Geraldine's Counter
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I came here for breakfast around 8:15am and the inside was already packed! I sat at the high top table and waited for about 20 minutes for my food. I ordered the Slammin breakfast style plate with hot water, subbed out pancakes for French toast. The French toast was delicious along with the fresh cut strawberries! The sausage and egg tastes great. My only wish would be that there were more strawberries and my mug was a little dirty. Service was awesome, all the servers were so kind! The only problem I ran into was that they don't accept Apple Pay!! I find it a bit absurd because I noticed they have one of those tablets that should accept Apple Pay. One of the kind servers did inform me there's an ATM across the street but I found that a little crazy. I asked the people next to me if I could borrow their card but then they also don't even accept Amex!
This place is TRULY top-notch. My friends and I stopped in here the morning of the pride parade for a breakfast moment and we were NOT disappointed! The food was mmmm incredible, and very reasonably priced for the giant portion sizes. Also, I find that often breakfast places with giant portion sizes sacrifice quality: NOT Geraldine's! This is what all breakfast places WISH they were also the mimosas were exceptional like 10/10 While everything was lovely, what really stood out was the service. By the end, I respectfully was hoping our waitress would adopt me and I'm literally 25 I mean just the NICEST people I've literally ever met (especially in Seattle where service is not always the most fun). Shout out to Jen and everyone on that team, it felt like we had stepped into a diner breakfast dream the place is also soooo super cutie, really gives that diner vibe but in a much cheekier way. 100000/10 like WILL be going back every chance I get! The ONLY thing I'll say is I do wish there were more dietary friendly foods. a gluten and dairy free girl can dream though!
Love this place! It's clear how great it is by the line that exists every hour of every day they are open! The service is always great, and the inside is small but very cosy and well kept. I had the special, ricotta, lemon, pancakes, as well as the Emerald City scramble, sub avocado for pork sausage. Highly recommend! Their ingredients are always fresh, and, honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Check them out!
Food was great. It was very filling. We ordered the basil omelette and the spinach omelette, the parfait and the honey orange pancake. All were very good with plenty of food. The hashbrowns were the perfect crisp. Our waitress was so wonderful she was very friendly and very enthusiastic, she made our experience fun. The restaurant is on the smaller side so wait was about 30 ish minutes.
Set in a retro diner like ambiance, it's your typical classic brunch place. My bf and I waited for 30 mins on a Sunday morning around 10:30 AM, and they only call your name so make sure you're outside of the place for that. Parking wasn't an issue but we only got lucky for free street parking. There's a parking lot up the road from the restaurant though. Service was just ok. We got our food hot so that was good. Would I come back? Probably not for a long while. I like the ambiance of the lively brunch setting but I felt that the food isn't worth my drive. Corned beef hash: 6/10 nothing particularly special, it wasn't seasoned enough so we ended up adding hot sauce which made it perfect to taste French toast: 9/10 nice crispy exterior but somewhat dense interior. It reminded me of the texture of focaccia bread as if it was left out overnight, almost a little stale. The toast didn't absorb the syrup all the way, which made it less sweet, perfect for me lol. My bf had to almost drench the toast for his sweet tooth though LOL the peaches also tasted like canned peaches
Geraldine's Counter was very busy when I stopped by for breakfast and rightfully so! There were lots of tables, but after trying the food I could understand why it was so packed. I got the chicken fried steak and eggs and it was delicious, hearty, and filling. The portion size was huge so you'd definitely walk away with some leftovers! The chicken fried steak w/gravy was devoured within a couple of minutes - my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I truly didn't want to share with my friend because it was that food.
Great place to get breakfast and brunch in Seattle. Super friendly service, the most friendly that I've seen! Food came out very quick, the food was good, I recommend I will come back.
geraldine's counter is consistent and reliable diner food. their french toast is incredible. fried and crunch on the outside, soft on the inside. fruit of the day was honey peaches, which were incredible. chicken sandwich was also very good with a generous portion of avocado. the best part of the meal- the fries! staff is always friendly. my coffee never runs out! restaurant is clean and tidy.
This was pretty tasty! I made a stop on my way into town from the airport. It was a Thursday around 0900 and I waited about 5-10 mins to sit at the counter alone. I went with the traditional breakfast plate with the special pancakes (strawberry butter). They were solid! Not the best I've ever had but I thoroughly enjoyed them and the strawberry butter was delicious. I'd prob try the famous French toast next time! Eggs were cooked perfectly but chicken sausage was a little lackluster. Prob would do bacon next time. Overall, really enjoyed and love the ambiance. Would def come back.
We stopped at Geraldine's for breakfast on a Sunday morning. There is a paper list at the front where you write down your name. It's nice because you get an idea of how many groups are in front of you in line to get seated. It took about 25-30 mins to get seated. The inside is brightly lit, with a diner vibe. The service is friendly, but efficient since they want to turn over tables quickly during the breakfast rush. They are known for their French toast. The flavor will rotate and that's the only option for the day. The pancakes also will have a special flavor for the day. We asked to get a plain pancake since the special that day was not to our taste, but unfortunately they only make one batter so if you don't like the special then there's no other option. The French toast was very good, crisp outside and fluffy inside. The herb omelette was great. They have a homemade jam on the table, I think it's raspberry. The table jam was really really great on the biscuit. Overall it's a good spot for breakfast. Huge portions.
I have no notes. I would take any visitors here in a heartbeat. The food was so good that I pretty much inhaled it. The service was friendly but efficient. We had about a 40 minute wait but it was absolutely worth it the inside is really cool retro diner vibes and they have local art for sale on the walls too. I would love to come back with friends and sit in the booths or try the counter!
Amazing! Our wait staff was efficient and friendly! Food was spectacular! Loved the bacon! My omelette was perfectly prepared. My son had the breakfast sandwich and raved about the sourdough. Shared a slice of tench toast for dessert and it was like no other French toast that I have had. Big thick sourdough bread with a little crunch and amazing blueberry sauce on top. Very charming location. Definitely recommend!
Reviews are largely positive. Many highlight the French toast, friendly and attentive service, and a cozy retro atmosphere.
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Came here after multiple recommendations by people in the area of Columbia City. I knew the French toast was the most raved about so I ordered the French toast of the day which was the Blueberry Compote. It had a crispy texture to the toast which was unique and I really enjoyed it despite not being a fan of blueberry. The maple syrup was the real star here - I think it's the best maple syrup I've ever had. So sweet and unique. I also got the pesto scrambled eggs since I was interested in checking out a new and inventive dish. For the first bite or two I really liked it but it later became tedious to finish and the pesto became overpowering. I wouldn't recommend the scrambled pesto unless you absolutely love an abundant amount of pesto. The hash browns were great. The decor of the place is a typical diner and our waiter was exceptionally nice. I also enjoyed the movie poster breakfast posters in the bathroom. Overall, good breakfast but definitely won't blow your socks off. French toast 4/5 Pesto scramble 2/5 read more
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Stacey H.
Thank you Jon for giving us a shot. We really appreciate it. We'll…
If you're looking for the perfect french toast, you found it! I came here earlier on a Saturday morning with a friend for brunch. We put our name down around 945am and was told it would be a 20 minute wait or so (not too bad!) so we walked a block over to grab a cup of coffee to wait. They checked our vaccination card before we were seated. My friend and I shared an order of the french toast and the Emerald City scramble (substituted the pork sausage for chicken sausage). The french toast like everyone else on here raved about, was amazing! Perfectly crispy all the way around with the right amount of sweetness from the syrup. The scramble wasn't bad, but not as flavorful as we would have liked it. The chicken sausage in particular was more on the bland side, or maybe they forgot to add a last pinch of salt at the end or something. read more
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Stacey H.
Thank you Sarah for your great feedback and for visiting us at…
1 year ago
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Stacey H.
Well, we have to say, this is a unique and uncommon take on our…
2 years ago
Delish diner great food with brunch options . Super cute with great service. No reservations and there is always a wait so be prepared but so worth it . Loved every bite. read more
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Stacey H.
Thank you Tashaun - love the photos, thank you for including those.…
1 year ago
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Stacey H.
Wow, thank you, we appreciate that. All great suggestions and we…
11 months ago
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Stacey H.
Thank you for your feedback. We take encounters like this into…
10 months ago
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Stacey H.
Great to hear, Jen. Thank you for coming in and glad you enjoyed the…
As much as I liked this place before. I went this previous Saturday for brunch. I was so disappointed that the food didn't taste the same, and the quality went down. Also during our entire meal there was 2-3 fruit fly around our food that we had to shoo away while trying to eat. It was a little annoying. Hope the quality of the food gets better and they clean their restaurant a bit better to avoid fruit flys to they don't appear flying around the restaurant while guest are trying to eat. read more
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Stacey H.
Hi Annie - thanks for coming in before. As for your last visit,…
Curse Geraldine's for ruining one of my favorite breakfast foods, the French Toast! They've totally re-invented the wheel and I can no longer enjoy any other French Toast outside of Geraldine's because it was just that AMAZING. No sogginess at all. I need to learn how to replicate it (thankfully I was able to find the secret with a quick google search ). But anyways, their French Toast is unlike any other French Toast I've ever had, wielding a buttery and crispy exterior with soft and airy interior. The honey peach on top was the perfect pairing, and the maple syrup on the side nicely wrapped up this decadent package of a dish. The French Toast is what they're known for, if it's your first time here, just order it and you won't regret it. 5/5! The corned beef hash was solid as well, but nothing in comparison to the French Toast. The biscuit though, my gosh... none of that crumbly dry biscuit business here. The biscuits were large, buttery, dense, and moist. Overall 4/5. In conclusion, please please please, for the love of breakfast, GIVE THEIR FRENCH TOAST A TRY!!! read more
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Stacey H.
Thank you Chris. Glad we could re-arrange your imagination on what…
1 year ago
I was a bit disappointed with the cost of a side of chicken sausage which was split in half. The French toast was very crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Nice diner vibes and it looked like they had a lot of repeat customers. read more
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Stacey H.
Thank you Zafina for coming in and for including a photo - we love…
10 months ago
11 months ago
11 months ago
3 years ago
Went on 06/14/23 on Wednesday morning. Place was busy but easy to find seating. Service was great, food came out hot. Our server Nani N was very kind and helpful and checked on us multiple times while we were dining. Comfortable seats and they have 100 year old brick wall. Food was okay, just regular breakfast kind. Paid parking area around it. Will go again if in the area! read more
3 years ago
Been to this establishment a handful of times.. and I want to like it due to great Yelp reviews, but everytime I visit, it's always been mid to me. I don't understand the hype. Portions are small for their price point. I paid $14 for 3 pieces of french toast. Berries weren't evenly distributed on each piece so that was annoying. The crunch on the french toast is pretty tasty and unique. The cornmeal pancake was actually delicious. My sister ordered the counter special and it was just okay. Nothing too special about the meal. Our server was friendly and attentive. No waiting on a weekday so that was a plus. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Stacey H.
Hi again - We totally get your predicament and point, but due to…
Geraldine's still has it going on after my last visit to Seattle 6-years ago. We stayed in downtown Seattle this trip and took the trolley up, walked the half mile to Geraldine's and had a lovely breakfast. The hubby ordered the French toast which was topped with plums and served with scrambled eggs and chicken and apple sausage. He then ordered the coffee cake of the day, which had a cream cheese and berry filling. Their coffee cake is an absolute must and French toast is so unique because it's deep fried and crisp but custard like in the middle. I ordered everything a la carte and ordered a scrambled egg, a biscuit with butter and jam and a piece of sausage. Expect a wait if you get there after 8:30, but be patient and you'll be rewarded with a great meal. Be sure to order the coffee cake! read more
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Stacey H.
Thank you Tammie for visiting us again after such a long time. We…
1 year ago
Not often in this part of town since we moved 20 mile North, but I haven't found anyplace with biscuits this good except in North Carolina. Today we stopped in after an earlier appointment. I didn't have any breakfast or coffee prior so this was it and so glad we were close by. I ordered a single egg fried over medium with 2 biscuits. Husband ordered the Mexican omelet. We were both very happy with our orders. I always seem to run into friends at this restaurant. Guess this is where all the Southend people like going for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. I will continue to be a big fan of Geraldine's! It's kind of like Home Coming! read more
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Stacey H.
Thank you Alison. Much appreciated. Great order and glad you ran…
6 years ago
This is for dine in and to go. Dine in, we always have exceptional service. Everyone is so kind and always checking up on us if we need anything. Although, my to-go experience was not the best. There was no good communication for my order that came out very late and I tried asking, but I understand that they were busy so didn't want to bother too much. The truffle tator tots are my FAV. I know I have to make 2 orders because I can finish one to myself. Recently, we just tried the mac and cheese. It is so creamy and cheesy. Love it!! The omelets are super bland and hash browns. Definitely gotta add some salt and pepper for taste. I really like the sandwiches here. They have a lot of flavor. Still a very good breakfast place to go to. They have the best french toast that will amaze everyone. read more
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Stacey H.
Thanks Jessica for the feedback and for patronizing Geraldine's.…
Me and my boyfriends favorite place! Today, we both ordered The Slammin' but substituted the pancakes for the French toast. Their toast is the best both of us have ever had. Perfectly sweet and crispy with a seasonal topping-- right now, it's cinnamon apples! The Slammin' also comes with eggs and your choice of bacon or a sausage patty (both amazing quality by the way). From the other times I've gone, I can definitely recommend their chicken pot pie, seasonal kombucha and their mimosas! Their food is typical breakfast/lunch but the uniqueness in the flavors, the ingredients, and the seasonal additions make this place extra special. Geraldine's is located right in Columbia City which is up and coming with so many hipsree spots. Their service is very fast, but you can expect a long wait on the weekends-- giving you time to put your name down and explore the other local shops around! read more
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Stacey H.
Great review Daizha. Thank you so much. Covers it all so well.…
2 years ago
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Stacey H.
Thank you Jennifer for coming in, we really appreciate it, and glad…
2 years ago
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Stacey H.
Thank you Britainy, we really appreciate it and we're glad you came…
2 years ago
As if you didn't already know it's totally worth the wait. Plan to wait 20-35 min on a weekend and go get a latte down the street at Olympia, then come back and relax, peruse the menu, and get ready for a difficult decision... because everything is amazing here. I've eaten most of the menu and you can't go wrong here. The traditional breakfasts sing, but the real shine is in their specials. The corned beef hash is some of the best we've ever had anywhere. read more
We walked in, put our name on the wait list and only waited about 20mins outside. They are allowing only 50% capacity, which was great because it made the dining experience much better honestly. We ordered the Corned Beef Hash and Emerald City Scramble. The corned beef hash was very good, and the emerald city scramble was decent. The jam tasted homemade and absolutely delicious! We wanted to try the french toast but maybe next time! read more
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Stacey H.
Thanks Choua - sounds amazing. Great orders. We're glad the wait…
3 years ago
Geraldine's Counter is serves hearty food for a great price. Very much a classic American diner with great service and the menu has lots of different breakfast foods with a large selection of drinks Very friendly environment, jazz playing outside with multiple coffee shops around the area. read more
Business owner information
Stacey H.
What a great review Ryan, thank you. Hearty food for a great price -…
What a great place for brunch. You know it's good when people are willing to wait an hour to be seated. We waited for about 40 mins before we were seated. They had a great system going on to get people in and out quickly and safely. We ordered the French toast (which is what they are famous for), truffle tots, Mac and cheese, chili, and the emerald city scramble with a side of hash brown. French toast was tasty! It was crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside! I can see why it's such a crowd pleaser. The truffle tots were oh so good! We could of had two orders of it! The amount of truffle oil on the fries was just enough and not too over powering. Mac and cheese was baked perfectly! So full of flavor! We ordered a cup of the chili and that was nice and filling. Emerald city scramble had peppers, pork sausage, and onions mixed into it. It went very well with the hash browns. Customer service here was so great! Everyone was so helpful despite how busy they were. They checked in on us often and made sure we were taken care of. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu. We came hungry and left satisfied. read more
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Stacey H.
Ah thank you. What great feedback. We are very lucky - and grateful…
2 years ago
I've been to Geraldine's many times, and it has genuinely never let me down. The servers are always so kind, even when it's busy (which is most of the time). The French toast is everything it's hyped up to be. I'm not huge on sweet food for breakfast, but I will always order the French toast here. The corned beef hash is also so flavorful. It's got a very neighborhood slightly retro diner vibe, and I love it. Can't wait to go back! read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Stacey H.
Awesome review, thank you Michael. Those are great menu selections…
2 years ago
We went on a Saturday morning for brunch. There was quite a line but we got seated around 20-30 mins. The French toast was probably my favorite thing that I got. It was very crispy but still soft in the center. I see why everyone raves about it. I got the chicken fried steak and it was decent. There wasn't any thing special about the gravy. The hash browns were nice and crispy. My friend got the pesto scrambled and it was delicious! I would recommend trying it if you love pesto. The inside felt very homie and we received excellent service! read more
This place always has a waitlist. Free coffee refills, generous portions, great service and yummy brunchfare makes this place worth the wait. read more
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Stacey H.
Thanks JuJu for the great feedback, we really appreciate it. We look…
3 years ago
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Stacey H.
Best meal you had in Seattle? That is awesome. Thanks for giving us…
Oh my gosh! My boyfriend, Porter, got the biscuits and gravy. He said it was the best gravy he's ever had! It was my first time trying it and it was mouth watering. I got the BLT and added avocado. Absolutely delicious. Loved the arugula. The bacon was on the thicker side and the flavor was out of this world. The blackberry lemonade mismosa was yummy and fresh. I also tried the grapefruit mismosa and it was like the juice had been freshly squeezed that day! Absolutely phenomenal experience. Super cute vibes inside. There was a 15 minute wait that was well worth it. read more
2 years ago
I loved the food, great prices, service was great. Its was clean in the restaurant as well. Ill be back for sure read more
Last summer, I was in Seattle for a long weekend to attend my nieces graduation from the University of Washington. Before heading to the airport, we decided to grab lunch one last time while the family was all together and went our separate ways back home. We looked up a few spots to eat and decided that Geraldine's Counter was the place. Upon our arrival, they graciously seated our party of 9 and gave us all the chance to look over our menus. The variety of the menu was plentiful and we each ordered what was to our liking. The wait staff was friendly, attentive and the food all came out as ordered. The restaurant is in a beautiful part of the city and has a great corner location. Everyone in our party was pleased with their meal selection and we all left happy. Apparently, this place is known for their breakfast, and their French toast is continually voted 'Best in the city'. Looks like next time, I'll be coming for Breakfast!! read more
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Stacey H.
Thanks Lance. We're thrilled you found and chose us amongst the…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Stacey H.
Thank you Hannah - that is great to hear. We love the pancakes too.…
3 years ago
First of all the first I ever came here was like a year ago which is crazy because I grew up in the neighborhood . This spot has stood the test of time and is truly an heirloom and precious establishment close to my heart . First of the service amazing . Doesn't matter who is serving you always friendly always kind always accommodating . The ambiance is a perfect people watching and interaction spot for locals to meet up and reminisce on what Columbia city used to look like but also appreciate what some of looks like now . There is parking walking distance in the back and in the front . Personally I'm not paying for parking so the neighborhood is always where I'm personally going to go . Second they do no accept Amex and the payment is on a single card only basis . They accept cash and the reward program they have lets you accumulate Geraldine bucks or something like that for X spent amount in X for food . You will have to go or reach out for specifics . Also pack your patience this spot is HUB there are a lot of people . All of the time and they close at about 3 or so . Though they can get you in a pretty quick time frame safe to be there early . Let's talk about the French toast okay . No matter what always get the French toast . Always always always French toast . That is the the main staple at this spot . It usually comes with some sort of rotating fruit for the week or day that's is phenomenally , I think I've had bananas( Gwen stephanie helped me spell that lol ) peaches and spiced apples . Your eggs can be over-hard , soft , runny , whatever you want . Corned beef hash I think I would have a love affair is a glittering masterpiece of savory , satisfying and filling . The syrup os to die for . The butter immaculate . The eggs I added the green cholla hot sauce too and it SLAPPED ( it means it taste good ) . There are usually people who have been here before they will talk if you talk to them first ( Seattle freeze isn't real unless you don't know real seattlites ) there are pictures in the hallways and bathrooms from what the building originally used to be that are fun too look at for a quick blast from the past . You will be FULL so get something preferably a mimosa or something to wash down the fantastic food with . Pay for your meal and go explore the streets . Try to go on a Sunday or Wednesday for a cozy experience ! 100/10 until next bite read more
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Stacey H.
Awesome, awesome, awesome. I wish we could use this on our website.…
3 years ago
My favorite spot for brunch in Columbia City! I ordered the biscuits and gravy and it was very rich and comforting. I've been here a few times and the wait was usually 20+ minutes on the weekend. Waiting is absolutely worth it for the food and experience. read more
Business owner information
Stacey H.
Awesome. Great to hear Maggie. We appreciate the wait and great…
More info about Geraldine's Counter
4872 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, WA 98118
Columbia City
Directions
(206) 723-2080
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http://www.geraldinescounter.com
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Ask the Community - Geraldine's Counter
Planning to go at 8am on a Saturday morning will there be a line?
I go here all the time... And its extremely rare if there is not a line. I would plan on waiting at least 15 - 30 min (just to manage expectations). Which is fine because the coffee isn't the best. And Coffeeholic is just a block away. The Ube…
What delivery app includes Geraldines?
No delivery at Geraldine's, but...you can order takeout on our website through Toast...
Can you only get pancakes of the day and not just regular ones? Thanks
You most certainly can get regular pancakes!
Do they have gluten free options?
Yes, they do. I also avoid the obvious like pancakes and biscuits.
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96 reviews that are not currently recommended
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