I’m going to come out and say it. I’ve coined the phrase Mecca and a movie. What is this you ask? It’s when you get a grilled cheese at Mecca Cafe and then go across the street to catch an independent film at SIFF Cinema Uptown. Just bring it up casually like it’s something you do on a regular basis.
The Mecca Cafe is a dying breed of establishments in Seattle. It’s been around since 1929 and has withstood the test of time. There isn’t much to it and that’s why it’s fantastic. It’s as if a middle America diner was lifted off the ground and dropped in the Pacific Northwest.
I prefer grabbing a spot at the bar but there are plenty of booths available if you’re a booth person. Cheap, unpretentious grub combined with ice cold beer on tap is sometimes exactly what you need. Don’t over-complicate your decision making here and take a step back in time at one of Seattle’s most historic establishments.
My order is the same every time: Grilled cheese on sour dough bread with fries and a Miller High Life. It’s simple, but something about it just feels right at the Mecca.
