Food was mediocre but the service was much worse. The bartender was pretentious and very rude. It's sad that such a old storied establishment has to hire such a jerk.
William Case
The joke is that the Horseshoe Cafe doesn't have an ATM. You can ask for yourself!
Richard K.
So many great things to say! First, FOOD! Is there any way to give 20 stars??? Seriously! Had chicken fried chicken and the sausage gravy was amazing beyond belief! Most places this gravy is mediocre at best, here is amazing. Only one other restaurant I've been to is remotely close, a mom and pop place in Tacoma 12 years ago. Rest of plate was good, gravy made it a star! The wait staff is really pleasant and great to deal with, very happy with the whole experience. A bit of a downer is the homeless population, not restaurants fault yet it worth noting, talk for another day. Once inside feels like transported to a different time period. Back in the day there was a brothel upstairs, not anymore of course. Place is steeped in history and nostalgia. There's a bar on one half with a pool table at one end and old style paintings in a few places. I don't want to spoil it here, there is a story behind some of the wall paintings, just ask and they'll likely share. An extremely nice place to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Can order anything from menu no matter time of day, and it all looked great! This is among one of my favorite restaurants right now, I just hope the city can clean things up... Fantastic work and many thanks to the crew here!
Dj M.
Best place to stop in the morning after a night of debauchery. Good drinks, bartender is wonderful, and the dark bar when you're questioning your life's decisions is critical. Plus, they have really good tater tots.
Jenna D.
OMG blueberry lemonade mimosa. A no frills diner with great food and friendly service, all ages in the cafe, and open late. I can't believe it's taken me seven years to try here. I like to think of myself as a Bellingham mimosa connoisseur, and honestly this place has the best one in town. There is a flight of four, probably 3.5 oz per mini mason jar for $17; it's a great way to find your favorite. But let's be honest, a place doesn't last over 100 years for drinks alone. I got chicken and waffles (savory) as this is one place that actually serves them on a weekday (or any day), and while I dislike bread in any form, there are actual bacon chunks in the waffle, and the sausage is generous in the gravy. Also, the biscuit is addictive and worth the charge as the side. Like the first line in the review says, the blueberry lemonade mimosa is superb and we actually got a full one each after the flight because it was THAT GOOD. You'll have to pay for parking unless you get there on off hours, but even the stupid parking fee is worth it. Go if you want good drinks and good food. It's wonderful.
Riley F.
Great burger and tasty fries! Interesting atmosphere for sure, but friendly staff and good happy hour.
Charlie I.
Took my mom here on her first night in Bellingham due to its downtown location and historic factor. We loved it! Hot American diner style food, good ambiance, great service, what more could you want? I may recommend taking a lyft to this spot, however, to avoid downtown traffic and parking fees.
Ed B.
I have been going to the Horseshoe occasionally for decades. After all.... It's the longest continuously operating diner in the state. However, when Covid began I stopped going. Recently I felt it was time to check it out once again, so off I went. I had been dreaming of a chicken fried steak for weeks and that was my goal. When I received my order, I was disappointed to discover the meat was a chicken patty not beef. I'm sure it was clearly stated on the menu, but in my eager quest for my food fantasy I skipped over all the details when reading the description. The chicken was cooked perfectly. Golden brown on the outside and moist in the middle. The gravy was well-made and had small bits of sausage in it. Unfortunately, it tasted flat and bland. It seriously lacked seasoning. Salt and pepper helped, but more spices were needed when cooking it. The hash browns were perfect. Again perfectly golden brown with moist innards,,, just the way I like them. Several other dishes I observed on surrounding tables all looked well prepared and seemed to be enjoyed by other patrons. A more flavorful gravy and more prompt service would have pushed my rating to four stars, but in the end, I left unsatisfied still longing for a tasty chicken fried (beef) steak. I will return, select a different food choice and give the Horseshoe another go.
Tanis L.
Looking at the menu for Horseshoe Cafe posted on its website and seeing it was 137 years old (founded in 1886), I decided to see if I could make it up to Bellingham and try it out before the 2023 year ended. After finding paying for street parking kicked in at 11:00 a.m. today, Wednesday 20 September 2023, I decided to do a brunch-time meal in the restaurant. I arrived at the restaurant at about 10:00 a.m. after parking a couple blocks away. The interior was fun and festive and I was seated at a small booth. Seating was well cushioned with the booth on each side of the table wide enough for approximately one person. There were larger approximately two-person wide booth options as well, but as a solo diner the table I got was perfect. I had two people wait on me, one longer-term employee and one trainee. Both were friendly and non-intrusive. For my beverage, I went with water. For my food, I went with a small pesto egg sandwich ($6.45) and a side of sausage gravy ($4.25). The wait was short once my order was placed and both items were delicious on their own. I also tried dipping the sandwich in the gravy and found it to be a perfect combination. The gravy was creamy, thick, and had hearty chunks of flavorful sausage. The sandwich elements were well balanced. My biggest concern was that the pesto would be overpowering, and I was relieved to find it milder and harmonious with the English muffin, mozzarella, fried egg, and tomato. As I ate, strung lights with small light bulbs helped create a festive ambiance. I sat facing the windows at the front of the cafe, which was fun for watching the city life as I ate. I was in and out and back to my car with a happy belly about 30 minutes after I arrived at the restaurant and about 30 minutes before paid street parking set in.
Luke H.
I have been to Michelin star restaurants... several... Olivia knew over single detail a slut everything and could easily work at the best restaurants in the nw
i can only give 4 stars because i only eat one thing here and it's the veggie burger made of black beans. the fries here are amazing too. staff is fine nothing too notable, they're nice. it's a cute diner with a nice vibe. not too fancy or anything. kinda pricey but what can you expect
Caitlin M.
I wish there was more vegan options. But the options they have are very delicious, I find myself craving their black bean burger at least one a month. The restaurant it self is cute, western diner style, and the staff have always been super kind to me.
addi a.
food was good but waiter was awkward and wasn't that attentive. didn't come back to check on us just glanced over to see if we were doing okay. had to ask for my drink to be refilled. i remember coming to this place a couple months ago and service being noticeably not great and i'm not even someone who's picky about service
Erica G.
Chicken and waffles are my favorite here. A great diner with a chill bar on the side. I like to take people here because it's the oldest running establishment in WA!! So cool
Matt J.
WARNING: This restaurant is in a HIGH CRIME area. Not safe for families.Service is loose and lacking. Professionalism is also lacking.There are better choices available.
Food was mediocre but the service was much worse. The bartender was pretentious and very rude. It's sad that such a old storied establishment has to hire such a jerk.
The joke is that the Horseshoe Cafe doesn't have an ATM. You can ask for yourself!
So many great things to say! First, FOOD! Is there any way to give 20 stars??? Seriously! Had chicken fried chicken and the sausage gravy was amazing beyond belief! Most places this gravy is mediocre at best, here is amazing. Only one other restaurant I've been to is remotely close, a mom and pop place in Tacoma 12 years ago. Rest of plate was good, gravy made it a star! The wait staff is really pleasant and great to deal with, very happy with the whole experience. A bit of a downer is the homeless population, not restaurants fault yet it worth noting, talk for another day. Once inside feels like transported to a different time period. Back in the day there was a brothel upstairs, not anymore of course. Place is steeped in history and nostalgia. There's a bar on one half with a pool table at one end and old style paintings in a few places. I don't want to spoil it here, there is a story behind some of the wall paintings, just ask and they'll likely share. An extremely nice place to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Can order anything from menu no matter time of day, and it all looked great! This is among one of my favorite restaurants right now, I just hope the city can clean things up... Fantastic work and many thanks to the crew here!
Best place to stop in the morning after a night of debauchery. Good drinks, bartender is wonderful, and the dark bar when you're questioning your life's decisions is critical. Plus, they have really good tater tots.
OMG blueberry lemonade mimosa. A no frills diner with great food and friendly service, all ages in the cafe, and open late. I can't believe it's taken me seven years to try here. I like to think of myself as a Bellingham mimosa connoisseur, and honestly this place has the best one in town. There is a flight of four, probably 3.5 oz per mini mason jar for $17; it's a great way to find your favorite. But let's be honest, a place doesn't last over 100 years for drinks alone. I got chicken and waffles (savory) as this is one place that actually serves them on a weekday (or any day), and while I dislike bread in any form, there are actual bacon chunks in the waffle, and the sausage is generous in the gravy. Also, the biscuit is addictive and worth the charge as the side. Like the first line in the review says, the blueberry lemonade mimosa is superb and we actually got a full one each after the flight because it was THAT GOOD. You'll have to pay for parking unless you get there on off hours, but even the stupid parking fee is worth it. Go if you want good drinks and good food. It's wonderful.
Great burger and tasty fries! Interesting atmosphere for sure, but friendly staff and good happy hour.
Took my mom here on her first night in Bellingham due to its downtown location and historic factor. We loved it! Hot American diner style food, good ambiance, great service, what more could you want? I may recommend taking a lyft to this spot, however, to avoid downtown traffic and parking fees.
I have been going to the Horseshoe occasionally for decades. After all.... It's the longest continuously operating diner in the state. However, when Covid began I stopped going. Recently I felt it was time to check it out once again, so off I went. I had been dreaming of a chicken fried steak for weeks and that was my goal. When I received my order, I was disappointed to discover the meat was a chicken patty not beef. I'm sure it was clearly stated on the menu, but in my eager quest for my food fantasy I skipped over all the details when reading the description. The chicken was cooked perfectly. Golden brown on the outside and moist in the middle. The gravy was well-made and had small bits of sausage in it. Unfortunately, it tasted flat and bland. It seriously lacked seasoning. Salt and pepper helped, but more spices were needed when cooking it. The hash browns were perfect. Again perfectly golden brown with moist innards,,, just the way I like them. Several other dishes I observed on surrounding tables all looked well prepared and seemed to be enjoyed by other patrons. A more flavorful gravy and more prompt service would have pushed my rating to four stars, but in the end, I left unsatisfied still longing for a tasty chicken fried (beef) steak. I will return, select a different food choice and give the Horseshoe another go.
Looking at the menu for Horseshoe Cafe posted on its website and seeing it was 137 years old (founded in 1886), I decided to see if I could make it up to Bellingham and try it out before the 2023 year ended. After finding paying for street parking kicked in at 11:00 a.m. today, Wednesday 20 September 2023, I decided to do a brunch-time meal in the restaurant. I arrived at the restaurant at about 10:00 a.m. after parking a couple blocks away. The interior was fun and festive and I was seated at a small booth. Seating was well cushioned with the booth on each side of the table wide enough for approximately one person. There were larger approximately two-person wide booth options as well, but as a solo diner the table I got was perfect. I had two people wait on me, one longer-term employee and one trainee. Both were friendly and non-intrusive. For my beverage, I went with water. For my food, I went with a small pesto egg sandwich ($6.45) and a side of sausage gravy ($4.25). The wait was short once my order was placed and both items were delicious on their own. I also tried dipping the sandwich in the gravy and found it to be a perfect combination. The gravy was creamy, thick, and had hearty chunks of flavorful sausage. The sandwich elements were well balanced. My biggest concern was that the pesto would be overpowering, and I was relieved to find it milder and harmonious with the English muffin, mozzarella, fried egg, and tomato. As I ate, strung lights with small light bulbs helped create a festive ambiance. I sat facing the windows at the front of the cafe, which was fun for watching the city life as I ate. I was in and out and back to my car with a happy belly about 30 minutes after I arrived at the restaurant and about 30 minutes before paid street parking set in.
I have been to Michelin star restaurants... several... Olivia knew over single detail a slut everything and could easily work at the best restaurants in the nw
Restaurantji Recommends
i can only give 4 stars because i only eat one thing here and it's the veggie burger made of black beans. the fries here are amazing too. staff is fine nothing too notable, they're nice. it's a cute diner with a nice vibe. not too fancy or anything. kinda pricey but what can you expect
I wish there was more vegan options. But the options they have are very delicious, I find myself craving their black bean burger at least one a month. The restaurant it self is cute, western diner style, and the staff have always been super kind to me.
food was good but waiter was awkward and wasn't that attentive. didn't come back to check on us just glanced over to see if we were doing okay. had to ask for my drink to be refilled. i remember coming to this place a couple months ago and service being noticeably not great and i'm not even someone who's picky about service
Chicken and waffles are my favorite here. A great diner with a chill bar on the side. I like to take people here because it's the oldest running establishment in WA!! So cool
WARNING: This restaurant is in a HIGH CRIME area. Not safe for families.Service is loose and lacking. Professionalism is also lacking.There are better choices available.