Portage Bay Cafe

Portage Bay Café is located on 41st and Roosevelt in the University District in Seattle, Washington. It’s a family owned breakfast and lunch place with American style cuisine. Portage Bay Café is open 7 days a week. On weekdays it’s open from 7:30 til 3:00 and during the weekends it’s open from 8:00 til 3:00. Portage Bay Café is a gathering spot for college students, locals, and business people taking a break for lunch. During the weekends it attracts the families. But if you are looking to go there on a weekend, expect a wait because everyone loves this place and will probably have the same idea as you. Portage Bay is known for its organic cuisine and vast choices for meateaters, vegetarians and vegans. Make sure when you visit that you ask about what Organic means. On one wall a breakfast bar is placed. On top of it glass bowls are filled to the brim with delicious extra add ons such as berries, syrup, whipped cream, nuts, and raisins. Most customers you will see in Portage Bay are families. This gives the restaurant a family oriented feel and makes you feel warm and welcomed. Back in the main area of the restaurant the first thing a customer may notice is the high ceilings. Raised above everyone’s heads is a racing shell. It extends the distance of the whole restaurant and is held by thick cords. If you watch customers you can see them glancing up at the boat from time to time. This especially attracts young kids because of its length and spot in the restaurant.

Portage Bay Café was started about 10 years ago by John and Amy Gunnar. It was the first restaurant they opened and is still family owned today. Until 4 weeks ago it was the only location. Now there is the second Portage Bay located in Eastlake. In 2001 Portage Bay began using organic products in their menu. It was so successful that they added more and their menu grew. Today they “offer a menu consisting of more than 80 percent organic, local or sustainable items”(John Gunnar).

Portage Bay is not only a local eating spot but also a hang out and a workspace. Depending on the day and the time you come you will see many different types of people. The weekends attract the families and the groups of college students. On weekdays it’s normally smaller groups of people and always business types. Business workers like the free wireless they can get and the space they can have to do a little extra work after their meal. When college students come in you know they have been saving up all week for this meal, because why the food is delicious it isn’t cheap. Families are attracted due to the large tables you can get and the big portions which you can share.

--Jen