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    Brighter Side

    4.5 (250 reviews)
    InexpensiveSandwiches, Salad
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Brighter Side Photos

    Business Info

    BRIGHTER SIDE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    More like Brighter Side

    Recommended Reviews - Brighter Side

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    Reviews With Photos

    Polish sausage sandwich
    Jennifer B.

    My husband and I finally made our way here and we will be back again another day. Delicious sandwiches; the whole menu looked great. We got there on a Friday just around 11:30 and just beat the lunch rush. The decor reminded me of the sourdough sandwich spot in San Jose.

    Amy-no cheese, add sprouts

    Called in the order, the lady that picked up the phone was SO sweet! Food was great, I did not realize they were cash only until i got there but that wasn't an issue, just something to keep in mind when visiting. Definitely recommend.

    Cup of cream of broccoli soup
    Cory N.

    Cool little hole in the wall spot. Fast service with hot sandwiches. Eclectic decor with inside and outside tables.. make sure you bring cash! #spicemeister approved!

    Chef salad w/ ranch
    Amy V.

    I got a chef salad that was super delish! It originally also includes mushrooms, beats, bell peppers, and garbanzo beans but I was able to order without those and it was still a big salad(this is a small). The ranch is really good too for any ranch lovers out there.

    Pastrami on white.
    Sherri H.

    Finally tried them after years of hearing about them. Very good sandwiches, personable staff, reasonable prices. There seemed to be many regulars come in while I was there, and everyone knew everyone by name. They accept cash & checks only.

    Outdoor dog friendly seating!!!
    Ashley Q.

    the tuna fish sandwich is delish. Pure white Tuna. homemade clam chowder was bomb. had a taste of fresh fruit salad and was on point!! this is a modesto icon to visit. Dog friendly. Inside or outside. They even gave my Olive some turkey and roast beef slices as a snack!! they said they do it for all the fur babies. locally owned and operated. Prices are very fair.

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    3 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    6 days ago

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    10 days ago

    Smelt like an ashtray and why would you have a cat on the counter where people pick up their food. Also, one employee was rude as hell.

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Living in Georgia now, I miss the Brighter Side so much. Christine on whole wheat. Yum!

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    8 months ago

    Interesting atmosphere, especially with the cat on the counter (that was a bit of a turnoff), but food was good and people were friendly.

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was great. Didn't know that they don't accept cards only cash. Next time we know.

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    6 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great food! Great customer service! The ladies are so sweet and David and Larry are the best! Will come back!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great place to pop in for a delicious sandwich and a conversation with Larry! Reasonable prices and cool setting with a cute patio/garden.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Nice "Bay Area" feeling spot with really good food. Cash only... or check. Perfect patio for the sunny days.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Awesome place owner is super cool, food is great and very affordable. It's a Modesto original for a reason and everybody should get it.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Excellent long time business. Great selection and order preferences. Quaint, relaxing dine in or take out. Friendly staff.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best Sandwiches and Salads in Modesto been going here for years The Jason is the best

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    2 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Like a little piece of Santa Cruz in Modesto. Great food and ambiance, just make sure you bring cash!

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Tasty sandwiches for the business crowd. Portions are small but very satisfying. Call ahead.

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    3 years ago

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Brighter Side

    Commonwealth

    Commonwealth

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I work next door to Commonwealth and really enjoy the quality of the food and the variety of…read moreseating options, both inside and outside. It is always a great spot to invite colleagues, family, and friends. They offer a solid selection of burgers and craft beer, and the location is very convenient in downtown Modesto, within walking distance of the Brenden Theatre and nearby venues like the Gallo Center. The customer service is phenomenal and they truly make you feel at home. If you need pickup, just give them a call and they will get you situated right away. Definitely recommend it.

    Sadly disappointed…read more My friends and I stopped by Commonwealth on a Saturday afternoon for a late brunch. It was a beautiful day so it was busy for both indoor and outdoor seating. Here, you order your food, grab a number, and find your own seat for the food to be brought out to you. We sat at a table outside to decide what to order. There were no menus available so we just had to search for it online before heading inside to order. Despite being third in line from the register, we had an extremely long wait to order. There was only one person running the register who also had to make the drinks, meaning the service incredibly slow. We wanted to order the five taco platter, garlic fries, chicken Caesar salad, and mimosa pitcher. Sadly, we were only able to get the pitcher and salad. The cashier told us "sorry, we aren't doing fries right now." Not doing fries? Every plate in the vicinity had fries on them. She said that because it was brunch hour, only food on the brunch menu could be ordered. We looked at the brunch menu again and literally saw garlic fries as an option as a side for the burgers/sandwiches. No where did it specify that you can't order off the other menu and both were available online. What bothered us about this is that we placed this order at around 1:50pm, and brunch ended at 2:00pm. I understand that we are not entitled to things on the lunch menu during brunch-time for items like the tacos, but considering the menu swap was less than 10 minutes away and they were quite literally were "doing fries" at the time, it didn't make much sense to us. The only food that we ended up ordering was the Chicken Caesar Salad. This one dish took a super long time to receive. By the time it was brought out, the three of us nearly finished the Mimosa pitcher. The waitress noticed we had no silverware and said she would go grab us some. Because of how the service had been going thus far, we placed a bet on whether or not the waitress would come back with the silverware. Surprise, surprise. She didn't. We had to go inside later and search for silverware ourselves. We weren't even able to get sharing plates which was upsetting since the waitress asked us if we would be sharing the salad. The salad itself looked delicious, but was bland. The dressing was missing that zing and zest that a Caesar dressing typically has. I do appreciate that is was a chopped salad, had avocado, and seasoned croutons. It is just unfortunate that it was lacking any flavor at all. The food prices are quite affordable for the quantity of food you receive though. This experience was disappointing because I was so optimistic about the place. The menu looked good, it had fun and casual vibes and a cool crowd of people. If Commonwealth worked towards better service practices, it would have been a more positive experience.

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    Commonwealth
    Commonwealth
    Commonwealth

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    Mike's Grillhouse

    Mike's Grillhouse

    4.3
    (1k reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$

    Let's start with the negatives... First time we attempted to come by they were closed. So we had to…read morewait to try Mike's Grillhouse. Staff was super friendly, went out of their way to make sure the tables were tidy, and refilled drinks really quick. The restaurant is smaller than you expect it to be, but it is cozy, friendly, and not overly loud. We only had a 10 minute wait when we arrived and they were packed. Our waiter Kyle was on point, introduced himself and dropped the special of the day with gusto. If I hadn't already had a ton of carbs for the day I would have gone with it. Ended up ordering the scallops, and fried zucchini appetizers. Scallops are served almost like a soup. The sauce in the bowl was to die for. I'm thinking white wine, and lemon were the major components. It was phenomenal. Fried zucchini was super tasty and is coming home with us. I'd swear it was enough to feed 4 people. For mains, we ordered pot roast and fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. Wife loved the pasta and chicken. Surprisingly enough she ate it all, none to go which is super rare for her. Pot roast was fantastic. Mashed potatoes were on point, the mixed vegetables were amazing. When you get broccoli and carrots on the same plate and neither have a mushy texture it makes me happy Will definitely be back again in the future.

    I had to go to Kaiser so on the way home we saw this restaurant. From the outside it looks big but…read morewhen you get inside, it is a quaint place. The noise is a little high but not too bad. You can hear the music they are playing. Our server, Kyle, came out to let us know the special. He put our appetizers in before even thinking about our food. They were spaced out just right. He was also Johnny on the spot with refills and kept checking on us. Ok now onto the food. It was delicious! Hubby had scallops as an appetizer and pot roast for his main dish. I had fried zucchini and then fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. I like my chicken on the side so I only add what I want. This place is just down from the freeway exit and is only open for lunch & dinner. If you are passing through Modesto, get off and come eat some good food. It is totally worth it!

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    Seating
    Seating
    Cherub bites that are absolutely amazing
    Cherub bites that are absolutely amazing
    Everything was good!

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    Everything was good!
    The Secret Garden

    The Secret Garden

    3.9
    (460 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    We came to eat here one random weekday after work. We've been here before for breakfast, and it's…read moreusually packed. However, on a late afternoon weekend, we found plenty of parking and ample seating. Staff was amazing and incredibly attentive. The pasta was okay, and I really regret not sticking with breakfast. Service: 5/5 Food: 3.5/5

    Came in on a Sunday at 11:30am and there was only a 15-minute wait for a booth for three people…read more The staff was nice and quick. The food was just your typical diner type, greasy spoon kind of place. I got an egg white omelette with ham (looked like cut up pieces of thin sliced deli meat) and asked that fresh potatoes be boiled in water or steamed in water due to food allergy. What I got was fried potatoes. When I questioned the server he just said that's how they come. Do they not have raw potatoes in the back they could have boiled for me?? The taste of the omelette was meh and I only ate 4 bites. I obviously didn't eat the potatoes. The English Muffin felt oily, like someone touched it with greasy hands. I had asked for it to be dry and with no butter. So basically I didn't eat any of my food and will not be back (this was my third time here and none of the other experiences were any better.) Such a shame because it is only 5-minutes from my house. My dad ordered the chicken fried steak and my mom got the taco salad and both of their meals were inedible too. The food here is just BAD. I told the server I didn't like my food and he didn't even answer me. He took away three plates of uneaten food and no one asked if there was an issue and no manager bothered to come over to even talk to us or try and make it right. What a HUGE waste of money. Don't bother eating here...so many other places to eat that are so much better. This place was packed and no real waiting area...everyone just squished together. This is a hustling and bustling place, so if you are looking for a quiet spot, at least don't go when we did. Best part of this place is their wall for taking pictures. I think they care more about making things look IG worthy, than the quality of the product they are serving.

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    The Secret Garden
    Cinnamon Toast Crunch French toast
    Cinnamon Toast Crunch French toast
    Margarita flight. 3/10- you can barely taste any alcohol. Tasted more like juice.

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    Margarita flight. 3/10- you can barely taste any alcohol. Tasted more like juice.
    Harvest Moon

    Harvest Moon

    3.7
    (714 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Breakfast does not have to be complicated to be memorable…read more The sausage, egg, and cheddar English muffin was everything you would hope for--fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked, and miles beyond the fast-food version. After a few bites I added Tabasco and Cholula, and it took an already great sandwich to another level. The homemade chicken soup was flavorful and comforting, and a cold Corona with salt and lime rounded everything out perfectly. One thing I really appreciate about Harvest Moon is the atmosphere. It is peaceful--almost tranquil. You hear conversations around the room, but they are the kind of quiet chatter that makes a place feel alive without ever feeling loud. It is comfortable, unhurried, and the kind of environment where you can simply enjoy your meal and be present. A special thank you to Johnny in the kitchen for putting together such a great meal. It shows when someone takes pride in what they do. Shout out to Lindsey for the friendly, attentive service. She made sure everything was just right without ever making me feel rushed. And thank you to Lyssa behind the bar. She was so busy I actually had to ask who Lindsey was, but despite juggling everything going on, she still took the time to make me feel welcome. Good food, genuine people, and a peaceful atmosphere are a hard combination to find. Harvest Moon continues to get all three right. Easy 5 stars.

    Im usually a brunch and mimosa cat but today I wanted pasta…read more To the chef that whipped up my pasta, excellent job on the cahoones sauce, spicy kick should evict worms and any other unwanted guest that have outstayed their welcome. Sundays beer on tap is only $3 Modesto. Always a pleasant experience at Harvest Moon.

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    Harvest Moon
    Cajun Pasta
    Cajun Pasta
    Harvest Moon

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    Brighter Side - sandwiches - Updated July 2026

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