Green star Cafe Racer (University District)

5828 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 523-5282
Website

Cafe Racer is a hodgepodge of mismatched furniture, weird stuff on shelves, and, of course, the OBAMA (Official Bad Art Museum of Art). Here are some clean-cut college types drinking beer, here is a lady with poppy-red lipstick and a big fur hat claiming your drink is her own in a friendly but insistent manner, here is the fiddle player from the band sneaking potato chips off an abandoned plate. The menu is simple, with Racer Dogs being the clear favorite. Of note in menu verbiage: "We take pride in the fact that we are a friendly place... If you want your food in 30 seconds, go to McDonald's. If you don't want anyone to talk to you, go to Starbucks." It's true: The food takes a while, and people will talk to you. Also: strange and generally wonderful live music several nights a week. Cafe Racer is an embodiment of the triumph of the human spirit. Cafe Racer equals love.
Categories: Bar, Cafe
« Back to location details

Map

 
 

Average Rating:
  • 4.27000/5 Stars.
Reviews/Comments (14) RSS

Newest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a review of Cafe Racer
14

The bestest bar in town!!

Cafe Racer is like the house in high school where the family had a million kids and all their friends would be coming and going all the time. The Cafe attracts people of all ages and interests and if you sit at the bar you are automatically a part of every conversation. Kurt and the staff are like a big crazy sarcastic funny sweet family (which should explain the box kicking and swearing mentioned below) and will treat you like a part of that family too. You just need to relax and succumb to their charms.
Posted by Ilovewonderwieners on December 23, 2009 at 7:01 PM · Report
13

shocking

three of my co-workers and I went in a few weeks ago after work hearing all the raves of the place when out the blue came in some fat old grey haired man delivering food items...he began to kick to kick boxes in their back room and cussing loudly...referring to the inadequacies of the employees in the place...we couldn't leave fast enough.
Posted by katiep on November 14, 2009 at 10:42 AM · Report
12
Three of us went there and the hostess was rude, especially when we asked for vegetarian breakfast choices. The place is dirty and creeepy and there was no attempt to get us to stay. Never been treated so badly in any Seattle eatery.
Posted by mm on April 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM · Report
11

It is what it is and I love what that is!

Perfect, friendly neighborhood joint with creative staffing, tasty food, and strong drinks. Love the weekend brunches (and Kurt's homemade hash!). My only regret is that it is not in my neighborhood. That's incredibly disappointing since I would be here on a fairly daily basis if that were the case. I may have to petition for a Cafe Racer II on the other side of the city.
Posted by electricke on April 6, 2009 at 10:16 AM · Report
10

If Nora is cooking, get anything with cheese on it. She cooks the cheese so it melts out the sides of the quesadilla, sandwich, etc. to a delicious crisp. The gardenburgers are awesome. They let dogs in!!! What else could you want?
Posted by jen on April 6, 2009 at 9:58 AM · Report
9
A great mix of folk go through The Racer. Curt, the owner is there most of the time. Ask him about Monkeys. This a place where I can feel at home just hanging out, where everyone is chill. I've seen some great music as well. The room of bad art rocks too. Enough said, I think I should head over there now, it's Friday. cheers, Dewey
Posted by d.d. on April 3, 2009 at 6:32 PM · Report
8

A wonderfully friendly place with a laidback, arty vibe, good drinks, and great acoustic music several nights a week.
Posted by Apu on April 2, 2009 at 11:43 PM · Report
7

Nothing but nice!

I haven't felt so comfortable in a place since I left home this morning! Good food, reasonable prices, Wi-fi and an eclectic clientelle, artists, musicians, writers, motorcyclists, scooterists...oh and great music at night..wow if I knew I could bring my dog..I wouldn't have to ever leave.
Posted by minglee on March 11, 2009 at 12:55 PM · Report
6
Too expensive.
Posted by Tittle Tat on December 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM · Report
5

This place kicks ass! Check out the OBAMA.

OBAMA stands for Official Bad Art Museum of ART. Some of the best bad art you'll ever lay your eyes on.
Great food, great drinks. No jocks or assholes like many places in the U-district. Lots of artist and musicians hang there. It's really cool.
Posted by Kutis on November 26, 2008 at 12:36 PM · Report
4

Hash!

This place has the best Corned Beef Hash I have ever had. It's made with big chunks of lean beef, beautifully browned potatoes,peppers and onions, all fried up with scrambled or eggs-over-easy. Delicious and an excellent price value too. MMmm good!
Posted by Missy on October 18, 2008 at 1:29 AM · Report
3

Yummy brunch!

Cafe Racer has yet another secret....week-end brunch....and it's tasty!While the week-end motto seems to be "slow food cooked by a slow man" it's definately worth the wait! Plus the saucy waitress will throw down a couple of tasty donuts (grata) from Larsen's in Ballard to stave off your hunger and make you a mean bloodymary to stave off Friday night.
Posted by MotorCity23 on July 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM · Report
2

Love the Beer AND the Art!

What a great secret little joint! It won't stay secret for long at this rate. Quirky, fun, eclectic, and cheap. Fud tastes good. Happy hour is stellar. The varying art on the walls is always interesting. If'n yer in the U District/Ravenna area, you really should go here rather than one of those scary youthful joints!
Posted by ElectrickE on May 14, 2008 at 3:24 PM · Report
1

Nice little neighborhood joint!

Cafe Racer is a comfy little establishment where you can wet your whistle as well as fill your belly. Despite it's small size, the cafe has a respectable selection of beer on tap as well as cocktails. In his diminutive kitchen, owner Kurt whips up some very tasty and unique 'pub grub' offerings. A personal favourite for me are the wonderful grilled hot dogs slathered with Kurt's own homemade chili. Service can be a teensy bit slow when it's busy, but when you got only two people working the whole establishment, give 'em a break; the food's well worth it. Cafe Racer also supports neighbourhood groups and artists, so it's well worth your while to give Starbucks a pass and return the favour. Oh yes, and they have Wi-Fi too!
Posted by VespaBob on December 24, 2007 at 6:32 AM · Report

Add a review


Click the stars.

Optional

Cafe Racer
Nearby and Recommended

Wayward Cafe (Cafe)
University District 5253 University Way NE    phone (206) 524-0204
  • 4.50000/5 Stars.
 (based on 18 reader reviews)
Agua Verde Cafe and Paddle Club (Bar, Restaurant)
University District 1303 NE Boat St    phone (206) 545-8570
  • 3.45000/5 Stars.
 (based on 31 reader reviews)
Big Time Brewery & Alehouse (Bar, Restaurant)
University District 4133 University Way NE    phone (206) 545-4509
  • 4.11000/5 Stars.
 (based on 9 reader reviews)
Queen Mary Tea Room (Cafe, Restaurant)
University District 2912 NE 55th St    phone (206) 527-2770
  • 4.00000/5 Stars.
 (based on 1 review)
Sureshot Cafe (Cafe, Restaurant)
University District 4505 University Ave NE    phone 632-3100
  • 1.00000/5 Stars.
 (based on 1 review)
Full Tilt Ice Cream (Cafe, Restaurant)
University District 4759 Brooklyn Ave NE    phone (206) 524-4406
  • 3.50000/5 Stars.
 (based on 2 reader reviews)

Are we missing something?

Need to correct our info about Cafe Racer?

!Add or Edit
Location

The Stranger Suggests

Critics' Best Bets
Music Arts & Food