Parking was easy and big lot. I ordered and got my drink in 5 minutes or less. Seating in the…read moreshared building area was plentiful. Saturday morning has lots of friend gatherings of 2-4 people. Relaxed atmosphere! Convenient location to get on 2 different highways!

I was in the area for a doctor's appointment and needed a quick coffee fix. When a spot popped up…read moreon Yelp with some great photos, I figured I'd give it a try. Parking ended up being a bit of a walk, which had me second-guessing the decision at first--but I'm glad I stuck with it. The moment I walked in, the space felt thoughtfully designed. The flow of the café is one of the best I've experienced--open, comfortable, and easy to navigate. As soon as the door opened, the barista greeted me right away. The counter is positioned close enough that you don't feel awkward hovering like in some cafés where the bar feels miles away. It immediately felt welcoming. I visited on a weekend during a slower period, but since the café sits right next to a college, I can imagine the line spilling out the door during peak hours. At quieter times though, the layout works well--there's enough space for a couple people to wait without crowding the entrance. I ordered a cortado and an almond croissant. The croissant came warmed, and the texture was spot on: fluffy, layered, and not overly greasy. The almond filling had a really nice balance--nutty with just enough sweetness and a hint of salt to round it out. I was told the pastries are made in-house, and it definitely shows. It tasted like something made with care. The cortado itself was solid--pretty classic, nothing overly fancy. One thoughtful touch I appreciated was that it came with sparkling water, which was great for cleansing the palate. The space itself is fairly spacious and works well if you want a quiet moment to sip your coffee. That said, most of the seating is high stools, so it doesn't really feel like the type of place to settle in and study for hours. Overall, I really enjoyed the atmosphere, service, and quality of the food. The one thing that caught me off guard was the price of the croissant at $6.50. It tasted great and I understand prices in this area tend to run higher, especially for house-made pastries--but it's a bit outside what I'd usually spend. So while I definitely think it's good, it might not become a regular stop for me simply due to location and budget. Still, a great find and a pleasant surprise during a routine coffee run. Staff & Service: Environment: Food & Beverage:

Why does Mercer Island have an abundance of fantastic bakeries?…read more La Fete is a petite pastry / coffee shop that has amazing pastries. The earlier you come the more likely you will get to eat the delicious pastries, but if you come past 11 AM you likely won't find much. Their croissants are always on the menu, but many of their pastries are seasonally available so you have to come back. I haven't tried their sandwiches yet, but those pastries are amazing. The staff here are so nice too! Super tolerant as my indecision took over my brain seeing so many pastries! I think not having anyone behind me helped with that - a rare slow moment - because once the door opened I waved the white flag, asked them to pick me 3 of their favorites and off I went. The only problem with that is I can't recall the names of what I bought. The croissant, easy. The little puffy pastry with big sugar flakes and apricot that was very light? No clue except it was delicious.

Really enjoyed this little cafe! The pastries are baked in house and are delightful. We had the…read morealmond croissant and the raspberry chocolate croissant and both were excellent though I preferred the almond. Espresso was solid. They also have small baguette sandwiches that I'd like to try next time. There was tons of traffic on a weekday morning. Overall a small space with a few small tables inside and an outdoor patio with more tables which will be lovely as the weather gets warmer, but we were able to grab a table. Great place for catching up with someone.

Make no mistake...we are coming back for the torte…read more... But the service with a smile, our bagel sandwichs, perfectly blended latte and hot tea exactly as ordered helps too!

We visited Shawn's Bakery on Mercer Island for a Sunday lunch. It's a cute little spot, but be…read moreaware that there are only a few outdoor seats. The bakery was quite busy, with a steady stream of customers. The selection was a bit limited when we arrived, possibly because it was late on a Sunday. We ordered a turkey panini and a coffee. The panini was perfectly toasted with nicely melted cheese, though I wished it had more fillings. I also found the coffee to be on the bitter side. We want to come back to try their challah and pretzel rolls next time!

Recently moved to Bellevue from Seattle and of course was desperate to find a new brunch spot with…read moreallergen-friendly options, and WOW. Bellden Cafe has it all, we've already gone several times I'm obsessed with the ube mochi waffle, it is soooo delicious (not too sweet, incredible texture and flavor). Their matcha is also lovely, I got matcha with rose syrup both times I went (so immaculate). I've turned into a bit of a matcha snob, so always looking for some good options and they hit the spot. The service is incredible, literally the people working there are the nicest people everrrr. Even on a super busy weekend morning, they were so accommodating, so friendly and even remembered us from just one visit! Really fantastic team, they really make the whole experience even MORE lovely. And the interior is jussssst so gorg!!! The decor is immaculate, there's lots of space (even when it was crowded), would be a perfect place to work from during the week, even their outdoor tables were very clean and cutie. Absolutely love, this has become a new staple of ours since moving to the east side! brunch girlies rise!!!

This spot has received numerous awards and recognition over the years, so I was glad to finally…read morecheck it out with a friend on a recent Sunday morning. When we walked in, most of the indoor tables were taken, but we got lucky and snagged one right as a couple was leaving. They have a pretty extensive drink menu of coffees, teas and smoothies alongside a food selection of açaí and yogurt bowls, breakfast sandwiches, waffles, toasts and salads. Prices do seem rather steep for food (particularly for the waffles), however, this business has a great philanthropic mindset that helps explain the price points. Whenever someone orders a specialty drink, they donate some of the proceeds to a charity. + LATTE w/ MISO MAPLE syrup ($5 for 12 oz. + $1 for syrup): The coffee itself was so good - robust, with a perfect balance between the espresso and milk. I was so excited to try this unique syrup flavor, but sadly, I didn't taste it at all. No umami from the miso and not even a hint of maple. I'm not sure if this syrup is just extremely subtle, or if it was simply forgotten. I really hope it's not the latter, since I paid extra for it. + MATCHA CHIA PUDDING ($13): The bowl may look small, but it was deep and the portion turned out to be filling. A Greek yogurt base was beautifully layered with matcha chia pudding, a strawberry-rhubarb compote, granola and rose. I loved the compote which had the perfect sweetness of ripe strawberries and a little tang from the rhubarb. The matcha pudding was on the milder side, but smooth in consistency, contrasting nicely with the crunchy granola. My friend ordered the Açaí Bowl and really enjoyed it. The serving looked reasonable for the price as well. Overall, the two of us had a wonderful time here catching up over a healthy brunch! Tip: They have two small rooms available to reserve for parties of 4-6 if you're looking to secure seating for a group.

I really like their bean flavor, it's very aromatic and smooth. Great location with that opens…read moreearly with lots of tables for those who like to study and do some work. Nice vibe and atmosphere as well.

TL;DR: Much worse than when they first opened. Burnt coffee, inconsistent latte texture, and dirty…read moreseating area. 1/ CLEANLINESS. The service has steadily declined as they've been open for longer. The tables are dirty and the staff doesn't look like they ever clean up. The customers definitely do not. You need to bring a Chlorox wipe or grab some paper towels from the bathroom to clean off your table from spilled coffee and pastry crumbs. 2/ DRINKS. Inconsistent. I've now gotten burnt coffee multiple times here. I even got grounds in my cup. The latte milk has been inconsistent in texture. While they claim to use Kuma Coffee, they are clearly doing a massive disservice to the high quality beans. 3/ LOCATION. It is close to BC and the Toyota dealership. Is it the best walkable option for coffee in the area, yes. It's a shame that this place has declined so significantly since it first opened around a year or so ago. The owners were in the shop, attentive, and ensured a high quality bar across the board. Now it's quite unlikable.

The service was wonderful. The gal did a good job making sure that I knew what was in a Brazilian…read moreLatte. I had been to the Redmond Kitanda a long time ago. I really loved it then. I got the Brazilian bites and have to say was kind of disappointed as they didn't feel the optimal crispness on the outside. But they were tasty. It was nice and clean inside. The outdoor seating has promise in the summer.

Having read the reviews I was genuinely excited to come here, but on the three visits I can't say I…read morefound the "wow" factor. My experiences here range from ok to awkward. Kitanda is a chain coffee store with currently 13 locations mostly in Washington. The ambiance is typical of the majority of all coffee shops with wood tones and muted colors, small wood tables, and seats that are slightly comfortable. It is a tried and true format. They carry a variety of coffee beverages but unlike most coffee shops have very few non-coffee beverages that aren't their açaí shakes, a small selection of bagged teas, or mass produced drinks in the cooler. As I don't drink coffee this is a considerable drawback. My friend who drinks coffee enjoys theirs quite a bit. The food is okay. If you love bread heavy food, Kitanda has you covered. I ordered the coxinha which is a deep-fried coquette filled with shredded chicken - at least that's what Google described it as which made me excited. It was savory, crispy on the outside, mushy on the inside with a thick bready shell that clung to the roof of my mouth. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything I'd get again. The awkward part came in the form of their young employees openly discussing a very natural biological challenge most women routinely experience, loudly. I could hear every word from where they were standing behind the counter to where I was sitting by the double doors. While part of me envied the comfort they demonstrated with each other the rest of me couldn't quite think that this was appropriate discussion to have in front of people eating. And I also didn't need to know the intimate details of strangers' biological functions. If I don't go back I'll be fine.

I loved the Turmeric Ginger Latte (ordered half-sweet). One of the standouts out of all the coffee…read moredrinks I've tried here. It uses a white chocolate ganache infused with turmeric and ginger as the base, making it silky smooth and deeply warming without the spice notes being too strong. The banana bread here is also absolute perfection! It's dense, smooth, and has high-quality milk chocolate chunks and toasted pecans. The chocolate is delicious, which makes sense given Dote's specialty in chocolates. The exterior has a wonderful, subtle caramelized brown crust, and the pecans and chocolate perfectly balance the ripe bananas smoothly incorporated in the bread. I liked that it was slightly chilled when I got it, as it was not overly sweet and really enhanced the texture for me. Will definitely be back when I'm in the area! All the pastries, drinks, and to-go items look wonderful.

If you're looking for a working spot, this is it. So many ppl on laptops doing their work on a…read moreTuesday. The quality of coffee & matcha is great! The quiche was so delicious. Salty, savory and flavorful. Not dry. Two main seating sections - front has ample sunlight from floor to ceiling windows. Back is more moody with darker paint & cushioned seating. Light music in background, nice ambiance for working/studying.

When I'm in the food for great coffee, I come here vs. Starbucks. The coffee is smooth & bold…read morewithout being bitter and strong. My go to is an Americano. And surprisingly the lady remembered me on my second visit and asked if I wanted an Americano. Great touch of customer service. The bagels are fresh & bigger than what I would get at Starbucks too. And more bagel options is a plus for me. I get why people love their small coffee stands here. They are quaint, friendly, & so much better than the big guys.

I was coming off I5 south at 7am and wanted something to kick start my time. After typing in "drive…read morethru coffee" Apple Maps took me here. It is a cute coffee shack tucked into a neighborhood just a couple minutes from the freeway exit. There wasn't much traffic in the morning which was nice. The service was nice. I ordered a white chocolate mocha. The coffee tasted a little burnt I think if I lived in the neighborhood this would be a fun place to go to in the mornings but since it's out of my normal route the convenience of it being a drive thru is something that would bring me back again

I love their corn dogs here! Literally the best. The milkshake was perfect as well. Only thing that…read moremade it 4 stars was because my smoothie wasn't fully blended & it wasn't to my preference on taste. Super friendly service & the pricing here is so good. I'm surprised not even more people know about this spot.

Do you want to have the best corn dog of your life? If the answer is yes, then you should visit…read moreBob's Espresso. Bob's is bucking the latest health trends and leaning into life's simple pleasures, namely their iconic dipped-meat-stick. In my opinion, their snowy little shack should be named after the dogs themselves, instead of the espresso. They do have a plethora of drinks that you can choose from, but I can't speak on those. I was locked in on the main prize all day, taking down two of these monster dogs. You'll immediately be taken back to a simpler time, maybe at a state fair or your local carnival, which was probably the last time you had one. Your impression of a corn dog is probably that it has too much breading, like a sausage wrapped in a pancake. But no, these are much more dog-forward. The batter is only a thin layer, making for an impeccable crunch on every bite. The inner-dog is flavorful and juicy. My only gripe is the lack of variety in sauces. I've proclaimed many times here that I am a sauce boi, so mustard and ketchup alone will not cut it. A mayo-based sauce would have taken this to the next level as a dog shop. But I can't take away points for that, since this is still the best of my life. A worthwhile stop after a day of hiking, skiing, or shameless indulgence.

Oh, Macrina Bakery... I didn't understand the polarizing…read morereviews the first time I came here. It was a delight. Everyone was friendly, the pastry was divine, and the iced macha latte was superb. I was going to leave a fantastic review, got distracted, came back. The second time was miserable. I left upset. The front was as pleasant as ever but the matcha latte was filled to the literal brim. As I asked for it to go it was apparent I was going to put a lid on it, the restaurant was busy, and there was no possibility of moving it without epic disaster. If it had been slower I would have drank a couple ounces to make room but i got flustered, drank too little, put on the lid and it proved too little, too late. Matcha latte seeped down the sides, sloshed on the floor all while the barista just stared wordlessly until moving onto the next drink offering no help despite me making a massive mess. I'm not a monster, I grabbed a bunch of napkins and mopped up the mess but noticed green splotches on my white jacket as I headed into work. It washed out, but c'mon why fill a to-go cup all the way to the very top? I was going to write an angry review but decided why not try again? Third time, different barista, different experience. The ladies at the counter were wonderful as always. I very much enjoy their pastries. Their cookies are inconsistent - some days hard and other days soft and squishy. Their food items are decent. Their matcha lattes are served without any sweetener allowing individual customization. Even though they are consistently inconsistent, their pastries and front counter service is truly a delight so they are worth visiting! Just go early.

THREE times we went in there for baked goods...... three times we walked out...FLIES in the PASTRY…read moreDISPLAY...not one worker attempted to get rid of them. Back to Shawns....we didn't want that type of protein in our croissants.