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Green star 5 Point Cafe (Belltown)

415 Cedar St
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 448-9991
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The Five Point is inarguably one of Seattle's—indeed, the world's—best dive bars. The view from the urinal in the men's room is famous: a window into a janky kind of periscope, providing a startlingly close-up look at the top of the Space Needle. It serves as a brief reminder that the outdoors exists, which is easy to forget here. Foodwise, the floppy, salty fries have never seen the inside of a freezer, and if you like an old-school open-faced turkey sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes, you've come to the right place. It's diner food done right, open 24 hours: a civic treasure.
Categories: Bar, Restaurant

Restaurant Details


Bar Details

The Stranger's Reviews of 5 Point Cafe

 
 

Average Rating:
  • 3.65000/5 Stars.
Reviews/Comments (19) RSS

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19

I love dive bars, but....

Dive bars are great, but the rude service will make you never return. Unless you plan on becoming a regular and getting treated like shit until then, don't go here.
Posted by JA1184 on May 5, 2013 at 11:32 AM · Report
18

Terrible Service

The server was very rude and the food was terrible. Don't waste your time or money here.
Posted by JA1184 on May 5, 2013 at 11:29 AM · Report
17

Five Point Cafe doesn't deserve one point

I will never go back to this place. My group (5 people) went here for dinner while the snow was falling in Seattle and our work put us up in a hotel in the area. As soon as we sat down, the bartender (Derek) threw an attitude to us. He was pretty demanding as "happy hour" was ending in 7 minutes so we had better hurry up and order our drinks. I guess he didn't realize we were sitting there for almost 10 minutes already. He took our drink order and then disappeared for roughly 20 minutes.

He then came back and took our order. We got the mediocre food. My partner ordered the chicken fried chicken that wasn't even cooked through 75%. We couldn't say anything Derek because he was too busy behind the bar to come over to us. When someone asks for a side of ranch to go with their appetizer, you don't expect it to come with your dinner after the meal is almost over. The overall food was mediocre at the best, cold gravy and the meatloaf had hard crunchy things in it. Finally when he realized we were done eating, he brought us a check with everyone on one check. We asked if he could split it up for each person and that's where the trouble started.

He said that he could split the check if we would have told him at the beginning. Since we were on an expense account we had to have split checks. He again started with his bad attitude. I tried to explain what we needed to do and he then again repeated that if we would have told him in the beginning he could have done so. I told him that if we can get 5 copies of the receipt that will satisfy our expense reports and we would run each persons card on the one tab. he said that would be okay.

When we figured out how much each person was supposed to pay, he threw a huge attitude saying that's not what he was told and that we need to pay it all at once. I tried to explain to him what we were doing and he told me i need to lose my attitude. I wasn't giving attitude, just trying to explain. I've never been in a restaurant that couldn't split a check after the fact, even if it might be a little inconvenient for the staff. Having Derek say "I've never had to put up with bullsh*t like this IN MY LIFE" pretty much sums up our thoughts as well.

We finally just put it all on one card and left, hoping to figure out how to do expense reports after the fact.

Again, I will never go to this place ever again.

Just received a reply from the owner on the review on Yelp... the owner's reply is basically "Well I wish we could review the customers" meaning he thinks he was there when we were and actually has a problem with us. This just solidifies the kind of a-holes that work in and run this place.
More...
Posted by inthewaside on January 19, 2012 at 3:26 PM · Report
16

Black Sabath and Hot Turkey Sammies

So I've been a patron here at least once a month since 1995 when I moved to the SEA. The place was a little crazier back then as one time our waiter on the diner side jumped up on the counter top and rocked out to War Pigs by Sabbath when it came up on the juke box. My parents were visiting me at the time and it made a very nice impression. Great food, (wings burn baby) and the turkey noodle soup is a must for a hangover. Too few places like this left. We patrons should enshrine the joint as a historical landmark to make sure it never gets dozed for more stupid condo's.
Posted by Frieswitdat on May 20, 2011 at 10:20 AM · Report
15

My Brother's Hangout

I've only been to Seattle once. I was with my brother when we went out to collect the cremated remains of our other brother. He had lived near 5P on 4th until he shot himself on 8/1/09. Apparently this joint was his hang until they banned him about a year earlier. Drinks were good, stiff G&T's. We didn't eat although it was full of other people who were (it was brunch time). Staff friendly. I liked it. We were there in the afternoon, not sure I'd want to be there in the wee hours.
Posted by PCo on December 1, 2009 at 3:28 PM · Report
14

response to the "racial profiling review"

As a patron of this fine place for over ten years, your review is hilarious! We take all kinds, even silly people like you. Sounds like you are paranoid and perhaps on something too... perhaps too much self-righteousness. Viva the Five Point!
Posted by redhead70 on November 20, 2009 at 12:00 PM · Report
13

prepare to be judged at the register

Drink prices are on a sliding scale, of quality and price depending on how you look, how staff feels.
Posted by moses on November 11, 2009 at 8:32 AM · Report
12
i,love 5point cafe bar just as when i see evry body happy,and haveing fun,dance,and good museic,
Posted by dick on April 13, 2009 at 1:30 PM · Report
11

A lovely dive

I used to live across the street from the Five Point, for almost my whole "21st Year", and let me tell you, this place was a Godsend...great food, great prices, reeeeally stiff drinks, and sassy waitstaff. Anyone who's looking for a "classic" or "50's-style" diner should look elsewhere...this place is pure dive, but remains a shimmering star in the Belltown firmament.
Posted by Michaela on February 3, 2009 at 12:21 AM · Report
10
so my hubby and i park the car while my friend goes to get a table-we walk in big white guy trys to keep us from the "bar" side (i assume he's just racially profiling us-)and my friend is at a booth in the bar, he says theres no staff. the white guy jumps behind the bar cuz he's now the tender. sends the bevs out. then we watch as one by one the staff and/or regulars peeked into the mens room for six seconds each including a woman twice. perhaps i should not be concerned if a landmark feels comfortable with the truth that type of behavior suggests, but if there are both a men and ladies room, a man should not have to use the ladies room because the staff can't keep their habit off the clock. we scrapped our food order, paid and the larrge white guy ran to the front door and as my husband approached he said "yep!-he's on sumpin" then, to my husband- you have a nice evening" this is not the review i wanted to give and i don't wish to be inappropriate, but i stand by every word.
Posted by makin' bank on the left on October 11, 2008 at 5:15 AM · Report
9

Truck stop food is delicous

This place jams! I visit every time I am in Seattle, they have great beer on tap. Next time I am picking up one of their t shirts. Check the window above the urinal. Sorry girls.
Posted by greasesicle on August 13, 2008 at 11:30 AM · Report
8

Characters for Sure

I love the Five Point, because something great always happens there. Case in point: The other day, I was sitting there, eating some delicious tater tots, and a man who was sitting at the table next to me turns to his companion and says, "So, are you into Charles Manson?"
Posted by Ari Spool on June 20, 2008 at 5:10 PM · Report
7

PANCAKES!!!

I went here the other night, ready for some good ol' flapjacks - expecting something standard and unmemorable. Whoops - wrong place for that! These pancakes were fantastic! Best I remember having in Seattle. Crispy outside, perfectly fluffy inside, soaking up all the syrup I could throw at them... People walked by, for real, and said 'oh my god, I'm getting pancakes' after seeing my plate.
Posted by agwiv on September 5, 2007 at 10:35 AM · Report
6

No Nonsense

My fiance and I are here all the time. It's not trendy, it's not frou frou...just stiff drinks and the most amazing comfort food in Seattle! The prices are great and the staff is a treat as long as your good to them. A no nonesense spot - good food, good drinks, good times.
Posted by Belltown Shorty on August 23, 2007 at 1:17 PM · Report
5

Chicken Fried Steak Challenge

I've never had a bigger slab of chicken fried steak. That sucker hangs off the edges of your plate! I've attempted many times to finish that thing and, despite how greasily delicious, can't do it. Just think the Mecca with an expanded menu and even stiffer drinks. Hot Damn!
Posted by wellhungover on August 16, 2007 at 10:50 PM · Report
4

Just punch yourself in the face instead

If you're an alcoholic looking for drinks to cure the shakes, then maybe this is your type of place. However, if you actually want to drink something other than a mixer with rubbing alcohol, its probably not. Not to judge a place by 1 bad experience, but the worst bartender on earth works there. Some surly old jerk. If I were to walk in and see that asshole, I'd walk right the fuck out. *Maybe* the food is good, but why not go to a greasy dive where the bartenders arent total dickweeds? Hell, just go home and punch yourself in the face, drink some listerne, and eat your cats litter. Same experience for half the price!
Posted by Original Monique on July 20, 2007 at 3:27 PM · Report
3

Best Hangover Food EVER!

Oh man, how many times has the 5-Point Cafe saved my life on the morning after a night of too many drinks? The food is totally greasy, but that's the point, right? They have some of the killer-est omlettes ever. The staff is super friendly, they have a great selection of music in the jukebox, and fab (strong) drinks! This has got to be my favorite greasy-spoon place ever. Yummy! (Not a good place for a diet, though. Just take a walk to the waterfront afterwards!)
Posted by Sylvie on July 16, 2007 at 5:53 PM · Report
2

It's Like a Second Home!

These guys make a great burger and a killer Ruben. You wouldn't expect even kinds good food when you first walk in. But between the great food, atmosphere, hot tattooed wait staff, and stiff drinks this is one of my favorite places in town. Oh and tried the fried Mac and cheese. It's heaven on a plate!
Posted by GuitarSlingerB on July 15, 2007 at 11:15 AM · Report
1

But How Are Their Nachos?

If you're there, it ain't because yhou have a distrriminating palate, it's because you like stiff drinks or need greasy breakfasts to get you through that 4am blackout. These people probably make nachos at home I'm thinking.
Posted by Chambers McSween, Nacho Critic. on May 19, 2007 at 6:12 PM · Report

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