The turkey bagel was amazing--fresh, flavorful, and definitely worth ordering again. I was also…read moreimpressed by the cleanliness and professionalism of the staff. M One employee actually ran to the back to sneeze rather than doing so near the food, which showed great attention to hygiene. As for wait time, our order took a little while to come out, but it was well worth the wait since everything is made to order. Great food and a clean, conscientious environment!

The manager, Meta, consistently gets our order incorrect. It's beginning to seem purposeful after…read morewe corrected him on one of our earlier orders. He's made entirely different bagels than the ones we've asked for. The Bagel Kitchen on Forest Ave. in PG is wonderful--good bagels, good drinks, good service.

Cash only! Traditional establishment with large pastries…read more - Muffin : was a blueberry flavor that day, very soda bread scone tasting. Enjoyed the crumb top and plentiful berries! Very moist - Berry danish : the pastry itself was a little chewy for my taste, but overall not bad!

Pavel's is a Pacific Grove institution! Be prepared to wait in a long line right when they open--it…read moremoves fast, but the crowd confirms how fantastic their European-style pastries are. The four of us grabbed croissants and sandwiches, and the quality was superb: flaky, rich, and clearly made with care. The dedication to artistry is evident in every bite. The only real snag is the payment: Pavel's is strictly cash only. While the baked goods are four-star excellent, the need to remember physical currency keeps it from a full five. Come prepared with cash, and you won't be disappointed by the treats!

Me and the fam came here to get some breakfast. We all got bagels. My husband had a jalapeño bagel…read morewith cream cheese (although he said it didn't have quite enough spice for his liking). Our kiddo got a sesame bagel with cream cheese and lox and loved it! I had a sesame bagel with egg, cheddar, crispy bacon (and it was crispy), and avocado. Even toasted it was still soft and fluffy enough. It has to be one of the best (if NOT the greatest) bagels I've ever had in my life. I'm definitely recommending this place. Also, the bottle of water I later got didn't seem to cost an arm and a leg, either. My husband did have and like the French toast coffee. Service seemed quick and they are very nice. They didn't mess anything up and they specifically only put the food items you ask for on the bagels. I've been other places where they put tons of pepper on my sandwiches and it's been impossible for me to eat and enjoy. They have ample seating inside with very soft music and a restroom for their customers. This establishment has drink coolers both behind and outside of the counters and screens up above to see all the items they have to choose from.

I was walking around the area with some friends looking for a place to grab quick lunch at. We…read moreopted for the bagel bakery. I tried their strawberry smoothie with Boba and plain bagel with cream cheese. The food was good, and service was fast. It's a decently size location, with seating available and plenty of food to choose from. My only complaint is that it didn't feel very welcoming. Not sure I'd go back for this reason.

A CAFE AND A BOOKSTORE, ALL IN ONE PLACE?!! I couldn't run fast enough! No, seriously... I was the…read moredorko running to the door. Haha. And then I tasted their banana cream latte (a special), and it was as dreamy as its name! Mm mm good! Walking around the bookstore while waiting for my order and then after my coffee break was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Bookworks is a 'must visit' in Pacific Grove if you're in town. And if you live in the area, they have a large self seating area where you can easily stay to read, study or work.

Drinks are okay, not the worst but not the best I've had. My friends who are locals love this place…read moreto work from so that's a plus but the few times I've visited, service was hit or miss. Sometimes they've been lovely and bubbly, but for some reason this one blonde staff member never seems like she actually wants to help. I had some questions on summer specials since "refresher" doesn't tell me much and she kept telling me about other drinks instead and being super short. The whole interaction still only had to have taken 2 min with only one person (who had been there for a bit already and seems local/older) behind me. Yet the minute I paid, even though I apologized for the questions and tipped, she loudly and passive aggressively said "sorry for the wait" to the next person right in front of me and they both laughed right in front of my face. I read the other review of the person who said they'd been here a bunch and usually loved it and then had a bad interaction and are also not like the "usual" demo of PG - I am also a person of color who was made to feel the same way. Such a shame what one bad impression can leave. Multiple comments about this has to be more than a coincidence... I would come back only maybe if this person wasn't working but not going to go out of my way anymore

The food here was so good, and the service was so quick and friendly, would definitely come again!read more

The service was fast and friendly! The smoked salmon on…read morepotatoe pancake was fresh flavorful and an iconic dish. I will be back !

Some people think that the live music here is too loud, and it turns people away... But I think…read moreit's awesome and to that I say: Turn it up!!!! The coffee is just alright and the matcha is not that great, but it's called a Meetinghouse not a Drinkhouse, so I'll let it slide.

The pastries are generous in size, but I found the cinnamon crumb cake a bit dry this time…read more I tipped 20% upfront (the first option on the payment screen) and simply expected a pleasant experience. I specifically ordered my London Fog and crumb cake for here and even mentioned how much I'd enjoyed the last crumb cake because it had been warmed so well. Instead, my drink was called out and served in a paper to-go cup. When I politely mentioned that I'd ordered it for here, there was no acknowledgment. Small details like that can make customers feel less welcome to stay. I also took one bite of the crumb cake and realized it was dry. I left it on the counter with the plastic fork, but no one asked if anything was wrong or checked in. Again, it's a small thing, but it added to the feeling that hospitality wasn't a priority. Everyone has off days, and this may have been one of them. Still, genuine hospitality is often found in the little things: listening to a customer's request, acknowledging it when it's missed, and making people feel welcome rather than processed.

It's delicious! If you're in the area, I highly recommend trying it. We stayed in Carmel but came…read morehere specifically to eat and it was fantastic. I recommend the gala yogurt, and pistachio cake.

The new gold standard…read more Alta is the new gold standard by which I will unfortunately be judging every bakery from now on. Get there early or prepare to wait in line--the secret is very much out. And deservedly so. The staff is exceptionally friendly, the setting is wonderful, and somehow the food tastes even better than it looks, which is an accomplishment considering the artistry coming out of the pastry case. Alta occupies part of the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe complex, and its back garden may be one of the loveliest places I've ever eaten breakfast. Passionflowers tumble over walls and trellises, potted plants and mature trees soften the courtyard, and shade sails make it an incredibly pleasant place to linger over coffee and pastry. It feels less like café seating and more like breakfast in a particularly lovely California garden. And then there's the food. I came back two mornings in a row. The first day's quiche was ham and roasted pepper; the second was cheese and mushroom. Both were outstanding. The egg filling had this almost impossibly silky quality, with a beautifully browned top and crisp, buttery crust. I found myself deliberately slowing down because I genuinely wanted to savor every bite. The pistachio-rose swirl was exceptional: delicate, flaky layers with honey, pistachio and rose playing off one another without becoming cloyingly sweet or perfumey. It's the sort of pastry that reminds you what laminated dough is actually supposed to be. The maple-bacon swirl was the only thing that didn't quite reach the same stratospheric level. The flavor was good, but the rendered bacon fat seemed to fuse some of those beautiful layers together during baking. At most bakeries I probably still would have called it very good. Alta had simply set an absurdly high standard for itself. Then a table beside me ordered the smoked-salmon toast, I saw it arrive, and resistance became pointless. Warm, hearty, thick-cut bread topped with crème fraîche, radish, pickled red onion, greens and a genuinely generous amount of smoked salmon. A triumph. Even the pistachio-honey latte was a dream. I can't rave about Alta enough. My only complaint is that I didn't have more mornings in Monterey to work my way through the rest of the menu. It was one of the culinary highlights of the entire trip and is now my benchmark for what an excellent bakery can be. Alta, you have ruined lesser bakeries for me. Five stars. No notes. Except: make more pastries. I have unfinished business.

With no schedule on a Friday morning, I decided to get something for breakfast. A short walk from…read moremy hotel on the less busy side of Cannery Row, I walked in a little after 9 am. A few people were waiting to order and more customers walked in as I studied the menu. I jumped into the line and after a short wait, placed my order. Rather than carrying my breakfast and beverage back to my hotel, I decided to enjoy the sights and sounds from their outdoor dining area. The expediter called my name and I shortly brought my purchases to a table facing the bay. I started with a hot chocolate, medium (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=SGdMOIoQV6_t-uothYYbfw, perfect for this foggy Friday morning. It was perfectly hot and not overly sweet. I enjoyed this as it's been a while, drinking this. I also got a sausage English muffin, cheese, egg, jalapeno aioli, onion (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=WgF_AQ-xeUkLIxZF6dRZlg); I was surprised by the size as it towers over the golden arch version of this. The jalapeno aioli was subtle and the onion added a nice crunch and flavor to the sandwich. The filling (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=NZaPMZCiCXJhrKg3VKuZgw) is generous. I also brought an item that I'd never seen to take back for a future snack or breakfast, the peach fritter (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=t303wZ8QRnuNuXk6rP16bw). With the staggering number of things that I bought from a downtown bakery, I didn't get to it till several days later. The dining room was about half full and the outdoor dining area was about the same on this cool, slightly foggy morning. Here's a shot of my view as I had breakfast (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=0&select=GTQiFiqy226JtcYrGIauwg). Big thanks to the kind and efficient cashier and expetiter. I would return here for breakfast if wanting something light and quick. It's directly next to the Monterey Plaza Hotel.

Five stars for the location alone. Huge patio overlooking the bay. I ordered a raspberry iced…read morelatte. Not too sweet but I wish I could taste the coffee a little more. I should have asked if their syrups are made in house and/or the brands. I did not get a chance to try any food items but they sounded delicious! Service was very kind, casual, and patient! Their website is awesome by the way! Very coastal zen.

Came here last year before I got married today as our 1 year anniversary we came back too Monterey…read moreand knew exactly where to come for a delicious coffee to start our day. Definitely recommend anytime you are around Monterey.

Love this place way more than this tourist trap in Monterey we went to in the past. Love the open…read morespace and all the different types of furniture they had. I can definitely spend a lot of time here. A bunch of cool drinks to try veggie, strawberry/banana, and salmon crepe - all three was delicious. Our toddler loved her strawberry/banana/nutella. I liked my veggie. Definitely a big breakfast/bunch for us. You can ask for a box at the front. My Hong Kong milk tea tasted like a diluted version not the real thing. I didn't enjoy it. Two unisex restrooms and street parking.

The menu is varied; something for everyone. The pancakes are fabulous!…read moreGood coffee! Considering the lines of people waiting, they move very quickly to get customers in. The heated cement seats are warm and cozy outside. I usually order food to go on the weekends so my grandchildren can have their favorite pancakes.

As locals, we have had the opportunity of visiting First Awakening since they first opened down the…read morehill. The quality of the food, the service, as well as the pricing of the plates, has been consistent since the opened. They may have to raise prices given our wonderful economy, however, and we make this point, the selections, and portions of food is never reduced. Now for those who always seem more intent on complaining about food ,or service, Have we experienced less than great servic,certainly. Have experienced poor food, NO. Now for those whose visit seemed to be a disaster, rember, Cannery Row has many fine restaurants. Too the rest ofus, just keep on smiling.