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    Avenue Cafe

    4.4 (501 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 2:00 pm

    Avenue Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    AVENUE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Avenue Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chorizo Burrito
    Thinh L.

    Here for the annual Volkswagen VDub in the village. Delicious chorizos burrito and scramble when you add the infamous bandit favorite The Pepper Plant hot sauce. We prefer less salt so these are perfect Recommending the table outside at the corner , see photo for legit reason Cutest little breakfast shop by the beach, friendly server

    Menu
    Joy M.

    We found a hidden local gem brunch place in Capitola. It was close to downtown. A cute little house turned into a restaurant. Cozy ambiance. Can seat 2-4 people at a table. Large groups may need to be seated outside. Our son ordered 2 pancakes & 2 sunny side up eggs. I ordered smoked salmon Benedict and hubby ordered Country Fried Steak. Everything was delicious. I was surprised how quickly the food came out. It was nice that the server checked on us several times especially to refill the coffee & water. The staff were very friendly and respectful. The food and ambiance was delicious and inviting.

    Menu
    Jenny N.

    Cute and cozy restaurant on the corner with outdoor covered patio. Decided to stop here passing through on our way up north because of the great reviews. Service is FANTASTIC! We were immediately greeted and seated on a Saturday morning. The staff is friendly and checked on us several times. Food is tasty and came out pretty FAST. French toast andwas fluffy, sausage links were plump n juicy. Turkey avocado omelette was pretty tasty too! Parking was tough for us but one of the servers told us you can park across the street for free at the olive station for 2 hours. Not knowing beforehand we parked quite w ways down the street. Upon leaving we saw there are a few spots at the police station with a sign marked 1 hour parking.

    Eggs and bacon
    Akansha P.

    Great food! Great service! Cute vibes! We went here for a quick breakfast pitstop before heading to the beach and it was a wonderful stop. They have a lot of historic/classic art about Capitola as a city which was a nice touch. Their ALT and BLT sandwiches are filling and tasty. Their bacon and eggs is also a hearty meal, especially since it comes with hash browns. We really enjoyed our meal and would definitely stop by again.

    Dave G.

    The Carnitas Benedict was BOMB. The cooks and staff are all Latino and they had the best vibe and knew exactly what to recommend. Perfect, casual, delicious brunch.

    Annie T.

    Adorable little brunch spot in Capitola! It's worth the wait if there's a line. The portions are ample, the food is tasty, the service is fast. What else do you want? The place is a little tight, but that's what you get with a small house-like venue. There is an outdoor patio too, if the weather permits. It's within a few minutes of the village, so it's just out of the way of the hustle and bustle.

    Veggie Scramble
    Roya J.

    Nothing was bad, but nothing stood out either when it came to our food. The location is fairly convenient if you want something in Capitola, but not in the touristy area with friendly service. Another plus is it's very close to the main parking area.

    Is this French toast?

    If I could leave a 0 I would. This was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. I don't leave reviews, but I wish I would have read this before I ate there. We received undercooked eggs (the whites were still clear), and when we drew attention to it - no apologies, they just flipped over the eggs and gave them back to us. Our waiter disappeared, and we had to ask multiple times for water. They completely forgot an item we ordered, but by that point we did not want it. There was a hair in my sour cream. Nothing we ordered tasted good. The French toast was not French toast, it was toast soaked on one side, and the eggs and potatoes were flavorless. Very cute ambiance, shame the service and food quality are so terrible.

    NY New York Steak and Eggs
    Nancy L.

    We always walk by here when going to Capitola downtown and this cafe always has a long line. This time on a Saturday noon time, the place was actually not busy , so we decided to try it. We both ordered the NY steak and eggs special. Mine with over easy eggs and my boyfriend's with scrambled eggs. We had high hopes but the meat quality was very poor. We couldn't eat it at all. The steak was nicely grilled but the meat was so chewy and tough! There was no seasoning whatsoever, not even a bit of salt to enhance the flavor. My boyfriend said it was not consumable for humans. Hash brown was very good and crispy. Eggs were cooked to perfection . Service also didn't have a clue that we didn't touch the steak and didn't ask why. Don't understand why this place gets such great reviews! Must have had all the negative ones removed.

    Smoked Salmon Avocado
    Everett M.

    This is such a cute and quaint cafe. Discovered it on Yelp while visiting Capitola and am so glad we decided to check it out. I ordered the Eggs Benedict and my wife had the Breakfast Burrito. Both were phenomenal and we both were beyond satisfied with our selections. I also love how fast and attentive the service was. We were really hungry when we arrived, so we truly appreciated how fast we were seated and received our food. I definitely recommend checking out Avenue Cafe for breakfast whenever you find yourself in Capitola!

    Kalani S.

    This is a great hole in a wall type of local cafe in Capitola. Great local ambiance and people are nice. Foods are type of comfort food. Here is my scoring card for this restaurant: 1) Location: ( 5 Point ) - Great location for customer to see and find. Great parking for street parking and back side with parking lot parking. 2) Decoration : (2 Point) - They still have the original decoration. Clean. 3) Price: ( 4 point)- The price is competitive but still a little bit pricey compare to other same stars and type food they serve 4) Quality and Taste : ( 3 point)- The quality is ok, food taste is good and portions are below average . ( must be inflation ) 5) Type of cuisine standard : ( 4 point) - The style of mexican/continental food they serve is pretty close to the way it was prepare locally. Not bad! But some dishes did have slightly modify to cater the customer's need Overall it's not bad and I thinks it's great to give it a try and let me know what you think. Go foodies Total max is 25 Score 18 Stars = 72% round up to 3 stars

    Jenna T.

    If you're looking for a no-frills, down-home diner experience, Avenue Cafe is your spot. This place is as casual as it gets and the service is friendly and welcoming. Now, I will admit that I wasn't blown away by their hashbrowns. I mean, let's be real - who likes mushy hashbrowns? But hey, everyone has their own taste, so don't let my opinion stop you from giving them a try. What I did love, though, were their benedicts. Holy moly, these things were delicious! They've got a few different options to choose from, including classic, salmon, and veggie, or southern, so there's something for everyone. And their egg was perfectly poached, you know that's my weakness! Overall, Avenue Cafe is a solid choice for a no-frills breakfast or brunch. It's not fancy, but it's got a laid-back vibe that's perfect for a lazy weekend morning. Great walking distance to Capitola village too if you wanna walk off the food afterward.

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    5 months ago

    Great, waiting super nice super quick very good food definitely go back again nice place clean

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    4 months ago

    Excellent food! Very friendly and fantastic wait staff!! Go here for breakfast or lunch you won't be disappointed

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    11 months ago

    I had the green chilaquiles with refried beans, very good. Service was surprisingly fast.

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    3 years ago

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    9 months ago

    great breakfast or lunch place. Good food & and price. Great service. Walking to the beach.

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Very delicious breakfast. Everything I've ordered, is delicious. Highly recommended. Our favorite place to have breakfast, in Capitola.

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    11 months ago

    The food was great, service was quick efficient, small spot but definitely a must have stop anytime we're out there

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    Ask the Community - Avenue Cafe

    Do they serve gluten-free pancakes or gluten-free waffles?

    We only have gluten free bread. Thanks

    How crowded is it on late Saturday mornings?

    Busy! Sometimes you get lucky tho.

    View All 4 Questions

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe - Spring Salad and a Cappuccino. Both excellent choices.

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe

    4.2(199 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $

    I love this place! The sandwiches are seriously affordable in a time where everyone is charging so…read moremuch for so little. The location is convenient, up from the beach. Sandwiches are made in a timely manner. And everything is good! This time I tried the Big Dipper and loved it. I probably could've split it with someone if I got a side, it had some size to it and was well portioned with meat, cheese and fresh veggies. You can eat inside or outside OR you can take it back to the beach and have the best setting possible. I will be back again and again- love this place.

    Food: 5 stars. Service: 3 stars…read more The food was excellent and made the visit worthwhile. The staff, however, came across as a bit cold and unfriendly. I get that it's beach time and things move at a different pace, but being a little nicer to customers and visitors would make a big difference. Hopefully next time the service will be as good as the food. EDITED - Saturday, June 20, 2026 I'm updating my review after reading the owner's response. First, I want to clarify that the response appears to be a copy-and-paste message aimed at people leaving negative reviews. If you had actually read my original review, you would have noticed that I never complained about the food, the wait time, prices, staffing, or anything related to the quality of the business itself. In fact, I enjoyed the food and had no issue waiting. I visited on a Thursday, and the café wasn't packed. The owner was clearly working hard, and I respect that. However, when I walked in and said hello, I was completely ignored. There was no greeting, no acknowledgment, and no sense that my business was appreciated. That was the only reason I left a 3-star review in the first place. The response talks about staffing shortages, minimum wage, food costs, and the challenges of running a small business. I understand all of that. Running a business is difficult. But those challenges don't really address the point I was making. A simple "Hi," "Welcome," or even a quick smile costs nothing and goes a long way. I also don't think customers should be made to feel responsible for business challenges such as labor costs or rent. Those are realities of ownership that every business owner has to navigate. That said, after thinking about it, I'm changing my review from 3 stars to 5 stars because the food was genuinely good, and I do support small businesses. My hope is simply that future customers are greeted with a little more warmth and appreciation when they walk through the door. One final thought: when someone leaves a critical review, it may be worth responding directly to their experience rather than posting a generic response. Sometimes there's valuable feedback hidden inside reviews that aren't really about the food at all. I wish you and your business success, and I genuinely hope you continue serving great food for years to come.

    Photos
    Castagnola Deli & Cafe - A small area for indoor dining (and waiting!)

    A small area for indoor dining (and waiting!)

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe - CLAM CHOWDER Bread Bowl - 4.5/5

    CLAM CHOWDER Bread Bowl - 4.5/5

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe - Dining area

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    Dining area

    Walnut Avenue Café - French toast with bananas

    Walnut Avenue Café

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    We came early on a Sunday to celebrate my mom's birthday. The restaurant has a super cute…read moreneighborhood vibe, a clean space, and delicious food! I got a killer scramble, my daughter got the churro waffle (she loved that it wasn't overly sweet), and my mom ordered the chilaquiles. Our waiter transparently let us know they aren't traditional Mexican-style chilaquiles, but mentioned they were his personal favorite--and my mom ended up loving them! Even though our server was super slammed, the rest of the staff stepped in seamlessly to help with drink refills and to-go boxes. All in all, a great experience and a wonderful birthday meal for my mom. =)

    Brunch at 10am and we found a place for nine of us…read more Bae called the restaurant and asked how long the wait currently was for our party and they told him 15-20 minutes. We were less than 5 minutes away walking distance. As soon as we placed our name down, the host said it was gonna be 45 minutes. First of all, the person who answered the call should not had gave us a wait time and kindly ask us to come in to put our name down instead. We waited 45 minutes and probably another 20-25 minutes for our food. Food was great, the only problem was that it wasn't piping hot. As if it was sitting on the counter for a while which should never be the case. As long as the kids were happy and stuffed that's all that matters.

    Photos
    Walnut Avenue Café - Where the espresso happens

    Where the espresso happens

    Walnut Avenue Café - Bacon and eggs

    Bacon and eggs

    Walnut Avenue Café - Cafe Florentine

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    Cafe Florentine

    Venus Pie Trap

    Venus Pie Trap

    3.9(93 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Parking can be a problem on the weekends during the summer, since the beach is right next door…read more Most of the pastries are from Companion Bakeshop. I tried two items: - 5/5: The Machiatto is excellent. They serve 11th hour coffee. - 3/5: The Mexican chocolate pie ($8/slice) is too sweet. All I can taste is sugar.

    We came here twice during our stay nearby. The first time was decent. Coffee was good, staff was…read moreok, the food was tasty but inconsistent. (The meat pie and pastry we ordered were not warmed all the way, but the bagel was good) Then inside seating area was also sticky and slightly dirty looking. Our second visit was yesterday 6/20, and it sounds like we weren't the only unhappy customers based on other reviews. I'm not surprised to hear the lady in charge that morning rudely made customers leave because she "needed a reset". We asked about getting pizza around 10:45 am, which we acknowledged was early...but just asking to see what was possible. Instead of a real explanation, we got a snarky look at her watch and just an "um, noooo" with a bad attitude. If there was a real reason, like the dough wasn't ready or the oven wasn't on (it was, we could see the flames) I would understand. However, the lady was complaining to a coworker about an issue with the manager or something while we waited in line so there was already some unprofessional behavior beyond the lack of customer service. We left without getting anything at that point. We won't be back to Venus, The Pixie Deli down the street has good food and friendly service.

    Photos
    Venus Pie Trap - Menu & parties

    Menu & parties

    Venus Pie Trap
    Venus Pie Trap - Tea latte and a cappuccino. Yum!

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    Tea latte and a cappuccino. Yum!

    The Grove Cafe & Bakery - Delicious Gluten Free Mochi Bite & Donut

    The Grove Cafe & Bakery

    4.3(163 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $$

    Super yummy sandwiches! The guy working the register is literally the happiest person I have…read moreinteracted with in this kind of role in all of Santa Cruz county, it seems like he really enjoys his job. I figure that means they're treating their employees well, and more of a reason to support them! I wish I had gotten a picture of my favorite, a vegetable sandwich with avocado, sweet potato, and scallion aioli. Lots of seating both inside and outside on the back patio. Please be aware, this place is quite busy most days (for a reason) and there very likely will be a line and a wait. Not the kind of place you go to rush, and I think that's a good thing in this case :)

    The Grove packs a lot into a little cafe. Their creamy polenta with roasted vegetables (chard,…read morebroccolini, squash, onion), pesto (add a side of bacon) all-day biscuit sandwich, and breakfasts are tasty. The salads and veggie bowls are solid. I like their baked goods, particularly the raspberry and cream cheese brioche or the bite-sized passionfruit mochi, which is packed with flavor and garnished with delicate flowers. Interesting drinks in their beverage fridge, retro wallpaper, fun merchandise, and a quirky, small open air backyard are all pluses. Friendly and helpful staff. Just wish that their breakfast ran later (ends at 11 am) and that the line moved a little faster.

    Photos
    The Grove Cafe & Bakery - Inside

    Inside

    The Grove Cafe & Bakery - Brioche fruit tart! Deeelish!

    Brioche fruit tart! Deeelish!

    The Grove Cafe & Bakery - Breakfast sandwich

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    Breakfast sandwich

    Shadowbrook

    Shadowbrook

    4.3(6.3k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    I've been here twice for our "dating anniversary" One was when my boyfriend and I were both…read moreunderage and young and the other one was she we were older. We were treated the same both times. Glad to see that both adults and so called "kids" are treated thw same no matter what :) Vibe 10/10: It's so pretty!!! The first time I learned about this place, I wanted to go for the pictures. There's a little trolley that you can ride down to the front of the door, or you can walk the stairs. It's somewhat hidden, so it feels so... I don't know how to explain it. The restaurant is below where the parking lot it. I honestly can go on and on about the vibes of this place. The lighting is warm, so many plants too!! Service 10/10: As someone who has worked in the food industry, you always have a line that you say to every single customer. My boyfriend and I joked about jow the server was going down every new table saying the same thing. It was definitely a treat to hear. After the servers gets to know us, I notice that they definitely starts talking on a more personal level. My boyfriend is also on his little "wine craze" so he asked the server to recommend something. He loved what was recommended. Food 9/10: Personally for me, the food wasn't something to go crazy for. It's definitely more of a place where you can talk to each other and sit for dates. Food was still so good though! I can eat that damn mashed potatoes forever though!

    A once in a lifetime experience for sure! Everywhere we looked we had picturesque views and the…read morenovelty of dining at this property was so special! I would recommend it to anyone in the area. We ordered steak and lobster and it was sadly very plain. We didn't get any bread, but in other reviews it has been complimentary, so I am not sure why. I would return again, but order a pizza

    Photos
    Shadowbrook - Greenhouse interior

    Greenhouse interior

    Shadowbrook - Spinach Salad

    Spinach Salad

    Shadowbrook - Chicken Parmigiano

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    Chicken Parmigiano

    Avenue Cafe - cafes - Updated August 2026

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