Alexandras Macarons & Cafe — Restaurant in Seattle

1st off, the macarons are superb. I like how they're a bit wider and flatter, they generally feel bigger than your average macaron. The cookie was perfectly crumbly and melted on the tongue. The cream was light and airy and delicious. This is clearly their core product and they nail it. I have to say though, I don't have a huge sweet tooth, and after trying a few flavors they all started to blend together. In the future I would probably get just one at a time and enjoy its unique flavor.

The savory food was prepared very well. The tartine had light and creamy ricotta cheese, tender mushrooms, and a tasty oil topping. The frittata had a super flavorful topping (I think olives?) with notes of salty and spicy, and it all paired perfectly with the bitter arugula on the side. However, I didn't find either of these dishes particularly filling, and they weren't cheap ($9-12). It felt like the kind of thing I would order and enjoy for a social meetup, with my coffee, as part of a whole cafe experience, but I wouldn't get these just for a meal. With COVID restricting social gatherings, I'd be more interested in savory snacks that are cheaper and can be eaten on-the-go.

For coffee, I ordered a cortado and the drink was made well. The espresso wasn't anything exciting or unique, but wasn't too bitter or burnt-tasting. Generally a solid complement to the cafe food.

The other pastries were not to my taste. The croissant was dense, I didn't get much of a buttery taste, and the crust was more burnt than flaky. The chocolate bourbon pop-tart was large for a sweet pastry, I would've preferred something 1/2 or 1/3rd the size (maybe just my personal lack of a sweet tooth). I also found the crust on the pop-tart to be more crispy and burnt than flaky.

All in all, definitely some bright spots. Their macarons are really killer and the savory food is quite tasty. If you have a big sweet tooth this might be your spot. If you have a smaller stomach maybe you'll enjoy the savory stuff as a meal. When COVID recedes, this might be a great place to socialize. In the current conditions though, I'll probably only pop in for the...

I am what society fears: old, and possibly cantankerous. I may not yet be walking with a stick to shake at the sky for yelling at clouds, but I do possess a rapidly decaying physical form. I can no longer enjoy many of the foods I used to love in my youth, and that especially pertains to baked goods. So much of what is made in the U.S. is on the extreme end of the sweet spectrum for me. My teeth cry out in pain at the first bite of cake. If anyone needs me, I’ll be drinking my cup of tea, unsweetened, in the corner. And this is why I am head over heels in love with the rose-pistachio – pistachio-rose? – cake at Alexandra’s. It is not too sweet—and I mean this as the highest, best, penultimate compliment I could ever give. The cake slice is just the right portion to enjoy with my tea, and the sugar is balanced perfectly to allow all the other flavors to come through. And it’s pretty. I’m not a take-pictures-of-my-food sort of person, but I would snap a photo of this cake for social media. Never take it off your menu, Alexandra! It is the best slice of heaven for cranky old people...

I live nearby and have to share that after many repeat visits, the food and drink at Alexandra's is incredible. Despite being a macaron shop, their savory offerings and other pastries are some of my favorite breakfast fare in town.

I needed to write this review to share this and also to mention that you should not sleep on their Pizza Queen's Night only on Thursdays from 3-8pm. Hol-eyyyy sht it's so good, rivaling pizza in the state we've driven and waited hours to try. The dough on our two selections was distinct, clearly made in house by these expert bakers and equally delicious. The toppings and flavor pairings were so cravable - we tried the Puttanesca and the Wild Shroom. We got the kale salad to go with, which is a daily menu staple and favorite of mine. *chefs kiss to the whole meal. We will be Pizza Queen regulars from now on!!

The only downsides are no WiFi and that their prices are a tad high, but that said, I have never regretted a purchase there. Staff is kind and interior/exterior is super cute, with ample outdoor seating in front and back (the cutest...