Cafe Rowan

"Cafe Rowan transformed a former Starbucks into a light-filled counter-service cafe where you can pop in for an Americano or stay for a leisurely weekday brunch, mimosa in hand. You won’t leave this Creston-Kenilworth spot with enough leftovers for another meal, but that’s not the point of little luxuries like the Dungeness crab benedict dressed with white truffle hollandaise and garnished with shaved purple daikon. Simple items also get an upgrade like avocado toast that’s tastefully amped up with spring peas, mint, meyer lemon tahini, spiced pumpkin seeds, and a garlic chile oil drizzle." - krista garcia

"Cafe Rowan transformed a former Starbucks into a light-filled counter-service cafe where you can pop in for an Americano or stay for a leisurely weekday brunch, mimosa in hand. You won’t leave this Creston-Kenilworth spot with enough leftovers for another meal, but that’s not the point of little luxuries like the Dungeness crab benedict dressed with white truffle hollandaise, and garnished with shaved purple daikon. Simple items also get an upgrade like avocado toast that’s tastefully amped up with spring peas, mint, meyer lemon tahini, spiced pumpkin seeds, and a garlic chile oil drizzle." - Krista Garcia

"For brunch, Cafe Rowan. Spencer (Ivankoe) puts out good food and showcases a lot of small businesses, too." - Thom Hilton

"When it comes to dazzling, luxurious morning meals, this Creston-Kenilworth cafe delivers. Breakfast burritos are not just stuffed with chorizo, roasted garlic potatoes, and scrambled eggs, but also house-made salsa macha, salsa verde, and cilantro-lime crema. Benedicts can come with Dungeness crab or hickory-smoked ham, and the restaurant’s bowl of cheddar grits comes with blackened shrimp, bacon-shallot jam, and Calabrian chile oil. Those intimidated can stick to a stellar breakfast sandwich, like the Dame with gochujang and Mama Lil’s aioli." - Zoe Baillargeon, Janey Wong

"Chef Spencer Ivankoe’s lobster roll is a bit of a twist — his cafe uses Maine lobster for its Connecticut-style lobster rolls. Fans of garlic and butter will be especially satisfied by this roll, which also comes in a deluxe version crowned with sea urchin and shaved French truffles. The restaurant’s lobster roll Wednesdays are a steal — $20 gets diners a lobster roll and a mimosa, orange or grapefruit. Or, opt for the trio of rolls, a sampler of Maine lobster, Dungeness crab, and Oregon bay shrimp." - Janey Wong, Brooke Jackson-Glidden