Rant – Charleston Cafe

[smikes]

I’ve lived in WS for the past 12 years. I had always meant to check out the Charleston Cafe, as I had heard reasonable things about it. This past Sunday is the first and last time I will ever visit that restaurant.

In short, the control-freak seating people (who I was told by an employee is the owner) was rude to me and to a few other customers, I witnessed. If I hadn’t made prior plans (along with all the driving-directions drama) to meet some non-WS friends there, I would have turned around and walked out. I’m still irritated that I didn’t, especially since the breakfast was extremely average…

[dawsonct]

Take a Denny’s, privatize it, and raise the prices about 20%, and you have Charlestown Cafe, although they DO have okay clam chowder.

[WesCAddle]

They are very mediocre no doubt. But “driving-directions drama”? Really? If someone has trouble navigating to Charleston Cafe I really feel for them.

The best breakfast cafe in West Seattle (IMHO) was Admiral Cafe. Now it’s a Bank of America.

[JanS]

Wes..loved Admiral Cafe. Yummy breakfasts for not a lot of money. One of the tellers who works there finds it ironic that he used to eat breakfast where he now works.

[dawsonct]

Second that WesC. I used to go there frequently with friends who lived in the area before I wised up and moved here myself. I recall being absolutely crestfallen when I moved back here about 3 years ago and found it closed. I hadn’t heard anything about it closing; what a shock. I miss those big Admiral Cafe breakfasts. I’m kind of hoping the people taking over the Benbow will take those reigns. I like Easy St. (a bit overpriced), and Be’s is acceptable for the bare basics, but nothing over here right now fills the gap like A.C. did.

[ws4ever]

Just returned from eating a breakfast burrito at Endolyne Joes: Yummy and $5.00. Huge serving. Did I say it was great? They had 5 breakfast specials, each for $5.00!

[DaveB]

Extremely average pretty much sums up my opinion of Charlestown Cafe; I really wanted to like it more because it’s such an institution in the area. I didn’t live in WS early enough to experience the Admiral Cafe, sounds like I missed a winner. Circa, Easy Street, Fresh Bistro, and Spring Hill all have good breakfast offerings (with quite a range of prices/offerings amongst them, but good service all around).

[CMP]

I ate at the Admiral Cafe one time and I think my (ex) boyfriend and I were the youngest people in there by at least 40 years. I don’t remember the food being all that fabulous and wasn’t sad to see it turned into a Bank of America. I haven’t eaten at Charlestown Cafe but might have to give it a try after reading these comments…you never know until you give it a try.

[maplesyrup]

The Admiral Cafe had these really nice elderly ladies running the joint. Food was pretty good and reasonable too.

Haven’t been to the Charlestown Cafe in years, mainly because the last few times we went the service was unbearably slow.

[dawsonct]

The point of the Admiral was not “fabulous” food, it was big, hearty meat and potato and egg breakfasts after a night of over-libating or before a big day of yard-work or running off to the mountains for a hike. Nothing remotely elegant, but always perfectly serviceable, non-ironic diner food. I miss it.

–

And CMP, spending a few minutes of your day in the presence of a few old coots is hardly a privation.

[dawsonct]

By the way WSBloggers, does anyone know WHY the Admiral Cafe closed down? Did their bank revoke their line of credit? And which bank was it?

–

A conspiracy waiting to be uncovered!

[bsmomma]

I agree that The Charlestown is just ok. WAY over priced. I want to say it’s over 10 bucks for the Hawaian Bread french toast. And it’s dry. Really? I’d actually prefer Denny’s over them anyday. Jaks is a bit pricey BUT so worth it! Does anyone remember the California Ave. Cafe? I think they had the best omlets! Wasn’t the Admiral Cafe Websters prior? With all the choices we have for a good breakfast, I think the Chelan is great! There Irish Omlet is yummy. B’s is great for good cheap food.

[JenV]

Before it was the Admiral Way Cafe, it was Mr. Ed’s.

[KBear]

By the way, it’s “CharlesTOWN Cafe”. “CharlesTON” is a place no self-respecting Seattleite should be spending their money.

[swimcat]

Hmmm, I have yet to find the perfect breakfast place in Seattle, much less all of Seattle. I really like the food at Geraldine’s Counter and it would be perfect if it was a buck or two less for an entree (and even closer to WS!).

Easy Street is good because it has low prices- definitely get what I pay for.

JaK’s used to be good- has anyone else noticed the quality/service has gone down in the last couple of years or is it just me???? And prices went up. They have a decent brunch menu though and think the prices for it are reasonable.

[Veteran Wisdom]

I know it’s not in West Seattle but I really enjoy the breakfast at Smarty Pants in Georgetown! Large portions and heavy handed pouring for my Irish coffee is a winner in my book…

[cathyw]

Yes, it is the CharlesTOWN Cafe and pronounced that way. Also, the CharlesTOWN Cafe is located on CharlesTOWN Street. But that, for some unexplainable reason, is pronounced CharlesTON. Very confusing for a newcomer. I was corrected many times. “It’s pronounced CharlesTON, NOT, CharlesTOWN.” I guess it is a quirk of the neighborhood. You just have to live here a while. :)

[Diana]

Chelan Cafe is my favorite and only. The food is average but some specials can be quite good and all priced just fine. The wait staff are adults and work their buns off. It’s a working class place and if you are alone, even on a busy Sunday, you can get a seat at the counter and have a conversation with a neighbor. It’s always clean and a super plus for me…no mismanaged screaming children to annoy you!

[cjboffoli]

m: I second you on Geraldine’s Counter

KBear: What do you have a against Charleston? That’s my hometown and it is a lovely city if you’ve never been.

[flowerpetal]

What happened to all of the Charlestown Cafe fans who moaned when the restaurant was closed for several months? And, OP, you did not tell us what the result of taking your complaint to the management was. That’s a rule in posting a rant.

I have friends who live on Charlestown, and that’s how they say it. Never have I heard it pronounced Charleston.

Lastly, speaking of Charleston. I’m not sure what self-respecting Seattlelite has to do with not spending any money in Charleston (I presume S.C.)

[flowerpetal]

I wondered when you were going to chime in Christopher. I came to Seattle (and I am now a self-respecting Seattlelite) from down the road from Charleston… in Beaufort S.C.

[Cait]

OK – first of all – no one’s gonna speak up on behalf of the Charlestown?!?!? (Restaurant and street both pronounced CharlesTON in my experience.) It’s mediocre, the waitresses don’t bother you and it’s generally friendly. I think they’re so busy half the time that they’d rather just serve you half-happily instead of kissing butt and ignoring other tables (especially weekends and mornings!) I don’t understand why everyone LOVES Easy Street by the way – as if it isn’t lower quality food. I like the ambiance – the food is meh and the help is not that great. I’ve never been flat out IGNORED for over 45 minutes at the Charlestown before… happened to be twice at Easy Street. Not going back.

I think people expect over the top service these days – it’s really ONLY their job to take your order, serve your food and fill your water. That’s all you should expect and the point of anything else is to make you feel special – but no one ever does any more because we EXPECT a smile along with all of our other implicit and explicit demands. Anything you get on top of mediocre is icing on the cake and deserves a tip, but no one sees it that way anymore. I just can’t understand how perfectly normal, courteous people turn expectant and entitled the second someone presents them with a menu.

Case in point – anyone thinking that Jak’s has in any way gone downhill. They are always over the top with service and the food is fantastic. You pay for it, but you get impeccable service. Those waiters know every single wine, every dish, every dessert and they’re always so knowledgeable and friendly.

Now Charlestown prices ARE a little steep – but they also use a lot of fresh seafood which is pricey and there are very few dishes that don’t involve fresh, seasonal fruit which can be pricey too.

It’s a West Seattle institution… I think that if they’re skating by a little it’s because they’re so busy they don’t NEED to tip-grovel. I guess that changes the restaurant power structure a bit, huh? Lol. It isn’t going to keep people from going there and it sure won’t stop me.

And I’d also like to know who at the Charlestown you filed a complaint with since you did post a rant…

[smikes]

OK, for all you people who wanted to know if I filed a complaint at the Charlestown. No, I did not. If you want to know why, please read on…

I entered the place thinking my two friends may have already arrived. Being it was my first visit, I had no idea they had a ‘all in your party must be present to be seated’ policy. I spoke with an employee of the restaurant, and told him I was meeting some people who may have already arrived. He invited me to have a look, so I turned to scan the south side of the place and when I turned around to have a look at the north side of the restaurant, an older guy was practically standing on top of me, asking how many in my party, I started to tell him, and thought I could save us both some time by telling him I had already spoken to an employee, which I gestured towards. He snaps at me, “Yahhh, I know. I’M THE GUY. How many in your party?”

‘Three’, I tell him, ‘but they may already be here…’.

‘NO, they’re not’, he cuts me off,’HAVE a seat’ and uses my personal space against me to back me into the waiting area, which I was ohhh, about 2 feet from.

Not, ‘Please have a seat and wait, as all in your party must be present before we seat you’.

I didn’t come in with an attitude, the employee I initially spoke to was friendly, and we spoke cordially again, twice, before I left.

While waiting for my friends, I heard him ask people if their entire party was present, if not he snapped at a few ‘You’ll be seated after everyone is here’.

I’m on board with the policy, it doesn’t have to be so rudely delivered.

An older m&w couple came in, who answered ‘two’, when asked. The older guy motioned, and started walking. They started to follow, not quickly, not slowly and he snapped ‘Come on!’. It wasn’t delivered as a joke. While I waited for my friends, I stood where I wasn’t in the way, and even opened the door for few people who came in and I thought could use the assist. The older guy told me twice to ‘Have a seat’ or ‘sit down’. Was I glaring a bit, by this time – you bet.

While waiting, I again encountered the young employee who I first made contact with when coming into the restaurant. I asked him who is the older guy? Host? Owner? ‘Owner’ was the answer, and I commented “I don’t need anymore of him”, to which the employee smirked, and nodded his head in agreement.

It was in that moment, I decided I would not be returning to the Charlestown. No need to speak to someone in charge. The person in charge was speaking volumes with his actions. The lackluster, slightly overpriced breakfast was just the cherry on my Sunday (yes, Sunday, not Sundae).

I found the three members of the staff I encountered (other than the owner) hardworking, friendly, and personable.

Now, I wasn’t going to waste my time voicing my opinion with the owner. I’d seen enough, and had formed my opinion.

For what’s it’s worth, my friend who waited with me while we waited for our other friend, was watching him, and agreed he was brusque with some of the customers, perhaps not all.

[bluebird]

It should be expected to receive mediocre customer service? I don’t think so. Don’t know of any business that thrives on that model besides the DMV.

I gave Charlestown two tries. Not worth a third.

[OlMom]

I believe the rules of posting a rant are that you must of contacted the management and let them try to rectify the situation. You chose to take no further steps on your own which is your right but it still does not follow the rules of posting a rant. I do find it a little bit odd that someone would live here 12 years before going there.

[Author]

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