The Sunset Cafe — Restaurant in Cle Elum

An Enchanting Sunset at Sunset Cafe, Cle Elum

There's an exceptional kind of magic that comes with discovering a hidden gem like Sunset Cafe in the picturesque town of Cle Elum. As a lover of quaint cafes and homely dining experiences, I was absolutely captivated by the charm and warmth that this place had to offer.

As soon as you step into the Sunset Cafe, it's clear that this is no ordinary establishment. The ambiance feels just like your typical cafe: cozy, inviting, and filled with the pleasant murmur of friendly chatter. The decor, with its polished wood and comfortable seating, welcomes you into a familiar setting. It's a place where you can sit back and enjoy the simple pleasures of life over a comforting meal.

Now, let's talk about the food. First up, the crispy tater tots. Simply put, they were a revelation. Golden brown on the outside, piping hot and tender on the inside - they were the epitome of comfort food, bringing back fond childhood memories with each crunchy bite. Their exceptional crispiness and satisfying flavor left me wishing I could take a bag of them home.

Although we had initially set our hearts on their delicious fried chicken (which had received rave reviews from friends), it was unfortunately sold out. This was a minor disappointment, but a testament to its popularity among locals and visitors alike.

Choosing to go with the flow, we opted for the classic fried fish and coleslaw. The fish was perfectly cooked, with a light, crisp exterior giving way to moist, flaky flesh that was brimming with freshness. Paired with a generous serving of tartar sauce, it was truly a pleasure to savor.

The coleslaw, though not as impressive as the fish, was still notably good. It was fresh, crisp, and had an interesting addition of cranberries. While I personally wasn't too fond of the slightly sweet tang that the cranberries introduced, I can certainly appreciate the creativity behind this unique twist. For those who love a touch of sweet in their savory, this could well be a delightful surprise.

Despite not getting to try their famous fried chicken, our experience at Sunset Cafe was undeniably memorable. The atmosphere, the friendly staff, and the delicious, homely food (especially those tater tots!) all combine to make this a must-visit place in Cle Elum. We left with our bellies full and our hearts content, already looking forward to our next visit.

Sunset Cafe, you truly live up to your name by providing an enchanting dining experience that, much like a beautiful sunset, leaves a lasting impression. Looking forward to our next culinary journey with you. Highly...

TL;DR: This was AHHmazing food, especially for how unassuming the outside of the building looked. Service was pleasant, thanks Barb!, and the cooks are food artistes. Such balanced flavors and portions. 10/10 would recommend.

Tasty Deets: Great start with a beautifully golden and fluffy yeast-loaf drizzled with melted butter, diced garlic and a pesto oil. It was as pretty as it was tasty. Our salads came with beets, sunflower seeds, perfectly seasoned and toasted croutons (lightly crunchy, not soggy or too brittle. Yaaas!), all the normal diner salad toppings--a tiny bit too much cheddar cheese, some red onions, a tomato slice--and I enjoyed the slightly sweetened balsamic vin. All my family's sandwiches looked tasty, had nicely toasted bread, and were satisfyingly topped, but not so much that you couldn't get your mouth around it. My brother also loved his homemade mac and cheese, which was white cheddar based, oven-baked, and had a nice but not really flavored crumb topping to balance the creamy sauce.

Finally, I had to slow myself down to fully savor the most incredible assortment of vegetables in a sautéed medley side that I've ever had. That's saying a lot, considering I hail from veggie-snooty San Francisco. Well balanced mixture of zucchini, broccolini (my fave and NEVER found in reasonably priced sides, sadly), carrots, Brussel sprouts (not over or under cooked, which is hard to do in a medley), carrots, perfectly sized broccoli bits, and all three colors of peppers, which thank goodness did not rule the dish's flavor like they often can. Just wow. Each piece was just enough oiled and seasoned enough that a slice alone tasted as lovely as a full bite. So flavorful, yet without relying only on garlic or salt. I didn't even use pepper, which normally drenches my meals. I wish every one could enjoy this place. These cooks understand the art of 'just right' in almost every venue. Can't wait to come back again to try the pie! Would be well...

Great Pancakes - TERRIBLE Service and Underhanded Billing Practices! Charged an ADDITIONAL 4 % ON EACH ITEM without notifying Us, and THEN showed us a dingy little sign behind some dirty plastic flower at their Front Desk. The first person we had the distinct displeasure of having to put up with was the unfriendly "Greeter" who yawned in our faces and sat us in a booth with torn seats and smelled slightly of sour milk. The menus were sticky as was the table. We ordered a Highstack of 3 Pan Cakes for $8.95 and the 4 Japalenos wrapped in Bacon for $14.95... We got tje pancakes as expected, but the Jalapenos were 4 halves instead of 4 Full Size Japalenos on a bed of Coleslaw... They were cold and when the waitress was asked about the Portion size, she just shrugged and said that's how they come, take it or leave it... We had 1 cup of coffee and 1 Coke as well... The bill was $34.71 !!! $3.85 for a plain cup of coffee I'd ridiculous. $3.85 for a medium size Coke even more ridiculous. Let's just say that THE SUNSET CAFE is in DIRE NEED of some CLEANING, SEAT FABRIC REPLACEMENT, and some STAFF RETRAINING in Customer Importance and Food Value Reassessment...and learn what it means to take care of an issue the guest brings up instead of making lame excuses and putting the blame on President Biden....must be a bunch of Repugnacunts that work there...oh, I meant Republicans....no, they're Repugnacunts....