The Boarding House - Issaquah

Always a great home made lunch. Fresh ingredients and wonderful service!

The cleanliness of the restaurant leaves much to be desired. The horizontal surfaces in the back were dusty, and it looked like it hadn't been cleaned in quite some time. There were noticeable dust and spider webs on the vertical light cords and air vents, which hadn't changed since our last visit in June. The tables were sticky and the wooden surfaces could really use some waxing to improve the situation. If I were you, I’d suggest skipping this place altogether. Just head to Safeway and grab a soup and sandwich instead. You'll save time, money, and avoid some awkward interactions.

Yesterday, when we arrived for lunch, we found a long line at the counter. I understand that many restaurants have faced supply issues since COVID and have scaled back their menus, but The Boarding House still offers the same extensive selection. Unfortunately, by the time we reached the front of the line—only a couple of hours after they opened—many items were already unavailable, cutting our options nearly in half. When we attempted to order, the woman taking orders abruptly informed us that our first choice was unavailable and walked away. After what felt like an eternity, she returned to let us know that our second choice was also out of stock. Hungry and frustrated, we finally settled on our third option: the BLT with guacamole. At some point in our ordering process, I mentioned to the staff that I did not want mayo. Unfortunately, that information did not make it through to the kitchen. When the sandwich arrived with both guacamole and mayo, it fell apart. I took it back to the counter and reminded the staff of my request for no mayo. Instead of addressing the issue, the counter person loudly asserted, in earshot of other customers, that I never made that request. It felt as though she was trying to deflect responsibility and embarrass me. In the end, the cook replaced just the bread instead of the entire sandwich. I accepted that, even though I wasn't entirely satisfied, as we had already paid and were hungry enough to eat whatever they provided. Sadly, after this experience, we will not be returning to The Boarding House.

The food is really good. But the vibe of the owners Is variable. It’s really bad for business to treat any customer as if they are a bother. You’re not doing people a favor! Go take a look at how you act. If you’re going to have a business be nice on a consistent basis. Owners: how do YOU like to be treated when you go out to eat? Why don’t you have the same standards towards your customers? At times you are acting like it’s such a big deal and a big strain… Lucky your food is tasty because you guys are really jerks. Really….. jerks

Discovered this place on the next to last day of a week long stay. Wish I had found it sooner.Portions are enormous, try the 1/2 sizes, they are still a full meal, IMHO.Service is excellent, not crowded in the early morning but had to wait 5 minutes at 10am.