Lola – The Best Breakfast in Seattle

While in Seattle for the IFBC conference, we ate breakfast at Lola two of the three days that we were in Seattle. What can we say except that we loved the smashed potatoes at the Lola breakfast?

As we inhaled Lola’s donuts and smashed potato orbs, we knew that a repeat visit to Chef Tom Douglas’ restaurant located in downtown Seattle, just a block from our hotel, was a must. These first bites were enough for us to fall for the restaurant’s blending of Pacific Northwest food and Greek cuisine.

Lola Breakfast Number One

Lola is one of the best places to eat in Seattle. Although we were among the very first people at the popular Seattle restaurant when we arrived for our 7am reservation, the dining room was full by our meal’s end.

Our first dish was the Made to Order Donuts with Seasonal Jam and Vanilla Mascarpone. Warm and fresh, the donuts arrived in a white paper bag, which the server shook before tumbling the little golden morsels onto the plate. We cut through the crispy exterior of each donut so that we could better smear the tasty apricot and mascarpone spreads on the soft dough inside for maximum flavor.

Pro Tip
If you’re jonesing for the donuts, you can get them across the street at Dahlia Bakery. The bakery’s atmosphere is more casual, and the donut price is a bit lower.

Ironically, after the sweet donuts, our second shared plate skewed savory. The Lola Breakfast plate was a pumped up version of the standard bacon and eggs breakfast plate that you might eat at a diner. Shaking the donuts didn’t wear out the server too much, as she split this dish in half for us.

Usually, we’re all about the pork, especially when it’s prepared with maple. However, the shining star of this dish was the smashed potatoes with their delicate crunchy fried skins and creamy, garlic-flavored centers. These smashed potatoes could be the greatest side of potatoes in the world. We’re not kidding. They’re that good.

Our Second Breakfast at Lola

For our second visit, once seated, we immediately ordered the smashed potatoes. Hello, they’re the reason we came back in the first place.

Man and 2foodtrippers cannot live on potatoes alone, so we ordered another dish to share. This time, we tried the dish modestly labeled as Tom’s Favorite Breakfast.

We were intrigued to try this dish after we heard that the octopus was boiled with wine corks to tenderize the tentacled octopods. A jumble of octopus and vegetables, the dish was topped with a slightly overcooked poached egg. At the server’s suggestion, we also ordered a side of egg and feta to complete the meal.

Pro Tip
It’s advisable to make a reservation at Lola, even for an early morning breakfast. Not only will you avoid a wait, you may get a booth as opposed to sitting in the bar.

About the Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube. The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.

Original Publication Date: October 7, 2014