Hudson

Hashbrowns with a side of horror? I was a little concerned when I pulled up to Hudson, a restaurant on Hwy 99 in South Seattle. 

Hudson's interior is warm and dark, yet filled with windows. You can almost not hear the giant trucks rumbling by on Highway 99 (now called Marginal). But really you can hear those trucks, every one. I suggest dining with a boisterous friend, or perhaps being loud yourself. 

I also liked the horseshoe-shaped bar with swiveling leather barstools. Pretty sweet seats. 

The building's creepy backstory -- it was once part of a haunted morgue -- is keeping the neighboring KUBE Georgetown Morgue in business.

"Is it all true?" I asked the waitress. She rolled her eyes and said no. This UW article "The Georgetown Morgue: Gruesome true story or fabrication?" was the most thorough I could find. Alas, she's right -- no haunting nor bizarre murder scene, but only some great marketing. 

At Hudson, a variety of visitors warmed the barstools and booths -- working guys in Carhartts on break, business suits in casual meetings and old friends catching up. 

It's easy to see why; the menu is full of Southern hits with a Seattle twist. Like chicken-fried steak with an optional veggie cutlet or grits topped with egg and bacon, served with a homemade biscuit. 

My friend's omelet was also excellent, served with perfectly crispy hashbrowns. This breakfast would feed a small family, but children aren't allowed inside -- 21 and over only. 

While my breakfast at Beth's was fine, breakfast at Hudson was something I've daydreamed about since my visit. 


Hudson
Address: 5000 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98134
Phone:(206) 767-4777
Web: http://www.hudsonseattle.com/

Hours:
Monday 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Tuesday 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

Beth's Cafe

"Damn junkies, taking all our spoons," the waitress said, upon reaching in to grab spoons from a container to set tables, and finding too many gone. 

"One place I worked, we put holes in all the spoons to keep them from stealing the spoons," the cook said. As the only cook, he seemed to have eight arms, simultaneously flipping pancakes, cracking eggs, buttering toast. 

"Yeah," she said, then laughed. "Seems like that'd defeat the purpose of a spoon, though."

***

Beth's Cafe seems like a great place to eavesdrop on everyday life over a good breakfast, 24 hours a day. 

By 8 a.m. on a recent Saturday, nearly every booth was filled with families, hungover punks, working girls and groups of 30-somethings.  

Menu also warns:  Eating raw or undercooked meats and eggs,
or running with scissors may increase your risk of not feeling very good.

The waitress answered the phone, and I overheard her half of the conversation:

Waitress: Well, if you came right now and your entire party was with you, we could seat you. That's all I can tell you.
Waitress: I don't know about, if you came in a half-hour. 
Waitress: Sorry. My crystal ball's in the shop.


I loved this waitress. 

Crayon illustrations covered every wall at Beth's and offered entertainment. Subjects included Pokemon, Minions, and insights into local and pop culture.

Drawing in front of pinball machine room at Beth's Cafe

"When you run out of baked potatoes you get Angry ART."

Probably doesn't reference NYC's North of Houston neighborhood. 

After my kids and I put in an order, we asked for crayons and paper. No one was able to trump my favorite pic of a certain political candidate: 

Portion sizes were enormous, even in the "Mini Breakfasts" section of the menu, which works as either kids' meals or normal-sized breakfasts. Beth's is primarily famous for their 6- or 12-egg omelet, which seems OK if you're sharing. That's a lot of food though.

The service was great and our grub was solid. Standard cafe-diner eggs, hash browns, pancakes and bacon -- dished up just right -- is sometimes all a person wants.

The overall atmosphere wasn't bright 'n' shiny New-Seattle, but what's a greasy spoon without the grease? Well, or the spoons. Junkies, quit stealing Beth's spoons!

***

A man in a half-shirt and ultra-tight pants reached out for his to-go order from the waitress.  "You take care of yourself, hon," she said, and she sounded like a mom talking to a son.

I got the feeling he might take care of himself a little better today, just because she said that. 





Beth's Cafe
Address: 7311 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 
Phone: (206) 782-5588 
Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
Menu: http://www.bethscafe.com/