Sun Break Cafe

Now that we've settled in the Seattle area, the search is on for great breakfast restaurants. Among the potentials I'm trying out, one has clearly made the cut: the Sun Break Cafe' in Auburn. More on my blog pnwfoodie.blogspotcom. Conveniently located a block from the Auburn Sound Transit terminal at 22 A St. SW, the Sun Break Cafe has earned a loyal following of commuters and locals alike ... and it's easy to see why. The Sun Break Cafe is just your basic restaurant; nothing fancy, but not too spartan, either. The wait staff is young and energetic -- and as a result may lack some polish -- but that's part of the draw, as is the tongue-in-cheek notation on the menu that coffee is charged based on how long you sit there. The other part is clearly the food. Freshly prepared, the portions are quite generous. On my first visit, I had the potato pancakes -- and could only manage about half of the order! As you can see, there was plenty; too bad I was eating alone. And I thought I would be eating light by not ordering the chicken-fried steak. On my next visit, I went for it: the ""half-order"" of the chicken fried steak proved to be more than enough to keep me going all the way until dinner (well, almost). It was prepared nicely, with a crunchy coating covering a tender piece of meat. Though it could have used a bit more pepper for my taste, that was easily remedied with the black pepper and Tabasco(C) on the table. The coffee was also pretty good for a diner. Not Starbucks, but not the weak colored water so many places serve. And the staff is excellent at keeping your cup full. The Sun Break Cafe is decidedly low-tech: wait staff write your order on a plain piece of paper for the kitchen to read (no computers here), then present that slip to you as your bill. If you're alone, bring a newspaper; I doubt if they offer free WiFi, but that's not why you go to the Sun Break Cafe. It's for the food, and I have yet to be disappointed! more

Where do I start? This place was absolutely horrible!!! I'm not one to complain, this is my first bad review. New to the Auburn area, I saw the positive reviews here and figured I'd give it a try. I ordered french toast and bacon. The food the waiter brought out to me was not mine, the waiter apologized and said he was sorry and that he got stoned before he came to work and laughed. He said it would take a while to get me my food, he comes back with a plate of soggy uncooked hash browns and says ""here eat this while you wait"" because at that time my fiance had received her plate of food. It was nice of him to bring me something but the way he shoved it in my face and the fact that the hash browns were uncooked and soggy was very disappointing. After about ten minutes I got what I ordered. My fiance ordered a scramble and hash browns. Again her hash browns were soggy and uncooked. But worst of all her scramble was a pile of mush with a layer of yellowish water at the bottom of her entire plate, she couldn't eat it. A different waiter came by and asked us if everything was ok and I pointed out all the water and soggy scramble and she apologies and made an excuse that it was the spinach being cooked down. There should be no excuses for a bunch of water in a scramble. She got a hot chocolate and it was very watered down with very little chocolate flavor. We had heard someone in line while we were waiting to get seated mention there biscuits and gravy, so we decided to share a plate. They were barely edible at best, it had a funky gravy. Breakfast should not be rocket science but they seamed to screw up everything! When the waiter saw that my fiance's plate was full of water underneath her scramble and hash browns he said he would take it off the ticket because it was so bad. When it came time to pay they have you pay in front. The owner waived me over to pay. He saw that my fiances plate was scratched off the ticket and said ""I don't pay for anyone's breakfast. I explained to him that the waiter took it off and that my fiance didn't eat any of it. He got all pissed off and only after the waiter came and vouched that the plate was terrible did he remove it. I had originally wrote in a tip even though the service and food as a whole were terrible but then I scratched off and changed my mind. The owner said I needed to give a tip and I said not after the way you treated me. Bottom line I would recommend looking elsewhere if you are looking for a breakfast place in the Auburn area. more

My first visit my wife and I waited in line. We ordered breakfast and two parties seated after us received their meals while we waited. Food wasn't that great. No tip $$$. Second time I told my wife not to go back but she did with grandchildren. No booster seats for toddlers and same results. Skipped over by parties that arrived later. I would caution other Muckleshoot tribal members thinking about visiting this business. Go elsewhere!!! Pros: food was recommended Cons: food might be okay but service is horrible more

It's a great little cafeteria style place for lunch with fresh made sanwiches and soups for lunch. We've been going there for years and the owners are very delgihtful. I work relaly close to the cafe and whenever people from out of town stop in and ask for a great breakfast or lunch place, we always tell them they have to go to the sunbreak. It can be a bit pricey at times but the food and the portion sizes more than make the price worthwhile. They serve local meats and veggies and are locally owned and managed. You just dont find these kind of places around very often anymore. Pros: Anything on the menu Cons: can be busy at times...but still worth it more

After calling ahead to alert the staff we would be a party of 14 we arrived to wait in line like all patrons. Our group was split all across the restaurant among 4 tables all seated at different times. We requested to wait for a large table so more of us could sit together. The server argued with us and immediately went to get the owner. The owner came greeting us with ""Why am I out here, I should be in the kitchen cooking"", we said we don't know why he was out there we just wanted to know if we could wait for a larger table. We were then informed that there was another restaurant across the street that perhaps we should go to because this restaurant doesn't have time for this. I do not understand how asking to WAIT for a larger table led to being told to go to another establishment across the street. Clearly this owner, in these difficult economic times has no regard for customer service or courtesy. This restaurant in the past has always had waiting lines wrapped outside the door on weekends. At 10 am this saturday morning there were 6 individuals waiting in line before us. Clearly a considerable drop in clientele. Perhaps the owners rudeness has turned off other potential diners as well. How long will this cafe remain open? Hopefully not long. Pros: Location Cons: Rude Staff more

Yes, you do wait, so plan on being leisurely and go with someone you like to talk to. Coffee is very good, banana bread is worth buying a loaf (or two!) to take home, eggs and hollandaise are delish. Each breakfast portion is easily two meals. Yum! Pros: Banana Bread, Eggs, Coffee Cons: Chorizo more

One serving feeds two easily; long lines on weekends. more

It took 2 hours to eat at this restaurant on Sunday mid morning. The line was not long, but the service was horrendous. The portions are large, but still over priced. The food is not that good! They over charged my husband and I $35.00. The incompetent waitress said she voided the sale. It has cleared our bank account. The reaction of the owner Bruce was that we were wrong and he hung up on me. In this economy not someone you want to give your money to! They are not a Better Business member, probably because they couldn't receive good status! The one pancake for 6 dollars was ridiculous. Not as good as IHOP with higher prices and terrible service. That is pretty sad! Pros: The original wait not that long, but once you are seated plan to wait! Cons: Service, owners attitude! Presentation of the wait staff! more

The Sundbreak has really large breakfast menus and food selections. The scrambles for breakfast are especially good and good to take home for a later snack. You will not walk away hungry. I would give this place a five stars for food however it gets less than four for the the following reasons: Pros: Good food and large portions Cons: Waiting lines, crowded and limited tables more

The portions are huge, the food is very good, and the service is great. We have been there many times for breakfast and lunch. Sometimes the wait is a little annoying, but it's worth it. They have a bowl of individual servings of different flavored creamers for your coffee, and offer homemade banana bread in place of toast if you want at no extra charge. We usually get half orders of the breakfasts and even the sandwiches at lunch are usually too big for one person. Some people say it is spendy, but I don't think so. It seems to be the same price or cheaper than IHOP, but the portions are bigger and the food is 100 times better. Pros: food, portions, service Cons: long waits sometimes more

I love this place but don't go often because it's a little pricey. The portion size is unbelievable, it's hard for two people to eat one order so all in all the value is there. It's usually busy so you will have to wait. Pros: THE FOOD and amount Cons: maybe the coffee more

Even if I go on Saturday morning at 9, and the line is out the door, I WAIT! NOWHERE can I get a breakfast as good, as fresh, or as healthy! yes, a healthy breakfast! You can have all egg whites if you want-they don't bark at you!-and they have turkey, chicken, salmon. You name it. Omlettes that are as good for you as they are tasty! Now that's a wothwhile difference! New red potatoes for hashbrowns-who'd of thunk it? Now I make em at home that way too! i know several of us that ""gotta go to Sun Break"" at least once a week. Lunch is great too! Pros: Fresh, healthy, Variety Cons: too small, too much food more

Best breakfast I've had in Washington. The only downside is the long wait. Great omlettes, coffee and bannana bread. Great ownership...very nice people. The restaurant isn't upscale but is very clean. Great value and worth the drive, and wait. Pros: value, food, friendly staff Cons: , crowded, auburn more

There are 2 things I've done wrong at Sun Break. First was ordering the full size omelette, since I had to eat it for 3 days after I left there due to its enormous portions of potatoes, banana bread, and eggs. Second, was showing up bright and early on a Monday morning....closed. But, this place is just awesome, the food is great, bring an appetite, the waiting staff is friendly and cute. All I can say is don't plan to do much for the rest of the day since you will be stuffed til dinner. Great place! The newly remodeled area really makes it look nice. Pros: great food, good parking, great staff Cons: can get crowded more

If you don't want to spend a lot but get a lot then the Sun Break is the place to go. Your plate will be so filled with your favorite food you ask your self how am I going to eat it all. The restaurant is a located just accross the street from the Sounder train station in Auburn. It has a bakery if you want to get something sweet to go, and the staff is friendly and helpful. Pros: Tasty food, great value, ambience Cons: closed mondays more

Go early to avoid standing in the line, be there before 7:30 AM. The food is excellent, the half-orders are almost too large, the waitresses are efficient, the owner is a kindly man who runs a tight ship, and the odors from the bakery will caue you to buy something as you leave. Pros: good parking, new building more