This nice & clean cafe is open late.
Service is fast and friendly, food is well portioned and tasty.
I got the pot roast dinner. The mashed potatoes were the real star. Buttery, delicious, thick, homemade goodness!
Hubby got the club sandwich. Comes with a choice of soup, salad or fries. He got fires and there was a TON.
This place is worth checking out! :-)
Awesome service and tasty food! Â The meals are huge and very flavorful. Â The grilled veges and crispy seasoned fries are out of this world. Â The hamburger steak, fish and chips, and chicken fried steak were all delicious, and we had to take home the leftovers. Â We will go here again if we come by this way again for sure!
Review Source:Solid American and Italian food, but nothing special
This is one of the few sit-down restaurants in Cle Elum that can handle a group of sweaty hikers, as well as locals just in for an evening meal. Â We've been again and again, largely because it's both dependable and fairly reasonable. Â But it's not a destination.
The food is fine, but nothing to get excited about.
We were not the only people without cowboy hats on a Sunday evening, but pretty close to it.
There's a certain kind of diner I prefer. People think diners=bad food because of too many late nights in Denny's, I guess, but my kind of diner has every comfort food you can imagine, cooked like your grandmother did. Breakfast is served all day, and the bacon is perfect without even asking for it crispy. This place exemplifies the food and atmosphere I grew up on.
Get the hot chocolate. And try the cornbread.
I've stopped here countless times because it's convenient. Don't kid yourself into thinking this is going to be a high-class experience. It's truck stop food in "easy thru-access" Cle Elum. But the coffee's strong, the eggs are greasy, and the slices of pie are enormous. This place is a bright spot on the road for weary travelers.
Review Source:This place saved my groups stomachs!
We had been driving over the pass and starving but we hit North Bend around 9-10pm, right when everything was closing so when we got to Cle Elum, we were so excited to find a place that stays open late.
On top of the awesome hours, was the excellent food. The french toast breakfast I had was delicious and my boyfriend loved the cheese fries.
We were so happy to find such a late night gem in Cle Elum!
tl:dr Solid diner. Probably the best in Cle Elum.
We were headed out to Camp Wahoo in the Wenatchee Forest and stopped off here before heading out to Beverly Campground. Not much to eat once you get past town, and we were hungry anyway.
Our server was great; she was our age, relaxed, friendly. She didn't give any attitude about the gluten-free request, nor about the 4-year old's pickiness about the type of sausage they serve. She also humored him by having the chef make teeny-tiny pancakes instead of giant ones, and the chef amused himself by stacking them up. Nice.
The corned-beef hash was good and they served it with country/home fries instead of hash browns -- thanks, I hate that shreddy mess. Eggs were cooked right, sodas were refilled quickly, and the restrooms were clean.
We did not win on pull-tabs but if that's the only disappointment, we will get over it.
Some places get more stars in Cle Elum, but if you ask around, all the locals say the hands-down favorite is Cottage Cafe. You're smart if you don't let the simple decor and old-school diner attitude put you off. Good cheap eats!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Â A MUST stop if you are driving in Cle Elum, WA.
We were on the road and looking for a delicious breakfast spot, we looked at our Next Exit Guide for help and we exited #85 and BAM! Â We found the Cottage Cage. Â We didn't know what to expect but as we walked in we loved the quaint home kitchen atmosphere we sat down and everything on the menu looked amazing. Â Our server Ann was FABULOUS! Â We order and get our meals - each one was delightfully tasty. Â We enjoyed every bite, the price was oh so reasonable. Put this on your travel list of to do's you won't be disappointed!
Not the first time we've stopped at Cottage Cafe but it will be the LAST. Â Previously, it had been so-so but we were tired and hungry...we both had their Turkey Dinner. Â We asked the waitress if they roasted their own turkey there and she said "yeah". Â I've had better, and thicker sliced deli meat than what came out on the plate! Â The turkey, what there was of it, was clearly deli meat from a package. Â The small scoop of runny, instant potatoes were cold as well as the veggies which must have been all the left over veggies from the weekend - all mixed together...including a couple of things that tasted like pineapple. Â I mean really? Â Overcooked broc, carrots, gr beans, pearl onions and pineapple???
The topper was the MASS of stuffing on the plate! Â If you took away all of the stuffing, you could put the entire meal on a small saucer. Â It's insulting to have them serve an ENTIRE plate of "filler" stuffing (very bland and dry) instead of what the meal is represented to be.
This was the worst eating experience we have EVER had . Â YUK...double YUK.
Me and the boyfriend and his buddy stopped here at around 11pm on the way back from Oregon. We were starving and we were so stoked that they were open till midnight. Let me start out by saying the service was awesome! The boys really wanted biscuits and gravy but they had a terrible experience somewhere else a few days before, so they were hesitant. Our waitress overheard our conversation and brought them out a little sample plate of their biscuits and gravy! We were blown away but how great her service was, the guys loved their samples, and they both ordered big helpings with a side of pancakes. I ordered fish and chips. I wasn't thrilled with the fish (I'm picky though) but the fries were ahmazzingg... Seriously, best fries I've had in ages. I also tasted the pancakes and they were delicious! The portions were huge too, and the prices were excellent. I would give this place 5 stars but I woke up in the middle of the night puking (gross I know, and potentially caused by something other than the fish but who knows..) So bottom line is: Great food, awesome service, good prices. Just don't order fish and chips.
Review Source:Great stop if headed over the pass and want a hearty breakfast.  Quick and friendly service.  Place has a casual diner feel, slightly truck stop / Denny's-ish.  We ordered 2 omlettes, the Bacon & Jack,  and the Taco.  Both were Yummy! Came with a huge portion of hashbrowns and toast or English muffin.  Omlette prices were &10.99 and $11.99.  Service was quick  Overall we would stop again for sure!
Review Source:After Reading some of the other reviews here, I can't believe we are talking about the same establishment! My girlfriend and I stopped here for lunch on a Saturday heading back from Eastern WA. The service was absolutely horrendous! It was about 1:30pm and the place was busy, but not slammed busy. We sat at our table for 15min before we ever even received a menu. the waitresses (there were two) buzzed around us to several of the other tables, who were obviously locals ( the waitstaff seemed to know them by name) Chit chatting with them and completely ignoring us and two other tables of folks. When we finally received our menus, it was another 15 minutes before our waitress came back to take our order, and we both felt like she kind of copped an attitude towards you if you weren't a local. The food also took a rather long time to get to us and was rather overpriced for what you get and was nothing to write home about. Lunch prices averaged about $10-12. The servers would come out with coffee, refilling the cups of all the locals and ignoring us who were just passing through.
We could actually feel the negativity from the servers (it literally was that bad). We were very polite and gave the staff no reason to mistreat us and were really surprised at the attitude we were getting.
Our server's attitude was so bad, that we spoke to the manager about her, (after paying our bill, cuz we didn't want her to think we were just trying to get a freebie) Â who was very, understanding and apologetic about it, but even so that doesn't excuse the terrible service and treatment we were given at this establishment. We will NOT BE BACK Â anytime soon, if ever, and would advise anyone who is not from Cle Elum to do the same. You could not PAY ME to go back to this establishment and if the owner had a lick of sense, they would fire the complete waitstaff. This is just my opinion and I hope that your experience turns out much better than ours if you decide to stop here, but I know we won't be going back.
Stopped here based on word of mouth while passing by on a recent road trip. This place was very busy (around lunch time on a Friday), but for OUR breakfast, food seemed worth the wait.
Their Eggs Benedict was better than I had expected, for the place being so busy and everyone running around like chickens in a barnyard. I expected the food to be slapped together, but it was prepared and presented well. The hash browns were browned just right. Friendly staff bringing refills of delicious Florida Orange Juice while we awaited our meals.
Nothing spectacular, but if you want food that resembles a home-cooked meal, and satisfies your hunger (for food), and aren't looking to satisfy your hunger for atmosphere and ambiance, this is not a bad choice.
We were staying at Suncadia and wanted to skip the overpriced food available there. So thanks to yelp we tried this place.
We were not disappointed. I had the french dip which I loved. My husband had a hamburger which was so large he said "I'm going to be here with this for awhile". He loved it! Don't misunderstand - this is a truck stop type of place with no frills whatsoever. The cook and the wait staff chat together about whatnot and one can easily tell that they don't have time for tourists. But the food is fabulous and the price is right.
This place is the best, and was one of the highlights of our vacation. Â The staff is super friendly, reasonable prices, and the small town/laid back atmosphere is too much fun (and they play 90s country music, i.e All My Exes Live in Texas, type stuff which was really enjoyable and a trip back in time). Â
We were staying at Suncadia and decided to ditch their overpriced and stuffy restaurant for this place. Â We had dinner there Saturday night and liked it so much that we went back Sunday for breakfast. Â The place was packed! Â It is obvious that it is a favorite of the locals. Â BEST FRENCH TOAST AND PANCAKES I'VE EVER HAD!!! Â My husband had the Prospector's Breakfast and he practically liked his plate clean. Â
Do yourself a favor and stop here. Â And order a slice a pie! Â We had the Banana Cream Saturday night and it was AWESOME!! Â We also especially liked their fries.
Stopped there with a couple of friends to see if The Cottage still made the fine biscuits and gravy I had enjoyed 5 or more years ago. Â After my buildup, everyone wanted the biscuits and gravy. Â We were all very hungry after working all day on a job in Ellensburg. Â The servings were huge, covering the plates. Unfortunately the food was something of a joke. Â The gravy was tasteless, containing flecks of something that we presumed to be the sausage mentioned by the waitress. No one ate more than half the order, and what we ate was only because we were so hungry. Â We all had desserts and they were as big a letdown as the biscuits and gravy. Â My coconut cream pie was thick and filled with pieces of coconut but there was almost no coconut flavor. Â One friend ordered pecan pie ala mode and commented that it seemed to be put together with "the cheapest of ingredients" and contained almost no actual pecans. Â The other friend ordered a rhubarb pie of some kind, ala mode, and worked his way through it with expressions of dismay. Â It was a real disappointment and for me an embarrassment. Â Great place, I suppose, if you want big servings of fatty and flavorless food.
Review Source:Time for a down-grade. Â I've been back twice, and neither visit matched my first. Â Today I had a french dip, which the waitress said was very good. Â
No, it's not very good.  I would characterize it as very bad.  Too small, too cafeteria, very salty au jus. My husband said his potato skins appeared to be literally "just the skin" with too much cheese & sour cream.  My son liked  his pesto pasta, but I found it bland.  My daughter was "so-so" about her wings, but my son-in-law seemed quite find of his chicken-fried steak.
Firstly, I'm not a huge fan of homestyle stuff, but this place's location at the junction of I-90 and 97 is convenient. Â I've been here twice and had a burger once and made the mistake of getting a Fettuccine Alfredo the most recent time. Â I knew it would have too much and too heavy sauce, but I wanted noodles. Â I ended up eating some of the remains of my sister's veggie omelet which would've been a much better choice.
Review Source:Solid old-fashioned breakfast shop. I wish we had one of these around us somewhere. It's a little bit of nostalgia for me.
Apple crisp was fabulous, basic, and CHEAP.
Omelets were large and fair-priced. Not amazing, but good.
Service was super friendly.
The truckers and farmers give you a good welcome-to-town stranger stare down when you come in. :)
After a long, hot day hiking, the Cottage Cafe was a good spot to refuel and unwind. Â They've got a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and home-style entrees (meatloaf, turkey & mashed potatoes, etc...). Â They have a full bar on the premises and a couple locally brewed beers on tap. Â The service was fast and friendly and the prices are more than reasonable.
I had their "Cottage burger," which came with some crisp, hickory-flavored bacon and a thick slice of cheddar. Â I had been fantasizing about this burger on my trip down the mountain and it delivered in spades. Â The burgers come with a choice of soup, salad or fries--which were crispy and delicious. Â My companeros also enjoyed their chop salad, deluxe burger and the cheeseburger soup (yeah, soup: cheese and ground beef soup. Â It sounds gross to me, looked like a heart attack waiting to happen, but is reportedly very yummy). Â I enjoyed a pint of the Roslyn dark lager (which reminded me of a tasty porter). Â Next time I'll try the Fireside amber.
I want to rate the Cottage Cafe more than three stars, but I'm afraid I have to ding them for a couple things. Â I felt the atmosphere was kind of lacking--it felt like a typical roadside family diner and seemed a little dirty (there was a bunch of litter under our table). Â Also, we ordered a plate of nachos and received a plate of room-temperature tortilla chips drizzled with cheese sauce.
All-in-all, a solid place to stop and fill your belly. Â I'll probably visit again sometime, but there are a few other places in town I'd like to try first.
I'll echo everyone else's opinion: Cottage Cafe is solid down-home cooking. Â It's best to stick with the breakfast menu--hard to mess up. Â We've also had success with the Club sandwich and I enjoyed some surprisingly tasty fish & chips.
Service is friendly, welcoming, and fast and they offer free soda refills and coloring stuff for the kids.
Hurray for the Cottage Cafe!
This is always a nice place to stop for a late breakfast when driving east. You have made it over the pass and away from most traffic, time for a tasty meal to fuel you for the long boring drive across the state. It's also very handy when coming west and the traffic is super backed up (any holiday weekend, basically). They cater to travelers and are open 24 hours.
The waitresses have always been very nice every time I've eaten here, and usually getting a seat isn't a problem. You get pretty decent portions and the food is home-style cookin' good. They also have quite a few pies that are tasty as well. Most of the menu items are meant to stick to your bones, but they have a wide enough selection that I think anyone can find something they will enjoy.
When the waitress brought the neighboring 8-year-old his crusty, overcooked cheese-covered fries and Dick's-looking cheeseburger, I felt really sorry for him that he ordered such a crap meal.
Myself, on the other hand, I felt just dandy about my hotcakes (smaller ones on the "lite" menu, are called "mudflaps." How cute). Â They were just the right amount of sourdough-style chewiness and buttermilk fluffiness, and held the syrup perfectly without getting over-saturated by it. Â My wife had Goldilocks-style "this bread is just right"-level of French toast.
It just goes to show that being an adult is cool.
Hey, I take my pleasures where I can get 'em.
shutup.
The pies looked crazy delicious, and were topped with the same amount of whipped cream I use... the whole can.
We had a late breakfast here twice during the week that we were in the area for Moosefest 2008.
The food was tasty, the portions were large, and the servers friendly. Â The pastries in the front case looked wonderful, but I was too full to eat anything else.
If I lived in the area, this would be a mandatory stop on at least a weekly basis.
10+ Mile Hike - Powerful Sun - Empty Bellies - Exhausted Bodies.
The Cottage Cafe in Cle Elum was the cure for post-hike fuel and comfort. Â We stopped in just before 10pm and were delighted to see the open 24 hours sign in this quaint little town.
Bright, diner-style restaurant with counter seating, booths and a pie-case front & center. They were out of a couple of beers Bill wanted, but we both enjoyed the Fireside Amber and LOTS of water. Â
In such a state I had no choice but to go for the burger, the Cottage Burger to be exact  (basic slathering of cheese and veggies), with fries.  Also on the order was Ribeye with veggies.  They were more than happy to cook the ribeye to completion upon having it pointed out that it was frightfully pink throughout.  No complaints from me though - top notch all the way around for the all-American meal I so rarely indulge in.  Portions were plentiful and then some.
Super friendly service, extremely affordable and obviously a favorite for locals as well as passers-through.
My parents have some property on the east side of the state so after we would load up the camper for our pre-dawn departures we'd make a halfway stop here to reward ourselves. Â I figured it would be a great way to kickoff our cross country road trip this morning so we popped in for a late breakfast (our pre-dawn departure was delayed a little).
Their breakfast is still as awesome as ever! Â I got two pancakes, which I have no idea how they manage to flip them to cook the other side, they're so huge. Â My dad got some toast and egg beaters. Â Throw in some coffee and it was all about $11. Â Great service and lots of friendly locals, truckdrivers, and other passersthrough!
Quaint, friendly country cafe with excellent breakfasts, open 24 hours / day.
I stumbled on this quirky little cafe by accident in June 2007 on my way from Yakima to Seattle. Â Around 9am on a Saturday I needed to make a pit stop on I-90 westbound, and followed the blue highway signs to "Services". Â Suddenly I found myself driving down the main highway through this seemingly forgotten corner of the Northwest, and past the big sign for the Country Cafe and Fireside Lounge. Â Hungry for breakfast, I couldn't resist.
Being by myself I took a seat at the counter. Â A friendly wait staff promptly took my order and never let my coffee cup get anywhere close to empty. Â I met a couple of locals, including a very talkative and friendly blacksmith who told me all about how he builds and repairs wagon wheels. Â Then I met a couple of ladies on their way back to Seattle who gave me some great tips on places to visit. Â The whole restaurant had the air of a classic local country hangout, but welcoming to outsiders. Â
The food was typical cafe food, with outstanding pancakes and eggs served to order, at very reasonable prices. Â The real selling point is definitely the ambiance and locals, at least in the morning. Â I was shocked to learn that they're also open 24/7.
If you want to explore the town of Cle Elum, start here for breakfast and try the nearby bakery, don't miss the telephone museum.