Daily Cafe

[October 17th, 2007] 902 NW 13th Ave., 242-1916. Breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday, dinner Wednesday-Saturday, brunch Sunday. $$ Moderate.

From the bright and airy warehouse space and rotating artwork to the “starving artist” dinner special, it’s no surprise that the Daily sits adjacent to the Pacific Northwest College of Art. But this is artsy done right: The pink-haired servers are friendly and seem sincerely excited about the food they’re serving, and the bold crimson- and lime-colored tables and warm, wood-paneled walls offer a nice pick-me-up on dreary days. “Salad sandwiches”—wasabi tuna and tarragon chicken with almonds—are a lunchtime hit, as are the indulgent panini; no wonder, as the Saltimbuca features chicken breast nuzzled warmly against creamy, stinky Asiago and prosciutto-sage butter. The real treat at this Pearl staple is brunch, when $12.95 gets you a basket of mini-pastries, an appetizer such as housemade granola or cheddar-crusted apple crisp, and an entree. (AGM)

Signature dish: The “something totally different” breakfast linguine, which bathes pasta, pancetta and red peppers in a sauce that’s part cheesy and part yolky.

Standouts: Currant-studded scones and tall, elegant glasses of fresh-squeezed citrus.

Regrets: Pancakes smothered in apple butter are just too much after a half-basket of sweets.