We love this cafe. We stop by in the mornings for breakfast sandwiches and the afternoon for bahn mi or vermicelli. Everything tastes great, is served quickly, and is affordable. read more

I've been here twice. Once for breakfast and once for dinner. The first time I tried the biscuits and gravy which I had heard such wonderful things about. Personally the gravy was one of the nastiest gravies I've ever had. I grew up with Grandparents from Oklahoma who would make me biscuits and gravy so yes I do know what good biscuits and gravy taste like. The second time I went for dinner hoping their food would be better than their famous biscuits and gravy. When I walked in it took 5 minutes for someone to ask us if we were eating there. They were not busy at all. I ordered a chicken sandwich with fries and a side salad. The waiter also took our drink order and then disappeared for 15 minutes. We received our food before we ever got our drinks. I had to remind the waiter. He also never gave me my salad. So when I asked about my salad he said he would get one for me. I told him I didn't want it anymore since I was almost done with my food. The chicken sandwich was average and the fries were soggy and nasty. Time is too short to waste on crappy food and horrible customer service. read more

Oh wow, the hashbrowns with cheddar, grilled onions, and gravy. Must try. The servings are HUGE! Next time we might share a special. Baby girl loved the cold cereal while waiting, helped us get 19 month old thru the wait read more

My recent experience Pros: * Close to my house * Short wait for a table * Decor and their comfy couch in the waiting area * Greeting at the door * Ambiance * Service Cons: * Really long wait for our orders * The food was not nasty, it's just mediocre I ordered the corned beef hash with Chrissy's home fries (potatoes with onions, jack cheese and sour cream) and French Toast. It just needed more seasoning and the French Toast was only okay. My fiancé had the French Toast special with scrambled eggs and 1 small sausage patty. I personally think he should've gotten at least 2 sausage patties but that's just my opinion. They have an extensive menu and they're open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'm going to give this place another shot for lunch or dinner sometime in the future. read more

I have had nothing but EXCELLENT service here! The staff now knows us from coming in so much. The food comes out fast, hot and it reasonably priced. If it's not on the menu...ask, they will make it for you if they can. They make my son a breakfast just for him every time. Lunch and dinner are wonderful too. Must haves: Breakfast - Chicken Fried Steak and eggs with CHRISSY'S POTATOES...omg! This is one of few breakfast places that has hot links...and I LOVE IT!! Lunch: Cobb salad Dinner: Chicken Marsala...it's so good! read more

For a cheap and tasty breakfast, this place is tough to beat. You can get your food cooked damn near anyway you like with just about every omelet ingredient imaginable (seriously, how many breakfast joints carry sun dried tomatoes and chicken apple sausage?). You can even get them to "healthify" your meal somewhat by opting for egg whites, fresh fruit, or even having your hash browns cooked "dry" (without oil, although I'm pretty sure hash browns aren't all that good for you even if they are cooked dry, but every little bit counts right?). And with all that healthy fare available I'll occasionally go for it, but to be honest there's one reason, and one reason only that I come here. Biscuits and mother effing Gravy! The biscuits are HUGE and extremely tender (not flaky like some people prefer, just soft and doughy delicious with a little crunch on the outside), the gravy is almost half sausage and the perfect consistency to cover the biscuits and avoid being watery or soupy. This dish is an amazing yet simple throwback that I crave like Grandma's cooking. Daily specials are always a treat with the occasional seasonal fruit covered pancake and whatever sausage was on sale at Costco (who cares if it ain't homemade when it's tasty and cheap). And don't worry about your drink running low, your waitress will almost always be on her game ready to fill your coffee cup. Make sure to add this place to your list of potential breakfast spots next time you wake up hungover and hungry on a Sunday morning. read more

Not sure what the hype is here. Worst clam chowder that I've ever had in my life. I knew I shouldn't have ordered it...guess that's where I went wrong... seeing as how this place is mostly famed for its breakfast. Who knows...maybe their chowder is great and I ordered it on an off day. Aside from that, their food is okay. The service is so-so, but the food comes pretty fast. It's nice that you can see the chefs cooking your meal. Would I go out of my way to come to this restaurant? No. Do I think it's a bad place to have a meal? Not really. Parking is good. Atmosphere is friendly and casual. Employees go out of their way to accommodate a larger group and that is appreciated. Owners are nice people and you can often see them at the restaurant. That's a plus. But my 2 star rating is based on the yelp description of, "Meh. I've experienced better", because yes, I have experienced better. read more

I like this place a lot. I've enjoyed most of my meals here. The food is well prepared and made with pretty good ingredients. The best thing though, is the staff. I've come in here on some pretty rough days, and they're always so nice. One time, it was the first morning of my period and they put a little too much mayonnaise on my sandwich (or maybe too little, who knows?) so I started crying! The waiter came rushing over and uncomfortably asked me what was wrong and so I explained and he looked even more uncomfortable But was also really sweet and insisted they make a whole new one, despite MY psycho ass insisting it wasn't a big deal..after crying about it. Anyway, the waitresses also listen to my ramblings about nothing and it makes me feel like what I'm saying is interesting so that is always nice. Sometimes the food takes a little while when it's slow, but that's to be expected. Sooo yeah, check it out :-) read more

Went here with some coworkers for lunch on a Friday. I got the chicken pesto sandwich with potato salad. The sandwich was big and tasty. I had to add salt to both the sandwich and the potato salad. I'll try the soup next time. Service was a bit slow. Waiter had to ask the manger if they would accept the Yelp 10% off check-in coupon. They ended up giving all four of us the 10% discount. Thanks! read more

I come here all the time when I'm back in the Bay Area. Figure I'd write a review of this place. This is probably one of the best places for breakfast local of Hercules where I stay when I'm back here. I usually go for breakfast, which is pretty good and the service generally nice and quick. Veggie scramble is what I usually get and accompany it with wheat toast and home fries. The scramble is a nice sauteed mix of eggs, onions, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese done just right providing some nice texture and robust flavors. I usually pop in a dash of Tabasco to accent the flavor. The toast is usually great... with a nice mix of brownness, crunch, softness, and buttered just right. The home fries are a nice mix of nicely fried potatoes mixed with onions. They usually never let the coffee cup go empty. They give me a fresh cup of coffee to go when I ask nicely.... most excellent when I'm having trouble starting my morning right. Other things worth noting: Free WiFi! :-) I have my iPod touch in hand downloading the latest articles on the NYTimes app and checking flickr and facebook. The ambiance is clean... brick walls grace the side with odd works of art on the side such as portraits of customers at tables. Tables are really large (kinda weird, they serve entree, not a la carte.... why the space?) with some mishmash of seating. The ambiance is busy with some pleasant music in the background. Nice flooring... generally warm in tone. Weekend breakfast time is busy. If you come after 0830 on a weekend then you're stuck waiting. The waits are variable... I remember one point they weren't accurate with their wait time and it wasn't for the better. Weekdays are generally nicer due to usually not needing to wait. I've done lunch and dinner a couple of times. Nothing to write home about for me yet. Food's fine. Generally quiet. Apparently there's music last Sunday evening of the month.... hrmm.. I've become accustomed to paying at the counter when leaving. Sitting around waiting for them to pick up the bill takes some time. It's worth the drive when the competition I figure is a "greased up" IHOP, "almost par level" Waffle House, "greased up" Red Onion, "super large portions and they don't take credit" Alley Cafe. Overall, recommended. read more

Café Soleil Wedding Review: Thank you Café Soleil for helping to make our wedding dream come true! I've heard it said, guests don't remember the food but our guests have raved this past week about "the BEST food they've ever had at a reception!" Jen, your easy-going nature calmed me when I needed it most and I will always appreciate your kindness, wisdom and advice from everything on pairings, colors, accessories to ceremony set-up. For couples considering Café Soleil for catering, know this: Jennifer, Todd and their staff will go above and beyond your expectations to make sure everything is beautiful and you have the wedding you were promised. They are friendly, professional, keep their word and will work with you to make YOUR wedding the best wedding in the world. read more

We went there early on a Saturday night, hoping to avoid any crowds. No problem. We had been there for breakfast many times and liked the big helpings and friendly staff, so decided to try dinner. Very limited dinner menu, which can be OK, if the entree are special. They're not. I think they had ten items, mostly pasta and pork. On the night we were there I ordered a glass of Chardonnay to start our meal, and I was informed they forgot to chill it but they had some other white wine which was just as good, and it was cold! We ordered our entree, a grilled pork chop, a chicken Alfredo with pesto sauce (don't ask) and a child's cheeseburger plate (best thing we had). There was only 15 people in the place but somehow our waitress keep missing us. The food arrived rather quickly, but we hadn't gotten our salads yet, and the entree were already cold. How do you even do that? I thought maybe they were short staffed or still new to dinners, but no, I was informed they were doing well and this was how they always operate. We might we back for breakfast, hard to mess that up, but for dinner, save your money, they aren't trying very hard to get it. read more

Delicious and huge order of biscuits and gravy! Everything was delicious and service was fast. read more

This review is for Jennifer's catering. Jennifer is fantastic! She catered our wedding of 100 guests in San Francisco last weekend. Her catering is super affordable, so I had my doubts. But all doubts were quashed when I walked into my venue on my wedding day. She had decorated the food tables beautifully and all my guests gushed about the food all night. We had passed appetizers and appetizer stations throughout the whole evening. Jennifer's crew cooked and served for hours. Each appetizer was better than the last. She even separated the shellfish in the cooking process for my one allergic guest. Jennifer is super flexible about what food, wine, and beer she'll serve. She worked with us perfecting our menu for 6 months. I'll definitely use her again for my next event and I'd highly recommend her! read more

I've been here twice, & will no doubt come here again due to the lack of exciting breakfast options around here. It sure beats the impersonal Denny's or IHOP. The service is great, the staff are very friendly, and it feels welcome. Not cheap, but maybe the food is organic? The ambiance is welcoming and warm, but definitely not fancy or stylish. The first breakfast I had here was rather disappointing: I ordered 1/2 Worker's Special: one egg with a patty and one biscuit with gravy. The portions were huge, but I was a little unimpressed with the mushy, blob-like texture of the bland, untasty biscuit. The gravy was heavy with starch but lacking in any particular flavor except for a tangy slightly sour taste. The waiter was a super friendly young man with a very pleasant energy. The second time we came here, I ordered the bacon and cheddar omelette with rye toast, and asked for a side of grits. The omelette was delicious. I very much enjoyed the rye toast with butter. The grits were unseasoned, and tasted a little like sand, so I put a ton of butter and sugar until it was to my taste. I've been to places where grits were taken seriously, but we're not in the South......so what did I expect, right? We had a pleasant waitress who didn't get too pissed when I tried to order from the dinner menu (I wanted to try the mushroom porcini ravioli). I'm not blown away by this place, but I think my boyfriend likes it a lot. I am really hoping to change my mind in the future. read more

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Very over rated..we had breakfast there today after checking the yelp.. very disappointed with the food.... only reason for 2 stars was for waitperson..she was very friendly and helpful other than that definitely not going back... read more

Stumbled on this spot for dinner tonight and was excited to find a Vegan menu! Yes, they had breakfast and dinner items all on a separate menu for vegans - a first for this area. We ordered the Beyond Burger, since I knew those are yummy already. It was cooked well and tasted great! I definitely want to go back and try their vegan pancakes! Service was excellent. They said the vegan menu is new and they're trying it out, so please visit Cafe Soleil and encourage them to keep the vegan menu! read more

Today my parents and I had the pleasure of being served by Jasmine D. She was very kind , knowledgeable and attentive. When you come to Cafe Soleil (and you should cause the food is ) request Jasmine D. You'll leave full and pleased from the service and food.... read more

The food at Cafe Soleil is fantastic. Some of our favorites are the BLT, Chicken Marsala, Roasted Salmon Salad and a must have, Porcini Mushroom Ravioli. They have been providing support to many of our communities frontline workers and their support is very appreciated. Thank you Jennifer and Todd, you are so amazing! I hope everyone in the community will rally around them and support this business when they reopen. read more

Had the minestrone soup and a mimosa. Mimosa was definitely on point (easy enough) but the soup was missing a soul. It was ok flavor-wise but minestrone soup was meant to be savory. The service was a redeeming factor for sure. The young lady at the counter was very friendly and attentive to anything I might've needed. read more

Cafe Soleil - Minestrone soup and mimosa ;) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Great Portions, Fresh Food, Great Selection. I'm always impressed when the menu comes in a binder.... I always go over the entire menu, then backtrack and get the same thing. Club Sandwich with fries. Real Fries. From Real Potatoes. Except of course for breakfast, when I get a little more flexible. But it always ends the same, feeling satisfied. read more

Loved it! Delicious food at a great price! Staff was very friendly and attentive! This will definitely be a regular spot for us!

I found this place on yelp and decided to try it. It was beyond my expectations. The service was excellent and quick. Me and my friend received our food in less then ten minutes after we ordered. Our waitress Sherry was the bomb! We never waited for anything,she was always on point. I highly recommend this hidden spot. You will not be disappointed. read more

Cafe Soleil - Bacon mushroom and Monterey jack omlet with homefries and wheat toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Sobrante, California

This was my first time here, I expected better. The food was somewhat tasty and undercooked. The French Toast and Sausages were a little soggy. The Sausages far to much of a buttery taste. The rest of the meal was OK. Everything with a side of hash-browns, orange juice came to about $17. Honestly this quality of food was not worth that price. More like $10 - $12. Seems like a nice local place, people enjoy, yet I am not one of them. They could definitely use some changes with this place. The main floor could use a makeover, along with some of the interior. Maybe they could invite "Hell's Kitchen", to the place. read more

Pleasantly surprised by the solid taste and good quality of the food here. My wife and I ordered carry out for dinner. We had the salmon and ribeye, along with 2 soups. All reminded me of home cooked meals - and that is a really good thing. We will add this place to our take out list and should probably pop in soon for a dining experience. read more

I was feeling a brunch on the weekend. So I check up on Yelp to find a good place around the area. Saw the review on Cafe Soleil, thought it maybe a good place to give it a try... Well, I guess my hope was all high up but the outcome was a bit bitter. I ordered a hamburger steak with eggs, plus fruit. Oh...and I also ordered a coke too. But the coke comes out to be a Pepsi...oh well!! Overall is good place to go, and good food. But it will be my last brunch place to head for~ read more

This is just a-ok. Ordered eggs Benedict and it was swimming in Hollandaise sauce. My husband got the country kitchen breakfast and that was also swimming in gravy sauce. Portions were very large and over the top with fattening sauces. The menu the server gave us was covered in a greasy sauce. The leather on the chairs were old and torn apart. The toilet was missing paper towels. The food tasted ok. My daughters food came in cold and her hot cocoa came with whipped cream in it (the server did not ask us if we were ok with that and my daughter does not like whipped cream). All and all, we find this place through yelp while driving on a long distance trip. I would not come back again. read more

I've never been disappointed with cafe soleil. My fiance and I first tried it a couple of months ago. Tia gave us great service and recommended to come back for breakfast, and now it is our favorite breakfast/brunch spot! We went in today and Amber served us, again.... GREAT SERVICE! I love Sam's Scramble! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! read more

Love the service & food is great. Almond or Oat milk option for coffee was a plus. Lots of vegan options such as vegan pancakes, vegan butter & vegan meats. read more

I'm actually surprised at the not so nice reviews. This is a solid restaurant in El Sobrante. It's everything you want in a local casual dining restaurant. The prices are decent, the portion sizes are appropriate (not too much, not too little), the service is good, and there is no side-eye when your kid knocks over his cup three times in one meal. But seriously, I come here to eat their amazing white gravy. I like the workers special (2 biscuits and gravy, breakfast meat, eggs). It's thick, creamy, and has bits of sausage. It's everything I could ever want in breakfast gravy. read more

Bar far the Best Omelette!! DON'T PASS on this one!! I've only had breakfast as this is my favorite and main meal. I eat out quite frequently and I cannot Emphasize how well cooked it is!! Hands down, the best omelette (which is a test for breakfast; no brown on egg) consistently!! I've Never dined at place that was able to make an omelette this well!! A testimony to the chef!!! Fresh ingredients, good portions, reasonable prices, and fantastic service (kind, efficient) as well - all done in a timely manner!! I will stop here every time I am in the area! Thank you staff! Kelley read more

Tried this place out for the first time today and was more than pleasantly surprised. I had the veggie omelet with chicken added, pancakes and a side of seasonal fruit (red/green grapes, strawberries, raspberries/blackberries). I tend to refrain from eating diner style foods because of how greasy it is, but the food here was clean and had me feeling fueled for my coming workout session, as opposed to heavy and weighed down. The pancakes were huge and fluffy, and the fruit was fresh and of good quality. Service also gets a thumbs up. The best part: The bill came out to less than it would have at those lower quality breakfast franchises not too far from here. Quality, well prepared food at a great price - what more could you ask for? I will DEFINITELY be back. read more

I've been to this establishment two times. A long time ago I went here for breakfast and it was "meh".....average at best. Went for lunch last week and tried their Ortega burger. Big mistake....one of the worst burgers I've had in a long time. They ask how you want it cooked and I ordered it medium. It took a long time for my order to be brought to the table. The burger was dry and tough. The large uniform size and texture gave me the impression it was a bulk frozen meat patty. A small spattering of what looked like canned diced Ortega chili was sprinkled on top of the burger and cheese. And somehow they messed up what would have been a nice bun. It was over toasted or steamed or a combination of both. It had a very weird texture, not toasted but tough and cardboard like. If you can't get a burger right what's the point? I won't be going back. read more

Mother's Day lunch or dinner. Food was ok. Waiter who tall black guy. Nice but really didn't give a shit if we needed refills or only walked by us one time. Let's say very disappointed. Won't be coming back. read more

I just took my mom here for a mother's day brunch and my whole family was pleasantly surprised about the quality of the food and the value for the dollar. This is a great little joint that one day Guy Fieri should feature on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It's definitely a sweet little Cali-style diner. I love how peppery the home fries were and how friendly the staff was -- especially on such a busy day. My husband and I plan to return for lunch sometime to try the burgers and sammies. read more

Went this morning for my birthday based on a rec from one of my friends. I grew up on country biscuits smothered in gravy so I keep looking for a place that makes it. You would think there would be more. I ordered 3 eggs over easy with sausage patties, country biscuits over gravy. It was good, but the biscuits were a little too fluffy, and the gravy was kind of bland. I had to add a lot of salt and pepper. They overcooked my eggs, and the sausage was pretty nasty. Their homefries were good. I tried my wife's spicy hot links and they were good so next time will go with that. I will definitely go back as I think I ordered the wrong thing. The table next to us were regulars and he ordered Todd's hash browns smothered in gravy. The hash browns were covered in melted cheese and onions. I also need to try one of their omelets. The ambiance in the place was really nice and our waitress was super nice and attentive. She heard it was my birthday and brought me a free red velvet cake to go since she saw us eating cupcakes we brought from outside. After I try it again I will definitely update my review. read more

The Food: The food was awesome. I ordered country biscuits and gravy, polish kielbasa, spinach, bell peppers and mushroom omelet with a side of hash brown and an English muffin. The hubby ordered corned beef with a side of Todd's Special hash brown and a side of sourdough bead and poached eggs. The little one had a Mickey Mouse Flapjack with fruit pieces. All of it tasted savory and the portions were pretty good. The Space: The lounge was spacious and grand. The color scheme is brown and black with a real brick wall and a nice looking bar area. A couple of flat screens off of two corners of the house. Wide open space for large parties and events. Overall, a great space. The large space helped muffle out the noise of the crowd as well as the fussiness of my child so we didn't feel like everyone was staring at us when she was misbehaving; which if you're a parent you will totally understand. The Staff: My 2 YO can be a bit fussy at times and the wait staff was accommodating and attentive towards her, which I truly appreciated. Things They Could Improve: I would love it if they could have paper place mats and a couple of crayons for my LO, just to make it a tad bit more family-friendly. Also, I appreciate any restaurant that has Sriracha sauce on hand. It's a must for omelets. read more

Always a party in your mouth quick service priced right products used are always fresh

Jen and Cecy were awesome - they catered our wedding a few weekends back. Great communication, reasonable price, delicious food, and quality service. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. The staff here are very friendly, courteous, and respectful. The restaurant also serves up some delicious food -- I recommend the mushroom ravioli! read more

Always always always always our go to place for breakfast. Everything is delicious and fresh. Whether you're in the mood for a big helpings of eggs and toast and bacon and gravy, chicken fried steak,pancakes,French Toast or you want a light breakfast egg whites scrambled with veggies and a side of fruit, this is the best place for breakfast around! read more