"Una bella tazza di caffe", the beautiful cup of coffee at Vivace Espresso is well named. Since 1988 this company has refined it's presentation, flavor and finesse inspired by the coffee itself. We often go to the shop in South Lake Union to pick up a cuppa as well as the occasional Mighty O Donut or donut hole depending on the appetite. They offer "restretto shots" which I understand to mean that they use only the sweetest most flavorful part of the espresso shot. The owners have published books on barista techniques, coffee techniques as well as a video of Latte art. Espresso Vivace

Vivace Espresso has two locations

Vivace Espresso Bar at Brix
532 Broadway Ave East
Seattle WA 98122
Telephone 206.860.2722
Open 6am until 11pm daily

Espresso Vivace Alley 24
227 Yale Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
Telephone 206.388.5164
Open daily 6 am until 11 pm. See you there!

Lynette Hensley
Associate Broker
email

Labels: Capitol Hill, coffee houses, South Lake Union

We discovered Volunteer Park Cafe while helping one of our clients get his townhome on the hill last summer. Larry took me to the Park itself, (here's our tour of that landmark if you need a little bit of last summer and some flowers to look at), and since we were hungry we thought we'd try this little place we saw in the neighborhood on the corner of Galer and 17th. I think Larry will have his own words about this place, and the food, but I'll do my part now.

Best for you to just know that it's there, and really worth visiting for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Every time we go it's so delicious. For instance, we had a pear and chevre cheese pizza along with a salad that was just a perfect accompaniment. We look forward to some weekend morning when they serve Pear Brioche French Toast. Doesn't that sound great?

It was a grocery store in the day with delivery service, now a bakery and restaurant with lovely wait staff, great chefs and a menu that refreshes seasonally. Not your garden variety cafe. They grow their own produce in their backyard as well as buying local. They have a definite commitment to community, utilizing local sources as well as providing a local community place to meet and enjoy food. The center table in the place is one long table that can seat several parties, which encourages conversation, and there are tables around the perimeter as well as outside in good weather.

Nice!

Lynette Hensley
Associate Broker, Realtor

Labels: Capitol Hill, food