Shelley Taylor
Sunshine Cafe
Published on Wed, Jan 13, 2010 by Shelley TaylorRead More Taylor
Sunshine Cafe
135 West Washington Street
682.4282
Wed - Sat 7-3 Sun 8-3
Closed Mon & Tues
Breakfast & Lunch
Take Out
$
Sunshine Cafe is tucked under the porch...along the old section of Sequim's main street.
Just the name alone is perfect for reminding us of one of the reasons we all love living here.
An often forgotten landmark, you might be surprised to know it's been here for over twenty years.
Tourists probably enjoy it more often than longtime locals - and that's a shame.
It's one of the busiest restaurants in town come tourist season because it's just what they're looking for: a hometown feel. And it's just the right size to make you feel cozy. So for those of us who used to be tourists and settled here for the small town atmosphere, it should become high on local favorites lists.
The present owners are Allen and Diane Drake and Allen's is the face (and pony tail) you'll see beyond the order window.
It's definitely a family place. You'll even find a small family photo gallery above the cash register amidst charming collectibles.
Waitress Danielle, one of the key components to creating the cozy atmosphere, says, "It's all about the love. There's always plenty of hugs to go around."
Danielle tells me they have lots of regulars. And when one of their regulars hasn't visited for a while, Sunshine Cafe staffers have been known to give them a call - just to make sure everything's all right.
Waitress Gigi, the "unofficial" greeter is proud to tell you she's been there through four regime changes - which means she's been there practically from the beginning. The minute you walk in, there's a friendly "How are you today?" And sometimes a chiding comment, "It's been a while - where have you been!"
I'm sure Gigi and Danielle are champs at remembering their regulars' "usual" orders down to the last detail. Just another way they make you feel special.
Sunshine Cafe's walls are lined with Pacific Northwest themed artwork by Tim Quinn, the political cartoonist for our Gazette - and for the right price they could grace your walls at home. (Occasionally other artists' work is offered.) Some of Tim's favorite cartoons have a place on the wall just outside the bathrooms. Don't know if that's a statement being made - but I will vouch for the bathrooms being immaculate.
Fresh flowers adorn the tables. But we prefer sitting at the counter. Then we really feel like it's the 1950s again and Eisenhower is president. (Oh all right, Sunshine Cafe wasn't open then but you get the idea!)
When you order coffee or tea, they'll bring your cream in their signature black and white dairy cow creamer. They tell me they can always tell a newbie because a newbie will exclaim, "How adorable!"...while regulars know it's part of the show. And yes, they're for sale.
They're open for breakfast and lunch - but you can order breakfast anytime. And they will be "pleased to prepare" orders to go.
Besides the expected breakfast offerings, they have old fashioned oatmeal or cream of wheat (and zoom), biscuits 'n' gravy, veggie browns, chicken fried steak, corned beef hash and, of course, omelets including the new Gigi Scramble folded with mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes and feta cheese. Also new to the breakfast menu is the Sunshine Muffin Sandwich with ham, bacon or sausage and egg on an English muffin; or Cathy Joe: seasoned ground beef, spinach and mushrooms folded into scrambled eggs and topped with parmesan cheese.
If you love pancakes - you'll be happy. They offer both buttermilk and whole wheat.
Owner/chef Allen takes special delight in transforming these light and fluffy cakes into unique round discs of artwork with messages. For that alone, it's worth the trip. Mine said "Smile" and sported a smiling happy face. What a unique Valentine's Day or birthday gesture to be remembered by your guy or gal...order them a serving of pancakes and ask the chef to draw something special...a heart perhaps. They also serve French toast and waffles. All with real maple syrup.
Homemade honey butter is served with muffins, but they'll add some to your pancakes if you ask nice.
Just like the breakfast menu, the lunch menu offers lots of choices.
Soups are made daily including clam chowder which was just right - not too salty as often is the case. I tried the corn chowder with plenty of corn and big chunks of potatoes.
What would a hometown cafe be without burgers. New is the Western burger with bacon, cheese, BBQ sauce and topped with their beer batter onion rings (they' so good, it's worthy of a side order!) or try the curly fries or their sweet potato fries. I've had the mushroom burger and it was very tasty.
On the handwritten menu board, you'll see they're serving several chicken wraps.
Prefer salad? They have plenty of them - with homemade dressings. I ordered their new Garden Chicken salad. Fresh fresh greens, red onions, cucumber, colorful peppers. I skipped the bacon and cheese and had them add black olives instead. I got Caesar dressing on mine. Delish. Also new is Spinach salad. But they still offer fan favorite Oriental Chicken Sesame salad with a homemade sesame soy vinaigrette.
Beverages include specialty teas, hot chocolate and hot apple cider, flavored cream sodas, endless ice tea and raspberry lemonade.
Before you call it a meal, try some of their fresh baked pies or an old fashioned hard ice cream shake. Desserts are homemade too, of course.
I just missed out on a piece of their ambrosial Peanut Butter Pie, darn! But Gigi ran the last remaining piece under my nose as she packed it up for a to go order. How cruel!
135 West Washington Street
682.4282
Wed - Sat 7-3 Sun 8-3
Closed Mon & Tues
Breakfast & Lunch
Take Out
$
Sunshine Cafe is tucked under the porch...along the old section of Sequim's main street.
Just the name alone is perfect for reminding us of one of the reasons we all love living here.
An often forgotten landmark, you might be surprised to know it's been here for over twenty years.
Tourists probably enjoy it more often than longtime locals - and that's a shame.
It's one of the busiest restaurants in town come tourist season because it's just what they're looking for: a hometown feel. And it's just the right size to make you feel cozy. So for those of us who used to be tourists and settled here for the small town atmosphere, it should become high on local favorites lists.
The present owners are Allen and Diane Drake and Allen's is the face (and pony tail) you'll see beyond the order window.
It's definitely a family place. You'll even find a small family photo gallery above the cash register amidst charming collectibles.
Waitress Danielle, one of the key components to creating the cozy atmosphere, says, "It's all about the love. There's always plenty of hugs to go around."
Danielle tells me they have lots of regulars. And when one of their regulars hasn't visited for a while, Sunshine Cafe staffers have been known to give them a call - just to make sure everything's all right.
Waitress Gigi, the "unofficial" greeter is proud to tell you she's been there through four regime changes - which means she's been there practically from the beginning. The minute you walk in, there's a friendly "How are you today?" And sometimes a chiding comment, "It's been a while - where have you been!"
I'm sure Gigi and Danielle are champs at remembering their regulars' "usual" orders down to the last detail. Just another way they make you feel special.
Sunshine Cafe's walls are lined with Pacific Northwest themed artwork by Tim Quinn, the political cartoonist for our Gazette - and for the right price they could grace your walls at home. (Occasionally other artists' work is offered.) Some of Tim's favorite cartoons have a place on the wall just outside the bathrooms. Don't know if that's a statement being made - but I will vouch for the bathrooms being immaculate.
Fresh flowers adorn the tables. But we prefer sitting at the counter. Then we really feel like it's the 1950s again and Eisenhower is president. (Oh all right, Sunshine Cafe wasn't open then but you get the idea!)
When you order coffee or tea, they'll bring your cream in their signature black and white dairy cow creamer. They tell me they can always tell a newbie because a newbie will exclaim, "How adorable!"...while regulars know it's part of the show. And yes, they're for sale.
They're open for breakfast and lunch - but you can order breakfast anytime. And they will be "pleased to prepare" orders to go.
Besides the expected breakfast offerings, they have old fashioned oatmeal or cream of wheat (and zoom), biscuits 'n' gravy, veggie browns, chicken fried steak, corned beef hash and, of course, omelets including the new Gigi Scramble folded with mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes and feta cheese. Also new to the breakfast menu is the Sunshine Muffin Sandwich with ham, bacon or sausage and egg on an English muffin; or Cathy Joe: seasoned ground beef, spinach and mushrooms folded into scrambled eggs and topped with parmesan cheese.
If you love pancakes - you'll be happy. They offer both buttermilk and whole wheat.
Owner/chef Allen takes special delight in transforming these light and fluffy cakes into unique round discs of artwork with messages. For that alone, it's worth the trip. Mine said "Smile" and sported a smiling happy face. What a unique Valentine's Day or birthday gesture to be remembered by your guy or gal...order them a serving of pancakes and ask the chef to draw something special...a heart perhaps. They also serve French toast and waffles. All with real maple syrup.
Homemade honey butter is served with muffins, but they'll add some to your pancakes if you ask nice.
Just like the breakfast menu, the lunch menu offers lots of choices.
Soups are made daily including clam chowder which was just right - not too salty as often is the case. I tried the corn chowder with plenty of corn and big chunks of potatoes.
What would a hometown cafe be without burgers. New is the Western burger with bacon, cheese, BBQ sauce and topped with their beer batter onion rings (they' so good, it's worthy of a side order!) or try the curly fries or their sweet potato fries. I've had the mushroom burger and it was very tasty.
On the handwritten menu board, you'll see they're serving several chicken wraps.
Prefer salad? They have plenty of them - with homemade dressings. I ordered their new Garden Chicken salad. Fresh fresh greens, red onions, cucumber, colorful peppers. I skipped the bacon and cheese and had them add black olives instead. I got Caesar dressing on mine. Delish. Also new is Spinach salad. But they still offer fan favorite Oriental Chicken Sesame salad with a homemade sesame soy vinaigrette.
Beverages include specialty teas, hot chocolate and hot apple cider, flavored cream sodas, endless ice tea and raspberry lemonade.
Before you call it a meal, try some of their fresh baked pies or an old fashioned hard ice cream shake. Desserts are homemade too, of course.
I just missed out on a piece of their ambrosial Peanut Butter Pie, darn! But Gigi ran the last remaining piece under my nose as she packed it up for a to go order. How cruel!
© 2009 Sequim Gazette. All rights reserved. 147 West Washington, Sequim, WA 98382 • 360.683.3311 • Email the Webmaster