(alwaysfreshgoodness.com) – Capital Hill (Volunteer Park)
How I heard of this place: Well, I was just here last week (with one of the same people)…Probably one of Seattle’s most frequented and bustling neighborhood cafes!
Type of cuisine: The cafe uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create food that is delicious home-style goodness. House made pastries, savory and sweet, and a selection of fresh salads, soups, and sandwiches provide daytime provisions ordered at the counter. As the light dims and the candles are lit, table service begins and guests cozy in under vintage chandeliers to experience the rustic ever-changing menu of seasonal offerings…the dinner menu focuses on braised meats, fresh fish, artisan pizzas, home spun dishes, and seasonal salads. (To quote their own website.)
Ambiance: Comfortable, casual and cozy, just like a bay window nook in your own kitchen. The space is small when considering the number of people that frequent the establishment for brunch, lunch and dinner, so come early, expect a wait and also expect to have your taste buds experience some off-the-charts flavors of goodness! Throw pillows line the benches at the windows of the cafe, while wooden chairs and tables grace the rest of the place. A vanity is strategically utilized as a place to fill your glass of water, find to-go amenities for your beverage orders and napkins, and a drawer full of eating utensils. Help yourself before, after and throughout your meal. You must order your meal at the counter and your name will be called out when your dish has been plated and is ready for pick up at the opposite end of the counter. A basket full of rustic, artisan bread graces the end of the counter for those who order soups, salads and other delicacies off the chalkboard menu. The brunch/lunch is definitely child-friendly, but I haven’t yet been for dinner, so that is to be determined. But the space seems conducive to spending an hour reading and enjoying a cup of coffee and a pastry or enjoying a lunch with a couple of friends, our beau or your children.
What I ordered: Both my dining companion and I ordered the brie and apple panini with delicately sliced apples, inside the sandwich and as plate garnish, creamy, melted brie and lavender honey. The panini on the baguette also had dried lavender sprinkled throughout. The one I ordered, on a flaky croissant had fewer lavender dusting, but still had the light and decadent flavors of lavender, honey, brie and apples. Each flavor coating your tongue and taste buds. With this panini, it’s difficult to pinpoint just one flavor. It is truly about the balance and combination of married flavors that keeps you coming back for the same.
What I loved: The creaminess of the brie, the sweet and somewhat tangy delicate crunch of the Fuji apple slices and the drizzle of honey, scented with lavender. It’s really hard not to love this place or the food and treats in which you return to indulge week after week.
Why I loved it: The place, the proximity to Volunteer Park for a walk in the glorious sun after the breakfast snack. The food, always good, never bad, priceless.
Cost: Average for a light snack-wich ($4.95 per apple-brie panini).