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Brown Bag Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Cafes Restaurants American (Traditional) Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, American (Traditional) [Edit]
12217 NE 116th St(between N 120th Ave & N 124th Ave)
Kirkland, WA 98034
(425) 822-9462
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6:30 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
178 reviews for Brown Bag Cafe
Review Highlights
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"The cinnamon roll french toast is AMAZING." In 10 reviews -
"The prices are reasonable and the portions are HUGE." In 19 reviews -
"I love-love-LOVE Country Fried Steak for breaky." In 8 reviews
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178 reviews in English
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Review from Lynette W.
Kirkland, WA
3/18/2012
I have been coming here a few times a year for the past 6 years or so. It is in a central location by the freeway. I don't get out for breakfast much and when I finally do pull myself out of bed it would be way too long of a wait for me to come here. The portions are large and their bread products rock. Love the freezerves jam too. I don't like their fountain coke/diet coke which is hard for me when I am eating in the morning to go without.
We were up early and went there. Poor Drew hadn't ever been here before. He had smoked salmon benedict and was extremely happy with his meal and the crossiant it came on.
I have had the big growler several times over the years and this time it just wasn't good. The breading on it was funky and falling off and the gravy had too much flour and tasted a little grainy and overall off. One half of my english muffin was good, but the other was a little over toasted and dry. We also went there first thing in the morning, first people in and it seemed to take awhile to get our food.
Earlier I said the portions are huge. This time they were large, but definitely not the norm. Usually your plate is piling over, this time it was less. Drew ate his entire dish and a few bites of mine.
Hopefully it will bounce back next time.
The water is passable. -
Review from Doug C.
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not sure it's the best yardstick, but when I consider breakfast places, I ponder how they would relate to a Denny's. So when I think about the Brown Bag Cafe, my thoughts idly ponder how it seems to be a mash-up of a Cracker Barrel and Denny's.
Not that that's terrible, mind you. It's more of your basic comfort-food type breakfasts here in large portions. Things that you would normally expect to find for breakfast you will find here. No surprises. There's even some slightly more advanced skillets; want a spinach, swiss and bacon skillet? They've got it here. In fact, the breakfast menu is a little bit better than Denny's now that I think about it.
But the trade-off is that it's a little pricier. Not a lot, but the aforementioned skillets will set you back something in the $10-14 range. Moons Over My Hammy would set you back about $8. If you considered the meal enjoyment/price ratio (ME/P), they're probably pretty similar.
But enough breakfast geekery. The key points are that they serve big breakfasts with a reasonably varied menu, are close to I-405 and have a moderately large parking lot. Is there anything else you really need to know? -
Review from Joshua B.
1/26/2012
I have been here a handful of times and every time I leave in an induced food coma ready for a nap. The hostesses are always very friendly and get us seated right away. I know Brown Bag isn't the cheapest place to eat but you really pay for what you get since the portions are out of control. I have yet to try anything other then the breakfast but I am sure the rest of the menu is as good as the breakfast menu.
I remember my first time coming here with some coworkers and saw some the food that the other people were eating as we walked by and I couldn't believe the heaping plates of food. It was an awe inspiring moment. I ordered the Meat Lover's Omelet that had New York Steak, bacon, diced ham, link and bratwurst sausage, onions, mushrooms and cheddar for $13.99. When the waitress brought out the food my jaw dropped in amazement and I thought to myself there is no way in hell I am eating all of this. The omelet was packed and huge, then they give you a heaping pile of potatoes that is enough for two people along with my favorite their homemade english muffins. I gave it a valiant try but came up a little bit short and had to get the rest to go. I was so full I felt like I needed a wheel chair to wheel my ass out the door. That was a damn good breakfast. Another great dish is the Diablo which I get as a skillet. The Diablo has spicy chicken sauteed with jalapenos, cilantro, tomato, red and green peppers, onions, spices, a spicy black bean, cheddar and sour cream toppong, and a side of chipotle salsa for $12.95. It is a bit spicy so be prepared. I can say that all of my other experiences here have been about the same but now I know what to expect when my food comes out.Listed in: Delicious breakfast spots.
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Review from J.R. Z.
Lynnwood, WA
5/3/2012
Food is always good here but today it was horrible. service was garbage they over cooked my food water wasnt filled and it wasn't even busy at the time I went. our server desiree was probably the worst sever I've had. she was lazy, unaware of her tables and paid more attention to other tables. Maybe she should also realize that fake tanning isnt a good look
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Review from Mariel O.
Seattle, WA
5/6/2012
My mom and I come here whenever we get a chance when I'm on the eastside. What's not to enjoy about little ol' Brown Bag Cafe? The servers always have a sweet smile to offer and service is good, the rustic barn decor is charming, portions are generous, prices are decent, and the food is good. No not amazing or the best you've ever had, but I can always count on it to be hearty, tasty, and satisfying, and then have leftovers. For me, that's about all I need from breakfast.
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Review from Yan K.
Redmond, WA
5/6/2012
The portions are huge, but the food is extremely greasy. Expect to decrease your life expectancy by a few days after you eat here. The food is not too bad, but nothing memorable. Just your average breakfast diner. The weirdest part is that they had a plate sharing surcharge for sharing food with our toddler. I've never seen any other restaurant do that.
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Review from Jessica M.
Bothell, WA
4/30/2012
I've been a couple of times now and really like it! The portions are absurd - even if you go hungry you will be leaving with leftovers. I've had the eggs benedict and the potato sausage skillet and both were delicious. Their bread is really amazing and next time I'd like to try a cinnamon roll.
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Review from Susan M.
Maple Valley, WA
4/12/2012
The food is really good, but hope you don't get a waitress named Jeanice. Her attitude made us feel like we weren't welcome there. Other than that, the food is great!
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Review from Taylor C.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Has always been one of my favorite breakfast spots anywhere I've lived. The portions are large and can best be described as "breakfast comfort food" in my opinion. If you're in a decadent mood and plan on being up for the next 12 hours, I suggest indulging yourself in the cinnamon roll french toast. You can't go wrong with anything "normal" on the menu either (admittedly haven't had any of the lunch stuff but this place does breakfast the best anyways). Plan on whatever you get being well portioned, and coming with a giant side of pancakes/hash browns/etc. You may get a wait but don't let that discourage you. Enjoy
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Review from Cole M.
Redmond, WA
4/12/2012
The Doggy Bag Cafe.
The portions are really huge. 99% of people leaving the place were handed a Styrofoam container for the rest of the plate to take home. The rest of the food otherwise is been thrown away. What a waste! Shame on you! Nobody is really able to eat more than a 1/4 or 1/2 of the portion. Why are the portions so big? And then we wonder why there's a obesity crisis in this country. The food was "OK" but unless you really starve for a week before going, you will have to take a doggy bag or have the food wasted. Yak! I guess people prefer quantity over quality. One time for me was enough. -
Review from Ben C.
Kirkland, WA
1/12/2012
This place used to be really affordable for our family. We used to being many large groups including all of our out of town guests here. We could split 2-3 adult meals for our family but now they charge a $2 fee for sharing per person and they're not very reasonable about how they calculate it.
I tried to contact them but they do not have any email address on their website.
If a company really wants to make money $2 per shared plate seems like a pretty bad way to do it because it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I wish there were more breakfast places around but maybe we'll try Alexa's in Bothell. -
Review from Allie S.
11/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Yay!
Tasty food, friendly service, huge portions? I'm there. Unless it's brunch-time on a weekend -- I'm not a huge fan of waiting!
Brown Bag now holds the distinction of being the restaurant with my Favorite Hollandaise. I order a side of it and it comes out HOT [which is rare, for some reason it's generally lukewarm at best when I get a side from other restaurants] and is amazing on just about everything.
Their English muffins resemble hamburger buns and are the perfect way to transport eggs, Hollandaise and hashbrowns to one's mouth. Seriously, if it's early enough that they aren't closed yet, why go to Shari's when Brown Bag is right there? -
Review from Gretchen G.
Atlanta, GA
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Service slow took 15 mn at 8 am on a weekday to get our food. The claim to make a French omelette but they make a regular over cooked omelette. Food was overall greasy. Servers seemed nice but not as accommodating as I'd have liked.
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Review from Sarah S.
Updated - 11/28/2011
What happened?!??
This used to be my favorite go-to breakfast place! Admittedly, I am predictable and I always order the same thing: the light and healthy breakfast with a.) eggs b.) biscuit and c.) fresh fruit. The last 3-4x I have come here, I have been fed sub-par food that left me feeling kinda cheated!
Eggs! How do you mess up scrambled eggs?? Either you are giving me too little (like an embarrassingly small amount, less than my cat would want to eat!) or they just have a terrible texture. Like they have been sitting around for hours and then you tossed them in the microwave.
I cannot forgive whatever you have done to ruin your once glorious and delicious biscuit. Once the prize of the east side, now your biscuit reeks of too much Crisco and often is burnt. I can barely take one bite of it before I'm sick to death of it's boring and horrible interior.
Fresh fruit.... it's not hard! Do you really have to give me rejected, old fruit that the soup kitchen must have turned down because that's what it feels like. Like you are charging me too much money for rotten, old, over-ripe fruit. Tip? TAKE THE STEMS OFF THE GRAPES BEFORE YOU SERVE THEM! Especially since you bothered to pick them off the main stem so it's not like I'm getting a bunch of grapes, I'm getting 10 rotten, nasty grapes that all still have a small piece of stem attached. Just gross, Brown bag, GROSS!!!!
I'd give you two stars but since I once was very fond of you I'm tossing you and extra one. But you do not deserve it. Parking is a nightmare and your food gives me bad dreams too! You are damn lucky the Maltby Cafe isn't closer!
Service is often "okay" but on our last visit they tried to kill my husband by giving him a glass of water with a shattered edge and glass in the water.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/25/2010
This is our favorite place for brunch in the area! The only drawback is there is usually a wait,… Read more »
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Review from Julie R.
Duvall, WA
3/27/2012
We've been eating at either the Redmond Brown Bag Cafe or the Kirkland location a few times a year for over fifteen years. Let's face it, the economy hit hard. Going out for breakfast is a big treat nowadays. My husband wanted to have breakfast at the Brown Bag for his birthday, so off we went last Sunday morning. We invited a couple of family members to join us as well. I made an arrangement with one of the restaurant's employees to bring the birthday boy a celebratory cinnamon roll after his breakfast, too. Sounds great, huh?
While it's not the Brown Bag's fault they are located in a lot that now boasts a Sheri's AND a local hotel, the parking situation is frustrating at best and scary at worst. We managed to find a space on the way in. There was a guy so bent on getting our space as we walked to the car he menaced me with his vehicle. After all, I wasn't walking fast enough to suit him. There was another motorist that pulled into the oncoming lane to pass him as well. It's a matter of time till someone is seriously hurt in that parking lot. Truthfully, I would think twice before going to the restaurant with kids in tow, due to the parking situation and over-aggressive drivers.
Let's talk about the food. It's good. There's a lot of it. We made our visit shortly after 9:30 on Sunday morning - late enough to miss the early church crowd, early enough to miss another church crowd. Our server was nice enough, but the pre-arranged cinnamon roll surprise never appeared. We'll live. It was frustrating, however.
We previously enjoyed our visits to the Brown Bag, but we'll be concentrating on other breakfast spots in the future. -
Review from Aaron S.
Kirkland, WA
3/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came in at 10 on a sunday morning, party of seven. Wait wasnt too bad, maybe 25 minutes. Would have been shorter if we had a smaller party. If you ever need egregious amounts of food on your plate, this is the place to come. Even the kids meal is fit to feed a linebacker. Despite the quantity, the food is somewhat average, with the exception of any baked good. I could eat an entire loaf of their sourdough. I got the breakfast quesadilla, which was pretty standard but perfect for my post-st. Patrick's day grogginess.
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Review from Ninette C.
Seattle, WA
12/4/2011
Holy...does anyone actually finish one of these plates!? My boyfriend and I were looking for brunch on the Eastside and I noticed several friends had taken photos of and checked-in to Brown Bag Cafe so we decided to check it out.
There isn't a lot of parking, just to warn you. It was seriously the most crowded parking lot I've seen in non-downtown Kirkland. It was odd. The restaurant is large and very old country-style.
I ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict and an earl grey tea while my boyfriend had the corned beef and hash.
As I mentioned, these portions are ENORMOUS. Seriously, boyfriend ate maybe 1/4 of his plate which was covered in corned beef and hash and hashbrowns. He also had a separate bowl of poached eggs and a plate of unlimited toast. My eggs benedict was very good. I'd never had it with smoked salmon before and I really liked it. I liked the flavor of it more than the crab cakes I often order, but of course there isn't as much salmon as there is usually crab. I also really liked the croissant. The hashbrowns were ok. They seemed a littleee bland. I prefer the potatoes at Genie's in Portland.
They serve Tazo tea here. They give two tea bags, a mini-kettle and lemon which was nice.
The prices here seem pretty reasonable. My eggs benedict was $11 and the corned beef and hash were $12.
I definitely want to come back to try their cinnamon rolls as well. I enjoyed an old-fashioned American brunch here. I can see why this is a Kirkland staple! -
Review from Kristin C.
Kirkland, WA
Updated - 9/26/2011 12 Check-ins Here
I really need to stop kidding myself. I am in love. I am here at least twice a month eating way too much delicious breakfast food. Even with sharing, I am completely stuffed for the next 3 days. This food isn't fancy, it's traditional breakfast fare. As you can tell when you are surrounded by families, and older couples. People who have probably been coming here for years.
It can get busy here on the weekends, so obviously, the earlier the better. But the wait is never more than 15 minutes, and the food is totally worth it.
The cinnamon roll may be one of the, if not the best, cinnamon roll I have ever had.
The hash-browns are so delicious. Sometimes they aren't as good as other times, but really, even when these hash-browns are *bad*, they are still better than any of the competitors. I recently discovered their deluxe hash-browns which are covered with cheese and bacon. Go ahead and add sour cream, you can thank me later.
They make all their own breads. Including English muffins, biscuits, AND the aforementioned delicious cinnamon rolls. I have never tried any of the bread, because I can't get over the biscuits and cinnamon rolls.
Not everything on the menu is good, but you really can't go wrong with any of the skillets or omelets. Always check or ask about the specials, those are usually my favorite. The cinnamon roll french toast is AMAZING.
Parking is a bitch, and the prices here are definitely on the high side, but you can share a dish, or have enough for a couple days of left overs.Listed in: Breakfast
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/28/2011
I am all about making lists of the best cheese, or the best place to get a burger etc. My list of… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer W.
Kirkland, WA
12/20/2011
I love the food but... please, make the portions smaller or have an option for a smaller plate. I go there for the food, but I know I will only need 1/4 of the potatoes they serve, and its really gross to see how much they serve.
Meanwhile, the joke in our family is a rule to work here is your cannot eat the food. They only hire pretty girls. Looks like Hooters meets Denny's but with Extra large portions.
The parking is horrible! -
Review from Kaitlin F.
Redmond, WA
8/23/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Ok, if you haven't figured this out already, the cinnamon roll french toast here is the sheet, coming here is worth it for that if nothing else, come here and eat it.
Beyond that, pretty good. Honestly, I don't even remember my food that well because it was eclipsed by how amazing the french toast was. But I'll do my best. Country fried steak - won't be doing that again. Major meh factor. Bacon - super nummy. Sausage - super nummy. Hash browns - super nummy. Eggs - once, again, major meh factor. Mine were fairly runny, but my dining partner Kristin C. told me that was an improvement over when she got scrambled eggs - brown and rubbery. She and the bf, Jarrett P. shared a delicious looking scramble, and i think that's what i'll be doing next time, if i can ever order anything there that isn't cinnamon roll french toast. Man, that sounds tough. -
Review from Francis M.
Seattle, WA
8/13/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Zach, do you remember our trip to Brown Bag Cafe? It's located in Kirkland just off of 405's 20A exit. We went there earlier with friends and had a little slice of Americana. We weren't disappointed, were we, Zach?
This was only our first trip, Zach, but it won't be our last. We ordered cinnamon french toast with sausage, and something called The Big Growler. The cinnamon french toast was amazing! The balance of egg, cinnamon and butter they've achieved here...oh my... We ate a lot and still had plenty to take home for later. The Big Growler has a heap of eggs, has browns and country fried steak. We were impressed with the cinnamon french toast, but not as impressed with The Big Growler, right Zach? Though it was hefty, we have surely had better.
This reminds me of the Black Bear, Zach. They sell big portions of American food at a good price. A shame they closed the one in Redmond. A sad day indeed Zach. But Brown Bag Cafe isn't bad, and surely we will have to give it another try so it may dethrone King Black Bear.
To sum it up, Brown Bag Cafe has what this country needs, Zach. Values! We got more than enough food for the price, and the food was delicious. We had enough to take back with us to the Hotel Room for later, right Zach? It worked out really well in the end. We'll be back between 06:30 - 15:00, open Monday through Sunday. -
Review from Camille C.
King, WA
10/9/2011
I had breakfast here twice. First time I went with family (who raved about it like it was the best thing since sliced bread, nope. WRONG!) The second time I went because my friend wanted to plus every place deserves a second chance.
The wait is always soooooo long & I don't know why. Just sayin' Well I guess we were there on a Saturday morning. Meh.
Their entire wait staff consists all of girls who seemed to be more worried about flirting with the dude customers (to get a bigger tip I suppose) than actually serving . Took me forever to get the water I asked for.
The servings were MONDO. It was like the Epic meal time of breakfast. I guess I wouldn't complain about it if the food was actually good, nope. The hashbrowns were super greasy & cold.
My friend ordered the cinnamon roll French toast & it was waaay to rich & sweet for me. Especially for breakfast.
All in all, you won't find me here again. -
Review from London B.
Kirkland, WA
10/31/2011
I've dined here a few times so far for breakfast, and I'll definitely be coming back. And just like their sub-moniker clearly states: "This ain't sissy food." They serve you enough food on one plate to feed the entire country of Rwanda. And that's why they are well loved and what sets them apart from other dining establishments.
After my first ginormous experience with the brontosaurus portions, I decided to order from their lighter fare menu, which definitely was a wiser choice. The two slices of scrumptious and cinnamon-kissed french toast along with the light, fluffy eggs and two sausage links was just the right amount of mid-morning grub. The coffee's hot and fresh, the water is always refilled, and the last waitress who served us was awesome!! My goodness, she was sweeter than condensed milk! Nobody is that nice. Nobody. -
Review from Lisa B.
1/10/2012
This is a standard breakfast place. I was told it was really good so I tried it while I was living in Kirkland. The portions are HUGE so splitting a breakfast is totally necessary even for the big eaters. I was pretty dissappointed by Brown Bag as I had heard such great things. It was OK, but nothing great, I've come here a couple of times but I prob. wouldn't come back.
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Review from Niko D.
Kirkland, WA
5/12/2012
we eat here maybe once a month... it's hard to branch out and try other breakfast places when you have found one this good and close to home :) the portions are huge, and since this isn't Sharrie's or Denny's (thank god) items are a little more expensive... my fiancé and i usually share something and get a side order of fruit- with drinks we normally skate out of here with full, happy bellies and a totally reasonable bill. the service is typical breakfast joint style. i don't get all the reviews bitching about the waitresses- i have nothing to complain about. as long as my coffee/water is full, my food isn't messed up, and they bring me my bill i'm a happy camper. also, i have food allergies and they have always been really attentive and helpful. love this place.
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Review from Bryan W.
Fremont, CA
10/10/2011
This is my favorite breakfast/brunch place on the east side. The servings are huge and heavy, you're not leaving hungry. Back in my cycling days I could finish off a Big Mike (two plates of pancakes, bacon, eggs, hash browns) by myself, but now I occasionally order it just to relive the tasty glory days.
The waits on the weekend can vary drastically, anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. More than a few times I've had to abort my plans because it was just too busy. Great place to sit with friends and talk over coffee while waiting on your food. -
Review from Laura B.
Redmond, WA
9/16/2011
I have eaten here twice. I can't remember what I ate here a year ago, but I remember thinking this place has huge servings, and the food is pretty good for a big breakfast place, and the coffee, for once, is not watery and burned tasting, but strong! So I came back today and had the Diablo omelet. Holy jalapenos for breakfast, Batman! Nice and spicy and totally full of protein, I could not make it a third of the way through. I limped through the remaining 2/3 for lunch and had to give up. Yeah it was $12.95 but it was great!
Service was nice, the coffee still a leg up on any restaurant's drip coffee anywhere, and they did a good job being fast so we could get to work. The biscuit was tender and warm and I'm glad I was in a hurry or I would have snarfed the whole thing. They let me swap fruit in for the potatoes for 0.75. Most places will do that for free, but they gave me some pretty nice fruits (oranges in a twist, melon, watermelon, and kiwis! Haven't had kiwifruit in a long time) so I'll let that slide. It was all very fresh too (having had strawberries with brown spots at the Cheesecake Factory the night before, I was refreshed).
I bet this place is crowded on weekends (today's a Friday) so not sure I'd come during busy times. -
Review from Matt M.
Woodinville, WA
10/9/2011
It is with a heavy heart I write this review.
YEARS ago I had gone to this place . . .actually their OLD location down In Redmond - a couple times a month LOVED IT. I had been to this newer location shortly after they opened it but since then . . . 4 + years, I have lived a bit out of the area. Yesterday a friend asked me if I would like to meet there for breakfast. I was a bit excited to go again - been a long time. Kinda of like meeting an old friend through facebook I guess (more on that at the end).
Anyway, ONE of the things I looked forward to was sort of an old favorite of mine: the apple sausages. Over the years I have been trying to cut down the carbs and grease . . . eggs . . . cholesterol etc. . . so although I ordered the sausage, I ordered with scrambled egg whites.
1st off, they totally burnt the sausages (as well as a lot of the hash browns). 2nd, I would guess the amount of egg whites I got was well less than that of the volume of 1 egg (S K I M P Y). As I stated, not a huge fan of carbs so I only ate 1/2 piece of toast and maybe 2 tablespoons worth of the POUND + hash browns they brought me (I ate what I could find that was not burnt/scorched. Neither I, nor my companion ate but 1/2 the food we were given. Partly because the volume of food is a little crazy - but mostly because . . .well . . . it really wasn't that good! A real shocker to me - I had pretty good memories of the product in the past - maybe I've been more of a pig in years past? At any rate, we both decided we would likely not return in the future.
T H E N . . . it gets worse. After breakfast, we each went our separate ways and I just found out we EACH got SICK when we got home. Not a flu - it was something we each ate. The only common item was the hash browns I guess . . . maybe the toast . . . or the coffee. It doesn't matter I guess - water under the bridge. We're both still alive . . .not like we were going to go there again anyway. I just didn't get anything done that I had planned that day cause I was in the bathroom all afternoon.
In short, if you are trying to gain a lot of weight in a short amount of time . . .if you are looking to drive your cholesterol through the roof - go there, just take some Pepto with ya.
Oh yeah - SOMETIMES old friends we run across through facebook are not worth catching up with - many times, quite the let down. Well, the revisit with Brown bag was JUST LIKE THAT . . . a let down . . . to say the least. -
Review from Jennifer R.
Everett, WA
3/21/2012
I have been here for breakfast and lunch a few times and always had a good experience so when I was asked to get food for a company lunch I immediately thought of this place. I have to say I am very disappointed and will probably never eat here again. The first person I spoke to one the phone was very helpful and nice, sadly I didn't get her name. I was excited to place my 17 sandwich and burger order! I was told to fax it over and talk to the manager Jeanice. I faxed my order in a day early as per the first girls instructions and then called to make sure the fax went through and there were no questions about the order. I could not get anyone to talk to me. They kept telling me "they were very busy right now". I get that you are a busy restaurant but you cant take two minutes to talk to someone who is placing a very big to-go order? I couldn't get Jeanice to talk to me at all or call me back. I called the morning of the lunch to make sure everything was in order and had to wait on hold 10 minutes for Jeanice to even pick up the phone and when she did she was very rushed and really didn't seem to care at all about my order. She stated she was "very busy" and pretty much brushed me off. I could barely get a total for my order out of her. When I got there to pick my order up it was in a HUGE box that I couldn't even pick up so I had to wait for someone to help me. The names on the boxes were all written wrong so I had to go through sandwich by sandwich to make sure everyone got the right food. They even wrote Gary on one of the boxes and we don't have a Gary at the company and there was no Gary on the order!! The fries were cold, bland and disgusting. The sandwiches and burgers were cold and the bread was soggy. The pickles were watered down. One chicken sandwich wasn't even cooked all the way through! Everything else was just ok. So we have crappy, cold, bland, soggy, un-cooked food.....wow. If you are doing a company lunch DO NOT go here. Bad service and food. We wont ever be ordering here again.
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Review from Dee C.
Marysville, WA
3/28/2012
So I had just heard of this place from some friends & decided to check it out. The portions are just like all the other reviews, they're HUGE, it's ridiculous! Although I am a girl, I can put food away but when I was done, it looked like I hardly touched it. I ordered the corned beef hash; it came w/ 2 eggs your style, hashbrowns, & your choice of toast. I was a bit surprised they didn't have their own jam. I can't say I loved the corned beef more than I love Patty's (local restaurant more north) but it was still absolutely delicious! I definitely would recommend coming here on an empty stomach & if you had skipped dinner the night before. It will fill you up & you'll still have leftovers! The staff is super nice too & the lady was good at refilling our waters & checking up on us.
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Review from Mandy S.
After many trips to Shari's and Denny's...i have finally found the perfect local breakfast joint that is everything I hoped for and more :)
First: portions are Gigantic! This is the real lumberjack breakfast deal! Big slices of toast and omelets that tastes like a calzone pizza! (italian omelet)
Biscuits and Gravy are the best and there are so many choices on the menu.
Prices are decent for the amount you get..lots of people take the rest home. I'm still full from it a day later...this is not recommended for a daily morning meal lol
*the hashbrowns are a bit weird...very southern style mushy potatoes instead of stringy crispy hashbrowns. you can get fruit instead ...and it's a great assortment!
I LOVE this place!!!
***2nd time around..not as good as i remembered. maybe a different cook was in the kitchen? Everything seemed to taste mediocre and flavorless. this is sad before Brown Bag, I thought you were the one.!! -
Review from Chris F.
Seattle, WA
6/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
My girlfriend and I were waiting to get some new tires on her car and decided to grab a bite to eat. Based on the reviews here, we had to give the Brown Bag Cafe a try. Ironically, this breakfast haven is located directly beside a Shari's, which I'd like to note was EMPTY at prime time!
We were greeted as soon as we walked in the door. They managed to find us a table within minutes, and we had a waitress almost as quickly. Now on to the good stuff, the food.
WOW. The menu is layed out very well. They offer a large variety of items for just about everybody. I chose the sausage and potatoes plate and my girlfriend, the french toast. We were both VERY pleased with our food, but my only complaint would be the amount they managed to squeeze onto the plate. its a great value and delicious food.
There is no other breakfast place on the eastside that can compare. KUDOS Brown Bag, keep up the excellent work! We'll be back! -
Review from Miranda L.
Kirkland, WA
Updated - 2/25/2012
We attempted Brown Bag again on Valentine's Day for breakfast since we both happened to have the morning off work. It wasn't nearly as packed as it usually is on the weekends, but the hostess was so flustered! There was an unexpected large party of people who apparently were coming most Tuesdays, but she didn't know about it. After seating two pairs of other people and being very rude to the large group, the girl came over and told us that she needed to make a list because it was way busier than she had anticipated. She disappeared, and no one else came in. So her "list" remained just one name long the entirety of the rest of this. After hanging around for about five more minutes looking out at the dining room and listening to her be rude to the large group a couple more times (saying in a nasty tone, "I haven't worked here in two years and no one told me about you. *heaving sigh*") I could see at least three other waitresses casually strolling about with drinks and food plates, and I remembered our past experience and that, oh yeah, Shari's is right there, they have excellent service, and we'll get seated right away. Sure, the food at Shari's is a little bland (a lot bland), but at least we can get food (and a mimosa!) and skip the attitude. We ditched, and I don't think we will be returning. If the hostess can be that nasty and snarky, then I don't want to be there. What's the point of good food if you can't enjoy it without having to experience a snarky little blond being outright rude to everyone? Thanks, but no thanks. I only support businesses with good service. And this is where Brown Bag really fails.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/28/2011
Food = Awesome. Big portions. Yum yum. Comfort.
I am just not a Brown Bag Cafe type of person though.… Read more »
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Review from Apollo Y.
Service was great and the food was excellent. Had a farmer's omelet with hash browns an toast.....FYI only come here if you haven't eaten in like 3 days cuz the portions are HUGE and the prices are reasonable. My leftovers can last me for the rest of the week yeah
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Review from Debra B.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you are into huge servings and high prices for breakfast foods, this is your place. Personally I found the food quality to be average and prices very high - a breakfast sandwich for $10.95?! Really? We ordered the cinammon roll french toast and a "lite" breakfast - one pancake, two fried eggs and bacon. The french toast was good, the pancake was big & thick but lacked any distinctive flavor, the eggs were overcooked (ordered over-easy and the yolks were only soft). We saw others with the full breakfasts, including hash browns - about a half plate piled high and looking rather mushy. I prefer my hash browns shredded and crispy and those we saw didn't make me regret ordering them. We are in the process of moving from Portland to Kirkland and I this will not be our breakfast spot - there must be an Original Pancake House somewhere nearby, please!?
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Review from Jenna B.
Redmond, WA
2/13/2011
Just ate at the Brown Bag Café yesterday morning for the first time and have to say it was pretty darn good. We got there around 7:30 AM so it wasn't very busy and we were seated right away. The waitresses were really nice and attentive (always kept the coffee/drinks full) which is always appreciated. The other reviews are spot on, their portions are HUGE! I got a smaller sized meal and couldn't even finish half of it! The hash browns are great, definitely made there (not out of a freezer bag), and the bread - Oh. My. God. the bread - is AMAZING! I tried both the whole wheat and the white and it was soooo good!
As for the rest of the meals, aside from the bread, which obviously we all loved... I got the "Specialty Sausage & Eggs" which came with three links of the apple cinnamon sausage, bread, hashbrowns, and two eggs. It doesn't sound like much but the links were extra-large and the plate was completely full with the hashbrowns, eggs, and toast! I really recommend this one; the sausage links were just a little sweet from the apple cinnamon and were perfect.
Another person at the table got the got the "Breakfast Quesadilla" which was ridiculously huge and, to be honest, was more like a quiche than a quesadilla. It was seriously an inch think with eggs, scallions, tomatoes, olives, cheese, jalapeño peppers, cilantro, all inside a tortilla, topped with sour cream and avocado with salsa on the side. I didn't try it but the person who ordered it said it was very good. They said they would definitely order it again.
The third person ordered the Biscuits & Gravy which came with hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon. The plate was towering, just like the others, and there was a ton of bacon! He said the gravy was a bit on the peppery side for him but everything else was really good.
Overall eating at Brown Bag Café was a very good dining experience. I am glad we went early and beat the rush that everyone talks about in their reviews. We left right before 9:00 AM and the place was really filling up... I imagine by 9:30 or 10:00 AM there would have been quite the wait.
I will definitely be back. -
Review from Stella R.
Kirkland, WA
12/21/2011
I usually don't go out to eat for breakfast, and if I do, usually it's at Denny's. This place however really blew my mind. The whole building feels really home-ey, even if they do have a crazy amount of decor. The food is amazing, but they have giant servings. I suggest either you have a huge appetite with room to fit all your food in or share with someone else, I'd be amazed if you could finish a whole plate. What really struck me as a different vibe was that when your waiter brought your receipt, they wouldn't stand there and just rush you out, you can sit there for awhile more just to talk or relax. This is really uncommon here and I'm glad there's somewhere that isn't like more restaurants or diners that just quickly bring you food then rush you out after you've finished. It's nice for families that want to go out to spend some time together, it's a really great place.
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Review from Andrea Y.
Mountlake Terrace, WA
10/11/2011
It never seems to amaze me that every time I come here it is extremely busy. I wonder why? Its good homemade American breakfast and brunch food. They have great portions and good service (gotta be attentive) Its pretty hardy/fulfilling so I only come here once-n-while.
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Review from Aiana P.
Renton, WA
6/27/2011
I've been here twice with my boyfriend and his aunt. I love this place for a few reasons.
~ Prices are great here, meals are about 10$ give or take
~ Meal portions are huge, eat half and take it home for later
~ Meals are freshly made to order and tastes delicious
I highly recommend the Rueben Sandwich :d I don't usually pick the same thing overtime but their rueben's are pretty amazing!
Service is a hit-miss kind of thing, they usually get busy during brunch hours and because of the popularity it gets out of hand. (So if you intend on going call-ahead or expect to wait 10-15 minutes). The waitresses that we had were great though, they knew their stuff and kept an I on our drinks just in case we needed refills, and they got our orders right. -
Review from Matthew H.
Kirkland, WA
3/4/2012
This place is great. For a few dollars more (Clint Eastwood, anyone?) than Denny's or Shari's you can get some real food and good service. This place tends to be packed, and parking is a problem as it is next to a Shari's and a hotel, but it is worth the wait! Big portions and a great variety of food.
