- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Mosaic Coffee House
Rating Details »
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Wallingford4401 2nd Ave NE
(between 44th St & 45th St)
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 632-8036
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
Sponsored Result
You Might Also Consider
Le Fournil
- 73 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Eastlake
"The best french pastries and baguette sandwiches! Try the pesto tuna sandwich and the fruit tarte as a meal. So scrumptious! I lived right…" read more »
15 reviews for Mosaic Coffee House
I love the space b/c it's big, there are several rooms (one main, one for kids, one for meetings), and there are (I believe) boardgames.
I love that it's a community coffee house, that it's run by (cheerful) volunteers, that they show different artwork, and that there's a donation box instead of any set prices.
So, why is it 4 stars instead of 5? My friend got a perfect hot chocolate there one time, but I haven't been quite so lucky. One mocha was okay while another one was tongue-burning-hot with soy milk that was burned to ****. (I had to throw that last one out.)
I think next time I'll go for an Italian Soda or some tea or something bottled/canned. Or maybe their soup or pastries (if they have anything I want left)?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/14/2009
A huge main room, a meeting room, a kid's room, and the price is whatever the items you're getting… Read more »
I love to go here on weeknights, have some of their excellent tea, and use the free wi-fi. The place is cozy and the philanthropic twist/pay what you want is a pleasant change from the chain coffee places in Wallingford.
However, I once went on a Sunday, waited in line for 20! minutes only to get to the front and find out they didnt have any pastries left, which is all I really wanted. Also, as a non-parent, I am turned off by the hoardes of moms and kids ( I like my quiet), but I also think it's great that they have a place to hang out too.
WOW
It's hidden in basement of a larg echurch. It's huge!
It's a bit dark. Lots of books, games.. SPACE.. I am quite sure they have events her eat night.
It is large enough to house a few groups.
This is my new favourite place to be -- it's a much more relaxing place to cram for midterms and finals than Odegaard. I don't drink coffee but my frequent companion swears by the stuff they brew here -- I stick to Italian sodas, which are consistently delicious.
It's pay-what-you-will, which is hard for me because I have the tendency to over pay in situations because I'm a server and I've got a pretty strong guilt complex. So I just pay $10 if its two of us getting drinks, and $5 if it's just me -- comparable to a trip to Starbucks... Not to say you can compare the environment to anything like a Starbucks -- this place feels like your extended living room [I've even fallen asleep on the couches].
I hesitate
to rate
this coffeehouse --
not that I'm a louse
but I fear
everyone will come here
and then it will get too crowded and won't be as funky, cool, and fun as it is. This is the way coffee houses should be, BIG, FREE (although I donate more than I pay at starbucks!) and, to the people who complain that there's no toys -- you could always BYOT -- or go to starbucks or tully's and let your kids run around there! :-D (seems to me that I only had a few sticks and a couple of rocks for toys when I grew up! Consider it an "Imagination Playpen!" - oh, yes, and it DOES have free wifi and it actually works! Dave http://www.cyranowrite... PS: Definitely going to check out the music and performances/open mic on Friday and Saturday -- wonder if they have performance poetry ?:-D
I live a couple of blocks down the street from Mosaic and I like it a lot. I like the pay-what-you-want method, I like the food (when there is food) and I like the coffee and the americanos. I also like the baristas.
If you have seen my review of the B&N cafe at U Village, you will know that I occasionally have coffee emergencies. When I say occasionally, I mean, like, every day. Sometimes I'm able to get through the fog by myself but more often I find myself staring helplessly at the barista who is waiting for my order, unable to do more than mumble about espresso. Some baristas (such as the one at B&N that fateful day) handle this incredibly well and just make my decision for me. Others, not so much. They need my guidance or they need me to go the hell away.
At Mosaic, they have no trouble deciding what I am going to drink. They get it going, I stuff the crumpled money from the bottom of my purse into the donation box, they hand my cup to me with a knowing smile and I stumble back to the street able to live another day.
Mosaic is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful place! It's huge but still cozy for yourself, two friends, a group and even a group with kids in tow. Coffee, espresso and shakes are very good. Cookies, pastries and quiches are awesome. All served by friendly people. Always offering smiles and light banter. Their kids play area is nice too. The kids love it and it seems pretty clean. There are tables and chairs in the play area for both kids and adults. Everything is by donation. So go, give a lot and take the tax deduction! It's a worthy cause!
Very kid friendly and mom friendly. Not so stroller friendly, but that's okay. I'll put my baby in the Ergo. There's a big fun room for the babies and kids to play on mats. What a little find in one of my favorite neighborhoods.
Ah, it's fine. I'm a mom too, and I like the wifi, I like the room's layout, and the dirt doesn't bug me. Hey, if dirt bugged me that much, I would be a way more uptight mom. Then again, I am not your average Purell-bearing mother.
It's true, they have few toys, but the ones they offer are all that a kid needs. Trains, kitchen, house. I notice that a lot of kids will just find a new way to play, and get into the imaginative play. I think it's a lovely idea.
My beefs: Sometimes, it can be hard to find parking. And SOME moms try to stick their (wild, yelling) kids in the room and then go out into the main area to talk in a more civilized setting. Not cool. Other moms resent babysitting your kids, and will rat you out to the staff. So don't do it.
This place is off the over-beaten path, and has something for everyone. First of all, it is about 5,000 square feet, so it actually has space for everyone. There are plenty of tables and chairs, plus several sofa seating areas and a conference room. The place is open and airy, but feels like a little unknown hideaway at the same time.
As for art: Mosaic has live music on Friday and Saturday nights, including an open mike night from time to time. There is even a stage for performers. All different types of musicians are involved, not one particular artist or type.
They also have a lot of wall space, which they use as a rotating gallery. There are various original works of art on the walls at any given time.
Food: Delicious. I heart the espresso cookies and the soups- especially the gumbo. They have fresh pastries and the like.
Beverages: So nice. Quality! I am a tea person (but am a former coffee lover) and the selection of loose leaf teas is way good. They are Market Spice teas I think. So nice, handmade teabags and all that special stuff. How sweet... For coffee, they have great mixes of classic lattes and coffees, plus the trendy flavors. Try the blended-frozen ones. My friends love them.
Cost: Free- with a donation suggested. I was like- huh? Mosaic asks that you contribute what you feel the service is worth to you. There's a small box at the register, and you drop your cash in there. The accept all kinds of cards as well. I was like- seriously, what is this worth? If you ask, they'll show you want the going rate is for the items, and you can donate accordingly. I just estimate and add tip. Works for me! They also contribute 10% of proceeds to a charity, which is chosen monthly.
Ever try to study while a two year old is playing 10 feet from you? Good luck focusing. This is not a problem here. The cafe has a huge separate "Demitasse" cafe for little ones, with a play area for the kids and a seating area for the grown ups. It's got glass-paned doors that separate it from the rest of the place. How cute, and thoughtful for those of us not interested in play-time.
The place is so warm and welcoming, and the staff is so friendly, it wouldn't matter if this were a teeny tiny venue, I would still drop by regularly.
The cafe is housed the basement of a church- Behind Dick's Burgers on 45th. But- there is no church-feeling in the cafe, and religion is not the theme of the cafe, setting, or the art. It's just a rad coffee house tucked away in the corner of Seattle. Isn't that why we love this city?
Funky spot in Wallingford. No prices. Pay as you think best. Good coffee. A few teas. Fresh daily soup, quiches and assorted pastries. Has a descent sized meeting room, which is busy a lot. Advanced sign-up necessary. And has free WiFi.
This place is the perfect neighborhood coffee house - in several of unique ways.
First, it's in the basement of a church, and acts as more than a cafe - it's a community gathering spot, sometimes with art, music, etc. Second, there are no set prices, you pay what you feel is appropriate, and there's always a different charity/social service/agency they're donating 10% of the proceeds to. Despite both of those non-traditional aspects, the coffee and the food selections are pretty good. Not going to break any records, but better than most chains, and better than any church I've ever been too :-)
Third, and most importantly, this place is huge and has three separate areas (including one with a door for kids/parents). As someone with a kid, I like that I can go here, and my kid can run amuck with other kids, but we're not bothering all the adults in the main room. Or, if I didn't have my kid with me or just wanted a quick coffee/bite, we could go to a place that's not "just for kids".
For those laptop users, I'm not positive, but I think they have WiFi, and there's plenty of room to spread out and do your homework/run your Web 2.0 startup. Just make sure to donate plenty of $$$ when you make it big.
I probably go hear at least once/week, and the only downside is that sometimes the kid room gets pretty crowded (but even then, the main area will remain peacefully available if you're sans kiddos).
It's so nice having a place that is mom and kid friendly. I love the community feel of the place. Some parents would be better suited to go to a gymboree or starbucks as they seem to not want to get into the spirit of this community. If you want sparkly, pristine corporate perfection, go to a corporate place to entertain yourself and your child. Leave me and my cutie to enjoy this funky awesome place.
oh, and they have great coffee too!
AND! While connected to a church there is no jesus. I was scared to go here when a friend first suggested it, but they keep the coffee separate from that god.
Great community gathering place. We have started to hold our Wallingford Sustainability meetings here after we outgrew people's living rooms. Where else can you get tea in hand made tea bags?
The physical space is huge with tables and chairs and couches and different rooms for people with kids as well as the meeting room we use for FREE! donation appreicated of course Can you see a theme in my reviews? They even have a fooseball table and places to play chess if you want to and have free music on the wkeends and local artists on the walls.. There is nothing to indicate that it was founded by a church other then the location.
They don't make the pastries on site but there is a nice variety and my favorite was the quiche this past weekend. Nothing like sipping tea, sitting in a huge couch, watching families from the neighborhood, sleepy grad students and energetic joggers all in the same place.
Review from a mom's perspective: Nice concept, but the playroom is severely lacking. I won't be returning after two visits. The "playroom" has very few toys, very very few. My kids were just walking around wondering what to do with themselves. I met up with 4 other moms and they all said the same thing - they just couldn't believe it. Many toys were broken - for example tracks on the train table, small cars, etc in the bins were broken. No organization whatsoever. And it is extremely dirty. There were crumbs everywhere, not Mosaic's fault. But the table area should really be designated for snacks. It is just disgusting.
Great concept though - with tables and chairs for snacking and easy for parents to talk and have kids there with them and I won't say playing, because there is barely anything to play with. I and other moms, have offered to give them toys and they said they have too much. Huh! Then bring it out! Kids are just playing with random small broken pieces that are not really toys, but pieces that belong to other toys no longer there. Like there was a small basketball hoop - but no ball anywhere! We played with an orange and put it through the hoop.
C'mon Mosaic if you're going to have a playroom - make it a playroom with things to play with. And make some rules for parents to keep it clean. Take out broken toys, organize it and clean it up at the end of the day. Or shut it down.
