Grand Central Bakery - Eastlake cafe — Restaurant in Seattle

Poor choices today at 9:35 am ….at an otherwise excellent business with a sublime product and cheery, energetic staff. “The Big Order” pickup order came in this morning and the walk in customers were indubitably a far distant afterthought. The unfortunate fellow behind us waited in line for an egg sandwich to be told it would be 45 minute wait for his simple egg sandwich because they were busy cooking for “The Big Order”. The correct answer/solution: The Big Order group should have been told it would take an extra 15 minutes to complete their order so the many loyal walk in customers would receive due and appropriate attention. I understand that Brad Pitt and his entourage was hungry for their “Big Order” of egg biscuits, but so was the little fella in his flip flops who waited in line for 15 minutes only to receive such sad “sorry, you’re a little nobody” news. He was still in the game but then walked out as they then went on and refused to make him some coffee drink to which he was accustomed because of “The Big Order”. My story is only slightly better: the staff was brewing a HUGE pot of drip decaf coffee as the pot was so clearly marked. As a simple country boy relocating from Tacoma to Moses Lake a few years ago for career opportunities, I have regressed to plain old drip coffee and also drink decaf. Yet I was refused even a small cup of drip decaf joe because I was told it was reserved for “The Big Order.” I really do doubt that Harry and Megan and their posse would miss 10 ounces of decaf coffee out of a 3 gallon decanter. Then I asked for my egg quiche to be warmed up and was told it was already hot enough. Not wanting conflict, I shrugged it off and took the quiche. It wasn’t hot enough. Bummer day for us because as the simple country folk we now are, living in Moses Lake, when in Seattle we make it a point to be patrons of this business. Since this is overall a fine (actually, excellent) business we would note that in refusing us and other walk in patrons fair standing in obsequiousness to “The Big Order” royalty, the staff was still, as always, polite enough. But here is now why I am so disappointed: I like(d)to recommend this business and as such we have recommended this business to other country folk from our little dusty town - as it is a “big deal” for such country folk to travel to Seattle for a costly game, concert or romantic weekend in The Big City. Instead of enthusiastically recommending this business to other little people from Grant County in The Big City for a costly weekend, I am going to stay mum with the recommendations because I don’t want one of my friends or colleagues to experience what we and the flip flop guy encountered today. I imagine that over time the lost sales from the lost recommendations (and down line recommendations of those folks would have made to others) will probably exceed the revenue gained from “The Big Order.” So, please pull it together folks and get back to six out of five stars - which is what this business...

It's a mixed bag. None of the food they serve feels like it's particularly special or couldn't be done somewhere else and even by Seattle standards most of it is wildly overpriced (you can't charge eight bucks for a breakfast sandwich and then expect me to pay another 2.50 to put turkey on it and call that a good deal.).

They also regularly fail to actually have items in stock, even if you order hours in advance (good luck getting soup, they will forget). My guess is that no one working there cares enough to watch the terminal for inbound orders, which is why my past pickups have always been 10 to 15 minutes late.

It's hard to blame them, I suppose -- most of the employees would be making below minimum wage if you don't tip, which you will be asked to do even if you step in for a single $2.50 cookie (edit, as of 2024 it's now $3.10!) Normally I don't mind that but when I'm being asked to supplement an employees income for making a purchase that costs as much as a coke from a vending machine, it just makes me feel like the company really doesn't care about their personnel. Like, come on, man, just pay them more than 14/hr and stop asking me to tip three bucks on a cookie. I just want a cookie, not social guilt brought on by exploitative business practices.

Sandwich selection is kinda meh, and most of it ends up sitting in your stomach like a stone due to having either no veggies or excessive amounts thereof. Used to be a frequent customer but lately am less excited by the rarely changing menu (which they can barely deliver on anyway). Also, don't get a baguette here unless you like tearing up the roof of your mouth. Seriously. You'll...

I will try again as they have a wonderful egg basil salad sandwich that is glorious, if they would add two more tblsps of the salad to the bread. They have a great U-bake menu of pre-made shortbread, pizza, puff-pastry, and pie crust dough to take & bake @ home, at reasonable prices.

My only concerns are my observation of one of the pastry handlers literally jabbed a sticky bun with the price tag prong as if it a meat tenderizer, several times (two other people witnessed it also), so that was disturbing on the vibes of who prepares our food. I requested no lettuce, but was served more lettuce than actual egg salad on my sandwich, and I had to ask for my chips and cookies that was supposed to be part of my sack lunch purchase, already paid for...And waiting for over 8 minutes(there was no line) for my $10 Skinny egg salad sandwich, lol.

But I will go back, as there are the U bake options, and they have a grilled cheese sandwich and amazing looking croissants, and cookies I...