The Five Spot Cafe (Queen Anne)

A place that stays open 'til midnight, serving REAL food that doesn't come in plastic baskets lined with parchment paper?? Sign me up!

That's just one appealing factor about The Five Spot Cafe on Queen Anne. It's a charming little place, really, not tiny, but not huge either. The decor matches the menu, which is currently a harvest theme, featuring pumpkin and apple pie flavored coffee drinks. The menu changes four times a year, and features "regional cuisine" from all over the country.

As I sit down on the red vinyl booth, it's just after ten o'clock p.m. and there are still a number of people enjoying dinner in the cafe, as well as a few gentleman at the bar, in varying states of sobriety, I'm sure. Being the belle that I am, I am particularly excited about the fried green tomatoes and "Honey Stung" fried chicken on the menu.

Our server appears. Pretty much the first thing out of his mouth? "We're out of fried green tomatoes and the fried chicken."

Damn.

Well, back to the drawing board. It isn't like there is any shortage of other intriguing food to order. What to drink though? Oh, it's after ten p.m.! That means $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon! We order two of those, delighted at the prospect of cheap beer, even if it is PBR.

After scanning the entire menu, top to bottom, my dining companion and I decide on what to have for dinner that evening: I opt for the mixed greens with candied walnuts, tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. (Upon first tasting the salad dressing, it reminds me of Lemon Pledge, but upon further consideration I decide I like it: it's light and refreshing and goes well with the walnuts.) He orders the navy bean and ham hock soup. It's absolutely FULL of huge hunks of ham and tastes authentically homemade.

Our entrees? I decide on the New Orleans inspired fried shrimp, served with homemade cole slaw and some sort of spicy and sweet sauce that I literally wanted to lick off the plate. The shrimp are large and meaty and, even though there are only six on the plate, fairly filling. The meal is also accompanied by homemade hush puppies, of which I personally was not a huge fan. (Again, being the belle that I am, I can sometimes be a bit of a hush puppy snob. Other foodstuffs that I can also be snobby about? Grits, sweet tea and sweet potato pie, not necessarily in that order)

My dining companion orders the grilled porkchop dinner which comes with two grilled chops and some candied carrot concoction that was quite tasty. The chops are good: juicy (not dry as is so often the case with pork prepared in restaurants) and very tender. We were both impressed with our dinner choices.

Now, we've reached the dessert portion of our review and I feel a foreword is in order: If you are not from the east coast of the United States or have never at least spent some time there, you will probably not have the slightest clue as to what the amazing dessert is that I am about to talk about.

Whoopie Pies are one of life's little pleasures, a sweet treat that is indigenous to the east coast, particuarly Pennsylvania Amish country. They can, however, be found outside of that region and I have found them in many small mom 'n pop type places in the south as well. Whoopie Pies are, in short, nothing short of delicious.

What is a Whoopie Pie? Well, I can describe it to you, but it's just not going to do it justice. Simply put, it's the most delicious cream filling you can imagine, sandwiched between two cakes of varying flavor. (I personally have had chocolate and banana, though I've heard tales of an elusive pumpkin Whoopie Pie, as well as strawberry. I have never personally seen these.)

Anyway, The Five Spot Cafe is currently featuring a Whoopie Pie dessert as part of their harvest menu. We had it. It was fabulous.

All in all, I was a huge fan of the entire menu at The Five Spot and want to go back for that fried chicken! (I want to go back for a lot of things, like Satchmo's Red Beans and Rice found on the southern inspired portion of the menu, as well as the roast chicken supper, featured as part of the Pacific Northwest menu.)

At the end of our meal, our check totals around $54. A little much for a late night, impromptu dinner, but it was REAL FOOD, people!! And real GOOD food, at that!

To sum it up:
Food: A-
Service: B+
Atmostpher: A-
Value: A-

Will I go back? OHHHHHHHH yeah, I'll be going back. Every three months!!