Amazing food, great service! Pizza is delicious. Peanut butter chocolate cake worth the drive!read more

My hubs and I took his mom to DERU Market to celebrate Mother's Day the day before (Saturday). Even…read morethough not everything went well, it was such a great experience that we will for sure come back again. I signed up for the waitlist at 11:15am before we left for the restaurant. When we got there at 11:40am, we checked in and the staffer said it would be approximately an hour to hour and a half wait on top of our already 25 minute wait. Whoa! We didn't know these were typical weekend waiting times. My MIL was willing to wait so we took off and came back in an hour. At that time, they were able to seat our party of three at a table outside. So, it took us about 90 minutes total to get seated. Note to future diners to get on the waitlist early if you're coming for weekend brunch!!! You use a QR code to order from an online menu. Liked how detailed the menu was and how we could remove or add ingredients. With my dairy and eggs intolerance, this comes in handy. My MIL ordered Eggs Benedict, I got the smoked turkey sandwich on focaccia, and my hubs got the chicken sandwich on focaccia. Our sandwiches were packed with lots of deliciousness, but my MIL's English muffin was toasted so hard she couldn't even cut through it with a steak knife. So she sent it back and she also asked for her poached eggs to be cooked harder. The staff member was apologetic and said no problem. It took a while to cook it, but when she got her remade Eggs Benedict, she really liked it. We split a slice of apple bread which was delicious. So happy it was dairy free! My hubs also enjoyed his London Fog. My MIL got a huge slice of coconut cake to go and loved eating it later, telling us it was very moist and coconutty. It was a bright day with nice weather and was a perfect time to try out DERU Market. Even though it was very busy, all of the staff were friendly and attentive. They worked like a well-oiled machine. We definitely want to come back and try more of their dishes, pizza, and desserts.

The steak was so tender and everything was delicious! Good serving sizes too! I wish they would…read moreopen back up in Redmond!

A "pet project" by the Nordstrom family, I certainly approve…read more Simple, healthy, tasty, fair cost food in nice locations = 5 Stars. You would think this is Homegrown part 2, similar vibes, no change in decor really (Kirkland Location) but it looks like it was started by Lisa Nordstrom. Was always a fan of Homegrown, but glad that Sona has replaced them in this location because the meals are more "meals" instead of more for just breakfast or lunch bites. The beef steak hits, the rice, sauce, sweet potato, arugula. I could eat this 4 days a week. Chicken was good too, Salmon not bad. All seemingly thoughtfully cooked. Haven't tried the smoothies yet, can't wait. All the employees were very friendly and prompt. The line to order went quick, but the wait for food did not. I never mind waiting for good tasting food so its not an issue for me. Wish they would open past 4pm!!!!!!!

my first time here-night time edition! i went to mendocino about 20 or so minutes before closing on…read morea Friday night. We were greeted by a sweet guy named Chris. He allowed us to look at the menu for a few before ordering-I DIDNT FEEL RUSH REGARDLESS OF THE TIME!!!! Once we paid, we sat down and waited for the food. The staffw ere quick and kind to us (again regardless of the time). The food was absolutely fresh and filling! The price of one WHOLE sandwich is better than Panera! My new favorite sandwich spot! The ambience was great considering it was night! The decorations were very satisfying and fun to look at! It is very homey!! But once again, staff blew me away! One of the guys let us know that he was turning off the drink station and allowed us ti get refills before-normal staff would just turn ut off and not let us know. I appreciate Mendocino in Totem Lake! Will DEFINITELY come back!!

Solid sandwich shop…read more The Peruvian steak sandwich is sooo flavorful. Their chicken lemon soup is also fantastic. They are on the food apps, which is great.

There were few but good reviews for this restaurant so we decided to try it out…read more In addition to their à la carte menu, they also have unlimited rodizio which we didn't get because we had 5 kids under 12 years old (three 5 year olds and two 10 year olds) with us which would've been $17.50 (half adult price) per child. The ambiance was cute. I liked how the walls had a lot of art and it was colorful. I cannot say anything good about our experience. We arrived when the restaurant was mostly empty. Most customers seemed to know the owners and were greeted happily with hugs and kisses. It was very difficult to get service and took about 50-55 min to get our food after ordering with no updates or apologies. We ordered 2 of the moqueca which was similar to an instant Thai yellow curry with about 2 pieces of fish, 2 shrimp, a couple small scallop, and veggies for $30.50 which seemed steep for what we got. It also came with a side of rice. I am not sure if this is an authentic Brazilian dish. We got 2 churrasco especials and they both were well done when we asked for medium rare and very tough to cut. We also got the filet mignon with Madeira sauce and French fries which was definitely not filet mignon. There was a significant amount of tendon and connective tissue and so overcooked the meat was curled up. The last dish we ordered was the garlic aioli shrimp which was just garlic shrimp and not served with any aioli. They actually forgot to make this dish and we got it after we reminded them towards the end of our meal. I think if you get the rodizio it's very fast with the sides from their buffet bar and they come out with the meats fairly quickly. People who had rodizio and arrived after us also left before we were served any food. A lot of common items were sold out like the cheese bread, sparkling water, and beef with caramelized onions but we weren't notified before selecting so had to go through the menu again to pick other dishes. I could've complained but it was hard to get the server's attention or any honest answers. Like "it'll be out soon" and after saying that, he came to confirm what we ordered for the 4th time 40 min after ordering and still no food. It was incredibly hot because it was a sunny day and the front of the restaurant turned into a sauna. We could not wait to leave as soon as possible. Overall, bad service, bad food, high prices, and extremely long wait times without any notice or warning. Will not be going back.

Obutekim in Kirkland is at a quiet strip mall with plenty of parking. Inside, the restaurant has a…read morebeautiful, colorful blanketed ceiling. I had high hopes for Obutekim - an a la carte version of Brazilian BBQ, instead of AYCE. We have no self-control, so this is much better for portion control. Service was sufficient, not particularly attentive. They were busy chatting with folks at a table behind us (people they seem to know). We waved for water refills, etc. The food was a mixed bag of hits-and-miss resulting in a grumpy hubby. (We went to Fogo the next weekend to make up for it.) The Food: Beef with Madeira Wine Sauce and French Fries, $27 - 3.5 Stars Menu: Sautéed Filét Mignon with mushrooms, garlic, onions, parsley, creamy roti sauce, flambéed with Madeira wine. Served with French fries. This dish tasted pretty good with the light wine sauce, many mushrooms, and very crispy fries. The beef chunks tasted mostly good with mostly tender pieces. However, my dish (see photo) doesn't look like their online photo, which is a richer variant visually closer to what a beef bourguignon looks like. I think I missed out on whatever this dish is intended to be. Their pieces of beef are randomly cut in different sizes and shape, irregular and random. My mediocre knife skills can cut more uniform pieces of beef than they did. I like this dish enough but also not hitting the bar. Fried Banana Side, $8.50 - 4 Stars Menu: Banana empanada e Frita (Breaded and Fried Bananas) These fried bananas are under the Sides in the menu. We received unbreaded fried plantains, which is fine with us since we like fried plantains. Their online menu says breaded and fried bananas, and the photo is completely different. I don't know what this dish is supposed to be. Brazilian Churrasco, $27 - 2 Stars Menu: Choice of Beef Coulotte, Garlic Sirloin and Pork Sausage. Served with jasmine rice, Brazilian style black beans (containing smoked pork sausage), potato salad, and farofa. Choice of any meat. This dish should be amongst their signature dishes. Hubby chose their two beef options: beef coulotte and garlic sirloin. See photo. The tiny piece is the garlic sirloin, which is garlicky but a bit tough. The two bigger ones are beef coulottes which have little flavor (seasonings), both are tough, with thick trims of fat. He said "2 out of 5 stars" with a grumpy face. I fed him some of my food to make him feel better.

This place is a hidden knock-out gem. Hidden in a small parking lot near totem lake, The Box's…read moreburgers are TOP NOTCH. The French Blues burger was so delicious that it momentarily distracted from the horrors of our collapsing democracy. 10/10. Get their burgers and put them inside you.

Hawaiian/Asian fusion fast casual place in Kirkland. Parking is easy as it is located in a plaza. I…read moreordered ahead and scheduled the order so I don't need to wait for my food, and it was ready at exactly the scheduled pickup time, no earlier no later. I got the combo - Hawaiian chicken + karaage requesting extra salad instead of rice, as well as a half order of loco moco. It's nice that there is half order as a lot of Hawaiian restaurants tend to be full orders so it is incredibly hard to try a variety of options if you're solo or in a small group. The Hawaiian chicken and karaage both are juicy and delicious. It's great that the combo is the same price as the standard individual options so I got to try more variety without paying extra. I looked at the reviews and opted to remove the rice and get extra salad which was a good move - their chop chop salad is very delicious with a nice balance of dressing, cheese, and ham. I still had some rice from the loco moco, which was sufficient for me. The loco moco is good - I wished the patty was a bit less tough but the gravy and egg make up for it. Overall, great value and great food. I'd be a regular if I didn't live so far from Kirkland (1 hr drive for food can be challenging in busy schedules)

Stopped in here for breakfast this past weekend…read more I enjoyed my quiche and salad. Not sure why there was a small blob/smear of tomato paste on top of the quiche. It didn't enhance the flavor, so I scraped it off. He ordered the breakfast platter and said it was okay. The potatoes with mama lil's peppers were great. The eggs tasted like powdered eggs, tho. Our drinks and the banana bread we got were all good. I'd go back!

(+) WOODMARK BREAKFAST WRAP…read more Carillon Kitchen is a breakfast/lunch spot on the shores of Lake Washington that offers great tasting favorites. The food is prepared nicely and very tasty. Since we stayed at the Woodmark hotel, this restaurant was across the street and made Carillon kitchen an easy choice. Food/Drinks: During our stay, we ate here three times. I had the kitchen breakfast that comes with scrambled eggs, smoked bacon or sausage, and fingerling potatoes. The eggs were scrambled perfectly, and the flavor of the potatoes were delicious. One of my favorites is the Woodmark breakfast wrap, which is vegan. It comes with salsa, eggs, avocado, caramelized onions, peppers, potatoes and cheese. I think it was wrapped in a tortilla. There was a slight kick. If you're hungry, add a protein for $3, I did and did not regret it. It was yummy! Service/Ambiance: It is an order, sit down and the food will be brought out to you type of restaurant. The food was prepared in a timely manner and the servers are helpful. They are highchairs for the young ones and the restaurant was clean and well maintained. Overall, I will return and look forward to dining here again if I ever visit back. The food is good quality, and freshness is enjoyed in every bite.

Very nice. Freshly made, tasty, nicely served. Simplicity,…read moreself order style but friendly. I like the unassuming decor in French yellows and blues!

Cute little restaurant right across from Juanita Beach!…read moreWe've been here a couple of times, usually after dropping off my little one at school. It's always quiet inside, which makes it a perfect spot to sit, relax, and enjoy breakfast. The servers are genuinely friendly and easy to talk to. We love their veggie sandwich -- it's loaded with roasted vegetables and hummus, and you can really taste the freshness. My husband tried the beet sandwich and enjoyed it as well. The only thing I'd say is that the bread can be a bit on the dry side. I'm also a big fan of their coffee! Overall, it's a lovely place to unwind and have a peaceful breakfast. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

I have passed by this restaurant many many times, finally looked them up on Yelp and was surprised…read moreto find a lot of reviews for their breakfast menu. If you have loco moco on the menu there is a 97% chance I'm ordering it. Absolutely did not disappoint. I'm not going to try and describe it, the pictures explain everything.

I stopped here for breakfast on a Sunday. It was bustling!…read more There are many delicious sounding sweet and savory items on the menu - pancakes, crepes, egg benedicts, omelettes. The interior is casual. I had the salmon toast ($22) and added poached eggs (+$3) - it was delicious! The eggs were perfectly poached, and I loved the salad and the fruit on the side too. Staff are very nice :)

We dropped our car for service and decided to take a walk and grab some coffee…read more We came across Evergreen blendz and it looks so cute so we went in. The interior of the shop is clean with tables and a counter area. People can sit in. We sat at the counter will be waited for our order and I've got to tell you I was pretty fascinated with the barstools. They were metal on the bottom and had wood seats with a very little backflip super comfortable. There are some tables outside in the front, however there is also seating outside. We are warmly greeted There was a nice variety of copies and teas and other drinks available. I ordered a vanilla vanilla latte. My husband wanted to drip coffee but their drip coffee machine was not working so he ordered a pour over. I took a look at the pastry case and I saw some premade breakfast items such as breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, etc. We decided to have a breakfast burrito. My husband's enjoyed his pour over. I ordered vanilla latte, and it was serving a really pretty little glass mug, and it was delicious. I appreciated that it was not overly sweet, which happens often. The breakfast burrito we warmed up and we decided to share it, and it was quite tasty. It has some chorizo in it some potatoes and egg, and it was quite tasty Definitely worth the walk and I would absolutely come back .

Evergreen Blendz is perfectly tucked within a sleek apartment complex. Great service with positive…read morevibes and a large selection of teas, coffees, and food to choose from. Shalou provided valuable insights into the different drinks, explaining how they were made and where they were sourced from.

Noon Café is a family-owned Persian/Iranian eatery in a plaza called Totem Square with plenty of…read moreparking. Noon Café is a casual family diner offering traditional grilled kababs (aka kebab), appetizers, sandwiches, and pizzas - all Persian/Iranian style. The interior is basic, decorated with photos of Iranian landmarks (I assume). Currently, they have a memorial due to the ongoing war. (Peace to all...) Service is warm and friendly. Be sure to ask questions if the dish names are unfamiliar. The Food: Soltani, $32.99 - 4 Stars Soltani includes one skewer of Koobideh (ground beef) and one skew of Barg (flank steak). Both are well-seasoned with excellent flavor. We ordered the flank steak medium rare, but it was medium with no pink inside. The steak was tolerable, not as tender as it could have be. This dish was served with rice per the menu. After I saw another table has their kabab served with a bread, I asked the server. She said other than rice, there is a choice of Persian bread (flat bread with sesame) and salad. Curious that wasn't in the menu nor did she say it. Not a dealbreaker. Her reply did raise my eyebrow. Zaboon, $16.99 - 3 Stars Menu: Veal tongue, simmered and fried, tomato, pickles, parsley Based on the description, the texture completely threw me off. The meat is mushy to the point of spreadable. The flavor is light with minimum seasoning. I applied hot sauce liberally to the sandwich. Portion size is large. I ate only half. Fries, $6.99 - 3 Stars Menu: Golden and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside Some pieces aren't crispy enough. Some pieces are too thick such that the inside has the potato gritty texture. The sauce is a house-created flavor. We like the sauce more than we like the fries. The food is closer to 3.5 Stars. I like the family vibe and am rounding up to 4 Stars for the overall rating.

Food :5/5 Ambiance : 5/5…read moreService :5/5 We actually came across Noon Cafe by accident while looking for another nearby restaurant where we were supposed to meet someone. When we realized we were at the wrong place, we informed the staff. They were incredibly polite and friendly and didn't show any irritation at all. They kindly said it was no problem and were very understanding. While we were there, we took a look at the menu and decided we should come back and try the food another time. A couple of months later, we returned to give it a try. We ordered the non-mixed grill, and it was absolutely delicious. The beef was cooked perfectly--juicy, tender, and full of flavor. The chicken was also excellent. The rice was perfectly cooked, and when we added the butter, it tasted amazing. They also had a special Persian spice that elevated the flavor to another level. The service was warm and welcoming. Our server took the time to explain how Persian food is traditionally enjoyed and described the purpose of each ingredient. We followed his suggestions, and the experience was even more enjoyable. The ambiance was simple and modern, and the place was very clean and well maintained. Definitely a must-try.