Loki Cafe

So I was going for b’fast last week with Pops and he suggested this place… I was like eh. OK…
I’m on a health kick right now and was looking over the menu and thought OH… this cant be good for me, but it all looked SO DAMN GOOD!!!
I didn’t realize it was more mexican style. My Lil brother ordered the Huevos Rancheros, which came in this trough and looked to die for…
My Pops ordered something else (which I cant remember and looked amazing)… Me I went for the Fresh Fruit, Granola and yogurt bowl. Woo Hoo… It was quite amazing. About 6 – 8 different fresh fruits. Strawberries, bananas, kiwis, mango, peaches, grapes, raisins and I think a few more…
It was a nice quaint little place which I would love to go back and check out again. Service was GREAT, Food was GREAT…
Will definitely return when the time is right…

The food is very good. I have been here twice and have been happy with my food both times.
The restaurant isn’t as popular as it could be because it is WAY overpriced. A $ 9 chop salad is the size of a tiny side salad at any other restaurant. It was shockingly small. I could have ordered a larger size, but for $ 9 on the entrée side of the menu I expected a meal out of it. NO WAY! It wasn’t even close. I am a lean, 20 something year old, and ended up going to Taco Time afterwards to get dinner after spending nearly $ 20 at Loki (house red wine, chop salad, tip).
I mentioned the small size of the salad to the waitress and she only offered to bring me a menu so I could order something else. I am sure if I had I would have loved the food but I just didn’t want to spend another dime.
Am I cheap? Maybe. But I love eating out and do it most days of the week. I live in Wallingford and very much want Loki to be one of my «regulars.» However, Loki is the only place in Wallingford that I feel like I I am spending too much. If you are going to spend good money go to Tilth and get a bigger salad for the same price!
Bottom line — food great but overpriced.

Passing through Wallingford and we needed some grub. Figured we’d try something new (as I never even noticed this place before.)
The décor is strange, it had 3 different vibes, I guess it was going for a bistro/​diner with some random décor, counter seating and bar seating on one side.
Everything was o.k. and had nice service.
I had a Salmon Burger on some yummy bun? and sweet potatoe fries. My husbands salad was just o.k. For the prices you pay I think the food was just very average tasting, nothing that really stood out.
I heard they have brunch, I guess I should try that.
One good note is they appear to have a ½ priced bottle wine night and the wine list appeared reasonable, so that would be a great deal if you order bottle wine with dinner. say before catching a movie across the street perhaps? :)

My companion loved the bourbon waffle and wasabi bloody mary and I’m sure he’d rate Loki at least four stars, but I thought it was just eh. The bourbon waffle definitely tasted interesting, but I can’t say I found it delicious. It was too weirdly sickly sweet and salty at the same time. I felt like I needed to gulp 3 cups of water after a bite of it. Waffles are not at all intended to be health food, but it was so heavy and drenched in syrup that it lay like a lump in my stomach.
I had the huevos rancheros. They weren’t bad, they just didn’t stand out in my mind as being overly special either. Service was good. I haven’t been to the space since it was reincarnated and they really haven’t done anything with the décor. (I posted a picture so you can see what I mean.) They were playing some pretty terrible music (bad 80s-​90s pop).
This has already been commented on by several reviewers, but I too felt that $ 2.50 for my drip coffee was too much.
I wouldn’t necessarily avoid this place if I happened to live nearby, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit it either.

Despite a hair in my eggs (two, actually) the food was good, the waitstaff friendly and nice and the coffee from Vita. Good stuff. I’d relate it to something similar to the «standard» Chow Foods experience with friendlier and faster staff.

Treasure in Wallingford.
We stopped in after a movie at the Guild and were pleasantly surprised by every item. Including the *incredible* chocolate mousse with bits of firm choclate mixed in like, like glitter at every level. (Have one, you’ll see what I mean. Totally rich enough to share).
So many choices from spicy gauc buger with sweet potato fries to yummy oven roasted chicken with garlic mashers to grilled salmon.
And the wine was inexpensive and good. The service is attentive (sometimes a little too attentive, but I’d rather have that than the reverse). I will definitely be going back.

Sweet potato fry
Bite firm against me
Crunch down You
Plate full of love

The Family and I went in expecting an average Lunch/​Dinner and got much more. I was really impressed with the quality of each dish. Here is some of what we ordered.
Caesar Salad — Dressing was just what you would want (tangy, not watery, flavorful) Romain was crisp.
Gumbo — Flavorful (but not overly spicy), perfect consistency and great mix of ingredients.
Chicken strips (kids meal) — real chicken, Panko crusted, not overly cooked.
The service was friendly and quick.
In short — worth the drive from Redmond (even at 5pm on a Friday)

BREAKFAST:
If you’re looking for a great spot to nose into your book and eat a phenomenal breakfast on a lazy weekend morning while enjoying the bustle of the neighborhood — find yourself a barstool and plant yourself at the Loki. The selection & variety is crazy good. But then I like food. I like people. I like when food and people are approachable and dimensional. So I had a great experience here.
LUNCH:
no comment, haven’t done it at Loki.
DINNER:
again, that experience hasn’t yet been mine.
DRINKS:
hey, you can’t beat the happy hour snacks & drink pricing if you’re in Wallingford during that magical traffic time otherwise called «Happy Hour.» So chill, it’s a neighborhood spot. Cozy up with a pal and have a nice conversation in one of those nice booths in the bar. Appreciate that there’s a spot like this in Wallingford, folks.

After seeing a movie at the Guild the other weekend I was hungry so my movie partner and I decided to walk down 45^th to find something to eat. Being an odd time on a Sunday not much was open but Loki Café was so we decided to check them out. Plus I saw they had mac n cheese on their menu so I figured why not. Happy hour had just started; ½ priced tasty tidbits, though none of them looked tasty to us, $ 3.OO house red and white wine, $ 2.50 draft beer and $ 3.00 wells. I went for a Manny’s my movie partner went for a glass of the house white, we were both satisfied.
I decided the mac n cheese was what I was going to have; my movie partner went for the burger and upgraded to sweet potatoes fries at my begging. The food was better than I expected, to be honest for some reason I had really low expectations for this place, only because it was pretty dead inside. The mac n cheese was cheesy and smoking heat hot but very tasty, I loved the toasted bread crumbs with parmesan on top and the sweet potatoes fries were delish, flavorful and firm, not soggy like some. We both cleaned our plates and we both noticed on the menu they had a bread pudding, a Blueberry Bread Pudding With bourbon caramel sauce to be exact and decided to try it. The outside edges were good but once we got to the inside it was still a little cold, it could have been heated a little longer but it was ok not nearly as good as Chinook’s but it worked for that Sunday.
The service was interesting, one of our servers was covered in some sort of animal hair, she had a black shirt one with white hairs all over it, kind of unappealing if you ask me but she was barely around so it wasn’t so bad. The other two people who brought our food and kept our water glassed filled were lacking in the animal hair which was nice. I think I’d rather check out some of the other places on 45^th before I go back to Loki but if I’m there at 4pm on a Sunday looking to eat I know Loki will have something to satisfy me.

My boyfriend and I showed up on a Saturday afternoon to check out this new place. We live close by and were very fond of The Jitterbug Café, until it was replaced by Ebb & Flow (which was a complete disappointment), so we were curious to see if the Loki Café was as good as our beloved Jitterbug, since it was now in its place. The menu looked good and it was cozy inside, so we had high hopes — especially since the prices were so high. (Nearly $ 10 for scrambled eggs and hash browns!) Our pancakes were thick and heavy, not light and fluffy, so that was a little sad. The scramble was overwhelmed with goat cheese (and my boyfriend loves him some goat cheese) and my Eggs Benedict left something to be desired — I’d had much better, but I’d also had worse. Then the waitress came over and told us a very long-​winded story about how goat cheese gave her very bad breath and she couldn’t eat it while she was working… only add gestures, dramatic reenactments, loud laughter, and interrupt my boyfriend and I having a pleasant conversation in order to put on your show, and that’s what it was like.
When we finished and got our check, we discovered that the coffee refills were not free refills. GASP! That’s right, folks — each time they offer to refill your coffee mug, they’re adding another $ 2.50 to your tab. Nasty practice, in my personal opinion. Then when she brought our change back she conveniently «forgot» a dollar. Poor math skills? Or poor business? You decide. We certainly won’t eat here again.

My five stars are based on their breakfast selection. I’ve gone three times so far, and have had an overall great experience. For just under ten bucks, go with the meridian street breakfast. You get eggs your way, bacon (or ham, or sausage, or hot links… watch out, the hot links are spicy) pancakes, and a side of toast.
The real highlight for me was the syrup. I’m from New England, and I knew immediately that they serve the real stuff that comes from maple trees… not the aunt jemima crap that comes from corn.
My service has been great all three times, although I had to summon the owner to get my coffee refilled last time. I’m glad I did, because I got a chance to chat him up and wish him well. He’s a nice guy and he’s got a good vision for the Loki café.
I recommend this place for a quick bite, and definitely for breakfast. It ain’t fine dining, and it’s not trying to be. It’s just good food worth eating, served in a terrific location. Yum.

I think I wanted this place to blow me away and it just didn’t. Now first things first, service here is some of the BEST in the city and for that I would come back. But the food…
My friend got the Biscuits and Gravy and that was pretty darn good. My only suggestions would be a saucier gravy and crispier hash browns.
I ordered the yogurt and granola and the Bourbon St. Waffle. The former was exactly what it was, but I would recommend they get a fresher granola or better yet… make it in house… it is super easy to do and would make a much tastier meal.
The waffle for me was just too intense. I had a hard time focusing on the pieces of bacon, because the bourbon sauce was soo sweet. Also, the plantains were virtually unrecognizable because they were super fried and smothered in sauce.
On a Seattle standard the coffee was just ok, but fine for a diner.
All in all, Loki is a decent breakfast stop, but I am definitely moving on in my quest to find the best…

Just moved to Seattle from L.A. and had seen an add for Loki Café in The Seattle Weekly; the ad featured the Burbon Street Waffles and I just KNEW I had to check the place out.
Went there for lunch today with a friend — I had the BBQ burger with sweet potato fries and she had the pork sandwich — both were *delicious*. Can’t wait to go for breakfast and finally get a taste of the Burbon Street waffles and bacon.

The Bourbon street waffle was the best combination of sweet and savory that I’ve had almost anywhere, let alone in a waffle. The cajun salmon burger was very juicy and healthy tasting, and still full of flavor. The sandwich came with french fries (of which we tried half regular, half sweet potato), and a pickle. I also had a bowl of fruit on the side and a cup of coffee. Everything was very good, the service was excellent, and the prices were very reasonable as well. It’s just too bad there weren’t more people in there on a sunny sunday.
Edit: after eating at The Dish in Ballard, I had to adjust Loki to 4 stars: The Dish is definitely a 5 star.

This place was great. I tried the Bourbon Street Waffles with out Bacon and it was a-​frickin-​mazing. I also tried the Cajun Salmon Burger which was juicy and very tasty! The service was great and the place is sort of a art deco diner. The service was out standing as well.
The only thing holding me back from giving them a perfect score is that my own bias on not liking diner food that much.

I’m normally a Señor Moose man, but this time we decided to check out the new Loki Café that’s opened up in the former Jitterbug location on 45^th Street. The crowds haven’t discovered this place yet, which is great for getting a table if not so great for their bottom line. Still, it was nice to go to brunch and get instant seating and personal service.
I had heard about the Bourbon Street Waffles and decided to order those. Whereas the bacon waffles at the Blue Star are nothing to write home about, Loki’s take on this magical combination is great. Not only did I get bacon, but the waffle was also topped with walnuts, plantains, and bourbon maple syrup. The end result struck a delicious balance between sweet and savory My roommate was as big a fan of his Southwest Scramble as our waitress — unlike most servers who claim you’ve just ordered the best item on the menu, she actually seemed to mean it.
Culturally, the menu is all over the place, but it’s not so much «let’s see what happens if we add salsa to French toast» as it is «these are things that are delicious and should therefore be on our menu». Prices for breakfast are great, with most things hitting the $ 8-​$ 9 sweet spot, but I have to take issue with charging a whole $ 2.50 for coffee.
Loki Café is a place that deserves your brunch dollar. The food is good, the service is friendly, and the choices are broad without feeling stretched thin.

Loki Café is open for business, although I don’t think they’ve had their official grand opening. They should… they’re ready! The place is great.
My husband and I stopped in for a late breakfast and had two great meals. We started with an order of hummus, which was by far the best hummus in all of Seattle. It was actually part of a salad, but we asked to get a bowl as a starter. The wait staff quickly abliged and we were so glad they did. Yum! I ordered an omlette and my husband ordered a burger. Both were cooked to perfection.
It was a great experience, with fresh food, friendly service and reasonable prices. We can’t wait to go back to Loki.

I miss this place all the time! I’m constantly craving chiliaquilles… mine just never are as good as Mike’s. I hope that Mike has had a chance to see how much people loved Loki and how much joy it brought people. Miss yah!
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This place is beyond the nummy boundaries and pushes into yummy! I recommend the Sante Fe Chicken Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries and Chipotle Ranch dressing and a big glass of Strawberry Lemonade… to start. I’ve never been to a diner where more people recognize me after one visit and actually remember my name, it’s like Cheers without Beers…
The owner is a sweetheart and has always been welcoming each time I’ve come in. The best part was that when I went they were trying out different options for the menu because they are still so new and they had each of the customers there try it to give him their opinions. He actually wanted to hear them. So many cooks want you to boast about how great the food is, but he really wanted to hear our concerns which was pretty cool. I’ve never had that experience before.
Oh! And I really love the bacon. I bought my boyfriend the Bourbon Street Waffle and there was bacon on top, I had to sneak as many bites as I could, before he shooed me off his plate.
A definite find! Try it!
I went again recently to Loki with my dad who tried something that was off the menu from his personal request. The chef was great and made my dad salmon egg benedict. It was superb! I had ChiliAquilles (I’ve perhaps butchered the name) however this is my absolute favorite breakfast in Seattle. I heard that they opened for dinner so, I’m hoping that they serve breakfast at night so I can get my fix! ChilliAquiles is a plate full of tortilla chips smothered in chili verde sauce with a fried egg on top and I dose it with a bit more hot sauce because I’m crazy like that, but it’s incredible and about the only dish in Seattle I can finish single-​handedly. Kudos Loki Café and keep doing what you do, I’ll come back every time!!!

Farewell, Loki. We’ll miss you.
Loki Café just opened in the heart of Wallingford in the space that has housed the Beeliner Diner, Jitterbug and Ebb n’ Flow. They currently only serve lunch and breakfast but plan to open for dinner in ’08. The staff is friendly, enthusiastic and eager to please. The menu offers a broad range of breakfast fare (egg, pancakes, waffles, etc.) and the lunch menu has sandwiches and salads. I tried out a BBQ pork sandwich which was good. The burgers and sandwiches come with fries with an option for sweet potato fries for a dollar or two more. I opted for the sweet potato and was very glad I did. Sandwiches also come with a very excellent, crisp dill pickle. Not the usual limp, yucky ones. My friend had a veggie burger with fries that was also good. When she ordered it the waitress mentioned that some of the staff members have been getting them with blue cheese dressing and it was good so my friend tried that and liked it.
My only complaint is a very small one. My sandwich came on a plate with fries and a pickle. There was nothing else on the plate, no garnish, no cole slaw or anything to make it look more attractive or make the plate look less empty. They could work more on the presentation.
My favorite thing was my iced tea. It was served in a HUGE glass and the waitress made sure it was always full. I love that.
I’m looking forward to trying them opening for dinner.
Edited to add on ½/​08:
I tried them a little over a week ago for breakfast and it was very good. The staff doesn’t quite have it’s rhythm down yet and I have the same minor quibble as I did for lunch – the presentation needs work.