I went here with some friends around 10:15am on a Saturday and waited no more than 10 minutes for a table. Shortly after it did get quite busy, as expected as it is a brunch spot. We shared the French Toast, herbed omelette, and eggs a la Mexicana. The food is pretty decent. The French toast is their signature dish and it is so crispy and crunchy! Today's fruit is peach, and it seems like the fruit changes based on the day. The herbed omelette had generous amounts of goat cheese that is quite sharp and caramelized onions - it's a flavor bomb! A miss is the hash browns are a bit oily and soft, not really crispy. The eggs a la Mexicana is decent - you can make egg and beans taco with their tortilla and pico de gallo. This would be a solid choice for a vegetarian dish. Service is good but could be better as it is an American brunch spot. It took a while to get the bill and water refills but understandably so as it was pretty busy. read more

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Pretty good! My partner is a huge fan of French toast so when we Redditted best French toast in Seattle Geraldine's popped up. We had to give it a try of course! Located in the Columbia City area of Seattle. Bright and cozy ambiance. We ordered their French Toast and classic egg breakfast. The French toast had tasty flavors but tasted a little "too" fried & oily. The daily special fruit topping was plums but they had a hint of "onion". These would be tasty with berries! All in all yummy cinnamon sugar notes in the French toast but felt heavy. Egg breakfast was pretty standard. The hash browns were a highlight though! Nicely seasoned with some crispy bites in there. Service was standard- there was a long wait so I think they were trying to get people in and out which is fair. Yummy spot for brunch in Seattle! :) there was a 12 party wait behind us at 1 on a Sunday but line goes by quick. read more

Geraldine's Counter - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We came here early morning for some breakfast. Pictured here is the half order (2 pieces) french toast with their daily topping of fresh strawberries. It was crispy, absolutely tasty, and not too sweet. The diner is very family friendly, it is very loud but that's was gives it that friendly and comfortable ambience to the place. The wait staff was very friendly and helpful. I do have to say that you might have trouble finding parking around the area, and you are very likely to have to wait over 30 minutes to be seated. read more

Geraldine's Counter - French Toast - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We came because we'd heard good things about their French toast, which is my favorite breakfast dish. Overall, it was a good experience. Definitely be prepared to wait, no matter what time you get there. You can't get in quicker by sitting at the bar, because they include it in with the rest of the tables. It's sort of a diner-feel in terms of food and service, but the decor is a little homier. It can get expensive because everything is a la carte. I of course got the French toast, but it didn't come with any sides so I had to order eggs and hash browns separately. read more

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I came here on a Monday morning with a friend around 10 AM. This place was totally packed! They had a wait list, but for two people it only ended up being like a 5 to 10 minute wait. Our server was pretty quick to come by and ask us if we wanted anything to drink and to give us menus. I thought because this place was totally full, it would take a little bit of time to get our food - however, it came out super quickly! The corned beef hash was excellent, I like that it was cut in thicker pieces, and had a great mix of vegetables as well. The poached eggs were perfect -the egg whites were cooked through, and when you cut into the egg yolk, it was still runny. Hands-down one of the best biscuits that I have ever had. I'm pretty picky about my biscuits. My friend had the French toast and I got to try a bite. Wow it was amazing! They seem to do their French toast on the crispier side, which is my personal preference. If I I was to get some thing sweet next time, I will definitely be ordering that. I'm happy we tried out a new place and I will definitely be back! read more

Geraldine's Counter - Corned beef hash with poached eggs, sub toast for biscuit (extra) - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

There was a wait per usual but it was worth it in my opinion. I got the seattle hash I believe, it was so good!! I'd eat it 10 times over. We didn't love the French toast...they really toast their bread so it isn't as soft. Flavor is great but we just didn't love the texture. I got a pancake on the side it was a corn meal one, I really liked it cuz it wasn't super sweet but had good flavor and texture. Great service though, I think it's a reliable brunch spot and appeals to those who like a range of brunch dishes. read more

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I come for the chili. Try it, trust me! The restaurant is one of few local diners we have in the area. I always wish we had more. It's got the traditional diner feel. Be mindful- it gets BUSY weekend mornings. If you drive by and see people standing outside, be ready for a lengthy wait. First time here, we ordered the biscuits and gravy. I'd pass on that. It's not the traditional recipe and we didn't particularly enjoy it. Tried the chili and it's all I order from there. read more

- Great Service - Good Ambiance Order: - French Toast (8.5/10) - Hash Browns (8/10) - Bacon (2/10) - Chili Cup (10/10) - Mimosa (10/10) - Coffee (10/10) read more

Geraldine's Counter - French Toast - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I went back after a year out of convenience: the food is decent and it was close for my out-of-town friends. The food is still fine, but the portions remain anything but generous. What I don't understand is why the fly problem still isn't addressed. I haven't seen flies anywhere else in Columbia City. Customers and staff shouldn't be shooing them away while eating, and you can be confident those flies are landing on food. I don't get it: a year has passed and it's still an issue. Management clearly reads these reviews. It's an easy fix--fix it. read more

Quick service and friendly staff! I got the Slammin' with French Toast. The toast was crispy on the outside yet fluffy inside, and the hash browns were browned just right and seasoned perfectly. Definitely coming back. Love it! read more

Geraldine's Counter is one of the hidden gems of Columbia City. Their French toast here is simply divine and is the reason for this 5-star review. Fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. If it's your first time here, don't miss out on this dish! The pancakes were also a treat to remember. While they could have been a tad more fluffy, they still had a delightful zing of lemon and the creamy richness of ricotta. To balance out our sugar overload, we decided to try the corned beef hash. It was the ideal savory companion to what would've otherwise been a sugar overload. read more

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Geraldine's is Famous for their Crunchy and delicious french toast. Personally I love crunchy french toast so definitely go if you're a fan of this style! It's a homey, classic diner feel run by very nice people. Our waitress was really nice. Their french toast is always changing which fruits are on top. The omelet was good--won't lie, could definitely make this at home but it was still delicious. Cute vibes, and not busy on weekdays. On weekends the wait is super long but it's a cute lil area to walk around in if you don't mind the wait. Definitely go because it is a Seattle classic! read more

Geraldine's Counter - spinach feta tomato omelet and the french toast - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The food was okay and the service was decent at best. It was very busy, but the table wait wasn't too long. The food just wasn't to cost expectation. Did not feel like we got our money's worth on that one. read more

"A" for effort. Overpriced yet tasty options offered. Limited and closely crowded seating read more

Went on a Thursday morning around 10:30am and it was mostly filled. We got a booth right away, but as we left there was a small wait. Got the pesto scrambled eggs with hashbrowns and sourdough bread. I enjoyed the eggs - it had zucchini and tomato chunks, topped with Parmesan cheese. Also got a side of the single French toast. The French toast was sooo crispy and honestly the best I've had. The topping was apple cinnamon which made it more sweet than I prefer, but I still enjoyed it a lot. A nice neighborhood brunch spot that I'd come back to! read more

Geraldine's Counter - Pesto scramble and sides of the single French toast - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Recent discovery for me, I've been three times now every time the food is hot and plentiful really like home, cooking. Great biscuits, and the freezer jam to go on top. They do a good job with the eggs.... And the hash brown potatoes are probably the best I've had in Seattle, The Golden Brown crust, a nice contrast to the tender potatoes inside. Oh, and they have a daily pancake, which I love and you can get just one as a side, so I have done that all three times I've been. The service is efficient and they do a good job at keeping the coffee nice and hot and topped off!! GC Has become my go to spot for breakfast in Columbia city read more

Geraldine's Counter - Spinach omelette with potatoes, and a biscuit - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So if your into breakfast, brunch or lunch, then you know about Geraldine in Columbia City. This diner/restaurant has been going strong through the pandemic since 2005. Offering favorite from local vendors and other small businesses. If you ever plan on going, make sure you get there and put your name down. They have a NO RESERVATION policy. So get there quick and have patients, they will call your name while your waiting outside. I was in a group of four, but if you're solo or 2 they have seating at the breakfast counter. The wait staff worked quickly and efficiently, getting orders taken and delivered. They also have a rotating special menu which is on a white board by the front door. Including drinks and their renown French toast topping. What I remember we ordered: French Toast with blueberry compote (topping of the day) $14 Chicken Fried Steak with Eggs $16 The Chicken Fried Steak was breaded and smothered in the sausage gravy. While the shoe string hash-browns are always a nice touch for breakfast. A fantastic filling meal that can put you back into a food coma. The famous French toast, was good. Crispy throughout, like they deep fried it. The bread it self remind me of a croissant with lots of layers and pockets. And knowing that they make the rotating topping in house is nice. But my only criticism is that the French toast came with 3 half pieces of toast. For $14 I kind of expected at least 2 actual pieces of bread cut in half (4 pieces in total). Not 1.5 slices of bread. I'm curious about the half order ($8.75), do they got with half or just one piece. Regardless I'm glad I tried it. But like any review, take this with a grain of salt. Geraldine's is doing something right if they're always a line up out the door and people willing to wait between 15-45 minutes for a table soon as they open. read more

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Food came out quickly! Everything we ordered tasted great. Loved the chicken fried steak the most read more

Geraldine's Counter - Chicken friend steak - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I finally got a chance to try Geraldine's Counter last weekend! We went by around 10am for breakfast on Sunday and waited around 40 minutes for a table for 2. There were tons of people waiting and not a lot of waiting room inside, so be prepared to be outside and stay close by because they don't take down your phone number. The hostess was kind and friendly, which definitely helped given the wait. Once seated, service was really quick and efficient. They were really nice and didn't rush us, though by the time we sat down, we were starving and knew what we wanted. Food came out quick as well - we got the pesto scramble ($14) and the corned beef hash ($16). It's a ton of food and yummy, though definitely more home style diner food than out of this world flavor in my humble opinion. Overall, a solid experience if you're looking for a local, casual and diner-like breakfast spot with a ton of charm. FYI on parking - you will have a hard time finding it on the main street, so try the side streets a couple blocks before or after the restaurant. read more

Michelle was such an amazing server! And the food and drinks were DELICIOUS the spicy bloody Maria was so good and the French toast is a must try when here! Will definitely be back read more

Geraldine's Counter - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Breakfast time at Geraldine's. I've always had a love/hate reaction to this restaurant. I like the food but hate the wait. There is usually a wait for a table and they don't take reservations. But on this day, we walked in and grab a table. Ordered breakfast and was out in about an hour. Loved it!!! read more

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It's rare that I give a small diner 5 stars, and that's mainly because the food is okay or the service is not great. The opposite is true at Geraldine's. We came on a Friday morning and had about a 15-minute wait. Once we were seated Robert greeted us and answered our questions. When he came back we were ready to go. We ordered a Jameson Irish Coffee and a Baliey's coffee. Both of them had a kick to get your day started off right. The 4 of us ordered all different menu items and collectively agreed that they were all good. I had the Geraldine's Casserole. While I wish the portion size was a little more generous, I was delighted by the quality of the meal. The biscuit with some of their homemade jam was the touch that you didn't know you needed. By far the best food service we received during our Seattle trip and will recommend it to others. read more

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I needed breakfast while I worked in the morning so I opted for something nearby that could just be easily brought back to the place that I was staying at. From here I ordered the Corned Beef Hash ($15.25) with a side of basted eggs and rye bread. I ordered from their website online and had a couple friends pick up my order for me. When I ordered that Friday morning they estimated that it would take about 20 minutes for my order to be ready. My order was brought back to me pretty quickly so it seems that the estimation was pretty accurate. While it may not have looked like a lot inside the box, it was actually a lot of food. I definitely could not finish the whole thing. When I got to about halfway through the dish though I could see all the grease and oil puddling at the bottom of the take out box, and I could feel the grease weighing me down. It's definitely a dense meal. My friend got (I believe) the Emerald City Scramble and when she turned the box upside down onto a plate, a brick of scrambled egg came out, and it stayed as a brick while she ate it. I feel like it's one of those places where it's good for the first few bites, but then after a while you can feel how heavy the food is, as well as see it at the bottom of the plate. We definitely had a food coma after eating it as well. It tasted good at the beginning, but it's not my favorite breakfast place and I got tired of it once I passed the halfway mark of my plate. read more

Geraldine's Counter - Corned Beef Hash - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food was tasty and service was pretty good! A good idea to get here when they open if you don't wanna wait.

The food was really good but their homemade syrup really took the cake. Although the place was crowded we were seated quickly. The only thing I didn't like was the way the staff ignored me read more

Delicious breakfast, we had the emerald city scramble and the French toast. Both were awesome. The fresh jam was amazing as well. Service was quick and friendly. read more

My friends and I were hoping to check out this brunch spot in Columbia City, so called the best brunch spot in Seattle! Great service and very friendly waiters. The food was decently priced and everything was super delicious. It's nothing fancy, the menu tells you what it is, but I had no complaints to offer about anything. We ordered a few sweet and savory options, and they also had seasonal drinks to try out. They offer Mexican and American options to try, and they were all delicious. read more

Geraldine's Counter - French toast, pancakes, huevos rancheros, and veggie omelette - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went here with my friends before heading to the airport. Let me you, everything was great. Food was amazing, service was spot on!

No expectations coming in, but wow! Seriously the best, most memorable French toast I've ever had! Fluffy soft layers of sourdough bread topped with peaches and drizzled with maple syrup. Along with the French toast, had a side of sausage patty and crispy hash browns. Second dish was the corned beef hash and the hash was perfectly cooked and moist. All dishes we had were great, service was good. Be prepared to wait to be seated, but so worth the wait. read more

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This is a beloved CC institution and the long lines attest to that. That said, while the food is good, I'm not sure why there is always such a long wait! Nostalgia? Loyalty? Either way, I'm glad Geraldine's has such a loyal following, but I prefer to go when there isn't a wait or get takeout. I actually like their lunch dishes more than their brunch dishes (I'm in the minority here I'm sure). We tried their French toast and egg scramble on one visit and weren't blown away. The French toast was interesting bc it was all fried, but we couldn't take more than a few bites since it was so greasy and sweet. The scramble had a lot of onions which I don't like and wasn't in the menu description so I didn't know to ask for it tk be removed. On a different visit we got their corned beef sandwich, mozzarella sticks, and burger and enjoyed that much more. So in summary, I'm happy Geraldine's exists but if you're not up for the wait there are plenty of other good brunch places nearby like Rookies. You can always come back to Geraldine's for lunch :) read more

Geraldine's Counter - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came here on a Saturday with my husband and there were lots of people waiting near the entrance. The wait for us was maybe around 15 mins so it wasn't too bad. Got the French Toast with blueberry topping (toppings change!) and the Chicken Fried Steak. When we first got the French Toast, I thought it looked dry but once you bite into it it's nothing like I've had before! It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was the perfect texture and the blueberry topping wasn't too sweet. The chicken fried steak was delicious as well and it came with eggs and hash browns. The hash brown was the right amount of crispy and the gravy on the chicken fried steak was very tasty. The server was also super friendly and it's located on Rainer which has other shops and stores within walking distance. We parked in a lot around the corner but there's also street parking if you can find any. My must try is the French toast! You won't regret it. read more

Geraldine's Counter - French Toast with blueberry topping - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I came in after a bakery that will remain unnamed across the street was only selling TWO of the EXACT SAME pastry per pre loaded box. They also offer only large sacks of their other wares. No, you cannot buy only one or mix and match from the open boxes. I get COVID has forced businesses to adapt, but this rigid unfriendliness is just astounding. I was planning on buying a mixed box of pastries, but without any variety I just didn't have any interest. Geraldine's was a breath of fresh air after that interaction. There was plenty of counter seating, the service was fast and friendly, and the food was great. I was shocked at how large that coffee cake is! $4.50 a slice with rotating flavors. I lucked into strawberry shortcake. It was incredible. In-house I had a breakfast tea, which was delightfully loose leaf, scrambled eggs, and the house made biscuit, which was also large and incredible value at $2. It was the best biscuit I've had in a restaurant lately--incredibly flaky and buttery. Perfect vehicle for jam and butter, or as I imagine, heavier fare like a biscuit sandwich or with gravy. They have plenty of condiments at every station on the counter. The light in the space is great, and it was the perfect spot to chill and read before my massage. I can't wait to try more of the menu! read more

Geraldine's Counter - Do these look poached hard? Disgusting - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Everything perfect. Best French toast in town. Excellent omelets. Breakfast food, salads and sandwiches. Great servers

Had lunch here today for the first time and was not overly impressed. I had the corned beef sandwich and let's just say "where's the beef?" They are skimpy on the protein for sure. And no pickle on the plate. My friends had two different sandwiches and opted for the $3.50 salad upgrade over the fries, which amounted to a pile of spring mix and dressing. No tomato or cucumber or any traditional salad toppers. Definitely a very sad salad and not worth any up charge. Lastly, I was disappointed to see that they are still charging $1.00 egg surcharge, even though egg prices have drastically decreased over recent months. Eggs are $2.99 a dozen at Safeway. This just seems like a shameless money grab by the restaurant owners relying on the ignorance of their customers. read more

Nice sunny day in July, so I took a walk from Capitol Hill to Hillman City. Lots of interesting places to see. Arrived at here hungry and thirsty about ten am, having skipped breakfast. First thing I noticed, was how busy it was. Since I was by myself, I was able to skip the waiting list and be seated at the counter. Every seat in the house was filled. The noise level was really high. The clientele here reflects the diversity of Rainer Beach. Observed a wide variety of people, all enjoying big platters of food in harmony. Being seated at the counter, I could see directly into the kitchen. The cook was putting out big platters of lovely looking food at a fast pace. I ordered the chicken fried steak, with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and hash browns. Had to order a single piece of the famed French toast, which the special today being topped with fresh apricots. I thought it might be a wait for my food, but it arrived quickly after 15 minutes, hot and fresh. I started out with the chicken fried steak. Cooked perfectly, with a thick sausage gravy. My scrambled eggs were soft as I like them. The hash browns were golden brown. My French toast was good. Unfortunately, my toast was really hard. Like I needed my steak knife to cut it. It did soften after I used syrup and the taste was good. Just too tough and chewy for me. My still quite firm and chewy. I do have to give thanks for the excellent condiments. I was given real butter in pats, Kirkland real maple syrup and no sugar ketchup. Makes a big difference to me in taste. Server was attentive to me and checked up with me several times. I witnessed how busy she was. She was carrying plates of food out every few minutes. Must have observed 50 orders of food being delivered in the 45 minutes I was there. They offer a wide variety of both breakfast and lunch items .Impressed with the quality of food and service offered here. Would love to come back and try more. read more

I really liked this place. The food was delish, service was on point, and it's such a cute spot with great atmosphere. The only reason I took away a star is that the portions are pretty big which I think is unnecessary for brunch. Getting a box for eggs isn't something I typically do. So I recommend maybe sharing an entree and a side with someone else. read more

Geraldine's Counter - White Corn, Havarti & Herbs Scramble - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

For national breakfast day we decided to have brunch at Geraldine's Counter; you know you're at the right place when you pull up and see groups of people standing around waiting to get seated. Our hungry 2 year old wouldn't have successfully made the wait time, so I decided to place an order to go which yielded a 20 min wait. There is ample parking, several shops, and parks to accommodate whichever wait time you choose. The bread Geraldine's uses is WONDERFUL, I mean you'll want to buy a loaf wonderful!! The quality of the food is beyond that of a chain diner, you can tell Geraldine's takes pride in its dishes. The French toast is REALLY GOOD; once you have it you'll never be able to forget how Geraldine's makes French toast. The side orders are large enough to easily feed 3-4 people. So happy to add Geraldine's Counter to our brunch options, we would definitely return and recommend. read more

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I was staying in Columbia City looking for a great place for breakfast. Geraldine's came up as one of the top brunch places in Seattle. We decided to walk over and check it out. It was a Friday morning so I was surprised to see a line of people out the door. We waited about ten minutes to get a table. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They were always coming around to check if we needed anything. I decided to go with the French toast which seems to be the most popular item on the menu. Today's special was French toast with caramelized apples. I have to say I was a little underwhelmed with the meal. The French toast was not that great. I usually expect it to be packed with flavor but today it was hard and very bland. I should have gone with eggs or a sandwich instead. Oh well there is always next time. read more

Geraldine's Counter - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I live close by so I've been here a few times and I consistently have below average experiences. The food is pretty average and is overpriced. Staff can be rude and unaccommodating. The take out counter is a mess and you now need to provide id or a credit card after giving your name. This policy doesn't make sense for people who are picking up food for someone else. I haven't encountered this at any other restaurant I've done takeout from. This place is not worth your time when there are better restaurants in Columbia City. I won't be going back. read more

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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