The Place
I am going to conclude my Belle Brunch category with my final stop in Bellevue, Avenue Brew. Upon doing my research their all day breakfast menu caught my eye and decided I would give it a shot. This local spot opened due to the absence and request for a coffee shop by the younger locals.
Location
All of the wonderful spots I have reviewed in Bellevue are located on Fairfield Ave, right off 471, and plenty of free on street parking. Reservations not taken or needed.
Atmosphere
From the outside, Avenue Brew has your typical local coffee shop storefront and vibe. Glass storefront, chairs and tables outside, local flyers posted on the windows. This spot is super cute and has a lot of character. Upon entering the main entrance you are greeted by a coffee bar with pleasant smiling workers and a glass case with fresh pastries. Upon reading their website I learned the staff are referred to as the Brew Crew. All of the tables and chairs are mismatched and appear to be secondhand but it definitely works for this place. I even spotted what appeared to be a couple of throwback tables from T.G.I. Fridays which anyone who grew up in the 90's could appreciate. You definitely get the feel that this place has a local cult following. For my first time here, I had to figure out the logistics within the restaurant by observing and asking questions. The coffee bar menu is written on a big chalk board behind the cash register. I found laminated copies of the breakfast menu on a shelf in front of the register. They do not offer morning cocktails, so I opted for one of their many original coffee inspired drinks, Dawn's Peanut Butter Mocha Frappe. I sat myself down at a table when your coffee drink is ready they call out your drink name from the coffee bar. When your dish is ready a server comes out of the kitchen and calls your name and then brings it to the table. This to me was a little hectic. My frappe was amazing, I felt like I was drinking a Reese's Cup which is one of my favorite candies. I also read on their website that many of the dishes are named after local customers and the streets of Bellevue.
Order Up
Painter Mike
I must say, I was impressed with the menu items. The offer a full diner style kitchen menu which is impressive for a local coffee shop. You will not leave here hungry. I decided to go with the Painter Mike. I read on their website that many of the dishes are named after local customers which adds an extra layer of authenticity to this place. This dish consisted of a fluffy biscuit topped with crispy goetta, egg, and cheese covered with a homemade spicy sausage gravy. This truly felt like a treat. All ingredients had a great texture and the flavors blended together so well.
Overall Experience
The overall experience at Avenue Brew was great. This is a place where you need to manage your expectations before you arrive. If you are looking for a causal place to grab a an above average coffee drink and a hot breakfast on the fly, it makes for a nice option. I did feel like having your name called out for two separate orders and different sides of the restaurant (coffee & dish) was a little chaotic. Just a side not there are bins on the way out by the front door where you drop off your dishes after your meal. Does not bother me by the way.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Avenue Brew receives 3.5 stars. One star for Breakfast Cocktail (I rated my Frappe since no AM cocktails are offered), Plate, and Service. They received half a star for atmosphere due to the inconvenience of figuring out the logistics of the restaurant such as how to get your food and trying to figure out if someone clears your table or if you are responsible for clearing it. I will say this place was busy and now that I know the flow of the restaurant I would gladly eat here again.
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