Bayview Deli & Bakery

Called Bayview on a Sunday to see if their upstairs seating area was open. I was told that it was, as they do not hold cooking classes on Sundays. I also confirmed that they had wireless internet, but was told that it’s slow during lunch time. Upon arriving, we encountered staff setting the upstairs area up for a cooking class! So we decided to sit in the seating area on the lower level, but the staff were obnoxious and the noise of the machinery was completely distracting. The tables also were sticky and gross, so I will never come back here again. Not to mention their prices are atrocious.

Gotta get the 5 $ burrito!

Warm environment. Good place to pick up groceries or a quick bite to eat. Types of items have a nice variety of commercial goods and natural/​organic ones. The deli has a nice variety of paninis and sandwiches, as well as soups. Similar to a Wholefoods deli.

I promised a friend that I would take her to lunch as a Christmas present and this is where she decided we should go. Never having eaten lunch here before, I was a little apprehensive. WOW, they have a ton of choices and things are VERY reasonably priced. I had a Rueben which came with chips and a pickle spear. She had a turkey cranberry pita which came with chips and a pickle spear. I added fries and a medium soda. Out the door for $ 15. They have tables upstairs that overlook the bay where we had a very leisurely lunch and chatting. The Rueben was pretty darn good… not the best but certainly above the average Oly restaurant. I will certainly be coming back.

Bayview is overpriced under a guise of «gourmet» product, but rest assured you’ll be paying at least double for Western Family brand generic macaroni and cheese as well.
Be aware that as of a few years ago, the deli and salad-​bar kitchen was badly in need up an update. I worked there, and the sinks in the deli were surrounded by rotting cabinetry that was crawling with black mold. One of the managers literally sloshed straight bleach on the cupboards and backsplashes every day to try and keep the mold at bay. I said something about it once and was hushed. This, combined with the Storman’s policy of refusal to carry Plan B makes for a unlikely outpost of uselessness in otherwise bucolic Olympia.
Additionally, each of the prepared salads (think: pasta salad) is from a pre-​manufactured plant. They arrive in cases, individually bagged in something like 3-​lb sacks, which are cut open, dumped into bowls and fluffed up to appear «homemade». Not a big deal, but not worth the extra $$$. Actual homemade salads can be found at the Eastside Co-​op.
Additionally, be advised that someone representing Bayview is flagging these posts for removal, so there are now fewer bad reviews than there once was.

They refuse to stock Plan B yet their food always seems to be pulled out of the proverbial «good taste» oven too early.
I’m here all week, folks.

Not really a restaurant as much as a cafeteria type place inside Bayview Thriftway.
It’s a good place to sit, eat a cup of soup and either stare out the windows at Budd Inlet or watch hippies mix with politicians in the produce section. The food is typical deli case type stuff, but ever so slightly more upscale and a lot higher priced. Some of the fried stuff in the hot case is priced as you would expect, but don’t be blown away if it costs $ 8 for a turkey sandwich.

Bayview and its sister store, Ralph’s, are wonderful in many ways — locally-​owned, stock unusual and high-​quality things, great location and staff, on and on. I used to buy from them up to twice daily. Unfortunately, their very rigidly conservative Christian owner, Greg Storman, has chosen to defy the pharmacy board and refuse to stock Plan B, even though their pharmacy does sell regular contraceptives, which work the same way. Consequently, many of us are sadly boycotting.