Worth Leaving Town For: Maltby Cafe

Author’s note: this particular visit was a while ago… like pre-covid a while ago. But thankfully this timeless staple of 30+ years is still open daily with indoor and outdoor seating at limited capacity.

On a drizzly lazy weekend afternoon, with nowhere in particular to go, but a toddler that did need a long car ride in order to go to sleep, Queen Esther and I decided to pay a visit to Maltby Cafe.

A place of legend. “The world’s largest cinnamon rolls,” they say.

We had actually gone once before a few years prior. I think we had a bit of a fluke situation on that previous visit, though. We had gotten a giant slice of their bacon quiche, but there was actually so much bacon and grease that it was inedible (Who knew? There really is such a thing as too much bacon.). We probably should have been “those people,” and sent it back. We didn’t, though, and it was now time for our redemption visit.

And we were sure glad we went.

Even though we didn’t arrive until two in the afternoon, they serve breakfast all day. The cafe was packed when we arrived.

I admired the many awards, stories, and mementos in the lobby while we waited about 15 minutes for a table.

I should actually back up to entering the cafe; it’s totally awkward. In a good way. First, you have to squeeze in between the parked cars to access the door which takes you to the basement of a historic building.

You open the door and walk down cement steps through another door around two corners up to the front counter. The ceilings aren’t super low but being a basement, they’re definitely not high. Exposed rafters, white wainscoting with green trim and hay-colored plaster walls mixed with, well, hay, give a quintessential farmhouse cafe vibe.

A greasy spoon of epic proportions. Patrons line the long bar while busy servers whisk plates to the sea of tables.

This basement has good energy.

It’s even good enough for Sir-Mix-a-Lot // Garret Hunt

And even better food.

The weekday and weekend/holiday menus have loads of options from all the classic breakfast fixings to sandwiches, light lunches, desserts and more.

Knowing their portions are large, we decided to split the veggie omelet. When we asked if cheese could only go on half (Queen Esther’s lactose intolerant) the waitress said they could put the cheese on the side. But when she brought the food, she said the cook owed her one and put the cheese on half after all. How kind!

Scramble with country fried red potatoes & a side of bacon // Garret Hunt

The scramble was packed with perfectly cooked fresh veggies and totally hit the spot.

For $13.95, the scramble also came with a deliciously seasoned side of country-fried red potatoes and an enormous biscuit (which even rivals The Totem Diner’s). Jam on the side.

Since we were splitting, I decided to splurge and get a side of bacon. Four big thick slices cooked just right; well done, but still loaded with flavor. This was redemption from our previous bacon quiche fiasco, indeed.

Of course, we also had to get a cinnamon roll. Knowing how ginormous they are we got it to go and only sampled a few bites while there.

It was a pleasure to take home and snack on over the next couple days. I personally probably had a good-size slice plated and warmed up on three different occasions. I’m sure Queen Esther had at least that much. The thing really is massive. Not a bad deal for $7.99.

They do use walnuts and the first couple bites have an almond-like flavor that always surprises me. The more I eat though, the less pronounced the flavor becomes as it blends in with the cinnamony goodness; and frosting. Lots of frosting.

Afterward, we meandered across the parking lot to check out a boutique shop in the old Malty schoolhouse. There’s a few quaint shops, an antique mall, and Snoqualmie ice cream in the small area of Maltby.

Not a bad little gem less than 30 minutes from Everett. Whether you need to go for a drive to get your baby to sleep, or are just in the mood for a cinnamon roll bigger than your head, on occasion - Maltby Cafe just might be worth leaving town for.