Chica’s Cafe & Catering

I was so happy to find this place when I came to Olympia for college in 2007. They have kept me very well fed, for sure.
I remember my first visit; I got the chicken and oregano sandwich; perfectly crusty bread, melted cheese, cranberry ‘slaw,’ which I usually hate, but this stuff was amazing – all in the perfect portion size, i.e. I was satiated but not overly full. Our waiter was friendly and punctual. The seating is cute. I never heard anyone yelling from the kitchen.
My very favorite sandwich is the Gaucho Beef Dip; perfectly seasoned beef with au jous and melted provolone (?) cheese. It’s also the stock for the French onion soup, which I have always enjoyed on my many visits.
My only complaint is that they don’t stay open later! I’m usually in school for their open hours and it’s a rare treat when I have a day off and can eat there. They do serve dinner on Friday nights, however; I’ve had the seafood ‘crêpe’ and it was quite tasty.
This is truly the perfect lunch destination in downtown Oly when you want a secluded spot and delicious vittles.

I’ve been here a couple times and both times I liked it. It now has a Pizza place connected to iot called Underground Pizza. We sat in the restaurant of Chicas. (You can also sit in the pizza area and get the same menu). I ordered French Onion Soup and a pizza. The soup wasn’t to bad. They pizza was actually very good. I would like to go back and do the Tapas menu. Go try this place. Very welcoming.

I really wish there was a way to have reviews updated or taken off when a place switches staff or changes the menu especially when it’s a marked improvement. For example, Chica’s has undergone and will continue to undergo changes, all for the better, and as such it could use a clean slate on here. They shouldn’t have a two star review from over a year ago; only reviews that are pertinent to the current incarnation of the restaurant.
I’m partial to this place, but I’m sure you’ll think I’m just biased by the fact that a friend of mine works here, and is probably the wait staff who brought Steve H. the tea for his cold. The current chef is amazing, and was recently pulled over from the Urban Onion where I had basically become a regular because the food was so good. Despite knowing the staff, though, I can objectively say that the service and the food are both superb.
They’re doing brunch from 9 – 3 on Saturdays and Sundays. I came in last Saturday and had the tri-​tip scramble which was absolutely delicious. My favorite part of the meal was probably the portioning; it was just enough food to fill me up, but not so much that I felt like I was going to burst.
Thursday nights they have tapas and half price wine. Today being a Thursday and all, I know where I’m going for dinner.
The fact is that the people who work here actually care about the food and service they provide which is something that is very rare these days and needs to be supported.

Well, it’s a cute place, and the waiter had good personality. But it’s got some problems.
Food problems: the cappuccino was terrible. The french onion soup looked perfect but it was so salty, almost too salty to enjoy.
Service problems: I ordered a cup of soup, but the waiter brought a bowl (and tried to charge me for a bowl on the check).
Also, I ordered lunch and dessert at the same time. Dessert never came; I thought the waiter had forgotten all about it. After 45 minutes, when every one of the 12 people I was with was done eating and had declined two separate invitations to order dessert, Mr. Waiter comes over and asks if I am «ready» for him to bring my dessert out.
Sometimes it’s better just to own up to the fact that you forgot about something, than to pretend you made a mistake on purpose.
Semi-​charming atmosphere, decent prices, but a typically sub-​par Olympia dining experience.