Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry
{{Short description|Restaurant in Seattle, Washington, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
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Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry (VPC) is a restaurant in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington.{{Cite web |title=Volunteer Park Cafe and Pantry: The Pastry Case's Next Chapter |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/2021/11/that-breakfast-sandwich-didn-t-happen-by-accident |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Seattle Metropolitan |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007151955/https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/2021/11/that-breakfast-sandwich-didn-t-happen-by-accident |url-status=live }} Housed in a 1900s building that previously operated as a convenience store, the business is owned by James DeSarno. Previously, Ericka Burke was the owner.{{Cite web |last=Guarente |first=Gabe |date=2021-08-18 |title=Capitol Hill Mainstay Volunteer Park Cafe Reopens With Intriguing New Menu and Nods to the Past |url=https://seattle.eater.com/2021/8/18/22630697/volunteer-park-cafe-and-pantry-opens-new-ownership |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Eater Seattle |language=en}}
Description
Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry (VPC) is a restaurant operating from a small yellow house at the intersection of 17th Avenue East and Galer Street in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood.{{Cite web |last=Craighead |first=Callie |date=2021-08-15 |title=New, reopened, coming soon restaurants to try around Seattle |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/food/article/new-restaurant-openings-in-seattle-august-2021-16380471.php |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=seattlepi.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012134720/https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/food/article/new-restaurant-openings-in-seattle-august-2021-16380471.php |url-status=live }} Eater Seattle has described the business as a "hybrid coffee shop, bottleshop, and corner market".{{Cite web |last=Guarente |first=Gabe |date=2021-08-18 |title=Capitol Hill Mainstay Volunteer Park Cafe Reopens With Intriguing New Menu and Nods to the Past |url=https://seattle.eater.com/2021/8/18/22630697/volunteer-park-cafe-and-pantry-opens-new-ownership |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Eater Seattle |language=en |archive-date=2022-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122174419/https://seattle.eater.com/2021/8/18/22630697/volunteer-park-cafe-and-pantry-opens-new-ownership |url-status=live }}
Thrillist says, "VPC is slinging great pies daily, as well as refreshing libations and a stellar hangover-cure style brunch."{{Cite web |title=Volunteer Park Cafe |url=https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/seattle/restaurants/volunteer-park-cafe |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Thrillist |language=en |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924173752/https://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/seattle/restaurants/volunteer-park-cafe |url-status=live }} The New York Times has described VPC as "cozy".{{Cite news |last=Laskin |first=David |date=2011-03-24 |title=36 Hours in Seattle |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/travel/27hours-seattle.html |access-date=2022-10-07 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2022-06-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617080808/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/travel/27hours-seattle.html |url-status=live }}
The menu has included avocado toast with za’atar, egg and cheese sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and Israeli couscous salad, and the pantry has stocked preserved blueberries, vegan chocolate, and canned tomatoes.{{Cite web |title=The Absolute Best Brunches in Seattle Right Now |url=https://www.thrillist.com/eat/seattle/best-brunch-in-seattle |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Thrillist |date=2 April 2021 |language=en |archive-date=2022-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929013736/https://www.thrillist.com/eat/seattle/best-brunch-in-seattle |url-status=live }} VPC has also served cakes, cookies, and other rotating seasonal pastries.{{Cite web |title=Seattle's Best New Restaurants (and Bars) {{!}} 2021 |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/best-new-restaurants-in-seattle-2021 |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Seattle Metropolitan |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006195702/https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/best-new-restaurants-in-seattle-2021 |url-status=live }}
History
VPC is housed in a {{Circa|1904}} building that previously operated as a convenience store. The restaurant closed in 2020,{{Cite web |last=Guarente |first=Gabe |date=2020-01-22 |title=Capitol Hill's Charming Mainstay Volunteer Park Cafe Is Up for Sale |url=https://seattle.eater.com/2020/1/22/21077431/capitol-hill-volunteer-park-cafe-up-for-sale |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Eater Seattle |language=en |archive-date=2022-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122174031/https://seattle.eater.com/2020/1/22/21077431/capitol-hill-volunteer-park-cafe-up-for-sale |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Guarente |first=Gabe |date=2020-11-24 |title=Capitol Hill's Volunteer Park Cafe to Develop More Wine Focus After Ownership Change |url=https://seattle.eater.com/2020/11/24/21612379/volunteer-park-cafe-sold-capitol-hill |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Eater Seattle |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007151955/https://seattle.eater.com/2020/11/24/21612379/volunteer-park-cafe-sold-capitol-hill |url-status=live }} before reopening in 2021 under a new owner James DeSarno, a local architect and vintner.{{Cite web |title=Canlis Alums Fill the Pastry Case at the New Volunteer Park Cafe and Pantry |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/2021/05/canlis-alums-fill-pastry-case-at-volunteer-park-cafe-and-pantry-reopening-capitol-hill |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Seattle Metropolitan |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119034014/https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/2021/05/canlis-alums-fill-pastry-case-at-volunteer-park-cafe-and-pantry-reopening-capitol-hill |url-status=live }} VPC is overseen by pastry chef Crystal Chiu and manager Melissa Johnson.{{Cite web |last=Guarente |first=Gabe |date=2021-08-18 |title=Capitol Hill Mainstay Volunteer Park Cafe Reopens With Intriguing New Menu and Nods to the Past |url=https://seattle.eater.com/2021/8/18/22630697/volunteer-park-cafe-and-pantry-opens-new-ownership |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Eater Seattle |language=en}}
Reception
Allecia Vermillion included the business in Seattle Metropolitan's 2022 list of "exceptional" breakfast sandwiches.{{Cite web |title=Seattle's Best Breakfast Sandwiches |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/the-best-breakfast-sandwiches-in-seattle |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Seattle Metropolitan |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007151955/https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/the-best-breakfast-sandwiches-in-seattle |url-status=live }} Emma Banks and Bradley Foster included VPC in Thrillist's 2022 list of "The Absolute Best Brunches in Seattle Right Now".
References
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External links
{{portal|Food}}
- {{Commons category-inline|Volunteer Park Cafe & Pantry}}
- {{Official website|https://www.volunteerpark.cafe}}
{{Capitol Hill, Seattle}}
{{Restaurants in Seattle}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Volunteer Park Cafe and Pantry}}
Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in Seattle