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Café Nola
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
101 Winslow Way EBainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 842-3822
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 9:30 am - 3 pm
Sat-Sun 4:30 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
146 reviews for Café Nola
Review Highlights
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"I had the Dungeness Crab Melt (photo provided." In 5 reviews -
"Cafe Nola is a wonderful place for brunch." In 43 reviews -
"Great coffee, mimosa and bloody mary." In 13 reviews
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146 reviews in English
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Review from Leana L.
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Apparently this place has an amazing brunch, but we ended up coming here for lunch after checking out our other options. Sure, this place is like any other cute restaurant, but what I really liked is they had healthy options and good portion sizes that left you full, but not stuffed.
We sat down in the side patio and I enjoyed the grilled salmon fillet with veggies. My friend ordered the crab cocktail and a side of steak fries. My salmon was cooked perfectly and the veggies were nicely seasoned with a bit of butter. I had a couple of my friend's steak fries and they were really good! They looked freshly cut and were fried to perfection!
The waitstaff was nice and attentive, filling our waters as needed. A solid place to grab a bite to eat! -
Review from Kimberly A.
Seattle, WA
5/13/2012
We were very excited to eat here after hearing all about the great experiences and exceptional food that folks have had. To put it out there, the food is quite good - we got the caramel french toast and I had the Italian baked eggs - very, very good. My bloody mary was unfortunately quite watery with very little kick to it.
Then there was the awful service. We asked to be seated outside, and were seen to a table. Two waters were plunked down in front of us with no words exchanged, then the first server walked away. 20 minutes later, a hostess finally came by to take our order, mumbling that no one had told her we were seated out here. 15 minutes later, she came by and put two plates in front of us. Mine was incorrect, so she grabbed it and grabbed my boyfriend's breakfast as well, telling him that he would need to wait too. She came back a few minutes later with the correct plates, and we enjoyed our breakfast.
Then we waited a good 20 minutes for her to come by with the check. She finally brought in, claiming again that someone else was supposed to do it. We handed her the credit card and waited for the bill to come back. Another 10 minutes, and a different girl brought us the same check...sans credit card. 10 more minutes. We finally flagged down a different waiter and he attempted to hunt down our waitress, claimed that she was busy, then brought us our check and card 10 more minutes later. The best part? We passed our waitress on the way out, and she glared at us - not a "thank you for coming," or any sort of apology for the half-hour wait for our check, even though we missed our first ferry. Absolutely awful service. -
Review from Julie S.
Seattle, WA
3/13/2012
Well-prepared food, but not surprising or particularly exciting. Had dinner after a day of walking around the island.
2 - truffle fries with asiago : Not nearly enough truffle. For comparison, the truffle fries at 9 Million in Unmarked Bills are superior. The fries weren't really crisp either - soggy and oil-soaked. Lemony mayonnaise was good, and I don't like mayo.
2 - beet salad with walnuts and goat cheese : Vegetables, beets, chevre, meh. The pickled onion slices were outstanding - spicy, flavorful, and not overwhelmingly acidic.
3 - Strozzapreti with tomato sauce, pesto and vegetables : The pasta was enjoyably thick and chewy, the vegetables had great flavor and texture, the pesto was tasty, but the sauce was boring and the dish as a whole had no cohesion or outstanding appeal.
2 - Amaretto margarita : different, but only in a "hmm." way, no revelations here. -
Review from Natalie B.
Silverdale, WA
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
The corn pancakes with duck were very unsatisfying. It was cold and dry. The turkey burger and truffle cheese fries were pretty good. They get a 3 because the service was not where it should be for how much the food costs.. I was disappointed because of all the hype. Probably won't come back.
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Review from Necia D.
2/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I've had some pretty radically different experiences at ol' Nola since our fateful move to the isolation tank that is Bainbridge Island.
The morning after said Hairy Move was our first visit to Cafe Nola, and we were below the "E" with psycho-fuel and had to prop our eyelids open with those teeny little forks used for extracting crabmeat.
Although my companions were 10 and 11, I was acting about the same age, frankly; grumbling and mentally eyerolling sullenly. But the waitress who attended to us completely restyled our morning by virtue of her emphatic, yet sincere, positivity. You just couldn't be hangdog around her--she took such great care of us. Prompt caffeination, total attentiveness (returning with ample milk, on request, for the short-cup coffees the boys get on occasion).
Have I mentioned we've become the very type of pain-in-the-ass customers I used to make fun of? You know...the GLUTEN-FREE ones? Well, yes, we have. I openly admit to what fun-haters we are as restaurant patrons. No bun, please. Can we get fruit instead of a biscuit? Got arugula? We're that annoying person. Or rather, I am, and my poor boys just soldier miserably along in my stern, matronly, gluten-free wake.
So Nico got the bangers and hash, or something along those lines, and neat substitutions for the bread were made (I believe he got extra hash browns and some fruit). Maximo and I ordered benedicts and the staff were kind enough to round out the muffin-deficient plates with more potatoes and (maybe?) a bit more fruit than usual.
And Maximo at one point looked at me and said, "That woman is so nice she yanked me out of my bad mood." It was true for all of us. That experience was pretty top-notch.
The next visit, we weren't so lucky. A different vibe for sure, different server, my requested salmon benedict became a ham benedict (I was so starved I just told her I'd eat it, and she accepted this and apologized.) But I had asked, when ordering, if in foregoing the muffins, we might get extra potatoes or something, but when they arrived our benedicts looked lonely: two eggs adrift on a sea of white plate. The portion of potatoes was a ladle-ful perhaps, and small fruit garnish, but it looked very scant, and out of tune with $12.
Again, I do realize we were a "special accommodations" request, but really all they did was pull something out. As a chef I'd have felt weird passing out a plate that looked so spare. Even just visually it was...Dickensian.
But I'm keeping the stars up there in the hopes this last visit was a fluke, and that the first experience was the more exemplary one. We'll see. -
Review from Lisa W.
Updated - 2/19/2012 11 Check-ins Here
Cafe Nola take 2
I decided to give this place another try. Went back for brunch again and tried the signature brunch dish, French Toast. I am sad to report that it wasn't for me. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more without the orange butter. All I could taste was oranges, it was very over powering.
However, I do have to report that my friend had the eggs benedict and I tried it to see if it was better than the first time, and it was. It was perfect.
Time to come back for Lunch and Dinner. I really want to like this place. Still OK for now.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/10/2011
This was my first time here and I unfortunately had high expectations. Sunday Brunch was decent. I… Read more »
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Review from Juli-ann W.
Bellevue, WA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Bread pudding! Start with dessert so you don't miss out. I almost did, but because our meat pie had very little meat, they offered us a complementary dessert and I'm so glad they did. I will go back for this dessert.
I have a special fondness for this place as I have eaten here every time I've visited the island. Good, solid food and drink and a romantic setting. Decadent truffle fries are finger-slurping goodness to share.
Attentive service and charming atmosphere. -
Review from Rebecca C.
Sacramento, CA
3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm giving Cafe Nola 5 stars because their food is amazing. I had the french toast (which was enjoyed by the venerable Giada de Laurentiis) and it was amazing. The orange infused butter was so delicious (if you don't think you'll like it you can have it served on the side). It was covered in nuts and caramel... and just incredibly delicious! The atmosphere is charming but it is small so you may have to wait to be seated. It was the most crowded restaurant on the street and I think that speaks for itself:)
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Review from Linh P.
Los Angeles, CA
The French Toast really lives up the hype. I even Googled the recipe so I can make it (I live 1600 miles away). The only disappointment I had with this was that we got it on a Saturday morning for breakfast, then tried to go there on the weekdays but they open at 11am on weekdays. We had other vacation stuff planned for the day so I just wish they opened early every day!
I ordered the Eggs Benedict Florentine as well. It was done well, eggs were perfect and the Hollandaise sauce was smooth and perfect. My sister got the Egg Bene with Crab and so I stole some crab from her plate too. I wish I had the time to eat lunch and dinner there but so long as I left having tried the French Toast, I think I can go on living. -
Review from Kristin C.
Kirkland, WA
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cafe Nola is definitely worth the trip. Not only is the ferry ride cheap($7.50 roundtrip) but it is also short, and a beautiful ride. I have never taken the ferry to Bainbridge before, and I absolutely loved the experience.
Why did I go though? For French toast. It's their signature Brunch dish, and it is quite good. I am a huge fan of French Toast, and after seeing all the glowing reviews and the pictures I knew I had to try it. I don't feel like it quite lived up to the hype surrounding it, but honestly, very few things in life do, and while it wasn't life changing, it was really quite good. The orange butter was very good, and I loved the maple syrup. The french toast itself was fantastic as well. I think the only down part for me was mostly the caramel and pecan.
My cousin had the Smoked salmon latkes at the Waitresses recommendation. She loved it as well. All she cared was that she had some seafood, and she thought the salmon and the creme fraiche made a good combination, and like the waitress said, was similar to lox. The Latke itself wasn't very memorable, she ended up just eating the salmon and egg. I tried a bit of the latke, and yes, I have definitely had better.
The prices are a bit high, but the food is delicious, the ambiance is adorable, and the service was fantastic. We both kept thinking how much my grandma would love the restaurant. Plus, the little town of Winslow is super cute. I can't wait to go again when I am having family visit, or for a nice romantic brunch.Listed in: Breakfast
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Review from Jackie turner T.
Seattle, WA
Fairly delicious food. I was expecting epic french toast from reading previous reviews, but I found it to be just OK. I tried it a second time, just to make sure.
For something knock-your-socks-off amazing, try the truffle cheese fries.
I strongly suggest making a reservation for groups of four or more. -
Review from Marcus O.
3/6/2012
if the service was better, this place would have received four stars by nature of rounding up. however, i don't believe hype, rating, or fame (featured place and their recipe for pancakes is on http://foodnetwork.com) should be a gateway drug to poor service. i saw the waiter long to place my order and then at the end to see if everything was okay -- and of course, get paid.
the food rocked. went splits on a salmon sandwich and a crabcake sandwich -- both were delicious! the sides, unfortunately, were either fried potatoes... or hey, fried potatoes. you either get fries or chips. when we asked about non-fried alternatives, we were offered fruit. the fruit was okay... but the apple served with it was bruised.
good food. well rated. there's gotta be better on the island though. -
Review from Joana C.
Kingston, WA
11/13/2011
Went there for a date night and we loved it! It was a small quiet place to have dinner. We started with truffle fries and we couldn't stop eating it. The serving sizes were pretty generous. Decent wine selection.
We shared a salad and if we didn't we probably would have wasted half of each. I would recommend the house salad if you want to start off with greens before a meal. I ordered the stilton steak pie and it wasn't the best meat pie I've ever had but the steak pieces were tender and the crest was amazing! -
Review from Heather S.
Seattle, WA
3/17/2012
Decided to stay in the town of Winslow for a three day weekend and try out various restaurants. Went to Cafe Nola with my husband for dinner on a Saturday night while the kids went to the Kids Night Out at the Kids Museum.
We liked the privacy of the small booths and the low key Rat Pack era music.
Not the world's fanciest cocktail menu but both drinks I had were satisfying. I had the pomegranate martini and the St. Germain martini and both were tasty. My husband had a manhattan that also was solid without knocking his socks off.
The food did knock our socks off. It was hard for us to decide what we wanted to try because there were so many good things to choose from. We had the blue corn cakes with smoked duck as an appetizer and devoured it. We also tried the bacon wrapped dates which my husband loved--I had mixed feelings about the chorizo filling.
I had no mixed feelings about either of our entrees though! I had the butternut squash ravioli. So good. The pasta was cooked to a perfect consistency, the buttery hazelnut sauce was amazing and I loved the apples and greens on top. My husband had the salmon with potato gratin. I don't normally like salmon all that much but even I thought he dish was delicious--moist, tender, and flavorful.
We were too stuffed for dessert and had fudge from Bon Bon Confections (also offered on the menu) waiting at the hotel so we didn't try the dessert but the offerings looked good (ice cream from Mora, the fudge mentioned above, chocolate cake, creme brûlée).
Service was solid too. Check it out if you're looking for a lot of tasty menu options with a full bar, wine menu, and casual atmosphere. -
Review from Anna L.
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for lunch instead of brunch but it was still good. Basic American lunch menu - bf had the chicken club and I got the truffle fries and soup.
A lot of construction was going on at the time so it was pretty noisy while we were eating. Service was a bit slow since we were in the corner. Probably won't come back for lunch but I think I'll come back for brunch! -
Review from Jason R.
11/26/2011 2 photos
Salmon can be easy to over-cook when you're going for the wonderful marks on the outside, but Café Nola pulled it off perfectly even for a brunch sandwich. The salmon was moist and still that soft yet cooked pink inside. And the bread was great. It was airy like a ciabatta but toasted strongly to make a crunchy contrast to the salmon. My wife's meal graciously was modified to avoid gluten. Can you guess what *was* in it? Yes, that's right, more Dungeness! Oh, happy crabs. Fresh, bright veggies on both our plates, and plenty of green left in the wallet.
This was a great recommendation from our neighbor on the flight. Glad he pointed us this way. It's not the first or second or... brunch place from the ferry, so many of the less patient peeled off before reaching Café Nola. Nice, cozy place that wasn't crowded. -
Review from Carla F.
The highlights: I enjoyed the coleslaw, delicious, with it's tangy vinaigrette dressing. My husband had the fish & chips, which he described as "adequate".
Now onto the rest. The dungeness slider I ordered was, decent (I only ate one of them), but maybe my appetite was off because of the moldy strawberry placed upon my plate. I got an apology from the waitress and replacement fruit (which I did not touch). Maybe it's just me, but I would have expected a fully repentant chef or manager to visit our table to insure our entire dining experience had improved. Putting rotten food on a customer's plate is not ok, even if it is garnish.
It's too bad, I had hopes for this place based on the reviews. Luckily, we found a fantastic restaurant later that day, just up the street, that features organic ingredients in most of their menu. http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Dana R.
Updated - 8/11/2011
Only after prodding by everyone I told about the chef/owner's reaction to my latest (3 star) review of Café Nola am I posting his message to me and my response:
"Hi- we have read your "review" of our restaurant and would like to request please do not come in and eat at our restaurant. We have never requested this before, but your comments are hurtful and really have no qualities other than satisfying your complaint needs. We serve thousands of customers and have been open for 12 years and we many many happy return guests. We cannot satisfy everyone, and everyone has different tastes. There are many restaurants on the island open on Monday's so please choose a restaurant that makes you happy."
I responded that: " I'm puzzled by your email. I see many other 3 star reviews which are critical of various items from food to service -- why have you not barred these diners from your establishment too? If you actually took the time to look at my reviews you will see a majority of them are 4 star reviews -- I don't gratuitously complain or give negative reviews. I am very honest -- and the plain fact is that the food we have received at your restaurant is not as good as that we've been served at many other restaurants. I'm sorry if the truth is hurtful; but perhaps the comments should be taken to heart and not summarily cast aside."
So, that's a new one ... I hadn't planned on returning, but I certainly haven't been asked not to return before ... particularly, when the review is an improvement over a prior review. Odd2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/1/2011
Since many other restaurants on the island are closed on Monday, we decided to try Cafe Nola again.… Read more »
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Review from Benny L.
Coppell, TX
10/15/2011
My wife and I stopped in during our visit to Bainbridge Island and had a wonderful lunch. The restaurant itself is very quaint, what you would expect for a small island community. The service was also very good. Our waiter was very attentive and the food came out fast.
Now onto the food. I got the King Salmon sandwich which was excellent. The salmon was well cooked and it was served with mixed greens and great fries (crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with just the right amount of sea salt sprinkled on top). My wife got the Dungeness crab melt which was also excellent however if you are not a fan of cheese then I would not recommend it since there was ALOT of cheese (I guess that is why they call it a melt). The best dish however was the New England Clam chowder that we shared as an appetizer. It is big enough to eat alone as a meal. Perfect for a cold day. -
Review from Joseph C.
Bellevue, WA
2/5/2012
French toast Egg Benedict /w crab b burrito salmon and asparagus, was amazing!
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Review from Rebecca P.
Washington, DC
9/12/2011
I went to Café Nola last night. I have been there about 8 times and the food is always good but I always leave with a nagging feeling of displeasure and last night I was reminded why. The hostess there is awful. She is pretentious and rude and she is consistently that way. During a previous visit she was incredibly rude about the tea I ordered and last night she was rude again. This is a woman who has no gauge on how to deal with people in a polite or comforting way.
Now to the good stuff - the food! This is the reason I keep going back to Café Nola - that and the fact that my parents and I always meet here when I visit from out of town and my dad always finds something he really likes. The food is reliably good and good in that unique local explorative fashion that Seattle is known for. I usually visit Café Nola for brunch which is always delicious. Last night we had dinner there and the tofu appetizer I had was out of this world (and spicy!). Smokey salt, asian slaw and spicy grilled tofu played so well together I was craving more even after I finished my dish. The beet salad with grilled asparagus and polenta croutons was also decent and I loved the polenta croutons - crispy, creamy melt in your mouth deliciousness.
All and all - Café Nola is a good stop in Winslow - just watch out for the grey haired hostess.
Oh and consider getting reservations - although I don't think Café Nola is as busy with the neighboring Hitchcock stealing some of their business. -
Review from madelaine b.
Seattle, WA
10/21/2011
Sleepy little restaurant. we almost didn't go in because we thought it was a bar. (Most restaurants post a menu outside which gives the passerby a clue)
The food was great. French inspired cuisine. Beet salad had more greens than beets, but it was good. NICE bread served. Eggplant Parmigian clearly just made, delicious. Husband had scallops. he only got 4, but it was a work of art.
the biggest complaint i had was that they were a little inattentive. I would go back there though. -
Review from Alaina W.
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you do anything on Bainbridge Island, you are to eat at Café Nola.
Came across this fantastic little spot as I was doing research on places to go while some friends from Texas were visiting... Thank God for Yelp.
The décor is warm and cozy... but not grandma-warm-and-cozy. It's like modern-squash-colored-walls cozy. Aaaand well... it's pretty small so by default it's cozy. Anyway...
I, giving in to my beet obsession, ordered the beet salad. My boyfriend and his bestie, Justin, each ordered the Strozzapreti Scramble, and Kristina ordered the hamburger. (Though I think she made it a cheeseburger.)
I'll be honest. Going into this, I thought it'd be good food. But when I got to sample a bite of everyone's food... I'm exclaiming that it is go-to-Bainbridge-JUST-for-Nola DELICIOUS. That's right. Exclaiming.
MAN!!
Our server told us that the burger was to die for. I hoped for Kristina's sake that it would be at least a GOOD burger. I'll say this, and I know everyone at our table will agree with me: THIS IS WHAT A BURGER SHOULD TASTE LIKE. It's not some newfangled burger. It's just... a burger. A simple burger that makes you question all the other crap you've been eating. So good.
My salad was delicious. When it came out, the big-eyed American in me knocked on my brain and was like, "Hey, Alaina. Why you order small salad?" But as soon as I started digging into the salad, it kinda unwrapped itself like a... well... tightly-packed salad package would. The beets were slightly dryer than what I normally like, but still tasted beety-delicious. Loved the polenta croutons, too.
And now... the MAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN EVENT. Or... I guess it'd be event(s) since we had a double order at our table... The Strozzapreti Scramble with a side of French toast. The scramble was like 10 different flavors playing a symphony of breakfast delight in my mouth. Not too complicated, yet complicated at the same time. It was, for a lack of better terms, a "sophisticated" breakfast that was NOT pretentious. Interested? You should be. But if you get anything (and dear God, you shouldn't just get ONE thing here...) here... ANYTHING at all... you have to get the Caramel Pecan French Toast. The butter is infused with orange. ORANGE! I'm not surprised this dish is a Food Network favorite. It is sweet, yes, but you don't just taste sugar and syrup. No, sir, it's more than that. This sweet dish has depth. Nutty, sweet, citrusy, bready, with the bacon on the side. Seriously. Stop it.
We ended this joyous fatty feast with a slice of cheesecake and tiramisu. Cheesecake was GONE. Tiramisu? Eh, not my cup of tea. It was my first time having it and it had a little too much bite for me.
I'll be back. If I have to attach a milk carton derby vessel to the back of a ferry to keep the costs down, then so be it. But I'll be back.
Oh! Lest I forget the lemonade. It's made from scratch!
"Best lemonade I've ever had." -my boyfriend -
Review from Tiffany N.
San Jose, CA
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ordered the smoked salmon latke with poached egg and caviar for brunch. The portion was just right, at least for me. If you're hungry and looking for something to really fill you up, maybe order two of these.
Made me feel fancy? Damn straight.
Delicious? Oh, fasho. None of the flavors were overwhelming and they blended well together (i.e. I didn't need to eat a whole bunch of one element to mask another).
But is it so delicious that I'd crave it anytime in the future? Most likely not. It was delicious in the sense of "I'm really happy with my choice" but not in the "I'm already thinking about ordering another before I even ate half of my first."
The decor was sweet and the service improved the longer I sat there. -
Review from Jenna F.
5/24/2011
I have to admit that my friend and I stumbled into this place because it was the ONLY place open on a Sunday morning in Bainbridge. We took an early ferry over to do some exploring before heading to the airport. So while we came here because there was nowhere else to go at 10 am, I am so glad we found it! Turns out it was on Food Network. And it also turns out that their Truffle Fries are TO DIE FOR.
We sat at the bar. The bartender was friendly, made small talk with us. He also made us some delightful Bloody Mary's with pepper vodka - first time I've ever tried it, and it hit the spot. I wish we would have brought bigger appetites with us - everything on the menu looked wonderful. But we had just eaten (free) breakfast at our hotel before getting on the ferry. If I go back, I know I will order the French Toast, without a doubt.
Café Nola in all its tastiness is a great spot - but Bainbridge as a whole was a bit of a letdown. I don't know what I was really expecting, but it was something more lively than what we got. But there is some fun in taking the ferry ride - although I live in San Francisco, so I've been there, done that when it comes to ferries. I recommend that if you are visiting Seattle, skip over to Bainbridge to have brunch at Café Nola - and then hurry back to the fun and excitement in Seattle! -
Review from Edward S.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2011
Sunday brunch: crab melt
Definitely a winner... an example of when using quality ingredients, sometimes the best approach is to keep it simple. Fresh (not frozen) Dungeness crab, sliced tomatoes, topped with melted cheeese, flavors blend harmoniously.
For a toss-in, even the included side salad was good... no hint of bitterness with the cucumbers and the diced tomatoes were sweet, they have a good summer veggie supplier.
A bit understaffed, so be patient. But really, this is a vacation sort of area, places like this should remind us to occasionally slow down, relax, sit out on the deck and sip iced tea and enjoy the sun. -
Review from Ted D.
Los Angeles, CA
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The caramel French toast is crazy good. I love the bacon that comes with it.
They were a little short handed, but the service was still good. Also, the patio seating isn't always shade covered, if that's an issue for you
In the summer months the weekend wait could be a little long, but we got there late in the afternoon and waited only 5 minutes. -
Review from Tramale T.
Seattle, WA
Sweet holy mother of god that was some good french toast! I went with the Rebecca L group and got to meet Darth V. That alone was worth the trip. The lovely ride on the ferry from Pier 52, the interesting conversation and camaraderie of Yelpers, Lady Vader's take-no-prisoners approach to having a good time...if you were not there, you missed out. Plain and simple.
I think the whimsical nature of this joint upon first entry is very deceiving. They are doing good food here, and the signature dish is treated with a tremendous amount of respect. That notwithstanding, I did have to note to Darth that the Latke dish was a little overpriced for what it was (it has to be at least 80% pure profit on every order.) I'm taking a star for that, so there's my justification.
The island has a confectionary and a renowned ice cream shop that you can visit to further get your sweet on after brunch. I will be back, because the trip, the walk, and the food are totally worth it.
Don't ask any more questions, just go do it. -
Review from Sean C.
1/17/2011
If Bainbridge were more lively, I could see Cafe Nola being analogous to Kirkland's Hector's: site of many an unavoidably awkward upscale "morning after" breakfast.
Last night's fashion would be featured.
Small talk would be made.
Names would be relearned (or learned.)
Interests would be feigned.
Hangovers would be nursed.
Gazes would avert and turn downward.
Text messages would be openly sent.
Weak and baseless promises of follow-up would be made.
Parting escapes would be swift.
While that might seem irrelevant, it's pretty much how I felt about Cafe Nola in the context of the hype. It's quaint, cute, and very accommodating of large groups, but in the daylight of actual interaction that's about where our twilight romantic affair ended.
In an attempt to get to know Cafe Nola a little bit better, I wanted to go beyond the Food Network-recognized signature move, so I stretched a bit and tried:
- Smoked Salmon Nachos ($10) - Unique. This is not always a compliment. While it felt highbrow with the cotija and the titular salmon, even shared among three people it was too heavy for a casual appetizer and too light to satisfy like proper nachos.
- Caramel Pecan French Toast ($14) - The bread, the myth, the legend. I enjoyed it and the adorning bacon slices were impressively thick and hearty. I know directly comparing is strictly forbidden... but I liked Cutter's apple brioche sugar better.
Perhaps my mistake was not drinking enough mimosas to put myself into the "night before" mindset, but I just wasn't impressed, especially given the maintenance (cost) required. It was neither bad nor worth the effort - it was alright. That said, Cafe Nola is in high enough demand from its suitors that it's no lasting loss on either side that both of us will have forgotten each other's name in a month tops.Listed in: Overrated
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Review from Darth V.
Bellevue, WA
1/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been trying to figure out a way to justify giving this place a 4. I hate giving out 5's. People will start to think I'm soft. Then I'll have to start Force Throwing them into traffic, off of skyscrapers, out into Elliot Bay, choking people in the streets, and just in general being kind of a jerk in order to re-assert my dominance. Then I'll have to start raiding the Imperial reserves to pay for my legal defense team and bribing the judges that get appointed after I Force Choke the original ones, etc. It's such a mess.
I can't come up with a way to give them a 4, though. I mean hell, the Lady Vader and I showed up in a party of a DOZEN, and were there any hiccups? No. Were we packed in like a United Airlines flight? No, they gave us the private room. Was the service slow because of the size of the group? Negatory, fast and cheerful. Were the water refills lacking? No, they were lightning fast. There was no ice in the refills - I thought I could draw off that, but turns out even without ice, it was still ice cold (and obviously filtered, which is a must for my delicate palate).
It goes without saying that the French Toast was spectacular. It's the best in the country, of course it's going to melt in your mouth and every little bite is going to be a special little moment. So I couldn't go with that angle. And that orange-rum butter they make is just the absolute perfect complement to it.
I guess I could whine a little bit about the cost seeing as how, due to geography, once you factor in ferry service and/or parking fees, French toast for 2 runs you about 70 dollars - but you understand that the location is not convenient before you embark on the journey. And frankly the ferry trip over to the island gives me time to daydream about unicorns and snowfl...errr, I mean world domination and human enslavement.
Hell, I can't even complain about the snafu with the check at the end of the meal, seeing as how they inadvertantly tried to give me a free meal.
So fine. Call me soft, just like that wondrous Ch*phlegm*aallaah French Toast, because I have to give the place a 5. Tell me I'm sweet and buttery like the toppings or that I'm a little nutty like the pecans. Sure, if you do, I'm going to end up throwing you off the top of the Columbia Tower into the Dreamliner as it's doing a test flight - we'll call it a "Darth Strike" test. But hey, you'll live long enough to taunt me for giving this place a well-deserved score.
5 Deathstars.Listed in: The Seattle Foodie 100
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Review from Joe O.
6/3/2011
My parents were in town visiting from Hawaii so we decided that a ferry ride and dinner would be a unique Seattle experience. Challenge is we have a one month old so small, cramped restaurants don't do so well. I called ahead of time and the hostess assured me that the restaurant can accommodate infants.
The place was great, cozy, warm with lots of natural light - even at 8PM. My parents ordered the Halibut Stew and the Penne Mezzogiorno and both were very pleased. I ordered the Copper River Salmon special and my wife had the filet. Without going into too much detail on the food, everything was spectacular, service was amazing and we even were able to rush out to catch the 9:45 ferry back to Seattle. When on BI, we'll definitely stop by this place again. -
Review from Rita F.
Lakewood, WA
8/7/2011
What a wonderful little restaurant! The ambiance is so romantic and peaceful. If you get a chance sit outside on the patio in the evening, it's like eating in a hidden little garden.
The food is also really good. My boyfriend absolutely loved the fillet Mignon, he said it was one of the best he's ever had. I had the vegetable tagine which was such a unique thing to have on their menu! It was very good but probably not something I'd order again, it was a little lacking in flavor. What stole the show for me was the bread pudding with caramel sauce. I imagined a tiny little ramekin of pudding but this was a giant and amazing slice of bread pudding. Make sure you save room for this treat!
It was a little expensive but worth it. However, the waiters were kind of snooty...at least the one we had. It wasn't that big of a deal though. If I'm on Bainbridge again, I will definitely go here again. -
Review from Larena H.
1/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I made the much awaited pilgrimage to Cafe Nola recently. I have to say it lived up to the hype.
The restaurant was clean and the staff was friendly. They did accept reservations for our relatively large party, so that was a plus. Our waitress went over some of the highlights of the menu, and she was very accommodating.
Naturally, I ordered the much acclaimed French toast. Now, to put this all into perspective: I hate French toast. More importantly, I can't stand egg yolks. For the last 20 some-odd years of my life, I have despised the flavor of egg yolk. Yes, this eliminates many breakfast foods for me - including French toast. Why? Because I can taste the flavor of egg yolk when it's encompassing a slice of bread. I have sensitive taste buds.
My food arrived looking quite delicious. I was thoroughly impressed with the taste as well. The Challah bread was great, and the portion size was fair (even on the large side). I would go back. The ferry ride is quick and well worth the trek for a nice brunch.
My only complaint is that they don't offer an unlimited mimosa during their brunch. That would be nice!
Bonus points to this place for offering to split the check for our large party. I always hate it when places will not do this seemingly simple request, and our waitress was very accommodating on that front.Listed in: Seattle Places I take out of…
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Review from Jon B.
Wilbraham, MA
8/25/2011
I think I failed here. I asked my waitress, who was pleasant enough, what the best thing was on the menu. She said the crab melt and the halibut tacos. I chose the tacos. I chose wrongly. I mean, they were just ok. The ambience was nice, eating outside on a sunny day was nice, and it was fun to watch Northwesterners struggle on the clear sunny day, since apparently, not a lot of people carry or own sunglasses.
So, if you go here, set your expectations appropriately, enjoy the vibe, bring good company and you will have a nice meal.
I'm a little disheartened as I read other reviews that it seems that the owners have bullied other reviewers. That's pretty weak, it it's to be believed.
Like I said, the food was OK, the staff was friendly, the vibe was good. If you're a 'foodie' you're not going to love this place - but if you want a decent meal, a few drinks, and a good location - this is not a bad spot. -
Review from Melody P.
Thanks Rebecca L for setting up UYE today. It was a great event and great breakfast!
Apparently, Food Network has visited this place, Cafe Nola. And, French Toast is the item that Food Network highly recommended. It looked very delicious. However, I didn't order that. Instead, I ordered the special of the day, salmon on soft polenta with red bell pepper hollandaise.
The salmon was very well-grilled, the soft polenta was very flavorful and creamy, and the red bell pepper hollandaise sauce was great - the best combination the brunch.
The cafe is bigger than it looks like in the front. The whole Yelp group actually had the entire back room. The staff did a great job recommending food and taking care of all the hungry yelpers. In addition, they actually gave us separate bills.Listed in: UYE Breakfast, Breakfast/Brunch
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Review from Dawn B.
Seattle, WA
6/21/2011
I need to send out a great big THANK YOU to all the Yelp reviewers for reviewing Cafe Nola!
I had some out of town friends in from the East Coast and it gave me the opportunity to take my first ferry trip since moving to Seattle 10 months ago.
I loved the ferry ride with the Seattle skyline as the back drop and we absolutely LOVED Cafe Nola on Bainbridge Island.
I had the dungeness crab melt after reading the reviews by all the Yelpers and my gals has the salmon sandwich and the Dungeness Cobb Salad.
The service and every thing was spot on. I mean it when I say that there was not one single thing that could be improved upon.
I cannot wait for other friends to come visit so I have an excuse to pop back over to Bainbridge and Cafe Nola. -
Review from Chris T.
Seattle, WA
1/11/2011
Cafe Nola is such a cute place for breakfast! The second we walked in, we were greeted by a friendly, chipper hostess ("chipper" in an elegant, subdued way...not in an "ohmigod, i, like, have your seats, sweetheart!" way). We had reservations for 14 and I was quite surprised to see that they were able to accommodate us: from the front entrace, Cafe Nola seems like a very small, unassuming bistro but it opens up to a longish room in the back where you and your large party will get a nice view of the water.
Our waitress--complete with immaculate makeup with bold red lips, a huge bib necklace, and peacock feather earrings--was on top of everything. (I'm still wondering how she managed to look so put together to go to work in the morning.) Orders were placed without hassle, they arrived promptly, and checks were split without delay. GREAT service. It might have been because it was the day after my 21st birthday and I still felt a bit drunko but their orange juice is the BEST. The eggs benedict florentine I ordered was yummy but didn't quite blow me away (hence the 4 stars), but everyone else at the table was ooh-ing and aah-ing over the hollandaise sauce so maybe I'm just missing the hollandaise-sauce-connoisseur gene.
In any case, the adventure to Bainbridge from Seattle is absolutely gorgeous and is part of the charm of coming to Cafe Nola. Definitely recommended for a sweet early-morning date. -
Review from Camel R.
Beaverton, OR
12/31/2011
We order a burger and a fish and chips. The burger is fantastic. Good seasoning. But the fish and chips were not particular tasty. The thick bread crumb coating did not complement the fish. What was particularly foul, was a raw seafood smell in the coleslaw. Our stomach were upset after that. It is a bit expensive for the food they serve.
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Review from Tony W.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2011
This rating is not for the food but for the service.
The proprietor of the place was very rude. We arrived a few moments before opening on a blistery cold winter day and she very rudely ordered us to wait outside. We walked away immediately. No matter how good the food, any dining experience will be unsatisfactory with rude service!
Update - the chef/owner wrote a very nice note to us right away to apologize for the rude treatment of the waitress/restaurant manager (not sure of official title). Very sweet. Will try this place when we return. -
Review from Evelyn T.
North Hollywood, CA
2/2/2011 1 photo
My selling point on Cafe Nola: Giada DeLaurentis ate here!
This place is really comfy and cute. I love that small town feel, and I loved the adventure of taking a ferry and walking about a mile to get to the restaurant, but what I love deven more is their breakfast. Their Caramel Pecan French Toast to be exact.
The bacon, the syrup, the orange & rum butter, and the confectioners sugar. mmmm
Service was great and the staff was super attentive, friendly and helpful. I can't wait to go back! Maybe next time I'll order the french toast as a side so I can enjoy all their other tasty options.
