Portage Bay Cafe in Ballard: A Beloved Breakfast and Brunch Destination

We were lucky to get a table for four for a Sunday brunch! A line was in place by the time we were eating and then even longer when we were leaving. This location is always bumpin' and busy; our server was great at navigating through everyone and was friendly and fun. The space is open vertically but a little packed all around. We had juices, tea, regular eggs Benedict with bacon, dungeness crab eggs Benedict, avocado toast with a side of sausage, and a kids pancake. The bacon was great as was everything generally! The kids pancake was good but could use a side of something (fruit, meat, protein, etc) as kids who consume carbs solo will often burst into flames in a matter of time and no parent needs that when they are trying to explore the Ballard Locks after brunch! Be mindful that the parking lot is kind of rough: most of the spaces are super narrow making it hard to open doors once parked.

Ballard brunch spots are a blood sport, but this one plays fair--no gimmicks, just damn good food. The space is that perfect mix of airy and cozy, where natural light floods in just enough to make you forget it's probably raining. Servers glide through the chaos like brunch ninjas, refilling coffee with the kind of efficiency that suggests they've seen some things. I went for the smoked salmon Benedict, because when in Seattle, you lean into the cliché. The lox was buttery, the hollandaise decadent without being a gut punch, and the house-made English muffin? Let's just say I'd betray a few friendships for another slice. The crispy herb potatoes sealed the deal. Is it busy? Of course. But some things are worth the wait--and this is one of them.

Food is consistently excellent - I'm not vegan or gluten free but I always get the vegan banana pancakes which are DIVINE. Truly I dream about them. The berry bar is the best part and sets Portage Bay apart - fruit is fresh and delicious. My friend also got the omelette with goat cheese, which I had a bite of - definitely a great option if you prefer a savory breakfast. Goat cheese was flavorful and the tomatoes and scallions kept it from feeling too heavy. They are very busy on the weekends, but I was a little disappointed that I had to ask two different people for a refill on our very empty waters - the first person was the one who brought our food; he asked if we needed anything else, and I asked for some more water, which he never brought. We had to ask our main server when he passed by to bring us some more (which luckily he did). The place is cozy and comfortable - feels like a solid breakfast joint without delving into greasy table domain. Totally recommend!

What's not to love about portage bay as a whole? The food is consistent and I love that since the new year they have a separate trip to the berry bar without getting a pancake/French toast option for $11. The only thing is the service is always extremely slow at this particular location and they get extremely aggressive about wanting you to leave once you're done with eating (I don't blame them but it's always shocking when they clear your waters and even filled drinks from your table). Don't miss out a trip to the berry bar - I would probably say it's what makes portage bay what it is... you really can't go wrong now especially they have a standalone offering without a carby accompaniment. Kudos to you guys for offering that. Do make a reservation especially for the weekend brunch time and enjoy a pitcher of mimosas with your friends!

We walked here after exploring the Ballard locks fish ladder on a Saturday morning. We sat outside because we brought our dog and they were kind enough to give us blankets to wrap ourselves since it was a little windy. We ordered the carnitas Benedict and the smoked salmon Benedict. Both were very delicious, the carnitas had a nice flavor and texture and the pickled onions on top were a nice touch and smoked salmon was flavorful and plenty. The only downside was that the side of potatoes came out a bit cold. But still would order both of the Benedicts again.

I'd love to give this place an extra 5 stars for being peanut free. It's always a worry when you have someone in the family with nut allergies. We are back again after eating here 2 days ago. Will update with photos soon. Trying something new. Will def be back for the next 4 years while my dtr is at UW!!

Great, well known cafe, with a few locations. I like this location, being not too far from Golden Gardens, which a great place to meet a friend for a Ballard Walk. The menu consists of your classic cafe items, with some portage bay twists and specialties. The staff is very friendly and wait times are minimal. You really can't go wrong with a stop in here for breakfast!

9/10. I came here with a couple friends to catch up after a long time! We ordered a lot of food and they were all very delicious! I ordered the grain oat blueberry toast and it was delightful! I love how everything tastes so refreshing and fulfilling! And yes, I made a big trip to the fruit bar and I am very satisfied with the fruit! Very sweet and just perfect! There are many fruit options and it made my toast taste so much better! 7/10: The waitress there are all very friendly and kind to us! Willing to give us many time to decide what we want because we are all very indecisive, they are very patient and so nice! I really like their service! Hopefully next time we don't have to wait that long because this place is always crowded! 7/10: Great location with many parking spots but we are just very unlucky after waiting for a while and still do not have a parking spot! I am very glad that we came here because it is way more easier than the other locations to find parkings! It will be nice if we have more room between tables so the dining experience will be more comfortable and complete!