Starting Gate Restaurant

I was in Auburn and wanted to eat breakfast after an appointment, so I found this restaurant on Yelp. This place reminds of a great home town diner. It was quite busy but we were able to get seated pretty quickly. Service was super friendly and quick considering how busy they were. Our server was fantastic she was very sweet and greeted everyone that came in the door with a warm welcome and a great smile. I'd definitely eat here again if I'm in the area.

A very cozy, clean and cute traditional American diner located in Auburn! I was here right before Christmas so it was super busy but our food came out super fast and service was excellent. 5/5The food was pretty good. I just wish my hash-brow were a little bit crispier then it will be perfect. Besides that I definitely will come back here whenever I crave for American food. Hopefully they will continue to be voted best in Auburn in 2023! Looking forward to come bạck!

An adorable local breakfast spot that has unbeatable customer service. They are the sweetest people and just reek of positivity and community. This has become one of our go to breakfast spots. The food is consistently yummy, comes out hot and fresh. And their brewed coffee is constantly made fresh.My usual order is the chicken fried steak and eggs. The gravy is thick and peppery. And the hash browns are a crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They have a good sized parking lot too

Food is so so good. So flavorful and big potions! The Reuben was out of this world. Their homemade potato salad is the only potato salad that I would say is better than my grandmas. Service is so friendly and thoughtful. Clean place, clean restrooms. So good!

Food here is always excellent. Service is always top notch. I had the chicken fried steak and it was yummy. They always make sure your coffee is full and they are always inviting.

Classic diner serving up great grub with that classic diner experience. It totally channeled the Gilmore Girl vibes I was seeking.

What can I say that hasn't already been said in all the great reviews? I've been wanting to visit the Starting Gate for quite some time. After getting my truck repaired down the street, I finally stopped in. As soon as I walked in, it brought me back to the time when searching for the best breakfast places in Kent and Auburn.I sat at the counter and my server was super friendly. I'm a country-fried steak and eggs guy, so I ordered that. Now I'm not sure if it is the go-to breakfast to judge and review a restaurant, but I think so. It did not disappoint and not sure what brought the flavor out. The steak was tender and gravy had a fantastic flavor. Everything was cooked to perfection.The Starting Gate did have their regulars, but NOT in an imitating way. I can go back and be one of those regulars right away !! I might even try something different.

This place has been on my radar for years, however do to circumstances, I have avoided them. I'm nervous of any Yelp business that is "Unclaimed"that tells me ownership either doesn't care, or isn't smart enough to know that their business has a potential thriving social presence. My other concerns is the lack of website. For $15 a month, you have the ability to share pricing pictures, hours of operation and even the history of your business. I don't think anyone with a commercial, specifically retail business should be without a functioning website. Ok, menu looked OK and by OK, I wasn't in love with some of the offerings, and they said no substitutions, but they allowed additions. There was an omelet with ham, peppers, onion, tomato, cheese and I believe mushroom. I wanted that, but bacon instead of Ham and no mushroom. Well, what I got was less for more. For the same price, I got the bacon and cheese omelet then paid $3 for tomato and onion and it was scarce. I would have been better off with bacon and eggs, the portions would have been larger.Here is the worst part, when the omelet came it was ham, I looked at the ticket and it said ham, but the guy next to me said, hey, you ordered bacon, that looks like ham. Then this happened. https://youtu.be/4VdMdboymT8?si=2-4PhIyHU8ecZeyRThis video shows what played out in front of me. At least 4 employees read the ticket, read ham, but my server insisted it was BAC for bacon. And for 5 minutes, it was discussed like a presidential debate. A new omelet was made and when it came, both it and the hash browns were much smaller than the original plate. So after making mistakes on my order and delaying the food for 10 minutes, I got served a child's plate but it all came to more than $20. At $13.50, I could have lived with it, but they should have either made the plate bigger and said, we aren't charging you for the additions, The food wasn't bad, but it was mediocre. It was not worth the money or the drive and I'd never return here, because despite no one having bad malice, I could have gone to 13 Coins or a host of Hotels and had a much better omelet or experience for less money. A place like this is built for regulars and despite the positive reviews, the biggest reason I never came here before is the lack of solid reviews. Maybe it's just time to expect less from South King County. I should have went to Lil Jon's.Still the best all around breakfast in the county for quality, consistency and price.

We were out of towners looking for diner breakfast.Upon arrival it is very clear this is a "locals" restaurant. The wait staff knew a lot of customers by name and knew what they wanted to order. That being said, they did not treat us any different. Very friendly wait staff.The Starting Gate is a throwback type of place. The waitress told us they don't use technology much to run the restaurant. We found this quaint and charming. The prices were very fair. This place is less expensive than most places, so that was cool. Have I had better breakfast? Yes I have. I still very much enjoyed the food we were served. The portions were not overwhelming which we like. We really enjoyed being here, it was a friendly place with good food.

Recently I rediscovered this place after than two year. The caring staff is what has made this place the local gem that it has remained for years. My 1st in a series of meals was on Sundays. My temporary job is nearby and this place is fast and convenient. The sever Laura and her caring and detailed customer service with a smile and genuine interests in the customers make this a place I always look forward to future dinning experience l. Thank you Laura you make such difference is our lives.The rest of the staff is wonderful especially Carrie and Sammy.I did find find the early mornings Sunday - Tuesday to have exceptionally great service. The rest of the week wasn't as much fun.The just like Home feeling is authentic and welcoming to all.