On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Diners, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Queen AnneMon-Sun. 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Loading...
BEST PANCAKES IN SEATTLE!
If you come here for breakfast, I promise you will not be disappointed. From the spicy hashbrowns to the huge, fluffy pancakes this is breakfast heaven. Servings are EXTRA LARGE so be warned. You don't need to go nuts ordering a ton of stuff. Pancakes can be had with blueberries added (recommended.) And they serve it with real maple syrup. I normally dislike bacon and/or sausage...but it's delicious and high quality here.
Moving on through our day, lunch at 5 Spot is sort of lackluster. Things pick up at night. Their comfort food dinners are pretty amazing. Whether you go for the pork chops and mashed potatoes or something more exotic off of their ever-changing "festival" menu, you'll find plenty of hearty, delicious meals.
More great things about the 5 Spot is they stay open late, and have a great $5 menu after 10 pm. Highlights are the mac and cheese and the Jr Pork Chop. I mean come on, a pork chop and mashed potatoes for just five bucks? Brilliant! Another standout is there spicy rice and beans.
Desserts are lethally good. Avoid or addiction will follow.
Now for the not so good parts....sometimes temperature is an issue. Like a lot of Seattle joints, some of the dishes are less than piping hot. The nice waitstaff will promptly bring you a new plate if this happens. The music is good here, the decor is goofy and the food is generally pretty smashing! I do think they go a little overboard on the cutesy decor sometimes.
Can you tell I ate here way too much? Lived right across the street, so it really became a go-to spot when I didn't want to cook.
Great food: the hash browns were cooked to perfection, food was seasoned well, etc. Our server was also nice and attentive.
5 Spot reminds me a lot of Mama's, in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood: fantastic breakfast fare--if you can survive the long wait on your feet. The difference is, the wait wasn't an hour or more like it is at Mama's, 5 Spot offers full table service, and 5 Spot offers a rotating menu theme that is carried over into the restaurant decor (when we were there it was St. Louis).
The cramped waiting area, chaotic queue and lack of a dedicated hostess keep 5 Spot from achieving 5 Stars. But overall 5 Spot was a great dining experience.
One night, not long ago, I was homesick, oh-so-very-homesick. When in Caracas, one of my favorite meals to have is ground beef, mashed potatoes, tajadas (fried plantain) or tostones, and caraotas (black beans). I miss.
*Tear*
One Friday night, at 10pm, my chest and my stomach were aching for these or something similar. Tears were ready to flow, because...how was I going to find these IN Seattle at 10pm?
I could make it, but there is something pretty magical about having it cooked for you.
Well, you know, there are Fairy Godmothers that sometimes become neurons in your brain (or your husband's), and remind you there is a late dinner place in your hood that serves comfort food...that happened to be serving Caribbean Food AT the time your craving kicked in.
*Happy Dance while riding on Aurora, thanks, Campanita!*
This place has always (with one lonely exception) made my heart sing, glow, pump, dance and be just plain happy.
Right now, they are running their Puerto Rico special until a few days from now. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry the equivalent of tears to fit in the Puget Sound.
We have been there several times to enjoy their take on this Caribbean Cuisine fare. They do a wonderful job, as they hit the head on the nail when it comes to make the food feel homemade and warm.
From this menu, we have had:
Papas Rellenas: two large fried balls come in a brown bag, perfectly crispy outside, fluffy mashed potatoes on the inside, well-seasoned ground beef with sofrito falls off the center of the gastro-orbe.
When I was brought these on the day of my craving craze, I got ecstatic misty eyes.
Specialty Roasted Pig Menu: this happened a few weeks ago. They had a Sunday roasted pig, perfectly cooked, balanced flavor, juicy at its best. It came with the very typical Puerto Rican dish of Arroz con Gandules (wonderful texture and flavor though a tad bit spicy), perfect tostones, a fabulous mojo sauce and fresh papaya and strawberries.
My plate should have the word "WIN" stamped on the rim. It was a fantastic meal, sprinkled with Sangria, live Salsa music and lots of very chirpy people. I had this meal with two ladies that are also Latinas and lived in Puerto Rico. We all agreed on something: you closed your eyes, it felt like home to us.
Upside-down Pineapple Cake: lots of really sexy words are filling my mind now as I look for a description for this dessert. Warm, gooey, creamy, sensual, very sweet. Try it.
Coconut Ice Cream: toasted (yes!), taste like it has been made from scratch with real chunks of coco. Oh, coco, coco.
Our other obsession dish is the Brisket. Chunks of tender meat, light but very flavorful gravy, roasted carrots and a rustic-like mashed potatoes is our comfort food of choice in Seattle. My Dude (who lived in the South for a decade, and loves food inspired on its cuisine as much as I do) and I would get it for take out, and "mmmm, ahhh, oohhh" in front of the TV, happy campers always.
Their service is friendly and kind. You feel welcome in your neighborhood restaurant always. We've had great servers (we love Devon!) and it looks like they love working there. That's always a fantastic sign.
¡Cinco estrellas para 5 Spot! ¡Gracias! You make me feel like home!
If you can get in this place for breakfast, you must do it. Great staff that is friendly and pays attention to you as well.
The food is one of the best around for breakfast or lunch. I love the location right on top of Queen Anne as well. Inside is nice and very well decorated. They should have anything you can want for breakfast.
I haven't ever had a bad meal here. It's always so delicious I promise myself I will return soon. I love the constantly changing (and often exciting) menu, too. The only thing that keeps me from returning is the high bill that comes at the end of every meal.
Still...it's just so amazing! I had brisket on my last visit and I'm now certain that is possibly the best meal I've ever eaten.
Went for brunch this week because we've had a couple of recommendations from friends. Was pretty much expecting upscale diner and that's what you'll get. 5 Spot seems to suffer from the same issue that a lot of Seattle restaurants have in the fall and winter in that they don't seem to understand that heat is a good thing in a restaurant. We were seated in the back and asked to move to the front because it was uncomfortable. Wait staff seemed a bit lost when we talked to them.
Most of this was rescued by the fact that the breakfast was actually really good. We ordered two different scrambles - the Val Verde and the San Juan. Both were excellent, though the addition of the baked sweet potatoes to the San Juan really made the meal. The table beside us ordered the pancakes and they looked really good, will definitely go back to try those out.
I have never been disappointed by the food, service or decor at the 5 Spot. The rotating menu and themes keep locals just as excited as out of town visitors. From breakfast to dinner, 5 Spot consistently delivers outstanding quality and extra yummy selections no matter what the menu motif. The skillful chefs clearly take tons of pride in what they do and have the experience to do it. The weekend brunch is not to be missed, especially if you've got guests, but go early if you don't want to wait.
While the prices aren't greasy spoon cheap, they are very reasonable for the quantity and quality of what you get. Additionally, the servers are always charming and efficient despite the usually packed dining room. Overall, the 5 Spot is an ideal neighborhood eatery, and could show the other local cafes a thing or two....
I frequent the 5 spot and have nothing but good things to say about it. There is always something on their menu that makes me happy. Mostly I drool over thier pancakes and yummy hashbrowns. The menu changes every 3 months or so I think. They choose different cities in the US to base their menu off of. Right now they are forming their menu around what would be served in St. Louis. The service is always fast, friendly and accomodating. The only thing that can be a bummer is the lines that form on the weekends for breakfast/brunch. Other than that you won't be disappointed.
One of the best things about 5 Spot is the general disregard for finery. Your water/soda/juice will be served in a mason jar. A giant papier mache turtle or other creature will be hanging from the ceiling. The menu will include odd-sounding items like "Hobo Hash." But that's okay because you're here to have fun and see what clever new creations for the menu and decor 5 Spot has created for its newest theme. Unlike Coastal Kitchen (which is also good, don't get me wrong), 5 Spot really gets into it with giant decorations and posters that almost make it feel like a new restaurant. And the theme isn't really mentioned explicitly, though you can probably figure it out if you pay close enough attention and feel a slight sense of accomplishment.
The line for breakfast, in particular, can make eating here less appealing, especially since there isn't much waiting room indoors. However, it's worth it, and my only complaint is that I don't come here often enough to try many items from the static menu--I wouldn't want to miss any good stuff from the theme menu.
The French toast warrants special mention. It's big. It's good. But it comes with caramel sauce instead of maple syrup. I'm conflicted on this because (A) it's very good but (B) after eating it you feel like you've had your sugar allotment for the week.
I knew as soon as we walked in the door I wanted to sit at the bar instead of at a table. And the bartender did not disappoint. He moved one of his regulars over so we could have 2 stools together. But it didn't take long to realize pretty much EVERYONE at the bar is a regular.
He told us about the giant lobster claws hanging from the ceiling. And then we talked about the origination of the place, when it used to have an actual $5 dinner (aka, the 5 Spot), back in the day, and how they sort-of have reinvented that with the current state of people's finances. Oh, sorry, it's not 5 bucks, but whatever the Dow closes at is the price (8523 = $8.52 for a full dinner), which is still a steal.
We had the guacamole and it was delish. It's served with warm soft corn masa patties instead of crunchy tortilla chips which was a real treat - and quite filling.
We split the Longhorn burger and holy cow, is that thing sized for splitting. It is absolutely huge, with tons of bacon and onion strings. The roasted pepper on it is warm but not mouth-numbing, and pepperjack is the perfect cheese. We had left-over guac which went immediately onto the burger. AWESOME!
You can see back into the kitchen which is kind of cool. And they shout out orders when they are getting low or have to make something special (pineapple upside down cake, for example, which takes 25-30 minutes). So, it's a fun boisterous atmosphere, which I like.
I had the pumpking pancakes for breakfast yesterday. I can honestly say they were the best darn pancakes I have ever eaten...and I eat a lot of cakes. The candied pumpkin seeds, the ginger-pumpkin cakes, the real maple syrup...I'm still thinking of them.
I nominate whoever came up with this recipe for the Nobel Peace Prize. Pancakes for peace.
3.5 stars!
We drove up to Queen Anne to checkout the 5 Spot before our hike at Discovery Park. The restaurant decor is really fun - there's a huge paper mache turtle and lobster claw hanging from the ceiling. Parrot shaped lightbulb strings and paper mache fish hang from the walls.
We were seated right away and our server was really friendly. There are a lot of breakfast items to choose from but I decided to go for the Red Flannel Hash since it's somewhat of a specialty of theirs and a lot of yelpers had recommended it. The bf had the 5 Spot breakfast - ham, two eggs, and hashbrowns. I must say that I LOVE the hashbrowns here - they're seasoned with lots of yummy spices making them a little more special than your standard hashbrowns. I was a bit disappointed with my hash. If you don't like beets I would definately steer clear of this one. I thought that the corned beef was too chewy and the pieces were chopped so big that sometimes it was hard to eat. My poached eggs were also a bit on the overdone side. I knew I should have gone with one of the omelets instead!! BAH! Oh well...
I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back for breakfast but I am awfully curious about this Honey Stung Fried Chicken.
I'm from Atlanta but I've been to the 5 spot the last two times I've visited friends in Seattle. Me likey this place! It can get overcrowded and the decibel level has a tendency to hurt the ears of my friend's 3 year old but the food is sinfully good.
On my last visit, I ordered the huevos rancheros and I am embarrassed to admit that I finished every single bite. If you saw how much food comes on the plate when you order the huevos rancheros, you too would be horrified. The thing is, I was full! But it was so good I couldn't let it go to waste.
Yummy black bean chili and melty cheese lined the plate and crispy tortillas formed the middle layer. Two fried eggs and sides of salsa (pico de gallo and salsa verde) topped off this delectable dish...and yes, I did eat every scrumptious bite. Had this been a to go order I may have licked the plate.
It took awhile to come out of the kitchen and it would have been nice if we had at least had coffee refills on a more consistent basis but I gotta tell you that even though I got the teensiest bit annoyed all that melted away and the joy of eating really good food made it all better.
After a nice Seattlite encouraged us to climb the very hilly Queen Anne Ave, we started the very unfortunate ascend to find this "5 spot" breakfast place that's supposedly really good. The exhausting climb made us wonder if SF's famous hills have failed to prepare us and also made us super hungry by the time we reached the top.
5 Spot turns out to be more than just a breakfast joint that's good for hang overs as Lonely Planet describes. It's a Puerto Rican breakfast joint! The decor is crazy and over the top, and the menu is extensive.
I had the crab cake sandwich and my husband had the Puerto Rico pork sandwich. I can't remember when last time I had crab cakes this good. It's basically a fried corn bread with pieces of crab in it. I loved the well balanced taste and the fresh corn inside.
My husband loved his pork sandwich as well, and the fried yam wedges aren't bad either.
After a hefty meal eaten too fast, we took our wobbly bellies and descended the awful hill to Highland, where a spectacular view made us forgot that we were in a food coma.
This is my favorite restaurant in Seattle, not because it has the best food or the best service, but because it's easily one of the most consistent restaurants in Seattle. Before I moved here, this was the first restaurant at which I ate breakfast when I would visit for work and I fell in love with their Red Flannel Hash. I then came back the same night for Honey Stung Fried Chicken and Triple Layer Chocolate Cake.
Since then, just like any love affair we've had our ups and downs, but it's been a strong consistent ride. The regional menus that revolve quarterly are usually a big hit - Little Havana was one of my favorites, Oregon, not so much.
Sitting at the bar is the best place to enjoy this restaurant, as you are right in the action. Breakfast - any of the scrambles are good, as is the Cinnamon Swirl French Toast. Lunch - definitely the Reuben. Dinner - Fried Chicken, Brisket or the Hot Turkey Sandwich are all big hits.
Parking isn't bad but the wait for a table on a Sunday Brunch can be daunting. I'll fight you for stools at the bar. :)
The Fried Chicken is amazing, just absolutely amazing. One of the best honey fried chicken I have ever tasted, who would have thought came from a upbeat, eclectic diner in Seattle?
I came in for an early dinner as I had to fly back to the Bay Area but since I was in the neighborhood I ought to get something to eat and there was barely anyone in at that time. I sat at the bar since I wanted a beer to go with my meal and she was super nice with my order. But back to the meal, not only was the food great but the portions for the fried chicken was big, so big I flew home with the leftovers and had a late dinner with it. I am definitely coming back here when I go back to Seattle in October.
It is just one of those restaurants you go to for brunch and tolerate the wait and the mediocre food. The atmosphere is fun and perfect for a morning after meal complete with a huge asses bloody mary and flannel hash. It will be an old standby for brunch!
Just ok.
I had heard about this being the best brunch in Seattle, and there's just no way. The food wasn't bad by any means, but measuring up to a great brunch spot takes a lot of things. First, the service was ultra slow! Also, my wife ordered an entree, and after about 15 minutes we were told they didn't have any left. What kind of brunch place runs out of french toast on a Saturday morning??
Sure it's worth trying if you have a chance. But definitely nothing to make a big deal over.
Been coming here off an on since 2002, the one thing I love is the rotating menu, and of course, the $5.00 menu after 10PM.
Last night pissed me off.
Came in at 9:50, ordered drinks at 9:55, asked if we could order some items from the 10PM menu. Our waitress said no.
Okay.
10 minutes later she comes back, and takes our complete dinner order...
Engaged in deep conversation with 2 other friends, we noticed that at 10:30PM, our waitress seemed to be checking on us every 10 minutes or so...
What gives?
At 10:50 (her 4th or 5th "checking on us" at our table) she comes up to us: "Excuse me, but I'm off in a few minutes, would you mind closing out our tab?"
I've never experienced this. And I'm dining out at least 4-5 times a week.
She proceeds to stand over me while I pull my wallet out, and my guests and I were extremely uncomfortable.
This type of behavior is rude, unacceptable, inappropriate, and classless.
I've never been a waiter, but I can only imagine, if your guests are staying longer then your shift, you either turn it over to the next waiter, or stay.
But you never ASK your guests to pay up. Now. And stand right in front of them while they are sorting out the bill.
Why I tipped her 20% is beyond me.
There's way too many resturants in the Seattle metro area, but only one 5 Spot............SO even though our waitress who was working on 9/12/09 at 10PM SUCKED, I will eventually be back.....not anytime soon though!
I like the atmosphere of this place, it definitely reminds me of Endolyne Joe's, which I like as well. The wait was surprisingly long for trying to grab breakfast at 1:45PM on a Sunday, but whatever that's what screwing around on my iPhone is for.
The theme for the place while I visited today was Puerto Rico, some of those dishes sounded really good, but I just had the 5 Spot breakfast. Nothing to rave about or complain about, as it's just simple eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns type of deal. I did appreciate that the hash browns were seasoned nicely instead of just plain fried potatoes.
My buddy got the biscuits and gravy and it looked reallllly hearty, he also got a side of bacon too and polished everything off. What a beast. I couldn't even begin to imagine the calorie count of his meal, but he really enjoyed it. He's from Texas so he knows what a good biscuit and gravy meal should be, so I'll take his word for it.
I had never been to that Upper Queen Anne neighborhood before, but I really like it and can't wait to eat somewhere else along these few blocks.
Just OK. But it's the kind of place where people swarm for breakfast/brunch and because they don't accept reservations, people just wait FOREVER.
Been here a few times, each were just OK, and I try to talk myself into loving it more simply because it was work and effort to get here (driving here, parking, then waiting to be called in), and the servers are always so damn nice...but...yah, just OK. The decorations and menu change often, if you like that kind of stuff. It is very LOUD here, you have to shout to have a conversation with your brunch mates.
Nothing special, keep it moving.....
Honey stung fried chicken
mac and cheese
tots!!!!
SOLD!!!!
you might have to get a tetanus shot before you go in, but what greasy glutenous restaurant doesn't require a tetanus shot? that's right... it is definitely a fun place where I like to visit when I am in town, and want to grab a greasy plate of goodness
I didn't give all stars because everything and all eateries can be improved upon.
Living in LaLaland and making the effort, which is what I did in the pouring rain today fighting with transients and annoyed bus drivers, it must be well worth the jaunt to come up here. And here I am. Breakfast is just alright today, mostly because I took the waitresses advise about the foregers scramble but I didn't read what it was and she
never said spinach in her presentation. I don't want nor do I like spinach,
whole spinach at that, in my scrambled eggs. Although I love spinach.
So I asked her for my usual over medium eggs and
got them. I've had most of their breakfast offerings here
and my husband has had the others so we tried most of what
there is to try.
All in all , I love the place and will return 100 times before the end as I know it.
... But hold the spinach please, thanks!
I took one of my good friends from Spokanada to 5 Spot on Saturday morning. I considered it a contender for best breakfast in Queen Anne, but knew it could be touch and go on occassion.
So we went, and (surprisingly) didn't have more than a 5 minute wait. It was packed but we still were attended to quite well. So we poured over our menus, and finally decided on the Catano Crab Sandwich (friend) and blueberry pancakes (me).
When they arrived, they looked a little blah. To me, presentation counts, and I know I shouldn't have expected THAT much from them, but I wanted a Paxil just looking at her sad little sandwich on that bare plate. My pancakes were all right in looks- take after their consumer I guess.
So we began eating. And I was happy. So happy in fact, when I came upon a hair...hair...HAIR....I kept eating. That's really gross, I know, but it was good and I had a craving. I'm a bit disgusted at myself in retrospect, but I don't care. Methinks those pancakes were damn satisfying.
And that's that. Check paid. We left. Stomach happy.
I'll try to come back another time, it took them 7 minutes to seat me when it was dead! Had to leave due to time. I hear the food is killer.
For some reason, I always think I like the breakfasts here. It's like I forget, then decide to come here (or Coastal Kitchen) and then order it and remember all over again that's it is not that great.
Don't get me wrong, it's perfectly adequate, it's just not mind-blowingly yummy. Decent coffee, alright eggs, but the hash browns - well, they can be good or they can be bad. Last time, they were bad. My boyfriend had the French Toast which he declared magnificent, so the Five Spot is clearly hit or miss.
This is fine if you want fast service and a cozy place to eat & talk with friends, but I have to declare Hi Life the best of the Chow Foods restaurants as far as food yumminess goes.
Yum! Their gimlet made with freshly squeezed lime is out of this world!!! You can see that they value quality ingredients as the bartender is always busy prepping fruit, juices and fresh bloody mary mix. This is a great place for drinks after trekking up that grueling hill from LQA.
As for food, we went in for brunch one time and it wasn't the best experience. We were cordoned off to the back area with all the screaming children (can they peg us or what?) and amplifying acoustics. The food wasn't really that memorable. Maybe it was too greasy or otherwise uninspiring.
I need to try their food again to give it a fair review. But in any case, hit up their bartender for a drink. They're all pros.
Over-rated. Not worth the wait. Dinner was tasted like something from a can, and the coffee cake at breakfast was cold and dry. Even though I'm a block a way, I will not be repeating for either meal.
What a great little diner tucked away in the Upper Queen Anne area. Serves all three meals and is open until midnight. The owners change the "theme" every 3 months, and go all out. The have lots of hand made decorations, paintings and exhibits. Today the them was Puerto Rico with many items reminding one of the Caribbean island. Flags, paintings, sculptures, crafts, lights, etc. for the them. Makes the dining fun.
Food was excellent. We had a breakfast dish consisting of the egg/mushroom/spinach scramble with home fries and multi-grain toast. Very fresh ingredients and very tasty. Also, had the three tier ham and grilled cheese on sourdough. Just loved it. Nicely prepared and scrumptious to the taste. For their current Puerto Rico theme, they had some specials that I may go back for dinner.
Was greeted very warmly and the server was very attendant to refills on the water an iced tea.
I am sure this is a hot spot for locals especially for breakfast.
Nice local flavor stop in northern Seattle area.
We were thrown upon entering and seeing entirely different decor then the first time we went here. Seasonal food & decor- I love it! Like an entirely different restaurant.
While they were out of hash ( I had my heart set on it before the funny waitress cruelly broke it with this declaration), I loved the heuvos rancheros and was surprised by the slow burn of spice that quietly engulfed my mouth. Friends were equally enamored of the perfect, thick, sausage gravy. Mmmmmmmmmmmm!
A mean trick is played in the bathrooms with the men's decorated like a woman's bathroom. Our friend totally fell for it and did the perfect double take. I love a place that has a little fun.
Prices aren't super cheap, but what is on Queen Anne?
I LOVE Breakfast. They make a sweet shimmy shimmy deal of breakfast. TRUE LOVE!
The line is…
Read more »
I came here a couple months after moving from Austin and they were still doing an Austin themed menu which seemed like a cool idea. While they did try to capture the flavor of Austin they missed the heart.
They food was alright. Not bad and not great. About average from what I've experienced for a place to grab breakfast at. Make sure to come early in as it gets really crowded.
Why no love for dinner in these reviews??
5 Spot is the dope spot...in a cool area at the top of Queen Anne that affords easy access to Kerry Park, leisurely after (or pre) dinner walks, and general good vibey-ness. In other words, the perfect place to take out of town guests (e.g. my parents).
The rotating menu is a fun component, and the pains that the excellent wait staff take to explain the reasoning behind the selections and their connection to the theme ("...artichokes are related to Cannery Row because they come from Northern California, Monterey is in Northern California, Monterey is where Cannery Row was set....") is admirable, and frankly endearing. Likewise, it does a good job of serving up a significant amount of variety to their otherwise semi-solid menu lineup.
We started with the Tucumcari Quesadilla and Fried Green Tomatoes (neither appearing on the Cannery Row menu) and were pleased with the taste and presentation of both. Not big portions, but these are apps folks, let's be reasonable.
My father had the blue plate special of chicken and dumplings (which, incidentally, is priced based on how the Dow finished that day), my step mother had the fish and chips, and I had the waiter's recommendation of tangerine-glazed chicken breast with asparagus and roasted potatoes (the only thing in the end that was ordered off of the themed menu). I was very happy with my choice - well-cooked, excellent presentation, tasty potatoes and perfectly cooked asparagus. My parents were so-so about their choices as far as I could tell, and my dad felt that he got stiffed a bit on his veggies and had to ask for his zuchinni - which they brought without issue. All in all, the food was a solid 3.5 stars in my opinion.
But the service, ambiance and overall vibe took this experience into the 5-star zone. This is a great place to kick back, enjoy a well-cooked, pleasingly presented and pleasantly served meal. All in the confines of a funky environ with a funny and attentive wait/cook staff that yells out the remaining availability of menu items at frequent intervals (2 blue plate!!).
Go. Soak it up. Have fun. Eat good food and be treated like a valued customer. 5 Spot gets my vote...and my stars.
I can't deny it... This is place is just good and fun. Unique food that is not only imaginative but great tasting too. Very satisfying. I think I will be going back for seconds.
I swear I can still taste the smoked chicken from the Tucumcari Quesadilla in the back of my mouth and it makes me yearn for another trip back to the 5 Spot.
After a visit to Chocopolis up the street, my bff and I were a bit on the hungry side and after some wandering down Queen Anne Ave past a few places that didn't quite pique our interest, we found ourselves outside the 5 Spot looking in at the smiling face of our longtime friend, Devon.
Once inside, it took her a few minutes to snag us a booth, but we immediately were brought water (in cute little Mason jars) and set to looking over the menu. Though there were many delicious sounding options available and it took us a while to figure out our order, but we ended up going with the quesadilla to share and America's Salad Bowls from the Festival "Cannery" menu for each of us.
The salads were composed of impressive piles of butter leaf lettuce with fresh sliced strawberries and walnuts, all sprinkled with feta and an intriguing honey-pepper vinaigrette. The bff and I are both on a bit of a healthier eating kick, so we started on those before focusing any attention on the pile of quesadilla that was presented to us.
Don't think that every bit of the quesadilla wasn't eaten though...The smoked chicken and caramelized onion were a perfect compliment to the jack and cotija cheese and cumin lime sour cream, which in turn blended nicely with the flavors from the salad - 5 Spot knows how to work a menu, y'all.
The welcoming vibe is most definitely "upscale diner" yet pretty casual and though I am not always a fan of rotating menus I will definitely go back to try the honey-stung chicken (which was sold out in addition to the brisket and pineapple pie by 8PM) and their super deals on the Late Night menu that they offer after 10 PM. (http://www.chowfoods.c...)
I like all the restaurants by these owners, but you have to pick and choose so as not to get an overpriced diner meal that you could get at just about any bar for $3 less. Each place of theirs I have been (Atlas Foods, Hi Life, Coastal Kitchen, which I guess is not owned by them any more but whatever, same concept) has a great selection of items and a few items that probably don't really need to be on the menu.
That having been said, my husband was not super impressed with his $13 rueben. On the other hand, I loved my "blue plate special" meatloaf that is priced in relation to the closing of the Dow, and that night was around 8.75 or so. It was just a simple meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and well-cooked carrots. Would I have liked it as well for $15? I doubt it. But it was a really nice dinner.
I'm not sure why there was lingerie strewn around the restroom . . . but I was there during the Cannery Row theme and I have never read much Steinbeck. I did like the decor in the dining room, and it does seem like a place you'd get consistence service and comfort food any time.
What exactly is a "5 Spot"? Is it related to the five-hole?
My mom loves this place, so we go every time she comes to town. (Yes, THIS mom: http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Honey-stung fried chicken is delicious, but I think everyone knows that by now.
Last night the theme was Cannery Row. Took me right back to required reading in Mrs. Kellerman's english class, thus, the one minused star.
Yes, it's like 72 degrees and sunny outside right now, and I'm inside writing reviews - weak. Some of us just have to work on Saturdays :(
Solid good food, happy/kind service, and different vibe then it's sisters- Coastal Kitchen and Hi-Life- in a good way makes 5 Spot a great QA neighborhood food stop. Brunch here on the weekend at 10 am with a "cannery" themed menu was a good idea .
We ordered the special menu's pork hash and it was filling and flavorful. It came with two eggs sunny side up placed on potatoes, red peppers, onions, and kale with braised pork. I ended up taking about half the pork out- it was tasty but I am just not a big meet eater. The menu didn't state how the eggs came which would have been helpful for making a request for another preparation.
Fyi's~
* I have heard that they have really good late night happy hour beer and food specials
*Brunch/Lunch dishes about $8-$12
* A special section of the menu changes themes about once a month
* Sign up for the parent companies newsletter and you will receive emails about specials and menu changes
* After about 10:30 it is a LONG wait for seats- even a 2 top
* The TV in the bar was tuned to the Food Network- letting us watch Ina during our meal
I stood in line for an hour, for a crowded table and a salmon omelet. Damn you Mike, that place is so pretentious. And it sucks. You seriously can't raise your fork and take a bite without bumping into someone at a neighboring table. The portioning of the food was very lacking, meaning I left and was still hungry. I really wanted water, which should just be automatic when you sit somewhere, I finally got water, after the food came and along with the bill.
I probably can be found at the 5 Spot once a week or more and at different times of the day. Worth the wait for breakfast (although my roommate and I started getting the hashbrowns without the spices and it has greatly improved our experience).
But the best time to come to 5 Spot is for a late night nosh. Grab a post bar pint and some tasty mac and cheese, quesadillas or.... yum tater tots! I mean c'mon who doesn't love the tots.
For the sake of being corny ... 5 Sot hits the spot and I highly recommend it.
We've been here twice now on trips to Seattle (we're from Portland), and would consider 5-Spot to be a must-visit stop on our stays up north.
The atmosphere in the restaurant is fun and lively (if a bit of a thematic hodgepodge, but what isn't?). I've tasted the huevos rancheros and the val verde scramble (sans chorizo), and was really pleased with both breakfast entrees. The huevos rancheros were probably the best I've tasted, due mainly to the delicious homemade salsa verde atop the dish.
The only downside I would say to this restaurant is the limitation of vegetarian options, but a casual vegetarian shouldn't have any problems.
Burgers & Brews Wednesday…
Neighborhood: Ballard
Receive $5 Gift Card -- FREE
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: American (Traditional)
Recently played tourist for a week in Seattle. The…
Counter seating is all the rage and I've done some…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
If you're planning on walking up Queen Anne Hill,…
Joe may be a good cook, but I'll stick to these…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
I like eating in the morning... breakfast food...…
These are the places I often frequent within…
