Reasonable Eats - Ballard’s Kiss Cafe
At least once a week, I work at home. And since home is Ballard, unless I’ve got a bunch of leftovers in the fridge, I go out for lunch. There are so many good places to eat in Ballard, but my current favorite lunch hangout when I’m alone and at least attempting to work is Ballard’s Kiss Cafe. I waited for Kiss Cafe to open for months, plaintively staring at the papered windows and the signs that were up and turned on for at least a few weeks before they were actually opened. A beer and wine bar within walking distance of my house? Score!
It took me almost two months to get there however. Various circumstances just kept delaying me. Now that I’ve been multiple times, I’m absolutely hooked and soon, hope to achieve ‘regular’ status there.
So, what’s it like?
Well, for start, they have a beer club. You can get a card and work your way through 99 bottles of beer. I didn’t know about this club the first three times I dined there, so I’m only through two beers so far, but I’ll get there. When you mark off all 99 beers, you get a ‘member number’ and a glass. I’ll get there. I’ll definitely get there. They have a wide variety of beers, many of them Northwest microbrews. There’s also a nice selection of wine and espresso drinks.
The space is nice. That might not seem very descriptive, but that’s how I feel about it. It’s nice. They have a raised area in back that looks like it will easily double as a stage (they have live music some evenings) with comfortable tables and chairs. The floors are dark and rich, the bar comfortable with a view into the kitchen. The high top tables in the front of the house have either cushioned chairs or stools. I thought the stools were a bit rickety, but comfortable. 
The food has always been very tasty. The soups were rich, flavorful, and healthy portioned. My husband and I ordered sandwiches one Sunday and they were quite delicious. I’ve had their Cuban (tangy, salty, and crunchy) and their jambalaya. The jambalaya came with two slices of buttered sourdough toast. This might seem like nothing, but those two slices of bread were about the best toast I’ve ever tasted in my life. I can’t even explain why they were so good, but they were the perfect complement to the spicy jambalaya that had at least 5-7 jalapeno peppers in a single bowl.
Unfortunately, since the kitchen is so small, they do run out of things occasionally. I’ve still never managed to get an order of their banana bread, but I’m sure it’s just as delicious as their sandwiches. If I haven’t tempted you enough, when you take a seat, they bring you a jar of pickles and a small fork!
I’ll be a regular at Kiss Cafe for quite some time.
Kiss Cafe
2817 NW Market Street
Seattle, WA
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You said "beer club." I must visit this place. Do they have decent vegetarian options for food?
Great review, Patricia. I’ll definitely check out Kiss Cafe, is nothing else for the 99 bottles of beer club!
Chris,
I do know they have at least one vegetarian sandwich, but I’m not sure what else they have that would meet your needs. Though I recall several salads also. I’ll check next time I go and post back.
Jeanna,
They have very few women participate in their 99-bottles of beer club, so definitely go check them out.
I completely forgot to post the prices!
I categorized this as reasonable, not because the food for two came to more than $20, but because given they are a beer and wine bar, you’re more than likely to want beer. My typical bill for one person including a beer is $15.
I love the Kiss Cafe! It was started by Amanda and Brenda and I love it! Thanks for posting the review - I’ll send it over to them :D My bf and I go by nearly every Friday night… perhaps we’ll bump into you over there. This is me: http://www.antishay.com/?page_id=2
Also, re: prices - they have mostly sandwiches and some dinner stuff, with a daily special that is more "dinner" food (spaghetti, casseroles, etc.)… the sandwiches are from $5 to $7, the meals usually $8 - 9. I always get a few beers, so it does raise the total cost, but overall it’s not that bad. And you get free pickles!