Breakfast time lasts all day at the new Julia's on Broadway

Julia Miller, founder and former owner of Julia's restaurants, opened Julia's 14 Carrot Cafe on Eastlake in 1978. It didn't take long before the name "Julia's" came to mean two things in Seattle: breakfast and carrot cake. Today you can get both on Capitol Hill at the new Julia's on Broadway (300 Broadway Ave. E.) .

At home in what was once Ileen's Sports Bar and before that Ernie Steele's, Julia's bears little resemblance to the aforementioned establishments. Stripped-down and spiffed-up, there's now sunlight streaming in through a wall of windows, a menu rife with healthful eating options (for those who eat meat as well as those who won't touch it) and nary a Marlboro in the house.

The new Julia's is one of three co-owned and operated by Karsten Betd, who made his Julia's debut as a busboy, rose through the ranks and bought Julia's of Wallingford in 1993 and, with co-owner Eladio Peciado, opened Julia's of Issaquah last year.

From the looks of the lunch crowd as I checked out the carrot cake last week (still killer!), Betd and Peciado have clearly done Broadway a service. Catering to neighborhood needs, they're offering breakfast fare till 5 p.m., lunch, dinner, a late-night menu, non-smoking bar and sidewalk seating. Julia's is open Sundays through Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and till 2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

Galerias stretches out

In another smart Broadway move, Ramiro Rubio, owner of Broadway's acclaimed Mexican restaurant, Galerias, is doing big business in its new location (611 Broadway Ave. E., Seattle; 206-322-5757).

Formerly hidden in a second-story aerie a few blocks south, Galerias made its debut in the new setting in March. This artistic makeover of Caffe Minnie's is a sight for sore eyes — and I'm not just referring to the miles-long breakfront with its dazzling display of fine tequilas. Billowy draperies cinched with floral wreaths lend an air of intimacy to an open room painted in hues of papaya and plum. The lighting fits the mood with ornate chandeliers and candelabra, a central skylight and a streetside wall that opens, weather permitting, to the sidewalk.

Here, on a warm spring afternoon, seated at a linen-draped table in a stately armchair, feeling the breeze through my hair and munching warm tortillas while waiting for my enchiladas chipotle, I was miles away. The only thing missing was a glass of sangria — which was available, though I declined, knowing from experience how those delicious enchiladas (only $6.25!) were going to do me in even without the alcoholic accompaniment. Unfortunately, a siesta was not in the cards as I was due back at the office.

I'll imbibe next time, though, when I'll take advantage of the dinner menu (entrees $9.75-$15.75) featuring the regional recipes that distinguish this Mexican-food favorite from the multitude of ooey-gooey burrito joints. Galerias is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Chef shift

Casual, comfortable Sand Point Grill recently welcomed chef Shawn Applin, who spent the past four years as chef du cuisine at Belltown's venerable Flying Fish and its Latin-accented sibling Fandango.

Sand Point's co-owners Scott MacFarlane and Andrew Walsh can barely contain their enthusiasm for their new kitchen "catch," who is busy getting used to their small kitchen before putting his signature on a new menu to be unveiled in June.

Neighbors should be pleased to note that with the new chef on board, lunch service is scheduled to resume next week after a yearlong hiatus. Sand Point Grill (5412 Sand Point Way, Seattle; 206-729-1303) is open for dinner daily from 4 to 10 p.m.

À la carte at Cascadia

First Kerry Sear came up with a terrific cafe and bar menu featuring the likes of mini-beef tenderloin cheeseburgers ($8.50), a bucket of fries ($5) and "Fish & Vegetable Chips" ($8). Now, to make his "Decidedly Northwest" menu more accessible to those who viewed this Belltown beauty as a bit too-too, Cascadia (2828 First Ave., Seattle; 206-448-8884) has made a menu change.

Instead of choosing among five multicourse tasting menus, each prepared with seasonal ingredients raised, caught or grown in the Cascadia region (Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Alaska and Northern California), patrons are offered — ta da! — à la carte menus that reflect Sear's artistic abilities and devotion to regional ingredients.

True, regular patrons have long been aware that ordering "this" and "that" from the tasting menus was a viable à la carte option. But now that appetizers ($6-$11) and entrees ($17-$32) are listed in print for all to see, perhaps more diners will come to view dinner at Cascadia as something other than a fussy gastronomic event.

You can still pay homage to Sear's original vision, choosing among a trio of seven-course tasting menus ($45-$65), which include a market-fresh vegetarian menu in addition to featuring such delights as skillet-roasted halibut cheeks and grilled wild salmon on cedar fronds. Cascadia serves dinner Monday through Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 to 10:30 p.m.

Nancy Leson can be reached at 206-464-8838 or nleson@seattletimes.com. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.