Pogacha
119 106 Ave NE
Bellevue WA 98004
Ph:425-455-5670
Wood Fired Goodness Made Fresh Each Morning
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I know what you're thinking. What's a pogacha? It's a Croatian word for flatbread and Pogacha makes their thick fluffy pieces of croatian goodness fresh every morning in their wood fired oven. Located in a small strip mall on the outskirts of downtown Bellevue, it offers up some interesting pastas, flatbreads, and sandwiches that are perfect for a casual dinner or a quick lunch on the go.
As you walk through the doors, you'll instantly notice some of the quirky things about pogacha. A few mannequin arms and legs randomly seem to sprout out of the walls and ceiling creating a juxtaposed look when compared to the other, more conventional, pieces of art on display. Pogacha isn't shy about being a big supporter of local art as you'll find an hefty array of paintings, photographs, and various artwork that really give the place a real neighborhood feel. Every table is covered with a large sheet of butcher paper and a vast assortment of crayons. So whether you're 5 or 50, go ahead and unleash that inner artist within you. Just don't be surprised if they decline you're request to put it on display for sale.
On the menu, you'll find different types of salads, pastas, and pogachas that all have a hint of Adriatic flair. If you're curious about how the flatbread tastes, don't fret as Pogacha gives all customers a small sample of their flatbread, much like the innocent bread pusher hoping to cash in when you come back for more. But if you think the pogacha listed on the menu is simply bread you'll be greatly mistaken. Each type is loaded with toppings looking more like a flatbread pizza more than anything else. In the end we ordered the Chicken Dijon ($10.95), Mediterranean Chicken Sandwich ($10.50), and a Pogacha ($9.75) loaded with chicken, kalamata olives, feta cheese and Greek oregano.
In terms of the service, Pogacha has a casual but very friendly staff. It was very easy to see that our server really enjoyed talking to us and the other patrons. Genuine enthusiasm can be very infectious and Pogacha is no different. Glancing around the room, observing people chowing down on their food, it was very apparent that everyone was enjoying themselves.
While Pogacha doesn't have all the flash and pan of other upscale restaurants, it still holds its own with a warm and friendly environment and delicious food. Some might say that the place has a zany look to it, but it just makes it very apparent that Pogacha doesn't take itself too seriously which really makes this a fun place to eat at. Even though it doesn't have all the glamor and glitz of restaurants located in Bellevue Square or Lincoln Square, it offers a good alternative for people looking for some really great food, friendly staff and casual atmosphere.
