Sabine Café & Bar

"This Ballard counter service spot serves things like griddled pastrami egg sandwiches, shakshuka, and apple butter oat pancakes with hazelnut dukkah. Pair any of those with a fresh-pressed green juice, or one of the best espresso martinis in town. It’s all done in a bright and airy space complete with a covered patio, high-end pantry staples for sale, and a surplus of calming sky-blue paint. If all of that makes this place sound popular, that's because it is—show up early to avoid a wait." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente

"The Deal: 50% Off Bottles Of Wine (Tuesday-Thursday only), $12 Gin & Tonics, $3 Off Select Dishes Sabine is already a cool place to be in Ballard and serves great small bites like whipped feta with pita. The fact that you can get a half off a nice bottle of Pinot is a bonus—plus there's a mezze hour from 3-4pm every day that features a few other specials." - aimee rizzo, gabe guarente

"If you’re hanging around Ballard to see the overly hyped Chittenden Locks or check out the Sunday farmer’s market, Sabine is your breakfast stop. This counter-service operation’s griddled pastrami egg sandwiches and apple butter oat pancakes with hazelnut dukkah are great ways to start the day. Drinks include fresh-pressed green juice and one of the best espresso martinis in town. It’s all done in a bright and airy space complete with a covered patio, high-end pantry staples for sale, and a surplus of calming sky-blue paint. If all of that makes this place sound popular, that's because it is—show up early to avoid a wait." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley

"Bastille is the quintessential Ballard utility move. Its well-designed dining room and swanky bistro feel makes it perfect for a candlelit date, group dinner around the indoor firepit, birthday, or a casual weeknight solo meal at the bar. Everything on the menu is great, but the steak frites is one of the best plates of meat-and-potatoes in the city, and the bahn mi (with housemade lemongrass sausage and sriracha aioli) will make you wish French restaurants always had some Vietnamese stuff on the menu." - Aimee Rizzo

"Sabine is the premier all-day hangout spot on Ballard Avenue. It serves coffee, pastries, and gluten-free pancakes for the morning crowd; mezze plates and wraps for lunch; and a dinner menu that includes meatier options like a za’atar-crusted salmon. But the biggest draw here may be the entirely enclosed patio, which has comfortable seats, plants galore, and heat lamps that honestly make it a little too hot in the winter sometime." - Jade Yamazaki Stewart, Harry Cheadle