23 Apr Friday Feature: Elliott Bay Cafe (yes it’s still here!)

I had the great opportunity this week to sit down with Zephyr, the manager of Elliott Bay Cafe, to talk about their store and what their future is looking like with the departure of Elliott Bay Book Co.

To reach the store, you have to go underground, where you enter a Pioneer Square-esque brick-walled interior that was the inspiration for Café Nervosa in the TV sitcom “Frasier” (apparently Norman Mailer, Barbara Kingsolver and George Saunders have all stopped by to check it out).

Visitors to the cafe still have a funny reaction when they’re visiting specifically to compare it to the Frasier Cafe and don’t think it’s the perfect match. Just talking with Zephyr, you can see the passion that she has for EBC, for the staff that work there, and for the menu.

“I think we probably have the best vegetarian selection in this neighborhood and probably some better vegetarian selections than a lot of places around,” she said. “Our ‘beans and greens’ is ridiculously outstanding. The breakfast risotto, which is a vegan dish, will totally get you going in the day. It’s amazing.”

With a customer mix of office employees and residents, the best news is that EBC is sticking around the neighborhood and we need to help support that decision! With the departure of EBBC, they are temporarily closing at 3pm until another business opens up in that space. They’ve noticed a slight drop in evening customers, and think that part of it may be that people don’t know they’re still around (perhaps due to the papered up windows in EBBC’s old space).

I emailed with owner Tamara Murphy (who also owns the fabulous Brasa) to find out why she chose Pioneer Square and why she’s sticking around.

What made you decide to open a cafe in Pioneer Square?
Tamara: I have had a relationship with the book store for 25 years. I witnessed the cafe’s various incarnations over the years, and always thought that it was a magical historical space that needed constant nurturing and definitely a face lift. Peter Aaron was looking for an operator as he was not a restaurant guy, and he was given my name and we hit it off instantly. The cafe and the book store had great synergy and we were successful together from day one. Such great synergy that we decided to do it again in the new location. Although the bookstore has gone, I still believe in the space and we have different opportunities now.

Is there anything about EBC that people don’t know?
Tamara: It’s a great venue for music, and fine dining. Some of our dinners include linen, candle light and jazz or other music. It is an awesome space for parties, and events. I am now taking over the “reading room” and am going to transform the space into a speakeasy type atmosphere, where chefs dinners, dancing, receptions, wine tastings are on the agenda.

To get on the minute updates on EBC’s menu or special events, follow them on twitter, or become a Facebook fan.