3 Squares

By Unknown Writer #5

14 Carrot Cafe (2305 Eastlake Ave, 324-1442) has always been synonymous with great breakfasts. On our most recent visit there, it proved no different. 14 Carrot Cafe has a fine breakfast menu in and of itself, but it also relies heavily on what is fresh and seasonal, and the enormous daily specials menu is the result. Thus, one can always be assured of something different at each visit.

We visit a lot of breakfast joints in pursuit of writing this column, and truly standout places are always refreshing. But more important to us this time was finding a break from eggs, and 14 Carrot Cafe accommodated us with ease. On this visit we enjoyed French Toast, made with wonderful thick slices of sourdough bread. It was a yummy change of pace from grilled chicken ova. We also tried out the bowl of oatmeal, with brown sugar, milk, raisins, cashews, and blueberries on the side for toppings. Good stuff it was, and it stuck with us through the day. Of course, a side of grilled potatoes was a necessity, and 14 Carrot's spuds are quite possibly the best we have encountered in some time. Lightly grilled and tasty. The specials were creative and interesting, and we only resisted them due to eggshaustion.

14 Carrot is open daily, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Lunch in Ballard

Nestled in the heart of Ballard's industrial district, The Bit Tavern (4818 17th Ave. NW, 782-1680) caters well to the blue collar workers who abound here. Best known for its years of serving up cold pints of Rainier or Henry's over a game of pool, The Bit now offers the local hard-hat crowd a good lunch at a fair price in a friendly atmosphere.

The kitchen, which is currently only open for lunch, offers up a fairly simple menu, including halibut & chips, a double bacon cheeseburger, an open-faced steak sandwich, and even red beans and rice. This menu, I discovered to my pleasure, was not printed anywhere, but was recited to me by The Bit's chef, who on this day directed me to the day's special--the chicken fajita wrap--which he told me was quite tasty. And it was. The other thing about the invisible menu is that everything costs $5.95. No brain strain here! The Bit plans to add a Steak Night soon, and it has applied for a full liquor license. Keep in mind that it is a tavern, so you have to be 21.

Kitchen open for lunch daily, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday noon - 4 p.m.; tavern, with a limited snacking menu, open late.

Dinner in University Village

There is fine dining north of the Ship Canal. And with the holiday season coming, we thought we should take you to one such fine dining establishment. The Union Bay Cafe (3513 NE 45th St, 527-8364) has been serving up excellent meals for some years now. Not too long ago it moved half a block to a new building, and it is now adorned with the kind of great Northwest glass work and art you are used to seeing in chic Belltown restaurants.

The menu features a diverse selection, including duck, rabbit, venison, ahi, free-range chicken and even ostrich. On our recent visit we ordered the ahi and the ostrich. Both were tender, delicate, and delicious. All meals are presented beautifully and are fresh, and the salads are excellent. Save room for dessert, as Union Bay Cafe offers a terrific selection of tasty sweets to cap off a fine meal.

Union Bay Cafe is just the ticket for a romantic evening or a fine holiday dinner out, and it is very close to Husky Stadium, too, for a relaxing post-game meal while you wait out traffic. Expect to spend between $25 and $45 total per person, depending on how far you want to take the experience. You will get you money's worth.

The Union Bay Cafe is open for dinner Tuesday - Saturday from 5 - 10 p.m., Sunday from 4:30 - 9 p.m. Reservations recommended.

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