The Leaning Maple
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I wasn't sure if I should make this a 3 or 4 star review. Ultimately, I decided to give them 4 stars because the food did taste good. When we first entered we had to wait around a bit to be seated. They did not look busy (they had enough customers, but also enough tables). They only had 2 servers so I think the issue was maybe understaffed? The space was pretty spacious, but kind of dimly lit for a waffle place. Overall, once the service got started it went pretty fast and efficient. The waffles were good; I liked the crunchy and chewy texture (maybe some would not like it). I would come back again; but I thought the drinks were a bit over priced and they don't give you much.
I'm genuinely a little confused about the hype surrounding this place and how it has earned "best restaurant" recognition because, food-wise, this was one of the more mediocre breakfast experiences I've had in a while. Being downtown, parking is already challenging. There's no convenient lot, so prepare to circle around and hunt for street parking. I was fortunate I found one spot in front. Once inside, though, I can see where some of the appeal comes from. The restaurant is BEAUTIFUL. The intricate decorations, dim lighting, and rustic/modern aesthetic definitely give it that trendy, upscale brunch spot vibe. But maybe I've been to enough pretty restaurants too many times because the moment I saw the interior, part of me thought, "Oh, we're about to pay for the aesthetic, aren't we?" And... yeah. Kind of did.. We walked in with a party of 7, and I will absolutely give credit where it's due: service was excellent. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, attentive, and accommodating. The drink menu was also probably the best part of my experience. I ordered a steamed latte and REALLY enjoyed it. If I were rating just the service, atmosphere, and drinks, we'd be having a very different conversation. Unfortunately, we came here to eat too. I had looked at the menu beforehand, so I already knew waffles were basically the main character here. I'm not knocking them for a limited menu when that's literally their concept. What I wasn't expecting was for the actual waffles to look so underwhelming compared to the photos online and on the menu. If you're imagining big, thick, fluffy restaurant waffles... lower those expectations. These are much thinner waffles. That works fine when they're paired with eggs, potatoes, and other sides, but ordering one by itself is another story. My husband ordered the House Waffle for $12, and when it arrived, all we could think was L'eggo My Eggo. Twelve dollars for a waffle that looked like it could've come out of my freezer at home is wild. Needless to say, it wasn't particularly filling for him either. I ordered the Classic Breakfast Waffle, and it was mostly fine. I finished my plate, but there's a difference between finishing something because it's delicious and finishing something because, well, you paid for it. Both the flavor and my appetite afterward landed firmly in "satisfactory" territory. Bacon was thin, but poached eggs were good enough. The hash brown potato waffle, however? THAT was delicious. Easily my favorite food item of the meal besides my latte. Unfortunately, it was also fairly small. They also seem to be very committed to poached eggs here. Not necessarily a complaint or something I'd deduct points for, but definitely something to know if poached eggs aren't your thing. I didn't see any options for eggs made any other way on the menu. The rest of my family didn't exactly care for the food either. My mother didn't like the scent of the food, my son wasn't a fan of how warm the black cherries were with his waffle, my husband was thoroughly unimpressed with his lonely little classic waffle, and I left nowhere near as full as I expected considering how much money we had just spent feeding seven people. That's ultimately where this place lost me. I can accept smaller portions. I can accept a specialty menu. I can even accept higher prices when the quality makes me understand WHY I'm paying them. But when you combine small portions + mediocre food + upscale pricing, the math stops mathing for me. Three stars because the restaurant itself is gorgeous, the service was genuinely excellent, and my latte and hash brown potato waffle deserve the credit. But the actual breakfast (the reason we even came) was far too underwhelming for the price. Maybe I'm missing whatever everyone else is seeing, but this one was a "glad I tried it once" experience for me. I wouldn't recommend the food at these prices, and I definitely wouldn't come back for it.
The waffles and hashbrowns are delicious. I wasnt expect the hashbrowns in a waffle maker but made it fun. Some places where there's gluten free food can taste a little off, but the waffles were delicious. Will definitely be back!
Amazing gf waffle spot in downtown oly. The people, the vibes, the food...i love it all. They also have live music which would have been amazing to hear. We had the breakfast waffle and the lox waffle. I also had a side of poached eggs. Everything was seasoned and cooked well. I loved that you can order your poached eggs soft med or hard. Mine were perfectly jammy. I will definitely be back when I'm in town to try more things. My folks live locally and this is a favorite of theirs!
Waffles are better than pancakes. Came for weekend lunch and there was a 30 min wait for 2. We just walked around the city while we waited since they use text notifications for the waitlist. The inside is cozy but also pretty large. There was live music playing when we were there which was super vibey. They have a little corner in the back that has clothes and stuff for sale, and a little video of bob ross projected onto the wall. I really liked the ambiance. Service was super warm and friendly. The "Seattle freeze" is definitely just a Seattle thing haha. I ordered the turkey pesto waffle sandwich with a side of loaded baked potato hash browns. The sandwich was not bad. I thought it was a bit on the drier side and could've use more pesto, but still good flavor. The waffle is gluten free but I really couldn't tell. It's also a bit sweet, which made me wish I got a sweet waffle. The hash brown was definitely the star. The top and sides were crispy, and loaded potato flavors really came through. Loved the fresh chives and sour cream. Overall, really solid spot! Now I want a sweet waffle haha
We had breakfast here one day and really enjoyed the many gf options! Our server was friendly and helpful with navigating the menu, and food came out fast and portions are quite large. My gf waffle sandwich was really good and everyone in our group enjoyed their meal. The restaurant has a big open space, roomy and well lit. Loved the cute little gifty area too. Overall a good find in Oly
The restaurant was quiet and played classical music. Would be a great place to work, relax or catch up with friends. We had great coffee and breakfast. The servers were patient and attentive.
This is a great breakfast spot in the heart of downtown Olympia. My wife, daughter, and future son in law and I had breakfast here on Father's Day. It is always busy but the 20 minute wait was worth it and they test you when your table is ready. Staff are super friendly. Cool ambience. Fresh, hot food. Good side portions reasonably priced. Go here!
My cousin who has celiac was in town so I decided to try and find a place for us to have lunch. I came across The Leaning Maple and it looked like the perfect place to try. We went during the week so it wasn't too busy which was a plus. It had a pretty chill atmosphere but I could see it getting busy and loud on the weekends. I ordered the Monte Cristo with the Soup of the Day which was a loaded baked potato. My cousin got the turkey pesto with the soup. We both agreed that the soup, we could absolutely devour an entire bowl of! It was so delicious I absolutely loved my waffle as well and would get it again, but would also love to try some of the other options too. My cousin shared that her waffle was perfect and exactly what she was looking for. I will absolutely be returning and sharing this place with others.
We had a reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival and drink orders were taken. I had an espresso macchiato and hubby had the apple cider mimosa. The waffles & syrup were delicious and the poached eggs were cooked perfectly - the whites were set and the yolk was wonderfully eggy. The bacon had a great flavor and was nicely cooked. The dining area was warm and lively with conversation. Prices are typical of current inflated times and comparable to other downtown restaurants. We enjoyed our meal very much and will return!
The Leaning Maple is a gluten free waffle place. Everything is waffle shaped. My husband ordered the waffle Philly cheesesteak and he did not like it at all unfortunately. I ordered (not pictured) their classic breakfast with the loaded hashbrown. The loaded hashbrown was yummy and the classic waffles were good. I also ordered a caramel apple lotus which was really good! I will say the food is overpriced for what it is. I agree with other reviews that there are too many tables in the dining area. The staff were very friendly but food took a while to come out. This place has some room for improvement for sure.
Four stars - Good We went here for brunch on a Sunday. As you could imagine, it was busy. We had to wait for a while, so we walked around the downtown area and looked through some shops. The atmosphere of this restaurant was great. There was a live piano player, and the restaurant had nice decor. Our server was friendly and checked in on us periodically. Overall, the food was good. It is more expensive compared to other places. Unfortunately, our food was a little cold, but it tasted great. We will probably go here again if we are in the area.
This spot is definitely worth checking out! There was about a 30 minute wait, but the host takes your phone number so you can walk around downtown a bit. Prices are a bit high, but the food is definitely worth it. The sweet menu had a more options for vegetarian, however, I got the Eggs Benedict Hash brown waffle, which comes with ham, and I was able to ask the ham to be removed to make it vegetarian friendly. The food was so delicious, I'm eager to return. The seating inside is a a little cramped, but not uncomfortably so. There was a piano player there, which was really nice, but a bit loud if sat next to it. I would warn about the air inside though. The ventilation in the building could use some improvement, as it was pretty smokey inside from the griddle. Overall, a great spot for brunch!
11 months ago
4 months ago
2 years ago
This is a very cute place! The piano, the cracking fires on the screens. It's quiet enough to sit and talk which I wanted to catch up with an old coworker! We were greeted right away, our first time here. Seated right away and given menus. Our wait staff was either new or very introverted. We wanted to know what was the most popular. She didn't know. She also didn't know refill water or check on us. We ordered the breakfast waffle and the Brie and blueberry waffle. The waffles were dry, I was hoping for a fresh made waffle. Great gluten freee. We also had the tomato soup it was so delish, home made for sure. And I guess no desserts, was never asked. This place deserves friendly, knowledgeable staff to match the ambiance, piano player was friendlier than she was! read more
2 years ago
Ohhhhhhhh myyyyyyyy maple!!!! This place! First, the food- I would scale the highest mountain ^ to eat one more bite IYKYK! I wasn't *quite* sure how I'd feel about the savory waffle so hubby ordered that and I got banana nut...I cannot tell you how dang good they BOTH were! The have NAILED the mouth-feel of the waffle and I never would have guessed, but they are gluten free! The service in the darling and cozy family-owned restaurant is really, really wonderful! They take time to chat a moment and when I tell you that I wanted to spend my entire bank balance in the merch corner I am not even lying! Hurry and come eat here...I will be back often! Welcome and congrats on your opening Leaning Maple! read more
2 years ago
Went here with a group of women for my first time. When I walked in they had an amazing gentleman who was playing ever so beautiful music that was truly relaxing. I decided to try their Prosciutto Pesto Waffle as I thought what an odd combination. Such a mouthful of delight with such a relaxing environment. read more
2 years ago
We were looking forward to trying The Leaning Maple in downtown Olympia. The waitress, Lizzie was wonderful, but she was the only part of our experience that was worth our time. I was served a meal I didn't order, it was a breakfast with a ball of ice cream on it. Yuck! My husband's order was supposed to have poached eggs, but they appeared to be hard boiled they were so overcooked. Both meals were cold when they arrived. We were so disappointed. When I posted what happened at The Leaning Maple to my Facebook friends, two others said their experience there was terrible also. read more
5 months ago
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11 months ago
Where do I start! The food the atmosphere is amazing! Maddox has been my wife's n I server both time we have come in, he has gone over the top the Make sure our experience is amazing. Hope he is my server when I come back. read more
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2 years ago
The ambience was cozy with a pianist playing to match the vibe. The staff were very friendly and greeted us right when we walked into the door. The waffles are delicious. Sadly we didn't get a picture because we were hungry. Gluten free and the portions were HUGE. I had the salmon and lox. The wife ordered the breakfast waffle substitute the bacon for another egg. Apart from the waffles, we shared a mimosa flight. One thing I do hope to see in the future is more vegetarian/ vegan options, but we were very happy with the accommodations. Overall great service and great waffles. Will recommend! read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
YES, I will be back and the live piano was actually a really nice addition. Service was amazing, everyone was kind and the food didn't take long. I will say the bacon was really crispy, which I didn't hate, I liked it but I know everyone has a different opinion on that read more
7 months ago
8 months ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
I came for the live piano that plays every Friday which I read on an Instagram ad. Oh the live piano paired with such a nice classic crispy waffle topped with warm butter and syrup was exactly what I wanted not to mention 50% off mimosas on Friday's too! I go for a classic mimosa so that was $5! My plate was half a waffle, stuffed hashbrowns, 2 poached eggs, and SIX slices of bacon for $24! Honestly well worth it. The service was nice and timely, on it doing rounds making sure every table was doing well. I definitely recommend trying The Leaning Maple , I'll definitely come back for live piano read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Walking in the ambiance was very calming and charming. The menu didn't have a whole lot of variety, but nonetheless we got the Cinnamon waffle and a classic breakfast. The waffle was good but not almost $20 by itself good especially since it didn't come with sides or anything. Service was fine I would say if you're a POC that you may feel a bit uneasy. We got looks while we're there and we were handed our check in the middle of us eating while the people around us were able to sit long after their meals and chat with the staff. I wanted to order a mimosa to finish off my meal, but due to this I just felt uncomfortable and decided to leave. Overall I'll give this place a 6/10 and probably wouldn't come again. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Great gluten free waffles. Fabulous staff. Piano entertainment. Lots of options. Can't recommend this place highly enough. We go here every time we're in Oly. read more
2 years ago
I visited this place on national waffle day, 8/24. I had looked on the menu online and decided that I wanted a breakfast waffle, because I love hollandaise! Unfortunately, I didn't look at the menu in person, which had hollandaise blacked out. The staff were nice, but it did take kind of a long time to get my food. There were maybe 5 other tables in the restaurant at the time. I immediately noted the lack of hollandaise, so I went back up to the counter to ask for some. They told me they didn't have any because "the chef hasn't perfected the recipe yet." Like? Why are you serving an incomplete item then? Should have taken the entire breakfast waffle off the menu until you figure it out (apparently, they never figured it out, because today it is not posted on the online menu either). So I go back to my table and eat my dry waffle with a dry pile of arugula on top, which is good but burnt around the edges. I notice that I'm also missing the tomato puree that's supposed to come with it. I go back up to the counter and ask for it. They say sure, I'll bring it right out! I go back to my table again. Several long minutes go by before someone comes and tells me they're out of tomato puree too. She offers me pesto, blue cheese dressing (wtf?) or tomatoes in oil. I ask for the tomatoes. When she brings them to me, I am informed that this what they use to make the tomato puree so it should be great! Like? Could you not have just stuck an immersion blender in them, then? And given me something close to what I ordered? If I had been informed of any of this ahead of time, I would have chosen a different waffle and this review would probably be very diifferent. Anyway. The tomatoes were thoroughly Italian seasoned so after I added them it tasted like a pizza waffle. Not a fan. Also it was like $18. If I hadn't already had to pay for it at the counter, I would have just left. Tldr; what was ordered did not match menu due to 86'd items with no warning to the customer. Waffle itself tasted fine but burnt around the edges. Poached eggs were great, actually. Disappointed for the amount of money it cost. read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
We came in on a whim for lunch as we heard piano and bass coming from the open door. The service was friendly and the menu was creative. The coffee was good and the Breakfast Waffle was delicious! We're glad we stopped! read more
2 years ago
This waffle was SO SO YUM. It was crisp and flavorful. The ambiance was fantastic with live piano music and "fireplace" on the tv screens. Great place - I'll definitely be back. read more
1 year ago
This place had delicious GF waffles and the service was great as well! Plus it looks absolutely adorable inside! read more
This place is exactly what Olympia was missing. It has fresh breakfast options for everyone. Nothing I found on the menu was too "artisanal" aka odd. Sure, they put bacon and mozzarella on waffles, but it's really good! I had an açaí bowl with two poached eggs on the side - a combination that I am pretty sure only exists here and at my house - and it was delicious. There was plenty of friendly weight staff who both dropped off and picked up our plates, but there is a self-service bussing station for those who like to carry their own weight. They had a lot of space which is not clear from the other pics I had seen. They even had a live pianist! I'll go back every time I'm down in Oly. They have a mimosa flight. Nuff said. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
This is a great new restaurant you must try. It's called "The Leaning Maple," and it is a unique place. It is breakfast lunch and dinner, but the food is waffle based. They have something for everyone. We had the banana nut waffle, the breakfast waffle, and the Lox waffle. They were all amazing! I was wondering how the waffle would taste on the savory side, but it was amazing! I also had a mocha and it was perfect. Heather and Kate helped answer any questions we had about the menu. They also made recommendations to help us choose. The atmosphere of the restaurant is super cute too. It also has local art on display for purchase too. Can't wait to come back! read more
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More info about The Leaning Maple
111 Washington St NE
Olympia, WA 98501
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(360) 706-2905
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https://theleaningmaple.com
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