UPDATE: This place is closed. Sorry!

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Blue Onion Bistro (University District)

5801 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 729-0579

Categories: Restaurant

Restaurant Details

  • This former gas station has been converted into a cozy home-style bistro where just a few bucks can get you a fully satisfying bistro-style lunch of soup, salad, and a sandwich. All-American dinners get jazzed up with quality ingredients (duck breast with maple-sausage glaze, salmon fish sticks, mac 'n' cheese made with blue cheese), while staying in the moderate price range. Weekend brunches are exactly as they should be—reassuring and hearty, and served well into the afternoon.
  • Features: Breakfast/Brunch and Outdoor Seating
  • Cuisine: New American
  • Serving Hours: Breakfast Sat-Sun 8 am-2 pm; lunch Tues-Fri 11 am-2 pm; dinner Tues-Thurs 5-8 pm, Fri-Sat 5 pm-9 pm Sun 5-8 pm. Closed Mondays.
  • Price Range: $$

The Stranger's Reviews of Blue Onion Bistro

 
 

Average Rating:
  • 2.08000/5 Stars.
Reviews/Comments (20) RSS

Newest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a review of Blue Onion Bistro
20
I was SO disappointed by the BOB! I have always wanted to go and have heard great things about the place, BUT when we went for brunch we had a horrible experience. We were greeted by a hung-over hostess/cook who looked like he had not showered in a few weeks. Then our server arrived frazzled from her first day on the job...and it only got better...the food: First, they were out of every kind of alcohol, save for two small glasses of white wine, that came served in dirty glasses. Now, I am not talking a smudges, fingerprints and such. I am talking fur around the rim, hair floating in the wine and lipstick markings. We asked for a change up in glasses and the second one came back the same. Second, I found not one, but two delectable hairs in my hash browns and my partner found a few in his. We left feeling dirty and hungry!
Posted by junior on June 6, 2009 at 11:25 AM · Report
19
Wow, reviews here and elsewhere are all over the place. I had dinner there last night with a friend and we would highly recommend it. We did hesitate to walk in because it was empty except for one other couple. We had what they were having, on their recommendation: the Fat Man's Chicken in sweet chili sauce, with mashed potatoes. It was so huge we were sure we'd have leftovers but we couldn't stop eating. The coating was a crisp panko-like crust and not at all greasy, and the sauce, with a nice kick of heat, was a fine accompaniment. The meat was moist and tender. The potatoes were like homemade - very nice. There was also a small side of slaw, which I enjoyed but my friend was lukewarm about.

The bathroom was spotless and the server was absolutely friendly and efficient. I didn't catch her name but she was very warm and made us feel most welcome. She checked back often to see if we needed anyhthing.

As we left, we spotted the cook outside getting some air, and he asked us how everything was. Both of them seemed to genuinely care that we'd enjoyed our experience, and both urged us to come back and bring our friends (I'm sure they are suffering, with so many poor reviews out and about.)

Maybe the owners and employees have taken some of these bad reviews to heart. The vibe, the people, and the food were all excellent.
Posted by Tabs on May 1, 2009 at 4:17 PM · Report
18

  • 1/5 Stars.

DIRTY FILTH

When they first took over (Roy & Corra) and started there own menu, It was very good (comfort food).
The fixed up the gas station turned into cafe, it was nice the nostalgia was great, Roy Lightner owner, has old toys on the walls and around the floors
the kids liked to play with them.

Well what happened Roy Corra The place is trashy now, dry your selves up.. your ruining it, the food is nasty, its dirty, you have ingrates working there. Its turning into a dive, A place I will never ever go into again...Roy your a drunk with Corra following closely behind..

PAY YOUR F------ BILLS YOU LOOSERS

ROOSEVELT WAY SEATTLE
Posted by THE EX on April 27, 2009 at 3:01 PM · Report
17

Not Worth Your Time or Money

I stopped by this place for a date after hearing from a friend that it was good. I was sorely disappointed. The restaurant itself seemed dirty, the menu was boring, the food seemed overpriced, and when my food came out it was lukewarm and greasy. I was hoping for classic comfort food done right, but ended up with food that reminded me of a tv-dinner. My date's dish seemed to be okay, but he hasn't suggested we go back.
Posted by unimpressed on March 26, 2009 at 8:50 PM · Report
16

dirty place trashy wait help, alcoholic cook

I was driving by and thought what kind of a cute little hole in the wall, I took my book in with me and ordered a glass of wine that took forever I think the wait person had a few to many of those glasses of wine because I had to ask 3 times before he remembered to serve mine to me. It was a slow day for me I was in really no big hurry so the wait for the glass of wine was ok

By the time I had to ask for the third time and with no patience I was than starting to get hungry, I asked for a menu which came about the same time my glass of wine came I was not finding the wait staff to amusing, nor the cook by this time. I felt i had wasted a good half hour of my life I could not even think of what I had just read I was very irritated, HOW IN THE HELL DID THIS PLACE STAY IN F______ BUSINESS, I waited another half hour for someone to come and take my order, OK I WAS DONE BY THAN, it was not a quaint place, it was dirty, bathrooms stunk, ad the cook looked to have had 10 to many nips of the old whiskey barrel. Needless to say I will not EVER be going back to that place again it was a good waste of my life, I am very very disappointed.
Posted by TABITHA on March 11, 2009 at 3:07 PM · Report
15

not bad, if it was in the middle of no where

This food and the prices reminded me of living on the carribean. Food that's not that great, but priced like it is. I'm glad I tried it out, but I won't be going back.
Posted by Grace on December 7, 2008 at 10:02 PM · Report
14 Comment Pulled
13

Twice satisfied

I have had both breakfast and dinner and was more than satisfied with both. I will admit that it has been about 4 months since my last visit but could things really have changed so much? The waiters were always a little on the slow side but things always seemed ship shape to me. I wuld recommend the salads and the mac and cheese is great.
Posted by g wholesome on November 7, 2008 at 3:11 PM · Report
12 Comment Pulled
11 Comment Pulled
10

DISGUSTED

Stopped in for breakfast like many times before, The food is great. I went to the bathroom, I had to wait as someone was in there. the door opened and this awful smell permeated out the door filling the hall and dining area, I felt embarrassed for the person, It was the cook I stepped into the bathroom holding my breath I noticed He had not washed his hands sink was dry, no wet paper towel. I was disgusted I went back to the dining room told my wife that we were not staying. We left, We will not be dining there again. He may have washed up in the kitchen I do not know But to leave the bathroom touching the door knob is just wrong.
Posted by disgusted on August 21, 2008 at 7:40 AM · Report
9 Comment Pulled
8

I HAVE HEARD

The reviews I have read, the ads on the radio of how good the food was, Comfort food? should make you feel all nice and warm and cozy inside, too comfort you. I thought I would try this what sounds like a wonderful restaurant. I have to say I was NOT impressed, the service was horrible, the meal I ordered was not what I thought it should taste like, My mouth was watering at the thought of what I had ordered, what was brought to me lacked any kind of taste, and it was not all that warm. Whom wrote all these wonderful reviews? the owner? I will not return to this hole in the wall dive. The bathrooms were filthy, the carpet in the dining area was the kitchen floor was disgustingly dirty. This place needs a health inspection. the wait service needs to learn customer service.
Posted by NOT IMPRESSED on July 15, 2008 at 9:02 AM · Report
7

BREAKFAST

breakfast Saturday morning. my wife and I were driving by and thought this restaurant to be quaint looking from the outside. so we parked and went in.. my wife loved the toys that surrounded us, she commented several times in remembrance of her child hood. we sat and enjoyed the atmosphere. Took a bit for breakfast, but this was fine by us, It must be good we remarked. IT WAS AWFUL, It was cold, we had to ask for refills, they were not offered to us. If the cook did not look half crocked, our meal may have been brought out to us whilst it was warm, I think he forgot to tell our waitress it was ready. We were not very impressed with our first breakfast at this place, BUT we shall try it again in the future, maybe dinner will be better.
Posted by Breakfast on June 4, 2008 at 3:24 PM · Report
6

dirty

the food may be good, everything that I saw on the tables around me looked very appetizing, but as filthy as the kitchen looked, and as dirty and smelly as the bathroom was, I had a very hard time eating what I ordered, I feel a health inspection should be done to this restaurant. I hope that there are no rats.
Posted by dirty floors on June 3, 2008 at 9:49 AM · Report
5

Yummy

I've mostly eaten here for brunch and it has always been delicious. They have some of the best eggs benedict I have ever had. The owner is super nice, and always remembers us when me and my boyfriend go in there. They are a little slow on the refills but other than that, the staff has always been nice to us. I had the mac n cheese once for dinner, complete with the hotdogs (it's actually kosher sausage) and it was some of the best M&C I've ever had.
Posted by D on April 24, 2008 at 4:04 PM · Report
4 Comment Pulled
3

Specials

The Blue Onion never fails to put a smile on my face...been going for a long time now and the specials keep on changing and from what I've tasted, the BEST! Thanks BOB!
Posted by JohnnyK on August 5, 2007 at 5:47 PM · Report
2

Rude Servive Uncooked Food

On my second visit to visit to Blue Onion, I was horrified to receive an undercooked, running, watery omelet. Just atrocious! I was very disappointed and could not eat any of the meal. The waiter paid very little attention to me and I had to wait about 15 minutes for a coffee refill...they were not even busy. I commented that the meal was not as good as the one I had before and that I could not eat any of it. Instead of an apology, I received a full price bill with a cold stare. I paid my bill leaving no tip. Sadly, I wanted to give them a second chance, so I invited a couple friends to have breakfast with me there. While waiting to be served, a worker came out, loudly abused me verbally for not leaving a tip on my last visit, even conceding that their food is not always good!!! Wasn't it enough that I came back? Was it really necessary she conduct herself like that? I always thought a tip was voluntary and based on quality of the meal and service. My friends were surprised they remembered me and thought they were being racist...I really don't want to believe that. But you never know…
Posted by Sophia on June 11, 2007 at 3:39 PM · Report
1

Comforting

I strongly recommend getting the tangy bleu macaroni and cheese. With some wine. You will leave with leftovers and a cheesy smile. This is a great place to take your mom.
Posted by Katelyn on May 18, 2007 at 12:35 PM · Report

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