Portage Bay Cafe - South Lake Union in Seattle

Make reservations. Amazing breakfast spot, aside from the busy chaos, staff was attentive food was organically savory. Definitely will recommend and revisit.This restaurant passed my table test lol. I always bring Lysol wipes to wipe the tables down being i know they reuse their towel but the wipe came out white and i basically disinfected it. Another plus for them

This place was delightful ☺️. When you ordered the cakes you had access to the berry bar 🫐🍓. We loaded up! The cream for fruit dipping was so good! I loved that they offered portable heaters and blankets for outdoor seating. The banana French toast was the best! Highly recommend!

Good portion size. Tres leches pancake are sweet and soft with customizable breakfast bar and variety of fruit options, plus fresh coconut whipped cream. Juicy and tangy shashuka with crispy bread is a must have. Love the mimosa, a size of glass that fills thirst on a hot summer

Amazing cold brew coffee. Loved the fruit and nuts bar for the pancakes and waffles. Portion sizes are also big. Shakshuka was juicy and fresh. Busy on most days, reservation recommended.

My boss recommended this place to me so I wanted to try it out. Actually he recommended their Ballard location but our schedule didn’t allow us time to make it all the way up there. Luckily, we found their South Lake Union location after walking around the Amazon Spheres.Apparently this place is an institution, offering a wide selection of sweet and savory big breakfast treats. They even have a waffle/pancake bar. We were not starving so we both ordered off the menu. I got the Uli’s Spicy Scamble with a side salad. It was good but very spicy. Shoutout to the waitress for recommending *against* adding the kale salad as a side for an extra $2. She said it was not worth the price and most people don’t like it.The better dish was the Farmer’s Hash Bowl with Bacon that my girlfriend got. It was one of the best things we ate a trip. Both of these meals came with a big piece of housemate honey wheat toast that was an awesome addition.I know this place is probably technically a chain but definitely try it out. No matter what you are looking for they have it. Their coffee (and the mugsis fantastic.

Hyped brunch spot in SLU. It can be tough to get a table as a walk-in so reservations are recommended. Food options were good, honestly I have no complaints, but I guess from all the hype I had heard I walked in with overly-high expectations. I did appreciate their commitment to using (and labelingorganic ingredients.

Cute place! Fluffy vegan banana pancakes with a fruit bar. Went back and tried farmers hash which was also delicious.

It was my first time there, we met a friend who lives in the area that he recommended. If Seattle had a breakfast brunch place this place would be it! We felt it reflected the vibe and scene of Seattle to the letter. Super chic kinda hipster-ish and had all the food offerings that you think Seattle would have. So glad we got to experience the vibe and atmosphere. Food was on point and the pancake bar had some of the most fresh fruit offerings that you just cant help but overload your plate with everything!

Great atmosphere, better food! Benedict plates are awesome and the service was ridiculously fast. We were seated and got our food in 6 minutes! (Was told its wasnt the norm). Keeping this place in the back pocket for next trip to Seattle

They have really French toast and fresh fruit bar. I haven’t tried other food. Super busy on weekends though regardless of reservation you still have to wait. It’s super loud inside

I was pleasantly surprised with this place. Went to breakfast on a Sunday morning around 9am, didnt even really have to wait more than 5 minutes but also the food came out really fast. It was super busy but still didnt really effect our experience. It was super loud so hard to communicate with my company. I had the Ranchers Breakfast.

For those who don’t like to read — this restaurant is where you need to go. Food/Service/Music are awesome. The “Migas” with chorizo added was perfectly seasoned (which doesn’t happen oftenand the “Oatmeal Cobbler French Toast” was brilliant.After searching blogs/reviews for good breakfast spots in Seattle, and not finding many with interesting options, we ran across Portage Bay.And for my last day in Seattle I am glad we did.The place was busy, the music and vibe of the restaurant was fun, and for the first time I noticed a restaurant staff that were having a great time. Not the forced, you have to smile and wear the minimum amount of flair on your uniform kind of experience. A few other restaurants we tried in the area did not have this kind of energy/chemistry.Our server, Joey, nailed it. Thoroughly answered questions about the menu, gave us some time to look it over, great attention to coffee levels and noticing/offering to replace a napkin that fell off of someone’s lap.Definitely worth it. Absolutely trying this place again. The menu is loaded with tasty options.

excellent excellent food, so happy about the vegan options - and the FRUIT BAR is such a great addition. The one downfall is if you place a reservation, do expect to wait an additional 20-25 minutes after the time of your reservation, we made the mistake of getting there 15 minutes before our reservation, then had to wait 20+ minutes AFTER the time of the reservation. In total an hour before we got a bite of food in. (by the time we got sat service was fast however). Staff is really kind despite the craziness of the breakfast rush which is why i’m only docking one star off. All things considered i would for sure come back.

Bruh, the whip cream. Just get something with the ability to go to that fruit/whip cream bar! You won’t regret it. 👌🏼I will be back when I return to Seattle. It definitely does get busy there though, so set up a reservation if you can so you don’t have to wait in line like walk-ins would!

Portage Bay Cafe lived up to expectations, both in food and service. This was my first time here but definitely not the last. The menu had a number of interesting options that Im excited to try. And my server, Savannah, was excellent.

We ordered the Mole Breakfast Burrito and the Bacon Bendict. We enjoyed both dishes. The other dishes that we saw being delivered also looked great. Would definitely go here again, and try the breakfast bar probably.

The place is huge and offers a fruit bar of sorts in the middle depending on what you order. It has good lighting and a lot of art to see.Price is okay, pretty standard for Seattle and the serving is great too. Fresh fruits are also available which is a great plus. I got the bottomless coffee so that was awesome.The place is beside a paid parking space so you can do that but expect it to be hard to get a free space during lunchtime or the weekend.The choices are limited and doesnt really offer as much as any other brunch place on other parts of Washington.Theres a lot of seating inside but they offer reservation to guarantee not waiting for a long time if youre going on a busy time or day.

Let me just start off by saying this. Place. Did. Not. Disappoint. Recommend 1000% the food is AMAZING!!!! The presentation, the staff, the atmosphere, the everything!!!Such great food, picked this place out of random at it is now saved as one of my favorites because we will be back here, again, to eat!Again, I recommend, come try it out, you will NOT be disappointed!! My soul and heart is happy!

This place gets 5 stars for American brunch but I had to dock one after trying their shakshouka last weekend. The shakshouka was watery, flavorless, and the eggs were clearly poached then added to the sauce instead of being poached in it.They nail the traditional American breakfast foods though! The banana foster french toast was mind blowing and the crab cake eggs benedict is my favorite in the city. If you come here, stick to these types of dishes and avoid anything attempting to be ethnic.Decent street parking around this area and not too hard to find on a Sunday morning.

My boyfriend and I came this morning for a birthday breakfast. Our waitress so nice and attentive (I’m sorry, I can’t remember her name). The food was delicious! I had the banana’s foster French toast with bacon and coffee and he had the Swedish pancakes and sausage with the apple mimosa. We grabbed berries and whipped cream from the berry bar which was really cute.However, the only reason I’m giving 4 stars is because shortly after leaving, about 30 minutes, he started to feel very ill. He started to get abdominal pain, chills, fever, nausea, and he has vomited all day and night. It got so bad that I had to drive him to an urgent care facility where he was diagnosed with a stomach bug. I have felt the same symptoms, but not as severe. I’m not sure what it was, but it was definitely as a result from eating at the restaurant because it was so acute and we are both sick, him being the most ill.

Highly recommend putting this place on your Breakfast stops! It was very busy when we got there but the wait for the table was about 10 minutes and about the same to order food which was expected with how busy it was. If you sit outside they provide blankets and heaters. Pro tip: if you drink coffee and like creamer I would put a a lump of whip cream you can get at the berry bar in your cup of coffee!

The BEST brunch spot. I ordered the huevos rancheros, but couldnt help but order a side of the gluten free French toast. I wish I took a pic of the huevos rancheros, it was sooooo good. In fact, I dont think Ill ever be able to order it anywhere else. I love their gluten free options. Thank you Portage Bay Cafe because eating out gluten free is such a challenge, especially if you love brunch treats like French toast, pancakes, etc! Service was terrific and despite always being busy the fabulous food was served quickly.

Massive food portions, so plan to share the plates. They have a station to top your French toast or pancakes with fruits and whipped cream. All organic and yummy food.

Great place to enjoys sweet and savory brunch favorites. Sure thing for two or a group, but make sure to make reservations, especially on the weekend because it gets packed. Their South Lake Union location is the biggest of the many locations they have throughout the city. They use many local ingredients and have staples along with specials to choose from. Their fruit bar is also very popular and is self serve.

Good brunch, with a huge dining room, and a berry bar for pancake and waffle meals. There’s a whole gluten-free menu, and a solid mimosa pitcher.

Great service.Nice feeling.Clean.Food was presented very nicely however, it could have had more flavor. Very fresh and raw....not bad but for the price could have been more savory.

Great place for brunch!We tried the following:- Waffles- French Toast- Dungeness Omelet- Farmers Hash- Steak & Strawberry Salad

The bananas foster french toast is perfection. This was delicious and sweet. To be honest, I thought I wouldnt eat too much but I devoured it. The side of fruits that we could grab from the bar was an exquisite touch and helped balance the whole meal. I also had potatoes which was good but I took that to go because I had too much food but then. I also had chamomile tea with honey. The staff and our waitress were great. I recommend you stop by and grab something with friends or family if youre in town.

I can’t say enough how wonderful our experience was at Portage Bay Cafe. My wife and I arrived on a Sunday around 9:30-10:00 and the place was absolutely packed. Quick note: reserve your table prior to arriving. The hostess informed us that the only seating available was outside, so we gladly took it. Although the weather was a bit nippy, the restaurant had plenty of blankets and portable propane heaters for every table, which we really appreciated. There is overhead protection from the rain and occasional snow but be ready to encounter the rain if it’s windy. As far as the food goes, it was very good. I had the Joe’s scramble and I would definitely order it again and recommend it. My wife ordered the shakshuka and she raved about it. Did I happen to mention that the prices really surprised me? I had expected to pay close to $20 a plate but when we received our bill, which was for 2 coffees, 1 mimosa and 2 breakfast plates, we paid $56, not to shabby for food during these times. Lastly, everyone that we encountered were really down to earth people. I hope you enjoy your visit as much as we did. 🙏🏾

Nice location. Good ambience. Good staff. Unfortunately, the vegan farmers hash I ordered was one-note. All vegetables tasted the same and that was salt and lots of pepper. The side of toast with jam had more flavour. Coffee was meh. I dont understand peoples obsession with burnt beans aka dark roast! My friends gluten-free food, seoul omelette was good, I gather. Maybe a good place for meat and egg eaters and people with sweet teeth.

I love Portage Bay. It’s always super busy during weekend brunches, but that’s for a reason. Their dishes are always delicious and HUGE. I do wish there were more menu options that came with something both savory and sweet, but if you go with a friend and one person gets sweet and the other savory and you split, then it’s perfect!Prices are around $15-$20, but the portion sizes are always gigantic and I feel like I got my moneys worth. They also always have a seasonal menu in addition to their usual items, so I like to go every few months to see whats new. Every time Ive went, Ive also had amazing and very attentive service from the staff- above and beyond!Last time I went, I got the seasonal lemon poppy pancakes with raspberry frosting and my boyfriend got the breakfast burrito. Both were great.Weekend brunches are always packed though, so if you want to go during sat/sun, make sure to join the yelp waitlist or make a reservation if possible.

Wonderful place for brunch. Great location and you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.

Loved the burger but everyone else at my table werent too fond of their food. They get crazy crowded and its a long wait on weekend brunches. The potatoes are a hit or miss depending on which batch you get and when. Their scrambles are pretty good, the French toast is not something I would order again.A decent place but really there is a lack of breakfast places in Seattle!

This place was amazing with quite friendly and personable staff. We got there early and I am soooo glad we did….. by the time we left there were quite a few persons waiting on tables. I strongly suggest you make reservations, you won’t be disappointed. The French toast was amazingly fluffy and fresh. I had the option of adding the selection of fresh fruits which definitely complimented the toast. The spicy eggs and sausage was quite spicy… I was quite impressed they gave you the option of potatoes or salad which we did…. Quite a nice surprise for breakfast….definitely worth every penny. Again, great service… we will definitely visit again when we’re in the Seattle area..

Had a lovely brunch here. The patio is well heated and they even have blankets. Fairly vegan friendly menu with a few solid choices. I had the hash which was yum. Our server Stephanie was amazing and had a bunch of great recommendations. I would hit this place up again when Im back in town.

Such a fun brunch! We had an 1130 reservation and got to sit immediately outside. We would have had to wait a bit longer to sit inside despite making a res. The food didn’t disappoint! I got the eggs Benedict carnitas and everything my friends got looked amazing. This place has one of those menus where it’s hard to choose! Definitely worth the wait.

Got really lucky this past Saturday. Arrived a few minutes before they open and our party of three got seated right away. The wait staff was very pleasant and service was quick. Servings were quite large and dishes were tasty. We really liked all the fruits that you can pile on to various pancakes and french toasts they offer.

If you’re looking for a delicious, high end breakfast with exceptional ingredients, look no further!The coffee is nothing extraordinary but breakfast sandwich and French toast were!Also there is a breakfast bar with fresh fruits and homemade whipped cream

Really great brunch experience on a Saturday. My friend and I had no issues being sat since we had a reservation. Service was really great and friendly despite the restaurant being full. The food came fast, our coffee was never more than half empty, and the mimosas were fresh and equally balanced. I really enjoyed my oatmeal strudel french toast, especially with the additions from the topping bar. Its definitely a great add on for the french toast and pancake orders since you get to customize it. I absolutely recommend trying the whip cream, it makes the sweeter dishes much lighter and cuts the sweetness. Parking was easy to get near the restaurant, and its really easy to make reservations online.

Pitcher mimosas 🥂 came here for a brunch and the service was fast and friendly. The food was amazing especially the French toast and pancakes 😍 will definitely come back here again. Oh! Their local hot sauces are soooo good too!

Food and mimosas were amazing. There was a small wait but totally worth it. My only criticism would be all the dust on the boats and things hanging from the ceiling. I feel like its excessive and its probs falling into the food. :/

If I could name a place as my favorite in the city of Seattle it would be this place, with a great menu and a delicious variety of dishes, I recommend you try the classic Pancakes since you have a whole table where you can put from whipped cream, fruits and natural seeds to create the best experience and enjoy them the way you like them, I recommend you try the green mole burrito, which is quite an experience in terms of flavor and size but if you go with several friends I recommend you try different dishes since they are all an unforgettable experience for Usually the place is full you will have to wait 20 30 minutes but in the end it will be worth it the service is incredible the attention is magnificent and you will always leave with a great taste in your mouth it is worth sacrificing a little of your time and getting to this place now that you will leave very happy

I came here for Saturday brunch n the place was popping. Since I was a solo business traveler, I got seated at the bar right away. The place has good vibes n staff is busy. Mimosa to start with was refreshing and perfect OJ to Prosecco ratio. Ordered pepper bacon eggs Benedict and dish was amazing. The hollandaise sauce was seasoned to perfection, eggs could be a lil more runny, potatoes with the tomatillo sauce on the table was 👌🏾Place is 🔥 and if u want a good reasonably $$ brunch spot, just go here.

This restaurant was well worth the wait. I actually tried to walk in on Sunday and they were so busy they were only seating reservations. So I booked a reservation for the next morning for breakfast at 8:00 am, There is a line before they open I recommend getting there early. There is paid parking and Sunday is free. They had a special chef menu besides the regular menu. I decided to go with Mole Verde burrito and Huevos rancheros simply because I wanted to taste both dishes. Both dishes were packed with flavor and were good size portions, a bit spicy but in the most flavorful delectable way. The French toast was made with their homemade Challah Bread which made it taste custardy on the inside with buttery crispy browned edges. The fruit bar had many fruits, nuts, butter and home made whip cream (not sugary but creamy to choose from.

I had the bananas foster french toast. It was really delicious, but a little too sweet for me after a few bites. The place was really busy even during the week, so I would highly recommend making a reservation before going.

An excellent breakfast place. Space is welcoming and the food is wholesome. Nice features include plenty of outdoor seating with warm blankets if the weather require them. There is also a nice fresh berries buffet adorned with a large tub of whipped cream. Staff are friendly and efficient.On a second trip, unfortunately, I found the food to be a little disappointing. My order of mushroom benedicts, with of substitute of berries for the potatoes, was filled incorrectly. The mistake was quickly fixed but the muffins and the mushrooms were cold.

Good brunch. They have a bar with fruit and toppings to put on your pancakes. The order of pancakes is 2 HUGE cakes. I could only eat one of them. My son had a crab omelette with out the veggies and ate the whole thing and said the potatoes were his favorite forgot to get a pic.

Amazing restaurant in every way. Manager John and waitress Grace made our meal unbelievably special plus the food was off the charts delicious.We were a group of eight at a busy Sunday brunch time. John used humor and creativity to get a seated. He also made sure to acknowledge a milestone birthday in the group with a generous gift!Picture here is a the banana Foster French toast which was as delicious as it looks. I had the Joes scramble which is also delicious and filling with great portion size. Our group had lots of questions and Grace the waitress was patient and accommodating with everyone and everything with the best attitude you would want.First time here but it wont be the last this is a really special place in every respect.

This is my favourite breakfast 🍳 place in Seattle. The berry bar carries fresh seasonal berries is top notch - our fav on this trip were boysenberries.Favourite sweet dish is the oatmeal cobbler berry french toast 🤤 get it every time.Service is always great and atmosphere is very Seattle. No surprise, coffee is stiff and delicious and no nonsense.

I had a good breakfast here yesterday with some friends. The mimosa pitcher and americano were great and I really enjoyed my West Coast Benedict. I do think the English muffin was dry though and the egg was over hard which isn’t wrong but unusual. Overall I really enjoyed my breakfast here though and I’ll be back!