This was a very disappointing choice. I was in Bellevue with an and we tried this place for brunch. The service was slow, the one server was trying his best but needed help. My friend had corned beef had and eggs and I had chicken fried steak. The hash was over cooked and dry and none of or food was above mediocre in taste, portion size. It also was extremely overpriced, even for Bellevue. I don't recommend this place at all. read more

This is a rather small place hidden in North Bellevue. The restaurant is a smaller place that seems comfortable. It looks like they share a space with Graze Craze in regards ro the kitchen area. I picked up a BLT and Rueben sandwiches to go. The staff was very friendly and cordial. The sandwiches were not as good as I would have hoped. The BLT came on wheat bread and I was not asked on the bread choice and the sandwich itself was a bit dry. The Rueben sandwich was pretty good with lots of meat but the rye bread seemed like it might have been fried or over buttered, this made it feel and taste oily. I do intend to come back again later and give it another try. read more

Brief Encounter - This is my sign - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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A small brunch spot in a little plaza. We were given drinks and our order was taken pretty promptly. But that was it unfortunately. I ordered the meat and veggie omelette with hashbrowns and a biscuit. But after it took 20 minutes for the food to arrive, it came with no biscuit :c but fine, because I had some of my friends biscuit and it was so abnormally dry/ sandy and not good. The omelette was okay, amount of meat and veggies were fine. But there were huge blobs of cheese which were off putting, especially when you take a bite and it's 99% cheese. Hashbrowns were good. Perfect amount of crisp. Once we were done eating, it took a long time for someone to come back out to bring our check as well. Overall, this was fine. There are plenty of other brunch spots that are mediocre but still better. lol this will def be a brief (and only) encounter read more

Brief Encounter - Meat and veggie omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Delicious breakfast on the Eastside. My go to here is the country hash and eggs with house made corned beef and a biscuit. Diner feel. Service is quick and friendly. Located in a strip mall with available parking. read more

Brief Encounter - Joe's Special & Country Hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Visited on New Year's Day. It was busy but it was fine, we got a table straight away. We ordered the meat and veggie scramble and the country fried steak. The meat and veggie scramble was Yum!! The hash browns were nice and moist, the scramble was well flavored and the eggs were NOT dry - sooo good. The country fried steak was great!! They both were served with a biscuit, it was fluffy, not dry , great taste. The restaurant is a small cozy spot , so you may have to wait for tables to turn over, but it is a great spot to try out. I will come back for sure. read more

This place is a very small restaurant in the Bellevue area. It's a good spot as a back up place. If all of the other Bellevue brunch spots are full prices are definitely a bit expensive for what you get. I've tried the eggs benedict, the two egg breakfast and the cinnamon roll. All of them are pretty standard. Their hashbrowns are my favorite part. It's super crispy. Service is pretty standard as well sometimes they forget about you but it's ok. It's very accommodating spot for parties six or more so that's super helpful and there's a parking lot so that's super convenient! Hygiene could be better :,) utensils were a bit dirty read more

Brief Encounter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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4.5 stars! My husband got the country fried steak which he loved. That is exactly how he likes his country fried steak. I got the bear special with hashbrowns and it was delicious! Really get the homemade cooking feel with that meal. Packed full of veggies and meat. Only reason why it wasn't a full 5 stars is the hashbrowns had no seasoning. No salt or anything. If you're at the restaurant that's not a big deal because you can just add yourself. But we had ordered takeout and had to eat in the car. read more

nothing too crazy, just a casual breakfast diner in bellevue. our food took quite a while to come out but everything tasted pretty good. if you're looking for a typical american spot you should come here. read more

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Ordered a breakfast burrito for lunch... $14 for this? Gave it the benefit of the doubt in case it was the best tasting burrito ever and it is a meh burrito. read more

Brief Encounter - Burrito with condiment container for size comparison. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Oh so disappointed. I had been craving biscuits and gravy for two weeks but didn't have time to make them myself. My mornings have been hectic, and I kept missing breakfast at my usual spots. So, I decided to give this place a try. I called ahead for a pickup order, and the gentleman on the phone was polite. He asked how I wanted my eggs, but I didn't want eggs or hash browns. I asked if there were any substitutions, like fruit--he said no. I asked if I could just leave them out--he said no, it "doesn't change anything." That was frustrating, but I went ahead with the order anyway. When I arrived, I noticed the menu offered a side order of biscuits and gravy, which would have been perfect. Not sure why he didn't mention that as an option. Now, the food: * The online menu listed the meal at $16, but I was charged $18. * It was supposed to come with two biscuits, but I received two cold, rock-hard halves--so really, just one full biscuit. * The gravy was advertised as sausage gravy, yet there wasn't a single piece of sausage in it. * It was completely bland and also cold. I was so disappointed by this experience and will not be back. Save your money and go next door to Subway. read more

Brief Encounter - Online menu- $16 price - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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First of all, this place is an institution! I'm pretty sure they have been serving diner food for at least the last 30 years if not more. The interior doesn't look quite the same as I remember it from the 90's but it's in the same location with the same welcoming vibe. I had a Patty Melt with fries ($12) and it was amazing. I don't know how I made it to my 40's without trying a Patty Melt, but this was a darn good sandwich and the fresh hot crinkle fries that accompanied it were a perfect pairing. The service was super friendly, making us feel like we were old friends. Pros Great diner food! Very reasonable pricing Good parking Cons Smaller space, probably not great for groups read more

Pros: Cute spot with really nice clientele and staff! The prices are reasonable and it feels like a true mom n pop shop. They have a big menu, which was great! Cons: I settled on the huevos rancheros and ordered my eggs scrambled. It came to me with eggs over easy, low on the veggies and sour cream.. and on a heaping pile of black beans. Even with all that, it needed hot sauce, ketchup, and salt. It surprisingly had little flavor. Also, they only have regular coffee.. would be great if they got a coffee machine for an espresso! Overall, I would come back but maybe order something else with more flavor. read more

This is our family's go-to breakfast spot. It is tiny, so you have to time it right to avoid the wait. Our favorites are the Tuckers Scramble, french toast, traditional eggs Benedict, and the Texas style breakfast sandwich. read more

$23 for a scrambled egg, sausage and 1 pancake with a small cup of caffe was a bit to much. The service was off and seemed very disconnected from the customer experience. read more

Brief Encounter - a restaurant with tables and chairs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Went for brunch on 7 October. First off the silverware was dirty and hair in the napkin not a good way to start a meal. Our waiter was pleasant but had little to know of product knowledge and showed a willingness to ask. He may have been newly hired but nonetheless pleasant. I ordered a BLT with extra B. Came out in 10-15 minutes seemed just fine however no choice of bread or side. White with fries only. Fries hot and fresh bacon was overlying crisp to almost burned. Two slices of tomato and a bit soggy. Lettuce chopped yet fresh. Over all was just okay wok I be back? Eh I won't go out of my way read more

Price is too high. Two people for breakfast for 50.00. Must be the over priced eggs. Potion is just okay. Unless you order burgers. It seems okay portion. Services are great. Location is great too near Bellevue square. read more

We finally went back to Brief Encounter to give it another try. Big mistake. We both had the two egg breakfast with meat $17 . The eggs were overeasy as requested. Just needed to add salt & and pepper, and they were good. The meal came with a small bisket, which was very hardy like a hocky puck with little flavor. The hashbrowns were ok, but they were barely browned but better than our last time here. My bacon came out not warm, but there were 5 pieces of it. My wife's ham was very much like rubber. Guess we will wait a few more years and try them again. read more

Nice little cafe. We had breakfast, eggs and pancakes. The food el was good, pancakes weee nice and light. Service is very friendly. read more

Brief Encounter - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

What a lively, little spot! I stopped for breakfast and was stunned by the great coffee, amazing service and outstanding food! 100% will be back. read more

Fry's undercooked. Burger overcooked and no bacon even though I was charged for it. My be better onsite but food was sub par when picked up App wouldn't accept special instructions read more

Quaint, cute diner that serves classic American breakfast/brunch food. Like many reviewers state, the food itself isn't ball busting or anything crazy but for the price, it's hard to beat. I would say the french toast was okay, pancakes slightly better, but the breakfast burrito was superb! For $12, it was packed with meat and eggs while the tortilla was well cooked without being either flakey or chewy! I am always disappointed whenever I bite into a burrito and it's just skin but this was not the case. Highly recommend if you don't know what to order. Extremely friendly and fast service! read more

Who doesn't love breakfast for lunch. Overall was good. Nothing crazy food wise but the service was wonderful our waitress was super friendly and attentive. We were a group of 6 and the food came out fairly quickly and the bill was super cheap. If you're looking for cheap/typical diner breakfast foods, this place is a good one. read more

A small but unforgettable place that offered plentiful & hearty options. Waitress was so kind and friendly. Everything cooked well. Recommend the Huevos Rancheros & biscuits with butter and jam! Crowd gathered for this local favorite by brunch time. read more

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After driving by numerous times I finally decided to give this restaurant a try for a late breakfast. I ordered the Breakfast burrito with bacon and added potato along with Pancakes (2), biscuits and gravy along with hash-browns. My mom and I loved our meals - The breakfast burrito hit the spot and it's the best I've had since I moved here to Washington. My mom loved the biscuits and gravy and hash-browns and we split the pancakes. The aroma of the pancakes made us drool. There is a vanilla smell to them and they tasted delish! I definitely look forward to returning and ordering different items on the menu. My breakfast burrito was absolutely filling. Although I did not finish it (half of it) I will have it for breakfast tomorrow morning. I ordered the food online. Fast and easy process. I was greeted immediately which is a big thing for me. Look forward to returning. read more

This place is super yummy & they're generous with the portions! I believe ordered it on Uber Eats. read more

Brief Encounter - Texas Styled Breakfast Sandwich (sausage & bacon) with hashbrowns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

My husband and I stopped here on a whim and are so glad we did! The Rueben was one of the best I've ever had (and I order them a lot!). The meat is all made in house. My husband was also very satisfied with his chicken fried steak. Loved the hashbrowns. We will return again! read more

Classic, delicious diner food without the overly greasy plate. I love their scrambles and gluten free toast. Amazing service every time!! Very chill ambiance. Highly recommend read more

I dont get how this place has 3-1/2 stars. This place is easily a 4.5 star place. Customer service is extremely friendly, coffee was great, and the food was great. I really enjoyed the everything omelette and hash browns. Place is tucked in a strip mall so its a nice low key spot to eat at too. I cant emphasize enough how great the service was. read more

Brief Encounter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

We had a short wait time and the restaurant wasn't too crowded. It's a cute diner. Our waitress was such a sweetheart and the bussers were kind as well. Food was delicious and I wish I could eat here every day. read more

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Very classic subpar diner vibe. It is very obviously popular with seniors. There were so many walkers in that joint on a Sunday around 11:30, you could barely fit inside the door. Which was packed as it was, and we waited almost 40 minutes for a table. The restaurant is small so there is not a lot of room to wait by the front entrance, so everyone was on top of one another. The staff were not the friendliest bunch, although I understand they were packed so everyone was stressing, but still. One of our servers was actually very sweet, but I can't remember his name. As I said before, the food is very average. Home style potatoes weren't seasoned, the has browns were as hash browns are expected to taste, and not much grease which was nice. The ham breakfast sandwich was very expected. Just no wow moments with the food. Actually, I think the best plate by far was my husbands (we had a group of 6), who got the German sausage and potato cake breakfast. The cakes were tasty and he really liked the sausage. So, win. My bestie and I got the salmon scramble and the salmon was on the dry side, which made the fact that there was hardly any cream cheese in there that much worse. More cream cheese and green onion would've done wonders. I liked the wheat bread a lot. We love our brunch time but this will not be a go to for sure. read more

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Their menu is pretty basic. The one option they aren't equipped to handle is potato instead of hash browns. Finally we agreed what I wanted for breakfast- she really wasn't hearing me wanting potato's over hash browns, I didn't want the included pancakes or french toast. Overall really clean place, really nice folks and the food was great. Very inflexible on what similar options you have. Over 20 bucks with tip for 2 eggs, bacon, potatoes and coffee officially makes you the most expensive breakfast I've had in any corner of King county. That's a lofty, but not necessarily a positive aspiration. read more

Brief Encounter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Nice people, pretty good breakfast spot. Haven't had their lunch items. I really like their biscuit n gravy and scrambles

Small but wonderful food and very friendly service. True homemade breakfast and lunch!

Been desperately looking for good breakfast places and hoped this would be one. It's not. Fox News on the tv when we came in meant it probably wasn't gonna be a good match but gave it a chance. Everything tasted like it was a Costco mix. Pancakes were definitely just a mix with water. Nothing special at all. Country fried steak was TV dinner quality. Definitely wouldn't recommend this one. read more

This place offers basic American comfort food. I had eggs Benedict and they were flavorful. It was a good value and there was good service. read more

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My favorite part about Brief Encounter is the atmosphere. Its always pretty busy but the feeling inside is so comfortable almost as if you're eating at a large family gathering. There's always lots of laughter at the bar and the waitresses are all happy and casual. Food is great, nothing mind blowing but no complaints at all. Portions are large and prices are not bad at all. I'm someone that eats ALOT and the Joe's Special was enough to stop me from helping my friend finish her food so that's a big check in my book! read more

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Worst service experience ever at any restaurant. Would never go back. They must have changed ownership. Waitress ignored us for 10 minutes after we let her know we were ready to order. The place was 20% full, just a few tables. Waitress went to table next to us, still ignored us and started sorting silverware and napkins. We left money for the cup of coffee and went to one of Bellevue's best breakfast venues a few miles south. Really bad service. read more

Affordable, good-sized portions, homey, comfort food. It shares space/management with a take-out charcuterie business.

We are from Europe so when we go for breakfast in the USA, sometimes we want the old fashioned diner experience and that is exactly what we got. And then in a very positive way. An extensive breakfast menu with all the old favourites, served at high quality by friendly staff. Well worth going to. If you are into trendy eateries, stay away, if you want a good old fashioned breakfast, queue up. read more

I took my little sister here for brunch on Saturday morning and the place was steady. There were a couple groups already there, but we were able to be seated immediately. As soon as we sat our server asked us what we wanted to drink. When I asked her what the drip was she mentioned it's Caffe D'arte. The menu had a good amount of different items for breakfast and lunch (which is served after 11AM). After asking if the server recommended the Carnitas Scramble or Jake's Burrito, she mentioned that the Carnitas Scramble was her favorite. My little sister ended up getting the Tilly Philly Breakfast Wrap. It didn't take long for us to get our food. While my little sister enjoyed hers I wasn't much of a fan of mine. Though the portion is a lot it was lackluster. The pork carnitas meat was dry and the eggs seemed to be lukewarm. To top it was pico de gallo, but wished there had been more shredded cheese on it, since it was so bland. I asked for Tabasco sauce, which helped. My entree also came with a tortilla, which I didn't eat at all, as it was hard to chew, like a rubber-y texture that won't break off when you bite or tear a piece. Our server never checked in with us, but luckily someone else saw my empty coffee cup and refilled it. We had to ask for waters and had to flag someone down to get the check. All in all, it was a meh experience with food that I wished tasted much, much better. read more

Brief Encounter - Carnitas Scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bellevue, Washington