On a visit to Seattle Washington, I acquired an AirBNB in Rainier Beach neighborhood. I found this gem of a restaurant. This restaurant location has been in operation for 11 years, a dream of retired NBA and local Rainier Beach native Nate Robinson, the restaurant originally was "Nate's Wings and Waffles" to provide memorable comfort food to a diverse community. The name has changed to reflect the current ownership and operation by Nate's sister Chelle and boyfriend Drae. I was drawn to the restaurant because I was looking for a traditional breakfast spot, but was challenged to find one in the area. Drae's Lake Route exceeded my expectations. It was clear that this is a destination for locals and by the steady flow of patrons this is the place to be. Good food made to order, dine-in or take out, plus choices of alcoholic or non-alcoholic speciality drinks to round out your meal. I chose the Deluxe breakfast, which comes with 3 meats (choice of bacon, pork link sausage and turkey sausage). I chose 2 thick sliced bacon strips and 1 pork link with 3 eggs over medium and (choice of cubed potatoes or grits) I chose the cubed potatoes with a buttered English muffin. My breakfast was satisfying and the refills of coffee hit the spot. I stayed long enough conversing with local patrons to transition to lunch and chose 1 pound of naked chicken wings, tossed in habernaro-pineapple sauce. My wings were cooked to perfection and the sauce provided just enough spice to liven my tastebuds. The next day I made a return visit for breakfast and lunch. For breakfast I chose Ava's fish and grits plus buttered wheat toast 2 eggs over easy for breakfast plus coffee. As a son of the Southern United States, grits are a staple. My grits were cooked to perfection with a dollop of butter. I just added salt and pepper to taste. My catfish fillet was corn meal battered and was nicely seasoned. I later ordered the pork chop sandwich for lunch dressed (no mayonnaise), which comes with a choice of fries or kale salad. I chose fries. My bone-in pork chop was lightly breaded and fried on sliced white bread, old school! The sandwich took me back to my childhood, goodness like grandmother cooked, magnifique! My service over these 2 days has been fantastic. Chelle handles the front of the house and Drae handles the back of the house for a winning combination. Chelle manages the dining room with patience and top notch customer service, even calling customers by name. She is the epitome of a professional, even under pressure with numerous orders coming in near closing. Drae is friendly and an accomplished cook and car enthusiast, as seen by the decor in the restaurant. There is always a comforting tune playing and the venue has scheduled events featuring local musicians performing at their building next door. It is obvious the there is a lot going on at Drae's Lake Route. Check it out when in the South Seattle area. You won't be disappointed. read more

Drae's Lake Route - Pork chop sandwich on white bread dressed and seasoned French fries with hot sauce on the side - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Have heard lots of good reviews from this spot and finally got to try it out! You order at the counter and then your food gets brought to you. Service was very friendly! They had a good flow of traffic throughout the entire time we were there. They have two picnic tables outside of the restaurant for outdoor seating and a handful of tables inside. We had the salmon Philly, fish & grits, and a side order of the waffle. - The salmon Philly was flavorful and the cheese pull was elite. We chose the fries as our side and they were cooked well. - I loved the size of the waffle! It was on the thinner side though so definitely don't put all the syrup on it unless you like it soggier since it soaks up pretty well. - I loved the combination of the catfish and grits because they balanced each other out well. The catfish was cooked to perfection, but I wouldn't eat it on its own since it's pretty salty, so you gotta eat it with the grits for each bite. read more

Drae's Lake Route - Salmon Philly, waffle, fish and grits - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We drove about 30 minutes to try Drae's Lake Route Eatery and left disappointed. Overall, the food was very average and the experience did not live up to the hype. The waffle itself was good, and the chicken-and-waffle dish was decent, but the chicken was average at best. The chicken wings were very average, and the Philly cheesesteak was okay/good, but nothing about the food felt special. Portion sizes were fine, but again, nothing memorable. Service was also hit or miss. The lady at the counter was friendly and nice, which we appreciated. However, the rest of the team, including someone who appeared to be the owner, came across as rude and unwelcoming. No one checked on our table, asked if we needed anything, or really interacted with us during the meal. When we arrived, there was no clear sign explaining whether we should seat ourselves or order at the counter. We ended up waiting around 10 minutes before realizing no one was going to help or explain the process. Overall, this place felt overhyped. The food was average, the service needs improvement, and the owner/team should make guests feel more welcome. Based on our experience, I would not recommend it and would not go back. read more

Come here early because it fills up fast! Only 5 tables! Service was very nice. The waffle I got was delicious, thin and crispy. I liked how they separated the proteins from the waffle so the sweet and savory didn't mix. I did think it wasn't very much food, as I was quite hungry, but prices were good. I would like to come back and try the loaded grits or the sandwiches! The tables were a little sticky though. read more

Drae's Lake Route - Waffle + 2 eggs + 3 meats - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

After hearing such rave reviews about Dreas Lake Route I just had to go try the Chicken and Waffles. Chelle greeted me with such warmth and kindness. She walked me through the menu explaining everything in it's entirety! The atmosphere is very inviting, with multiple TV screens showing everything from Sports to Car Shows. The crowd seemed very pleased with their orders, everyone had smiles and were deeply engrossed with their food and great company. I will most definitely be returning to try the Shrimp and Grits. They have a variety of foods to choose from. Make sure you go online to check their hours of service. They also take their last order at 1:30 before they close at 2. Oh and The drink menu is awesome. The Strawberry Mimosa was delicious There is available seating outside which will be nice this Summer. read more

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Imagine waking up for breakfast, coming here & them yelling, having a nasty attitude. Horrible customer service from the female at the front & her boyfriend who chefs in the back. She's mean shows nasty attitude. Since she didn't understand a simple order of "gritz on the side" she lied to her bf which I believe is the owner in the back told him I wanted EVERYTHING separate, then he came OUTSIDE from the door holding it wide open yelled at me & tried to give a refund until we told him she lied. Took 50 minutes almost felt as if it was on purpose to give us our food. They gave me a portion that wouldn't even get my mini poodle full. Like playing w my money in my face in the morning. I just woke up , nobody is trying to argue. I hate confrontational people ! It's disgusting that Seattle people are so rude for no reason. I paid 30$ and yall gave me such a Tiny portion of food and took 50 minutes !!. No seating either. They got like 6 chairs inside. I have documented everything & reported her- Michelle V who's displayed for this business as the "owner" is retaliating against me for my honest comment. She's going above and beyond with hostility. It's very concerning and scary ! Everything will be documented and reported including the threats, hate comments, & everything else you have done. read more

This is food that hugs and comforts your soul in the best way possible. It's food done more than right. It's like your grandma and aunties are all in the kitchen together cooking you some good ole soul food made with love. Except it not your grandma and aunties. It's just good ass chefs. Living in Seattle, I get shocked when I find a place that I would consider affordable eats. I'm impressed that not only is place affordable but it's damn delicious too! I cannot tell you one single wrong with my food. The grits were creamy and buttery. The fried fish was battered and seasoned to perfection. It was crispy on the outside but moist and tender on the inside. I mean even my English muffin was toasted and made to perfection. Butter literally in all the nooks and crannies. The fried chicken wings were good too. Just like the fish they were battered and seasoned nicely and yet still juicy on the inside. And baby, the pork chops here are dynamite. The batter is light and crispy and the meat so tasty. And if you get the loaded grits, just know the bowl is loaded. You get to pick your perfect combination for a bowl of savory grits and choose your add ins. The hot links are indeed hot with a nice kick to them. Don't be surprised if you can't finish your loaded grits. It's a lot of food. It's sinful how good all the food was. Everything came out piping hot and fresh. The service was excellent too. Friendly and polite service with a warm welcome. The place is small and quaint on the inside but there is some seating outside. So I definitely will understand if there is a wait. We will definitely be back and this place will absolutely become a regular rotation for us. read more

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Just enjoyed southern style of fried chicken, fish and pork chops with grits, waffle and potatoes. People in the cashier and the lady server assisting are very nice and pleasant. We enjoyed it too much we ordered for some wings to take out. It took a little bit longer with a lot of other orders happening at the same time and because they closed at 2pm. The group is so nice that the wait is a bit longer, we have extra pork chop, rice and gravy and a big cookie to bring home.Wait is worth it. Surely we will come back for more.On top of that, one of the servers is half Filipino too and his dad is one of the chef. Thanks more power to you all! read more

Ordered chicken and waffles, good food. Longer wait for the food but worth the wait so far. Wish they open more days. Would definitely recommend. read more

What can I say about Drae's! It checks all the boxes! The food is fantastic! Don't sleep on the catfish! The seasoning is fantastic! It's affordable. The vibe is great! The service is always so friendly. You can feel the love. It's a local neighborhood spot with a homey feel and food that will leave you full, happy, and still have some left over money in your wallet! Get there as soon as you can!! read more

Drae's had been on my list of places to try for a while now, and I am happy to say it met and exceeded my expectations. I ordered the Spicy chicken tenders, Mac & Cheese, and a Grits Breakfast bowl. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I had great and helpful service as well. I'll definitely be back to try more items, and I highly recommend giving Draes Lake Route a try. read more

Drae's Lake Route - Spicy Chicken Tenders - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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First time eating here as a native to Seattle. It was okay but I probably wouldn't return for a 2nd visit. Fried Fish was great and everything else was pretty basic (chicken and waffles, grits, toast and eggs). read more

Small neighborhood restaurant. We were lucky to find some street parking. Excellent service. Amazing food! Eco-friendly take out containers. What's not to love? My husband got the fried fish sandwich-he said it was very tasty. I got the loaded grits with double bacon and no eggs. Sooooo delicious! Coma inducing comfort food. We split the mac & cheese which was over the moon good! We will definitely be back! read more

Drae's Lake Route - Mac & Cheese and Loaded Grits - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great restaurant. The service was nice and the interior was clean and smelled nice. They have a video game and the tv on in the corner. Soul music filled the air. I got the loaded grits with bacon as my meat. It was DELICIOUS. When they say loaded, they mean it! These grits had peppers that were red and green, onions, cheese, and thick cut bacon with a delicious smoky flavor. All topped with an egg! I would definitely recommend coming here for the grits. I'll come back another time and try the chicken for sure. The serving size was massive. And I had to take half of it home despite my large appetite. read more

Drae's Lake Route - Loaded Grits - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place was fire. Awesome chicken and waffle sliders, fantastic strawberry lemonade, and great sauce options. The staff was kind too! Highly recommend!! read more

Drae's Lake Route - Chicken and waffle sliders - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The ambience is very casual and neighborly, and the service was excellent. I had the chicken and waffles, it was mediocre at best. The chicken served are wings and the waffle is very thin and underwhelming. Their mango pineapple drink is so good though, perfect for a warm sunny day. This is the 2nd soul food restaurant I have tried in SEA, and they both are embarrassing. read more

My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday morning on a whim, and we were not disappointed! Let me backtrack a moment.. my boyfriend moved up to Washington from Florida, so he has had amazing grits while adventuring all around the South growing up, and we have been looking for a spot that, according to him, "does Southern grits right." A little over a year later, and we finally found a spot that is up to his high standards. LOL. He let me have a tiny bite, and wow! Savory, cheesy goodness. I'll have dreams about it, but my chicken and waffles were sooo yummy that his grits have competition for my food dreams. The chicken was flavored so well and had that crunchy goodness... and that waffle!! Mmmmm!!! The staff were super nice too! I wish I would've asked the girl's name at the counter. She is such a sweetheart. She unfortunately had to deal with a rude customer while we were there and handled it so well. When she brought us our food afterward, she and Drae said that they could remake my boyfriend's eggs since it cooked a little bit longer due to that event but it came out delish! No worries there! Thank you for the wonderful food!! Anyway, we will definitely be back in the future. If you're in the area, try out this gem! read more

Drae's Lake Route - Chicken and Waffles, Loaded Grits - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

LOVE THE WINGS! Highly recommend getting them tossed in mango pineapple habanero sauce. Also very cheap for 1 pound of wings. It's sweet and savory, the best of both worlds. The mac & cheese is more like a pasta, so it is a heavier side. The chicken and waffle sandwich is okay, but not bad. The salad was really good. Definitely check this place out for some quick bites! read more

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The food was pretty good. Decent price considering the conditions of the economy lol. Nice service they hooked us up with a banana pudding it was very good. read more

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Food service, flavor seasoning. Everything you could ask for! Don't sleep on the Macc and cheese, and the chicken on the waffles is diabolical read more

Very mid waffle looks like Waffle House taste like cornbread. You'll enjoy this place if you don't really know what good food tastes like

The owner is always super nice as well as the cashier and every bite taste like heaven on earth!

We drove over an hour to try this spot! Upon walking in you see a big menu on the chalkboard. They offer alcoholic drinks as well! I ordered the mango and tequila lemonade and my wife ordered strawberry rum lemonade. This mango tequila lemonade was delicious! Once you place your order at the counter you seat yourself. We came around 1230pm, right before the rush. For food I ordered the loaded grits bowl with shrimp, and Turkey sausage, and the bacon waffle. My wife ordered chicken & waffles and fish and grits. We drove over an hour so don't judge us lol The loaded grits bowl; one word...AMAZING. Filled with flavor, cheesed perfectly, everything including the shrimp is bursting with flavor. I 10/10 recommend. The bacon waffle .... They def don't skimp out on the bacon so if you like bacon this is the waffle for you! I enjoyed it. My wife's take on her chicken and waffles: Waffles are amazing. The chicken a little tough but seasoned well. My wife's take on her fish and grits: she said the fish is amazing. Perfectly fried and perfectly seasoned. The grits also really good!! Overall review : I highly recommend this establishment. It was well worth the drive and the customer service was great. It's not in the best neighborhood, but that's it. It's worth every cent and I will definitely come back. read more

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Today we had Drae's for a staff meeting. Because the restaurant is small, we took it back to our office to eat. So I can't speak to the ambiance of the place. Food wise, I got the Montana Potatoes with sausage, and grits. Jesse got the chicken waffle sliders and a side of Mac n Cheese and salt & pepper fries. My food was delicious. Not only was the portion very generous, but it came seasoned very well. I was pretty full, but I did taste the grits and they were so good. Hubby got the slider, which is he said was okay. It was good, but it would probably be better if we ate it fresh. The Mac n Cheese was bomb though! Cheesy, well seasoned, and burnt in all the right places. We will definitely be back, but we'll eat it in the restaurant. I'll update my review. Final Me: Four stars Huz: Four stars read more

Drae's Lake Route - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The food was delicious!! First time in Seattle and this place didn't disappoint. The service was great as well read more

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First off, the service was amazing. They were really patient and helpful with ordering off the menu and also very attentive to me and my friend while we were eating in case we needed help. The food was also amazing, i got the chicken and waffles and my friend got the waffles chicken sandwich. The inside of the restaurant was also very homey and comfortable. Overall, I would say it's a 5/5 and I would go back read more

Drae's Lake Route - Fried chicken and waffles, fried chicken waffle sandwich, and salt & pepper fries. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped by this spot hoping for a quick bite, but it ended up being a bit of a wait. A few menu items were already sold out, which was a bummer, and the prices were definitely on the higher side. The food was decent once it came. I'd come back if I'm in the area again--curious to try other things on the menu. read more

I stumbled across this place when another brunch spot in the area had a long wait, and honestly I'm thrilled that I did! The food was absolutely delicious and the portions were generous. It's definitely off the beaten path but it is one that is worth the trip. read more

Drae's Lake Route - Grits - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

BOMB MOTHAFUCKEN.COM!! I had the grits with hella hella cheese on top, sausage links, bell peppers, onions+ shrimp. My girl had chicken and waffles. Chicken was seasoned hella bomb. Wish the waffles were a little more crunchy but all good. Everything was seasoned hella well. If you're looking for that white people salt/pepper only seasoning then this ain't your spot. Your taste buds will be mind blown here. BUSSIN! Must try!! read more

Drae's Lake Route - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This spot...will leave you speechless. Def a gem for this neighborhood. The wings, are to die for. The loaded grits will have you questioning your life decisions prior to coming here! Please try for yourself ! read more

E V E R Y T H A N G GOOD!! GOOD!! I automatically order pork chops, grits & eggs! Mother's Day my son was with me orders the loaded potato's.... All this = FOOD COMA!! Super generous portions and friendly staff, cooked to order food means - your food was meant for you and nobody else! read more

Drae's Lake Route - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I can't lie, I was a bit turned off by this place at first because of the many "rules" posted. Lol HOWEVER...I decided to go forth anyway and give them a try. Food did not disappoint. The catfish was seasoned so wonderfully and the pineapple mango lemonade was beyond yummy. I would stop in again because there's other menu items I'd love to try. Service was nice and food was great. read more

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The food was pretty good. Prices are cheap. The portions are kind of small however. We had the chicken and waffle plate & the pork chop with Rice & Gravy during this visit. The restaurant interior is small with only a few tables and there is also no A/C in the building so the temperature can get a bit uncomfortable on warm days. They don't have to go cups for their coffee for some reason and only tell you this after you pay for the order. read more

Knocked me off my feet! Whoooooo! I came in this morning for brunch with a friend and was shocked at how many people I saw fast walking into this place. Now that I'm in a blissful food coma, I understand why. The food is not only delicious but affordable. My friend and I had brunch for under $30 and it could have fed four people. I had the loaded grit bowl and I damn near kicked the table over it was so good. Cheesy grits under bacon, eggs, green onions and peppers for only $8.99. It was so much food that I could only eat 1/5 of it. On top of everything the waitress was very sweet. I can't wait to come back. I really hope they get a liquor license so they can serve mimosas. read more

Drae's Lake Route - Loaded grits - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food was good service was great and the ambiance was nice and chill. Real family vibes. Kept it straight and simple but it definitely hit the spot. Can't wait to go back and try something else on the menu. read more

Drae's Lake Route - 3 eggs 3 turkey sausages and a waffle - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Very good food awesome service and very cozy cool environment , the food was super good and made to the order, fresh and very flavorful , you can defiantly tell the cook takes pride cooking the food . read more

Amazingly crisp and juicy fried chicken with the waffles, the traditional wings were done very well and their service was phenomenal. Can't say enough great things about this spot read more

Decent food and reasonably priced. Cute family establishment and addition in the neighborhood. Plenty of street parking. Customer service was okay. A little bit confusing because one server told us to order up front, while the other says they would come to us. The lemon pepper wings was really flavorful. It was a long wait for the food to come out so don't come here if you're starving or you'll start experiencing hangry-ness. read more

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I really don't know how I lived so close without coming by. I work nearby during summer and it's my lunch go to at least once a week. Recently I had a credit card processing issue wherein my card was double charged and staff was VERY thorough about making it right. Plus, where else are you going to get a catfish sandwich. Look, they actually season their fries. Just get your order in before one!! read more

AMAZING! The flavors are all there. Reminds me of NOLA. This place plays no game with the flavor. I ordered the loaded grits with beef hot link and shrimp. Absolutely filling!! I don't eat pork so I was very impressed by the beef hot link. It was delicious. My friend got the fried chicken (I wasn't there to witness her initial impression) she said it was very good. Will be trying their catfish and other items. 10/10 recommend. Tip: there's no pickup option through grub hub just delivery. They also don't take phone orders. read more

Drae's Lake Route - Loaded grits with beef hot link and shrimp - Chicken Wings Near Me - Seattle, Washington