Seatown is a good Seattle breakfast retreat

One of the nice things about being friends with a food writer is that she typically takes you to good eateries (which can range from food vans to four-star restaurants). I’ve known Leslie Kelly — freelance food writer and one-time staff writer for The Spokesman Review — since she and her husband, John Nelson, arrived in Spokane during the early ‘80s. And she’s introduced me to a number of memorable meals.

We enjoyed one such meal at breakfast on Monday morning. It was Leslie’s birthday, and she took me to Seatown , one of Tom Douglas ‘ restaurants. Located just a block from the Pike Place Market , Seatown opens at 8 a.m., which meant that we had to wait a couple of minutes out on the sidewalk before we could get in.

But that meant we were the first customers, and the espresso roast coffee was welcome. Leslie ordered eggs Benedict, while I opted for buttermilk pancakes. And while my cakes were not nearly as good as those made Saturday morning by my Portland friend, Bruce Campbell, they were filling.

And the company was the best I could have asked for. I mean, seriously, sitting in a mostly emply restaurant, drinking good coffee with one of your best friends, looking out over one of the Northwest’s top tourists spots, on one of those glorious Seattle days when, even under a light cloud layer, you can see Mount Rainier in the distance … what else do you need?

Above : Leslie Kelly, about to dig into her brthday eggs Benedict.