Twede's Cafe — Restaurant in North Bend

Twede’s Café: Where Time Stands Still and Coffee Is a Myth

We arrived at Twede’s Café on a Sunday, seduced by the promise of Twin Peaks magic and a cherry pie so legendary it could probably broker world peace. What we got instead was a brunch-themed escape room, where the only clues were confusion, caffeine withdrawal, and a syrup subplot that felt suspiciously sticky.

The host told us the wait would be 45 minutes. We were seated in 30. A miracle? A scheduling error? Divine intervention? We’ll never know. But we took it as a good omen. The staff greeted us like we’d just wandered into a community theater production of Diner: The Musical—warm, enthusiastic, and one jazz hand away from a tap number about hash browns.

Our server, who seemed like the only one not currently cramming for midterms, took our order with the weary grace of someone who’s seen things. The beer arrived in five minutes, which was great, because we needed something to sip while we waited for our “damn fine cup of coffee”—a phrase that, in this context, felt more like a dare than a guarantee.

Then came the coffee… or didn’t. First, a refill offer. No mug. Then another refill offer. Still no mug. At this point, we began to suspect the coffee was a metaphor. Eventually, a mug materialized—possibly through a wormhole—and we were finally caffeinated. Emotionally, at least.

Thirty minutes passed. Still no food. The Halloween candy bowl on the counter started to look like a viable entrée. Just as we were about to unwrap a mini Snickers and declare it brunch, we got up to use the restroom. (Note: the bathroom was a little too authentically rustic for our liking. Think “frontier chic” meets “gas station nostalgia.”) When we returned, our food had arrived—delivered by two servers who looked like they’d just been briefed on our table seconds before. We received one extra breakfast dish we didn’t order and were missing the “real maple syrup,” which, after two polite reminders and one whispered prayer, finally arrived. It tasted like high-fructose corn syrup in a maple costume, trying to sneak into a Canadian embassy.

The cherry pie? Microwaved. A sweet gesture, like someone warming your mittens in the dryer and calling it a spa treatment. It had heart, but not the kind that wins bake-offs. More “nostalgia cosplay” than “culinary masterpiece.”

Then came the bill. Our orders weren’t in the system, and the handwritten notes looked like they’d been channeled from the spirit realm. We had to reconstruct our meal from memory, like culinary archaeologists dusting off the ruins of brunch past.

Final thoughts: Twede’s Café isn’t so much a restaurant as it is a surreal brunch odyssey. A place where time is a suggestion, coffee is a myth, and maple syrup is a shapeshifter. Some of the servers were absolute gems—navigating the chaos with the poise of seasoned improv actors. Would I return? Only if I’m cast in Twin Peaks: The Syrup Conspiracy—and even then, I’m bringing my own mug, my own syrup, and a granola bar....

If your a Twin Peak’s fan, there’s just about no more iconic place you can go to, and inside, than Twede’s Cafe, home to the interior and exteriors shots of The Double R Diner. The staff inside have embraced this identity…some of them were wearing Twin Peaks Sherif Department T-shirts, the walls are decorated with items placed there by the production, and, of course, they serve “Twin Peaks Cherry Pie”. (Don’t miss the filming photos and other Twin Peaks specific items in the small hallway to the restrooms in the back.

My wife and I went here twice. It was our first stop in town in the mid-afternoon for Twin Peaks Cherry Pie. Sadly…I mean really sadly, the pie was not great…too sweet, tasted like any mass produced grocery store bought pie…if you want really great cherry pie in town, try the Attic at the Salish Lodge nearby (which doubles as the front of the Great Northern Hotel.

We also returned for breakfast the next morning for a generally better food experience.

This too had a bit of a disappointment…the coffee was just okay. It was definitely hot but not so much “Damn.” It was weak diner coffee. This is an epidemic in many breakfast restaurants who really just don’t know how to make coffee…it should be more than browned water…especially so close to the coffee-hub of Seattle, and especially, especially at this location where tourists from all over the world will be coming with high expectations for the “Damned Fine” coffee. Coffee here should be an iconic experience and it was generally disappointing diner coffee.

The breakfast was good though. In terms of basic American diner breakfasts…the portions were HUGE.

I had an egg white omelette with spinach, cheddar cheese and onions. It was served with hash-browns… all of it was cooked and delicious…though I could barely eat half of it because there was so much. Definitely perfect classic diner food…perhaps a touch greasy.

My wife got a vegetable omelette which she also thought was very nice, and french fries on the side which looked like they were made from giant potatoes about five minutes ago. Good job on the breakfast...

Today, we visited this establishment, and our experience was extremely disappointing. The service essentially ended the moment we stepped through the door. At the counter, we were asked if we were on the waiting list. When we said no, we were informed there would be a 35-minute wait, despite the many empty tables in the restaurant. Assuming the place was highly popular, we agreed to wait.

What followed was even more frustrating. After ordering three burgers and chicken nuggets for the child, we also requested the beer menu. The waitress promised to bring it but never returned. We waited 45 minutes for the three burgers we ordered. When the food was finally served, I reminded them about the beer menu. It was brought to us immediately, but the waitress never came back to take our additional order.

We were with hungry children, so we decided to stay. Unfortunately, the food quality was appalling. It was tasteless: the fries were overcooked in old oil, leaving a bitter taste; the burger patties were dry and unappetizing; the chicken nuggets were equally unremarkable. On top of that, we had to ask for ketchup and extra napkins, which were not provided with the meal.

The cleanliness of the establishment was another major issue. It seemed like the staff had no interest in their responsibilities and paid no attention to the guests. The overall atmosphere resembled a neglected, rundown space.

We also witnessed another guest sitting near us who ordered a salad and waited 45 minutes for it. After finally receiving the dish, he tasted it, pushed it aside, and left the restaurant.

If you value your time and are looking for good service and tasty food, we strongly recommend...