Sarah W.
Yelp
Finally got a chance to go for breakfast. Warning: This review is written by a parent. I'm going to talk about kid-related things. You've been warned.
First off, can we talk hours? They are open at 7 am. Every day. The diner itself is only closed on Mondays. What does this mean? It means that when my kids wake up at the crack of dawn and I *need* to get out of the house, I can take us to Evergreen, eat breakfast, and be done before most people have even brushed their teeth. This is awesome.
Let's talk food. I liked the food I'd tried in the express, but I was really blown away by how good the food was in the diner. I got the Evergreen Avocado Toast. Yes, I know, I'm a millennial, I'm supposedly ruining the world. I get it. But Evergreen gets it even more. They know that I'm a mid-30s parent who just wants to feel special. So they took the concept of avocado toast and dialed it up to 11. They added pesto, capers, smoked salmon, and... ikura. It was excellent, and I don't even care that it was $11. It was fantastic.
The other folks in our party got more traditional brunch fare (pancakes, eggs benedict, etc.) and all thought the food was excellent. I snagged some pancakes with syrup (potentially real maple? seemed that way) and was impressed with their delicious multi-grain-ness. Also really liked the fruit side ($3); it got extra points for going beyond traditional fruit sides by including mango. We also tried the fresh squeezed OJ and it was DIVINE. Totally delicious.
In terms of kid-friendliness, here's my rundown:
-Kid-friendly hours: YEP
-High-chairs aplenty: TOTS
-Outdoor seating so I don't feel quite so bad when my kid makes a mess or is loud: YOU KNOW IT
-Distracting environs: YES! (dogs on parade, occasional shuttle buses, trucks, other kids, etc.)
-Plastic cups for kids: OBVS.
-Ability to get a single pancake or side of eggs: YEPPERS ($3)
-Kids beverage options: OK.
(They had regular milk, but no chocolate milk. (I thought they'd be able to add chocolate syrup from the cafe, but that turned out to be mocha syrup.) I know it seems like a little thing, but I do think it'd be a nice option to have it. Also: If you don't do hot chocolate in the summer (even for kids), I'd recommend having a different menu that doesn't list it as an option, or note it as "seasonal." Another idea: Have half-sized (kids only) smoothies (marketing idea: Call the snowflake an "Elsa!") or some herbal iced teas. That said, they do have yummy juice options that would likely work for many children, just not one of ours in that particular moment. #4yearolds)
Overall, I thought the food was fantastic and I can't wait to go back. SO excited to have something that finally seems like it'll work in this space!!