. Their food is simple but not cheap. A sandwich and salad or fries is going to cost you at least $10 with tax, and that's without a drink. Its a decent amount of food but the mediocre quality makes it not worth the price, honestly. You could go to QFC and buy all of the sandwich ingredients for less than the price of it here. I've had the California club sandwich a few times and it wasn't special. I could easily make it at home with a croissant bought from a grocery store. There are a lot of tables and nice places to sit and do work, if you don't want to go to the library or further up the Ave. There's no waiter service, except that the food is brought out to you. You have to bus yourself when you're done. That doesn't bother me, and that is similar to most other places on the Ave. Overall, not a bad spot to maybe order some cheap coffee and get work done. If you're starving and don't want to go anywhere else, the food is perfectly fine. But I wouldn't go out of my way to go here. The same money can go further for better food elsewhere.
(3)Helen T.
This place is nothing amazing, but I will say that they're able to charge you a lot for drinks and food because of how close it is to campus. The good thing is that they have a lot of tables and outlets, so it's a great place to study. They were playing R&B music not too loudly in the background, but this place is definitely not the quietest place to study. I had a chai and thought it was okay. I also got a slice of banana bread (which was okay), and the total came out to be ~$8, which I thought was pretty steep for just those two items. But when you need to get some studying done, you gotta do what you gotta do. Plus, you just bus yourself here, so it's not like they're paying their workers to clean...so I don't really think the price is justified. But overall, it's a decent cafe to study at if you don't mind it being too noisy.
(3)Liz M.
Nope. Don't go here. As much as I hate corporate coffee, go across the street and get Starbucks. The customer service here is horrible- the baristas just glared me down and looked dumbfounded when I said thank you to them. I had a breakfast burrito and it was pretty expensive considering it tasted bland. Never coming here again.
(1)Lyna N.
Average place, nice for lunch with friends. They have a lot to choose from which is a huge plus, from breakfast platters to sandwiches to pasta and even Korean dishes. They also have a large selection of desserts that include pastries and cake. The staff is okay. The first time I went here I ordered poached eggs with avocado and other veggies (I forget the actual name), and for some reason all I got were avocados and toast. They heard me wrong, but at least they charged me less because they didn't know I wanted eggs... I didn't want to get back in line and order again and wait since I had a limited lunch break. The second time I came I got the veggie omelette which was super good. It's nice that they have a lot of condiments available (I needed more salt and pepper, and hot sauce). I ordered a latte here as well and it was pretty good. The third time I was here I ordered a k-bowl and the spicy Korean sauce was super good. Definitely need to buy myself a bottle of that from Uwajimaya or H-Mart soon. Although, this dish gave me diarrhea (I know because I saved it for lunch the next day and I got it again). It could have been the raw fish, who knows.
(3)Taya A.
Food: 3/5 - it's a bit of hit-and-miss. Quality is usually decent, but the overall dishes can be underwhelming. Atmosphere: 3/5 - it's hard to find a table here usually, but hey, at least there's free WiFi! Price: 2/5 - some items are just ridiculously priced. Even Happy Hour pricing fails to impress. Service: 2/5 - would be higher, but during my most recent visit a waitress rolled her eyes and let out a sigh at me when I asked a question regarding my order... Wasn't expecting that kind of response. Don't expect to find a table easily or great service, but consider it an option for a venue if you need WiFi and food late at night or early morning.
(2)Nick V.
Extremely pricey and no strawberries in the fruit bowl...they are quite stingy with their food and menu
(2)Victoria L.
As far as coffeehouses go, this place was okay. The prices are relatively expensive (probably because of the proximity to campus) and it's always pretty crowded. The food was okay and the drinks were okay, it wasn't anything particularly special. I did however like the environment, pretty standard, but it had a nice aesthetic and I liked the playlist they had on so much I asked where I could find it! It's just about as average as a place could get, so I don't have really much to say. Stop by if you're in the area, but there's no reason I would suggest this place over any other.
(3)Diane S.
This place is nothing amazing, (i remember it years ago having some better quality food) but it is pricey for what you pay. They do have a large variety of menu items, and lots of seating and outlets for a study session. But nothing to go out of your way for.
(3)Ken I.
I like to come here for breakfast on the weekend because it is fairly cheap decent breakfast. I usually get the Eggs Benedict which is not bad. The hollandaise is a bit thin but tastes good. The hash brown are decent though the tend to need a bit of seasoning. This is also a decent place to come sit and grab a cup of coffee and use the free wifi.
(3)Shane B.
The food here is the definition of "alright." The creamy mushroom chicken and rice is pretty good, but a lot of the other dishes are underwhelming. It is a good place to study though, as it's open pretty late compared to other places on the ave. If you're looking to have a good meal, i'd recommend going elsewhere. If you're looking to find a place to grab a meal and study/work on a group project, this is probably the place for you.
(2)Gwen S.
Good, everyday food that is reasonably priced, relatively quickly served for college students. The Cafe on the Ave was close to my graduate classes, and I ate here several times a week during grad school. Friendly staff, and small modifications/customizing orders was possible. Basic American cafe food that is reasonably priced. Breakfast croissants with bacon and eggs, or salmon and cream cheese, a croissant BLT sandwich, and eggs benedict with extra extra crispy bacon on a croissant. A very yummy treat when you need one. Awesome desserts. Can be a little loud inside (hard floor, metal chairs), high ceilings, a lot of hard surfaces. A good place to sit for hours and study for a midterm and have a meal.
(5)Mallory M.
Good food, horrible staff. The seat yourself cafe seemed like a chill relaxed atmosphere and we enjoyed ourselves until we got to the counter to order and the people behind the counter were beyond rude. I have never seen expressions of hatred like that from someone I do not know. Won't go there again.
(2)Maggie C.
If you want to pay a lot for poor service from the cashiers and baristas, this is a great place to go!
(1)Kayla E.
As someone who typically visits Cafe Solstice and was sick of the loud music, I needed to find some place a bit quieter with more seating options. I decided to adventure up the Ave and found this place. I've given up drinking coffee but they had a great selection of tea available. I also haven't had their food yet, but looking around to what other people are eating, it looks and smells pretty good! And here's a plus! Free WiFi that you don't need to awkwardly ask for a password.
(4)Jaleh S.
I've come to Cafe on the Ave many times. During the summer it is a nice place to have a $2 draft on the patio. I don't even mind that you have to bus your own table. The breakfast menu is your pretty standard menu but it is a little on the expensive side. My favorite thing on the breakfast menu is the Eggs Benedict's with Avocado, Asparagus, and Tomato. This morning I came in and ordered my usual. The Eggs Benny comes out and I cut into the first egg. It is soft boiled, not poached. I check the other eggs and they are all soft boiled not poached. I really enjoy having a runny yolk for eggs Benedict, and dipping the English muffin into the yolk. I took my eggs back to the counter and and brought it to the attention of the cashier. She proceeded to argue with me that these were in fact poach eggs. Instead of offering to re-cook the eggs the way I'd like them, she insisted that these were poached eggs with much attitude and a smile on her face as if it was funny. She offered a refund instead of a better meal. The manager comes over and says that she can cook them the way I would like them. I give her back the Eggs Benedict and the hash browns. When the new order finally arrives, there are no hashbrowns only the eggs. I take it to the counter to get a refund because I do not want to have to wait even longer to get my correct order. A new cashier decides to argue and say that the first order was in fact poached eggs. Never apologizing for their mistake either time. This is establishment has horrible customer service and does not value providing a good meal and good service to customers. The cashiers were laughing in my face when all I wanted was to enjoy my breakfast. Now I understand why the reviews and the rating is so low. I will not be returning for my once favorite meal.
(1)Jordan M.
Drafts for $2.50 after 9! And it was decent beer, too. I didn't have any coffee - I was doing some late studying but didn't want insomnia - but it's probably not better or worse than anything else on the Ave, with the exception of Trabant which is really the only option if you care about good coffee (not that there's anything wrong with cheap coffee!) I had a brownie and it was delicious. The staff was good-humored and genuine, so I didn't mind returning to the counter for more beer. You can drink slowly and read for hours in a well lit environment without feeling like you're in anyone's way, and that's surprisingly hard to find.
(4)Kevin W.
I often see a restaurant having bad reviews on Yelp, but then I decide to give them the benefit of the doubt anyway. Especially if it's an independently-owned place. I think next time if I get the feeling that a place is going to be bad, I'm just going to trust my intuition and stay away. I looked on Cafe on the Ave's website for their breakfast menu. Their "Cafe Breakfast" caught my attention. Why? Because I was looking for a breakfast, I guess. Unfortunately, the website doesn't list the price, obviously because nobody would come here if they had been forewarned about how overpriced the food here is. Since I didn't know any better, I figured I would find out just how much a "Cafe Breakfast" costs right after I walked in. In an ideal world, maybe. Too bad this place isn't willing to make your life that easy. I walked in here one morning, was greeted by loud and terrible music playing on the speakers, and looked at the menu posted on the wall behind the counter. It was the same menu as the one on the website and did not mention price. What kind of a menu doesn't list the price? Politely, I asked the guy behind the counter how much the cafe breakfast cost, since it wasn't indicated on two out of two menus that I saw. He said to me, "Have you looked at the menu? Menus have prices" in an impatient, mocking tone. Well apparently not, if I had to ask after looking at two menus! He pointed to his right, saying "Right where my finger's at, see where I'm pointing?" as if I couldn't figure it out without him asking me. I did in fact see the menu. $8.50 for a cafe breakfast. Got it. But for some reason, he picked the menu up for me and waved it at me, like wildly flailing it in my face was going to tell me the price. I said, "I know, $8.50." He said, "But there's other stuff too. Did you take a look?" What an idiotic response. I specifically asked about the price of one thing, so what was the point of telling me to look at "other stuff"? Why bring up items that I showed no interest in? Plus, when the customer says he knows the price of what he wants, there should be no further need for a smart-ass attitude! More importantly, why not just tell me "$8.50" in the first place? It wouldn't have been that hard, and it might have made me be more lenient on the rating. And why do the two most conspicuous menus not list prices while the less obvious one does? Is it this place's goal to make sure I never return? This is obviously my first time here; are you trying to make me feel as unwelcome as possible? I mean at 8:30 in the morning, your day probably hasn't gone on long enough for you to be so miserable that you give a customer such an attitude. But this is by far the worst kind of service I've received in recent memory. Nevertheless, I just played along instead of walking out the door. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride a bit if you don't want the servers at restaurants to spit in your food, which I suspected this guy was going to do if I talked back. Thanks a lot, whoever you are, for being the rudest person to serve me since I started reviewing on this site. I don't know the guy's name, but his ears were enormous. I clocked in the wait time at about nine minutes. When it arrived, I was worried because it wasn't steaming hot at all. That's a problem. Another problem is that I had to take a number. These people don't have the decency to deliver. They don't have the decency to give me a drink, no milk or coffee or even water. And no decency to give me a simple fork or other dining utensil. I had to get up from my laptop while yelping to pick up my food. Why is it like this when you don't have to take a number at Portage Bay Cafe, and the people there deliver the food to your table in much less time? Portage Bay Cafe also gave me a glass of iced water, a fork, knife, napkin, even a bottle of organic ketchup. Here, nothing. The service is pretty abysmal, but the horrors apply to the food as well. The toast part was just a single slice of toast, lightly buttered and not warm. I could easily make the same thing myself in a minute, so I'm not impressed. My poached eggs were watery and tasteless. The hash browns were also tasteless. No lie, the ones at McDonald's taste better. I probably could have walked up to the shelf and gotten some salt, but nah. I shouldn't have to modify the food after it comes to me to make it taste like anything; that part's not my job. The pork sausages and toast were tolerable. But generally, I expect food at a restaurant to be a tad bit better than "tolerable," especially if the total came to $8.89. This whole meal was horrible and got cold way too fast. This might be one of those restaurants where you bus your own table, but I didn't care. They'll never see me here again, so I don't feel too bad. It's a pay-at-the-counter place, so I just conveniently gave them eleven cents as a tip. That's more than they deserve if I'm more satisfied by the daily bowl of cereal I pour for breakfast.
(1)Daniel T.
A chill spot to sit and grind through work. The noise level is as expected of an college street but tolerable with a pair of headphones. The head manager is a nice dude and will try to accommodate for the shortcomings of the other waiters or assistant managers.
(5)Masha M.
I've often thought that Cafe on the Ave was massively overpriced - home cooking for really exorbitant prices. But, if you want eggs (and not an breakfast sandwich) and fruit, and you go before 9:30, the early bird prices can be worth it. However, today I had a real scrambled egg craving and it was not during early bird time. It was not a rush, there were lots of seats open and I was the first in line. I ordered just fine - a Cafe Breakfast (8.50) with bacon, fruit subbed in for hashbrowns (.50) and some avocado slices for the eggs. Somehow this came to over $12 which means that my avocado was close to $3. It was MAYBE 1/4 of an avocado. But actually the worst part is that I got my breakfast to go and when I got to my destination, I realized that they had forgotten my bacon. So with tip, I paid almost $15 for scrambled eggs, a quarter of an avocado, and a slice of toast. THEN I got an eggshell in my scrambled eggs. Enough is enough. I just can't justify going here again.
(1)Tracy S.
This was my go to cafe to meet up with friends over breakfast or lunch when I was attending UW. Free wifi, good eats, and quick service. Order the london fog or green tea steamer, it's amazing! Only downside is that the line gets long and it gets very crowded so come early or call ahead and reserve a table if its a large gathering.
(3)Dan C.
Starbucks next to
(1)Hyunmook W.
Don't order any food from here. It takes 50min to come out and it not good at all. Don't waste money
(1)Dean P.
The cafe environment was very laid back and was great for our group to enjoy our conversation...and its a good thing we had a good conversation because there was no rush to get the food out. There wasn't a line to order when we arrived but it still took 10 min to get a drip coffee and half an hour to get an omelette, turkey sandwich, and eggs Benedict. I ordered a veggie omelette with bacon and sausage because how else do you make veggie stuff better. When it arrived it looked great but a little thin, I asked about the meat and was told it was included inside...but it wasn't. The "waiter" quickly returned with a plate of bacon and sausage and apologized and I successfully made my veggie omelette better. My coffee order was also misplaced on the counter of drinks and she quickly pumped out another cup when I asked about it. The staff was great and never questioned if something was wrong and needed to be fixed, but I never received a receipt for my order if they were to question anything. The food was decent, coffee wasn't, staff was friendly and nice, but damn it was slow for no apparent reason. $20 for an omelette and coffee, I'll pass next time.
(2)Tami W.
Was here for a show last night, a charming little play that was looking for the realism this cafe provided. It was significantly more crowded than I was expecting but we still found a table. I am confused as to what this place wants to be, honestly. There is a 5 page menu of food, although I didn't partake in any, that seems overwhelming. The coffee smelled amazing though, so if you're looking for a nice robust cup of joe then you've come to the right place. There was a tiny little stage there that looked like it was designed for speakers, or singers which looked interesting as well. Sadly though I gathered that most of the clientele prefer to plug in their headphones and study then actually listen to what's going on. Also there is a selection of beer and cider which threw me because I thought it was a coffee shop. Though, as the neighborhood dictates I think this place is a little bit of everything all together.
(3)Yajun A.
Food is fine. But one of the waitresses always has horrible attitude. She smashed a plate in front of me today when I went to grab my coffee. Rolls her eyes and sighs constantly. I guess she just really hates her job. If you get such treatment from her, don't feel like it is your fault. I have tried smile big to her. No use. The original owner was super friendly though, he was a short nice Korean guy. Really miss him. Hope he comes back.
(1)Manolito Daniel M.
came in around 9:30 today for a sunday morning breakfast. we (husband and i) placed our order with a new employee being trained by another. when asked our choice of bread we asked what they had, sourdough and wheat being the answer. i asked if they had white and was told by the trainer that sourdough is white. i replied that it is "a" white but not "white bread," she clarified and i choose wheat and my husband sourdough. when our order arrived we both received sourdough, and not one piece was toasted. i did not get what i ordered and the same new employee seemed very confused and spoke/mumbled so softly i could hardly hear/understand her. i told her i wanted the wheat and make sure its toasted, my husband asked for new, ACTUALLY toasted sourdough. i attempted to eat my mushroom and sausage omelette but found it most unpleasant, the hash browns were oily and half over/undercooked. 4 pieces of toasted sourdough then arrived, i took the plate of bread up to the counter to point out the new mistake. i pointed it out to the trainer who began to argue with me as to what bread i order, despite the fact that the wrong bread was on the plate between us. after explaining the mess up i was giving what can only be described as attitude by three of the employees standing at the counter. one girl in a ponytail angrily said with eyes rolling "do you want the wheat?" i said of course not i'm done at this point. before i left i went back up to the counter and said "i only have one more thing to say, no one even apologized or said sorry, not one person." instead of an apology i rudely got a dismissive goodbye wave from the guy making coffee that was meant to cut me off and tell me to just shut up and leave. i sarcastically told them their service was great. frankly the staff had unconstrained contempt the second there was any discussion. too much $ to pay for crap food and i certainly wouldn't pay for the indifference to customer satisfaction. never. again. ps i was still burping that nasty omelette around 4pm. gross.
(1)Bk L.
The food here has always been delicious. I especially love the breakfast hot croissant sandwiches. The service here is generally pretty good as well. However, I was grabbing lunch here yesterday at half past noon and encountered a situation that I just have to share. I had thought I heard my number called so I went up to the counter and asked the barista/employee behind the counter if the box was mine by telling her my number. She rolled her eyes at me and replied with attitude "That is what he just said". I don't expect anyone to be overly peppy or cheery, ya don't even have to smile, but a simple YES would have sufficed. I wasn't expecting the attitude over a simple question. I would've given a higher rating if it wasn't for this employee's poor service.
(3)Matt J.
Been here three times this summer. I really like the space and volume levels for working. Some negatives though which aggregate to me not wanting to come back. Ice cold baristas: One of them seems particularly irritated to be there and taking drink orders. I'm afraid to even make eye contact! Marginal fish: Ordered a chirashi. Wasn't expecting it to be good and it wasn't. Fish was clearly of marginal quality, miso was mega-salty and accompanying ginger was waaay sweet. Plus, rather expensive for the portions. Weak internet: Kinda hit or miss with the internet. Unacceptable since there are plenty of places with strong internet.
(2)Amanda K.
Green tea steamer. Get it.
(5)Sierra M.
Cafe on the ave is perfect in every way. Cool art, outdoor seating, open late, breakfast all day, free wifi, big tables for studying in big groups, large menu that's consistently good, sports on the tv, nice ambience, and good noise level. People complain about the service and bussing your own table and all that nonsense but this is a place you can come and just do your own thing. The staff won't pressure you to leave if you've been there for a while. I've stayed here for 6 hours uninterrupted and only ordered a coffee. Because you're not always being approached and served by a waiter, it's the perfect place to just post up and study or talk with your friends. Kinda spendy (for a college student) but since there's hardly any service I never feel like I have to tip. And the food is really great and in large portions. Definitely get what you pay for.
(5)Andrea O.
Loved the food and coffee from here! You have to bus your own table, but I didn't mind at all. The food was pretty good, and the prices weren't that expensive. It was really quick service. Would definitely recommend visiting!
(4)Alaina W.
A fine establishment that makes me question why I never frequented it when I went to UW. A friend is a regular here... She's the reason I'm able to write the review. Hash browns crispy-- just the way I like it. Delicious strawberry lemonade! Kimchee fried rice. Great selection of desserts. Free WiFi! Great place to study. Large tables. Awesome breakfast. Lots of tables. Good music mix. The staff is hit or miss. Last time the gal at the register had no emotion and everyone else was chipper. Today's barista seemed put off that I asked for my strawberry lemonade in a plastic cup. (My order was to-go.) Serve yourself condiments, water, and espresso fixins.
(4)Elyse M.
If today was my last day on earth, I'd eat Eggs Benedict. If I was going to do that, I'd probably eat them here. That's good hollandaise. The service is almost non-existent. They take your order and eventually someone might show up with the right food while not looking you in the eye. It's a touch pricy for lousy service, but the food makes up for it.
(4)Ty Y.
I visited this place two times and both times I was cold inside. So just a heads up. In terms of ordering, the process is a bit silly and confusing. You order your food and then get a number which they bring over. I was not aware of that so I didn't really tip them. In terms of ordering drinks? They shout out your name and you have to come forward to pick it up. The girl on the counter did not take my mocha order after telling her twice to do so which was all kind of silly and annoying. Thank god I can share my A-Ok experience with y'all. Aside from that, I like their kimchi spaghetti with bacon that comes with a side of salad. Their breakfast menu runs all day so that is something nice as well.
(3)Michelle K.
Food here is just fine. Nothing special but not a disappointment. Coffee is coffee. Great study spot but it can get crowded.
(5)Louise K.
This is a great place to hang out. Not ideal for studying. I've been here multiple times in the last 4 years, and I love the sweet potato fries, although they occasionally come out burnt. Not really worth the price, but good for sharing with a friend. Don't order french toasts. Their cakes are amazing.
(3)Sophia C.
Wow, this place is terrible! If it weren't for the space (I love the large windows, numerous tables, and electrical outlets), I would have given Cafe on the Ave just one star. Their food tastes so bad that it makes me want to go home and just make it myself, which defeats the point of eating out. The cakes are dry and tasteless. The coffee isn't all the great either. You're better off going to Starbucks across the street. No joke.
(2)Thyda S.
My cousin introduced me to this place earlier this week... and since then, I've been back there three times! I kind of like the atmosphere... everyone just chill and minding their own business... over coffee and good eats. I've only had the nachos here and it was a decent quick snack... loved the fresh avocado on it! The Milky Way is now my new favorite drink... yum! The internet connection could have been better though... sucks getting disconnected every few minutes!
(3)F.R. C.
I've been here a time or two while I've lived here. Last time I got a tall latte and a meager slice of banana bread, and it came to NINE FREAKIN' FIFTY. NINE FIFTY. NINE. FIFTY. It wasn't anywhere nears good enough to qualify that price, and the guy who took my order was indifferent to me and a jerk to the folk he was managing. Me no likey. I do not recommend this place. It's always too loud and crowded, anyway. I hate to tout the Starbucks across the street, but the coffee's the same and it's cheaper--believe it or not.
(1)Fred Chong R.
Slow. Undercooked mushy hashbrowns. Over cooked tasteless eggs. They serve minute maid orange juice (based on the taste at least). Also, for a place with no service it is pricey. Bleeh!
(1)Katherine T.
My experiences at Cafe on the Ave are pretty good for the most part. Last year I would specifically make a trip every week to buy a slice of their AMAZING coconut cake. I don't know if they still have it, but it is so freaking amazing! The breakfast there is also pretty good. I ordered the Ave Omlet (egg, ham, onion, tomato, bell peppers and cheddar cheese. The omlet was delicious and was packed with ingredients! The red potatoes that came with the omlet were also really super good. The employees are also pretty nice there. Sometimes there are so many working that it's a bit hectic, but it's cool. The only downside I have to the cafe is the price. Suuuuuppper expensive. You can tell that whoever is making the decisions around there is a tiny bit stingy! All you can eat pasta for $8.99....but only for an hour? Yikes! Anyway, I will still go there occasionally, but if they lower prices I will be there more often for sure!
(3)Can C.
I love the internet and outside seating at this place. Food and coffee are meh, but the setting almost makes up for it
(4)Rachel T.
Nasty nasty nasty. I had french toast that tasted like scrambled eggs on stale bread. I took one bite and sent it straight back. Their staff doesn't seem to give a crap about anything.
(1)Jason W.
Dear potential Cafe on the Ave customers, I would strongly advise not spending your money at this over-priced and poorly run establishment - if we can even call it that. The cook was not wearing gloves, and after the employee(r) handled money then touched the food without washing his hands. Two health code violations within a matter of seconds. I'm someone who supports a business that practices good customer service. Based on my experience, the baristas that work there are generally pretty nice, but watch out for the owner. He's the gay asian guy who sometimes shows up to do some "work." Here's how it went: Guy - "What can I get for you?" Me - "I'll have the soup and half sandwich combo, with cream of br" Guy - "What kind of sandwich do you want? Me - "The tuna melt." Guy - "... ... ... What kind of soup?" Me - "The cream of broccoli soup." *hands credit card to guy. Guy swipes card, and hangs on to it. I still had my wallet out. Me - "Could I have my card back?" Guy - "I have to swipe it again." *He swipes it properly this time... Me - "Alright, could I have my card back now?" *this is where he starts giving me attitude. Guy - "You will sign the receipt first, and then I will give you the card!" Me - "I just want it now so I can put it in my walle" *guy cuts me off again Guy - "We have a way we do things here." Me - "Okay, you don't have to give me attitude." Guy - "You need to just sign the receipt." *The guy then tried to stare me down while I was waiting for my food. He insisted many times saying, "you need to take a seat, we'll call your number." I've worked in the restaurant management for about 8 years, and that is NOT how you talk to customers, I don't care what they say to you, it's your job to be nice. I was not rude, but I did become upset when I was repeatedly disrespected by the worker, even after I had already paid for my food. If this guy is part of the management, it makes sense why I had to pay $9.00 for food that was only worth about $5.00. So if anyone who works there reads this review, send a message to the our little delinquent friend - treat people with respect or go home with a broken nose. And remember, you violate many health codes in your little shit-hole, so one phone call to the health department = $1,000 fine for you. Keep your head up.
(1)d k.
For what its worth - and the location - I am totally impressed that new ownership could vamp up a place so much. The fact that Cafe on the Ave is the only place to get drip Caffe Vita is fantastic in that the place is a 1/2 block from my work hovel. The egg sandwich in the morning is also a good thing. The old Cafe Roma, nostalgic in my mind's eye, was a crumbling den of iniquity for the unsavories of the Ave. And of course, its much better if you're a regular. The sweet gals behind the counter will buy you a cup of your favorite joe, every now and then. I give it 4 STARS!
(4)C K.
Been going here for years and I find myself in agreement with many of the other reviewers here. The coffee is pretty good, the environment is dim but comfortable, with lots of table space to get studying done. The food is definitely WAY overpriced and not usually worth it. I tried one of their "gourmet" burgers last night and was not impressed. The picture on their banner is blatant false advertising -- it's just a stock photo of a cheeseburger, what I received didn't even have the same ingredients. The ciabatta-esque bun was nice but everything else was dry. Should have taken my burger business across the street to A Burger Place.
(2)Karyn G.
Since Cafe on the Ave is one of the view places where you can have a good sit-down breakfast, I decided to try out a small culinary adventure last week. What a disappointment. The eggs (sunny side up) were a tasteless mass, and the sausage looked like it had been microwaved. The toast and the potatoes were fine but halfway through the potatos they became tough and undercooked. Since the meal cost me $10 (incl tip but approx 8.75 otherwise) this was certainly a waste of money. I have often wondered about their food but now that I've tried it I feel no reason to go back.
(1)Hans N.
Cafe on the Ave is a step above the predecessor coffee shop in the location. It is clean, efficient, offers a pretty good range of food options, and is a pleasant experience. The staff are kind, and the large windows, outdoor seating, and comfortable seating make it a good place for a sunny afternoon. That said, the prices are well above what they should be for counter-service deli food. Food is marginally above cafeteria-grade, but they charge the same as much nicer places.
(3)RowerRob C.
Good coffee and excellent teas. Could use a few more A/C outlets...
(4)Paul M.
Pricey with mediocre food - and no prices on sign above counter $10 for a sandwich. Disappointed will not be returning.
(2)Kristin F.
Unimpressive. Our coffee drinks tasted watered down, and took forever to be ready. The food was very tasty (great herb cream cheese!), but for relatively simple breakfast food (bagel w/ cream cheese, ham & cheese on a bagel), it took way too long to come out. And the prices are really too high. Though, the employees seemed all reasonably friendly. It's a shame, because the inside is very cozy, so I really wanted to love it...but, alas.
(2)Vanessa A.
Their mocha was surprisingly good and the people working there were friendly enough. In the early afternoon it's a nice place to study but by 5 or 6pm it gets loud and busy and then it sounds like they turn up the music so you can't even hear yourself think.
(3)Jon B.
In a word: yuck. While the setting is nice, we experienced severe problems every step of the way through our breakfast. - The person ringing us up was only half paying attention to us. She double-billed us for one of the things we ordered. No one working knew how to process a refund, so we stood around for several minutes while they worked it out. - Our food (french toast and the breakfast combo of hash browns, sausage, toast and eggs) sat on the window from the kitchen for a couple minutes before anyone bothered themselves to bring it to us. - The french toast was absolutely, utterly vile. They charged $6.50, not a terrible price for real french toast, but this wasn't real french toast. It was two slices of bread, apparently just toasted in a toaster, wrapped in scrambled eggs. They gave us a refund, but that they serve this dish at all is awful. - The breakfast special cost $8 and was not worth half that. The hash browns were burnt on the outside and soggy on the inside, there was a single slice of burnt toast with no jam or anything to accompany it, and the "three eggs" looked like two at most and were poorly scrambled, cold and dry. To their credit, the sausage was actually pretty good. Still, most greasy spoon type diners would charge $5 for a similar breakfast and it would be a lot better. The coffee was average, but expensive. Plenty of far better (and cheaper) places to get breakfast around here.
(1)Kellan M.
I enjoy this cafe as a reliable place for coffee, lunch or dessert. Today I had a roast beef sandwich with a salad. The sandwich was great but could have used a bit more meat. The salad was really good and the dressing was equally tasty. I also had a latte and they hit it just right. It is a bit pricey for food but I don't mind usually because they are consistant. I was happy to see it very busy today. :)
(4)Joelle A.
My first time here was amazing, but my following dining experiences failed to live up to my expectations for the most part. My first meal was the salmon Eggs Benedict, which is served on a croissant, which I must say is an absolutely genius idea. The salmon was herbed and baked, and I remember it being flavorful and moist, the eggs were runny, the croissant was crisp, and the hash browns were tasty. When I went back went I was having a bad day and craving some Eggs Benedict comfort food, I was left sorely disappointed - the fish tasted fishy, and the eggs were not runny at all, which is key. On a later visit, I tried the vegetarian version of the Eggs Benedict and specifically asked for extra runny eggs, and when the yellows came out solid, I had to send them back and wait for them to make it over. I have had a Caesar salad here as well, which was good, and the hot beverages are fine also, but I've given up on my Eggs Benedict dreams here.
(3)Fumi S.
I often go there to get their chocolate and oat bar (don't know the real name...sorry)...it's addictive. I have no complaints and I still go there to get some coffee and the chocolate bar :)
(4)Alicia B.
whenever I'm shopping on the ave with friends, we always make sure to stop by the cafe for a bite to eat. I love that they're open late! the atmosphere is nice and the art work is beautiful. and it's not true that you always have to bus your own dishes... they usually bring out the food to you, and bussing is opitional. great for a date :)
(4)Christine K.
Way way way overpriced! A place geared towards students that charges $10 for a sandwich, no thanks! The menu prices are expensive themselves, plus they charge you extra for EVERYTHING. Granted, the food is pretty good and it is a nice place to go study, I definitely can't afford to visit it more than a couple of times per quarter. The Wifi connectivity is really poor... I usually end up bumming off of Starbuck's connection next door. Seriously, if I'm going to pay this much to have something to eat while I study, please let me get on the internet!
(2)Mike N.
Great service. Their breakfast foodstuff is superior to lunch. I found the pesto chicken sandwich inedible. The coconut cake amply made up for it though. The wifi is moody; some days are better than others. The coffee is not Vivace, but palatable. The natural light on sunny days is yummy, but I question lighting at night and on cloudy days.
(4)Elisa M.
Went to breakfast with co-workers here this morning. I ordered the Ave omelette. The omelette itself was fairly good, nothing special about it, but my hashbrowns were a big pile of mush with no flavor, those were left behind. My co-workers ordered pastries, cinnamon rolls and a croissant, both of which they asked if they could be heated, but unfortunately they do not have the capability. Odd! And when our food came out for those of us that ordered food the pastries had yet to come. Only 1 person ordered a latte which they didn't get right, and instead of apologizing for getting the order wrong the barista was annoyed that she had to make another latte. Really? So I very much doubt we'll be having breakfast here again, I honestly am shocked they are still in business with horrible service like that. For the price I can think of better places to go that will seat, serve us, and bus our tables for us. Not worth it.
(2)Robyn H.
New management turned the old Cafe Roma into Cafe on the Ave and added sandwiches and a small breakfast menu. Spacious and open with lots of tables invite people to stay and sip a while. Wifi is available. I choose to sit by the large windows because the interior has a dark feel due to the choice of color for wall paint. Try the ham, egg and cheese crossiant for a quick breakfast on the go.
(4)Heather H.
MEDI-O-CORE to the core. I can think of at least a dozen other cooler, cheaper, and nicer spots in the U-District that will give you more pizazz. The burgers were just about the only thing that looked fulfilling, other than that the sandwiches and sides are bleak for that you pay. Also very limited in the vegetarian options: Hummus and veg or a veg burger. Waitstaff 's attitude is even bleaker than my sparse plate of veggies and hummus. Lets just say they are slow to respond. I basically left feeling bored and unfulfilled.
(2)Brad P.
Today is my second visit to the Cafe On The Ave. Most of the people here are obviously students, or at least academics. It is a busy spot, and while there are tables for groups of 4 - 6, most of the tables seat two. There are a reasonable number of outlets, but again, these may be hard to come by depending on how busy the place is. My bottomless cup of coffee was $2.75, which seems perfectly reasonable to me. The food I have ordered has been pretty good and all in all it is a positive food and drink experience. I generally tend to think positively about a place where you can get free internet, a coffee, lunch, and then a beer. If I was to list downsides they would be relatively minimal. You order at a counter, and food is called out at the counter, rather than table service. The menu on the wall is NOT the complete menu, so make sure you investigate before ordering. Also, condiments (salt/pepper, ketchup, sriracha) and silverware are in the corner of the place and not at the table, so make sure you grab everything you need before you sit down. You also act as your own busser and will need to take your dishes to one of the bustubs around the restaurant. With all of that said, it is a pretty cool location and certainly provides a better alternative to chain coffee houses in terms of atmosphere. I wouldn't recommend this place as "destination" spot, but you won't be disappointed if you happen to stumble in.
(3)Ian S.
Solid spot, open early, decent prices. The coffee isn't great, but servicible. The food is pretty well priced, but not outstanding. I've been there when the staff was great, and I've been there when the folks working were entirely off-putting. I no longer go there.
(2)Elizabeth T.
Great place for breakfast/brunch. Their entire menu is delicious.
(5)Krista S.
I (like many people in the district) only came here because I work nearby. I had been craving a grilled cheese and fries and this seemed to be one of the few places in the U-District that could satisfy that craving. I'd never had their fries or grilled cheese and never will again. The fries were lukewarm and very oversalted. However, the grilled cheese was the worst I've ever eaten. It was super greasy and the cheese had absolutely no flavor. The only thing that made eating part of it tolerable (because I had meetings for the rest of the day and needed some form of sustenance) was the salt from the fries that had stuck to the sandwich.
(1)Chris T.
Oh, Cafe on the Ave. How deceptively quaint and cozy-looking. Things I like in cafes include friendly staff, comfy chairs and tables where I can spread out my work or read for hours, and free wifi. Oh, and the actual goods (how could I forget!): good pastries and tea. The staff here are pretty frigid and although they seem to get along and always banter behind the counter, you'll be lucky to see a smile from them when they're serving you. The chairs and tables are average: the chairs are decent but the tables have a habit of rocking slightly when I write...can you say flimsy? The couches are awesome but I am sad to say that my life has not been leisurely enough to warrant my enjoyment of these couches for quite some time. The wifi is free but I think they cut you off after 3 hours or so...sad times. I come here about once a year on those rare days when I decide that Solstice is too noisy and that Cafe Allegro is too hipster-y and bare for me. But I never really look forward to these visits: they're more of a forced decision than anything else. I've had quite a few of their cakes and although looking at ten+ cakes all neatly lined up and looking their finest makes my mouth water, it usually turns out that they're dry and not half as delicious as they looked (I could be talking about cakes OR men!). I usually go to cafes for tea and not coffee and the tea here? It's all right. I like that it comes in a big mug and that they shovel their loose leaf tea into a big fat bag but even the Earl Grey isn't that strong... WHYYY. Every time I walk past and see the outdoor seating, the perfect dim lighting, and the comfy couches, I want to like this place...but never do.
(2)Amanda P.
I have never been treated so poorly by...well...anyone, especially not by anyone who runs a business to which I frequent. It was around noon on a Saturday, I only decided to go there because Kane didn't open until 1PM and I needed to work on a group project. My group and I sat down and were getting everything situated when the manager walked over and started yelling at us about not ordering anything. I tried to explain that we were just about to order food and coffee when he got extremely angry and started telling me how much the rent for the building was. He slapped down a menu and demanded that we order something, so we just left in shock. I used to study here often, and I've brought several friends to this place, but I will definitely never return and will tell everyone I know about my terrible and embarrassing experience. This place exceeded bad service--the manager was down right mean.
(1)Danielle W.
I came in here and politely ordered the banana with yogurt. I asked if I could add granola, offering to pay for the extra item. The guy at the counter, with brown hair and glasses, flat out told me "No, we can't do that. You have to get the other one." The other one had berries, and I didn't want berries. He told me again, that there was no way for me to get granola added to my dish (WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING ONLY WITHOUT BERRIES)... um, OK. Totally rude. It's not that I was asking for something extravagant, luxurious or even unreasonable...it's GRANOLA. The coffee smells and tastes burnt, and the internet was so bad that I had to connect to Starbucks' internet. Not worth high prices and snobby (lack of) service.
(1)Cat J.
Cafe on the Ave is such a disappointment. It has a great location on the ave which is why it stays open I guess. Cafe on the Ave has a ridiculously large menu. All of the items are overpriced and just OK quality. If you are a newbie to the area, it seems great, but the more mom and pop places you try nearby, the more you realize that Cafe on the Ave is a huge ripoff. You can get better, cheaper food in at least 20 other restaurants within 3 or 4 blocks of it. You have to bus your own table which is alright, but this isn't a fast food place. They will bring your food out to you, but you don't have a waitress. Or some things you have to pick up from the counter. It's confusing and unclear. Cafe on the Ave tries to be too much, and every aspect of the business suffers as a result.
(2)Dominique F.
I have a lot of good memories in that cafe. I actually spend more hours here than in any other cafe on the ave ;) The sandwiches are good, and the drinks are ok. However, the menu is a bit pricy especially if you're planning to study there 7 days a week. The place is always spacious though and you get internet access if you're buying something. Enjoy!
(3)John M.
The staff was unfriendly, they don't clean the tables, they make you pick up your food at the coffe bar but still give you a number to make you think they're going to bring it out, and then to top it off you have to bus your own table when you leave! The food was ok but kind of expensive especially since there was no customer service to speak of. Not even napkins or salt and pepper on the table.
(1)King C.
Oh terrible, terrible place. Manager, manager's wife, and employees were constantly hovering over us, trying to get us to order as quickly as possible. I wasn't sure why there was a big rush; there was plenty of space in the restaurant. After the third round of obnoxious hovering, our group finally ordered. Mediocre food. Bleh.
(1)RoR o.
After having a sub par french toast and bacon dish at Costas (which i wrote about in a previous post), I still needed to satisfy my craving for french toast. This place did it right. Not overwhelmingly cinnamony, not too eggy.. just good old fashioned french toast. I had it with bacon, which was perfectly crispy and over easy eggs, which was runny and yummy. The only thing I didn't dig was the price. 4 pieces of French Toast 3 over-easy Eggs 2 pieces of Bacon =$12.32 w/tax Considering that I really didn't need to eat anything for the rest of the day, maybe it is a good deal... either way... it made me happy.
(4)Nick S.
Went here with a friend from U-Dub who called this place the "quintessential Seattle cafe" experience. And he wasn't wrong! Cafe on the Ave has a pretty good vibe, and is nice and spacious. It doesn't exactly have the fastest service, but who cares? The lattes are huge and basically the same price as Starbucks, and I can vouch for how awesome their Mexican Mocha is - liquid perfection. I didn't need to use the wifi while I was here so I can't comment on its quality, but given the number of coffee shops nearby, I imagine you could connect to half a dozen networks from anywhere in the place. That notwithstanding, this seems like an excellent local alternative for someone who's sick of Starbucks and Tully's.
(4)Caroline B.
As someone whose worked in the service industry for nearly 12 years, I think I have a pretty high tolerance for bad service. Everyone has bad days, right? Sometimes it's a server, sometimes the kitchen, but I like to give that restaurant a chance for redemption. The Cafe on the Ave has failed every time. The first time I went there, I was surprised about the high prices on the menu. I had a breakfast sandwich and a coffee for $10! Then after sitting for about an hour studying with a friend, the manager came over to our table and threw down a menu. He demanded that we buy more to stay there! Although we were both about to order another drip, we left and went to Soulstice because we were so appalled by the service. I don't know why I didn't lean my lesson, but I went back a second time. The service was ok, but again the food was overpriced and this time just plain bad. I had the ham and egg scramble which was way overcooked and had hardly any cheese. The toast was actually the ENDS OF THE LOAF!!!! Really, for $15 I should get an actual piece of toast to go with my mediocre coffee and cotton-mouthy eggs. So If I could give this place NO STARS I would, but yelp won't let me. Please don't go to this place, it should be called the Trap on the Ave because it is a trap for poor students to waste their money. I will be telling everyone I know about this place and I hope this review causes you to go elsewhere.
(1)Denise L.
I've grown to love Cafe on the Ave! Although everything is a little pricy, I enjoy the fun atmosphere with upbeat music and plenty of seating. Cafe on the Ave has a wide variety of food choices. I recommend the strawberry lemonade, the sandwiches, and some of the desserts (who can resist a warm slice of apple pie with a giant glop of vanilla ice cream slathered on top?!). I always get the 1/2 deal: a small cup of soup and half a sandwich order. It's perfect for a lunch. For dinner, I normally order the whole sandwich order which comes with tons of fries. It fills you up quick! They do have a burger deal (I believe it's a deal after 5 PM) and it's buy one burger, get one free! But of course there's a catch: you do have to order drinks along with them. But in the end, the deal is a pretty decent one because the burgers are huge! I also just recently came here for brunch. It was bumpin' at 2 PM on a Saturday, so prepare to stand in long lines on a sunny weekend. I ordered an eggs benedict with baked salmon on a croissant, two buttermilk pancakes (a favorite), and a side of bacon and eggs. I ate it all!!! Muah hahaha! Just kidding, I did share with one other person. We were both completely stuffed, but I was a little disappointed with the eggs that came with the bacon. It was supposed to be two eggs, but it seemed less than that. I felt robbed, since the bacon&eggs together were an extra...2.50? 3.50? 3.75? Heck, I can't remember. The pancakes were a bit undercooked with the batter still melting in my mouth. I guess it was the massive rush of people that caused the food to be rushed made. Some people study here, but I personally cannot study in such a dark place (at night) and especially with a loud crowd occupying the seats. Overall, I've had a majority of good experiences here.
(3)Daniel L.
This is a nice cafe with good baristas. You'll like it
(4)Dave L.
I joined Yelp to give a review on this place. That's how displeased I was with the place. Bad service to start. Then there was a long hair in my eggs. I wanted a refund and I eventually got it but it came with a lot of attitude.
(1)Esther C.
Okay. This is very NEW and HOT review. I am still sitting in this cafe. I've been here since 3pm and now it's 8pm. I've bought 3 coffees and one pasta because I know that the staff and seller wouldn't like it if I just stay here without buying anything. I had two americanos, one vanilla latte and one shrimp pasta. I think I spent more than $25 here. I cleaned the dishes and cups right after I finished it because I was worried if I am going to drop them on the ground and break them. After finished the pasta, I was really full so I didn't order more coffee. and one..(I don't know maybe he was a owner because I heard this cafe's owner is Korean) old man came to me and said "You know, you've been here for 4 hours now and we have time limit which is 2 hours and no Starbucks coffee is allowed" The reason why he mentioned about the Starbucks coffee was because I bought one glass of Starbucks coffee from 7eleven before came here because I was going to go to the library but decided to come to this cafe. I WAS AWARE that I shouldn't bring any other foods to the cafe so I didn't put it on the table. I did NOT even open it. It was in the plastic bag. (Well, I put it on the table for 10 seconds because he asked me to turn on the outside lights and the coffee was next to my seat so I had to remove it from my way) so I said, "It was in the bag. I didn't even open it. and I already ordered TWO COFFEES and ONE PASTA" and he said "I didn't know. and here's the menu. You can order any foods here" and then he left the menu on the table and just walked away. DID NOT EVEN SAY HE WAS SORRY. I am a person of manner and etiquette. I know I should not drink or eat any other foods from outside. SO I DID NOT. and you know what? A girl who IS SHARING this table with me DID NOT buy anything and staying with me right now. DO NOT GO TO THIS CAFE UNLESS YOU NEED A PLACE TO STUDY DURING WEEKEND because the library closes early on Friday and Saturday. I suggest you to study at home, Starbucks or other cafe instead I haven't mentioned anything about the foods yet so here they are 1. Americano: I've never seen an americano with this much of oil on the surface. The taste is fine but it just looks gross. 2. Vanilla Latte: I know that Latte contains some milk but this one just tastes ONLY MILK. 3. Pasta: Expensive and taste is just fine. Overall, compared to the money I spent here, I got treated very poorly. The cleaners are so lazy and the tables are so dirty. I wanted to move to smaller tables but they were so dirty so I had to stay where I was which was fairly big table in the corner. If I HAVE to come to this place to study, I will NEVER clean my plates! EVER AGAIN. How rude they are asking customers to buy more! How greedy!! The old man's attitude was really rude. I am honestly shocked !! P.S: You NEED TO BUY SOMETHING TO USE Wi-Fi because the password is on the receipt
(1)Kyle P.
Wow, I'm not the only one who feels this way. I wish I would have checked Yelp before I went there yet again. I've tried this place more than a couple times. Today was my last time. 6 bucks for a bowl of soup?! Expensive, bad vibe, bad lighting. Internet didn't work. The only thing they have going is a good location, which is the only thing that explains why they are always full. Save your money, there are numerous better options within a block.
(1)Calvin Y.
There are a lot of things in life I don't understand. This is one of them. Whenever I pass by, this place is always packed and I never understand why. The food is just not good here. I came here last Sunday for a book club meeting and I ordered a raspberry chocolate cake... the outside looked good, but the taste? Terrible. The frosting was solid so it felt like I was letting a chunk of chocolate butter melt in my mouth the whole time. However, props to them because they finally took away the floral/vegetable decorated vinyl table cloths -- it always irritated me when I tried writing on the table and it would leave indentations in my paper.
(2)Samantha O.
I didn't have a terrible experience here. They had a pretty good selection of different types of food which was nice. They have a lot of vegetarian options as well. I also didn't find that the staff was rude, on the contrary, the girl at the counter was really nice and funny. A lot of people were in there studying so it was a pretty casual environment. As for my food it was fairly good, I got a tuna melt. I had asked for no onions but there were definitely onions on it. The fries were good. I wouldn't order it again because there are so many other things on the menu to try. The food came at a reasonable time. One thing I had an issue with was that the soda costs $2.25 and you only get one free refill. That's stupid. I rarely see places that do this and it just irks me. If I want to drink more than two refills then I want to without paying extra, gosh darn it! I think the menu also said that if you don't have a bill larger than $3 then you don't get a refill... which is weird. And stupid. Sorry, I love my soda. If I decide to come here again it will probably be for the convenient location near UW and the free WiFi. The tomato basil soup with a grilled cheese sandwich looked pretty good so maybe I'd try that out next time if they have it.
(2)Randon A.
Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside ...maybe the best hashbrowns!
(5)Nicholas H.
With all the square footage, and the raised outdoor seating, it's a shame to me that this place has such inflated prices on the food. Prices aren't listed on the menu online, but I recall coming here and ordering a sandwich -- not a hefty deli sandwich mind you but a meager portion seemingly for someone watching their weight -- and paying around eight dollars. It's not an outrageous sum and the ingredients were certainly high quality but, I don't know, if there was some new aged pricing strategy in place where you 'pay what you want to,' like Radiohead used with 'In Rainbows" back in 2007 I would not have forked over eight dollars for that sandwich. I would have given them six dollars, and that would have been fair. This isn't somewhere I'm pining to go back to, but I don't object when a friend who really likes the local art on the wall, or the board games in the back, or the black on blacker than black paint really wants to get a drip coffee and scones from somewhere other than the Starbucks across the street.
(3)Laura B.
After two weeks in Seattle and only visiting this place twice it might be premature to write a review.... but I really like this place. The music is great. I've fallen in love with a painting on the wall and the apple pie, chocolate biscotti and coffee are all great. I will be going back to this place often!
(4)Faith Y.
They are evil evil evil since I know I'll keep coming back regardless of the sky-high prices, the rubbery/bland food and coffee that should be ashamed to call itself that. Why? It's in a primo location which is probably the only reason they stay in business and the tables are good for study sessions. And the service isn't bad. They've played CD's on repeat which can make one never forget their headphones again. Smoothies are possibly worse than the coffee as they have no resemblance to real fruit and taste like (bad) pureed Yoplait with ice. Even their damned ice teas are pricey and they only have one flavor. *runs to Zoka's* And chai lattes are one of my favorite drinks in the world which happened to taste nothing like chai ... or much milk. Just a vague watery concoction of nutmeg. Blegh.
(2)Sovannary S.
EEK! Is right. I went here before the UW game on Saturday, and I was pretty dissapointed. Two years ago when I came here I thought the service was bad because the place was packed to the door, so everyone was rushing. But on Saturday, the place wasn't packed at all, it was actually a bit dead when we arrived. When we walked in; no one said hi, I mean, c'mon give me SOME kind of ackknowledgment. When we got to ordering our food, I was kind of back and forth about what I wanted, I hoped to get some insight from the lady behind the counter but she just gave me that "hurry up and order, you're wasting my time" look. I was about ready to walk out of there, but my stomach said otherwise. I got the eggs benedict, and it sucked. My eggs were over-cooked AND why are they so sparse on the hollaindaise sauce? I love that stuff, everyone who orders eggs benedict EXPECTS that stuff, but I get about a teaspoon full on each egg. You guys just suck all around.
(1)Evan J.
I walk in for breakfast specials "starting at $2!", alright, so I expected that one french toast, one pancake or two pieces of average toast would be that minimum. What I don't appreciate is being told, after attempting to order, that these specials are only available with a purchase of a drink. It mentions on their menu that this is the case, but only on the separate page for lunch specials. If this is the case for both separate pages, print it on both pages or print the menus on the same page. No, I don't want a drink, I just came down here from Sureshot because their wireless is broken and you supposedly have cheap breakfasts, alright? So I order my two eggs over medium (or hard, whichever your cook/s can do-- they also come with no toast or hash browns like the specials states they do) and fruit cup, without being told the price of each item, only my total of $6.87. That's absurd. For less than $2 of food, 3/4 of which is hardly even touched before serving. I get my fruit cup, I notice, oh awesome, a decent amount of this is banana. I'm allergic to banana, but that's my fault for not mentioning. How are my eggs? Barely sunny-side up. That's -gross-. I appreciate your service at the counter as a meek attempt to make up for your failings, but this is just bad. You're not worth the time. I'd rather go to Starbucks.
(1)Logan V.
Bad coffee, greasy hashbrowns, and uninspired eggs; too much money for the quality. Am I paying for the fast wifi? Because it is pretty alright here... that gives them an extra star. They left a spot on the receipt for a tip. What for, busing my own table? There are better places that don't have to put "On the Ave" in their name to be truly local.
(2)Zahira P.
Cafe on the ave boasts strong, flavorful coffee; a wide variety of desserts; slightly surly but mostly cute baristas; tons of of seating options; lots of art everywhere; and an old theatre-like decor indoors. Their outdoor patio is lovely during the summer. Maybe Cafe On the Ave is truly a cafe at heart, complete with everything listed above, but judging from these reviews, perhaps we are better off not forcing COTA to be someone it's not -- a brunch place.
(4)Tim U.
Food is good, one of the only places in the u-district to serve a decent breakfast. Coffee if good, much better than Starbucks across the street. Quite overpriced though. A waffle was something like $8, much too much for a plaid pancake.
(3)Jennifer B.
WHAT DID YOU SAY? I heard about half of the conversation with my friend. This place is packed and you wouldn't notice until you stepped inside.The drinks and food are good if you have time to wait for them. The staff is really friendly and nice.
(4)Landon N.
Great vibe in the cafe awesome place to chill do homework and see familiar faces
(4)Alex M.
I was actually surprised to see that so many people find the employees here to be rude. You won't be waited on, but everyone at the counter has been friendly enough during my visits. One of the main reasons I stopped coming here to study is the terrible wifi. I am almost never able to connect. You can usually pick up the signal from Starbucks across the street, but even that isn't reliable due to the distance. Cafe on the Ave is a nice place to come hang out if you have a larger study group and don't need Internet access. The food is decent, but unfortunately it is overpriced. Try using the PIRQ application if you plan on spending more than $10; you can frequently get a discount of 20-30%.
(3)Ben D.
Nevermind, they got rid of their super cheap morning happy hour, a "one week experiment." Know why it didn't work? Because they gave too huge of a discount. I wish they would have just scaled it back and kept it in place. Now, I echo all the concerns others have: -Not great coffee -Overpriced -Meh food. Go somewhere else unless you're on the hunt for available seating and outlets, or mid-afternoon (mediocre) breakfast.
(2)Lily L.
I have been here twice. Twice I hated it. The only reason I am here for the second time is because my boyfriend likes "hashbrown,toast, and egg" and portage bay didnt have reservations until 1130. anyways, this place consists a lot of fruit flies ( like those you spot on rottening bananas) they messed up my drink, instead of redoing the whole drink, they just add the chocolate. I ordered a black and white mocha, i got a white mocha, and when i told the barista, she just add two pumps of chocolate.. and she also messed up the foam art. How lazy and pathetic is that? Obviously every cup of coffee isnt a piece of art. The field is realllllllly low quality. Go to portage bay instead! The taste is bleh..., pho opens early and there are plenty.. go get some pho! DIRTY TABLES... so you bus your own tables, so if you see an empty table, the table has not been clean.. that's disgusting. It is like going into a gym and the machine hasn't been wiped down!
(1)Alison V.
A friend and I were up on the Ave after I had showed her around UW. We decided to pop into here to grab a bite to eat since it looked inviting. The food was pricey and less than impressive. I had a chicken sandwich and the chicken itself was clearly the frozen cheap, almost patty-like, type. The vibe had a strange feel and lots of people were giving evil glances to people chatting even though they were just reading magazines. Also, they had no napkins out and when I asked they only gave me like 2 of the cheapest things you've ever seen.
(2)Le M.
REGRET. That was the first word that popped in my head when I took a plate of sandwich and salad from the counter to my table. We may be in recession, but does my sandwich need to look like from Depression era? It is the anemic type served at school cafeteria. The bread is blah, the meat is thin. It is sparsely filled with little slices of mushroom and onions. The cheese is the discount-grocer type. My 7-year old niece can make a better sandwich. As for the salad, even rabbits would wounder if it will go past the small intestine. This corner cafe with black awning, big windows, cozy interior and open deck is deceiving. Like an angler fish, it lures you in only to be snapped a few bucks lighter. The service? Forget it. It's McDonald's without the clown. You walk to the counter, you order, they shout your number, you pick your order, and you bus the plates. The last word that popped in my head: FORGET.
(2)Bijan H.
I've had the breakfast here about 5 times and my experience has been consistent. The bacon was cold, the hashbrowns were flavorless, and the eggs were undercooked. The drip coffee is the worst on the ave. It's weak and oddly sour. However, the toast was good and the place has free wifi. Although you pick up your own food and wipe your own tables there is a space on the check for a tip. No thanks. As it's the only place on the lower AVE that serves breakfast, the only thing going for this place is location. A note for the owners: turn up the stove, add a pinch of salt, choose thicker cut bacon, lower your prices from $10-$6, find a better source for your drip coffee.
(2)Megan A.
Cafe on the Ave is the perfect mediocre spot (if such a thing exists). I do not think they are an amazing eatery, but I do not hate the place either. The cafe has a great space - its cozy and inviting, which is a plus. I have never stayed there to study, but I have found that it is a good spot for meeting friends for catching up between classes. The service is okay. They have never been very friendly, but they have never really been rude to me either. The only problem I have had with them is when I ordered a bagel with herb cream cheese (which costs extra) and they gave me regular. I went up to the counter to just ask for the difference in cost back because I did not want to waste food, but the girl took my bagel and just scraped the cream cheese off. It was a little bit strange. I can't really comment on their food because I usually just order a bagel to go (which are delicious if you are looking for a good bagel!). I have also ordered a peppermint mocha, which they insist on calling a grasshopper, and it was not good at all. If I am paying extra for a mint syrup, I expect it to taste like mint!
(3)Jessi M.
I went here for the first time to meet a friend for a quick dinner so she could have a break from studying. I think the best phrase to describe this place is "okay not great." I ordered a fresh basil sandwich-- essentially a caprese sandwich (which is one of my favorites, usually). It was almost $9, plus $2 more to sub in sweet potato fries for regular fries. $11 for a sandwich and fries is a bit much, in my opinion, but I was hoping for something tasty. I got a sandwich that was okay, not great. It had the bare minimum mozzarella cheese with thin, pale tomato slices. The basil *was* fresh, and the bread was pretty flaky, but it overall disappointed. The fries were good, but I'm not sure they merited a $2 upgrade for the amount I got. The strawberry lemonade I got, advertised on a big sign near the register, was overly sweet. It was okay, not great. It was also $3. The atmosphere was pretty nice, and the food was okay, but I was left still hungry after a $14 meal.
(2)CHRISTOPHER G.
I like to come here to eat and work(like i'm doing right now). I finished my drip coffee 10 minutes ago, and a nice gentleman with a Dodgers hat came up and just refilled it for free. That warm refill was more than enough to make me come on here and write a positive review. Amazing. Huge fan of the friendly service here.
(5)Alli D.
All I needed was an Americano and a place to do some reading, so this place had everything I required. The coffee was good, and the couch was comfy (although it attempted to eat the belt on my coat, a fact I didn't notice until I got halfway home). I was all jazzed to go back to try breakfast or a burger, but after reading the other reviews I'm not so sure. Maybe I'll stick to the early-morning coffee and pastry. At least I know that's safe.
(4)Tyler M.
Went in again a couple times just to see, and made sure to order the exact same thing as last time, and this time the coffee was excellent. Service was quick and the barista making my coffee was friendly and attentive. All around, pleasant. Food was also pretty good. A little bit pricey, but pretty reasonable.
(4)Suzanne M.
They have a good breakfast deal (3.99) for alight breakfast, but the rest of the menu is really expensive. I think the panini are nearly $9 and I saw an omelet for $11. Granted, it had smoked salmon in it, but really? The early bird breakfast comes with coffee (small up charge for latte) and your choice of about 6-7 different foods. One day i got sourdough toast and an egg over easy. The buttered the bread liberally with real butter. Yum, but small. Today I got the same deal with a pancake. Much more food. You bus your own table and pick up your meal when they call out your number or what you ordered (it was different on different days), so there's no need to tip. Its pretty quiet in the mornings. There aren't many sit-down breakfast places on the Ave, so its a good option if you need it.
(3)Angie P.
It was suggested I go to this cafe instead of heading to the local Starbucks for the free wifi and the hearty breakfast. I really liked my eggs and hashbrown breakfast, but the wifi wasn't working at all. I had initially wanted to go there for the sole purpose to just hang out and get work done, but I found myself scarfing my food, drinking my coffee and walking across the street to a Starbucks anyways. I don't know if the employees knew their network was down or not, but I saw a lot of frustrated college students looking around to see if others were experiencing this network heartbreak. The breakfast and coffee was good anyways and the employees were really friendly!
(3)L H.
Food nothing to go back for, and customer service SUCKS!!! No offense this place is good for just what it should be a place to sit on your computer and have coffee. They don't believe in service here and the food just about anywhere else is better.......
(1)Kellie C.
They serve beer and have outdoor seating.
(5)Maggie L.
A good to place to study, and the wireless is reliable, which is more than can be said for some other coffee places in the area. The food is consistently good, and the coffee is delicious. I usually order the breakfast burrito, and it never fails to satisfy. The fries are not fantastic, a little too McDonald's-like for my tastes. Why the average rating? The waitstaff is what you would expect from part-time college students: inattentive and a little too "chill" for my tastes. Seems like they are all standing around texting or changing the PA music.
(3)Kim L.
If you're a student who needs a place that: 1. You can study at; 2. Has coffee and food; 3: Has wifi; 4. Has a plethora of outlets and seating; and 5. Has late hours (they're open til past midnight during the school year) Then Cafe on the Ave is golden. Cafe on the Ave specifically caters to the student who needs a reliable place to study at, NOT to the connoisseur of gourmet food. The food here is decent (my only reason for not giving it a five-star is because the food is good enough, but not the greatest), but maybe you should go elsewhere if you're looking for mind-blowing food--you really can't expect to have that at a place where students sit and study for hours on end. Admittedly the wifi can be a little shakey (I've had a few occasions where it just doesn't connect, in which case I just connect to the Starbucks wifi), but Cafe on the Ave is by far the most reliable place for a student to study or hang out at--from what I know, it has the latest hours for a coffee shop on the Ave and you can always find seating somewhere, which are the two main problems I've had at the other coffee shops. The workers there are also really nice and usually will make conversation with you while you order. But if you don't order anything and just sit down to study, then they do have a right to say something. They ARE running a business.
(4)Inna B.
I've had some great coffee and finished a couple of papers here. It usually seems filled with studying students, so... it's definitely not an exciting place to be. It's usually super busy so there are few (if any) seats available. The food is a tad expensive and I usually don't like to order it because you have to wait around for your number to get called (and, from my experience, they are kind of slow). My favorite thing about this spot is the (small) outdoor seating area. It's perfect for enjoying a warm beverage (during cold weather) and people watching.
(3)Graeme B.
I've been to cafe on the ave twice. First time was just for coffee, and the second time was for lunch. Both times the experience was mediocre. Coffee was decent, but more expensive than comparable coffee shops, eg starbucks. The food was overpriced and for the quality recieved. My burger was over cooked and my salad was tiny. Nothing was outright bad, nor was it good. 3 stars.
(3)Stevi C.
I've never had the coffee here, but the lunchtime foodstuffs really aren't worth it. They're overpriced and extremely slow to the pass, and totally blase. And then there's the problem of table space, which is that there isn't any. And if that weren't enough, a lot of people seem to study here, but I can't quite figure out how because it's always so loud, dark and distracting. There's also a wall that apparently leaks every time it rains that the owners haven't bothered to fix, despite numerous customers informing them of said leak. Hmm. That speaks very highly, doesn't it?
(1)Alex L.
Disgusting. Hash browns were soaked in oil. My toast was soggy with too much butter. Bacon was not good either. Overall just a fatty fat fat expensive meal. 22 dollars for 2 people. The only reason we came here was because Portage Bay Cafe had a long wait. Biggest regret of my life.
(1)Ryan J.
Almost was scared away by the bad reviews, but was in desperate need of a great coffee shop. This IS the sumertime, so no doubt the lack of students helps. Advantages: 1) GREAT tables and chairs! Sweet baby jesus they are solid as a rock, unlike the vintage furniture found in most local joints. 2) GREAT staff. They were very kind- I did not encounter any rude staff. 3) GREAT atmosphere. Music, room temperature, and setup were all conducive to intense studying or just handing out. Why 4 stars? Internet was horrible, had to steal starbucks...
(4)Carly L.
I miss Roma. When I was a student at UW, I would often walk by Roma, and the outside seating was full of smokers, with sullen looks, reading The Stranger, and speaking loudly in disdain of something. I would walk in warily, order a drink, and head out, always satisfied with my order. Fast forward X amount of years, and now it's this place. The walls are warmer, with paintings, curtains etc... but it now seems to have lost its soul? I met a date here this morning for coffee/breakfast. My latte wasn't bad, enough vanilla, but at the end, I swallowed some grounds. Fail. My date ordered an omelet that he seemed to like. As I stared out the window, bored with the date, I realized that this soulless place wasn't the place where I wanted to be.
(2)Michael E.
Went for coffee and to do some work on my computer. I was lucky enough to snag a seat on the outside porch. Coffee was good and I ended up getting a chicken sandwich for lunch. Overall, great place to study in, food is a little expensive for getting a casual lunch. Also, the wifi kicked me off after about an hour and a half. Worth an occasional visit!
(4)Brittany S.
People either love or hate this place, and quite simply I'm a regular here. The pros: Friendly and good looking staff ;), lots of tables and outlets for you free wifi users, a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu (unusual for a cafe), and early morning specials until 10am/ "happy hour burger" PLUS they serve cafe vita! Also there are cheaper menu items to cater to the students (like the bagel pizza $5, you get a whole bagel sliced in half with chicken and cheese etc on it) And they're open pretty late every night (like 11pm?) The cons: You have to bus your own table, it can get really crowded (especially when us students have midterms, finals etc) and the food is just ok, nothing very special. Also the food is a bit pricey for what you get for most items. I go here a lot because if I want to get in a good full day of hw and studying done, I can get good wifi service, a meal, and good coffee. Which means I can sit my butt in my seat for 7 hours there (I've done it before many times). I do have mixed feelings about this place though. It's a good breakfast place during the weekend, you'll see a lot more families, and less students doing hw. I think their breakfast menu is good but the lunch is sort of sad, and a good deal for dinner is getting the 1 burger + 2 drinks and getting a free burger. For me, it's one of my favorite places to study because there are a lot of tables and plugs. I like the music most of the time: it's not too loud and it's more current.
(3)Ky B.
I pretty much go here because it's a convenient location to study. But every time I do, I wish I had not, for the same complaints everyone else has about this place. I go here quite often, I buy my coffee, my cookie, my salads, etc. I KNOW for a fact that the manager knows my face and recognizes that I am a frequent customer that frequently buys food and drinks from them. So this evening, not being in the mood for coffee right away and having an epic food coma from mother's day dinner, I decided to hold off on ordering something. OF COURSE THEY NOTICED. One of the workers came over and told me that there is a 15 minute policy for buying or they would have to kick me out. That's fine and all, but he did not have to be RUDE and INSENSITIVE about it. The place was not crowded at all. I can tolerate a little mean mudding by the managers when I buy my coffee and study for long periods of time there. I can tolerate overpriced food and drinks. I can tolerate blaring music. But when some guy in an apron marches over to me and tells me i have to buy something or leave, and asks me, "Did you hear me, lady??", I'd rather spend my money elsewhere, less convenient, than be yelled at for not buying something right away. It's astonishing how poor the customer service is. Having worked in the food industry for five years, I can understand having a bad day, but most employees I encounter have a stinky attitude, including the manager that is always walking around hovering and staring at customers. It's really frustrating.
(1)Kristi F.
One of the major reasons I won't go back to a restaurant is if the restroom isn't clean. This one is pretty gross. The service is pretty slow and I ordered a sandwich that was boring and too expensive. I was not impressed by this place and probably won't go back, especially with all the other spots on the Ave to get food and coffee. Also, the baristas are kind of grouchy. If you are going to work in the service industry, at least put on a fake smile. I can give you a break once in a while, but an entire staff that obviously doesn't like their jobs is a little much.
(2)Geoff B.
Mediocre food, mediocre coffee. I've tried their baked goods (nothing to write home about) and the coffee is alright when they get the order right. Free wi-fi is a big plus, and the atmosphere is pretty good for studying-- it's more interesting to study here than a library. I only really come in here because there's guaranteed table space-- that is until I was informed by staff member that I need to order something or get out. I'm not a freeloader, if I'm by myself or thirsty/tired, I'll order a drink. But when I'm meeting someone who has bought a drink, and the place is dead as a doornail, why would you give the guest of a paying customer 15-minute countdown to get a drink or leave? A third of the tables are empty! I know I can get a tea for a buck-- but it's the principle of the thing. Very stupid policy, and I will not be returning.
(1)Megan H.
First off I ordered the Veggie Omelet which comes with hash browns and toast. It says on the menu that it is possible to exchange the hash browns for fruit. I am gluten intolerant and so I ask the cashier to exchange fruit for toast or give me a lower price or more hash browns. She refused to do any of these things because she didn't have a "button" The food was incredibly mediocre for the price. The omelet was bland. Now for the grand finale... The food made me sick. I do not know if it was the excessive grease, or poor ingredients, or if the cashier ignored the fact that I made it clear that I am gluten intolerant. I will never be eating here again. It was a very disappointing experience.
(1)Theo S.
Decent. Lots of seating and power outlets. Free wifi with purchase [ limited to 2 hours I believe] - make sure you don't throw away your receipt because it is where the wifi code is. $3 credit card minimum - ordered a large coffee with an extra shot instead of a small coffee - ended up bouncing off walls till the afternoon. WEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
(3)Justin P.
Terrible service. I had to get my own silverware and condiments. I would never go back here.
(1)Allie S.
Still on the expensive side, but I can say that if I'm gonna be eating at Cafe on the Ave, I'm there for the Eggs Benedict. Rich, creamy hollandaise and some really damn good Canadian bacon on surprisingly tasty English muffin... it tasted really fresh and quite yummy. I returned here on a whim when I needed food before the test I had this morning -- who knows, maybe they're on the up-and-up? :) Or at least I can hope...
(3)Elaine J.
Yikes. Went here before graduation for a quick bite because of the convenience. That was a mistake. For only three of us, seating was hard to find but on a saturday morning, one can't complain too much. We ordered our food and waiting literally, 25 minutes for one order of eggs benedict and one waffle with eggs. Both were actually pretty good. Except for the fact that the waffle was only ordered with strawberries and came with bananas and blueberries too. The Mr. doesn't eat bananas so this is why that matters. Just those two things, $25. Way, way too overpriced. this did not include drinks! Then i ran out of water, it's self serving so you have to go get your own water...low and behold, the jug was empty. When I bussed the table and scraped off my plate, my hands got a bit sticky and no where in site was there anything to clean off with. So i waited almost ten minutes for the one staled bathroom to open up. No thank you!
(1)Melissa S.
This is my second time to Cafe on the Ave. When we visit Seattle, we stay at the College Inn and this place is a good walk from there. I could easily go to Starbucks, which is closer, but I like supporting the little guys, ya know? I ordered a 12 ounce soy cap with an extra shot of espresso (my old standby and the drink I have painlessly enjoyed everyday for almost 15 years). The gal at the counter started at me blankly and said, "do you mean a 16 ounce soy latte?" Um, no? Last time i checked those were two totally different drinks. I replied with, again, what I wanted. Again, blank stare. What I got was a 16 ounce soy latte. Not wanting to argue, I sat at a bistro table and drank it. It was ok- kind of lukewarm, borderline cold. Not sure what the snobbery/'tude is all about. Sure the space is big and has decent artwork on the walls, but it is hardly unique. I think I will check out Slapshot coffee next time, a block up the street.
(2)Matt S.
This place is is not terrible and not exceptional, very middle of the road with average food and average service. I've tried both breakfast and lunch items, most seem to be lacking flavor. I don't think the cooks season most of the dishes very well, a bit more salt, pepper and other seasonings would go a looooong way. I tried the hummus plate and am pretty certain there was no lemon juice or tahini in it, or if there was the proportions were off, it basically tastes like smashed chickpeas straight out of a can. The staff are not quite as friendly as the University Starbucks but not quite as snobby as the baristas at Solstice. They are polite enough, just don't expect an overabundance of hellos and conversation (the typical Seattle freeze). This place has tons of potential, great location on "the Ave" and they have a large enough physical footprint to accommodate a lot of people. But nothing here really stands out as unique or interesting. I think they need to kick the flavor up several notches on their dishes and inject a tad more enthusiasm in the servers and baristas. I am sure they always have a crowd given the location to students and dorms but I am hoping for a bit more something out of this place to attract me there regularly.
(2)Melissa H.
This was one of the WORST dining experiences I've ever had. 12:35pm First of all, there's a "wait to be seated" sign, but then you see people at the register ordering, and it's confusing. 12:45pm Ten minutes after I've been seated, I realized that no one has come to take my order or even give me water. I guessed I had to order at the register... 1:35pm I got involved in my reading and realized my order number hadn't yet been called. And what do I see?!?!? Older folks getting waited upon. 1:40pm I learn that they assigned my order to the wrong number and that it had been called 30 minutes ago. My burger had been sitting there for 30 minutes! They didn't give me a new burger, but made me ate the soggy cold one. They said they'd put in a new order of fries for me (because we all know how unpleasant cold fries are), but I had my burger finished and no one had dropped them off. This place infuriates me. Overpriced, confusing mess. And apparently, you get treated like shit unless you're an emeritus professor.
(1)joe m.
The only reason I really go to this place is because it is a convenient location from the campus. Other than they, the service is slow and mostly apathetic people working there. Food is okay, drinks/espresso are nothing to shout about. It all ought to be cheaper for what they serve and how they serve it. For the record, I miss ROMA!! That place had character. This place has...something that is the opposite of character.
(2)Michelle B.
My French Dip Sandwich should have only contained shaved roast beef on a roll accompanied by some au jus (otherwise known as meat coffee) and maybe a handful of fries. It's not a complicated dish. I don't know if they were trying to fancy it up, but here is what I got - A store bought bun with some roast beef lunch meat, raw onions, raw mushrooms, plastic cheese, and bacon! So weird and so salty and so not good. And the fries? Well, those were replaced with stale tortilla chips. Maybe I should have known not to order food when it seemed like no one else was, but it was cold and rainy, and a French Dip sounded good. Silly me.
(2)Nana L.
I had to wait 20 minutes to get my order of a tall mocha. The girl making the drinks asked me politely what I was waiting for, and I told her, expecting her to make mine immediately since my order had seemingly gotten lost. Instead I had to wait for another 10 minutes while she made drinks for all the people that came after me before she finally got around to it. I only came here because my mom is friends with the owner of this place. But while the food is alright (albeit a little overpriced), the service definitely has a lot of room for improvement.
(3)Andrew I.
The worst service I've ever had at a coffee shop. My friend and I came there to work on a project for a little bit. He ordered his coffee while I was still deciding what to go for. After about 3 minutes, the barista started yelling at me, basically across the entire room (!!!), that I had to order something or get the hell out. He wasn't even trying to sound more or less polite. We left immediately and will never ever come back. I would strongly recommend against visiting this place.
(1)Julie K.
This is my first review to ever post at Yelp to warn yelp users to NEVER EVER go to this cafe. I am a student at UW and have been living in U-district more than 3 years. I have been to all the cafes in U-district... THIS IS THE WORST CAFE I HAVE EVER WENT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!!! expensive drinks, bad lighting, bad internet connection, over-priced foods, and the WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had two bad experiences at the cafe, one with the employee and the other with the owner --------------------------------------------------Â------------ The tall skinny white guy who works there INSULTED me right in front of my eyes. I did not say anything to him because I was in a hurry but he was literally talking crap about me for being a picky customer to his co-worker. I really don't care how he talks about me behind my back, but what kind of manner is this to do it right in front a customer? I just couldn't believe my eyes!! --------------------------------------------------Â------------- and about the owner(tiny Asian guy) ... he often walks around the cafe NOT to check if customers need anything else, but to catch the "criminals" out who have ANY kinds of food out in the table. Once he catches you, and will tell you to leave or to hide the food ! and if you spent less than five dollars in the cafe and stay long to study or something, he will shove the menu right in your face to order something. one time i was waiting for my friend in the cafe. I was planning to pay for my friend's drink so I didn't order right away when I walked into the cafe. About 10 minutes later, the guy came and put down the menu on the table to order something if I wanna stay. The tone of their voices and their facial expressions were so cold and stern. their manners are just shocking me. The owner does not know how to run a business. He's lucky that he got a good location to run this cafe. P.S. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YELP USERS TO CHECK OUT Solstice, ugly mug cafe, Madeleine's, and allegro.
(1)Stephanie S.
Cafe on the Ave, above anything else, is a great space to sit down with a laptop (free Wi-Fi) or a book and get work done with an espresso drink. The seating is perfect for spreading out your workload in front of you while also fitting in a mug and a plate of one of their great (though somewhat pricey) menu items. I recommend the two-for-one burger special to share with a friend (I opt for the veggie burger), the hummus sandwich or the oatmeal with fresh fruit for breakfast (they don't skimp on berries and bananas). The cafe is also open later than most others on the Ave. It's taken some time to truly grow on me, but Cafe on the Ave has become an indispensable piece of my academic life in the U District.
(4)Andrea H.
This place has potential to be great. Sometimes they play extremely obnoxious music, the servers are hit or miss, and the food is as well. I would like to be a regular customer here but they need better customer service and maybe clean up a bit more as well.
(2)Lindsay B.
I've given this place several chances to impress me, but it has disappointed me continuously. I have always experienced poor customer service. I don't know who these "baristas" think they are, but a little friendliness goes a long way. Today I ordered a simple glass of iced jasmine pearl tea. I am used to most cafes steeping the tea in hot water and then pouring it over ice when ready, but this place just put the tea bag in a glass of cold water and ice. Did they really think it was going to steep? It definitely didn't and I just ended up with a tea bag floating in ice water . I asked to exchange it for the hot version and the guy behind the counter was really rude about it. The espresso is mediocre and everything is generally overpriced. Go elsewhere.
(2)Rich X.
The place was really loud and dirty so it was hard to study. Plus it is always crowded so its rare to even get a spot in there. The food is simple and decent. But way over priced for what it is. For a simple and small breakfast with eggs, toast, and hash browns it will cost you well over 10 dollars. The service is always cranky every time I've been there. I recommend going down the street and going to another place to eat or study.
(1)John J.
The only reason this place is getting even 2 stars is because of the quality of the "actual space". The location and space are prime - and only highlight the dismal failure that is Cafe on the Ave. First: the wifi. I've been in this establishment numerous times, and I would argue that perhaps 75% of the time there has been some "issue" with the wifi. And on the occasions when it is working....it is slow. Second: the $$. This would not be an issue if I felt like you received in kind what you paid for. But, this place is overpriced low quality fare. Their food offerings are meh? and their coffee is certainly subpar compared to all the wonderful offerings of our area. Their Americano is on par with Starbucks......and, this is not a positive thing. I'm hoping something truly worthy of this prime real estate eventually opens up.
(2)Dan M.
The HH deal is pretty good at first glance, but you have to buy TWO drinks to get the free burger. There is next to no charm here. It's as if this is some extension of Suzzallo Library, full of transient, self-absorbed students.
(1)Riley M.
reading the other reviews on here, i guess i'm not alone in experiencing terrible customer service. the food is actually decent, 3 stars, probably, but my experience with a server who was old enough that he seemed to be a manager made me say to myself that i'd never step inside this joint again. in a neighborhood with a dozen cafes why would i come here again? oh yeah, i guess i won't
(1)Joe M.
I stopped in at 12:45 on Thursday to pick up a sandwich to go, figuring I'd have plenty of time to get back to my office a half block away in time for a 1:00 teleconference. Unfortunately, although there was no line at the counter when I placed my order, my roasted tofu sandwich was not ready until 1:10. Not only was I late for my conference call, the sandwich was not all that good, especially given its $9 price tag. Hillside Quickies makes much better tofu sandwiches, even though that is also not a good place to go when in a hurry (despite their name).
(2)E A.
Cafe on the Ave. is my favorite breakfast restaurant on University Avenue. It is located a convenient distance from campus and serves one of the best scrambles I have ever had. My favorite breakfast items are the $5 breakfast burrito, the ave. scramble, and the original eggs benedict. If you are looking for the perfect place to study while enjoying a great breakfast this is it! I must say that I am at a complete loss as to the number of bad reviews on yelp regarding this restaurant. The only rationale I can think of is that bad reviews beget more bad reviews. I do not think that Cafe on the Ave. deserves such bad ratings. The barristas are all very friendly (they have even taken the time to get to know my name) and the service is impeccable. The only time the service gets remotely slow is when there is a rush of people. Generally, I only have to wait between 5 to 10 minutes to receive my meal and I have been eating here all year. I think that the longest I have had to wait is 15 minutes and this is only for the eggs benedict. This is perfectly understandable given the fact that good poached eggs take slightly longer to cook than other breakfast items. I will continue to visit Cafe on the Ave. in the future! This is truly a wonderful restaurant and affordable (the cheapest place to get a full breakfast on the Ave.).
(5)JP P.
Here's what you should do when you go to Cafe on the Ave. Take the bathroom key. Go inside the bathroom. Take out your wallet. Flush money down toilet. Then, go to a barista and ask them to give you a swift kick in the crotch because that is what their service feels like. Came here on a recent trip to Seattle, and wanted to get a quick bite before I leave for the airport. I was craving breakfast, so we decided to take them up on their offer. So my group settled on the following: a waffle, a croissant bagel sandwich, and a tuna salad sandwich...and we were all left disappointed knowing that we had overpaid and were still hungry. I had also ordered a latte, and it came in the smallest cup i had ever seen - like water cooler dixie cup sized small. Do not be deceived by the latte art - it tasted terribly. Watered down and gag-inducing. Then, don't get me started on the service. The girl taking our order was so flaky. She acted like she didn't even want to be there, and she forgot to give us our number so that our food could be delivered to our table. When I went to ask her if we can have a number, she said that she would bring it out to us since we were sitting outside. Uhmm 15 minutes later, we went back inside to get our cold food, and all we get is a "whoops, my bad..." Yeah. All the folks in Seattle should avoid this place.
(1)Sarah O.
Looking at the other reviews I definitely wonder of if one of Cafe on the Ave's biggest problems is consistency. This morning I had 45 minutes to kill before work and was looking to grab some breakfast. CotA was one of the few places open where I could get cooked food. Thanks to the early hour (9 am) and the interim (few students) it was not crowded and the service was speedy. How many of my stars would last a second visit during peak? Who can say. My eggs were good, my potatoes were tasty if uninspired and my bacon was a little bit too well done (the dryness!). I got a pot of tea to drink and there's really not much anybody can do to screw up pouring hot water over a bag. It was pricey considering the amount of food I got. Overall I'd say the meal was "meh". The nice decor and the fact that it's open so early earn it the third star.
(3)Jimmy L.
I'm visiting from outta town; lucky for Cafe on the Ave for the followng reasons - 1. I went for a 2-hr run and was hungry... 2. I originally wanted to go to Portage Bay Cafe, however, they were closed. I then walked up Roosevelt and down University, and nothing caught my eye until gettin' to this corner. I actually glanced in the window, walked by and crossed the street, then realized that if I didn't find anything fast, I'd pass out! 3. I'm a Yelper, and hadn't read these reviews yet. Had I done so, I would never have gone in.,. It's actually a cool space. It's got some bar-height tables; regular tables and chairs; and couches w/coffee tables. The decor is kind of bohemian. Though there is a lot of natural light filtering through the many windows, they also leave the space dark. Granted, I am still skeptical for the following reasons - I checked out the case of desserts, and the cakes looked ginormous, sugary, and possibly dense and dry - at least, that is how they looked. I made a mental note to stay away from them, Most of the hired helped look totally disenchanted, disengaged, and grumpy, which made my skepticism shoot through the roof. It left me wondering whether or not they looked like coffee-shop-material. I was hungry for a burger and took the risk, cuz the only way someone could screw up a burger is to not cook it fresh, and/or overcook it. I also ordered it with extra cheddar, and extra avocado (it was called the Cali Burger). The hamburger came, and it looked to be more than a quarter pound, yet less than a third. It also was just barely cooked, and this is exactly how burgers should be cooked - not well, yet still juicy. Fortunately, they met both of my criterium, except that the avocado equated to be about a teaspoon worth! ...and they chose the wrong person from which to scrimp the avocado cuz I'm an avocado whore! I wondered whether or not they were paying attention to the food ticket, or whether or not it's normal to serve such a tiny morsel! I asked someone to add more of it, and she was pretty nice about it. I ordered an iced tea; and when I was finished with my first glass, and sauntered over to the ice tea canister on promonent display, and it was water. They should've really labeled it properly! The fries were standard. Actually, they were hot and freshly made, though I probably would've cooked 'em a tad bit longer if I were them. They were kind of pasty white. The meal came with quarter of a pickle, which was a nice touch. Actually, the chocolate chip cookies looked like the homemade kind (rather than the commercial pre-made ones) and I took the risk and bought one to-go. I just finished eating it, and it was pretty good. I used the restroom, and it was almost spotless! I made mental note... I'm *not* surprised that everyone else here had such choice things to say, cuz I sensed that they'd just be OK. Luckily, the gods were with me today, and my meal turned out decent. The burger with iced tea came out to about $12, which I expected.
(3)Ben H.
Great coffee, great food, great atmosphere AND a GREAT place to study. What more can you ask for in a coffee shop near UW?
(5)Andrew L.
Let's just say I've had better sandwiches.. Anyways other than that I love their coffee here. Carmel machittio with a leaf created with cream. Mmm delicious! When coming here you should stick with the Cafe not the Food, just saying.
(3)Julian H.
I signed up on Yelp solely for the purpose of panning this cafe. I have gone back there time and again hoping to have a better experience, and every time I am disappointed. A lot of the positive reviews seem to be based on the fact that Cafe on the Ave is better than it's really bad predecessor, cafe roma, but that's not saying much. Food: always disappointing (the potatoes served with two egg breakfast are bland and unseasoned) and overpriced (their breakfast sandwich is a dollar more than the much better one you can get across the street at Starbucks; a skimpy two egg breakast and coffee will run you $8-$9), the coffee is mediocre (don't let the rosetta fool you, the coffee down the street at Cafe Solstice is much much better) Service: mediocre (pick up your own food, bus your own dishes, the workers don't seem very happy to be there) Atmosphere: They have made some cosmetic improvements to the inside over the years but that hardly makes up for the awful customer experience; the men's bathroom is a gross disaster (the urinal has been out of order for months), the cheap IKEA furniture is uncomfortable, and the music is bad. Even at 9 am they are usually playing the kind of screeching guitar solo rock that is fine at night but makes it impossible to study during the day.
(1)Colin S.
It's a nice little cafe, but the food is a little pricey and the music/people within can be really loud. Their chai (made with Morning Glory chai mix) pales in comparison to the actual stuff from Ballard and their food is usually just ok. They do accept the Husky Card though, which is a definite plus for any college student who doesn't want to spend "real" money. It's a nice place to sit down and chat but don't try to do any work in here.
(3)Rossana Y.
Meh. I've been here once to study for my final with some friends. There are plenty of tables to sit and free Wifi for the most part. It can be a little loud so it's not suitable for quiet studying. I had a chai latte here and it was gross. It tasted like water....with a tiny hint of chai? I dunno for sure. I can't say much for the other coffee drinks here since I haven't tried it. It is true that a lot of the food here is overpriced, but I guess that's what you get for convenience. If I were you, I'd run over to one of the restaurants nearby and get the food to-go for your study break....and maybe even to Starbucks across the street for a decent chai latte.
(2)Susan N.
The chai lattes are well made and not too sweet. But this place is really loud and not good for studying. I thought coffee shops were for relaxing, not screaming on the top of your lungs about the party you went to last night. They also make a good cappuccino.
(3)Cara L.
Free music from a classical string quartet was a nice touch. Plenty of seating and tables for customers to talk and/or study. Free wi-fi but not enough A/c outlets. The larger-sized tables were all taken by the time we arrived and my group of four waited a solid 10 minutes until one was available to us. I bought an 8 oz. iced mocha and a plain, toasted bagel for around $7. A little pricey for the average customer (students), the fact that I had to bus my own dishes, and the amount of food/drink I received. Staff behind the counter were aloof and unhelpful. Nice to visit once, but I doubt I'll be back.
(2)Anastasia M.
This place is way overrated. There are way better cafes in U-district (such as Ugly Mug or Starlife on the Oasis). For some reason, it comes across as commercial to me, but that's not the main issue I have with it. It is way overpriced for the quality of the food. Yes, the coffee is very good, BUT, it is almost $2 for a cup of drip (12 oz.) You can get an excellent cup a block away at Ugly Mug's for $1.25. They do have morning breakfast specials that are okay. However, they insist on blasting Praise the Jesus music at 6:30 A.M. I'm fine with some religious music (like Handel's Messiah) but this stuff is so bad, even if it was about somebody's girlfriend it would still be awful. They really need to reconsider their music selection if they want to be the cool, hipster-art cafe that they seemed to be at first glance.
(2)Adam ..
Nothing particularly memorable, but a nice place to have a cup of coffee and, unlike some of its neighbors, it's not always so hard to find a seat. Service has always been great when I've been, so judging by other reviews it must vary quite a bit.
(4)Jonas C.
They've really spruced this place up (at least the menu), since I was here last. I recall this being a decent study spot simply because it wasn't quite frequented by quite so large a student population as say Starbucks or Shinka or other establishment (probably since they weren't open as late). The waffles, were good, but you paid for it. Literally, one waffle on a plate. The burgers intrigue me though. Not enough to go out of my way to try to find parking near central U-District just for a meal though.
(3)Cathy G.
It is dull. The food was mediocre and expensive for mediocre. The staff was one friendly and another lack-a-daisical. I picked up a NY Times and got growled at that I took someone's paper. How would I know!!!!???? Regulars rule! Never going back.
(2)The-Hoa H.
Is it a bar? a cafe? a restaurant?....it's a little bit of everything...Came in this morning after my early class to grab a quick bite to eat. I've heard good things about this place and how fresh the breakfast was so I was definately looking forward to trying it out. I ordered "the ave" omelette which came with a three egg omlette stuffed with a handfull of chopped bellpeppers, onions and diced sausage. There was a descent side of hash and a piece of wheat toast sliced into two. All this for about....close to 11 bucks after tax.....Overall it was a good meal, the portion was enough to fill me up but wasn't anything near satisfying. Service was kind of dull...wouldn't hurt to smile at customers once in a while. The food was really fresh and delicious...and although the hash was a bit greasy I still liked my food overall. I wanted to give four stars for that alone, but really.....10 bucks for a 3 eggs omelette, a slice of toast and some hash? The profit margin is like....7 bucks. I would price it at 7 or 8 bucks max. If you're going to overprice your food at least do it with good service that would put a smile on people's face. This is a cafe...not a high school cafeteria.
(3)Ankur P.
Cafe on the Ave has the possibility of becoming a good place to spend a lazy sunday afternoon. There is ample space to accommodate large droves of students working on their assignments or just "facebooking" under the pretense of the former. The crowd is young and vibrant. Surprisingly for a cafe, the food is nice. There are 3 things which go against allowing it to achieve glory; 1) Competition - Given a choice I would pick one of the many bubble team joints in University district. It feels more cosy and personally I love bubble team; not to mention the cute patrons. 2) Coffee - For a non Starbucks aka corporate cafe, the coffee isn't much to write home about. As a coffee lover, I would expect a lot more from a standalone coffee joint. 3) The free wifi isn't free - In order to access the wifi, you need to order something and the password is printed on the bill. Granted that there are many ways around this, in principle I disagree with the tactic. So for an afternoon, when you do not want to experience the standard atmosphere of starbucks; or not in the mood for bubble tea - its a good option but not a place I would frequent much.
(3)Paul F.
When I meet up with friends I usually go here. To me it feels warmer and friendlier than solstice or trabant. I'm just not the kind of person who can stand bad service of any kind, so being ignored and looked down upon by baristas at hip spots doesn't sit with me. I'm also not knowledgeable about the difference between good and bad coffee, but the baristas smile, it's not starbucks(no I do not want a starbucks card for the third time this week) and they have comfy couches and board games. They have a cafe too, but I found the food kind of so-so and expensive. But the breakfast sandwiches weren't bad. Oh, also the blueberry muffins, when they have them, usually have an absurd amount of blueberries. It's very refreshing.
(3)Jennifer Y.
Mediocre. The one pro is that there is consistent free wi-fi and a lot of table space, but the service is rude and the food is sub-par. I have tried the bagels and cream cheese, the cookies, the cake slices, breakfast sandiwches, and croissants. Overall it tastes like Costco food or smth --just not something I'd be willing to spend $3-4 for although I have on those late nights that I needed something. The drinks are very very average. I ordered a hot chocolate one of the first times I came here and was a bit surprised at the method of making it --two squirts of Hershey chocolate syrup and some hot water. Disappointing since I could've made that at my apartment. The second time, I gave their latte a try since it looked pretty in the picture. Also disappointing and lukewarm. Only if we need a place to meet and other shops are busy, then will be back.
(1)Sarah L.
Coffee is decent. Overpriced menus. Okay service. On the other hand, spacious and open late.
(2)Kevin Y.
I've been coming here at least twice a week for the past few months. Once the staff (Song and Chrissy) started to notice that I was a semi-regular, they bothered to learn my name and greet me with a friendly hello every time I stop by. I think that deserves a few stars. As for the stuff that you pay money for, I have to agree that most of the food is mediocre and overpriced. However, the bagel sandwiches are the exception; simple and made with quality ingredients. The same can be said for the pancakes and eggs benedict. They are a tad bit overpriced, but ever since IHOP closed there's really no other place near the ave to get decent breakfast food (excluding Portage Bay Cafe, when I feel like paying $15 for an omelet). I'm one of the few Seattlites who actually likes black coffee, and these guys happen to serve Cafe Vita, so no complaints there. Basically, this place is awesome if you like good drip coffee and decent breakfast food, pretty average for everything else.
(3)Nicole L.
This place is expensive yes, but the sandwiches are delicious! The roasted vegetable sandwich is to die for! And the salads that come with are always scrumptious.
(4)Jody Y.
Seattleans are so lucky to have mom'n'pop coffee shops everywhere. I don't have that luxury in So Cal. Anyway, my awesome hostess took us to explore the beautiful U-Dub campus and afterwards, we were all ready for some HOT coffee. Cafe on the Ave is definitely one of those college joints - lots of students studying; I imagine that there is free wi-fi. The place is outfitted with sofas, chairs and tables, and bar area. Oh yeah, Cafe on the Ave also serves sandwiches too. I had a maple coffee latte thing and guys, it was amazing. It wasn't too sugary, the coffee wasn't charred (like CHARBUCKS) and it had the right amount of milk. My cohorts ordered a strawberry lemonade and a pumpkin latte, which were both good (by their accounts). If I had to knock on this place it would be the slow service. I think there were two baristas and we waited quite a bit (7 minutes?) for our order. :\ ETA: Wow, maybe I came in on an off day?
(4)Anna I.
I spend enough time here that they should probably just start charging me rent. The food is relatively overpriced ($2.50 for a teeny weeny little bottle of Perrier? No thanks, I'll sneak my own in.) and the service isn't anything to write home about, but the location, hours, and menu selection can't be beat. When you're sick of staring at the walls in Odegaard, and you know you won't get even a smidgen of work done in your apartment/dorm room/sorority/whatever, Cafe is a great place to go. They're open until midnight and the people are pretty friendly. The menu covers everything from breakfast through dinner and late night snacking, which is great. But be aware, you don't know packed until you've been here at finals week. Show up early and don't be at all surprised if you don't get one of the few tables in reach of an outlet.
(3)Jessica S.
I've been here a few times, to study with people from class and to meet friends. It's ok. The staff is usually really friendly. I had soup once...it was good. One time I had a cookie and it was good, too. It's cozy. The best thing about this place is that they serve Cafe Vita.
(3)Kate L.
Even if there are a lot of people giving one star reviews, I still give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt. Even the best places mess up sometimes, and most of the time if someone has had a very bad experience (one star level) then they won't come back, leaving that to be the only experience they've had at that place. However... trust the one star reviews given out to this place! My friend used to work there, so I ended up going there a lot for the free food and coffee. The food is actually okay, maybe a bit below average, just outrageously over priced (especially for quality). A lot of the staff consist of the stereotypical Seattle hipster, "I'm such an enlightened person because I've been to Thailand" people. They are also very rude, but I think the numerous bad service ratings below describe it enough. Also, NEVER GET TAKEOUT. I got a cobb salad to go and when I got home and opened the box, it literally looked like it was left overs. There was 1/3 the amount there is when you get it at the restaurant, no bread stick, just horrible.
(1)Kidron C.
Been here a few times. The first time I went with my girl and we got some coffee. The coffee was good, the staff was friendly, and the vibe was rather peaceful and relaxed. The decor is fairly modern-classy, and we enjoyed sitting at a leather couch. The place attracts a lot of laptop wi-fi users, but its a pretty calm place. The second time we came for a bite to eat. After 5:PM if you purchase two drinks you get a buy one burger and get one free deal. That was pretty awesome, and their burgers were pretty good, for a little unassuming cafe. Each time we've been back we've had a pretty solid experience here. My usual drink is a chai, or a lemonade, both of which are satisfying. Overall I would say that this place is pretty awesome. I'd give it 5 if they had any sort of wait service. I have bad hearing and don't always catch my order when it comes up immediately.
(4)Wes W.
Rising from the questionably smoky ashes of Cafe Roma is Cafe on the Ave, reborn as a quaint little coffee plus light meal haven for student studiers and laptop toting web warriors. The new owners have done a good job renovating the pirate den interior of the old locale into a more inviting place that is great for hanging out in, complete with a row of leather couches down the middle with board games and reading materials ready for use. Good coffee, free wifi, and CAKE round it all out to make for a great lounging experience. One tip: there aren't too many outlets for your laptop power supply to go into. Most of them are located on the north wall with the not-so-comfy wooden slab tables and unpadded benches. If your notebook has a beefy battery life you're probably better off taking one of the tables by the windows, or better yet the outdoor seating if the weather is being kind.
(4)Janelle B.
Overpriced for a cafe, food was bland, and it was too loud.
(1)Alex Z.
This place makes me sick and angry every time I think about it. The coffee is TERRIBLE. Kind of reminds me of the tobacco spit after someone is done with a pack of Skoal (chewing tobacco). Let's assume you don't drink coffee. The pastries are also terrible. The service is horrendous, totally do not understand the concept of a coffee shop.
(1)Ellie L.
Horrible food, horrible service. I asked for a side of boiled egg and they said they could only give me a cold egg, they couldn't boil me one and give it to me... They didn't even know when the eggs had been boiled... It's disgusting there.. Don't go...
(1)Juyoung L.
Honestly, idk what the bad reviews are about. The food is good and the portions are HUGE. Maybe because the owner and most of the workers are Korean so they are more friendly with Koreans. I come to study sometimes and the owner is very friendly and gives me a free coffee sometimes :) Their kimchi pasta, kimchi fried rice and sashimi salad are all very tasty. The atmosphere is good for studying and stopping by with friends. The price is good and the food is consistent every time. Good place!
(5)Anya H.
I was excited to get a bogo free meal, as advertised on the street sign, being the cheap person I am. I got two very sad meals and two extremely overpriced drinks and was so upset that I made a yelp account just to write about it.
(1)Ammara T.
Came here on a Sunday with my mom looking for a good breakfast place as Portage Bay Café had a 1hour wait. I've been here before and only got the coffee which was good but a little overpriced. This time I ordered the Buttermilk pancakes which were nothing special and weren't even circular and burnt on one side. Could have totally made this at home! The coffee cup was half chipped at the inner rim which I'm sure is not okay to give to any customer! Mom got the veggie omlete with scourdough and hashbrowns which wasn't too her liking as the veggies were undercooked and the eggs had no flavor or salt. The scourdough was also tasteless and disappointing for a $11 meal. Not to mention the place is cold and didn't feel very sanitary as the floor wasn't clean and went to go get a ketchup bottle for the hash browns and it was all greasy and gross on the outside. Wont be coming back for food here but the coffee aint that bad but will prefer Starbucks because of the cleanliness.
(3)Ginny M.
I am glad that I hadn't read the reviews before seeking a place for a quick bite in the University District or I would not have come to Cafe on the Avenue - and would've missed out on a very good place. The one negative point I'm seeing in reviews, which I agree with, is that it was cold. Otherwise, it was very good. I didn't mind the "self-service" instead of waiters and waitresses as I went in knowing that. Some of the most excellent places (Macrina Bakery, Red Twig in Edmonds) do a similar thing as far as having you order at the counter, take a number, and then they deliver the food to your table instead of taking orders at the table. We had trouble deciding as the menu is extensive, with items in numerous categories. We ended up with the bowl of vegetarian lentil soup and one of the breakfast sandwiches on a bagel. The soup was excellent - a huge quantity, well-flavored but not too salty - and the sandwich was "workmanlike" - bagel, egg, cheese, and bacon (you can get other items in place of bacon too) - but I'd still say "good" to "very good." I noticed lots of attractive-looking pastries in the case too so we went back for some shortbread cookies. There is a whole sushi section complete with sushi chef making it fresh. We did not try it, but it like everything else I saw being delivered to tables, it looked very good. Contrary to others' experiences, we found the staff to be very helpful. After our food was delivered, I went up to the counter for an empty bowl so we could split the soup, and shortly after that the young woman I'd asked (who, of course, did give me one) came over to our table and asked if we wanted her to split our sandwich (which we did) - that was a "proactive" move on her part which belied the claims of bad service. Any encounter with the staff was very positive. The overall "vibe" of the place is college-y, filled with young people studying. The tables are large, the music is not blasting too loudly, and overall it is very pleasant. And there was none of that "hipper than thou" attitude that we members of the "grey-haired set" sometimes can run into.:) All in all I'd give it a high rating if you're not expecting a formal dinner place, and don't mind a slightly chilly temperature.
(4)K T.
$4 breakfast special of 2 eggs any style, hash browns and toast! I wasn't expecting much for the price but my over easy eggs were perfectly runny and hashbrowns extra crispy as requested. This place fills up with college students looking for cheap and quick breakfast.
(4)C. K.
This place is most of the time cafe, but sometimes turns into sports bar&restaurant. Although I would leave a review on the whole aspect of the place with food and beer, I am only going to focus on the cafe aspect of it. The place is right on the ave, literally at the most crowded location of all. I do not know what is with local cafe owners, but they really love to have their place across from the starbucks (I mean look at ballard coffee works and storyville). Just like most places competing directly with starbucks chain, their place is pretty big with plenty of open tables. Big windows to people watch and many outlets for college students to sweat for hours over soon-due papers. Could be tidier since there are tables just scattered around across the cafe. Popular and busy most of the time, basically UW meeting room. To account for lot of actions, they have 2 baristas, 1-2 cashiers, and people in the kitchen working most of the time. So far my experience was that there are friendly employees, but some can do better. But no one really gave me displeasing services. Now now, this is why I wrote the initial statement. I have read so many of the reviews complaining about food, menu prices, and how horrible they were. However, since I regard this place as a cafe, where I primarily come for coffee, with occasional service of lunch and dinner for those desiring it, I do not think it should be judged so heavily on the food aspect. Coffee-wise, I think their blend for drip and espresso are great, at least better than many places around. The aroma is nice and caramelly with sweet/sour taste, low bitterness, and medium body. Generally milder and softer, and easy to swallow. Pricing can be a little on the high side, but I would say better than spending 50 cent less on not-so-pleasing-to-drink coffees. The coffee and the environment really makes it worth it to come here. Flavor profile: dark chocolatey toasty piquant soft-saltiness delicate
(4)Michael Y.
Really surprised by the negative reviews. The Cafe On The Ave has always been welcoming and a favorite of mine to study at or just grab a quick bite. The owners and employees truly care about the comfort and experience of each of their customers. I'm always greeted with a friendly smile and served on with the upmost professional care. It seems like they are always thinking of innovative ways to keep the students at the University healthy and well. Whether that means remodeling every single year to open up more spaces to sit or thinking up healthier dishes to keep students from fainting during finals week. Five stars people. Go find out why.
(5)Jay M.
When I was a student at UW, people would want to meet here. I have no idea why. The food is overpriced and terrible, the coffee is overpriced and terrible, and the staff can be pretty rude.
(1)Dat N.
The atmosphere is nice, there's a good Internet connection, and it's very close to a university campus. All these factors are enough for a steady stream of relatively undiscerning customers, even if it is a bit pricey for the quality. Don't get the chicken fingers and fries, though. It's essentially just store bought freezer burned breaded chicken with no seasoning. Other than that, it's a typical place of first convenience.
(3)Boop B.
Every time I come here, it's always mediocre or just insanely annoying to be here. But the convenience keeps me coming back. Wow. The owner is a greedy son of a b---h! Two friends and I came in to study. We ordered a few cups of coffee and over the course of an hour, finished it all. Half an hour later, he comes up to us and THROWS a menu at our table, demanding we order something or he'll have to kick us out. We're confused. We already ordered something and weren't in any rush to eat anything. 10 minutes goes by, and I guess he was tired of eye balling us so he proceeded to march over and told us to get out. Rude. I'll never come here again.
(1)Doctor Z.
Food is kind of lack luster. Got it once, won't get it again because it's waaaay over priced. But why I really gave it one star is because today the counter boy literally charged me for the wrong thing, at the wrong price, and when I corrected him he told me it cost the same and wasn't a big deal. This was a flat out lie. I get the same drink every day and it costs the same price. I know it's only about a dollar that I just got robbed for, but sheer incompetence backed up with BS will make sure I never even stop in here for coffee ever again.
(1)Bianca M.
Food is mediocre and overpriced. Most importantly, staff is RUDE and makes you feel subhuman with the way they treat you. Avoid at all costs. You will be better off eating at Starbucks across the street.
(1)Tabitha M.
The coffee was delicious! I love when a vanilla latte is a little sweet. The interior is great, I don't know why this place has only 3 stars? My service was amazing and THEY HAVE SRIRACHA!!!!
(5)Sarah T.
Totally weird. Came in for a snack, a beer and some free wifi for study time. Chips and salsa-$6 ......ok...so then my stale chips came out on one of those super tacky, indestructible Corell plates. Oooof bad sign no. 1. The salsa was topped with Basil ribbons. I mean, WHAT?! The salsa wasn't even salsa, it had no flavor or texture and I'm certain it was tomato purée with cayenne in it. AND THE BEER WAS $6 AND WARM. I can't win here. There's no excuse for this place, they just don't give a shit.
(1)Anna W.
Nope nope nope nope nope. I have easily paid less for better food, better service, and less confusion. I haven't been to Cafe on the Ave in years, but this past weekend, the BF and I decided to stop by and grab breakfast before heading out to an event. I remembered it being pretty decent, so it seemed like a safe choice for a somewhat hurried brunch. In retrospect, we would've been better off going to Starbucks across the street. First of all, this place has what is easily the most confusing organization system I have ever encountered. You seat yourself and then go order at the register. Easy enough. Except if you order a drink, it comes separately and you have to come back to the counter to get it. The food is brought to you, but then you bus your own table. Also, every employee seemed to be doing every job - from taking orders to making coffee to sweeping to bringing food. So, if, say your drink gets lost in all this manic shuffle, it takes forever to find the person who took your order, let alone someone who knows what might've happened to it. I think you can deduce from this that my coffee ordering experience went awry. I guess at least this meant that I had my drink and food at the same time..? My poor boyfriend, on the other hand, had to watch me eat my sandwich while he waited and waited and waited for his food. Again, no one was around to explain what was going on, because they were all running around doing multiple jobs all at once. He finally got his waffle and eggs about 15 minutes before we had to go catch the bus and he had to scarf it down. The only consistent thing in this meal was how subpar both the food and the service were. I have no problem with having "okay" food in a bind, especially for a weekend brunch, but this just isn't worth the annoyance of trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
(1)Marin J.
The locals won't give this place much love, but when you come from afar, and the language of coffee isn't spoken with such finesse as those in Seattle are accustomed to tasting...well I can understand. But I give it 3 stars and wish that this was at least the benchmark where I live. Nothing special, nothing fancy. Has the feel of a Hotel lounge than a coffee shop. Good place to perch in an emergency. A bit expensive but the java was drinkable.
(3)Christy H.
The hot barbecue sandwich here is awesome!! The kimchi fried rice is wonderful as well!! Definitely a good coffee shop for reading and relaxing~
(4)Sabrina D.
I came to Cafe on the Ave as this was one of the few places still open late night. The servers and the environment seemed very laid back, which I did enjoy. I do however have a huge complain on the food. My partner and I ordered the kim chi fried rice, korean ramen, and the fresh basil sandwich. The korean ramen was instant ramen. INSTANT RAMEN! (Shin ramyun to be exact) Can you believe it?! The basil sandwhich has no basil, the fries were slightly burnt and cold, and the fried rice was OK. It was a sad lost of $25 for me today.... hahaha.
(1)Jason Z.
Vegetarian sandwiches were as bland as you get, almost all bread. The staff was nice, but because it's self service, interaction with them is limited. A lot of room inside and good porch for sitting outside. If I ever go back, it may just be for a beer to drink while people watching on front porch. I will not order their food.
(2)Rebecca P.
Pretty cool place. I'm a 1st timer. Nice chill atmosphere, but you bus your own dishes.
(3)Justin W.
PROs: can always find a seat, nice amount of daylight, air conditioning, very diverse menu (from burgers to sushi to pastries to cake), clean, cozy, front porch is good for working. CONs: Internet is occasionally spotty (2 of 10 times maybe), only certain seats have electrical outlets nearby.
(3)Jack M.
I was hoping to have a good lunch but some guy wearing a bandana was openly creeping on my friends. He was overly aggressive about it too. He obviously works there too, he was going in and out of the back carrying dishes. Absolutely the worst experience I've ever encountered. I will never come back as long as I see that guy working there.
(1)Alyssa Z.
This placed used to be a decent go-to for coffee and a decent bite. The coffee is still decent but the food sucks now. They cheap out on the burgers and the poor quality is noticeable. The dessert used to be nice and rich with each serving enough for two. Now there is still enough for two but now the frosting is just a ball of cream cheese and sugar. Skip it and find something better.
(2)Angie W.
This place is trying to do too much. They serve breakfast, sandwiches, pasta, coffee, tea, cakes, sushi, beer, and much more. It confuses me. There are too many options and honestly a place that is trying to do too much will not excel at any of them. They will only be mediocre. I've had their breakfast, coffee and kimchi fried rice before. It is not bad, but like I said it is only mediocre. The customer service is not great and I think it is too loud and crowded in there for my liking. I've noticed that they are super friendly and nice to people that they recognize, but as a customer that only visits once in a few months, they are not so nice... Also, they kick people off the Wi-Fi after a couple (or maybe a few) hours. That's a bit rude...
(2)Eduardo G.
Their menu is extensive to say the least. Everything from caffinated drinks to sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers. Ambience is relaxed and you bus your own table.
(4)Ryan A.
I'm a Portlander visiting, and this place is great. I plan on making this my spot whenever I'm in the area. Plenty of great food, coffee and staff. I had the Grasshopper with rice milk and a Café Breakfast. Perfection. Surprisingly good, I expect greasy junk by the looks but it's good and well prepared
(4)Fiona B.
The set-up is the opposite of user friendly. I wasn't sure whether I needed to pick my food up and the counter or someone would bring it. We went on a Saturday morning and man was it loud. Fine for a breakfast with 3 people but not a place for studying at that time. The food itself was quite good. My mocha was much too sweet as warned and my bagel sandwich, while pricey was very good with real egg and lots of turkey.
(3)Maria G.
I have been back many times. Mostly for meetings. It is just a much bigger spot and easier for other people to find it. During my most recent visit, staff walked around serving free cookies. That was very nice of them! I think years ago, I would come here and study. But there are two things that make me choose other coffee shops over this one: 1. lighting is pretty bad. Good for laptop use, not great for reading textbooks. 2. music is way too loud. It is hard to hear what others have to say during meetings. Otherwise, I try to avoid here whenever I can.
(2)Michelle C.
What a great place to study! Went there a couple weeks ago for the first time (in awhile) on a Sunday night around 10pm . There was a plenty of room to sit, and I was able to find an outlet too. I guess its open till 12am everyday? I ordered a 12oz vanilla latte, which was not too bad. I think it really dependson the barista, of course, and I'd have to say that I've had better. Of all the drinks I've gotten there, I think the caramel macchiato was my favorite :) "Free wi-fi" when you order something - the password is usually printed out on the receipt.
(3)Brian B.
On those rare sunny days in Seattle, this might be one of the best cafés to study in the U-District. The corner lot, spacious - and plentiful - tables, and decent beverages make this a great place to study and enjoy the sunshine at the same time.
(4)Addie R.
I was super hungry before class (and needed some caffeine too) so I ducked in here at 10 am. I was confused upon entry; never a good sign, cause the layout of the place is confusing and I couldn't figure out what to do or where to go or what to order or what the options were. As a business owner, you want to make that process as SIMPLE and EASY as you can for customers. I navigated between chairs and tables to the front counter where all the menus were being looked at so I stood around a bit until one of the menus was freed up. The menu is also laid out in an unclear manner. When I made my order at the front, the server, who was really nice, informed me that the cafe breakfast would be cheaper than my order of 2 scrambled eggs+chicken sausage+hash browns+short coffee+toast, so I went with that, the only difference being there were 3 scrambled eggs. After paying you are given a number on a stand that you take to your chosen table and wait. The back right corner of the cafe has cups, water, ketchup, butter, jam, salt, pepper, etc. It was very unclear this is where the condiments and water are, since it has no signage and is behind a counter, so I had to wander around a few times before figuring out this area was where you self-serve said items. I ended up paying $15 with a $2 tip for everything and I think it was very overpriced. The quality was just ok, the experience, not good. The food is brought over to your table, but for some reason (?) you have to pick up the coffee from a separate counter near the cash register. They filled the cup up to the very brim, and not one to complain about getting too much coffee, but they left no room for cream or sugar, so my cup overflowed and it was messy to carry back to my table. It dripped everywhere! Ugh. The hash browns were well cooked but they were obviously the shredded, prefrozen kind, and the chicken sausage...there was just ONE sausage. Cut in half. What?? I've never been served breakfast sausage that way and I don't like it. I probably won't come back here because the price is too high for the quality of food served.
(2)Casey P.
A friend dragged me here - we were looking for someplace to chat but didn't want to order anything. So we dropped in for a few minutes on a weekday night. The place had plenty of spots open and we chose a corner booth. This is a cafe in the best sense of the word, because you can lounge around and do your own thing without annoying servicepeople in your face. If we wanted to order, we could have gone up to the counter and done so. We were fine just hanging out. Sit down in one of this cafe's many booths to catch up with friends, grab some coffee, or get in some studying. Cafe on the Ave works for me.
(5)Briana T.
good place. Nice decor and good music. A good and spacious place to catch up with a friend and sit down for coffee or if you're flying solo, you can feel free to use up the wifi and study. The wooden chairs are kinda hard though, and uncomfortable. It also can get quite loud quite easily. The food is decent, but a bit too pricey. The sandwiches and pasta are what I would recommend :) One of the cool parts is that the owner and employees are very sweet! When my friend and I were eating there, they accidentally forgot her soup and then the owner came up to us and gave us a free huge, delicious chocolate chip cookie. And I'm a huge sucker for free stuff. ;)
(3)Maria K.
This is conveniently located to UW, so I frequented it as a student, but since have only been back a handful of times if I was in need of internet or it was late in the night and not many other things were open. There isn't much about this place that particularly stands out except for their selection of tea, which I appreciate. It is a good spot if you are trying to get some work since they have lots of small tables available, they are open late and they have internet.
(3)Julia C.
They offer a huge variety of menu items, the food is always okay: never bad, but never great. You can end up waiting a while for simple menu items like a sandwich. The place itself has a good ambiance, wifi (not great but they have it), power outlets, bathrooms, it's a good place to camp out and get work done, it's a good place right off campus to share a lunch with a friend, but not nice enough to bring your parents to.
(3)Eri K.
My tip: With so many better options for food and actual customer service around, why eat here? Not worth your time and money. Quick Review: I admit, I am officially a food snob. *sigh* Seattle, look what you have done to me! *shakes fist* Here is the low-down on Cafe On The Ave... It has a great location and the ambiance is alright for a cafe. Alas, the food and drink quality was very poor, especially for the high prices. What caught me off guard though was the service. This is the first time in Seattle that I have tried requesting something "dairy free" only to be met with a lost expression & a "what do you mean?" question. I explained that I would prefer not to have cheese on my eggs (she understood at this point). I also tried to order a side of grilled veggies and no one on staff could figure out how to charge me for them. I even offered to over-pay for them with cash, and the answer was that that was not possible unless I paid $5! Seriously?! Basically, this place caters to students and I should have adjusted my standards perhaps. Oh well - I lived, I learned, and I will not return.
(1)Paul B.
I only came here because I lived a block away. Aside from that, there would have been no good reason to return. The food is expensive and moderately delicious. However, there are some good selling points about Café on the Ave. that might make you wanna stop by. 1) Free WiFi (although most just leech off Starbucks across the street any way) 2) Outdoor Patio Seating on nice summer afternoons 3) Alright service from the staff 4) Large and spacious for big group studies 5) Located centrally on the Ave. Aside from that, you should give Solstice down the street a shot. Then again, there's a slew of other cafe options just down the street that are far superior to here.
(3)Michael M.
Cozy, free wifi and the food isn't that bad. But what really got me was my experience that I had at this business. When I first when up to order, I stared down the 3 people behind the counter who were all talking while I was ready to order. Then all three people just left. I was flabbergasted to say the least. Once one of the guys came back, he stared at the ground for a bit, and then a minute later finally asked if I was ready to order. Once I finally got my order and was just sitting down to the booth, there was a nail sticking out of the booth that ripped into my jeans. Not only was the service not great, but the seating was unsafe and could have very well ripped into a persons leg rather than my jeans this time. They need to take a weekend to do a little staff training and just check the overall quality of the business because it will be a shame when someone eventually hurts themselves.
(2)Alex G.
Pros: big menu, breakfast served late, good fruit cup side, some food is good, like the omelettes. Cons: busy place and hard to find seats in groups more than a pair, price makes me wonder, "is this worth it?", not much by way of service, some food unimpressive (ie sandwiches on regular store bought bread) Good for occasional lunch if in the area.
(3)Felisa D.
If it weren't for its location and size, I don't know how this business would thrive. I've had really good service a few times, really bad some other times. It almost always takes forever for your food to get to you. I remember it took them like 15 mins to get my hummus plate to me which was amazing because I can't imagine it takes that long to plop some hummus on a plate and slice up some things to dip in it. The food is mediocre at best. If you take into account how much it costs for what you get, it leaves a worse taste in your mouth. The soups are often lukewarm. The sandwiches and burgers are okay. Breakfast isn't anything special. Their coffees and teas are a-okay. The only thing I like from here are their fries -- they're actually pretty tasty. Then again, I could say a million of things to express how I'm far from impressed about everything here but I will probably be here in the next couple of weeks or so for a group meeting or to meet up with a friend or to study. It's just too conveniently located and there are lots of outlets and the wi-fi works pretty consistently.
(2)Joe S.
the hash browns were undercooked.
(3)Adrienne R.
Needing some lunch on a day I hadn't even had breakfast, I went up to the Cafe on the Ave on a Sunday when I was at work at UW. They had a decently large selection. I was looking for something vegetarian, so I got the Mediterranean omelette with whole wheat toast and hash browns and coffee. What I ordered for coffee, what was listed on the menu, and what they called out when my coffee was ready was not the same. It being after 1 pm (and having been up since 7 am without anything to eat) having different names for the same thing was not helpful for me. They have a strange, call out your order number and you come get it and bus your own table thing going on for the cost and decor and set-up of the cafe. The food coming up was slow. Like 45 minutes. That's pretty bad. It was past lunch rush, so there's no reason for an omelette filled with vegetables to take that long. And then have the wrong kind of bread on it. And they put way too much butter on the bread, so I couldn't eat it. The omelette was greasy. How do you even make a greasy omelette? The coffee was good. The guy serving the coffee and coffee drinks was friendly. The rest of the staff was stand-offish. The rest of the customers sat like they owned the place and therefore getting anywhere in the cafe was a difficult maze of a walk. Overall, the place was okay. I won't make any effort to go back. I'd like to like it, but it's just not worth the time and cost.
(2)Rachel A.
Mediocre, yet overpriced relative to quality, salads & coffee-- I wish I had checked Yelp before coming here! Well, never again. Too many other places to try!
(2)Bob C.
Clean, decent prices, free wifi, and okay service. Maybe they'd get three stars anywhere else, but they get a bonus for being on the Ave. Good place for studying or meeting up with someone.
(4)Lindsay S.
Food: I've come here a few times and ordered breakfast, a sandwich, and a pastry. The food was always very tasty, although VERY expensive for what I actually got. The London Fogs are fabulous and I always order one! I also got sushi here once, and it was surprisingly excellent. I was a little suspicious of coffee-shop sushi, but after moving from Japan only recently, this is the first sushi I've ordered that was worth paying for. Service: None to speak of. The employees always seem very busy and orders tend to get lost. You bus your own table. Atmosphere: This cafe has a very extensive menu but you wouldn't know it from the ambiance. The decor is cheap and rundown. I was a little embarrassed to meet my mentor here.
(3)Michael H.
Ah, Cafe on the Ave. Food that's not that good, and not that bad. Not ridiculously expensive but not that cheap. Not that fast, not that slow. Mediocre food and value all around. On the plus side, they have free wi-fi, the staff were friendly to me, and they are a convenient place to get a full American breakfast. But I don't think I will bother coming back.
(2)Lucie W.
I never cared for Cafe on the Ave much, until I discovered their mochas. Probably one of the best mochas I've had. It's the perfect amount of chocolate and the chocolate doesn't sink all the way to the bottom, it's mixed in well. I refuse to buy coffee on campus because it's so inconsistent and often poorly made by students. Cafe Solstice's is way too chocolate-y for my taste. So yes, I come here for the mochas (they have good Americanos too), not so much for the food. The food is okay/good but that's all. It's overpriced for only being okay. But I'll still order a meal from time to time if I'm in here studying.
(4)Chris B.
I am saddened by the poor reviews for Cafe on the Ave. I went here the other day for the first time, and had a great experience. I ordered a roasted veggie sandwich and a cup of coffee, and got some work done at my laptop for a couple hours. I thought the ambiance was great, very early-90s Seattle. I actually like the hustle and bustle of this place, personally. I feel like there aren't a lot of these classic-feeling places left in Seattle, so I was glad to spend my money here. Rock on, Cafe on the Ave!
(4)Anna S.
Holy chairs!!! If you like the sound of nails on a chalkboard, this place is for you. The sound made by the chairs scraping the floor is just insane, I don't understand how anyone can talk or get any work done here.
(2)Opal D.
Terrible chai lattes. The art is terrible. My beau drags me here because he likes it...
(2)Priyansh P.
Is aiiiight
(5)Joshua C.
Stopped in here before a basketball game for lunch on a whim. Not impressed. Staff friendliness is...questionable. Prices are high for a place that expects you to buss your own tables and get your own condiments. I ordered a turkey sandwich on wheat with a green salad. Salad was just a salad, so no complaints but the sandwich was dry, particularly the bread. Generally I'd say it's hard to make a bad turkey sandwich. Cafe on the Ave managed to do just that. On a positive note, my friend's fries were good, almost tasted like McDonald's. The coffee is served in these big mugs which I love (can't speak to the coffee). The eggs benedict that another table ordered looked amazing. But...I wouldn't come here again with the abundance of dining options in the village.
(2)Shengyao Q.
I go there a lot, simply because it's convenient. It's almost the only place that opens whenever I need a place to study. Although it's loud and can get a little dark in there if you want to read and write on papers. And it's super crowded during finals week. They have nice food. But a little bit to cheesy I'd say. I always order Mayan Mocha, it's nice taste of mocha.
(3)Samantha E.
I decided to post an update since I've now had their coffee. Their mocha is definitely good-- on par with Starbucks, not quite Cafe Solstice level. Espresso drinks are reasonably priced, and they give you a punchcard, which is nice. I tried a smoothie recently too and enjoyed it, but then again I like anything with mango in it. I prefer coming here for lunch because I love their sandwiches and paninis, but it's a solid breakfast/coffee choice as well.
(4)Masha J.
Although this place by no means deserves 5-stars, I feel like the one-star reviews are a little uncalled for. Because this place is very popular with college students, they get a lot of people going in and out constantly. The food, which is mediocre (not incredible, not awful) is served quickly and tastes good for the price. Again, nothing amazing, but it's erring on the side of a little bit expensive. Yes, you do clean up after yourself, but it's not that much of a hassle. The coffee is good. I understand that they are often cranking out a lot of orders, so sometimes they've forgotten to add whipped cream to my espresso con panna doppio. However, if you remind them gently, they'll do it for you without a problem. The music is classical, which is great if you want to study, but the environment can get a little bit loud because everyone is talking over one another. This can be irritating, but if you're working on a laptop and plug in your own headphones, it's not too bad. The wi-fi is free. The baristas and cashiers are very nice. I like coming back here, but it's by no means my favorite spot on the ave.
(3)Laura U.
Café on the Ave is my go-to café. I love the environment. The waitstaff are really friendly, and the unagi donburi is really, really tasty. The owner, Sung, is a very nice guy, and he really goes out of his way to make sure that the employees mimic his customer service. I'll give you an example. Last month, my pet died. I went in to get my regular coffee, and the barista noticed that I looked really sad. I told her what was up, and she gave me a sympathetic look and gave me a FREE chocolate pastry, saying that it was on the house. Totally made my day brighter. I'd give this place six stars if I could.
(5)Ninette C.
I used to love coming here when I was a student. Its nearby, serves my needed coffee and does it well, sandwiches/soups and they have free wi-fi. I also liked to come here to catch up with a friend. Over time, more and more people have discovered it and its now louder. Too bad, but nonetheless, a pretty solid cafe for working/studying.
(4)Nolan H.
I'm not sure why so many people have been "harshing" on this place. It wasn't the most memorable eating experience that I've had, but it was far from the worst. My breakfast was absolutely delicious and filling. The only thing keeping this place from getting a better review is the lack of clarity involving where to get the silverware and condiments. I think it is a bit of a stretch to journey to the back of the restaurant to obtain your ketchup, butter, hotsauce, fork and napkins without being told in advance. Just a little weird. Otherwise, if I was in the area and wanted another early breakfast, I'd still come back. The food was good!
(3)Miles R.
Whoa. I was NOT expecting Cafe on the Ave to have a poor rating. I suppose it's up to me to convince some people it's actually quite good. Yes, it can sometimes be very crowded, but it's not constant. I generally go when there is low-to-medium traffic, and I do not have a problem with the noise level at all. Contrary to what some others have said, I have thoroughly enjoyed the food here. It's certainly not mind-blowing, but I always feel satisfied with what I get for the price. Their breakfast items are decent, but I much more enjoy their sandwiches. Also, as an occasional tea drinker, I have enjoyed their choice in teas. They're fresh and certainly help clear my mind. I love this place for talking in small groups of friends OR for posting up at a table with my laptop and headphones and getting some work done. I'm not going bananas over this place, but it's definitely a solid location in the heart of the U-District.
(4)Kayla N.
Decent food, I had pasta with alfredo sauce, typical decent dish. The best part was sitting on the patio and watching the people walk by. The inside was crowded with kids on laptops. Like I said, it was decent, not sure I'd go back.
(3)Danny M.
I eat here every Tuesday and Thursday with a friend between my classes at UW. I love the vibe of this place, and the service is also pretty good. However, the reason I was compelled to write this review was the tomato-basil soup they offer (16 oz for $5.00). Simply put, this is some of the best soup I've ever had, PERFECT for a blustery day (and I'm generally not a soup fan). I can not think of a way the soup could be any better. seriously. If you have to order one thing from this restaurant choose the tomato basil soup. You're welcome.
(5)Michael M.
Don't get the tiramisu. Thick and flavorless. It looks good. But that is about as good as it gets. It did not live up to its appearance. Even the latte was poorly served - not hot. Almost lukewarm. I should have went to Whole Foods.
(1)Kimmy C.
I can here in the morning for breakfast because my friend and tried out this place. This place is really clean, open space lots of tables and ideal for studying in groups if you order something to drink. Its convenient for students in the university area. In the summer time I always see people hanging out at the porch studying away and drinking their coffee. FREE wifi is a plus. The menu has quite a few selections but I was not impressed with the food here. It is overpriced and mediocre. I think I could make a breakfast burrito taste better than this place with less money. I had the breakfast burrito and it was really cheesy. Maybe too much cheese. My friend ordered Jose which is a scramble that didn't have enough cheese. His plate cost 9 bucks! I also ordered the grasshopper. I didn't even taste any mint flavor in my coffee. :( sad I had maybe 3-4 sips and decided it was an awful drink. I don't think I will be coming back here. Bye Cafe on the Ave... It was nice meeting you but we won't ever be friends.
(2)Allie C.
I am also actually really surprised by the negative reviews. At night it'll be packed with students studying and chatting but in the morning I have never had a problem finding a spot. The location is also perfect if you're a student at UW, live near the ave, and are just looking for a place to study off-campus. Pretty decor makes me a fan. I got the Northwest Omelet, house baked salmon with onion, capers and sour cream, which was definitely on the pricey side (12.50) but it was still really delicious and filling. They have a good variety of food, with salads, snacks, breakfasts, and coffee.
(4)Jess M.
Never have I been more insulted from a manager. I would highly recommend NEVER visiting this cafe. This man yelled at me on 3 different occasions during my afternoon attempts to study. I purchased coffee and a bagel. First I was moved to a smaller table because "people who were actually eating a meal" needed to sit at my seat. Apparently your portion determines your table hierarchy. When I was sitting at a table with other empty seats awaiting a study group I was literally yelled at by the manager a second for taking up too much room. I politely explained anyone was welcome to sit here, but would need to make room when my group arrived. Then when my group was situated - he kicked out someone else, and forcibly moved us to a smaller table. And an hour later said we had to leave in 15 if no one would buy anything else. Like he would ever get a cent more of my money. If you enjoy getting forcibly reseated every hour, like unreliable wifi and find it pleasant to have a jerk manager yelling at you for being a patron -- then I highly recommend checking this place out. Otherwise even Starbucks is better.
(1)Joshua R.
They served Vita coffee. It seems like a nice place if you got some studying or work to do. They offer beer. Their food is kinda..whatever. Nothing bad..but, nothing outstanding either. I'm guessing it's just for the local college students to grab a bite while they work. I wouldn't mind if there was some sort of snack for less than 5$ though.
(3)Kendrick R.
5 bucks for instant ramen. Very interesting. Great place if you like to drink beer and write. But forget about the food.
(2)Isaac P.
No one eats here for the food. The portions are tiny. The food is unsatisfying. The prices are way too high. People eat here exclusively for the WiFi. Unless your need for WiFi is greater than anything else in the world and this place is truly the ONLY option open, AVOID.
(1)Victoria C.
Okay. The coffee is decent, but that's about it. WIFI sucks! Why do I always come here when the internet is always cracked out?! If you need the internet to do HW, do NOT go here. But, if you want a place to read/study withOUT distraction from the internet, suit yourself. Every. Single. Time. I. Go. Here. There. Is. No. Internet.
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