Seattle favorite Beth’s Cafe reopens Thursday after pandemic closure

Good news for Seattle's breakfast and brunch fans: Hazel Dalton, owner of Beth’s Cafe on Aurora Avenue, announced that the beloved no-frills diner will officially reopen again on Thursday, July 8. 

The restaurant’s new hours will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. These modified hours will remain in effect until further notice, as the Beth’s team works to rebuild staffing and understanding of customer demands. Due to many unknowns, the reopening will happen slowly.

"We are thrilled—and grateful—to be in this position to re-open Beth’s, well aware that many restaurants have not been so lucky," Dalton wrote in a Facebook post announcing the reopening.

The breakfast menu will remain the same: 12-egg omelet and all. The lunch menu will be pared down somewhat until the owners have a better understanding of what customers are coming in for.

Beth’s Cafe was forced to temporarily close down last October in the wake of COVID-1 restrictions. The owners said operating at 25 or 50% capacity wasn’t sustainable for the restaurant and that they wouldn’t reopen until they were allowed to be back to 100%. The cafe has been in business in the Emerald City since 1954.

When Gov. Jay Inslee announced the state could fully reopen and all restrictions could be lifted at the end of June, all restaurants were able to return to full capacity.

Dalton asks that customers of Beth’s Cafe — and all restaurants — have patience with wait staff and restaurant workers. The increased demand for restaurant dining following the state’s reopening has added stress to the overworked staff. The labor shortage is also causing a massive decrease in restaurant workers, straining the limited resources. 

"We’ll be working harder than ever to bring you delicious and satisfying food in our unique space while facing extraordinary challenges and uncertainties," Dalton wrote. "I'm confident we'll be back in full swing soon."