My experience at The Fat Hen was superb. The service was exceptional, and even when a mistake occurred with our order, the attentive staff promptly fixed it. I highly recommend trying their Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon – a culinary delight, and don't miss out on the must-try ricotta toast. The cozy ambiance, coupled with their excellent hot drinks, made it a breakfast to remember.
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Easily our favorite brunch spot in Seattle. Writing this review after having visited five times this year alone. A tad pricey ($30/pp) when all is done but totally worth it.
First the coffee, just that is an easy and refreshing 5/5. I get the drip, my wife gets the latte.
We usually get the cardamom buns or gluten free almond cookies with the coffee while we're waiting for the entree to be prepared and these are to die for. 5/5. I think it's also perfectly legal to bookend the meal with these almond cookies... one at the start with coffee, and one at the end (or to go!). There's a reason they call them cloud cookies - if you haven't tried them you simply must!
And the star of the show, for us, is the entree: one order of the Camicia for each of us, with an order of the roasted fingerling potatoes (5/5) for the table. The Camicia is kind of a variant of the shakshuka with not-so-spicy peppers, mozzarella and ricotta added to the tomato sauce, and served with just the right sized portion of crusty bread. This is a divine 5/5. It would be sinful to leave behind even a drop of that sauce behind on the plate - just wipe it down clean! So satisfying and soul-stirring.
20% tip is included. We're headed there again today :) can't get enough of it!
We came in on a Saturday morning for breakfast without reservations and had to wait about 45 minutes for a table - so I do recommend getting a reservation if possible.
We ordered a mimosa and a hibiscus rose tea (not loose leaf but Smith does do a very good job with their teas bags!) with a shakshuka and camicia. The skillets seem quite popular with everyone because everyone around us had also ordered the same thing as us. Everything was absolutely delicious - I especially really liked the shakshuka. The bread that it is served with was so fresh.
Service is attentive and friendly. Note that a 20% gratuity is automatically added to the bill, but the waitress did point it out when she brought the bill so we wouldn’t double tip them, which was nice of her.
I've been on a journey to find a good *smash burger*🍔 this year. Ballard has been lacking to say the least... But Fat Hen, they did. They actually made a VERY GOOD smash burger! Every part of it was perfect! Loved the seasonal Pistachio Mocha too!
First, I will start with the pros.
The food was amazing. Very amazing.
The cons, very very cramp. , felt like the people next to me where sitting at my own table. Definitely time to upgrade to a new location And hard to find parking .
Even still, we will return at a not so busy time
Neat little Cafe, great food and service, good for a chat or a catch up with friends.
Shakshuka did not disappoint. Comes with poached eggs and a baguette with excellent crust.
I'd highly recommend Fat Hen Fog as well. Very fragrant earl grey that washes down the spice from the Shakshuka very well.
10/10. Will be back. Reservations are definitely needed. Many people tried to get a table and the wait-list was over an hour. We had the alla boscaiola and the lobster Benedict. Both absolutely phenomenal. I had an iced Americano. Was good. Looks like they have lighthouse roasters for coffee. My girlfriend got the Nutella cold brew - she loved it. Loved that gratuity was already included. A bit pricey ($71 total) but totally worth it as a treat.
They don’t have an extensive menu with too many options, but the quality has never disappointed us. Great neighbor brunch place! It gets busy sometimes, but I wouldn’t wait for more than 30 mins just for the food ;)
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This amazingly little gem in ballard- phinney, tucked away in a neighborhood is my go to place for brunch. Best for small groups- ideally 2-3. 4 might take a wait. They do have online reservations for a limited number of tables. Walk ins are welcome and we have been lucky yo get a table within 10-30 mins most times. Highly recommend reservations.
Their baked eggs and shakshuka are the best! I usually get the ricotta toast with the seasonal jam and have always been happy with the flavors. They have a really short , thoughtful and high quality menu. Good coffee and amazing amazing freshly squeezed orange juice( must try).
Vegetarians have options too and all of them are good- ricotta toast, shakshuka, eggs benedict.
The service really stands out at this place. Been coming here for years and some familiar faces though we don't know anyone by name yet.
They check on you often , are super polite, offer taking early orders for coffee or drinks so that you can sip while you wait outside for a table and just overall kind!
If you have not tried this spot- its a must do. Worth the wait . Parking is a little hard to find and wait can be long on weekends.
Best breakfast is Seattle! If you’re in Ballard and want an exceptional breakfast head on over to the Fat Hen! Make sure you get a reservation though, chances of getting a walk in table are slim. The shakshuka was outstanding and hit the spot! Coffee was nice too. Small cozy little spot with a lot of character. Staff were also great. Will be back and will be back often!
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