The Eatery Works

I am disappointed that this was my first visit considering i grew up around the corner. The simple menu made it easy to choose from. We had the bruschetta and it is definitely a plate you can share with the table and everyone can find something to enjoy. Wont go into detail about what we all ordered because everything was delicious! Portions are definitely hardy and you wont be leaving still hungry. Sure it was a one man operation but the service did not suffer as long as you don’t mind the wait time if the place is full. Which I didn’t! This will surely be my go to place now for Italian food in this area!

Don’t let the humble exterior fool you; this place has fantastic food! It’s got «one man show» written all over it, which is appropriate since Jim, the owner, was the only one working. From the hand-​written menus that are changed weekly to the wine list that Jim keeps in his head to the hand-​made chocolate truffles for a complimentary dessert, everything was creatively made with a high attention to detail.
The three of us started with the bruschetta. The traditional description with the addition of «with fun stuff» perfectly described it. There were four distinct flavors that ran the spectrum from sweet and creamy to savory and spicy. Figs, olive tapenade, veined cheese, fresh raspberries and mozzarella were only a few of the rainbow of tastes to mix and match.
My wife ordered the chicken breast with pears and goat cheese. The pasta was obviously home made and the fruity pears contrasted nicely with the creamy cheese.
My mother ordered the special, a Kobe beef stroganoff. To sum it up: Amazing. My first sample yielded a slightly tough piece of meat, but subsequent bites proved to be tender and juicy.
I ordered the chicken Marsala. I took a chance, since Marsala is usually a little sugary for my taste, but it was very nicely done. I will probably order something different next time, but if you like Marsala, you’ll most likely think it’s great.
Many of the reviews mention that the service is a little slow. There were three groups of patrons when we were there and, in truth, it was a little slower than you’d expect at one of the chain restaurants, but not so much as to be annoying. Expect to dine here rather than power through your meal.
We’ll definitely be coming back!

Excellent place! The restaurant is a one man show, so it can take longer than some are used to, but it is well worth the wait. Everything is fresh and the menu changes quite frequently. I couldn’t recommend it more.

From the outside (and even inside) it’s easy to dismiss this place. But we were in the area and after reading other reviews, my wife and I decided to stop in for dinner (we brought our kids w us too). It was empty when we came in and at first I thought it was closed for the evening. But the owner/​chef was there, sat us at a table and showed us this weeks menu. We ordered the bruschetta to start, and wow — that was the right move. Dinner entrees were fantastic too. Wine was also perfect. We will definitely be going back! Oh also — the homemade truffles are a great way to end the meal.

Not only was the food average and badly seasoned, the owner/​chef took a very very long time to serve and he smirked at us when we, acoording to him, finished out appetizers (we were very very hungry) too quickly. Had we not been that famished I am sure we would have wasted a lot more food than we did that day.

This GEM is easily the best Italian eatery around!
It’s located on a quaint intersection that probably hardly gets noticed, unless you’re looking for it. The only reason it might catch your attention is the fact that all the cars parked in the plaza are in front of this spot. It has a cozy outdoor seating area with plants/​flowers near the entrance. Inside, the coziness continues with a max occupancy of 23, which is about 6 – 7 small tables, and the kitchen. You pick a table and listen to a great mix of music (mostly oldies) while you peruse the charming, handwritten menu.
As prior posts may have mentioned, the menu changes seasonally, with a few staple items. Each dish is made with fresh ingredients with great distinct flavors that go together so beautifully. The items on the menu won’t be found on your run-​of-​the-​mill Italian restaurant… Jim seems to put flavors together that you wouldn’t expect and the outcome is delicious. You can taste the effort, creativity, and artistry that goes into making each dish.
Keep in mind that Jim runs the place on his own, with maybe one person helping, at most. He’s still attentive and the service is prompt, but be prepared for a little wait if the tables are full in front of you. Even still, he’s efficient and any short wait is well worth it.
My wife and I have been there 3 – 4 times together and once with our family, with no complaints on any visit. Any time we’re in the mood for Italian, this is the spot that comes to mind… there’s no need to go anywhere else!

Fabulous meal, fabulous wine, reasonable prices, intimate setting, great host.

It’s hard for me to write this since Eatery Works has been one of our favorite restaurants for some time. Our experience dining on Valentine’s Day will make us think twice before going back again. My husband called to make a reservation for 3 and was never told there would be a pre-​set couple’s menu ($ 135 per couple). When we arrived, the restaurant was almost full except for 2 tables which were later filled. I knew this was a one-​man show where the owner is the cook, server, and cashier. He did have a ‘helper’ who folded napkins and set the tables. Needless to say, our 5-​course meal took over 2 hours since the owner was cooking and serving 7 tables. The food, except for the entrees, was quite disappointing. We chose the clam appetizer and was given about 15 clams — not exacting enough for 3 people. We later overheard that he had run out of clams. Next was the soup which was flavorful but small portioned. The salad was mainly lettuce sprinkled with Parmesan cheese — very bland. Other patrons were given a «refresher» sorbet before the entrees but the same was not offered to us. The entrée choices were beef tenderloin, rack of lamb, or scampi — items that were around $ 18-​$ 23 on a regular day. The dessert was a truffle (which is normally complimentary) and a glass of Cognac. My daughter passed on the alcohol. My husband had 2 beers but was charged for 3. Our bill was $ 232 without tip. We absolutely did not think our dinners were worth that much in terms of food quantity, quality and service. We felt the owner went overboard to take advantage of the special occasion. This visit left a bad taste in our mouths.

Funny how there are plenty of 4 and 5 star reviews and one ugly one. Politics are a bad subject for some and I guess if your views don’t agree with someone else’s it would be easy to become «offended»… I go here for the food and it’s damn good. I also enjoy a different perspective so hearing someone else speak doesn’t bother me. The owner (Jim) is an interesting person to talk with. Last time we were in he shared the story of how his car was hit & run while parked right out front. I say Edmonds is lucky to have this open minded, non pretentious spot to flock to. Last time I went to one of the restaurants on the bay our waiter didnt even look us in the eye let alone engage us in conversation. This is a no zombies eatery, be aware.

We live in the neighborhood — and though we saw the sign we never gave this place a second thought until we read the reviews.
This is a small, informal, but very high quality restaurant — if what you care about is quality food and a relaxed place to enjoy your meal with no sense of being rushed.
I travel A LOT and eat in many fine places. I was expecting to be disappointed — given the somewhat funky location, the casual menu, and simple décor. Boy were we surprised. We had a couple of linguine dishes, salads and a bottle of wine. The portions are generous (next time we’ll split an entrée — the flavorings wonderful — and evident attention to quality of ingredients.
We’re DELIGHTED to find such a good place so close to home. We plan to become regulars!

I am rating soley on the food I had here the one time I visited. The pasta with chicken, pistacios and crème sauce was AMAZING! As was the roasted goat cheese appetizer with roasted peppers and onions on top and house made crustini to spread it on. I’m glad we didn’t get into any political conversation with the owner because I really enjoyed my meal and want to go back again without worrying about getting into an argument as a couple other reviewers have mentioned. No complaints from me at this point.

Almost every week, when we drive by this place on our way to another restaurant in Edmonds, we joke «are you sure you wouldn’t rather eat at Eatery Works and get into a political debate with the owner?» We love to support local businesses, and ate here three times. On the third occasion, we had ordered an appetizer special only to be told 20 minutes later that they had run out of the ingredients to make it! Now I understand that these things happen in a small establishment, but why did it take 20 minutes to notice?
The food was really good the first two times we ate here, but the third time was a definite letdown. This place clears out really early, and at 8:30 p.m. we were the last table still finishing our food, and the owner/​chef had already let his staff leave. He came out to finish up in the dining room, and engaged us in conversation. Big mistake! The man is a die-​hard Conservative with a capital «C’ and only likes to hear himself talk. He said terrible things about Liberals, not even knowing or caring, that he was talking to two Liberals. So of course we hurriedly finished our meals and hightailed it out of there. I don’t see us returning.

Amazing. The menu is all handwritten. Everything looks plain written down, but once you get it, oh man, DELICIOUS & full of flavors & sauteed veggies. We started with bruschetta, then tried the 5 cheese ravioli & the Angus beef linguini w/​asparagus. SO delicious. And the owner is great, very down to earth. The server was very patient with me and my indecision. Well-​kept secret & a must do. :)

This is the closest restaurant to my house, and to be honest, I didn’t even know it was there. Eventhought I looked right at it on at least a half a dozen occasions in the last 6 months I lived in my house, I somehow still missed it. The Eatery Works is lost in the strip mall, looking like a bar at best, vacant at worst… it never occured to me there could be… uh… food, edible food, much less phenomenal, mouthwatering deliciousness.
Not sure what part of «eatery» I missed, but it’s probably safe to say that reading is probably not my forte. But food is. And boy, does this place have good food. The owner-​chef, Jim is amazing. He treats everyone like we’re sitting just outside a big family kitchen. He talks about the food, and how he prepares them… and the results are delicious.
How lucky am I to live less than one mile from tne of the best eatery… a place where I can access hearty heaps of homemade deliciousness… with its perfect balance of sweet, salty and spicy… bursting full of flavor.
The ingredients are local, hand picked and prepared by Jim. The menu changes every 3 weeks or so, and rivals the high end downtown restaurants. I have to pinch myself to make sure that this is not a dream.
As the review imply — I’m a fan! Can’t wait to go back!

Well I wish I could’ve at least tried the food! But I walk in there hoping to grab something for lunch to take back to work, and the girl tells me they «don’t do to go orders»! WHAT?!

We are so lucky to have this restaurant in our community! Places are closing right and left … if you get a chance, please patronize this restaurant! It is a real asset to the Lynnwood/​Meadowdale/​Edmonds community! Wonderful food. some of the best in Lynnwood right now!

Wonderful food! Jim is an amazing chef! Please don’t be put off by the appearance of this place! This is a great place to eat and enjoy a night out. Come in and give it a try. Oh! and you will need a reservation!

My wife and I had dinner there recently and both really enjoyed it. Service was quick and the chef was very friendly. We look forward to eating there again.

Gem in Perrinville. Don’t be put off by the appearance from the outside — the quality of food makes up for it. We went in with low expectations and were amazed by a phenomenal meal at a bargain price. And the best part… the menu changes almost every time we go back, so there’s always something new to look forward to.
We’ve been impressed by crisp fresh salads, rich creamy soups, outstanding sandwiches, and amazing pastas.
A couple updates from previous posts:
— He now takes credit cards
— He now offers beer & wine
Also, the owner is working to make attractive and comfortable outdoor seating. We can’t wait to walk down for a nice lunch this summer.

This is a little independent restaurant that has really great food. I’ve been in here twice in the past month and both times I had great things.
The first time I had the portabella burger, which was a giant mushroom instead of a burger, on a fresh bun with balsalmic vinegar and I think gorgonzola sauce. Really good! I think it was only about $ 5 too, and it came with fries. I wish this place were around my work so I could get a cheap lunch. I ordered on the side a cuke salad, which was also light and great. I didn’t realize how big the sandwich was going to be, so I didn’t get to finish it all. The owner/​cook gave me a free truffle when I dined it. It was a homemade truffle that tasted like chocolate orange and I could have had several more.
Today I had the gorgonzola pasta. I must really like gorgonzola! It was excellent. Lots of mushrooms and a great sauce. The pasta had to have been homemade because it tasted so much better than normal fast food.
Make sure to bring cash because he only accepts it for now.