They're very nice but reservations are needed! On weekend especially without reservations it can be long wait time. However the food is delicious and if you do get to go try their pancake bar! It's so nice. They have outdoor seating with blankets so if there are open seats outside and you don't have a reservation, just make sure you bring a coat since it can get chilly. Parking is mostly street but there is a park and ride that most people park at and walk to the restaurant nearby! read more

Excellent service, food and ambiance. It's a cool spot since there's a lot of natural light and colorful pictures for decor. Plus, the big doors were open so the restaurant feels very airy and-bright. I ordered the Buddah bowl with delicious and tasty marinated tofu and an egg on the side. It is my favorite bowl of all time, and I order bowls all around the city. My 93 yr old mom had the Swedish pancakes and the berry bar. She absolutely loved them. This location is my new favorite. Parking was a bit tricky but we made it work. We will be back!!! read more

Their food always excellent, but what makes the experience for me is the friendly staff. I always look forward to my early Sunday stop. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is the third Portage Bay I've been to, and I have to say, I enjoyed this one the best. Great food and really helpful and supportive staff. I had their chicken sandwich with a side of potatoes. The sandwich, loaded with substantial pieces of chicken, almost spilling out of the sandwich, and healthy lengths of bacon. It was so much, I couldn't eat it all, so took half home. It heated up surprisingly well for lunch the next day. My girlfriend got the Mushroom Benedict (a vegetarian option on the menu), and loved it! So much so she finished of every last bite! Our server Melissa was amazing! Competent, but equally a good conversationalist, having done a lot in her life despite her youth It can be a little loud and boisterous in the place--the acoustics aren't stellar-- but still work the good food. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Chicken sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Portage Bay is not quite what it used to be. Great menu, great features (breakfast bar) and they take reservations. But the food preparation just isn't quite what it used to be-inconsistent and at times slapped together. My omelette at my last visit was a good example-in balance in the fillings, undercooked mushrooms and just a glob of Dungeness crab that was moist and cold. Still a go-to, but no longer great. Raise standards and it will be back to being a place that is hard to get into. Otherwise, it's a good breakfast that is a cut above a greasy spoon with a better menu. read more

Always a winner at the spot. Consistent and delicious. I just wish they'd bring back the crab cake bene on the weekends.

Food: 5 stars Service: 3 stars Business: 1 star One server was a bit snappy. One of them was sick and coughing. The reason for the 1 star for the business is a bad experience overall. * The place at Roosevelt is extremely noisy, not just "lively" just over the top noisy. * They charged more on my credit card than I had signed for. They have a device so their accounting is purposefully charging more than what you see on the device. Although the food is expensive - reasonably so given it is good - the business gives you the feeling of being a cheap place, trying to save a dime on the back of customers read more

Saturday brunch. We had our dog so requested to sit on the patio. We waited about ten minutes and they allowed our dog to be at the table with us...which surprised me. We were at our table for about 15 minutes before a server approached us. I had a cup of coffee ($4.50!!??) and the BLT with avocado. My companion had the breakfast sandwich and a canned cold-brew. The sandwiches were decent but nothing particularly special. The bread was good and the sandwich was really big- I only ate half and took the rest home. The potatoes had clearly been sitting on a warming table or under lights for awhile. They were well prepared, and seasoned, but...leathery. Not fresh. Which, at the price point, was a little disappointing. I recognize I'm being picky but: With tip (19% default) we spent $65. For two sandwiches and two coffees. I feel like that's a lot of money and deserves sides that are made to order. The place is nice and the servers were super friendly. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - BLT - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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YALL PORTAGE BAY IS BACK! Years ago - I swore never to go back to portage bay because I felt it was so mediocre and no longer an experience at all. But I'm happy to report that portage bay has gone back to creating memorable food and great experience worth spending your money on. It was a pleasant time as we dined with dear friends. Our server was also so kind and attentive. The food was full of depth and care. So it makes me happy to recommend their restaurant again. If you've never been, make sure you make a reservation and enjoy the cozy place that encourages you to eat like you give a damn haha. read more

Had brunch here with my gfs. This location is fairly large and honestly not reasonable for me but it was the middle point for all of us. Unless you live within the area. Parking around here is nonexistent. Service was great. Our server was pretty nice. Ordering was quick and food came out rather quick. I ordered the crab Benedict and a small stack of lemon ricotta pancakes to try ( I originally just wanted fruits and whipped lol). The crab bennies were so good! Lots of crab meat and I loved that the hollandaise wasn't too rich. I ended up saving half of my Benedict so I could try the pancakes. I usually don't order pancakes or sweeet breakfast for that matter but lemon ricotta sound so good and I didn't realize they were gluten free. The cakes were so fluffy and the lemon sauce was delicious! I ended up saving half because I did get super full towards the end of my meal. My friends and I also ordered a pitcher of mimosa that contribute to that. Anywho portage bay is great for brunch and they are a good place to catch up with your friends. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Crab Bennie and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (gf) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excellent hash and breakfast options. The food is always good and I tried the other Portage Bay locations also. There is always consistency and this is key to this restaurants success. Ambiance is warm and inviting and it reminds me of a wonderful place you take family for Easter or Mother's Day. Service is a ok. It's not the most organized which is a shame considering the food really stands out. My server forgot my coffee, there were no refills, and I had to flag them down for the bill. The toppings bar was clean and maintained but I could see my server just chatting by there when his two tops and four tops needed attention. Brunch rush is a great opportunity in my opinion to tighten up customer service. I offer this as a learning opportunity to management. Other than that, I love the pastry counter and flow of the restaurant. read more

I come to this place at least once a month and every single time, I am impressed about their consistency. Today, I took my daughters for breakfast right before I headed to work, we got some banana French toast and pancakes; they loved it. Our server Bryce was awesome, he was attentive, suggested a few things but ultimately, my daughters picked their usual favorite. Thank you Bryce and Portage bay, you are still our favorite breakfast place. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - bananas foster french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I just went to portage bay for the first time for breakfast. It was a weekend and the place was HOPPING, but the staff were able to seat my friend and I promptly at the bar. The waitress helped us navigate the menu--she recommended the pumpkin pancakes and they did not disappoint! Overall a decent selection in the menu and variety for customers. I really enjoyed my omelette, the pumpkin pancakes, and the berry bar! I will definitely be returning in the near future. read more

This is a great breakfast/brunch spot. Tons of seating, but it fills up fast on the weekends, so I recommend going early or having a reservation. The food is pricey, but worth it - quality ingredients, good portions, good food overall. The berry bar is a hit, but all their dishes are honestly really fresh and good!! Great spot. read more

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I have celiac disease and so far Portage Bay (the last 10 years or so) has been good to me. They take my health concerns seriously and they always have something delicious on the menu that can be made safely. read more

Great service, very cute space and yummy. I had the vegetarian hash and it was good but carrots and cauliflower in a breakfast dish were a little off the wall. Still yummy, though!! read more

Their Swedish pancake was not available. So I ordered their traditional egg benedict. The eggs were a little over cooked in my opinion. The ham was very thin and rather dry. I would prefer a thicker and juicer ham. Our server was nice and friendly. Our group had a good gathering. read more

Friendly service, took about 25 min for 4 of us to get seated around 11/1130 on a Sunday. They tended the heaters on which was nice since it was a bit breezy for a June day. Food is delicious - thought the biscuits came with 2 eggs but only got one... lingon berry Swedish pancakes were yummy read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - A bit chilly but these heaters are helpful - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My cousin Scott Y. lives in Ravenna, so we met up for a giant brunch at the Portage Bay Cafe on 65th when my family visited Seattle last month. There were fourteen of us in total, including five kids, and we took up a whole banquet-length table in the middle of the restaurant. Scott made a reservation, which was pretty clutch for a Saturday morning, and we were able to keep that table even though our L.A. crew (ten of the fourteen) got delayed by subway closures for over half an hour. We were relieved to arrive and take our seats. The restaurant was exactly right for this mini family reunion, fun and cheerful and easy. Service was fast and friendly. There was a welcome pitcher of mimosas waiting on the table when we arrived, and our waiter came around quickly to get all our orders. The portions were huge, a definite plus if you have a big appetite, like my buff type-A-maximum surgeon cousin who sometimes eats 2,000 calories for breakfast before going to work reconstructing spines. I didn't finish my migas, but they were delicious. Scrambled eggs, cheddar, basil, chipotle, cumin, cilantro-lime crema, and housemade salsa in a flour tortilla, with a dollop of guacamole on top. I added carnitas and this was a good move. The pork was juicy and went wonderfully with everything else. The migas came with a choice of herb-roasted potatoes or salad, and the potatoes were an excellent choice. I also tried a bit of my mom's Dungeness crab grilled cheese, and this was great, a luxurious grown-up grilled cheese with sweet crab, spinach, tomato, gouda, and basil pesto on housemade potato bread. My husband and children had pancakes but unfortunately, my sons do not eat fruit and therefore missed out on the Portage Bay berry bar. All fourteen of us headed to my cousin's house after brunch, a major endeavor involving two large vehicles and various travel car seats, but not before a classic Asian fight for the check. Team Scott was outmaneuvered by my mother, who not only found our server and insisted on paying, but strong-armed her into reversing the charge on my cousin's wife's card. This was a lovely brunch despite the tortured logistics and check warfare. I'd highly recommend Portage Bay Cafe, especially if you want to feed a lot of food to a lot of people. read more

We came here on a Friday afternoon for some brunch! I love that they have so many seasonal options. On this occasion, I opted to order the Smoked Salmon Benedict. This was so good and satisfying. I really like the freshness of their ingredients and the quality of their service we were in and out within 45 minutes. This was definitely a splurge, but very well made. read more

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One of my FAVE brunch spots! It's a treat to come here if you have not. Came here for Mother's Day. The BEST French toast ever -- along with topping it all off with fruits and nuts etc at the breakfast bar! When you can't decide between savory and a hint of sweet, you get the Rancher's breakfast, along with pancakes or French toast (and topping it off at the breakfast bar). They ran out of cold brew when I was here BUT they have the BEST iced tea I've ever had! Unsweetened but a little minty -- the brand is Barnes & Watkins I believe. Always a delight coming here, I'd love to try the Yucatán and Dungeness crab Benedict's next time! Our server was nice! I love this location since you can park at green lake park n ride (: read more

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Great service. The march special Yucatán Benedict was delicious. However. the potatoes were not good. They needed seasoning. It was fairly quiet on a Thursday morning. I walked here and it didn't seem like there was a parking lot. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Yucatán Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've lived in Seattle for several years now and have patronized Portage Bay several times as well, but this is the first time leaving a review. I love it! The food is always delicious and generously portioned. The restaurant is always lively but not crowded, and the hostesses always somehow accommodate every last-minute request we have (this time it was a spot for our stroller). One thing I will say is, I was not the biggest fan of the mole. Though I cannot fault them because I know I don't like mole, yet I ordered the mole burrito, just because it looked so gosh dang delicious. That's how great Portage Bay is. It'll make you order things you don't typically eat, just because everything looks so good! read more

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So many people had recommended these restaurants and finally made it to this location. Wow, can't believe I waited so long it was delicious! Make a reservation or you'll likely be waiting a while on a weekend and be sure to show up at the right location. (Saw others who didn't) We tried the Seattle Benedict and French toast which were both sooo good. With the French toast you get to walk up and put your own toppings on - everything was super fresh and tasty. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Wow wow the second time have gone to 2 Locations and both were really good? So my two boys have allergies o e is peanut garlic etc and my other older son has celiac disease so NO gluten. Here has the most amazing gluten free pancakes so yummy! But the staff went above what we expected it's was my sons 8th birthday they put candles omg thanks for making my kids so happy! It's always clean nice outside seating and definitely will keep coming back for kids birthdays to get the special pancakes read more

This place knows how to crank out food with great quality, and good service. Came here today on a super busy brunch holiday- Father's Day. Food was wonderful, fast, and delicious. read more

I went to Portage Bay in the U District 10 years when I was in Seattle for a summer. My memories and Yelp review were overwhelmingly positive so I was excited to try it again many years later. There was a line but the wait was quick. My previous review mentioned a toppings bar, that didn't exist. Maybe that went away due to covid or never existed, not sure. Overall, food and service was great. Prices are high but everything in Seattle is more expensive than Portland and the Seattle of 10 years ago. I'd recommend this spot and will be back. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Goat Cheese Omelette (veg) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

10 Stars if I could... Guys in the kitchen are fast and food was delicious. Service was great also fast and very attentive. I got the huevos rancheros.... Very delicious read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Huevos rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

this place was GOOD!! they had plentiful of seasonal options along with their regular menu! i also really liked the idea of the yogurt/fruit bar. read more

I came here with my boyfriend since it's down the street from where he lives. He made a reservation for the both of us since he knows how hectic Sunday brunch can be, especially at this location! However, we scheduled our reservation for around 10:30 AM, and we weren't seated for around 20 minutes. Made me wonder what the point of having a reservation system is if they don't actually hold tables for the explicit purpose of handing over to patrons who bothered to make reservations... I have no doubt that we would've had to wait even longer if we didn't make a reservation, though. The self serve fruit bar is the most appealing thing about this brunch spot, but it doesn't come with most of this restaurant's items and neither of us decided to spend extra money to go up and grab fruit for ourselves. My BLTA sandwich was alright, some of the breakfast potatoes didn't seem fully cooked through but they were seasoned very well. My boyfriend ordered the Dungeness Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, and he liked it (even though this location is on the pricey side). This place gets pretty hectic and the interior is cramped/has little space in between the chairs so service wasn't super personalized or stellar, but we did get our waters topped off pretty frequently which I appreciated. This location is likely up the alley for typical Seattle hipsters, but I don't think I would order a sandwich the next time I come here. I'd probably try to split one of their specialty items (the Swedish pancakes, for example...?) read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - b.l.t. ( maybe a.) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We initially went to the Portage Bay Cafe - Roosevelt location. However, the line was insanely long and the hostess was rude. We decided to go to the 65th location instead. I ordered the breakfast sandwich and enjoyed it very much. The fig jam adds in a different complexity into the sandwich, on top of the smoky Gouda cheese and a hint of flavor from the arugula. The egg was fluffy and complemented so well with the crispy potato bread. Portion sizes are decent and I got to bring half a sandwich home. Our waiter was kind and attentive; atmosphere was comfortable and cozy. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Breakfast sandwich, French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Portage Bay is always one of my go-to brunch spots. I took some friends here last weekend who had never been before, and they equally enjoyed it. We made a reservation for 11am on Sunday, and we're seated right away. While we were there, the restaurant stayed pretty full the entire time. I would definitely make a reservation if you're planning on going on the weekend-- it fills up fast! Two members of our group ordered savory breakfasts, and the other two opted for sweet dishes and a trip to the fruit bar. I ordered the Oatmeal Cobbler French Toast, and then piled it high with fresh seasonal fruits from the fruit bar. I was able to finish about half of my plate and then brought the rest home for later. My partner ordered the Farmer's Hash Bowl, but made it vegan. He also got a glass of orange juice, which is always freshly squeezed and delicious. Our server was attentive and we felt well taken care of. It was a nice bonus to not feel rushed after the check came as well. After brunch, we took advantage of Portage Bay's location and walked around Greenlake. read more

Portage Bay Cafe is a local favorite! There menu is locally sourced and boasts in season specials. Everything I have tried on this menu never disappoints! Ordering pancakes or French toast includes a trip to the fruit bar which also includes fresh whipped cream! This is a perfect spot for brunch with friends or family! I have celebrated many spent many birthdays here! read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Seasonal salmon Benedict and house seasoned potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So many bugs, a HUGE bug the size of my finger was flying around our table at one point. Open fruit bar probably doesn't help. They were also out of their specialty sweet brunch items (Belgian waffle and tropical French toast). Overall good brunch place and is a Seattle classic read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - classic french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Reservation was made at like 6 am using opentable for 8am. This was very convenient because last thing I want to do on a Saturday morning is waiting an hour for a table. We have been to Roosevelt location several times but hadn't been to Portage bay since pandemic started, so had to look over the menu. Food was pretty good. The mushrooms for Joe's scramble was moist and well cooked. I thought I should have gotten chicken instead because the sausage flavor was bit overpowering. Toast was burnt on the edges but they redid it twice to make sure toast wasn't burnt. It had been a while since I've been to Portage bay, but I thought we had unlimited trips to berry bar before... but I guess its just one trip now. It was ok for us because we are usually pretty full halfway through the meal. I had to take off 2 stars for couple things... First, our server kept disappearing and we couldn't find him whenever we needed something. Second thing... does not have anything to do with food. Ladies bathroom did not have any toilet seat covers (didnt even see a place for them) and the TP holder was super wobbly I had to make sure I didn't tip it over. Third thing was the server's comment when she brought back a second toast. I asked the edges not to be burnt (they were black!) and she said "oh u want it not as well done" and did not acknowledge that edges were burnt the second time. Anyways, overall it was ok experience today, but maybe I might go back to Roosevelt location. read more

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Turn and burn, baby. That's the name of the game at this hopping breakfast spot. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed eating here a lot and the food was super tasty. The wait looked to be crazy so MAKE A RESERVATION or be prepared to sit outside for 30+ minutes. I booked a table the night before and we were sat immediately. A Mimosa and a breakfast beer were enjoyed first and the dood was brought out quickly. My partner got the breakfast quesadilla and I opted for the kimchi omelette. The kimchi had quite a nice kick to it, so be prepared for that if you order it (as it should, right? It's kimchi!). Sat, ordered, served, and out the door in about 30 minutes. Just how a hopping breakfast/brunch spot should be. Turn and burn, baby. read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - Bronch! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The hype is well deserved here without a doubt. The only thing I didn't really care for was parking is extremely difficult to find nearby. The closest parking we could find was 10 minutes away. My sister got the apple cinnamon pancakes and I went with the carnitas benedict. Both were yummy but I have to say, I think my sisters pancakes were better. The carnitas were sooo tender. I just wish the poblano hollandaise sauce would've had more of that poblano in it. Her pancakes on the other hand were delish! I loved that the apple compote was made with Granny Smith apples so the pancakes weren't ridiculously sweet. The breakfast potatoes were our fav! I typically find myself reaching for salt and pepper for my breakfast potatoes, but these were seasoned very well I didn't even think about grabbing the salt and pepper. Our server Jocelyn was also a real peach! For the customer service alone, I'd without a doubt come back when I'm in town again! read more

Portage Bay Cafe - 65th - carnitas benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm a big on egg's Benedict but when you overcook the eggs, burn the ham and undercook the muffin - the result is disappointing, Swedish pancakes were very good and rosemary chicken sausage very good. Great coffee! Parking is terrible. read more

Good food and good service!! Loved the toppings bar here. I got the pancakes which were delicious (but a little heavy). My friends loved their dishes too!! Would come here again (and hope to go to the SLU location soon)!! read more

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I don't know how long Portage Bay has been on my bookmarks but I was finally able to stop in! I would recommend making reservations online on OpenTable so you have a shorter wait. We made reservations a couple days in advanced, got there minutes before our reservations, and were seated right away even when there were multiple parties waiting for tables. They have a wide variety of dishes from pancakes, French toast, and benedicts. I ordered the cochinita pibil benedict ($17) which was on their chef's special. It's an eggs benedict with pork shoulder braised in a cochinita pibil marinade. Overall I thought it was a pretty good benedict with a nice hollandaise sauce and flavorful meat. I really liked the potatoes too. We also ordered the lamb sausage scramble ($16.50) which was also on their chef's special. This was also solid and I preferred this a bit more than the benedict. I also noticed that there were more potatoes on this dish than on the benedict and there was a slice of toast included whereas my benedicts dish didn't. They have multiple hot sauces on the side if you want to spice up your dish. Out of the four that I tried I liked the sriracha based sauce. There is a breakfast bar that includes fruit and other toppings which is for those who ordered the French toast and pancakes. I see that it's one of their most popular dishes but I prefer savory over sweet breakfast foods, but I still might have to order it sometime. read more

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