Hello,

Visiting our daughter in Seattle, in the Capitol Hill area. We wish to invite a couple to Sunday brunch - we see them once or twice a year when we come to town. Looking for "nice casual", price range up to $20 or so per person, maybe interesting decor, prefer no buffets. Homestyle or diner cooking could be fun.

Your suggestion will be greatly appreciated. SusanEva

I like Galleria's on Broadway for Sunday brunch. It definitely has an interesting decor! More fun and funky, not fancy. Starters are served buffet style (usually fresh and baked fruits, baked good, sometimes yogurt and granola) then from a Mexican-influenced menu you pick a hot entree. Price is $7.25.

Cafe Flora (vegetarian) is a popular brunch spot down Madison.

Coastal Kitchen on 15th Ave East is very popular and kind of 'diner' cooking. There's a new place same street called 22 Doors which features weekend brunch but it just opened and I don't know anyone who's tried it yet.

Thanks for the ideas, Suze. They all sound like interesting places. Should give us some good choices.

SusanEva

Hopefully others will chime in with more suggestions too... Surely there are more options, but I tend to return to the places I like again and again.

Outside the box, but how about dim sum in the International District? Our fave is House of Hong on Jackson, but there are a number of others. Most are open and serving by 10 on Sundays.

Note that most decent places in Seattle that do breakfasts are slammed on Sunday, and virtually none of them take reservations, so be prepared to wait if you go.

I think Galleria's is an excellent idea if Mexican food works for your party. Flora is also good if a tad pricey; OTOH their "cheese grits" are a splendid alternative to breakfast potatoes. However, their beignets are obviously made by someone who's never been to Cafe du Monde IMO.

The Coastal Kitchen is, indeed, a popular place for brunch; it attracts crowds that hang out on the street for hours waiting for a table.

The exciting new place is Crave (http://www.cravefood.com). They take reservations for dinner, but not for brunch.

El Greco, on Broadway, serves a brunch that attracts crowds waiting on the street.

The Broadway Grill and Deluxe (both on Broadway) are popular with locals. I prefer the neighboorhood-bar-diner atmosphere of Deluxe.

If you are willing to drive a few miles, Chinook, Bell Street Diner, and Roy's Cafe all have waterside settings and serve brunch within the price range you specify.

It's true people line up for Coastal Kitchen, although I doubt any party waits for hours (plural). It's a big restaurant so there is relative reasonable turnover of tables. Or go very early or at the tail end of hours of service (is the only time I'll go there honestly).

I'm guessing 22 Doors will be taking up the slack once word gets out.

The problem (if you can call it that) with Crave is that has only a few tables, it's a teeny tiny space.

Another Seattle classic is Julia's--also on Broadway.

If I were treating for brunch and were willing to wait in line for a table, I would go for Crave or El Greco. If I wanted to be ultra-casual and not wait in line, I would treat at Deluxe. If I wanted something a little more festive, I would take my party to Chinook with its big windows looking out on fishing boats.