Salmon Bay Cafe Reviews

Seattle's food is good but pricey due to the organic scene so we headed out for a regular diner and we found it. I had the crab and shrimp omelette it was the business. The others had pancakes and eggs Benedict. It was the cheapest breakfast we had and it was awesome! After you leave the diner head to the locks!

This place comes highly rated by people, but my husband and I just couldn't see what the fuss was all about. Our dining area was old, dirty and in bad need of renovation. I ordered the seafood scramble which was pasty and tasteless. It had the consistency of putty and I couldn't taste anything from the ocean in it. It was all held together by lots of cheese. My husband ordered the huevos. The presentation was interesting, but the eggs were cooked too hard. On the positive side, my dish came with fresh fruit as an option and that was actually pretty good - slices of apple, banana, pineapple, grapefruit and cantalope. The service was friendly and efficient. The prices are reasonable, but there are too many other good places in the area to eat breakfast, so don't waste your time eating here.

They don't make 'em like the Salmon Bay Cafe any more, and that's too bad. The place exudes the charm of a place that has been serving breakfast forever. No pretensions, just the patina of age and countless repetitions. The food is okay. I take the home fries over the hash browns, and I won't order the biscuits and gravy again because the biscuit reminded me of ship's biscuits from the 19th Century. But I'm glad we choose this restaurant over Hattie's Hat. Service was odd.

A new owner, Ken, has taken on the grand tradition of Salmon Bay Café. He told me this morning that he's planning to keep things the same, but introduce new treats, like home baked muffins (upgrade from toast for $1.50, only available on weekends). We shared a raspberry coconut muffing and a mixed berry muffin this morning, and they were fantastic! Ask which has just come out of the oven... They've re-upholstered the booths (it was long overdue, now the duct tape is gone--yay!) and have added new benches to the back room. One disappointment--he hasn't gotten his wine (Mimosas!) and beer license yet, but it's coming. He told me he can't wait, either. If you haven't been to SBC in awhile, check it out.

Great old school Ballard type eatery at the docks. Great food and service.

This place is basically a dump but food was good and service friendly. My kids lived the chicken noodle soup. Fish and chips rivaled some I've had in england. Close to ballard locks. We had a fun lunch there.

Friends said this was a great spot for breakfast so we went there today and were unimpressed. Per their warning, I was prepared for a "funky" place, but thought it was more dirty and worn than funky. For example, the carpeting was black with dirt and displayed tears and holes. My booth seat had lost all its support and was beyond uncomfortable. I figured the food would be fabulous and offset the ambiance. That failed to occur. My scrambled eggs proved to be tasteless with a rubbery texture. The potatoes were hard, crunchy and slightly burned in places. The whole wheat toast, however, was quite good and my coffee acceptable. My husband said his oatmeal was just OK and that his blueberries lacked flavor. The service was excellent and food arrived in a timely fashion.

The morning of our cruise departure, we had breakfast at Salmon Bay Cafe, Shilshone Ave. It was recommended from a desk clerk at our nearby hotel. The outside, and inside, are unimpressive. The food and service, however, are very good. Omelets, eggs Benedict, waffles of many flavors, waffles, potatoes, toast (from six bread choices), fresh fruit, juices, etc. Service was quick, and the food very tasty and filling. Freezer jam on the tables. I also noted the ketchup bottles were cool, so they properly care for foods! Portions were generous, and prices reasonable. Well worth it!

Decent food, gigantic portions and friendly service. Nothing crazy, but great coffee and basic breakfast. You can tell it's been there a while, located in a more industrial part of Ballard, neat nautical furnishings.

No. Pomp here. Just good food and very good coffee. Ive paid a lot more for coffee and not has as good. The servers all walk around with a pot in their hands just like a real diner! We were there for a late breakfast, and it was just what we needed on a damp weekend morning. Wholesome home cooked food, perfect eggs, chicken fried steak perfect. Will definitely go back next time we're in Ballard, or any where close enough to warrant the drive out there.

Its Seattle waterfront- not fancy, a little grubby, kind of worn around the edges. The food is always good, not need to dress up, they have parking and parts of the place have nice water-level views.The staff is perfect.

Stumbled across this café while looking for a quick bite to eat. The waitress was super friendly and helpful and the overall vibe was pleasant. The food wasn't amazing but for a cafe it wasn't bad. The seafood caesar salad was tasty enough and was a generous portion, the chicken tenders were ok but the fries were over cooked for my liking but it was served quickly and filled the gap. I want to rate this higher because the waitress was so lovely but overall I feel this is an average café.

I'm surprised at all the excellent reviews because we didn't have the same experience. Decided to try here for breakfast and though there were a lot of people already eating we were able to get a table right away. The server was pleasant but very forgetful. The portions are huge but lack flavor (I mean really lack - a taco omelet shouldn't taste like canned ingredients with no seasoning filling bland eggs). The sausage links are good and the veggie scramble is filled with a ton of vegetables. The toast was dry and cold. Add up the good stars, then subtract the negatives and you end up with average.

Being from MN this place reminded me of Mickeys Diner. A hearty breakfast diner style! We had great service. The portions were huge! I had an omelet with bacon, cheddar cheese, Avacado and sour cream. I had a pancake on the side. All excellent! I could have shared my omelet but the prices were such that I didn't really care. My husband had the 2 egg breakfast with bacon. He received 5 pieces of bacon! A score for him. I would definitely recommend!

It was delicious. It is no longer worth a visit. I had the waffle and chicken. Chicken was over cooked. Got some gravy... it had NO flavor. The service was ok. But considering it was not very busy, it could have been better. It’s too bad. Won’t be back.

They have great omelets and other typical breakfast foods. We go there to sit in a booth and watch the characters who are always there while we share the good food and take home leftovers from their generous portions. Good old fashioned place to relax.

We were looking for a new breakfast place, and we'd spotted this diner. It's tucked in the wharf area, not really noticable. They have a very small parking area. Service was friendly and fast. Our food was pretty good, diner food. Prices were a bit more reasonable than other places in the area. The inside is a bit run-down, but its clean. We will be adding this place to our list of good breakfast joints in the area.

My father-in-law introduced me to this place and the food is totally awesome. This is mainly a breakfast and lunch diner catering to the maritime industry. Everything in the place is ancient and I love the old black and white boat pictures on the walls. You can't find a place to eat any closer to the water. I think just about anything you order would be great. I really love the fish sandwich. It is basically two pieces of their great halibut fish and chips on a bun. I like that you get a choice of fries or Caesar or garden salad. The staff is great and the price is right.

The stuffed french toast is very good. They know how to cook eggs. Quality of the food for the price was really good. Staff was nice. Orange juice is fresh. Plenty of parking around there.

The place takes the patrons back to a different and perhaps simpler time, right down to the music choice. We had a such a great time eating breakfast while "Who'll stop the rain" (Creedence Clearwater Revival) played in the background. We had ham and cheddar and spinach scramble and they were perfect. We especially appreciated having the choice of fresh fruit as one of the sides. I was also checking out what other people were having around me. Every dish looked great and fresh. The portion is quite generous. We also tried the house made muffin and it literally just came out of the oven. It was delicious. Coffee was great and the waitress was constantly offering refills. We sat by the window and the place was airy, filled with sunshine. The place is very clean and tidy. The owner, both gracious and friendly, chatted with us. There are lots of trendy restaurants in Ballard but if you want down right comfort foods in a clean, comfortable diner, this is the place to be. By the way, the prices are excellent as well. It is obvious that the new owner intends to keep this a classic American diner and he is definitely succeeding.

Previous reviews harp on the place being dirty. Now I can be tough when I review places. Yes, the seat cushions should be replaced along with the carpets, but after all this is a diner down at the docks frequented by locals and fishermen. We didn't go there for the decor. We wanted a place that was open early for breakfast and we got exactly what we wanted. My wife had a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries and a separate egg. She was quite satisfied. This was real, slow cooked oatmeal. I had the huevos rancheros. What is interesting is that it came "deconstructed", all the parts separate so you could mix it in as you liked. The avocado was perfect, the eggs cooked exactly as I had asked. Our waitress was very friendly. My only complaint would be related to the coffee. For Seattle, it was pretty poor. We may go back in a couple of days.

If you are wanting a 5* dining experience then don't go here. It is what it is .......a diner on the docks. Yes it's a little worn but the guys in overalls and boots don't give a care if the carpet has tears in it? There was just one guy serving...yet no-one was waiting, we had multiple coffee refills and he was friendly and efficient. The food was tasty, and more,importantly for me...hot! Eggs were cooked perfectly as I had ordered them and my husbands omelette was filled to the brim with crab and shrimp. No frills but who needs em? It's a diner not a restaurant

A "real" place that doesn't take itself seriously. Very good sandwiches, well-made scrambles, fruit that is fresh and tasty, nice cinnamon buns served hot, tasty pancakes (tho' I'm not sure that was real maple syrup), and our bacon was overdone. All in all, well worth a revisit (and another after that!)

We've only been once, so it's hard to say whether it's all good but I liked this place. Kind of funky which fits the location and what you want in a breakfast place. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and while the elements were all of good quality and tasty, it wasn't really huevos rancheros. It was fried eggs, tortillas with melted cheese, avocado sour cream, black beans (not refried) and salsa. The coffee was good, eggs were cooked to order, and the waitress was good. I'll be back.

Rated based on it being a diner. It is good basic diner food, I only ate breakfast there. I was on business and my hotel bfast was crappy. A short walk to this place provided a complete breakfast and I was ready for my meetings. Staff was very nice. Prices are good. Food is diner and very acceptable.

Nothing fancy about this place, the interior dining area is a little old and quite plain. Food was very basic, but good. Service was also good and staff was very friendly. Would recommend for a leisurely easy going breakfast.

Really wanted Eggs Benedict with salmon and found it here! Friendly service and customers! Great find on our way to the locks.

Breakfast menu is wonderful but the senior menu is really great...lots food...great flavor...great prices...great service...and on water too

I had breakfast with my family at the Salmon Bay Cafe last Sunday. Food was delicious....shrimp and crab omelet....cooked perfectly with hollandaise. The plate comes with wonderful cinnamon bun and really fresh fruit. Another omelet was also perfectly prepared....with cooked white onion and gruyere cheese. By slowly cooking at a low temperature, the eggs arrive on the plate yellow not browned, with creamy fillings. Arrive early and then head out to Carkeek Park for an amazing walk.

I ate breakfast here on a number of days. If you just want a really good American diner type place then go here. I didn't want a trendy breakfast place just honest to goodness well priced food. It's not a sparkling trendy place but certainly not a dump. Just basic place down near the harbour. That's actually a good thing to me. The food was very fresh each day - great vegetables in the omlette. You can tell when things are not canned, frozen or whatever. Definitely recommended. Go!

Breakfast is just ok. The menu looks. Better than it taste. Do not order any omelet is the worst I ever had. The bacon is grease and the eggs are ok

This place has a lot of up-charges and you won’t know about them until you get your bill. If you customize anything, ask if there’s an up-charge. Want your bloody mary spicy, $2.00 extra. Want to split an omelette and you don’t mention splitting it yourself, $2.00 extra. Don’t want hash browns and toast, waiter offers fruit instead, $2.50 extra. Waiter at least adjusted the bloody mary price when I asked why the price was different than posted. Contacted management and heard there was a miscommunication because we’re regulars, the waiter thought we knew...but we’re eating differently now, so ordering differently now. I got an apology and a thank you and a comment they’ll address how they communicate up-charges going forward. Hope so because this experience really left a bad taste in our mouths and we’ll go elsewhere. Tons of other great breakfast places in the area.

Salmon Bay Cafe is just off the trendy Ballard Market Street area but it's not your usual Ballard restaurant. It's the kind of place you want to hang out in for conversation for hours on end. Fishermen that just got off work mix with hipsters looking for something real and solid and retired folks that just want good food and a place to be a regular at. The food is classic diner food but with a much higher standard of quality and the prices are incredibly reasonable. It's known for breakfast but they just opened for dinner and it's even better. I would recommend the Brussels spouts with bacon, the classic meatloaf, and the Reuben sandwich but the menu has many more options that are equally yummy. The owner and the staff are all super friendly, giving you the warm fuzzy that keeps you coming back. They also have parking, which is tough to find in Ballard, and just a stones throw away is the bay with all the water and boats you could want to daydream at on a lazy Sunday morning over coffee.

I eat breakfast here consistently and it’s never disappointing ! Eggs are cooked like you like them and coffee is as good as it gets from a pot. Service gets a little slow when they are busy but everything is cooked fresh and flavors are neutral so you can add your own seasoning salt and pepper, hot sauce. If you feel like having an alcoholic drink it’s available !! Enjoy, JBM

Why isn’t this place more packed? It serves delicious, hearty, and sometimes innovative diner fare until 2pm (3 on weekends), at great prices, in a neighborhood not known for sit-down cheap eats. The current owners cleaned the place up a few years ago, retaining the nautical theme that has been delighting fisherfolk and dockworkers for ages. They updated the banquettes and added a full bar. These days the servers are less sneery and more cheery (sorry sassy waitress lovers). The café is bright and airy, not dismal like the bars nearby. So why is it still easy to get a seat? The problem has to be Shilshole Ave. That sleepy drag—just two lanes—creates an outsize psychological barrier, making the Salmon Bay side of the street seem “un-Ballard” in its lack of gentrification. Adding a crosswalk would help, as would clean-up of the railroad tracks (they’re rather rutty in places). But hey, Ballard people, cast off your perceptual filters! Take advantage of this light-filled little secret in your backyard—a taste of real, old waterfront Ballard. (Side trip: check out the Salmon Bay pocket park next to the café.)

Enjoyed the casual diner style atmosphere on a weekend morning. Both of us got omelets and they were delicious. One could have been split between three people. Came with home fries and toast too. Service was friendly but a little slow. I would go back if I'm in the area.

I've loved having breakfast at this place over the years, so I was excited to bring my sister here while in Seattle. Although the coffee was good and the jam was tasty, the rest of our meal was awful (and I never give bad reviews!). The crab and shrimp omelette was so bad we didn't eat it.....snow crab tasted like what I imagine a fur ball would taste like....the hollandaise sauce was like chicken gravy, the home fries tasted like reheated potatoes....so sad! On the upside, they did remove that item from our bill and the sausage scramble was tasty. But then there was the bathroom. Ick! Dirty, no hot water, disgusting condition. I can't say I would ever go back, and I used to be a huge fan!

Great Place for breakfast.I almost always have the seafood benedict with crab and shrimp subbed for the traditional Canadian bacon. Really excellent and they'll pile on as much hollandaise as you want. Exceelent large omelets, with hollandaise, also a winner.

We had breakfast here 3 days in a row! Extensive breakfast menu. We loved the senior menu special breakfast for $12.50. You get 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, English muffin or pancake. I discovered the pancake and it was huge and fluffy and delicious. We were seated quickly, and service was fast and attentive. It is on the bay. We walked there from the Hotel Ballard.

Classic diner food in a great setting.....all of us thought it hit the spot! We hadn’t been there for a long time and it was time to re-visit. It was just as good as we remembered.

I was staying at the Hotel Ballard and they suggested I try Salmon Bay Cafe for breakfast. It's kind of an old-school diner nestled near a lot of industrial/shipping buildings. Service was lovely, a very sweet young woman was handling all the tables and was really a delight. Food was yummy - though the omelette was so gigantic it would take 3 people to finish - and very reasonable. Great choice for a lovely breakfast in Ballard.

Great place for a casual lunch. We had clam chowder and fish sandwich. Tasty. Staff were extremely friendly. we had a window seat and had a glimpse of the marina.

Was excited to see older looking established diner by water. How ever waitress was rude and slow. They nickel and dime u for everything. $1.00 to add cheese to a sandwich. If you want to split a meal a $2.00 charge. Meet in our sandwich was small portion. For a $12 sandwich you should get a product of value. Won’t be coming back.

We moved from Seattle 15 years ago and used to go to the Salmon Bay Cafe every Sunday. Went back recently and though still funky inside, the food and service is still great. Keep on keepin' on!

Absolutely first class, Miguel kept me entertained and brightened up my day. Called in for breakfast on my way to join a cruise ship after reading reviews on line and have to say did not disappoint. I had the Mexican egg dish with hash browns and copious amounts of coffee. Do not miss this slice of magic in Ballard

Yummy! Love the omelettes!!

My husband and I were staying at Hotel Ballard and they recommended this place for an early breakfast. It was better than we expected with generous portions of delicious food. We both had veggie omelets (different preparations, both tasty) with hash browns and shared side orders of avocado and fruit. The coffee was very good and the server was charming and attentive. We liked the retro style and 60’s sound track. Great value.

The Salmon Bay Cafe in Ballard is open at 7:00 AM and serves very good food with great service. Parking is tight but the food is worth it.

This is your basic diner, and I mean that in a totally good way. It's right by the water, but don't be expecting beautiful scenery - this is the working waterfront, so it's industrial (plus a marina). The cafe is very pleasant and the customers seemed to be a mix of marina types and working folks. I had bacon and eggs, which were fine, and hash browns, which were really good, lots of crispy bits. Good coffee. Friendly waitress.

Took my uncle there for his birthday a couple of weeks ago. He said he had been there before but it was my first time. Had chicken fried steak and eggs which was amazing. The service was great, food was perfect, and the ambiance was loud and fun. I loved it.

Best breakfast I've had in a long, long time. A great little place that the locals patronize and I never would have thought to try if my son didn't live in Seattle and knew about it.

Returning to Seattle for vacation, the first stop was this old favorite of some 25 years. Really nice folks, but ouch...what awful food. Pancakes tasted like cardboard as did the omelette. Over cooked eggs that lost their taste as a result. Pancakes should be easy, but they missed by a mile. And the prices far too high for the quality. I am sorry to say, go to the Fremont Dock if you want a really good breakfast. The kind tsalmon bay used to make, unless our own tastes have changed after a quarter of a century.

In Seattle overnight and in middle of nowhere walking around looking for somewhere for easy breakfast that is oatmeal and de ENT coffee and found it here. Friendly vibes. Warm waitress. Old fashioned diner. Love d it.

Nice people in this diner and a recently renovated interior. But the salmon burger tasted like it was from Costco's freezer.

Omelette was perfect, pancakes so large my buddy couldn't finish. Good coffee and good service. Noticed a bunch a stores nearby worth walking off a hearty breakfast.

Excellent food, friendly staff, old-fashioned diner atmosphere. Recommended for breakfast or lunch. Large portions.

My husband and I stopped at Salmon Bay Cafe for breakfast before a day full of walking around Ballard shopping and sightseeing. I had the veggie benedict and my husband had a breakfast burrito. The food was incredible - everything was well seasoned and well cooked. My eggs benedict was just right portion-wise and the breakfast burrito was huge! It would definitely feed two people easily. Our server was friendly and attentive. It was a perfect way to start a few days of vacation in Seattle.

Salmon Bay cafe is one of those old-time Seattle cafes that caters to the working class and especially to those who work around the shipyard. You will get simple food, simply prepared. The meals are hearty and the quantity abundant. It's down by the waterfront and been around for years so it's a little worn around the edges. It's not fancy. It has a new owner and he's going to make some small changes. There's talk of a bar, some TV's, maybe even opening up for dinner. And that's good for us who live down here, who work on the boats, and who come here all the time. You'll get treated right here. They won't bend over backwards to kiss your butt. You might even have to get the server's attention sometime. But if something's not right, they try to make you happy. So there's no need to go on one of these sites later and badmouth 'em like some reviewers do. It feels like home, here. And everyone's welcome. There's no pretense. And it's one of those places we always count on after being away at sea for weeks or just a day. It's our kind of place.

There are certainly trendier and more sophisticated spots in Ballard, but this holdover is worth paying for. The combination of good food, fantastic service and fair prices add up to a great breakfast experience!

Ownership has changed, they cut corners and the food is not worth it. I ordered and specified no cheese or sour creme on my plate due to a food allergy but the kitchen ignored the wait person's instructions. Then the meal came out and the omelet filling of spiced beef was minimal and pretty much tasteless. Most restaurants correct their mistakes by either comping or taking a percentage off a bill, but not Salmon Bay. We won't be going back.

Salmon Bay is never a disappointment. Four of us meet here occasionally for breakfast. The setting is casual, the prices are excellent, service is friendly and efficient, and the food is delicious.