Eclectic Sawyer Will Bring Cinnamon Roll and Upside Down Pancake Brunches to Ballard

Ballard denizens are about to get a delightfully wacky new brunch. Sawyer — the inventive and eclectic spot from rock star chef Mitch Mayers that opened last summer — is about to add the meal to its repertoire on July 21. As those familiar with the restaurant might expect, the brunch menu (available on Sundays, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.) puts some playful spins on classic dishes, whether it’s American diner food, Mexican, or Asian cuisine. That means offerings such as cinnamon roll monkey bread with cream cheese frosting, cherry upside down pancakes with sprinkles, scones with foie butter, breakfast nachos, and udon noodles with pastrami, shrimp, gai lon, and scrambled eggs.

There will also be a host of creative cocktails, including the Champion of Breakfasts (bourbon with hot coffee and fernet whipped cream) and bloody mary options in gin and sake forms. For those looking for something a little less boozy, the Tea and Tonic with plum rose oolong and citrus peel might be more their speed.

Sawyer — a 2019 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant — has earned plenty of critical kudos for its familiar-yet-fun food with a heavy Pacific Northwest influence and a well-designed space that was once a sawmill. But in an increasingly-crowded Ballard restaurant scene, getting to the brunch crowd seems essential, especially since nearby Bitterroot BBQ, Bastille Cafe and Bar, Stoneburner, and the popular Thai spot Pestle Rock all open early on the weekends. Maybe Mayers’s quirky dishes and drinks can stand out from the pack.

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