LC’s Kitchen

Mediocre brunch food. It had sounded so exciting from the menu and the website and other reviews, but it was bland diner fare with few vegetarian options.
+1 star for the very friendly and welcoming staff. I delayed writing this review for months because they were so kind that I felt guilty.

I took my son and his GF to LC’s for dinner the other night. It’s just a little hole in the wall, serving delicious, rock solid meals. My son had a plate of putanesca, while I enjoyed a seafood stew, but Ashley (the GF) had the tastiest portabello mushroom sandwich, with gorgonzola and carmelized mushrooms, with a killer bowl of homemade clam chowder.
Now if ambience is what you desire, or a wine pairing with every course, well LC’s might not be for you. But, If you want a stellar meal, layered in flavor, everything made in house, then you might want to try LC’s out. Save room for a slice of Key lime pie. As my son said, this pie is fu#king delicious! JR

This was our first time at LC’s Kitchen and while they certainly made us feel welcome, we felt kinda like a couple of outsiders because there wasn’t a single person who walked through the door who wasn’t a regular. They were all greeted by name and given suggestions based upon their personal preferences (which were known).
We made the mistake of ordering an appetizer (shrimp quesadilla) which was so substantial that there was absolutely no room for the entrée (jerk chicken). My husband ordered the blackened pork sandwich with fries which were just like Dick’s fries except they were big and fat. We had our eyes on the dessert menu, but there was no way!
We’ll be back and I’ll bet next time we are greeted like old friends.

There’s dive bars and there’s dive restaurants. LC is a dive restaurant. The ceiling is literally held in place with white duct tape. One wall is covered with the crayon artwork of young children.
Service was businesslike and brusque.
But very nice: KEXP 6:00pm bluegrass-​like music — Johnny Cash.
Lunch/​dinner menu is pub food: sandwiches, salads, soups, burgers and pasta. Brunch is also available mid-​afternoon. However, there is a specials board with far more interesting items. I went with the seafood stew.
The seafood stew automatically came with a side tossed salad and bread. The vinaigrette dressing was decent. I did like the dipping oil for the bread because it was garlicky and had a few other seasonings as well.
My seafood stew ($ 14.95) was absolutely delicious, with a cream and wine broth. The stew contained plump fresh oysters, spinach, red bell pepper, ‘shrooms, onions and new potatoes. But for the price, I found the quantity of stew a bit skimpy.
Dessert’s available, today it was three different pies.

I’ve been here a few times now and have had a great experience every time. The specials are amazing and different all of the time, and the service is fast and friendly.
The menu is small, which I actually appreciate. The owner is the cook and I always see a lot of families in here.
Try the jerk chicken or the jerk chicken salald-​both super tasty.
I can’t wait to check out the brunch menu.

I lived in Lake City for about 2 years and was always curious about this place. Was it a greasy spoon? Was it even open? My husband chose LC’s as our weekly dinner date destination and I was excited. It has a really homey and welcoming vibe, it’s a comfy sort of place. When you walk in take a second to look at the specials board, it’s pretty large. I’m assuming the owner or manager was our server, he was real quirky but totally cool.
There are a variety of things on this menu that span many different cuisines. I decided to get the jerk chicken and hoped I wouldn’t regret it. I’m happy to say not only did I not regret it, I savored every bite! It was one of the best chicken meals I’ve ever had. The meat was very juicy and the marinade was incredibly flavorful. Even the beans and rice that it was served with were tasty. My husband got corn chowder with yams and it was equally as good.
Even though I don’t live in LC anymore I will definitely be making the trip back to LC for more LC’s! Next mission: brunch.

Great food, good service!
The brunch food is very good; poached eggs on turkey hash with pesto was an unusual but very tasty combo. I like a place that has 4 different hot sauces on the table. Their biscuits were wonderful; flaky, hot, with just a hint of saltiness to go with the jam I smeared on them.
Service was pleasant and attentive, seating area was fine. Beer and wine only, no hard stuff.

We have been living in maple leaf for a while now and have only recently noticed this little spot on lake city. We were having a lazy sunday and wanted to find a breakfast restaurant near home. I ordered the cajun hash and a biscuit and my man got the banana french toast. Both dishes were delicious. Truthfully, from the outside this place doesn’t seem too promising. In reality, its great! I can’t wait to come back.

What I love about LC’s kitchen is their food. Every dish I’ve tasted from this place was delicious and homemade. My favorite dish at LC’s is the Griddled Pork Chops with Mushrooms Sauteed in Apple Sauce. I loved the cornmeal crusting on the porkchops with the right amount of seasoning mixed with the greens and the mushrooms.
I’ve eaten here so many times I’ve lost count. Pauline is an awesome chef and Kevin is an awesome host. Out of all the places I’ve been to, this place makes me feel at home.

Two things/​comments: the owner is weird/​nice and the food is unique/​tasty.
I thought this place would be like a Denny’s but it’s much more than that. You can tell that each item is developed with taste in mind. There were interesting sauces that I couldn’t quite identify. And I could tell that the ingredients were carefully chosen — even the bread used for the toast was top notch.
The waiter was quirky. Beware of his weird flair. But once I adjusted, he started growing on me and before I realized it I was expressing my inner weirdo too. He made everyone feel special.

This place wasn’t what i expected, and i honestly was only trying to use a coupon to get a late breakfast/​early lunch near my cousin’s mom’s house near Lake City Way (she was treating, so i figured i should use up some two-​for-​ones while the book’s good… and she needed a place close-​by so she wouldn’t be late for her ride to the airport).
I expected it to look like a Claire’s Pantry and smell like waffles, sound like screaming children, and have booths stuffed with people covered in syrup. It was actually quiet and empty, save for an older fella reading the paper and having a meal next to the counter/​register area (it’s really cozy in here. small but comfortable). I liked the fact that this little restaurant keeps lots of papers and magazines lying about for people to read.
The young woman serving was hip-​looking, friendly, and didn’t make me feel like a toolbag for bringing a coupon in. I asked about the specials board, which had oyster stew on it scribbled in chalk, along with BBQ shrimp & grits… so i had to ask. They were her favorites, she said, and i know she meant it when she described the creamy white oyster stew, because her face lit up. We had a brief chat about our mutual love for bivalves when my cousin came in.
The menu was a bit short, and sans the breakfast-​fare that I’d read about on Unilocal (aka the french toast). The girl explained that they did late brunch on weekends… so i guess we were too late for the weekday b-​fast menu. But she offered to make special requests to the kitchen if we wanted eggs or anything.
The later menu had sandwiches, salads, pastas, appetizers, and some seafood (the special fish of the day was snapper) such as clams in white wine… and i was relieved that it wasn’t going to look like a typical post-​breakfast menu from a place that i went to FOR breakfast (you know, either all sandwiches, fried stuff, or cafeteria food).
I had to get the BBQ shrimp and grits ($ 15, if i remember), though. There was spinach in there! How could i not? My cousin ordered the portobello mushroom sandwich with yam fries ($ 8? $ 9?) (i had been eyeing that, too). The stew will have to wait another day although i honestly am still thinking about it as i write. The food came out at a leisurely pace, so i’m glad i had put off an appointment till later that day, and my order included a neat, lightly-​dressed salad to distract me. I wasn’t asked about a choice of dressing, but it tasted subtle and pleasant; however, other people might want to be asked first.
My shrimpy grits came out to be in a glorious stewey broth/​sauce (yay, it’s not just gravy!), loaded with chubby, glazed shrimp in their butterflied fetal position nestled on top and inside the sauteed spinach. The grits came in a triangular cake form, and was bit larger than the one i had gotten in my shrimp & grits at Toulouse (not knocking Toulouse down… just comparing). The portion was generous, and although i finished it all, it took me awhile! The shrimp have their tails on, which i prefer, even if it makes for messier hands. All that sauce and flavor sticking to the tails!
My cousin must have enjoyed her very hearty-​looking portobello sandwich on that big, crusty bread (the kind with a hard top dusted with flour and softer on the inside inside), because she did not offer to let me get my greasy hands on it. My photo doesn’t capture the inside very well, but it looked gooey and cheesy, with the mushrooms chopped into manageable (but still hearty) pieces.
Waiting around for the card to get swiped took a few minutes longer than i like to wait after i realize how much food i’ve eaten. This was most likely due not to her negligence, but probably to our being so engrossed in a personal family matter and the fact that we never had to ask for anything (waters were always refilled), so our urgency to close out most likely did not seem like our first priority.
We parted ways, i pulled my shirt over my tummy and moaned a little, and hugged my cousin goodbye.
I think the only thing missing here are more unique items like their gumbo, and that stew for their lunch menu. Since they were specials, i’d imagine there’s got to be new things popping up all the time. I’ll have to see! And get my oyster stew craving satiated.
*joy

Learned that they have a brunch before the lunch menu so…
Had the banana bread french toast. Basically two big chunks pieces of banana bread made like french toast topped with some raspberries and syrup. Unique and simple and good but not the mind blowing flavors I’d expect after reading the glowing accounts.
Also ordered their Gobble Hash, which is basically their version of corned beef hash but made with turkey. Fruit and a buttermilk biscuit is also included. Again, decent food but nothing out of this world or memorable. The biscuit was hot and I did like that with the jam and butter spread on top.
The better half and I felt that maybe we should have waited for lunch to have something more satisfying as this didn’t really cut it. Maybe that is why they called it brunch? What a concept.

Like many, been driving past for ages. Unlike some, I’d tried to give ‘em a try before. .. but I always seemed to come by when they were closed. A couple weeks ago, I planned ahead — checked hours online — ready to roll.
Very glad I did — yum! I had a daily special — wonderful pan-​fried catfish filet with flavorful side of wild rice mixture and large slices of zuccini (also pan-​seared — simple and delicious). This place isn’t complicated and that’s a really. good. thing. Use fresh ingredients — treat ‘em properly — serve ‘em up. Will definitely be adding LC’s to my rotation.

This place was on the Food Network for a reason!
I lived right down the street for years and it wasn’t until I moved away that I saw the piece on the Food Network and had to make a trip.
LC’s has the best banana bread french toast ever. They also do a wonderful dinner. I had some sort of spicy southwest pasta dish that was beyond flavorful and craveable. This is a great place all around!

Went for breakfast and it was outstanding. Flavorful, fresh and fulfilling. Staff is wonderful and food creative. Don’t let the exterior or the LCW location dissuade you from trying this great food.
I always read both positive and negative reviews before and after a visit and also those reviewers reviews of other joints. Sadly, there are a lot of confused people (hate a what I consider a good restaurant but like PF Changs. I like Changs but wouldn’t say it’s great…), fools and plain old wrong reviews.

We’ve been coming here for years and love LC’s. Pauline does a great job in the kitchen, does everything from scratch.
The pastas are true comfort food, and we never leave without a pc of the key lime pie.
The burgers are great too.
Highly recommend, you won’t be disappointed.

We had driven by many times and finally decided to stop in. The place is homey, very homey, with a mix of tables and art and kid art on the wall. The kitchen seems to take up most of the building. It’s kind of an open kitchen, and everything was kind of sitting out, pies on the counter, etc. It’s kind of a charming shambles. Beer comes in the bottle and soda comes in the can, that kind of place. Honestly, I had driven by so many times without stopping because usually when the look of a place looks worn and out of date, that usually signifies a place that was once popular but has gone downhill.
However, this was not the case with LC’s Kitchen. The food was really good — we didn’t order anything too fancy, a burger and a fish sandwich, but the details were just right. Hubby had a choice of cheese, and he ordered blue cheese and bacon, which was excellent on the burger. I had the choice of blackened or grilled fish, and usually blackened stuff is too hot, too dry or just too much, but it was nice and flavorful and just right. We both had fries, which were homemade and yummy. The waitress brought us some remoulade to eat with the fries, and I think it may have also been on my sandwich. All of the food was excellent.
We had a slice of chocolate pecan pie for dessert, and it wasn’t the best pie ever — very homemade and a little sugary rather than having that nice oozy sweet filling that pecan pie usually has. And I really hope before the next time we go in, someone cleans the glass in the window case, cause it’s greasy and that’s distracting.
But how can I complain after this nice meal for less than $ 30? Someone else said in a review that nothing’s more than $ 15; I’d like to add that the only items over $ 10 were on the entrée part of the menu, which is fairly small, and there are plenty of apps and sandwiches, both on the menu and the special board, for about 8 bucks.
As we ate, we noticed almost everyone who came in seemed to know the staff and talked at length with either the waitress or the cook, who I understand is the owner? There was also a steady stream of take-​out traffic. We’ll definitely go back.

Not fancy, just good. Excellent food, friendly folk and a great value.
Pauline (the owner and chef who is ALWAYS there) makes everything from scratch and it shows. Her fish sandwich (whatever is fresh that day) is one of the best around and if you’re lucky enough to be there when steak sandwich is the special of the day, you’ll be in heaven. This from a Philly boy… her steak is NOT an authentic Philly cheesesteak, just one of the most flavorful steak sandwiches I’ve ever had.
Have the fries. They’re worth the extra gym time.
Her pasta specials always impress and the desserts can be downright sinful. And I’ve never seen anything over $ 15 on the menu.
Portions are well designed… I’m a big guy and just a sandwich or entrée leaves me full. If I get dessert, it’s usually to go. Anyone who says the portions aren’t big enough must go to ridiculous Claimjumper-​like places that give you huge portions of mediocre food. Gimme fresh, flavorful and just enough.

We went here for breakfast this weekend, and yum! It’s tiny tiny tiny, less than 10 tables. We were the only ones in the place during our meal and we had awesome service, and I get the feeling it would be that way even if it were packed. The guy genuinely seemed to like dealing with people and it showed.
I had a scramble with mushrooms, cheese and sun dried tomatoes that came with breakfast potatoes that were a little undercooked but still good. My boyfriend had some potato pancake special that came with poached eggs, which he said was very good. Food tastes very fresh, prices are good, and coffee was «so fresh you want to slap it» as our waiter said. Plus they serve cream in the little metal dishes, which is good for people like me who like a little coffee with their creamer. What more could you want on an icy Saturday morning? Except better weather, but you know, they’re only a restaurant.

Just went there for a quiet breakfast this morning. I liked it, and here are some thoughts:
It’s not a diner — more like a bistro, meaning a small, eclectic menu done quite nicely. You were going to get every possible combination of eggs, sausage, bacon, toast etc etc here. There was a nice egg sandwich I went for, along with a chorizo eggs quesadilla and about 10 other funky and good sounding dishes.
The service was phenomenal. Wasn’t crowded (pretty amazing for 11:30 AM on a Sunday in Seattle). I’ve driven by this place many times in 5 years in Lake City — this was my first visit. I’d recommend it when you’re feeling like trying something different. Nice quiet atmosphere too — laid back.