A beautiful location, poorly maintained, smelly, sticky, dirty. The food is below-average diner fare. Hard to believe they serve anything besides fresh fish and crab meat in a restaurant at Fisherman's Terminal! And PLEASE learn how to make a real hollandaise sauce...not that hard, folks. Service is ok. I won't be back. Take your out-of-town visitors here if they're the sort that think fishing boats are exotic, and they're not gourmets. read more

Cutest waterfront diner I've ever been to! Not too packed but full enough to know it's a good place. Retro ambiance with quick and friendly service. I had the eggs Florentine while bæ had the French toast. Both dishes came super quick and our coffee cups were never less than half full! Quicker and tastier than Denny's, this is definitely a place to go back to. read more

Bay Cafe - #retro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Our daughter took us to Bay Cafe for brunch recently. It was our last day in Seattle and we wanted a good meal before a long road trip to home. We had good food and great service, with a view of the boats outside the windows. I was interested in the soup and half sandwich combination. I asked the waitress about the two soups offered that day and was pleasantly surprised when she offered to get me a small cup of each one to taste. I chose the Navy Bean soup, which was delicious! The half a Turkey Sandwich was good. It was a nice combination. My wife an daughter had omelets, which were large and tasty. If you are in the area for breakfast or brunch, this is the place to eat. read more

We have eaten here a few years ago bit were very disappointed today. A Thursday in late May with just one other couple at the cafe at midday. Not exactly busy. We ordered simple fish and chips and went on the deck. 15 minutes until we even got water. After 30 minutes we asked where our food was and they hadn't even started cooking it. So we cancelled. Clearly Not the same place we enjoyed in the past. The staff need to pay attention to their customers not their own conversation. read more

I had a very lovely Sunday brunch here! Although they are a seafood place there were plenty of vegetarian options.

I ordered the Seafood Benedict. I was surprised the order came very quick. The plate looked great but further looking at the plate the Hollandaise sauce on top looked congealed and the seafood smelled very fishy telling me wasn't fresh. The congealed sauce meant it is cold and no heat or steam coming from the sauce. Tasting it confirmed it was cold. I concluded in might have been plated ahead of time or ordered was place wrong and was kept. The English muffin was soggy. So disappointed because it cost me $28. The service was bad, the server didn't come by and asked about the food and didn't asked if we needed anything else. Just saw him back with the bill. It's a busy cafe on Saturday morning, there's no ambiance. Restaurant looked dirty and needed cleaning. The older Asian woman, the cashier needed to put a comb through her hair and look presentable she was wearing a sweatshirt. I had to put a star. They don't deserve one star at all. read more

Nice low-key diner located at Fisherman's Terminal in Ballard. I was 90-minutes early for a meeting in the area so I decided to grab a proper breakfast. I ordered the Skillet of the Day which included 3-eggs any style, served over their homemade corn beef hash, 2 slices of bacon and your choice of bread. My soft scrambled eggs were perfect! I thought I was a corned beef hash fan but it could be that I'm used to the way my Dad used to make it. It was a generous portion but just meh. The bacon was more on the soft side but edible. Next time, and there will be a next time, I'll stick with the 3-egg breakfast with your choice of meats, hash browns, and toast. My server was great, she even made sure one of her colleagues checked in with me while she was on her coffee break. As breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I'd recommend the Bay Café. read more

This has become a go-to place for breakfast for a couple guys who get together and discuss the worlds problems once in a while. Great view and not far from Discovery Park. read more

Bay Cafe - Love the view from the window booth. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This location can't be beat! The interior is adorable and has a diner vibe with a great view of the marina. There's usually a wait to try and get in for brunch on the weekends. The food itself is just OK. Pretty bland eggs. The biscuits are extremely dry and taste like freezer burn. read more

Solid little cafe in fisherman's terminal. Have only been for brunch twice but really enjoyed it both times. Usually no wait and great service, solid breakfast options. read more

Other than the yummy cinnamon roll and the friendly waitress this was a pretty awful experience for me. We show up for brunch around noon. There is a couple ahead of us at the host station as well as a few groups behind us. Lots of empty tables with dirty dishes on them. Greeter is just walking around with a confused look on his face not even acknowledging the crowd waiting to be seated. We eventually get seated by the greeter who did not smile or say a single word to us. Waitress was very friendly and was doing her best to keep up with the rush. I ordered a cinnamon roll, black coffee and the fish and chips which came with clam chowder. Cinnamon roll was delicious. My brother seemed to like his pancakes but my food was bad. Coffee was typical, watery tasteless diner coffee slow to be refilled. Clam chowder was ok but tasted like flour...like they added flour at the end to thicken it up. Fish was very chewy and under seasoned. Fries were decent but lacked salt. Coleslaw was wilted and warm like it had been under the heat lamp. It's supposed to be crisp, cold and refreshing. When it was time to pay the waitress told us to walk up front but informed us there was a long line. She literally said, "there wouldn't be a long line but everyone pays with credit cards and the machine is slow". Lol. I wanted to say, "well this is the 21st century lady" lmao. She was right, it was a long line and it was slow. I wouldn't recommend this place and will not be back. read more

Bay Cafe - Rubbery fish and chips with warm wilted coleslaw - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The service was great and the location and view is a reason just to go...but... the food...? My scrambled eggs were way over cooked to where they were brown on the bottom and dry. The pancakes... just so so as was the bacon.. The coffee has ALWAYS been lousy but I bought it just to see if it had improved... Sadly no...We should have gone to Chinooks next door... read more

This is our favorite breakfast place in Seattle. The staff is awesome and the food is even better, we go here at least once a week and it never gets old. Whenever you need a solid breakfast place come to Bay Cafe, it won't disappoint. read more

I left a review that was a bit unhappy but I went back to find I am able to fully enjoy a meal of perfectly prepared Oysters and hash browns!! I have also enjoyed the Greek Benny. So I am glad to have this cafe to enjoy as the staff is really sweet and pour the coffee with care and kindness. I will continue to love BAY CAFE. Thanks again. read more

Such a cute place. We ventured in on Mother's Day. We didn't have the kids with us so we were able to sit at the counter and by pass the line. Service was super fast, food came out before I could even blink my eyes. If your looking for that breakfast comfort food this is your spot. Also lots of original seafood style breakfast and lunch dishes. I'll definitely be going back. Extra bonus, independently owned!! read more

Firstly, this is certainly not my favorite cafe, but my in-laws who fly in from the UK absolutely love this place. In fact they mention it frequently as something they miss about Seattle (which doesn't champion the idea of Brits possessing sophisticated palates I'm afraid). Secondly, I have to laugh at the reviews put forth like this should be some kind of spectacular marina-side version of Canlis -it's NOT! It is a diner folks. If you were expecting something other than a breakfast/lunch (mostly) diner you are sorely deluded. That said, it is good for what it is: A working-class diner (albeit much more contemporary and cleaner) whose demographic are people that work in the fishing industry, are Magnolia residents, or are tourists that happen upon this place while visiting "Fisherman's Terminal" -see that name? It's a key indicator -duh. Yes, the waitresses were probably drafted from various truck stop diners across middle America; Yes, they can be brash, rough and uncouth; And yes, they can tend to forget you for 5 minutes at a time leaving you hungry/thirsty, desperate, and/or frustrated. Yet if you want a yummy, gut-filling, hardy, traditional menu, greasy, breakfast/lunch American-style place with absolutely no interior decoration what-so-ever, this is the place for you. And I can think of much worse. It's a few notches up from Denny's, but they also don't pretend to be otherwise. In all honesty, this is a 3.5 star place, but that's okay by me. read more

Not a safe space to eat, welcomes men carrying guns (who are not security or LEOs). We eat here a couple of times a month, on weekends, it's convenient, with a nice view, big portions, delicious biscuits. Would give it four stars but I discovered on my latest visit that they allow men with guns to wander in and get a table. I asked if they allowed people with guns in, and I was told yes, so I said I wouldn't be able eat there. The man with the gun overheard me, and called back " My work here is done". I guess he's a gun activist of some sort. Anyways, the waitress seated him with a smile as I left. So apparently the Bay Cafe management is fine with men with guns driving away other customers. It's their choice, maybe he visits there more often than I do, I don't normally go during the week. I've chosen to stop going there, I don't see it as a safe space. Anyone could have grabbed that guy's gun from him, he was so carelessly swaggering about with it. read more

Not the same. I have been coming here for years and it used to be great. However, my breakfast order was mixed up and then the correct order had overcooked eggs, then I was overcharged. I would avoid this place until they can find better cooks and service for their overpriced food. read more

I work at Fishermen's Terminal, so I'm pretty surprised I hadn't tried this place until now. Maybe it's because whenever I'm done with work, I just want to go home....and whenever I'm not at work, I don't want to go to the Terminal. However, what with the snow and all this week, I didn't have enough groceries to make a lunch to bring with me yesterday. So I figured I'd just order from the Bay Cafe and go over and pick it up. This place has pretty much standard diner food in my opinion. My vegetarian scramble was pretty solid (the avocado was a NICE addition) and the hashbrowns were tasty (although slightly overcooked). My english muffin wasn't toasted quite enough, but it tasted fine with lots of jam. The staff seemed really friendly and the place was totally decorated for the holidays, which was kinda cute. I probably won't actively seek this place out again, but it was generally good and I might go there again if I need to buy lunch while at work. read more

Bay Cafe is a nice diner surprise tucked away in the Fisherman's Terminal. The Terminal isn't a place that you naturally go to; it's a bit out of sight from the normal traffic on the Ballard Bridge, away from the heart of Magnolia, wrong side of the ship canal from the booming Ballard growth, etc. But once you find it, it's hard to beat the view of the ships bobbing at their moorings. The Cafe is more of a neo-modern take of the classic diner. I'm not entirely sure what the last sentence that I wrote actually means, but somehow it seems appropriate for this place. You've got an attempt at the old school diner with slightly whitewashed table tops, a counter and everything in a mixture of white and silver. It doesn't quite make it to the diner ambience it seems to be looking for, a bit too sterile for that, but seems perfectly serviceable. Of course once you're seated, it doesn't really matter because the biggest selling point is the views of the harbor. If you're looking at the counter too much, you're probably missing the point. As for the menu, there is a nice list of the usual omelets, benedicts, waffles and eggs......but with an extra seafood bent. Interested in an Oyster Omelette? How about a Smoked Salmon Scramble? Maybe a Seafood Omelette with shrimp and crab meat? Sadly, I'm not really a seafood fan so I won't be able to enlighten you on the taste of these concoctions. But I can attest to the fact that the Denver omelette and the Spinach and Feta omelettes are perfectly fine here. The portions were also at the generous range and we even had to take a little home. Prices are also reasonable with most of the offerings in the $9-12 range. read more

Really? This is what I get? Point to a table and slap the menus down. Literally walk by us multiple time before taking even our drink order? Walk by our food in the window count 'em 5 times before taking the plates to our table? The food was just OK. Overcooked and dry omelet with oily, really oily hash browns. Sure, my club sandwich was OK, but that'd be pretty hard to mess up. The ice tea was real, that was a plus, but it just felt like they could have done SO much better. The view is awesome, but the service and food is just sub-par. It's like they just don't care because people will still come for the reliable lame service and mediocre food. Sorry, I am not planning to return. read more

Everything was great ... service... breakfast and the place by the window . I will be back next time I am in Seattle read more

I do a monthly Breakfast Club with some of my girlfriends and usually we eat downtown near our offices, but this time we tried something different and went to Bay Cafe, closer to home. My friend had described Bay Cafe as a "greasy spoon diner" but I don't think it really falls into that category... it was pretty cute! By the time we arrived at 7:00 there were quite a few people already seated and enjoying breakfast (seemed to be mostly an older, retired type crowd). Our waitress was super duper cheerful and friendly considering the early hour, and she brought us much-needed coffee right away. Fishermen have been enjoying large portions here since 1988, and we certainly experienced our fair share. I decided to splurge and order the sausage eggs benedict because it's one of my favorites, and it came with my favorite kind of hashbrowns on the side. I only ended up eating about half of everything but it was really delicious! read more

Wow. I'm really surprised at all the negative and so-so reviews. I feel like people don't understand what a real diner is (we're from the NorthEast where diners are big thing, I haven't yet figured out if it's all that much of a West Coast thing yet?) And the person who said "but just because the restaurant is located at Fisherman's Terminal, it shouldn't mean that their waitresses must SOUND like a fisherman," - that's just plain rude and a bit snobbish, if you ask me. No wonder you didn't enjoy this place. Anyway. We checked this place out because a Seattle magazine had it in their list of "best breakfast/brunch" places and my husband was craving chicken fried steak. We're new to Seattle and haven't been to many places at all yet. This place totally hit the spot. It's a DINER, in the best sense of the word. To all the negative reviewers - this is not a place you go to for "gourmet" or foodie food. This is the kind of place you go to when you want hearty, simple, comfortable food, no frills. My husband said the chicken fried steak was good, but the GRAVY was the real deal. I got the California Omelet - it was HUGE and absolutely stuffed with bacon, avocado, tomatoes, etc. YUM. The hashed browns were crispy on top, soft underneath (just like I like them) and oh, so buttery tasting. The hostess seemed very no nonsense, but she immediately asked if we wanted to move to another booth (by the window) after she'd seated us (not near the window and our view blocked) and noticed that a booth had just opened up. Our waitress was warm & friendly. Other reviews I read said that this is where many of the fishermen eat, and we loved that - as many others said, this place was absolutely unpretentious. The view, to us, was unbeatable. I absolutely love harbors and wharfs and fishing boats - and these fishing boats are the real deal. My Dad loves fishing in all it's incarnations and I took a zillion pictures of the boats & the fishing memorial & plan to take him there next time my parents visit. As for the service - like I said, our waitress was perfect. But on those busy days where people complained about a table just being pointed to them and a menu being slapped on the table - where I come from, that's part of what a diner is, part of the charm, and it wouldn't bother me one bit. I highly recommend this place & I'd go back in a heartbeat. In fact, we intend to. read more

I made plans to meet a friend for brunch before we went hiking in Discovery Park. We walked in to the restaurant and the hostess looked at us, grabbed two menus and started walking away. No 'hello' or 'follow me' or anything. She seated us at a very tiny booth, plopped the menus down and walked away. I was feeling physically cramped in the tiny booth - there was a half wall connecting this booth with more on the other side. Whenever anyone moved the entire row of booths moved, creating an unfortunate mal de mer in my stomach and head. I figured we'd ask our waitperson if we could move to one of many other available booths in the place. But we waited. And waited. And waited. After 12 minutes and nobody coming to our table my friend and I got up and left. We walked by the hostess who watched us leave without a word. No, I will not be going back. read more

I love the Bay. I've been coming here with my adopted family since I was a kid. The service is always prompt and generally nice. The food is what you would expect from a diner spot. The view is always clutch! read more

Disappointing takeout experience. Called to order a breakfast sandwich for takeout. It was small, with no sides, and ended up costing $12. $12! Plus they use plastic takeout containers, plastic silverware, and plastic bags. I like the idea of this place and the decor but in some ways they should really get with the times. read more

We stopped here on a whim after not finding the place to buy fish off the docks. A sign with the specials indicated that they had seafood on their breakfast menu, so I was sold! We ordered the seafood omelette without hollandaise sauce, and a side of fruit. The food came quickly and the fruit selection was impressive. One bite of my omelette and... Bleh. The seafood was not fresh. I also think that when I requested "no hollandaise", it signaled the chef to place the caloric equivalent of cheese into the omelette. The impressive selection of fruit was a disappointment, since the blackberry on the plate tasted like bleach. So, needless to say, I didn't try the rest. The only reason I am giving two stars is because of the service. Our waitress was very attentive and made sure I never ran out of coffee. read more

I was pleasantly surprised with my first visit! I have not ventured out to that area and have not heard of Bay Cafe before. It was not as crowded as Portage Bay Cafe even though the food is just as good and the view is even better. It is located next to the marina and has a lovely view during the summer (when all boats are out) of the Salmon Bay. It has a nice array of hearty breakfast options (featuring omelets and scrambles during weekends). I had a Popeye Omelet which, funny as it sounds, was very yummy. The waiter was courteous and fun to chat with. I had a good time staring into the Seattle gray sky on a relaxing Sunday morning and enjoying good company and good breakfast. I will certainly return to this hidden gem :) read more

Nice view of the fishing boats. I like the Benedicts with crab cake or halibut when the have them. read more

Great family owned restaurant. The owners son is super friendly. The serving staff are really friendly. Now the food. The food is amazing. I ordered the seafood Benedict. One of the best I have ever had. I recommend eating here. read more

Bay Cafe - Great food and friendly service. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

As others have said, this is a nouveau diner. On the plus side, the window booths are great, with a view of the working port (lots of boats). Portions are heart-attack-sized. They tolerated our protracted camping out in the booth because our out-of-town guest got lost. I'm giving the Bay Cafe four stars primarily because of the sausage gravy: it is hands-down some of the best I've ever had and is by far the best I've ever had in Seattle. (I am a native of south Georgia.) Thick, just the right amount of pepper, infused with sausage flavor and bits. Mike's salmon benedict was delicious. My seafood omelet was better than average (and giganormous - easily serves two people). On the negative side: don't order the warm cinnamon bun with butter. Ours was served cold ("but I put it in the microwave!"). Even when warmed, it was meh. Very dense, bread-like and dry. Not much in the way of cinnamon flavor (but lots of sugar). On the positive side of the ledger, it has raisins. Coffee is so-so, but the waitress will keep filling that cup. Creamer in those tiny plastic bins on the table. And the biscuits? I thought the waitress had brought a skinny English muffin. Yes, that was the profile of the biscuit. The gravy is what made it OK. Salmon benedict: https://foursquare.com/view_photo?id=4eee3328b634f7544420b5c7 Seafood omelet: https://foursquare.com/view_photo?id=4eee33586c25c7f9d2e11892 == Updated 3 Jan 2014 == Downgraded to three stars after several other visits - almost always on a weekend. Food is basic diner fare with a twist: more seafood options than normal. Portions are generous. The ceiling is high and the windows are great. But it is loud, very loud. read more

Loved this place! Totally unplanned brunch after my hubby's photoshoot. I had oyster Benedict. Good portion of oyster, spinach and hash browns. Eggs were perfectly done. Did wish for a little more hollandaise. Waitress was amazing and kept coffee filled. Hubby had sausage Benedict. Usually he is the clean plate man but even he could not finish the plate! plate was 11 to 13 bucks, I thought a good value for the amount of Food. The location is cool too..a people watching spot for sure.. Some salty looking fishermen mixed with some hipsters and Ballard people who made the trip to the other side of the channel! Was a bit busy but not packed. So planning on heading back! read more

I love this diner for breakfast and/or lunch. Their menu is plentiful and their portions are big. We drive from the eastside on weekends if we plan to spend the day in Seattle. So we stop here for breakfast or lunch first. My wife loves their seafood benedict and I usually order the Gyros which comes with fries and Greek salad. I've tried almost half of the menu and everything is good. The owners are awesome, outgoing and friendly. read more

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Fell in love with this place years ago as a drop in. Now I currently hold tech meetings every month and love the food and the staff. Having 15 people each time and all of them love this place. read more

Diner feel....Diner food...Diner staff..... Sitting near the windows for the kiddos to see the boats was the saving grace at this place. Nothing spectacular...nothing average either! read more

I grew up eating here nearly every Friday afternoon for lunch, and this place has stuck with me for the following reasons: 1) The clam chowder! It's hearty and creamy, though I believe they only serve it Fridays. 2) Cheesy, outdated decor. Even as a kid, I knew that this place was pretty ugly inside. 3) The view of the marina. On a sunny afternoon, it's quite a view. 4) The Monte Cristo sandwich. Sometimes it can be a bit dry, but more often than not, I ate it and liked it. I wouldn't recommend going here to "wow" any of your visiting friends and relatives, but it's a good, quick, cheap bite. read more

Location, location. location! Awesome spot to eat breakfast. Pretty crowded but we had four and got right to a table. Mostly booths here so big groups be prepared to wait. The service was not that great, the lady seemed frazzled and didn't really help us out. I asked for water and never got it, which at most places is constantly being refilled. Food was great but a little greasier than I expected. Great big portions and good flavor. I would recommend, and will probably add a star with a slightly better next meal. My girlfriend wanted me to add that she liked it four stars... read more

This is our favorite breakfast joint. Not pretentious. Great view of boats and the marina. Nice booths to sit in. On Sundays they have numerous kinds of Eggs Benedict (Spinach Benedict, Seafood Benedict, Salmon Benedict). Oh Dear Bay Cafe, why, o' why not on the other days? They close at 2:30, so get there early... and enjoy! read more

My friends and family all enjoy the Bay. The service is always friendly and the relaxed vibe is a welcome change from so many of Seattle's hipster havens. No pretentious prima donnas here, just an honest diner and a wide array of customers. Try the California omelet - it usually makes 3 meals for me - and you get a generous amount of avocado with it. Stay away from the decaf - but that's true at most diners so no big surprise there. read more