Denice's Place

 

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kittehpants d.

Seattle, WA

A great little place - never would have found it if not for Yelp.  Other reviewers are correct... the food IS super fresh, good sized portions - We split the veggie omelet and they let us have 2 sausage/2 bacon as our side of meat (which was about $5, but the bacon was PERFECT, so it didn't it feel like you were being robbed).    

It also WAS expensive - but if you split a breakfast, you have enough food.  (We'd usually get 2 breakfasts and have leftovers for what we paid to split 1 breakfast here).

Food was 5 stars, but factoring in the price, we'd have to give it 3 1/2.

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10

James W.

Kirkland, WA

I have not had lunch at Denice's, only breakfast. But it's a great, wonderful, fabulous breakfast. Those who oversell the Maltby Cafe's dubious delights need to sit down here and see how it really should be. It's homecooked food with attention to detail and freshness of ingredients - eggs with really yellow yolks, thick bacon with the right amount of crisp on the exterior (yeah, a side of bacon is surprisingly expensive but you get 4 huge slices - consider a half order if you're by yourself...) Our daughter had the fresh strawberry crepes last time - impressive. The huevos rancheros are great too, and they come with a side of clearly homemade refritos.

Another reviewer commented that Denice's seems expensive for what you get. I disagree - the food quality is clearly superior and I think using cheaper ingredients would kill much of the appeal here.

I have mixed feelings about writing this review since part of me wants to keep Denice's as my own secret - I don't want to see lines out the door - but the place is just too good to ignore.

A huge plus for families with kids - the toy nook in back AND the small selection of toys (not candy) that come with the check. A winner with our 5-year-old.

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228

Bob G.

Bothell, WA

Denice's place is the kind of place you would miss if you didn't know it was there.  It is neatly tucked inside a strip mall with the most prominant place being a Mom's Teriyaki.  I and my son and his grilfriend went there for lunch.  We were greated and seated by Denice.  

They have small menus on the table with their daily specials for both breakfast and lunch.  They were inconspicoius enough that we didn't notice them or we might have ordered off of them.  We all ended up getting bacon cheeseburgers with a side for 11.49 each.  I had a salad with their house vinagarette dressing, my son had the home made soup and girl friend had the french fries.  They shared a chocolate shake.  I managed to sample the shake and the fries, but not the soup.

Everything is home made, so the soup was not out of a concentrate bag from Cash and Carry like many other places serve.  The potatoes were real potatoes and they were nice and crunchy without being greasy.  The burgers were 1/3 pound patties, and the bacon was thick and tasty.  I would like to go back and try one of their specials or a breakfast.  

I would give them 4 stars for the food, good home made food, but not anything real special.  And 5 stars for their personality, the place in general.  They even have a nook for kids with toys and coloring books, a nice "Grandma's House" feel.  But I have to knock off a star for the price, as they are a bit on the high side for what you get.  So I would really like to give them 3 1/2 stars, but they end up with 4.

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Elite '08

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444

Julia Z.

Bellevue, WA

Denice's Place seems unassuming enough, having a storefront in a little strip mall, but inside, Denice and her husband Rodrigo are working pure magic.

The food. All the classics, done brilliantly. Rodrigo is a fantastic chef and every order is prepared fresh in the tiny kitchen. Breakfast and lunch are all you get here, though; they're not open for dinner. We've begged them to stay open so that we could eat all three meals in a day there, but that would be too many hours for them! The only bummer item I've ever had here are the french fries; they are a great size and texture, but there's a weird fishy aftertaste that suggests they need to keep the fish out of that fryer... and it's happened twice so I give up. Everything else is fantastic, so don't be scared.

The staff. Denice, Rodrigo and the few waitresses that work with them are all excellent, friendly and happy to get to know you. Denice especially loves holding and walking with customer's babies, so this is a great place for new parents to eat.

As you become a regular, they'll learn what you like and pretty soon, all you need to do is come in and sit down and you'll get what you always get.

What makes it special. Denice has decorated the place with drawings, photos, and other homey items that make it feel like visiting your aunt or grandma's house. This is definitely NOT a chain restaurant with fake home-style decor. The restrooms are even stocked with good magazines! ;-)

There are a ton of toys and games on a shelf in the back and kids are encouraged to play with them while waiting for their food. They'll also bring the kids coloring books to keep them entertained. Denice doles out candy to the kids at the holidays too, which is a nice touch.

Know that on weekend mornings, Denice's is really busy and because there are seats for about 30 people and counter space for 10, you might have to wait a few minutes. It's worth it!

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