Seattle, Washington 98112
(206) 328-3155
A good lunch is an elusive thing for me. I’ve always loved breakfast and dinner, but I could care less about lunch. Volunteer Park Café and Marketplace just might be the thing to make me change my mind.
I showed up on a sunny, almost-warm day late in the afternoon. The outside reminds me of someone’s porch, homey and worn-in, while the space inside is light and airy and relaxed. Children sat eating after-school treats with their parents and 20-somethings drank coffee in the late afternoon sun. I ordered a caprese panini ($6.25) and slid into a corner window booth with a book because pulling out my computer just didn’t seem appropriate. The panini was perfectly done. Crispy on the outside with a moist, melty and tasty interior and it came with a little pickle on the side. Volunteer Park Café also serves breakfast everyday of the week, except Monday. Breakfast items include things like brie and apple or nutella paninis, waffles and quiche. Later in the day some of their offerings are amazing panini's, matzo ball chicken soup, interesting salads and, at the top of my next-thing-to-try list, seasonal pot pies. Eventually, their plan is to expand their hours and have meals to-go.
The word "Marketplace" in thier title indicates the selection of wine they have for sale. They deal with local and botique producers so you may just find something here that you can't pick up at Safeway. The café hasn't been open long, but I haven't heard of anyone not loving it so far. Their use of fresh, local ingredients seems to hit the Seattle/ Capitol Hill crowd just right. Mix that with their homey environment and I think the Volunteer Park Café could be open for years to come. I spent a leisurely hour eating and reading, leaving just before they closed, already planning my next late afternoon lunch in the café.
