Elliott Bay Cafe

Housed in the basement of the historic Pioneer Square Elliott Bay Book Company, the Elliott Bay Café is surprisingly bright and spacious, with nooks and crannies for folks who like a little privacy. The café is always filled with huddles of eclectic people, from gay knitting groups, to studying students, to couples sitting closely together, kissing and groping one another (oh no, that was us). Well, the café is a great place to people-watch, read a purchase from upstairs, or attend a book reading by a local, famous author. It’s even a great place to flirt with the tattooed and vintage-eye-glass-wearing baristas. But it’s not a great place for coffee.

Although my steamy decaf latte was topped with the mandatory, foamy, perfectly formed leaf, the complete lack of flavor disappointed. I also ordered a macaroon to share with my sweetheart. But I hesitated, wondering if it would be rude to ask for the cookie without the fruit fly. Still, the round mound of moist coconut, soaked in dark chocolate looked delicious, despite it’s dual use as a fruit-fly landing pad, so I couldn’t resist. Certainly, we eat food all the time that has already been sampled by a medley of bugs, like every salad we order in a restaurant, or the toppings for our frozen yogurts, that sit out all day awaiting our order.

Anyway, even the cookie disappointed. Instead of a crunchy outer meringue layer enveloping a gooey, sweet center, it was just a gobby scoop of under-baked, overly-sweet coconut that crumbled in our fingers as we attempted to eat it. I could have purchased a bag of coconut for the same price and enjoyed it more. At least the chocolate was good.

So, score one for the cute baristas. Two for the terrific brick floors and historic atmosphere. Three for the people watching. Four – a great place for a lesbian couple to make out and hardly anyone notices, and even if they do, they smile at you, practically egging you on for more. But don’t go for the coffee. I hear the grilled sandwiches are great. And they do serve lots of bottled beverages….

Andante!

While not in Seattle exactly, I couldn’t pass up a review of Andante Coffeehouse on lovely Bainbridge Island, just a 35 minute ferry ride due west of Seattle. Bainbridge is a little hamlet of a town, full of art galleries, bakeries, boutiques, and restaurants, all charmingly laid out along Winslow Way, just a short walk from the ferry terminal.

If you wander just one block off of Winslow Way, onto B’june Drive (B’june, by the way, happened to be my mother’s closest friend when I was a child), you’ll stumble upon “A is for Artist” Art Cooperative, a fantastic candy shop with locally made fudge and classic old candies, and snuggled in between, Andante.

The atmosphere in Andante invites you to sit and stay a while. A few steps below street level, yet walled with windows, it’s cozy and bright at the same time. Always filled with people chatting, reading the newspaper, working on their computers, or reading, Andante is also a great place to bring your dice or cards, for leisurely games over steamy, frothy, robust and smooth lattes. Did I say I like their coffee? The service is great, and the snacks are delicious, from locally made quiches and baked goods, to other savory delights. We also enjoyed a moist chewy brownie, topped with bright pink candy cane frosting…good to the last crumb.

Although Noel beat me at Farkle, and I also lost at Phase Ten, I enjoyed a fantastic latte on a chilly winter afternoon on lovely Bainbridge Island. It’s truly worth the ferry ride.