Located a block from Silverdale Waterfront Park and within walking distance of Silverdale hotels, Monica’s Waterfront Bakery & Café is a hidden gem that serves fresh seasonal food with heart.

Popular dishes include quiches (one each day is made with creamy duck eggs), dilled chicken salad and homemade soups laden with produce from local farmers. The treat case is always filled with extra large cookies, as well as a tempting array of cupcakes and pastries.cake

The café also offers a small list of unique but affordable wines and beers that can be enjoyed with a meal or taken home or back to your hotel.

Frequently named to local best-of lists, the Old Town Silverdale eatery was the first Washington restaurant to be named, “A Place of Hospitality.” Owners Monica and Mark Downen said that means more than providing good service, it means being genuinely grateful for every customer who walks through the door.

The Downens call their enterprise a “heart-based business” and live their values by buying local and/or organic produce and practicing earth-friendly sustainable practices.

monica's (1)The restaurant is celebrating its 10th anniversary from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., May 21, with a free pig roast, live music, prizes and the unveiling of the cafe’s new beer created by Cash Brewing Company.

Monica’s is located at 3472 NW Byron St. and is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. There’s outdoor seating as well as a roomy upstairs dining room, or you can order your meal to go and eat at the park.

Several times a year, the Downens turn Monica’s into a pop-up pizzeria, serving Italian-style pizza with a thin crust that has a nice chew to it. They teach a popular class in pizza making and also host art-themed events each month.

Old Town Silverdale also offers delicious options for evening dining, including the waterfront Yacht Club Broiler, which is known for steaks and fresh seafood. For microbrews and tasty pub fare, try Cash Brewing Company.