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3 Squares

By Unknown Writer #5

Apr 04, 2001 -- Breakfast on Queen Anne Hill

Queen Anne Cafe is one of those places you find in period movies -- what you think of when you imagine the poster child of "American cafe." It is a simple eatery offering good food to throngs on enthusiastic locals. It is comfortable, and it is not "schticky."

On this morning, we had the waffles and the blueberry pancakes. Slather on the butter and pour on the syrup, and we were in carbohydrate heaven! We ate in a relaxed fashion, chatting, with no pressure to move on, as this breakfast pleasantly stuck to our ribs. We had to try the fresh squeezed OJ, and the homemade hash browns. It all was just right ... what you would hope for in an American breakfast--satisfaction and a comfortably full belly. By the way, Queen Anne Cafe serves lunch and dinner, too, and always has numerous daily specials.

Queen Anne Cafe, 2121 Queen Anne Ave. N, 285-2060.
Open Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 5 - 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m. - 3.p.m.

Lunch in Ballard

Penny Cafe's new owners reopened in January, with a full menu added to its previous selection of coffee beverages. Jeremy and Bill have collaborated to put together a simple and tasty menu, including a nice selection of sandwiches, a variety of homemade soups, various breakfast items, salads, sweets and daily specials. I had the half chicken salad with bacon sandwich with a cup of roasted pepper and Italian white bean soup. I always appreciate it when a cafe can make an old standard sandwich as satisfying as you remember it from childhood. Too often places try too hard. And Bill clearly knows his way around soup! I am just sorry I came too late to try their renowned chicken noodle. I did, however, save room for a hot fudge brownie with fresh whipped cream for dessert. Yum! Vegetarians will find comfort here. Ask which of the day's fresh items are vegan. And one very cool feature of Penny Cafe is its weekend late night hours. Grab a tasty morsel after the Ballard night spots close, or on your way home from downtown!

Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 784-6426.
Open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., late night Thursday - Saturday 10 p.m. - 4 a.m.

Dinner in Roanoke

Looking for that special dining room full of velvet paintings? Want to eat under the watchful eyes of Father Guido Sarducci? In need of a good plate of pasta, but don't have a lot of cash? Spaghetti Red's is the place for you!

We had the Mix & Match Penne with Fiery Red Sauce, the Veggie Lasagna with 3 sauces and the Gnocchi (didn't Limp Bizkit do a song about gnocchi?). It was all quite good. We really liked the sauce for the gnocchi, and the Fiery Red had a nice bite to it, but it was the 3 sauces on the lasagna which impressed us the most. Not only were they tasty, but they were laid out in the form of an Italian flag. We pondered just how much red wine was necessary for the kitchen staff to figure that one out. Dessert outperformed the main course, and Red's makes its desserts right there. We had the incredibly intense chocolate cake, which reminded us of the unadulterated childhood birthday party classic, and the tiramisu, which was among the best we've encountered locally. Spaghetti Red's has a full bar and cozy little dining rooms. It will begin experimenting with lunch service on weekends beginning in mid-April.

Spaghetti Red's, 2355 1/2 10th Ave. E, 709-8744.
Open Sunday - Thursday 5 - 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 5 - 11 p.m.

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