4. Restaurants

Specialty’s Café & Bakery

1400 5th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101
  • (877) 502-2837
  • Store is closed

Specialty’s Café & Bakery Menu

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  • Joshua J.

    Rats!!! Maybe I should've just stuck with the original review and sandwich, then I could've kept the 4 stars, but, alas, no... I had to push my luck. I always do, I suppose. Someday I'll be in traction... but I digress. I went back to Specialty's today after my first experience with the Cobb was nothing short of spectacular. Today I opted for the ever-famous Sicilian sandwich, you know, the gauntlet of salami, spinach, onions, pepperoncini, what have you.... Now, the sandwich looked great, but even at first bite, it was just sadly disappointing. For some reason, Specialty's feels the need to salt the focaccia bread, like, really, wtf? The sandwich, bread especially, was so salty I could barely eat it. Pretty much desensitized my tastebuds, all I could taste was the sodium.... sad, because I felt like the sandwich overall had potential. I like pretty much any type of sandwich, but this was unacceptable (not like I'd return a sandwich... it's not a piece of produce, after all). It ran a little under $8.5 with tax. Ouch. What a mistake. Oo, I guess I was so distracted by the salt factor that I forgot to mention it took about 20 minutes to get my order, just the sandwich mind you. I know that there were maybe 2 orders ahead of mine, but 20 minutes of a half hour lunch break really puts a damper on things, you know? I'll probably go back to Specialty's one. more. time. Try one. more. sandwich. If they fail, I probably won't be back. Well, I lied.. maybe for the Cobb. That thing was freakin' delicious.... All said and done, I strongly caution against the Sicilian... Thanks for listening.

    (3)

  • Jee H.

    I recently was in Seattle and waiting for my sister to pick me up when I realized that I was hungry. Starbucks was crowded and I wasn't sure how long it would take for my sister to show up. I noticed Specialty's Cafe and Bakery next door and thought I would give them a try. The service was friendly and the immediately said hello upon my entry. I purchased three pastries for me and my sisters. Blueberry scone, Cranberry/Cream Cheese croissant and a Blueberry/Cream Cheese croissant. Altogether the total was $7.87 for the trio. My youngest sister took the Cranberry/Cream Cheese and she ate it later at work -- so I don't know how she felt about it. My other sister and I split the other two. Neither of us were woo woo about the scone. It was dry and lacked strong blueberry flavor. We both really like the croissant -- it was flaky, good blueberry flavor and was just plain yummy. I don't think that they have a location in the south end but I'd go again; however, I'll pass on their scones.

    (3)

  • Wayne L.

    Food and coffee were great and service was quick despite being busy on a Sunday morning.

    (5)

  • Andrew N.

    Glad to see the stores up in Seattle serve as good food as in California! Excellent breakfast sandwhich.

    (5)

  • Ryan V.

    I have a lot of complaints about this place, but the fact of the matter is this: they make a pretty great sandwich. The place is super-packed around lunch time and they have absolutely no concept of crowd control. Everyone that's already ordered is just kind of standing around waiting and I often can't tell if someone is in line or just trying to confuse me. Half of the staff is really friendly, and they all say stuff like "see you next time" and "have a great day", and I can't help feeling it's all a little artificial. I'd like to see the employee training manual. The sandwiches are delicious, once you take all the crap off. A perfect example is the Club sandwich. Here's the list of what's on it: Whole Wheat, Mayonnaise, Stone Ground Mustard, Roasted Turkey Breast, Smoked Ham, Cheddar, Swiss, Green Leaf Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Cucumber, Dill Pickle, Mixed Bell Peppers, Pepperoncini, Italian Vinaigrette, Ranch Dressing, Black Pepper. I mean, holy shit. Seriously? They do have online ordering, which is awesome. I wish more places did that. And they have the most delicious semi-sweet chocolate cookies. So, yeah, I have my complaints, but I'm willing to put up with a lot to get a good bite.

    (4)

  • Neda G.

    Mmmmm! From the cookies to the salads, sandwiches and soups. Specialty's is SO good. It's also quick enough to be able to grab on a lunch break.

    (4)

  • jessica c.

    i work at an office that gets catered lunches pretty often and specialty's is one of the popular picks. i actually prefer the sanwiches from a different catering place... the ones from specialty's are good but they are sliced strange.. or they are a strange size. it's like after they cut the sandwich in half, they slice that half in half again. it makes it wierd to eat. what i do like about this place are that the cookies are amazing. they are really thick cookies and have huge chunks of chocolate, white chocolate, macadamia nuts, etc.

    (3)

  • Andy y.

    I passed by this place yesterday right after reading the reviews on yelp, so i decided to stop by here today to see what the fuss was all about and to take shelter from the rain massacre. the workers were super friendly and cheerful, and the interior was a little dim, but cozy. as a first timer, i was confused about the layout inside; there is a peet's coffee counter right next to the door, and further on, there is a more substantial counter with baked goods displayed and a large sandwich menu overhead; the baked goods are the things you normally see in cafes- muffins, cookies, pastries, etc, but they have quite the selection of hot and cold sandwiches. Prices run from about $5.00 to 7.50 for regular/deluxe/hot/veggie sandwiches, which isn't bad at all for downtown seattle. the salads are a little more expensive, and i can't say whether they are any good since i haven't tried them, but the sandwiches are packed, at least--they are not stingy with their meat and veggies :) if you're just looking for something quick to snack on though, there are a lot of cookies and muffins to choose from--i chose a turkey and swiss croissant ($4.00! : ( ) but it was filling, with a flaky and crisp outside and buttery soft goodness with generous servings of turkey inside. overall, this is a good place to stop by, definitely better than your average sandwich and coffee shop.

    (3)

  • Laura W.

    On the east coast, we don't have Specialty's. We don't have Pike Place Market, either, so I always feel slightly bad when I'm in Seattle staying downtown and don't walk the extra couple blocks between this Specialty's location and the culinary goodness of the Market itself, but honestly, sometimes when you're hungover you need someplace close to your hotel with a) chairs and tables, b) inexpensive options, and c) room for compromise between people like The Boy, who get up and want "real food," and crippling breakfast addicts like myself. Specialty's is a chain, but as chains go, it's everything Panera wishes it was. Baked goods are made on the premises, and you want the cinnamon morning roll. No, not the cinnamon roll -- that's good, but it doesn't have the transcendent balance of crispiness, flakiness, and cinnamon-sugar gooey-ness of its croissant dough-based cousin. Employees here appear to actually (gasp) enjoy their jobs, and are really nice, even if you're staring at them blankly through a hangover-induced fog. And they serve Intelligensia coffee to alleviate your fuzzy-headedness. Lastly, a look at their website shows that not only do most Specialty's let you place orders online for pickup or delivery, but they have a freaking WARM COOKIE RADAR on their website. It may actually be a good thing there aren't any of these near me.

    (4)

  • katie s.

    Back when I used to work in this little melting pot of Asia meets Yuppie, I ate here about every other day. Turkey sandwich with cranberry and sprouts? Every other day was Thanksgiving!! I also would occasionally indulge (ok every other day too) in a semi-sweet chocolate cookie which was the size of a dinnerplate- a twelve inch dinnerplate.. and about as thick as War and Peace in large print paperback. Now, and I'm assuming it's due to the recession and the fact that I haven't been back for a few years, I got a cookie, just to reminisce the good old days.. I was magnanimously going to share it with my vegetarian friend (since I ate all her pulled pork from samurai noodle - across the street) when I noticed that the size of said cookie shrank to about a fourth of its size - height and width. UGG!!! One each please. At least the recipe is still the same. Bring back the dinnerplate sized ones!!

    (3)

  • Sasha S.

    Specialty's is my favorite lunch place in Seattle. I eat at Specialty's (not necessarily this location) several times a week, typically. It is very good - the sandwiches are really the reason I go, and I think they taste very good. I usually do not get the desserts/treats/cookies, but they are good too, the few times that I had them. The best part is, of course, the online ordering. You can order online, come in, and your order will be there on the shelf. It's the most convenient ordering system I have seen.

    (5)

  • Betsey S.

    Great breakfast sammies and little crustless quiches for workday breakfasts. If I need a cookie fix, Specialty's is where I go. They put Starbucks' cookies to SHAME. I don't like that they took the small sized salad off their menu. The big ones are like 8-stinkin-50, and sized so that even a veg head like myself has to make two meals of it. Also they need more vegetarian proteins on their salads - all they have is like super meat salads or the vegan one with no protein on it except seeds. What's wrong with beans, Specialty's? Not fancy enough for you??

    (3)

  • Vincent K.

    I came back here for a saldd and it came with a lot and was damnnnn good. Cobb salad with avocado, peppers, blue cheese, bacon, spinach, and lettuce with some cherry tomatos. and the piece of focattia bread that came with it was really goood and soft too. Gotta love cheap and big! omg, had it for lunch and couldn't finish it, saved some for dinner.

    (5)

  • Jk L.

    i'm very glad that i finally went in after all those years of driving by this place every morning. tried the roasted turkey sandwich, and it was the best turkey sandwich i have ever had. how the heck do they make the bread taste this good? i'm gonna: get some sliced breads. try some other sandwiches and baked goods. on the other hand, i really hated how much they made me wait - 20 minutes for one basic sandwich, and the place wasn't even busy at all. also the parking situation is horrible as this place is right in the middle of downtown - parking hellhole, but i can't blame them for this. maybe next time, i'll order online and then walk 10 blocks from my work :)

    (4)

  • Kathleen H.

    I find myself drawn to this place for lunch every week. Perhaps there is something addictive in the baked items. Perhaps I cannot get enough of the organic greens, goat cheese and strawberry salad- and that says a lot for a carnivore like me who usually avoids salads. Yes, it is crazy during the lunch rush. If you are in a hurry, get a soup and a cookie. If you stop in for a breakfast sandwich, note that they are quite large so be prepared!

    (5)

  • Heather F.

    Quick and friendly service. Yummy fresh food. I usually hit this place up a couple times a week. Great that you can order ahead and when you get there your order is ready.

    (4)

  • Kimber R.

    This review is for the salad only. Today I decided to run into Specialty's and try to order something healthy. The soup selection was a chicken soup or a cream of mushroom. Pass. The sandwiches are good but the bread is so thick and they only offer one vegetarian option. Pass. So I ordered the Vegan Cobb salad to be safe. Let me tell you what a letdown it was. For over $7.00 it was full of some kind of tumbleweed greens that are weird and stringy. That wasn't the worst part thought. The dressing was something that tasted like an off brand, store type of low calorie lite Italian. Yuck. I threw it away and learned my lesson: stick to the wonderful cookies!

    (2)

  • Bernadette E.

    Came here with a few co-workers for a "snack" one late morning... Holy big loaves of bread batman!! Super duper chocolaty hot cho-co-la-te for moi... YUM!! Wild blueberry scone... not just any blueberry people, this is WILD!!! RAWR!!! Great place to stop in for any kind of baked good or just to grab a nice warm drink on a not so warm day. Great workers... they look like they really enjoy working there... kudos to them!! : )

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    Specialty is a good bakery, but not great. Great bakeries like Dahlia or Macrina can take ingredients that you don't really like and turn-out a product that you love...basically everything they make you're going to love. Specialty, however, is very hit-or-miss. I find that food I like in general, I like Specialty's version of it, but I can't just randomly select something from the menu and count on enjoying it.

    (3)

  • Andrea J.

    Great place to go for breakfast or lunch. I've had quite a few of the sandwiches--tuna is especially good. The salads are tasty and crisp. For breakfast, you can't really go wrong with egg and bacon and croissant. I've had a few cookies that have been burnt, but usually they're fresh, warm, and gooey. The pumpkin muffins are my favorite. The cinnamon rolls aren't really anything to write home about. Often, my orders are messed up, and it can be a long wait, but the botched orders are usually fixed and the wait really isn't so bad.

    (4)

  • Gustavo L.

    Mediterranean Sandwich was awesome. Great focaccia bread and the ingredients were fresh. I'll definitely return. By the way the sandwich is big enough to share.

    (5)

  • Shari d.

    When I first came here I was in awe of the selection of items to choose from. Whether you are in the mood for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (provided that you like to eat breakfast or lunch for dinner) they have it all. They have a variety of baked goods...muffins, cookies, breads - all baked in house which creates a heavenly aroma when you walk in the door. They make delicious sandwiches to order and you can substitute anything you want with no hassle. Their breakfast sandwiches are large and they have a hint of garlic to them which I LOVE. They open early and do not close until 6 pm which is perfect when I am at work late and need a quick, tasty, and inexpensive bite to eat for dinner.

    (4)

  • Tony E.

    Service was incredibly slow. Eggs are not real. Not a godo place to grab a QUICK breakfast..or even a slow one.

    (2)

  • Tyrannosaurus R.

    Their sandwiches are interesting and quite tasty. You can also order online and go pick it up when it's ready. Overall, quite a nice place for sandwiches.

    (4)

  • Z Z.

    This place is awesome! I was recently in Seattle for four days and ate at Specialty's twice. The food is so good! They have different kinds of soup, sandwiches, various bakery items, mini quiches, and salads. I am in love with the Mediterranean sandwich, it has mozzarella, tomato, spinach, olives, basil, and then two different kinds of pesto on it. It is normally on focaccia but the first time I got it they were out of it so I had it on a herb roll. To be honest, the focaccia was a bit too salty, I preferred the herb roll. I also had a cup of the lentil soup, which I loved. I also tried a mini quiche that was delicious. I just loved everything I tried from there. Awesome place! Oh, it is pretty crowded in there so be prepared for a wait!

    (5)

  • Mel G.

    Breakfast sandwiches here = yummmm.

    (4)

  • erica r.

    They get points for convenience....if you order online, you can pay with a credit card and then just pick up the bag on the rack (by the door) with your name on it, avoiding the ridiculous lines and wait. However....they need more variety and more customization on their menu. Their vegan choices suck...why not get some hummus? Then you could make a great vegan sandwich (on that delicious ciabatta bread) with some veggies.

    (3)

  • Sarah W.

    I see that many of the reviews cite slow service. I would like to propose that perhaps this issue has had a response and hiring has been accomplished. I ran in there today for a sandwich at approximately 1:00pm. Tuna $4.50! Beat that, ScrubWay (if it's not a Friday). I got in line behind about 10 people, anticipating a wait. Which turned out to be under 60 seconds. Once my order was placed, it was ready in about another 60 seconds. This is nice, but can be surprising if you're not expecting it. They are good about yelling your name really loud when your order is ready, which I would guess is due to people spacing out, not believing it can be done that fast. There are a good number of vegetarian options for sandwiches, but only one sandwich which is (possibly) vegan (I cannot testify as to the contents of the bread). Vegan chili was one of the soups today, but they don't make it a point to have a vegan soup every day. There is at least one vegan salad which is always on the menu. The vegetarian sandwiches do tend to have about a million ingredients, and are less cheap than the tuna (except for the possibly vegan peanut butter and stuff one). My sandwich was quite servicable. They bothered to season the tuna, the bread was good, and the veg was fresh. I'll go here again.

    (4)

  • Bus Driver I.

    Breakfast sandwich was good and hot.

    (4)

  • Deborah L.

    It took me too long to figure out the key to truly enjoying Specialty's is taking advantage of their online ordering system. I work across the street from the 5th and Union store, and while the food is great and in-person service consistently friendly, the lines are too much to bear sometimes. Their online portal allows you to load funds or pay as-you-go, schedule a pick-up time (say, if you're in meetings all day and need to schedule your lunch in the morning) or request ASAP and your lunch is ready in 15 minutes. By ready I mean you literally walk in the door and grab a lunch sack with your name printed on the front off the big rack as you enter. No waiting in line. Instant gratification. I have only received my lunch order late one time and that was due to some crazy person ordering lunch for what seemed like half of Amazon .com as a walk-in order. Don't do that. If I had one complaint for the 5th and Union store, it's that there is no clear flow to ordering/pick-up. People are usually standing around all over the lobby and it gets confusing trying to figure out who has ordered, who's waiting, where to stand, etc. Again, order online and you avoid this mess. Finally, no Specialty's review is complete without mentioning the Warm Cookie Alert. Yes, they will email you the second your favorite cookies come out of the oven! Four stars for Specialty's for having delicious food and being technically savvy.

    (4)

  • Hamakko N.

    Wow this place just blowed me away, the casher and staffs were very friendly and nice! I ordered the Turkey Cranberry Sandwich for my quick lunch on Thursday. The place was pretty packed during the lunch time so i could tell it must be a pretty decent place for office workers. So now the sandwich - oh god, the bread is very fresh and the balance of all the veggies and meat was perfect. I LOVE IT! I am definitely coming back for another sandwich.

    (4)

  • Paul F.

    Okay so this is a pretty good Specialty's, I'm not sure why, but I feel like the sandwiches here are better than the one in the UDistrict. Probably because I'm here at the height of lunch time so they're making them fast and furious and I haven't been treated to some 4 hour sitting around day old ham. That being said, I read below that some other people got hair in between their bread slices, so that's gross and a potential pitfall coming here. I've had bites of a few sandwiches, but mostly I've had club, turkeyish, hamish sandwiches. They've usually got a lot of green leaf lettuce and some particularly tasty mustard. Not too much mayo, and not too much meat. Again probably a downside for some others. I used to be a big carnivore but now I consume in smaller portions. If that's your thing, 1 part meat, 1 part everything else, you might not like this Specialty's as much as somewhere else. But I've been happy with my 5ish sandwiches I've had here, and the service has been quick for a short lunch hour. So thumbs up for that.

    (3)

  • Z Z.

    I'm not here to Yelp about sandwiches, bread, or even coffee. I'm here to talk about cookies. The cookies at Specialty's are worth saving yourself for. Be good all week. Say no to bagels, avoid the vending machine, pass up on any muffins or cheeseburgers that get in your space bubble for the next seven days. Eat salad with no dressing. Sip on miso. Drink herbal tea and go for a daily walk. And then on Sunday, blow it all to hell on a bag full of warm, crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside Specialty's cookies. The ginger molasses are big and heavy, spicy and chewy, not flat and thin like most, but wide and tall in comparison. The black and white are heavenly and moist, fudgy and rich. The almond tea cookies are aromatic and satisfying, like an almond-studded flaky shortbread. I will always find it worth it to eat healthy and deprive myself of the little, forgettable things for a heavenly binge on something wonderful. Isn't that what life is all about?

    (5)

  • Ari Y.

    The food would get at least 4 stars, but the service is terrible. Not only is there a long wait, there is no configuration as to where to line up, and people cluster around the door, making ingress and egress difficult. The people working there are unfriendly and snide. What a shame, since the food is excellent and reasonably priced. I don't have access to a computer to pre-order. I am a senior who wants to sit down and eat there, but rarely is there a table available. I like their clam chowder (not served every day) and their turkey sandwich (real roasted turkey), and the cookies are heavenly, albeit grossly over-priced. But I am among several people each morning who would like to get a bagel - something they don't have. How hard would it be to carry bagels since they are oft requested?

    (3)

  • Erin M.

    My husband and I went to Specialty's on Sunday for breakfast and the C team was definitely working. I ordered a Southwest breakfast sandwich, medium oatmeal and two small coffees. It took me about five minutes to order this not counting waiting in line time. When I asked what kind of toppings they had for oatmeal you would have thought I was asking for the square root of pi. There are only four it shouldn't take more than 15 seconds to tell me what they are. I paid and then the guy asked me if I wanted my receipt I said no and just stared at him, after about 20 seconds he asked what I wanted and I said the coffee cups. He then had to contemplate what size I ordered and finally gave them to me.. I got my oatmeal quickly, but we had to wait 15 minutes for my husband's sandwich so we didn't even get to eat together because my husband didn't want my oatmeal to get cold. We definitely won't be going back to Specialty's any time soon.

    (1)

  • Martine W.

    The best day of my life was the one where Paula R. showed up at my work with hot Specialty's cookies. And then it got better when she introduced me to the store. I'm about to one-up her here and say that pre-ordering your sandwich and cookies online ( specialtysdirect.com ) is the jam. You pick out everything you want, from soup to nuts, and then pay with your credit card. They tell you to the minute when it will be ready. You swoop out of your office like an Avenger of Deliciousness and pick it up. Swoop past all those people in line because all you need to do is tell your first and last name to the nearest helpful flour-covered person and they give you your own brown paper sack heavy with warm delicious goodies. (As an addendum to this review, I'm going to review a gym. Just as soon as I'm done with this cookie...)

    (5)

  • Stephanie K.

    The chai tea latter was incredibly watery and the vegan salad I had was gritty. I walked out and left over 3/4 of the salad on the plate. What a waste, since it seems like a cute place.

    (2)

  • Meredith K.

    I can't get enough of their peanut butter cookies. They weigh about a quarter pound and are baked on-site and are sooo good. The sandwiches are fine, but the bread-to-fillings ratio is off. They use their own bread, which is nice, but it is not substantial enough for all the stuff they pack inside. I prefer to order a salad, choke it down with little or no dressing, then finish off my meal with the peanut butter cookie. Maybe next time I'll quit faking like I'm eating a "healthy" lunch and just have the lone peanut butter cookie. Nothing wrong with that. Peanuts have protein, right?

    (4)

  • Elizabeth C.

    I ordered a "Hot Roasted Veggie Sandwich." What I got was lukewarm roasted vegetables and grassy-tasting spinach mashed into an indiscriminate lump and haphazardly slopped onto weak bread that couldn't support the weight of the sandwich. Rather than being spread on said bread, the goat cheese was just a glob placed in the center where it was sliced, so it fell out when I picked up half of the sandwich. All in all, it was a flavorless, textureless travesty of a sandwich. The most mediocre thing I've eaten in a long while. If I had known what I was getting, I would have gone to The Other Coast or Macrina Bakery.

    (2)

  • Ryan C.

    This is 2.5. They have self-serve water, which is nice. The pastires are too sweet. And all the sandwiches come on this slightly sweet, flimsy bread. If it wasn't for the horrible bread, This would be 4 stars. Try the vegetarian sandwich!

    (2)

  • Cascade C.

    This review is for their lunchtime sandwiches. I'm working in this area of downtown these days so I take lunch in the Columbia Tower most days for convenience's sake, and I've been to Specialties twice now. Last week I had their beef and cheese hot sandwich, and today I had their Italian hot sandwich. The overall quality of the ingredients and preparation is absolutely fine, especially considering that these sandwiches are put together in assembly-line fashion by a bunch of people in the back, owing to the long lines at lunchtime. I have to limit this review to three stars because, although the sandwiches are quite good, they are also an unholy mess to eat. My beef sandwich came out not quite sliced in half -- the bottom slice of bread wasn't cut entirely through, which required me to rip it apart, which resulted in my picking up food with my hands. Today, the sandwich came on foccacia and again, although delicious, and this time cut entirely through, the bread leaked sloppy ingredients all over the place. In short, it was impossible to take a clean bite without making a mess, and to me the whole point of eating a sandwich is that I don't need a knife, fork, bib, and three napkins to eat. Get a hot sandwich here if you have time to sit down and eat it with a fork and knife, but don't count on them for a good grab-and-go option. Perhaps their cold sandwiches are better suited to that. In any event, the staff are very friendly and considering the place is consistently busy, they're obviously doing something right.

    (3)

  • Esther Y.

    GREAT breakfast sandwiches. I got an egg sandwich and it's on ciabatta bread that is the perfect texture. YUM!

    (5)

  • Phoenix mi m.

    I love this place!!! Yummy sandwiches!!! I enjoyed eating BBQ chicken with the coleslaw! Turkey + Cranberry is good too but my favorite is the Hot Alby! I so LOVE the Hot Alby!

    (5)

  • Kim O.

    i love specialtys. i am taking off one star because of the price ($12 for a sandwich, cookie and a drink???? c'mon people). but i love the turkey and cranberry sandwich or the chairman (turkey, avacado, etc). the fresh baked cookies are super soft and crumbly. i am in love! i have to force myself not to eat here if i am in the nearby vicinity -- i could literally eat here everyday.

    (4)

  • Shannon B.

    This place is awesome! The double fudge brownie was phenomenal. The semi sweet chocolate ship cookies are easily an inch thick. The peanut butter cookies are more like a block they are so big. Excellent prices, lots of choices and great location. Definitely recommend this place to locals and visitors.

    (5)

  • Paul F.

    Specialty's isn't anything special, but they have killer croissants.

    (3)

  • Annie B.

    They are a bit over-priced and I go here from time to time but not all the time. Their sandwiches are fresh and are a pretty decent size portion. Soups are pretty pricey for "basic" soups. However, their cookies are fresh and nice and fluffy. You get the best deals on the Day Old rack which is always at the bottom of their baked goods case. Definitely come here if you're looking for a nice cookie treat.

    (4)

  • Denice M.

    Who doesn't love a great sandwich? If you do, give this place a whirl. Fantastic sandwiches on very fresh baked bread. Their soups do not look as appealing, but the sandwiches are worth it--traditional and not so traditional choices, and quite a few vegetarian options as well. Four stars because it is SO crowded at lunch (which is a good sign, right?), but the staff do a decent job in getting you in and out.

    (4)

  • jacob B.

    Turkey cranberries and sprouts. Amazzing cookies. Order online and pay with a card and it's waiting in a bag for you. SOOOOOOOOOOO good. Staff is quirky and friendly and patient. always a line during lunch. Awesome soups. I love this place and go three times a week.

    (5)

  • Jen G.

    Weak coffee, poor service, ham & cheese croissants taste like cheese whiz

    (1)

  • Andrew D.

    My co-worker, Jessica H., just beat me to the punch, but I second all of her comments. The peanut butter, cranberry sauce, banana, and green apple sandwich was to die for! Who knew that those ingredients would blend so nicely? I just realized . . . Jessica didn't try Specialty's's(?) cookies. They were so good, especially the chocolate chocolate chip. Perfect consistency and great chocolate. At the end of the night, if I remember correctly, you get a pretty good discount on the cookies since they won't be fresh the next morning. I really can't say enough good things about Specialty's. I was lucky enough to be there on an expense account, but the prices weren't bad anyway. At least not when compared to Los Angeles.

    (5)

  • Erin W.

    Specialties makes the *perfect* chocolate chip cookie. You want milk chocolate chips? They have that. You want semi-sweet? They have that too. You'd rather have peanut butter cookie with chocolate chips? They don't disappoint. Buttery, soft, flavorful... I'm almost drooling just thinking about it. Oh yeah, and the sandwiches are great too.

    (5)

  • Mike L.

    Enjoyed a lunch there. Very fast and "interesting" services. Food is good and tasty. For a short lunch, this is definitely a good place to go in downtown Seattle.

    (4)

  • Sean C.

    GREAT sandwiches (try the Hot Cheesy) and soups (amazing Summer Squash soup), but the best part is the desserts.

    (4)

  • Jacqueline E.

    I have stop in 3 times and pretty much every time has been ok. Their coffee is decent and everyone there is pleasant. I love how every time I am in people seem happy and the food is fresh. There isn't anything in particular to rant or rave about. I do have to say a strange man walked in today ranting about "Let them Eat Cake" and a lady who worked there seemed to go on talking about it forever to her coworkers, but with me and my husband she just said what can i get you ok ok ok. and that was all. wish we got as much attention as the crazies.

    (3)

  • Geetika A.

    these stars are only for the cookies, i didnt eat anything else. i love cookies, but im almost always disappointed with purchased cookies, because my love for cookies (which while intense) is restricted solely to soft cookies, pippin hot, with chocolate chunks instead of chips, a combo that is difficult to find. anyways, aside from loving cookies, im very poor at making decisions, so i got three cookies: pb chocolate chip, semi sweet chocolate chip, and the oatmeal wheatgerm chocolate chip. and i was pleasantly suprised. they were all pipping hot, so of course, i had to eat all 3 right then. the oatmeal pretty much OWNED the other two. i mean they were also soft and delicious, but the oatmeal OWNED.

    (5)

  • Josh B.

    Delicous baked goods, sandwichs, salads, and soups. Great place for lunch or breakfast. Some favorites: dense cookies, ham and cheese croosaint, cobb sandwich, and other healthy vegetarian options. Found this small chain in San Francisco a few years ago and really happy to have found them in Seattle. I see this turning into a nationwide chain.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    It's a great place to get a fairly healthy sandwitch. I love the Chairman.

    (4)

  • Erica W.

    warm.cookie.alert...that is all

    (5)

  • Paula R.

    A friend introduced me to Specialty's a few weeks ago, and I'm trying to understand how I lived my life before knowing of their warm and gooey and delicious cookies. Even though the ordering process is slightly chaotic (know what you want and speak clearly!) it's worth waiting amidst the zoo of suits for their thick sandwiches made on fresh baked bread with crisp veggies. And save that semi-sweet chocolate chip cookie for when you get back to the office! It'll help whisk you out of your gloomy cube and into delicious cookie land ;)

    (5)

  • David W.

    Unfortunately, this location seems to be the wicked step sister to the 3rd street location only blocks away. From the moment we walked in, things seem discombobulated; from the appearance of the baked goods in the display case, to the frenzied mood of the counter help, to the messy floor. My trip to the bathroom made things worse; toilet paper strewn all over a room which obviously had not been cleaned in quite a few hours. My friend and I got our sandwiches and sat down at one of a couple empty dirty tables, and ate sandwiches that were actually quite good. Unfortunately, the cookies did not live up to those we have had at the 3rd Ave. location. If this place could clean up it's act (literally) and find bakers as good as they have at 3rd Ave., things would be looking more optimistic.

    (2)

  • Kerry R.

    Seriously the best cookies ever! The wheat germ oatmeal raisin one even sounds healthy so you can tell mom you had fruit AND fiber for dessert. (Note: It probably isn't - it's too good!). And who said tea cookies where for old ladies in matronly suits, those powdered-sugar delights are almondy goodness. I might have to get on a plane and fly back to Seattle tonight!

    (5)

  • Phil S.

    This place needs to open a restaurant closer to ma home, I love their sandwiches especially the ones made with croissant. This is our 2nd time there and I love their service. You order at the counter from the extensive menu, from extensive I mean if you can imagine the sandwich in your mind, order it and they will make it for you. The ingredients were so fresh and they take your order with a smile. So on Sunday morning, we strolled down from our hotel and ordered a tuna sandwich on croissant and the breakfast sandwich and OMG OMG, it was so delicious! The breakfast sandwich was piping hot, the croissant nicely grilled with marks to prove and stuffed with fresh eggs + peppers + veges and we shared their tuna special, it was the best tuna sandwich and I normally don't care for tuna unless its raw and there's soy sauce in a dish nearby. I don't eat sandwiches often unless I'm on the run but trust me, if Speciality's open one at home, I'm hopping on the sandwich wagon.

    (4)

  • Marta L.

    Huge fan - no question. It started with the oatmeal wheat germ chocolate chip cookie (don't get excited about the health benefits - it tastes like it's got half a stick of butter in it). I moved on to the yogurt blueberry muffins - lowfat AND delicious. Then I had their version of a PB &J: thinly sliced granny smith apple, sliced banana, cranberry chutney and peanut butter on house made bread. To die for! Calories abound, but nearly every one is worth it when it tastes this good. If I had the money, I'd buy a franchise! Just remember, closes at five and closed all weekend. =(

    (5)

  • Tyler K.

    The sandwhich I had was ok. The cake that I had was amazing.

    (4)

  • Robby T.

    Now w/ free WiFi!....Opening in 4 days. Come in & tell them you know me, and they'll only charge you $1.65 for the tastiest, freshest cookie of your life.

    (5)

  • Amy H.

    This place has great egg breakfast sandwiches (which I'm telling myself art sort of healthy). I went back for lunch and got yummy vegan chili and a little roll for under 5 bucks! This place rocks!

    (4)

  • Abby H.

    Do you remember that episode of Seinfeld where Newman lost his job because Jerry did his route and too much mail got delivered? The rule is, you are only supposed to make sure that 50% of the mail gets delivered. Jerry was shooting at 80%. So, Newman's superiors immediately picked up on the job swapping and canned Newman's twaddling ass. Specialty's runs in the same manner. They have great workers, but there seems to be an understanding that you have to make some things just AWFUL - maybe to make the great parts about your restaurant just stand out and shine. Well, whatever the reasoning is, here are some tips on ordering TO GO from Specialty's - especially for large groups (offices, etc.): - They demand that you order online. The bad part about this is that they have EXTREMELY limited delivery, and they charge you up your specialty-craving wahoozle for it. So, don't get it delivered. Do pick-up. -Make sure that they actually have everything in the store that is on the online menu. I ran into a lot of problems with discrepancies before. - Besides, ordering online takes FOREVER. And once you get the order in, they'll make you wait up to TWO HOURS for pick-up. So, unless you order the day before (recommended), don't even think about doing it even an hour before the last minute. - But they have really amazing graphics and a well-put-together site. - They get really pissed if you go into the store and do a huge order. However, the people doing the sandwiches are REALLY quick (at least, at the one of 5th Avenue they are). - Like most sandwich places (and the mail carrying system), they will mess your order up. But they are very amenable to free food and refunds for the sandwiches they are bound to forget or mess up. - The food is great, though: Fresh ingredients and a variety of local-made breads, breakfast items, quick service, coffee, and soup. Recommendations: Peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies Peanut butter n stuff sandwich (apples, cranberries, bananas, myum!) Pesto chicken sandwich Daily selection of soups I gave stars only for the quality of the food and the manager, Justin, who was really great at working with people and solving problems. -

    (3)

  • Camille K.

    What a way to cap my Seattle experience! Specialty Coffee bakes a delicious miniature chocolate bundt cake. Lattes are superb. I had great conversation with a young mother and her darling son. I would definitely brunch here if I lived or worked in downtown Seattle.

    (5)

  • Jennifer F.

    Specialty's is a must do for day-old cookies! White chocolate and macademia, peanut butter, milk chocolate chip - they are as yummy as you remember homemade cookies being from childhood. The cookies are obviously better (if that is even possible) when they are fresh, but the price tag at $1 for day old is light on the wallet. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • K K.

    Best cookies ever.

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    Now...here's the thing about Specialty's. They have a pretty good menu size, but if you want to know what is in your sandwich, pick up the detailed menu on the counter. Also...they aren't the fastest. You can watch them make your sandwich, and in some cases it can be an unfortunate experience when you see that the bbq sandwich you just ordered is really just a plate of chicken, cheese, and bacon microwaved and then slaped on some bread. That said...I've eaten here a lot while in Seattle. It's convenient, the prices are good, and the staff is friendly. What you're going to eat is probably going to be just okay, but it won't be bad and you can't have a foodgasm for every meal...it's just not healthy ya'll. So I'll keep going here but it's totally a 3 star place.

    (3)

  • Heather K.

    I have always enjoyed the baked goods at Specialty's. Today, I tried something from the lunch menu and I was pleasantly surprised! The BBQ Chicken sandwich does not disappoint. Smokey, spicy, with an added crunch of coleslaw. This is not a dainty sandwich. Be sure to have extra napkins on hand.

    (4)

  • Anna W.

    All I ever heard about this place (from my college kid peers, anyway) was that the sandwiches were too expensive. Indeed, at an average of $6 for a sandwich, why not just walk a couple of blocks down to Subway? I answered that question when I finally caved and bought a cranberry turkey sandwich for lunch one day. The bakery scents I pass on my way to work every day don't lie -- the bread was amazing. The meat was overflowing and all the trimmings were there. Not only that, but this thing was so huge and plentiful that it kept me full well until dinner. $6 well spent.

    (4)

  • Janet T.

    Specialty's FRESH baked cookies are the best especially the chocolate chip cookies! I don't care if I'm consuming 1000 + calories a cookie. They're so worth it! I miss living in Seattle because I used to frequent this bakery every day since it was located a few blocks from work.

    (4)

  • krisztina g.

    The danishes are to die for.. its heaven in your mouth. I like the cream cheese and peach one the best. The sugar cookies are also really great. Very worth it!

    (4)

  • Rene A.

    Best cookies in Seattle and the sandwiches are the best you can find. It can get crowded for lunch so is best to order ahead on the phone or the internet.

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    Pastries seem to always be burned on the bottoms since they've opened. Check that oven temp! A nice addition to this area of downtown, but their hours are business day. Better choices only a block or two away, maybe once their pastries are done correctly I'll come back. Until then, keep walking.

    (2)

  • Naoko S.

    Their croissant disappointed me... :( I could cry,,,it looked so good...!? It was big and hard. It was lunch time and they were busy,,,so WHY?? the sandwich was fine. I might write again for their cookies since everyone says it's good,,. and I love cookies.

    (3)

  • Becky R.

    I'm lucky, I can walk to this place, although I use a lot of the calories in the rich foods I'll eat when I get there by walking up the hill to 3rd and of course talking about how good it is. I get the ham and cheese or plain croissants when they are warm (OMG!!) because they make me drool. I also enjoy their sandwiches and the occasional beverage from the beverage cooler. Have I mentioned that I would be in heaven if I could eat just their warm croissants for the rest of my life? I might die, but I'd already be where I'm going...heaven. YUMMY!

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    I have been a fan of Specialty's on Third for years. Then a new one opened on Union, closer to my office. Every time I've been there, they've gotten my order wrong. My friend waited 30 minutes for a salad! I even got back to the office to discover my BLT was in fact some sort of egg & meat breakfast sandwich! I e-mailed a complaint through their corporate website. I got a response after several days - and then never got another word. The response asked me exactly what I ordered, and what was wrong. I never heard from her again!!! Oh - and one of the kitchen staff was on break last time I ate in - he was filthy, and kept rubbing his face, and picking his zits. I sure hope he washed before making more cookies! barf!

    (2)

  • Kyle B.

    Delicious desserts, sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, friendly service... what's not to love? I wish they had some more convenient locations, but this is a perfect choice when strolling around the downtown area.

    (5)

  • Shannon H.

    Superfantastico! What more can I say? This great bakery & cafe temps the nose and brings it all home with it's wonderful fresh baked goods. Not only are the sweet breads/pastries and cookies excellent. Think Scone meets Chocolate Chip Cookie, but moist, not dry. A heavenly breakfast of Ham & Cheese Croissant is an mouthwatering way to say hello to morning. Lunch - wonderful too: even the vegetarian sandwich seems sinfully delicious, so many layers of flavor and texture, you will never miss that there isn't any meat. I could go on... but I think you ought to try it for yourself. :-)

    (5)

  • Ben M.

    Sorry to interrupt the love-fest here but the service at this place is terrible and the interior isn't kept very clean. The last time I got breakfast at Specialty's there was a pool of standing water on my table and the cashier at the counter seemed to tune out several times while I was ordering and I had to repeat my order twice. I will concede that the food is pretty good and the prices are fair but let's be honest, it is pretty difficult to screw up croissants and cookies.

    (3)

  • Matthew H.

    Ok Specialty's, you know what you do to me. With that said, I am only going to do a review on their cookies, maybe a review of the sandwiches later, but since I'm eating your snicker-doodle right now I'm going to let the masses in on a little secret. Best cookies in Town. There, I said it. Something about their cookies make me want to make cookie sandwiches and skip everything else. If you can do something as simple as cookies, this well, then you should have no problem making me an egg salad sammich.

    (5)

  • Becky G.

    I love Specialty's Cafe & Bakery. I have slowly been introducing it to all my friends and we all love it. I think they have great coffee and sinful pastries that I try to avoid because I know how delicious they are. I had a orange sweet roll that was great. My favorite sandwich is The Sicilian, which upon order, I always attempt to add extra syllables. But then that doesn't have anything to do with the sandwich, rather my own lack mispronunciations. Any way this is a great sandwich! The sandwich is full of veggies, meats and flavor. Yum. And the bread has large bits of salt on top that always rub the roof of my mouth raw, but it's worth it. And they are big too, so you can eat half now and save the other half for later, or share with a friend! You can even call in your order ahead of time, so you don't have to wait in line. There is almost always a line. Or order online!

    (5)

  • Marnie C.

    Specialty's makes a peanut-butter chocolate chip cookie so good it makes me want to cry (in a good way). Especially if I can get one right after they've pulled them from the oven. Having a bad day? Go to Specialty's, get a cookie. Really, you deserve it. (The sandwiches on fresh baked bread are also pretty darned tasty, even for a non-sandwich girl like myself. But really, it's all about the cookies.)

    (5)

  • Chrissi K.

    Meh. My office orders from Specialty's all the time and I'm not the biggest fan. I'll still eat it, don't get me wrong... But half the time I end up pulling the crust off my sandwich because it's too hard to eat, get a tummy ache afterwards, or they get my order wrong. The other half, it's just okay. And everyone raves about their cookies... I don't get it! They're big hard lumps you have to gum for awhile before you can eat! But I do love their website/ordering process. The little graphics for all the foods when you add and subtract from a sandwich are pretty awesome. The delivery guy is never late, though I will never go inside the place again. Tried to walk there for lunch one day and it took me a half an hour just to get my food!

    (3)

  • Urban L.

    Great place to grab a vegetarian sandwich or soup for lunch. It's very popular, so plan on a 10 minute wait after ordering. Caprese sandwich will win you over, just try not to think about the calories or fat content. Don't forget: day-old bakery items are a good $ deal.

    (4)

  • Bryan M.

    Awesome sandwiches, including a pile of clearly marked vegetarian options. All of these options are cheesy, and I don't even bother asking about the vegan-ness of the bread. But speaking of the bread, it's great. I had the 'Tomato Mozzarella' and loved it. The line was out the door when I showed up at ~1pm, but I still had my sandwich within ten minutes of getting there. Just line up, order, and hang out and they'll call your name when it's ready. Definitely going to be a regular lunch spot. Also, points for spelling my name right. I know it's spelled it the "west coast way", and maybe they just pulled it off the credit card, but they did ask. so yay.

    (5)

  • Amy B.

    I have yet to find anything at Specialty's that I don't adore. The chocolate chip cookies is pretty much the best thing I've ever had - sweet, gooey, chocolate yummyness!!! Chocolate love! They have choice of the type of chocolate that you might want; semi-sweet, milk, white, etc... The sandwiches, soups, and salads are also amazing. The sandwiches are always freshly made and full of organic-y ingredients on some of the best bread around. The Seattle store has lots of cozy tables and fun places to sit during your lunch break. The staff are kind and kind of funky is a hip Seattle way. The Bellevue franchise is located in the heart of the Bellevue Square Mall and is always busstling. Its a great place to people watch and hang out during your mall-experience.

    (5)

  • Christy A.

    I'm so torn about this place. I've said multiple times that I'm never going back, but I eventually find myself back in line. It's hit-or-miss: they'll either sell you the best cinnamon roll ever, or they will sell you a cinnamon roll with no sugar in the icing because they forgot to add it to the last batch. It's so close to work that I keep crossing my fingers and hoping for a good day. At least the cookies are consistently great.

    (2)

  • Christine C.

    If you are getting your lunch at peak lunchtimes, ordering online is the ONLY way to go! However, even if you are ordering online, make sure you do it earlier in the day b/c there will still be a wait time for you to pick up your order if they're in lunch rush. I usually do my online order around 10:30-11:00 so I can pick up w/in 15-30 minutes of placing the order. That way, all you have to do is go inside to the priority pick up station, grab your bag and go! LOVE IT! I'm a redhead and don't have much patience...

    (3)

  • William M.

    Great roast beef sandwich! The clam chowder is not my favorite-too many potatoes. Also, service could be slightly quicker but the sandwich was worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Alice C.

    The latte I got here was so terrible I wanted to cry for the 3.40 I spent on it that I will never get back... i was crying over its spilled, scalded ugliness as the hot milk burned-ness seeped through the cardboard cup and into the oblivion that is coffee hell... Their croissants are damned diggity, though. But tea and croissants, in my book, just dont fly.

    (2)

  • Jean K.

    Ok, so I've been in here several times and about half the people handling food DO NOT WEAR GLOVES. I recently had to pick up boxed lunches for a work lunch, they were late so I had to wait, and due to their "open kitchen" concept I could see 2 out of the 4 or 5 people working without any gloves. One girl brushed her clearly dirty hair with her fingers for several minutes in the bakery area where the fresh dough is and walked away to wash her hands for two seconds before handling the fresh dough WITH NO GLOVES. As most people know, food poisoning does not most often come from soiled food but rather dirty hands and fecal to mouth contamination. Totally fucking disgusting. The sad part was this was not the first time I saw this...I would give zero stars if I could. Never going back.

    (1)

  • Necia D.

    Yikes. I hope the meat in my reuben sandwich was ultra politically correct, because it tasted so Amish, there has to be some "making the world better one slice at a time" excuse for it. It tasted less assertive than the bread (and the bread is fine--which is the only reason this isn't getting two stars). The Spanish have a saying which translates roughly to "The bread's never all that hard when you're hungry." Well, true...in a way...because, having skipped breakfast, I was indeed very, very hungry. And it must be said the bread was beyond reproach. But that listless meat had totally given up. If it were a human it would be shopping in pajamas. If all meat tasted like that, cows and pigs might be extinct. It was processed and forlorn, like Carl Buddig lunch meat. And since when does Thousand Island dressing have no flavor? Not saying I love that flavor, but in times of scarcity, you'll take whatever taste you can get. If mayo and ketchup sloshed together don't at least give you a strong, predictable sweet-and-tangy blast it makes you think your tongue is broken. Hmm. Maybe it's a glitch in the Matrix. Or maybe the reuben here is...kind of suck.

    (3)

  • Ben F.

    It's ok, I like that they serve Intelligence coffee, soup is good when they have it... they often run out over their busy lunch hours which I don't think is good planning on managements part...

    (3)

  • Niloo S.

    Good coffee good sandwiches and cookies, have one in Cali too. A good place on your way to work or during your lunch break.

    (3)

  • Palmer H.

    Best sandwiches in Seattle... Period. Great cookies too.

    (5)

  • Conrad C.

    This is like a nicer version of Panera - good sandwiches and soups (and presumably salads). The bread really stood out to me - it was high quality. Wifey and I split the chicken salad sandwich and the tomato & gnocchi soup. The soup was pretty good. I tried the Southwestern chicken too and that was also good. The sandwich was nice - it had some cranberry relish on it that paired well with the chicken salad. This is a pretty reliable place for lunch.

    (3)

  • Julian H.

    Note that everybody who raves, raves about the pastries. But man cannot live by baked goods alone. I have long been "meh" on Specialty's: meh sandwiches, meh soup, meh prices, meh (slow) service, and meh seating at this location. A decent breakfast sandwich cannot make up for all this meh. However, I'm happy to report that even I have now found something to rave about: the salads. For $8 you get a gigantic Cobb with fresh avocado, bacon, and other goodies. It didn't take forever to make, and they will toss the dressing at your request.

    (3)

  • Kellie C.

    Had their catered food at a conference and I wasn't impressed.

    (2)

  • S. Alicia S.

    Specialty's swanky little spot grabbed my attention on my way to Sprint-Nextel. So I decided to enjoy lunch there. The Grilled Veggie Sandwich was actually goat cheese, caponata and baby spinach between a super-soft multi-grain bread. It looked horrible. But the flavors were quite explosive and comforting at the same time. Specialty's is not an ultimate foodie experience, however, still highly recommended. The baked goods looked heavenly. And they have great customer service too!

    (4)

  • Razzle Y.

    This chain makes me happy. So happy. Gigantic sandwiches, hearty salads, yummy cinnamon rolls. I'm going to be very fat with these close to the office. Whatever you do, don't look at the nutritional value for anything they serve, especially not the cookies as big as your head.

    (4)

  • Eloise M.

    This place is so classy. I feel like I'm eating at Pret-A-Manger (a trendy, awesome sandwich place like Specialty's in NYC) whenever I come here. Okay, maybe it's not that classy, but it's still pretty cool. The food here is so delicious; I had a chicken noodle soup, which was quite good. This place does get busy with the lunch crowd, but still manages to serve everyone in a timely manner. Seating is limited inside as well, so be prepared to take your food to go if need be. You honestly can't go wrong with any of their soups/sandwiches, and it's a great place to go with a friend and grab a quick (but classy) lunch.

    (4)

  • Sparkely K.

    If I'm going to gain five pounds on vacation I'm going to do it right!!! Within just a few blocks of my hotel were TWO of these houses of cookies and treats and I was obligated to stop in a couple of times. Trip #1: freshly baked choco chip cookie. Seemed somewhat stale and dry. Trip #2: day old choco chip cookie. Seemed somewhat stale and dry. Service was fair. They couldn't seem to figure out who was next.

    (2)

  • Young B.

    I feel as though Specialty's is a opportunistic restaurant that remains in business because they're downtown. Even though they have some of the most disgusting food people downtown have a limited amount of time for lunch. They are banking on the fact that people will sacrifice quality for convenience. They also carry coffee and espresso in order to further their opportunistic business model. Please save yourself the stomach ache and go somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Sonya G.

    A lot of Specialty's offerings are tasty, but not terribly healthy... The staff tries really hard to be perky and are usually prompt. However, during a recent morning visit (outside of the breakfast rushhour), my coworker ordered oatmeal with a few toppings, which was clearly forgotten about because the guy who took the order wandered around behind the counter while we waited about 5 minutes for him to finally scoop it out of the tank. They do have some good sandwiches, but the coffee is pretty bad. Overall, a resounding meh. I'm between a 2 and a 3, but rounded up because I must keep going back for some reason.

    (3)

  • Sam T.

    Everything here is awesome, all homemade! Go for a meal or a snack, you can't lose! Some favorite items: Oatmeal Wheatgerm Chocolate Chip Cookie Ham and Cheese Croissant (ridiculously good) Carrot Raisin Bran Muffin Blueberry Scone Any of their soups Note- They get quite busy, plan for a few extra minutes...

    (4)

  • joanna T.

    I was here for breakfast. I had a hot egg sandwhich with egg and cheese. It was so yummy! My only thought is i wish i had known how big it was because i couldnt eat the whole thing. Each side is about the size of a egg mcmuffin. I also had a cinnamon roll. It was very tasty with plenty of frosting.

    (5)

  • Sam K.

    We are a fan of Specialty's Café & Bakery back in California and was hoping for same experience but it is a little different here. They are still serving the original Specialty's coffee and not Peet's coffee. The cafe is much smaller here in Seattle with limited indoor seating. When the line is long, it goes outside the cafe and so not safe to stand at the door while waiting for your turn to order the food.

    (3)

  • Amber B.

    I was critical of Specialty's at first. It seemed like a typical overpriced generic Cafe of downtown. But was pleasantly surprised when I had a vegetarian sandwich with more than enough ingredients for the expensive (but reasonable pill hill price) of $7. They also gave me extra of whatever I wanted. And it was so soo good. A welcome break from Subway. They also have espresso, soups, salads, and baked goods that look awesome.

    (4)

  • Cheryll L.

    Good atmosphere. Lives the open space and big windows. Was able to have a hot muffin straight from the oven. Good assortment of bakery delights. Coffee was good, not great, but good.

    (4)

  • Beth E.

    Low rating for long wait, even if you pre-order online. The first time I went, I reserved an order for 12:30, and upon arrival joined a large group of waiting people who also had food supposed to be ready at that time. Only had to wait 5 minutes, but that's a big chunk of time out of a 30-minute lunch break. I suggest showing up at least 10 minutes after your order is supposed to be ready or going to the 8th and Stewart location instead.

    (2)

  • Rebecca B.

    I am a baked goods snob. I love baked good and I know what is good quality. Man oh man is this good quality. Not only do they have an extensive menu full of amazing treats (nearly impossible to choose one) but all of their items are so fresh and delicious. It has been almost 2 years since I have visited this place (sadly I dont live in Seattle) but I honestly think about this place from time to time and drool over the amazing cinnamon roll and snickerdoodle that stole my heart.

    (5)

  • Hana P.

    Super fast and delicious Giant variety of sandwiches and cookies (yummmm) & pretty friendly staff that always encourages an added cookie, and I welcome that type of encouragement ;)

    (5)

  • Mark P.

    Staying in a hotel in downtown Seattle and all I want for breakfast is a good bowl of oatmeal and some decent coffee. Thank you Speciality's, tasty oatmeal for less than $8.00 a bow which the hotel across the street charges for a bowl of oatmeal. Nice atmosphere, free WiFi and friendly counter folks.

    (5)

  • Jamie J.

    Another downtown 12 O'clock weekday gathering station. That is not a bad thing though, my friends. Right when you need a break from the 5th ave. bustle, Specialties serves up the best dishes to hook you up! Everything I have ever tried is great. No matter why I'm downtown, I stop in. One time I stopped in before going to the DMV (they don't call them that in Seattle, but I'm from Chicago so I'm sticking with this Acronym). I knew I was about to be waiting for a good hour at least... why not grab a treat? Dessert midday is MY specialty. All their baked goods are awesome! Some of the best I've had. Cookies, little cakes, brownies, whatever it may be, I usually grab a few, why resist! Any chocolate lover would love this place. mhhmmm. All their soups, salads, and sandwiches are great. Light, fresh, but filling. I love that they have vegetarian and vegan options too, Thank you Seattle, and thank you Specialties. You'll have a wait mid-day, but they move people quickly. My kind of Eats...

    (5)

  • T J.

    Really the worst experience ever in a cafe/bakery in Seattle! Baked goods are mediocre, and the service is horrible. I went to Columbia Center shop in a morning and ordered an espresso drink. Three minutes later, I asked the girl at the counter I was still waiting for my drink. THEN she told me they were out of coffee and were "waiting for the manager to bring it". Well, how long should I wait for that? "Oh, I don't know." I just gave up and walked away, amazed there was no apology at all. I might have been spoiled too much by excellent cafes and their friendly stuffs in this city, but this place will not have my dime again.

    (1)

  • Teri S.

    I use to go to Specialty's Cafe in Bellevue all the time because it was convenient for me and I loved their Chinese Chicken Salad. To save time, I placed my order online and walked 10 blocks to pick it up. I was shocked when I did not see my food waiting for pick up area. I asked one of the employees and showed my confirmation number. To my surprised, I selected the wrong location. I felt so silly and annoyed I made the mistake myself. I was shocked when the employee told me they could change my order and have it transferred to their location and it would only take 10 minutes. about 5 minutes later, I hear someone calling my name. I walked over and the manager apologized for my mistake! I thought that was great customer service the fact they took care of me and apologized for the wait! Honestly the food is a little over priced for my taste to comes here often but the fact they took the time to assist me in a timely manner deserves 5 stars on Yelp!

    (5)

  • Willy M.

    Located at the corner of 5th & Union, its a few blocks or so walk for me. I come here once in a while when I dont feel like Starbucks or whatever. They have pretty good breakfast sandwiches to choose from, morning pastries and Im glad they serve Intelligentsia Coffee which is pretty good! Lunch sandwiches are available too with soup options, salads, different sides, fruit, chips and especially their delicious cookies! My office has gotten their boxed lunches before and its very convienient and perfect for working lunch meetings. They offer catering as well and will come to your office to set everything up for a nice spread. Their baked goods is pretty darn delicious and that's what keeps me coming back! Always freshly baked and a good selection to choose from. Staff has always been nice and effecient with getting through the morning & lunch rushes. One time they forgot my coffee order and offered me a free pastry for the long wait. Thanks and nice touch Specialty! Dining area inside is usually pretty tidy but if not, the staff is somewhat quick to clean up those messy people that have no house training. Pricing is on the higher side but not ridiculous. Overall, a pretty solid breakfast and lunch spot.

    (4)

  • Bethany Z.

    I did not taste the sandwich but some random orders.

    (4)

  • Brandon L.

    I have been to multiple Specialty's around the west coast and pretty much they are the same. I came to this one for a cookie and it was a delicious cookie. Got in, order, received, and got out fairly quick. Can't really rate the customer service since we didn't stay long but the cashier asked how we are doing and what we would like. They serve other items like sandwiches, soups, and salads. This place was near our hotel so we walked here. Not sure how parking is but maybe street parking is available.

    (3)

  • Claudine M.

    My go-to spot for salads during the week! I just finished scarfing down my nth spinach, berry, and goat cheese salad with raspberry walnut dressing, too. I feel so refreshed every time I eat this! Specialty's isn't a cheap joint. Large salads are $9.99, small ones are $7.99. A side of soup is $3, a regular is $4.99. They have a pretty decent variety of sandwiches, of which my favorites are the turkey cranberry and the turkey pesto. I can probably save more money and make everything I like here at home, but Specialty's makes their stuff really well. Fresh ingredients. And shall we talk about their cookies? They're colossal. They're in your face. They're INESCAPABLE. Online ordering is convenient, but you need to register an account. You would want to anyway because then you get rewards points. Baker's Dozen, baby! After 12 orders, you get credit for the average amount you spent on those 12 orders, and you can go treat yourself to another delicious Specialty's lunch! I have to say, however, that every time I pick up my food that I ordered online from this location, I'm pleasantly surprised. I just never expect it to be on the shelf. I mean -- how is it not stolen yet? This is Downtown Seattle, and staff members never look to see who's grabbing bags from the shelves. It gets crazy packed here during lunch hours as well. Three stars because of their imperfect record in fulfilling my online order specifications. They're not going to lose a customer in me, though. They're too solid and convenient!

    (3)

  • Dembe N.

    Love the chocolate almond cookies, would recommend to grab couple of them :) Pretty busy during the lunch hut if you'll pick up around 10AM or later around 2PM not much crowed.

    (4)

  • Ali D.

    Specialty's is definitely good. And maybe it's a product of me having Specialty's way too many times, but the breads, soups, sandwiches, all of it really, can begin to have that food court taste. Don't get me wrong, I think the turkey cranberry sandwich and the simple smoked ham are great sandwiches for a quick bite. What I appreciate is that they load them with fresh veggies which is always refreshing for lunch. I would recommend staying away from most of the specialty sandwiches (ironic, right?) as they get a little too crazy for my taste. So lesson learned: stick with the basics for a perfectly satisfying and expected experience.

    (2)

  • Mojdeh S.

    How I heard of this place: Years ago, when first meeting up with an old friend from elementary school, Sarah recommended Specialty's as the perfect lunch-time catch-up spot. Since then, it's become one of my favorite drop-in cafes downtown. Type of cuisine: A cafe with sandwiches, soups, salads and pastries, perfect for breakfast and lunch. Everything is homemade, hearty, and fresh. Ambiance: A downtown cafe at its best, with limited seating at wooden tables on wooden chairs, a walk up counter for ordering just beyond the tempting pastry case, lined with cookies, brownies, muffins, scones and more. An artful chalkboard menu depicting the specials and daily treats available. Very much catered toward the downtown lunch crowd, most patrons prefer the take-away options for fresh, delicious, large portions of food and sweet delicacies for the mid-afternoon slump. Friendly staff greet you as you enter the space and thank you for coming upon exiting. What I ordered: In the years since first trying Specialty's, I have had sandwhiches, soups and salads, not to mention several of their cookies. On this occasion, the rocky road brownie and the coconut brownie were extremely tempting...But the glorious smell of melted peanut butter won over. I purchased the thick peanut butter chocolate chunk cookie ($1.99) and my dining companion ordered her favorite, black & white cookie ($1.99). What I loved: Despite the warm, gooey, peanut butter and melted chocolate goodness in my freshly warmed cookie, I have to admit that my dining companion picked the winner! The chocolate cookie, with white chocolate chunks and walnuts...Delicious. Cost: Average ($2 per cookie)

    (4)

  • Joe C.

    Very tasty sausage breakfast sandwich. They serve Intelligentsia Coffees. Unfortunately, they're a little light on seating.

    (4)

  • Kimberly C.

    Ordered my lunch online yesterday which consisted of the chicken soup and the Chinese chicken salad. I had the soup yesterday and it was great. Saved the salad for today. When I opened up the lid, what I thought was chicken happened to be the wontons they add to the top. I checked the label they stuck to the salad (in pic). Yep. It said Chinese CHICKEN salad. There was not one piece of meat in the salad to be found. Extremely disappointed. Check your custom to go orders before you leave. Not cool

    (2)

  • Megan B.

    This place seemed really hectic for how few customers there were. From the moment we walked in the place was chaotic and the employees looked panicked. You never know what's happening behind the scenes - maybe their oven broke - but regardless, that stress should never be conveyed to the customer. We had never been here before, so when my husband ordered a coffee and wasn't given a cup or given any sort of directions that the coffee was self-serve, we were initially a little put-off. Our peach coffee cake was easily the best thing we ordered. We both also ordered the sausage and cheddar breakfast sandwiches but the bread came out heavily buttered, which was pretty gross considering the thing was already pretty greasy from the cheese and sausage.

    (3)

  • Dawn G.

    I used to like Specialty's and go every couple of weeks for either lunch or breakfast but then the prices creeped up and the quality/flavor started going down. So I slowly stopped going. Then this morning I thought I would pick up a simple breakfast (egg/bacon) sandwich and it was over $5 and gross. I didn't even eat half of it before tossing it! The flavor was super blah and I think they know this because the sandwich was covered in pepper to hide the non-flavor taste. Suddenly I remembered why I haven't been in a while and won't be going back. Overall, Specialty's is overpriced for food that is barely okay. Go to Starbucks, Potbelly, Jimmy John's or your local deli!

    (1)

  • Tim M.

    I went here on a work break and I ordered an iced vanilla latte, but she gave me a hot one. She was very apologetic and very quickly gave me a new one. But she forgot the vanilla, but I didn't realize it until I had returned to work. I had to wait until my lunch to return to get it replaced because it had NO flavor (I've never had a coffee with NO flavor... at all...) Another young lady made me a new one. She was very pleasant and apologetic. This one was better, but why does their espresso have no flavor? I had one of their sandwiches once, and it was good, but this was a very annoying experience. I also would like to mention that this was also one of the most expensive medium-sized coffees I've ever had. $4.48 for a flavorless espresso. I can't recommend a visit, but at least the workers there were nice. I might return for a sandwich, but definitely not the coffee.

    (2)

  • Ariana N.

    Came in on a Sunday for a quick late lunch before dinner, was close to our hotel. BLT was good, didn't eat it all, was told the turkey sandwich was good. The place was empty when we walked in, though. I was amazed that they had apple and peach Izze. Affordable, not bad

    (4)

  • Sabrina S.

    Hmm....I'm slightly dreading writing this review because I love specialtys. That being said, I've returned several items for being completely wrong (like today) or being completely being out of stuff before the lunch rush ends! Soup is one in particular, breads and baked goods is another. But maybe specialtys is one of those places that only prepares enough food to meet sales quota for the day (this particular one is always busy, so you'd think they'd order more...) so once they run out, nothing else matters? I hope that's not the case since it's so popular, but more than one occasion this has happened to me, so maybe I've worn out my welcome. I will probably be back, I just don't know when that will be.

    (3)

  • Alyx F.

    Ok, so I'm guilty - I had never eaten at a Specialty's Cafe before this visit. I wasn't planning on this breakfast adventure, but I had 10 spare minutes before heading out to a business meeting and I was STARVING. Specialty's came to the rescue since it was conveniently located right across from the hotel I was staying at. Alright, so why 5 stars? 1) Egg + Bacon breakfast sandwich - it was delicious. The bread was perfect, it had a great spice to it and it came out crazy fast. 2) INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE! If you haven't had this coffee before, you are missing out. So happy to see that is their "go to" for a regular coffee.

    (5)

  • Joshua T.

    Efficient process, good service, food and coffee are not bad, it's clean, and open early. We came as a large group and it all processed quickly and everybody was fed. Well done to accommodate a group :) I wonder how the day old cookies are priced?

    (3)

  • Katie H.

    I only get 1 thing here, and it is perfect- the danish. I haven't had anything else because I am still stuck on the danish. First, I know this is a chain, blah, blah blah, whatever. Good food is good food. I support many local businesses, especially if they have a rockin' danish. The crust is just as tasty as the center, and there is a very nice almond flavor to the frosting. This is a treat for me when I am in downtown Seattle. The service is quick, and I always get in and out with the aforementioned danish in a hurry. That's all I want from Speciality's- a danish that I really dig, really quick. They always deliver, so 5 stars- boom! Now I want a danish.

    (5)

  • Kara C.

    Twice in a row, I've returned to work with a Specialty's bag containing something other that what I ordered. Several weeks ago I ordered a small thai salad and ended up at work with the mixed greens salad. Today, I ordered a "Roasted veggie breakfast egg sandwich." I returned to my desk to discover that I'd bought some other kind of sandwich on wheat bread with roasted veggies and goat cheese, explaining why my latte and "breakfast" sandwich had come to almost $13. This place has good food, but it isn't cheap and there's apparently some kind of secret code language you have to use to order what you want. I'm frustrated by my experiences here and probably won't return.

    (1)

  • Evelyn S.

    As someone who avoids eateries that might be part of a chain, I had two great visits to Speciality's Cafe and Bakery last weekend. Located conveniently across the way from my hotel I enjoyed a late lunch when I arrived in Seattle. The sandwich was served on a plate wrapped in paper... by the time I finished the sandwich, I really wanted to lick the paper. It was the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Bacon, Cheese and House Slaw, it was excellent. Sunday morning I wanted a Mocha and stumbled across the street once again. To my pleasant surprise the Mocha was nearly as good as the sandwich. During my first visit the staff told me the pecan rolls were not to be missed. I will tell you now, they were right. I ordered one to go and enjoyed bits and pieces of the gooey goodness throughout the day. The bread, pastries, cookies and brownies are all made fresh throughout the day. The cafe itself is clean, modern, and comfortable with a few small tables for 1 - 3 and a few more tables that will accommodate larger parties.

    (4)

  • Natalia G.

    Good pastries .. Love cream cheese with berry. Had to have to twice. The best part we stopped in at night to check out what tho of breakfast and they offered half off pastries! Love it. Came back and had another pastry. Ordered the bf a breakfast sandwich. Very tasty. Kinda bummed only had Odwalla oj that cost the same as the sandwich. But still very good. Nice service too!

    (4)

  • Razi A.

    So many options. So tempting. You walk in and see racks of baked goods. The Coffee and cappuccino are made very well here. 5/5 The cookies are huge and so soft 5/5 Quiche was not so good/ rubbery 2/5 Steel cut oatmeal had so many great toppings. 5/5 Yogurt parfait was fresh but smaller 4/5 Muffins were all perfect and unique 5/5 OK I came here almost every morning. Fast, friendly, and tasty. They remembered me and skied me about my trip every day even when it was chaos there. Nice folks.

    (4)

  • Rocket H.

    Love this place! I always eat the same thing too. I love that they have sprouts to add to their sandwiches. Great location. I stop in often.

    (4)

  • Kelly A.

    Honestly, I don't know how many stars to give this place. If you are looking for good food = 4-5 stars. No question. If you are looking for good service = 2 stars. If you are looking for clean premesis = 1 star. So...I guess that averages out to about 3 stars. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS CHAIN? There is a REASON people like to go to Starbucks. Tables are bussed and wiped regularly, floor is always swept, garbages emptied, and the staff acts like they WANT to take care of you. (Except the Starbucks in NYC, but that's another story). With just a little more training, Specialties could be 5-star all the way if they would just insist on good customer service and keep the place clean and organized (consistently). I shouldn't have to walk around with a napkin wiping off tables because they are disgusting to look at while I eat. You should probably keep those soup canisters out of sight because by the end of the day when the lids are open, they look terrible. And where are the recycle bins? It kills me to throw everything in the same garbage receptacles. You will not find better tasting food. Baked goods are legendarily yummy. Sandwiches are large and delicious. And the online ordering option is incredibly convenient. But...why can't I get a half-sandwich? Come on... One of the nicest things I can say about Specialties: at least it's not Panera Bread.

    (3)

  • Sarawr O.

    Their Danishes are so great! They do lunch catering for big groups, which was great when we had a group working at a convention downtown & got the menu for & orders in for everyone. The sandwiches and salads were pretty good and they didn't mess up a single order over the course of four days!

    (4)

  • Anna A.

    Usually love this place, a little pricey for lunch but the place around downtown business area for dessert. I usually order online and pick up within 15 mins, they do have a very easy to use online system. Today I picked up my order, walked back to my office and it doesn't have the sticky bun I paid for. Tried to call the bakery to get one but they dont take outside calls and there is only a 1-877 number that put me on hold and then hung up on me. I guess I just gifted Specialty's the $3 I paid for my sticky bun. Horrible customer service, will not be returning here.

    (2)

  • Mad M.

    Great for a snack during intermission at 5th Ave. They have tasty peach cream cheese danish

    (3)

  • Lincoln E.

    Cinnamon bun was sensational but the fun ended there. Coffee was tasteless and fruit bruised. Egg sandwich just looked super sad. Staff was friendly and nice tho --

    (3)

  • Jessica B.

    The Ambience: Typical corporate lunch spot, clean. The Food: I can't say I've ever eaten anything from here that was bad, but never anything particularly delicious. The good thing is, it's pretty consistent -- you know what you're going to get every time. The Customer Service: They're friendly and FAST

    (3)

  • Monica B.

    In general, I don't enjoy many of the businesses located in this food court. This is one of three that I go to occasionally. Let's not kid ourselves - I go here to buy cookies. I remember the first time I heard of Specialty's so many years ago. Oatmeal wheatgerm chocolate chip? That sounds gross! Well...not so much. It's one of my favorites. It's sweet, hearty, and when fresh out of the oven, completely dreamy. My second favorite is the semi-sweet chocolate and I could go on and on from here. If you need to buy lots of cookies, consider ordering them ahead of time. The website is easy to use and I've had great success in getting what I need. Need a last minute treat for someone? Send them a cookie by email (this has saved me more times than I care to admit). If you're not a cookie snob, you can also get day old cookies on the cheap. Aside from the cookies, I enjoy the mini-quiche and mini-bundt cakes. They're so cute and tasty! Why is this a 3-star review you ask? Well, when a place offers a diverse line of products, one would hope the experience is consistent. It's not. I have tried to eat lunch here three times over the years with the same disappointing experience. My order gets lost, it takes a really long time, and the quality of the sandwiches and salads is always lost on me because I'm so upset about the whole experience. I never eat lunch here anymore and choose to rely on them for dessert only.

    (3)

  • Mary B.

    Stopped here for a quick breakfast before flying home. Excellent selection from baked goods to sourdough breakfast sandwiches. House Blend coffee is very good. Add in a comfortable decor and a welcoming staff to make it a super place for breakfast or lunch.

    (5)

  • Paolo B.

    We had the caprese and the four cheese. They hit the spot when we were hungry.

    (4)

  • Marc S.

    At 9.30am on a Saturday, they had ran out of most of their assortment. Place was rather dirty and poorly organized. So many better places to go in Seattle!

    (1)

  • Niki A.

    I ordered lunch online today and walked over to pick it up when it was ready. I waited and waited...and then realized I selected the wrong pick-up location. Whoops! I went and told someone at the register and she notified her catering manager who then took my order number and said she'd take care of it and my food would be out in a few minutes. She personally brought me my food when it was ready and was very kind! I know it might not have been a big deal but I really appreciate the care and how easy they made the whole situation. I had the turkey, bacon, and brie sandwich and it was fantastic! Really appreciated the whole experience and very satisfied with the food! Plus I had a cookie while I waited...the smell is hard to resist!

    (5)

  • Chelsea S.

    I love Specialty's and this location has the customer service and efficiency down. I love Specialty's salads and soup and of course their famous cookies. The peanut butter and chocolate cookies are so killer. I always see if there are any good treats in the Day Old basket which is always just like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! Their roasted red pepper soup is the best!

    (4)

  • Randi P.

    I understand mistakes happen. Trust me, I make them all.the.time. We recently placed a lunch order for 50+ people and have frequently placed the same order in the past. The reason for the 1-star is that when I called to inquire where the sandwiches were, expecting them to be delivered any minute... we were told they were "out the door and on their way." Which was a big giant fat LIE. Turns out our order was never placed at all. Thank goodness for Jimmy John's, who came through with the 50+ sandwiches we needed within 30 minutes of our phone call! Overall their sandwiches seem slapped together. Their food is expensive for what it is. And I once saw an employee working there giving someone a foot rub on their lunch break, out in public. hope he bleached his hands before going back to work. Gross.

    (1)

  • Heather A.

    I had never heard of "Specialty's" until I went to Seattle. Much like buying a new car and thinking it to be unique, only to find out every Tom, Dick and Harry is driving one too, once I ate a Specialty's sandwich, I have been seeing them in every city I set foot in! Who knew this was such a popular chain? Where did it come from? It's like a Phoenix risen from the ashes of Subway and Quiznos. I am not a sandwich fan to begin with, so this review may be slightly biased. However, these are some of the strangest sandwiches I've ever seen: Caprese with red peppers! Ham, cheese, pickles and mayo (blech! I often refer to mayo as "whale wad.")! Vinegar chicken wraps! Eggplant and peppers! Ugh! Enough with the peppers! Gross! I was at a training seminar and Specialty's catered the lunches. The only thing I could stomach was the turkey club with bacon, but I had to disect it of all the other ingredients, including the bread, that I would never invite to MY party. The bread was strange. For the few bites I took over the course of a week (and 5 different sandwiches), it was so dry, it gave me hiccups. I'm giving them three stars because others in the room seemed to enjoy their sandwiches quite a bit. Additionally, the Specialty's employees were extremely courteous and accomodating to special requests. I heard a few people rave over their meals, but they may have just been extremely happy with the 1400 calorie cookie that Specialty's included for dessert. I have to admit, the cookies were pretty dang fantastic. My mouth just watered a little while remembering eating a chocolate chunk peanut butter cookie. I'd go back to Specialty's... for a cookie.

    (3)

  • K F.

    Need a quick bite in downtown? This is my go-to place when I need a quick bite on the go. Whether you need something filling or just a light snack. Their pastries are fresh and tasty, the staff are really nice and efficient too. The southwestern egg sandwich always hits the spot and if I want something sweet, its got to be the blueberry cheese croissant :)

    (4)

  • Peter S.

    Good espresso made fast. I like the carrot muffin too.

    (4)

  • Virginia R.

    Do not trust this location's time estimates for online orders! Also do not count on them having your desired pastry item in stock! Nope, not even at 7:30 am! Nor should you expect to find anywhere to sit during Eating Time, or stand while you wait for your coffee. This place basically has everything that all the other Seattle Specialties locations have, except not as spacious or well-run. The one good thing is that they're open on the weekend. Their food, like all Specialties cafés, is good if you can get it successfully and on time. But if you've got time you're better off walking the 4 blocks to the 3rd & Spring location.

    (2)

  • Rob Y.

    Great place to get breakfast. I love ordering online and by the time I get to work, I just walk in and pick up. Also, try the breakfast sandwiches on a croissant. It is awesome.

    (4)

  • Jessica M.

    Great vegetarian sandwiches. Unlike a lot of places which don't give much thought to veggie-lover's choices, Specialty's boasts a Veggie section on their menu. I have tried two different sandwiches: Hot Veggie and The Mediterranean. Both were delicious and filling for a lunch time meal. Also, LOVE the pitcher of cold tap water set out in front of the beverage area for those who don't need bottled water. Five stars would be given if the sandwich prices were a bit lower or included a side such an apple or banana (which they have displayed on the counter).

    (4)

  • Lisa G.

    Perfect little shop when grabbing a bit to eat. Breads are fresh and distinct from any other sandwich shop I've tried. They are quite busy during lunch, but its well worth the wait. I agree with most people on the price, the food is yummy, but for a sandwich it is on the pricier side, and who can say 'no' to fresh baked cookies.

    (4)

  • Jessica H.

    I took a business trip to Seattle last October and I'm still drooling over the sandwich I got from Specialty's when I was there. Peanut butter, cranberry sauce, banana and green apple on delicious whole wheat bread. Oh wow, it was amazing, and I don't even like whole wheat bread. I wish I'd tried the cookies, I bet they're even better. Why don't they have one of these places in L.A.? Sigh.

    (5)

  • Robyn P.

    Specialty's is slightly healthier fast food. the food here is just as much like crack as mcnuggets and fries, except it's got some nutritional value (see "wheat germ" below): -ridiculous cookies (black/white, pb chocolate chip, and wheat germ chocolate chip are the BEST) -monster sandwiches (one of my favorite places to get a non-banh mi; try turkey pesto, beef & bleu, big BLT, and BBQ chicken - with bacon, of course) -salads that have more fat and calories than two Big Macs (the cobb is fantastic) since I'm one of those people who's too proud to bring a grease-soaked McD's bag back to the office, Specialty's is the next best thing for my afternoon fast food fix.

    (4)

  • Puja L.

    I like that this place really makes me feel like somebody's cooking for me. There's no cookie-cutterness to the way they make their food. It's just real, yummy food. I felt like my ham and cheese croissant was quite oily/buttery...but it was still delicious. And the cookies were Amazing.

    (4)

  • Shekinah S.

    Finally got to try Specialty's coffee today and...drumroll... my latte was just OK. Don't need to come here again for coffee but everyone including the barista was incredibly nice and I did get me some cranberry coffeecake which is officially The Best Thing Ever. Man, one of the things I miss most about having a job is Specialty's leftovers! Looks like the interior got a little facelift. And I know the catering menu underwent some changes recently as well.

    (4)

  • Kristina K.

    MMMMMMMMmmm....... this place makes great sandwiches. You know, like those kind that your mom used to make for you? But better. Sorry mom, it's true. I stumbled into this place to dodge the rain and take care of a grumbling stomach. It's in a great area and super affordable, if I lived in Seattle, this would probably become a favorite of mine. I only had a sandwich and tea (get the black iced tea. yum), but I noticed all of their seemingly delectable pastries and baked wonders scattered throughout the small place. Yum. Maybe I'll "stumble" back in tomorrow and treat myself to a cookie. I'm just sayin!

    (4)

  • Shradha A.

    We were walking around downtown on a recent visit to Seattle and saw the long line outside this place. Tempted, we walked inside and discovered a heavenly place for great lunch!!! Their soups, cookies, sandwiches, quiche, rolls, everything is superbly good!! Only qualm - their service - they're slow and unfriendly...

    (4)

  • Sione P.

    I cannot get enough of Specialty's ham & cheese croissants! They are a bit greasy and have a huge stack of ham with plenty of cheese inside! They are just a real treat every now and then and I work near here, so it's convenient! I like the food here, from the sandwiches to various fresh-baked items waiting for you, and decent coffee! It's a good place to come in and grab a quick bite or order ahead and just grab-and-go! I'd say the service here is pretty good and the staff always seems pretty friendly and attentive for the most part. From fresh-baked cookies, stuffed croissants, preordering online, the "cookie radar" at the site to check cookie freshness, free WiFi... it all comes together for a good experience.

    (4)

  • kay m.

    Peanut Butter & Stuff omg, what a treat! substantial without being heavy, toasted whole grain bread, peanut butter, thin slices of granny smith apple, banana and cranberry sauce, just a little bit warm and a whole lot wonderful. eaten as a breakfast sandwich this delight carried me through a couple of miles of downtown trekking and all the way to dinner. the staff were delightful while we were there -- eager, helpful, pleasant. how novel. Online ordering would be a nice way to go . . . specialtysdirect.com/wel… i wish some of the baked goods were on my diet . . . . they really looked yummy.

    (4)

  • Thigh C.

    I've been here like 3 times - see below... - I brought my friend here and I ordered turkey and cranberry. It's good, but I guess I can make my own version like bread, turkey, cranberry and alfalfa. I rarely buy a ready made sandwich but when you like a fresh made aka homemade style sandwich, it's worth a try. - Croissant - it's good but too greasy( especially when you request them to warm it up... your brown bag will be soaked in butter). From then on, I never order their croissant. I don't usually go here because it's so crowded on weekdays. It always fail me to find a decent seat. Everything here is in a rush. Like... Cashier: Hi, what's your order? Me: 1 croissant pls.. Cashier: ONE CROISSANT HERE!!!! That would be $. (Swipes my Visa). We will let you know when it's ready. NEXT! Well, they are not really rude, it's just a good personal customer service is lacking here. But if you like a decent food, I guess you can give it a try. Other than that, 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Sarah M.

    This is the default lunch spot for my office. I cannot get enough of the wheat-germ chocolate chip cookies. Watch out for their salad dressings, though. When I looked up the caloric intake on their website, I found out that their Poppy Seed dressing and their Raspberry Walnut dressing (used on my favorite salad, the Spinach, Strawberry, and Goat cheese) are each over 400 calories per 2 oz serving. Damn! You would probably get less calories if you just sprinkled cookie crumbs over your salad.

    (4)

  • Justus P.

    For the record, the food here is 4*. They have great veggie options including hot sandwiches and soup. I don't care much for the dry cookies. As for the 3* rating, they are lucky to get that. The 'experience' of this shop is one of the worst I've been to. The line is a total cluster and often the staff knows less about the menu and offerings than the customers. Can no one figure out how to form a line? Can you please not sell me something and then after 20 minutes of waiting tell me you're sold out? Can you pretty please put a spoon in with my take out soup? And please don't tell me that you are sold out of soup that is delivered fresh as I pay... What a frustrating experience here. If the food wasn't so good, I'd never go back. But it is outstanding, so I've been here and irritated a lot. Sigh.

    (3)

  • Diane T.

    My routine... 1) Check out the warm cookie radar on their website. Looks like cookies were just pulled out of the oven 8 minutes ago... 2)Hurry to specialtys before the lunch rush.. 3) Get googled eyed...Me want cookie... 4) C is for chocolate chip.. decide between milk or semi-sweet.. soooo goey & delicious.. 5) eat half of the cookie while walking back to office..Awwwww Nom nom nom.... 6) eat the other half of the cookie at my desk...get crumbs all over my keyboard 7) Fall into a sugar coma.. 8) Repeat as needed

    (4)

  • Nick B.

    Simply the best when it comes to cookies or other baked goods. Even the day old ones for half price taste like they are fresh out of the oven. Their sandwiches are great too; I specifically recommend the Turkey and Cranberry sandwich as well as the Hot Italian (if you like your food to have a name that could double as a porn name). My only complaint is that it is quite pricey, but if you stick with the day old cookies, you can't go wrong.

    (5)

  • Will A.

    Had an extremely busy day at work about a week ago and was wondering if I was even going to be able to have time to eat. Usually lunch involves walking around Pioneer Square finding the spot with the shortest line. This is especially true on days where I am extremely busy. On this particular day I get a suggestion from a coworker that I assumed was some half-assed attempt at trying to make me feel better. What? A site exists where I can customize, order, and pay for a sandwich without having any human interaction? How about yeah? I navigate to specialtysdirect.com/wel… and get this party started. The .asp file extension was very familiar to me and I always get a little excited when using Microsoft products and products created from Microsoft products. Even though I consider classic ASP outdated I still like to see applications being deployed utilizing Microsoft technologies. I click on a likely candidate (in this case "The Sicilian") and then click the "Edit" button so I can pimp my sandwich. It was nice to see a simplistic DHTML / AJAX approach as opposed to using Adobe Flash or Microsoft Silverlight. I figured this out is because I have a habit of right-clicking on the application to see if I am prompted with options to configure flash or silverlight. I have a different approach to the Internet than most so I have developed some rather unique idiosyncrasies in this regard. I start mousing over items and seeing the quick responsiveness of the UI and start thinking they must be using ASP to output the JavaScript methods dynamically for each page render. It is just TOO fast for consecutively querying the database and processing the requests even if done asynchronously. A quick view source proved this to be the case as there would be a slight delay with many repeated database calls. Try it for yourself if you don't believe me. They also have a calculator that will tally up your extra toppings / condiments and also calculate roughly how many calories you will be consuming once you are done creating your masterpiece. This functionality is also dynamically generated on each page render by outputting JavaScript with ASP. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall of that brainstorming session when either the in-house or contract developers were hashing out functionality. I wonder if this was out-of-scope for phase 1 and ended up being a phase 2 or a change order. If it was phase 1 it was definitely well thought out and beautifully executed. Being that this is a site that allows one to order customized sandwiches I have to comment on the business rules that have been implemented in the UI. If you are ordering a sandwich you have an expectation that you are going to receive at the very least two pieces of bread and something in between. You can add / remove condiments with the checkboxes on the right hand side of the UI. Notice how on "The Sicilian" you can't remove the bread as the checkbox is disabled? I'm guessing this has to do with an admin section setup for administrators to add or edit menu items and designate what is required. Imagine being able to order a sandwich and accidentally unchecking bread. I KNOW RIGHT! That would be a huge mess. I wonder if this was pinned down before launch or a bug that was overlooked and only came to light during the initial launch of the site? Another cool feature is that you can name your sandwich. Next time I will save it with a cool name such as "Lazer's Sandwich" or "Cr4sH OveRRiDe / Zer0 c00L hearts AciD BuRN" instead of the default "The Sicilian". Kudos to the site designers and developers as I was unable to find any bugs or loopholes in my initial QA of the site. PS. The sandwich was great!

    (5)

  • Clint D.

    Oh, Specialty's... I am a big ol' grammar nerd. I wouldn't enter their restaurants for more than a year because of the name. It is a possessive instead of plural. I combed their site. Nobody mentioned on the site goes by the surname of "Specialty". If they can't properly name the establishment, how good could the food possibly be? How wrong could I possibly be? I'm not into the sweets. They look delectable. I have a friend who utilizes their genius "warm cookie radar" to quell any chocolatary need. However, the turkey, Swiss, and cream cheese croissant is amazing. The quiche muffins are AWESOME! Beware of the breakfast sandwiches- they use roasted garlic butter on the ciabatta. Completely amazing. Their website allows you to have complete control over your salad or sandwich. You can configure your sandwich and know the fat, protein, and carbohydrates of your lunch before you order it. Plus, they have a baker's dozen lunch deal. They average the price of your last 12 orders and give you a credit. I will get my 6th free meal in 2 sandwiches. When you order online, you can cross the street, duck inside the door, grab your meal, and cross the street while the crosswalk still says "walk". You glide past all the confused people waiting to order. Their line is seldom organized. They could use stanchions so that a line forms. The staff, as attentive and professional as they are, tries to instruct the crowds. Their box lunch delivery is fabulous, too! Good job, Specialties! (I'm really sorry about spelling. The improper use of the possessive form activates my carpal tunnel syndrome!) Clint

    (4)

  • Megan S.

    Oh man, oh man, oh man!!! This is my new favorite spot...like EVER! Ok, so I've only recently discovered this awesome cafe/bakery and I've only been here twice but I'm a new loyal and dedicated fan. The bakery items make me drool... The sandwiches look fantastic--I still haven't tried one yet, but as its nearing noon as I write this I'm thinkin' on it... The soup--OMG--tomato gnocci is the shizzzzzzz!! Brilliant. I got this yesterday w/a small green salad and it literally made my day. I want to go back and try the spinach, goat cheese and strawberry salad next...or a big 'ol turkey sammie--I just don't know...its all sooooo good and all the ingredients seem to be fresh and whole. No skimping here. The wait staff is always very pleasant and patient. Yes, the line at noon is long, but I got out of there in like 10 minutes. Besides, I'd wait a lifetime for that tomato gnocci soup.

    (5)

  • Kimberly T.

    We came here in the mornings for breakfast during our trip. The croissant filled with ham & cheese is one of my favorite things I've ever eaten! That thing was amazing. The egg & cheese breakfast sandwich was also really good. I thought prices were fair for the portion size & all around deliciousness.

    (4)

  • Shannon W.

    This is my favorite place for lunch or snacks downtown. The black and bleu sandwich (roast beef with a really good bleu cheese spread of some sort) is amazing and I get it just about every time! Soup is good too. I think part of the sandwiches being so good is the fresh bread. Outside of that, it seems that the ingredients and super fresh and extra delicious. They also have a really nice system when they're busy (little buzzers like at restaurants to tell you when your order's up). I think you can order ahead online as well. Try a cookie or baked good of some sort! Also very good and very fresh!

    (4)

  • Tony A.

    Not great. Dirty no soup. Coffee was old. Counter staff was not very good. There has to be better in this city. Only saving grace was the blueberry muffin.

    (1)

  • Anando S.

    Their sandwiches are average though the breads are fresh. The best thing however are the cookies. Thick, crispy and the chocolate chips are melting even in freezing temperatures. Worth dying for.

    (4)

  • Stina K.

    A little pricey but great breakfast, lunch and desert items! The ham, cheese and egg quiche (sans crust for the carb conscious) is to die for. If you happen to come when it hasn't been made fresh be sure to warm it up for about 25 secs in a microwave. DELICIOUS. My work spoils us and orders specialty sandwiches for lunch meetings, haven't had one I didn't enjoy. Same with pastries. Favorites are Cobb Sandwich, BBQ chicken sandwich, Coconut chicken curry soup and Spinach & Bacon salad. The reason why this place gets 3 instead of 4 stars is the coffee is HORRIBLE which is unacceptable for Seattle. I ordered a small mocha (they just have small and large) and it tasted like I was drinking steamed milk with a tad of espresso and almost non existent chocolate sauce. This may have been forgiven but it took her 5 minutes to make this drink with no one who had ordered in front of me. Also the woman who made this drink was busy making jokes and chatting away so she was not pressed for time. I couldn't even finish it all I just threw it away. With Monorail Espresso and 3 Starbucks within a block radius you can be sure I will never order another drink from Specialties again.

    (3)

  • Vivian L.

    The sandwiches are dee-licious! I stayed at the Red Lion Hotel on 5th and Specialty's happened to be right across the street. The Boyfriend and I were not very good at waking up for breakfast...or lunch, so on our second day in Seattle, we decided to get food close to the hotel. He originally wanted a Reuben sandwich but settled for the next best thing that was actually on the menu--the "Rebecca." Coleslaw sandwich, anyone? (Not only a great idea but also delicious!) I had the grilled veggie sandwich which was a bit spicy, definitely enjoyed that extra zing. The staff is an incredibly friendly group, always smiley, always open to helping their customers. I had a hard time opening our IZZE drinks and one of the staff helped me with them. Next time, I'll try their pastries. :-)

    (4)

  • Michael N.

    Heck yes. "Why?" you ask. Awesome cookies that are big enough for two to share (but let's be honest - those bad boys never are shared). Peanut butter cookie is the best. Anybody that says otherwise is a filthy liar. Tasty sandwiches with quality ingredients. Friendly staff. I could go on. They also have a really nice online ordering system - when I'm in a rush I'll put in an order online, stop by in 15 minutes and just walk in, grab my sammich, and walk out. Super convenient. Delivery time is slow, however. Jimmy John's has them dominated in that regard. If they could deliver this tasty awesomeness to my face faster, we could start talking about giving them an extra star. Until then - four it is.

    (4)

  • Xzachary R.

    Slowest barista EVER. He did not seem to care. These folks working here need some training in teamwork

    (1)

  • Mike L.

    If your hotel is nearby and you are looking for a great substantial breakfast- this is the place.

    (5)

  • Eric L.

    Time to kill before Benihana's... Desert before dinner. The sticky buns.... WOW!!! The staff, VERY friendy. Would come back for sure.

    (4)

  • Jody B.

    You know it's a good sandwich when you talk to it while you're eating... Leave it to the floozy in the little red car to turn the two hour jaunt from Vancouver into a four hour, ball busting, traffic swearing sort of affair. When I arrived in Seattle, I was pooped, famished and wanting to make some serious face time with my king size hotel bed. But hark! It's only 6:30pm girl - rally rally rally! So instead of giving into my ever growing fuddy duddy-ness (it's a word!), I delayed my social plans an hour or two in favor of a shower and a quick bite. Was directed to Specialty's down the street and twenty minutes later, me & the Mediterranean are exchanging sweet nothings on my hotel bed. Fresh SLAB of mozzarella, kalamata olives, mound o' spinach, tomato, basil & red pepper pesto on focaccia. YUM. At a $8.50 for the sandwich, I was a little skeptical but the ingredients tasted fresh and it was the perfect pick me up. Thanks for the rally Specialty's. Now to find myself a scotch...

    (4)

  • Paul C.

    I was in a rush and didn't have time to make my own breakfast this morning and remembered this place on my way to the office. I bought a egg sandwich with bacon and cheese and I've been suffering ever since. I feel like I want vomit but I can't.

    (1)

  • Stephanie B.

    Oh Specialties, how you have betrayed me. It seems that ever since their remodel earlier this year the quality has been gradually declining. At first, I thought they had merely changed some recipes or got a new baker and were having some technical difficulties with the kiosks...now I am starting to wonder. I recently realized that my fairly frequent breakfast food orders (blueberry croissant, cinnamon roll, or turkey and swiss croissant) had ceased months ago. The cinnamon rolls were not as good as before (and they kept heating them up on a plate and shoving them into a bag that I had to rip apart and unpeel from the sticky glaze), they hardly ever have the blueberry croissant and the turkey and swiss croissant was...meh the last few times I ordered it. I decided to start going back again for the salads and the convenience. They are located on the same block as my building and their Chicken Cobb salad was so delicious and had such flavorful toppings that I rarely even bothered putting the dressing on it. A few orders back I was perturbed by the difference in quality since earlier this year. They almost always seem to not add some basic ingredient without notifying you and their stinginess with croutons was becoming an office joke. I mean....3 croutons for a huge salad? 3??? I had started ordering double croutons in order to get the same amount I previously received, and the cherry tomatoes in my last two orders were literally half the size they previously were. Today, however, was the last straw. A coworker from another team and I placed separate orders (within minutes of each other) at 11:40 for a 1:00 pickup. We went down at 1:10. First of all, garbage was piled up sky high in the area to the right of the door. Our food was not available so we stood for a few minutes and heard a few people complaining that they had been waiting over an hour for their online orders. My co-worker and I left and decided to wait for our text confirmations. 30 minutes later I went back down to cancel the order and noticed my bag was on the shelf so I grabbed it and left without complaint. Soup was ice cold. Salad was....darned near inedible. It was mostly lettuce, there were 3 slivers of mushrooms, no egg (IN A COBB SALAD), the dressing was bland and looked like it had been watered down somehow, and despite my double order of croutons I received 6.5. (I guess this means that 3 croutons is their new average). The combination of flavorless dressing, spartan vegetables, and salty, sodden croutons, was so bad that I ultimately wound up just tossing the whole salad 1/3 of the way through (after paying extra for hard boiled eggs from a vending machine...YAY). My co-worker never even received her order, but she got a refund. I think she was the lucky one. When verbally complaining about my order to my coworkers I found out that no one on my team even goes to Specialties anymore due to the high cost, lack of quality, lack of consistency, and plethora of screwed up orders. Wish they had sent me the memo! To be fair, maybe something in particular was going on today, but I made 2 trips and saw no signs and only heard any mention of them being behind based on several people cornering and complaining to the employee who was placing the orders on the shelf. If I'm paying $12.00 for 1/2 a cup of soup and a salad with half the ingredients missing they should be able to afford more staff and functioning equipment. It really sucks because they used to be really good.

    (1)

  • Allie J.

    Great place to grab breakfast and sit and work for a while. My phone also died right before a long train ride and I happened to be chatting with the manager, who offered to go look around in the back to find me a charger. Such a nice guy. I'd definitely recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Danielle C.

    I came here on a Saturday afternoon. Man, the place was extremely crowded. There is very limited seating in this cafe so be prepared for huge crowding in the front where the cash registers are! I tried the cappucinno chocolate chip scone. It was okay. I definitely tasted the coffee flavor. The outer layer of the scone was pretty hard and sprinkled with sugar, and the inside was not as soft as I would like for a scone. I also tried the bacon egg and cheese sandwich. The cheese was cheddar and it looked like a bit of plastic. I expected the cheese to be melted when the sandwich arrives out fresh but it looked, well, fake! The sandwich was okay, except I think it was a little pricey (just shy of $5). I really miss good breakfast sandwiches from the east coast... Meh, I guess I should try the other items, but based on my experience here I was definitely not that impressed. Too bad because the place is pretty cute.

    (3)

  • J K.

    I love their sandwiches. Yummy! Strangely, there aren't a lot of good lunch places downtown. You could do a lot worse than Specialties.

    (4)

  • Liya P.

    Great coffee. Good location and AMAZING pastries! Very cute and cozy inside. Perfect place for the rainy Seattle days...or sunny ones.:) I think I'll make this my new come to place before work.

    (5)

  • Kaitlin F.

    Specialty's is one of my favorite sandwich shops. That poppy seed bread, the pickles, the ham, the bbq chicken, mmmmm. Those freshly baked cookies. I left the country recently for a four-month trip abroad, and for my last dinner in the US I picked up a ham sandwich. You gotta admit thats some sandwich if I'm that devoted to it. I used to work at Microsoft and Specialty's was everyone's favorite catering choice. I'm craving me some right now.

    (4)

  • Michael R.

    I really like this place. Another place I will go for a quick bite that is close to my work. Breakfast sandwiches are really good and the pastries are good of course, better then what you get at most coffee shops. In fact I will go here for a pastry and bring it to whichever coffee shop I'm going to that's close by.

    (4)

  • Alison A.

    Sandwiches are good, the pastry selection is large but the scones are dense, thick, flour-y, and lacking a bit of flavor...

    (3)

  • John S.

    Specialty's biggest boast is not offending anyone. It ends up being one of those 'go to' catering/meeting places because they're reliable, and adequate, although unremarkable. Their sandwiches and salads are pretty good, but pretty chain-like. Nothing interesting, but fresh. Their coffee is acceptable, nothing to complain about, but not a place to seek out coffee. There are 6 coffee shops within a stone's throw that make much better coffee (Zoka, Uptown, Kakao, Rowhouse, Top Pot, even Starbucks) Their baked goods are on par with something you would eat from Costco. Most of the time they are pretty dry, taste mass produced, and aren't worth the calories. I've yet to eat a baked good from Specialty's I would be excited to eat again. Non-offensive, all edible, large dining area, quick. Solid 3 start place. If you are a foodie, skip it.

    (3)

  • Joe L.

    The wheat-germ breakfast cookie is amazing! That being said the coffee I had today was really bad, I'm struggling to finish it. The breakfast sandwiches are good; they're kind of pricey but they're big. Think I'll stick to the wheat-germ cookie.

    (3)

  • Ninette C.

    We got our work lunch catered from here. I had a small Dawn's Vegan. No, I'm not a vegan but I just wanted the vegetables. The salad tasted pretty good and was a pretty large portion. I'm pretty relieved I didn't get a large. My co worker's PB&J with fruit and cranberry sauce looked really good. Everyone who got sandwich got a pretty good-sized box lunch. The only hesitation I've ever had with the Specialty's brand is that it's a cafe that ends up costing you about $10. It's good food but that stops me from coming every time I want to.

    (4)

  • Andrea M.

    I have a few mixed feelings about Specialty's. Several years ago, during my first visit to this one, I had an incredibly rude cashier who refused to acknowledge that the item I was ordering from the chalk board was an item they even had. She wouldn't let me order it, and was so adamant that she was right--but then one of her coworkers came over and told her they had it. She didn't apologize. I've pretty much avoided this place since then. However, my sister speaks highly of their cookies and I was short on time during lunch, so I stopped in. The cashier was nice, very friendly. He asked how to spell my name, and still spelled it wrong [he put an I instead of an E]. For lunch I ordered the Beef and Blue sandwich. It was an interesting combination. I liked it, but for some reason it made my stomach hurt for the rest of the day. The next day I had the other half, and my stomach didn't mind it as much. Perhaps it was just not wise to eat blue cheese at 11am? As dessert, I ordered a white chocolate macadamia cookie. I really mostly ordered it because they looked like a real human has made them from scratch. The cookies were all different shapes and sizes and colors =) Not those smooth, fakey [but tasty in a different way] cookies a place like Subway has. It was pretty good! This place seems spendy, but there was quite a lot of spinach and roast beef on my sandwich. I'd be willing to try it again. Can I order ahead of time and not deal with people? That might be my best option.

    (3)

  • Orlene C.

    Tried their beef & blue sandwich the other day, and it confirmed that they make great, quality beef sandwiches as well as turkey. There breakfast sandwiches and ham/cheese croissants are also yummy. They are definitely generous with the amount of bacon included on their large breakfast sandwiches. Although, their black and white cookie was disappointingly hard. It could be because it was 6pm, but I don't think that is a good enough excuse.

    (4)

  • Seanessy G.

    Awesome turkey club! Great bread. I feel bad for employees there because the corporate structure leaves them underpaid however.

    (3)

  • Molly M.

    Fresh sandwich alternatives paired with quality cookies makes this place a great downtown stop. Seating is limited but usually turns over quickly.

    (4)

  • Cash M.

    Cookies are always fantastic! I was inside and found the place really dirty and in need of some heavy duty mop work. Just looking down at the floor it looked like someone just gave up all hope of ever cleaning it. I went outside to sit in the chairs and the sidewalk was cleaner than the floor inside this place. The staff was extremely friendly and offered up top picks for cookies. White and Black.. mmm good!

    (2)

  • Daniel R.

    I ordered a southwestern breakfast sandwich and a coffee. After rapid service, my sandwich was devoured with delight. It was light on the veggies, but their taste came through brilliantly.

    (5)

  • Beth A.

    I love the wheat germ chocolate chip cookies. They're one of the best cookies I've ever had. That said, the rest of the things I've had (sandwiches and other cookies) are only so-so. The service ranges from outstanding to aloof. Sometimes the store is spotless, and other times it's dirty. I think the price-point is high for what you receive. But, I'll always return for the delicious wheat germ chocolate chip cookies.

    (3)

  • Jess W.

    Holy mediocre sandwich, Batman! Apparently, "cold sandwich" translates to "sandwich you could easily make at home." I generally have high hopes for almost any sandwich place in Seattle, but this disappointed me. It came with a decent amount of veggies, but even then, I counted about two pickles and three tomato slices. A bit lacking for a $6 sandwich. And as a fair warning, "sourdough" seems to mean "white bread that's slightly hard on the edges". The pastries are decent, once you reheat them at home. But they often taste very artificial, such as the kind you'd buy at a grocery store. Not as disappointing as the sandwich, but considering that you're in Seattle, the land of bakeries, why settle? The convenience is one of the only things that'll keep me coming back, and I have to give serious thought to buying another sandwich of this quality, when I can walk down the street and fetch a better one. (Even Subway is more satisfying.)

    (2)

  • Mandy S.

    Pretty good. Staff here is wonderful, food is great, but I would give 5 stars if the wait time was less.

    (4)

  • Gabriela S.

    Amazing sandwiches- great bread. Wasn't a fan of the creamy soup we had- think it was potato leak that was very bland though the poppy seed bulky rolld they serve with it was fresh and tasty. Def great spot for lunch- split the sandwicjes- they are huge!

    (5)

  • Mr. O.

    Good for a quick early morning coffee and breakfast sandwich for early birds in downtown Seattle!

    (3)

  • Ann C.

    Their food is beyond average for price. One African American lady is always rude! Except for her, everybody is so nice!

    (2)

  • Ari S.

    Delicious. I really liked the food. I had the sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and also a pastry. They definitely have a good selection and can make adjustments if necessary. The price is reasonable, especially for the location and it is located right around the block from the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and not far from the Hyatt. In the morning it is definitely packed, I would say that they need more seating and also larger tables outside. They also offer "day old" bakery goods for a discount price. A little tip: it's not obvious but the bathroom is the unmarked door and you need the key code.

    (3)

  • Judy T.

    Their turkey cranberry and beef & blue sandwiches are deeeelicious!!! Fresh bread and perfect amount of sauce. And their sweets are oh so tempting but will have to wait until my next visit.

    (4)

  • Tae L.

    I stopped by Specialty's Cafe for an early weekday lunch when I was up in Seattle recently. I must admit I had high expectations upon reading the menu and seeing all of the fresh baked bread! I decided to order a turkey sandwich on their sourdough bread. I was pleased to see that they used actual hand carved turkey, however the sandwich was fairly bland. It was a little pricey at $6.50 for just the sandwich. I'm sure I'll try this place out again, but I might go for a hot sandwich with hopes it has a little more flavor and substance.

    (3)

  • Na C.

    I have ordered catering from Specialty's for my company on several occasions and love everything about them. Their online ordering system is friendly to use, they ALWAYS arrive on time, and their food is fresh and delicious. To top it off they have great customer service. On one occasion they forgot a cookie that one of my associates ordered and I told them not to worry about it, but 15 minutes later I received a phone call saying that someone had brought a warm cookie over. When I went down to meet the delivery person in the lobby, it turned out to be one of the chef's at Specialty's! I told him it wasn't necessary that he did that (I could see that he was tired from probably running the ONE cookie that he brought). I still can't believe he walked about 6 or 7 blocks just to bring us the cookie they forgot to pack. I mean, they are amazing cookies, but having them go the extra mile to correct a mistake was unexpected and because of their excellent customer service, we will continue to order from them again!

    (5)

  • Nick H.

    It had been years since I'd been to a Specialty's, so this was the first place I went to grab lunch after moving to a new office downtown. Specialty's is like that old friend you haven't seen for nearly a decade. When you finally get back together somehow they just don't measure up to your memory. Specialty's makes great sandwiches, salads and has tasty fresh baked cookies and pastries. I especially like their hot sandwiches, like the Hammer (ham, cheddar, CREAM CHEESE with veggies and mustard on potato bread, served up hot and drippy). Unfortunately, each time I've visited they seem to fall short in some minor but annoying way. The way they wrap the sandwiches but don't cut them all the way in half usually results in a bit of a mess. Once they piled the ham as one thick, narrow stack that didn't cover all the bread. They just need a little more attention to detail, or I'd give them 5 stars. Oh Specialty's. I forgive your odd punctuation and I do love your sandwiches. I just wish you'd put a little more effort into our relationship.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth R.

    Overall great food and friendly staff. I went searching for a New York style deli but I don't they exist in Starbucksland Seattle. However, this place is a very good gourmet style sandwich shop. I ordered a veggie egg sandwich with cheese. By default, it comes on a ciabatta which is clearly fresh. the egg, perhaps it is because of the roasted veggies, but it didn't taste completely right. Perhaps it is a premade egg just reheated-is that possible? However, it wasn't enough to completely devouring the generous portion in seconds flat.

    (4)

  • Dave F.

    Very good steelcut oatmeal and fairly good coffee. Food and service are quick and it felt like a great place for a 20 minute breakfast!

    (3)

  • Richard B.

    Came here while staying at a hotel downtown. We had lunch, and had to go through our top three choices before getting to something they hasn't run out of. Out of half their breads, out of vegetables (?), etc. Food was bland and unremarkable. Coffee was very good and the pastries looked tasty, but next time we're in town we probably won't be back.

    (2)

  • W W.

    Baked goods made with soy margarine?! For what I'm paying here for even a cookie, I should be getting real butter. The salads aren't too bad, but the dressings taste bottled and cheap.

    (1)

  • Emily K.

    Found this place for a quick and casual breakfast while in downtown for work. Excellent egg sandwich in fresh chiabata (sp?)... Made with REAL EGGS! How refreshing. Would have taken it to go but it smells too darn good in here to leave! When i did leave i grabbed a molasses cookie for the road. Very rich and chewy, yum!

    (4)

  • Don T.

    I work within a block on this place. Every business meeting I see these sandwiches, salads, and pastries, and I say to myself, WHYYYYYYYYYYY? Maybe it just affirms that downtown Seattle has very few quick and delicious lunch places, but I've never enjoyed the food here. To me, the one thing a good soup and salad joint needs to have is fine bread, and the bread here is pointless. The crumb is liveless; the crust is weak. Again, whhhhhhhyyyyyy? I can't believe people settle for this. And sure, you might push back and say what about those great cookies? And I would say nooooooooooo! Those things are greasy, chunk dumpsters. They have no quality, and you should treat yourself better. Go to DeLaurenti at Pike and get yourself rehabilitated.

    (2)

  • Kevin K.

    If you want to waste a lot of time getting decent, but not great, food, this is your place. Order online or don't go at all. Their true specialty is turning a 2-minute process into a 10-15 minute wait in a crowded entryway.

    (2)

  • Emily C.

    So convenient, so reasonably priced, *so* disappointing. How is it that place whose raison d'etre is baked goods makes baked goods about as tasty as two-day-old grocery store leftovers? It's not that any of it is disgusting, just seriously disappointing. They're 0 for 6 with me, and I've tried both pastries/cookies and lunch entrees. Also, I *hate* restaurants whose names misspelled words or misused punctuation. A specialty is not capable of possessing a cafe or a bakery. This makes me possibly even more irate than my other most hated restaurant name with a misplaced apostrophe (Carl's Jr). It's like fingernails on a chalkboard.

    (2)

  • Andrew T.

    Yeah, this is going to stay at three stars. I've been back a few times - got a cookie as snack, I've had another cup of americano (which was much better), but this morning, in an attempt to be healthy, I got a cup of oatmeal. That sounds good, right? And good for you? It was awful. One star or worse. Gooey, almost slimy consistency, with no hint of any attempt to season. No salt, no sugar, no nothing. Not even any oat taste for that matter. Not every bowl of oatmeal has to be over sweetened like the little Quaker Oats packets, but maybe a little something? Not even the raisins and crasins would bring it up to a moderately tasty level. I finished it...thinking it might at least be nourishing...but who knows. So I will stick to coffee and sweets from Specialty's - these items have been fine.

    (3)

  • Dae Y.

    it's great when a place has everything online and available. i looked on the website before walking down there for a breakfast sandwich. i chose: "Southwestern - $4.59 We make this one spicy with egg, salsa, diced tomatoes, red onions, green bell peppers and our corn mix and top it with cheddar cheese." it's a nice enough sandwich. made fresh. but IT IS NOT SPICY AT ALL TO MY TASTE. i ate it at my desk. i made a swiss miss hot chocolote (with water) to wash down the sandwich. and i have to admit, i made an EXCELLENT hot chocolate to go with breakfast. the turkey cranberry sandwich at lunch is AWESOME. the BLT is also pretty darn awesome. my favorite cookie is the peanut butter one.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey C.

    Stopped in on a Monday morning while on vacation to find them out of granola and yogurt. Additionally the sticky buns and orange almond rolls were both chewy and obviously stale. The service seemed unorganized and not very friendly. Head down to pike place. There are places there that do fresh every day!

    (1)

  • Martine M.

    This is a great cafe to get breakfast or lunch! We like their turkey/cranberry sandwich. All kinds of fresh salads and baked goods here! The proximity to UW was great!

    (4)

  • Calvin P.

    Piping hot coffee. Darn good baked goods. I'm a sucker for cinnamon rolls and theirs rank up there among the best. Have also had their breakfast sandwiches there. For lunch their turkey/spinache/apple/brie sandwich is great. Oh yeah, on fresh baked sour dough. Not a place for atmosphere or lingering. It's more of a get and go or quick bite kinda place. That's not to criticize them. Clearly that's exactly what they are aiming for at this place. I was there this morning and I was amazed at how quickly they moved people through the line. My only negative comment was that the wi-fi was intermittent at best. But like I said, this is not the kind of place for spending a lot of time at anyway, so wasn't a big deal. I thought the prices were a little on the high side, but I'm from out of town so I might be off base on this one. In any case, I'd say this is a good value if your looking for something quick but a cut (or two) above the typical quick service restaurant.

    (3)

  • Jessica M.

    I have to update my review from my previous one -- Specialty's seems to have made quite the improvement lately! They have recently gotten several newer (and more personable) staff members, and their food quality seems to have taken a leap forward! I have had 2 soups from Specialtys, and both of them were awesome!!! I usually go to Soups On (which is inside the US Bank Center just one building over) for soup, but decided to try Specialty's... It rocked!!! I was impressed, and if I'm impressed by a bowl of soup, you know it's good. I haven't tried any of their cookies lately to see if they have fixed the "burning" issue they seemed to be having, but I have tried a couple different salads and their "Reuben", both are always well made and very satisfying. I do love the ability to order online and then pick up 15-20 mins later, which makes deciding what to grab for lunch less of a hassle. I would really love it if they could open up in a larger place, so more people could sit inside, and so it wasn't so crowded, but that's besides the point. I do believe I will start recommending Specialtys again!

    (4)

  • Shera B.

    Amazingly helpful and pleasant staff. Food was good. Had a pastry and sandwich. A little pricey.

    (5)

  • Rebecca S.

    I just lifted up a piece of the bread on my turkey sandwich and the turkey had so much fat on it that it looked like it was encased in clear jello. I will never ever look at a turkey sandwich the same. In fact, I'll be lucky I don't barf at the thought of one in the near future.

    (1)

  • Tarah D.

    Went here for soup and salad. I had the vegan salad, which was very fresh ingredients, but pretty basic. Nothing special, but not bad. Also had the red pepper soup, which was, again, not great, but just fine (everything seems a-ok). The latte I had was good coffee, but not that hot. Baked goods are delicious, though, and the service here was really friendly.

    (3)

  • Olivia T.

    Mmmm yeahh...mmkayyy... Let's see how to write this review in non confrontational way as possible. How about I listed good things about Specialty's first : * Delicious Mocha. * Chocolate Croissant was yummy. * Convenient downtown location. Now, the bad... SERVICE here was unfriendly with sprinkles of snaptitude. The cashier who helped me with our order, gave me a blank stare when I told her my order and then she asked me to repeat it. Then she repeated my order in her mumbling tones. I asked her what was she saying and she answered in snappy mcsnap tones. I don't think I will go back here when I will visit Seattle again..I don't need snaptitudes with my coffee. Thank you.

    (2)

  • Katie K.

    Overpriced, not worth it in my book. I occasionally go back so I can hopefully find something good and worthy. But I keep leaving disappointed. The only thing I enjoy is their sticky buns and the oatmeal. Regardless, they are overpriced.

    (2)

  • Tanya J.

    I have such strong feelings for Specialty's. My favorite thing to do during the work week is: a) go to the Specialty's website ( specialtys.com ) b) navigate to my favorites or previous order history c) duplicate a previous order d) select "pickup in 15 minutes" e) pay using my existing credit card saved on the site f) enter the Specialties store 15 minutes later, making my way thru the crowd g) grab my to-go bag off the shelf h) smile all the way back to work since that was way too easy The beauty of this is there's zero wait, I can get my lunch right away and I don't even have to talk to a single person during the entire process. If you've been to Specialty's during the lunch hour you'll know how nice this is since the lunch crowd gets INSANE there. This is the best no-nonsense way to get lunch downtown with out a doubt! I literally go thru steps A-H about 2-3 times a week because it's so darn convenient! Also, if you place your orders online, your 12th lunch is free - yippee! Alright, so what to get? I'm a huge fan of the egg and cheddar cheese sandwich for lunch (yes, love me some breakfast for lunch), every single cookie they sell is a little bit of warmed up heaven in your mouth, and the salads are great, too! I don't *love* everything I've tried but once you get your favorites down, those are quite worthy of repeating over and over and over and OVER. This place is brilliant! Just brilliant!

    (4)

  • Amber E.

    Great coffee, nice ambiance - lots of tables, well-lit and big windows looking out onto the trees covered w/ twinkly lights it's still dark here at 7:45 a.m.!). Was going to rate this place a 4 until I tried the food -- an egg w/ roasted veggie sandwich w/ added goat cheese (recommendation of the server); sounded really good, but was a bit of a disappointment (just tasted a little "fast food like" w/out a lot of flavor). Convenient location, right across from our hotel, and a good spot to write up a few reviews from the cool places we visited last night (although the wi-fi was very spotty; I had to log on about a dozen times).

    (3)

  • McKenzie M.

    I love the quality of food they serve here! Delicious! And the service kicks ass every time I go! The people at the counter always have a warm greeting and a warm cookie waiting for you when you walk in! It's a great friendly atmosphere for a casual lunch!

    (5)

  • Michelle L.

    Get here by 11:45, it is very small and gets busy by noon. Stopped here on my way walking to west lake station. I am glad I did. The red pepper bisque was decadent, and the smoked ham sandwich was de-lish! This is a must stop if you are walking around the city.

    (5)

  • Julianne T.

    This is a perfect, quick lunch place. Pros: 1. orders can be placed on line, and they notify you when it's ready 2. detailed calorie information (especially when ordering on line) is available 3. everything can be personalized (and every bit added or subtracted comes with calorie information; so you always know what you're getting) 4. consistently good 5. good prices 6. after you order a certain # of orders on line, you get a free one Cons: 1. does get busy during lunch; if you did not order on line, prepare to wait 2. because they get so busy, lunch-time orders can be ready later than expected (I've seen a few customers whose group orders were late)

    (4)

  • Winnie T.

    I'm too cheap to pay full price for their delicious morning goods, but they have an AWESOME day-old tray (sometimes up to three trays) of fantastic croissants, scones, etc baked just 24 hours ago, tops. At ~1.50 a piece, I'm set for the morning. It's really fancy, sugary, high quality stuff. Wouldn't pay full price, though, but that's just me.

    (4)

  • Stev E.

    Ordered several baked items, latte, and breakfast sandwich. I've finished my latte and am still waiting for the sandwich. Service is quite slow or they must have forgotten; I'll give them another chance next time I'm in the area because the food appears to be of high quality. Update: indeed they forgot, and ran out of croissants...quite disappointing.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :6:00 am - 7:00pm
  • Mon : 6:00 am - 7:00pm

Specialities

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

Specialty’s Café & Bakery

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