My family and I have been to Duncan Mills a million times over the years, but only just stopped at the Cape Fear Café for the first time on our latest trip, and we are sure glad we did. The atmosphere and the breakfast we ordered were both great. They had big selection of tasty things to choose from including a great selection of Benedicts. Also, they had a lovely patio to dine on, when the weather is being cooperative. Duncan Mills is always worth a stop and this great little diner makes it even better. Highly recommended. read more

You know when you walk into a place and know, just from how you're greeted that your food is going to be good? That's this place. Who has a spotless dining room and fresh cut calla lillies in the off season? This place. If you want attentive staff, food that is honestly better than is logical given the locale and well priced to boot? This is the place. My steak was well cooked, and well seasoned. My salad was prepared exactly to spec and my dressing was tart and bright. My clam chowder was built for rainy weather and foggy nights (upon my writing, this is one.). Give this place your time. You won't regret it! read more

Here on a holiday weekend and stopped in Cape Fear for breakfast. This place is a local favorite and one for those who have visited the area for years, as well. It's the place to come for a hearty breakfast and a warm welcome. The dining space is cheery and there's outside options when the weather is warmer. Our waiter was a seasoned veteran of hospitality and couldn't have been more charming and responsive. We had clam chowder, added a grilled cheese, had a cheese burger, a BLT, smoked salmon Benedict, and added another grilled cheese for a hungry teenager! The meal was great. I loved all the Benedict options. They got very creative with crab or salmon cakes, smoked salmon and more! read more

See all

The beautiful Russian river needs support of their excellent restaurants! Cape Fear Cafe offers a really great menu and the kitchen executes it perfectly and the server is friendly and attentive. The salmon, prime rib, and fish and chips are our favorite. read more

We had breakfast at Cape Fear last Saturday and it was absolutely delicious! I thought I'd try something new, so I ordered the Hangtown Fry and I am so glad that I did! The eggs, spinach and sausage reminded me of Joe's Special, and the fries oysters and zippy sauce really rounded it out! So delicious! With fried potatoes and toast, the meal filled me up for the day! Plus, the coffee was fresh and strong and the service was prompt and fully of witty repartee!! The perfect spot to stop! And don't forget to check out all of the great shops in Duncan's Mills! read more

Cape Fear Café - Hangtown Fry -- yum! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

Stopped by on the way to the coast. You can find the restaurant where the cute historic shopping village is in Duncan Mills (can't miss it! ;)) It was a relatively sunny day so we sat outside. The service was fast and attentive. We got our foos relatively quickly. Ordered the hangtown fry, waffle, and sausagse. Everything tasted fresh, not too greasy and flavorful. read more

Cape Fear Café - Hangtown Fry Buttermilk Waffle and Sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

Stopped in while shopping, and I'm so glad we did! The food was amazing! I ordered the Tandoori Chicken Sandwich and it was perfectly done! The bread paired perfectly, the chicken was cooked and seasoned proper, and the mango salsa added a good depth of flavor without overpowering the sandwich. Well done! The service was good, the server (whom I'm pretty sure was the owner) made for a fun experience, he was friendly and also on top of everything the entire time. Great job! :) The Ambiance is that of a small French inspired cafe, and it fits in perfectly with the motif of the shops around it. If you're in the area and are looking for a good meal then look no further. read more

See all

The food was ok, service lacking. Long wait for check, silverware and no refills. The lady who was serving was super loud and kind of abrasive. Never told us the special either. Would try somewhere else and not return. read more

Cape Fear Café - Patio - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

Great customer service and flavorful food. Loved their special butter on the French toast . read more

We are locals and hadn't visited for a while, it was a weekday so not too busy. Nice server, but disappointing "crab-salmon cake" salad which was more like a pancake with maybe a bit of crab and salmon added for flavor. They were placed atop of a salad with blue cheese and cranberries like a fall salad, so it kinda didn't make sense. Maybe it was an off day, so will give them another chance sometime because the brunch has been so good there in the past. read more

Seemed like a nice place but the waitress was acting like it was her first day. Took a while to be greeted, maybe 10 minutes at the table. Put in order, waited another 10 minutes and I said you can bring chowder anytime. Chowder came, still no drinks. Drink came when halfway done with chowder. Oyster Po Boy and burger arrive about 20 minutes later. Oyster Po boy was cold and the fries were cold. This Po Boy just completely died in the window while my wife's burger was cooking. The burger arrived hot and the side salad was crisp and cold. My plate was inedible. The waitress never asked how our food was. She had a 4 table section and was totally overwhelmed. Service was just terrible and the food might have been good if timed appropriately. Left a 10% tip which was 10% more than deserved. Never again. read more

Great salads and solid portions! Grabbed a late lunch over the holiday weekend and this place was packed! The portions were generous and the salads looked phenomenal. I ordered the curry chicken sandwich on homemade focaccia. The focaccia was a bit dense for my preference, but the flavors and spices were lovely. Fries were mid-range, but still cleaned the plate. The servers were all very friendly, even with the summer crowds. A solid lunch spot. read more

Cape Fear Café - Grilled Tandoori Chicken Breast on house made focaccia - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

The Cape Fear cafe has gone through its rollercoaster of quality and service. Thankfully it has returned to a good service with a friendly manager and staff. The food menu has changed over the years, but is also now stable with a good range of quality options. They are now serving Bella Rosa Coffee from Santa Rosa, which is a great Coffee! They are one of the only places in the Russian River area that serves MGD. They also have patio seating. read more

Wonderful little spot. Extremely friendly staff. Had the salmon Benedict which was delicious! Best grits I've had in a long time. Surrounded by cool shops too. read more

Cape Fear Café - S Sanford Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

Found this gem on Yelp and it did not disappoint! We walked right in, were greeted and seated within a minute. The coffee was really good and the food was even more amazing! The service was quick, friendly and made you feel like an old friend. The ambiance was well decorated and gave you that home feel; as if you're eating at a family member's or good friend's home. read more

Cape Fear Café - Salmon Benedict- nothing short of amazing! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

See all

Great owners Good food in relaxed atmosphere. My husband and I have gone to several of their Taco Tuesday nights and it never disappoints. The ceviche is amazing and the tacos are delicious. We love going during the week for lunch or dinner. But they do a great brunch on the weekends also. read more

The best breakfast in the Russian River area to me. They only have the Benedict's on the weekends so I had to pivot. The omelette was perfect. Totally nice servers & owner. Plus there's tons of fun shopping all around the restaurant. read more

Absolutely solid and delicious brunch in Monte Rio. we walked in and there's one person hosting and managing the tables on a sunny weekend. This guy is a master, we had coffee and drinks. Within five minutes, he took our order, was no nonsense and took care of a seemingly. We sat outside on the patio, it's nothing special but it's outside and lovely. I recommend it. I had the country Benedict that came with ham and my partner had a crab cake Benedict. The eggs were runny and perfectly cooked, and the potatoes were to die for! Crispy and salty, just like I love them. Stop by, tip well! read more

Parking - lots of parking in the front side and rear of the shops Service - great. Loved the energy and enthusiasm. Definitely made it fun. Rear patio accommodates dogs. Thanks Francisco! Food - waffle and a cheeseburger w/bacon. Both rock solid and definitely satisfied our hunger Do stop in Duncan Mills and check out the shops. read more

Cape Fear Café - Rear patio - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

We came by for breakfast during our stay at Cazadero and were pleased with our food! Got seated right away upon arrival. Prices were kind of expensive despite its location though. Service: 10/10. Everyone we interacted with was nice, quick, and super friendly. Food: 10/10. Fried oyster po boy - Juicy and delicious. Lots of oysters in there as well. Fresh vegetables and nicely toasted bread. Ricotta tortellini with house smoked salmon - 10/10. Needless to say, this was veeeerrryyyyyy cheesy. Nonetheless, it was really delicious and smoked salmon really balanced out the cheesiness idk why lol. I finished this in a day and it's very uncommon for me to finish a meal in just a day :) House coffee - A bit bland but it was kind of strong like I wanted it. read more

Cape Fear Café - Fried Oyster Poor Boy Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

See all

We came here with our buddy who is a local. Jo was our server and was very friendly and helpful. I liked the French toast, hubby had a Brie, spinach omelette and potatoes (both tasty), and our friend had the hangtown fry with fried oysters. Cute place with reasonable pricing, highly recommended. It's part of a little group of shops and restaurants. read more

See all

Really cozy restaurant in Duncan's Mill's. The food is really good and we love the atmosphere too. read more

Service took a long time, server was very rude. The bathroom also backs onto the kitchen with a joining window that was open and I could hear two employees speaking badly about to each other as well as being unhygienic. Food was overpriced and same quality as a Dennys. read more

Best fried oysters I've ever had! The review must be 85 characters, so they were the best fried oysters I've ever had

I was here on Halloween day and there was a lovely person that was working. The ambience is super chill , the Mimosas cold and the French Toast was lovely. I'm not sure if I was getting this right but I'm pretty sure I had some compound butter with peanut butter in it. I'll be back. read more

Went here for breakfast and will be back! We sat outside and it was very pleasant. Food was good, came quick, and staff were very attentive! read more

See all

Six of us went to eat at Cape Fear, what a good choice. The food was great, and the people were beneficial. We had a lot of fun, too. If you want to have all-around great food and great people. Thanks, Cape Fear, Diane F. 5 stars from all six of us read more

We were traveling through on a one day adventure when we happened upon Cape Fear Cafe. The ambiance is eclectic elegance, the food is delicious from the warm focaccia, house salad; wonderful mixed greens with dried cranberry with blue cheese crumbles and candied nuts, drizzled with a lovely vinaigrette to spicy grits with shrimp (they were perfect!). My boyfriend ordered the prime rib special, it was served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The prime rib was seasoned to perfection and very tender. Our server was friendly and kind. We had a lovely time. She was very thoughtful and we truly appreciated her kindness and service. I will definitely recommend and return on any future trips through the area. Thank you for adding to our memories! read more

Cape Fear Café - Spicy grits and shrimp - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

See all

Absolutely delicious food, drinks and tea. Great atmosphere with a knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Last night I had the special Prime Rib and loved it. The meal was complete including salad and bread with dipping oils read more

Cape Fear Café - Prime Rib Special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

Usually great food and great service! If you are in the Duncan Mills area give it a try

Some places are ironically retro, inviting and encouraging knowing nods and demi-smirks from those who are "hipper than thou." Cape Fear Café is not one of those places. It is unabashedly, honestly, organically retro, in all the best ways -- but with a menu that spans past and present deliciously. You want a tasty, satisfying breakfast? They've got omelettes, Belgian waffles, French Toast -- and a good old-fashioned Hangtown Fry. Rather have some lunch? Great burgers, whether you want chicken, a veggie burger, or traditional ground beef. A great selection of other sandwiches, too, including a northern California twist on the oyster po'boy, a New Orleans staple. An impressive range of pastas and salads, too, and one of the best clam chowders in this part of the world. Similarly impressive and interesting choices for dinner and brunch on weekends. An ever-changing selection of house-made desserts as well. And service that's relaxed but efficient. My wife and I almost expected our young server to call each of us 'Hon." Whatever you're in the mood to eat, you'll likely find something satisfying and enjoyable at Cape Fear Café. Go and enjoy, completely un-ironically. read more

Attentive service right off the bat when you enter, and the food was delish! As one of the few food joints in the area they could get away with substandard fare but thankfully they do way better! Only thing is the interior was pretty chilly for us in the winter morning, with only a couple of space heaters around. It's also lovely seeing how the community's businesses support each other - there were teas from the local tea shop on the menu; a really good rooibos btw! read more

Cape Fear Café - Vegetable Scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

See all

Food was fine, service was awful enough to ruin the meal. not first time had bad service there, but tried again. wont be going back

So it's a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful town that is totally worth the visit. Queer friendly too. I was with some very particular chefs and they said that the eggs benedict seemed handmade when its so often prepackaged. Unfortunately I did have a negative experience with my server. I had a larger breakfast so I wasn't ready to eat lunch here. The server joked, "watching your figure?". A bit risky of a joke but I smiled. He continued with "I guess it's a little late for that." I'm a man and I'm far from in bad shape, so maybe he felt comfortable. I'm a confident person so I'm not going to take it to heart but as someone in the industry you have to be more careful. You don't know what will hurt someone's feelings. read more

Lovely setting for brunch in the outdoor patio! Waffles were delightful and omelette was nice and fluffy! Eggs over easy was cooked just about right! Located in Duncan Mills community on the road side! Enjoyable, surely! read more

See all

The wait time for this place was a little off putting as I see many empty tables and yet, you are just standing and waiting to be seated. The staff was lovely though and very friendly. There was no reception in the area so I had to go with my gut and ordered the Oyster Poorboy! I was a little hesitant as I thought the bread would be too bready for the lightly coated oysters. To my surprise, the Dutch Crunch was really soft which made this sandwich so perfect! The size of this goodness was spot on. My boyfriend had the Salmon Crab Cake Salad and he said it was delicious too. Would love to come back for the brunch and dinner offerings and save room for dessert. read more

Cape Fear Café - Captured the yumminess before he took his first bite! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Duncans Mills, California

See all

Much improved. I don't know if it's new management or new ownership, but I'd pretty much given up on Cape Fear after trying it for breakfast & lunch a few times while staying at our cabin in nearby Cazadero. Food was meh, and service even more meh. I decided after taking a few years off to give it another shot. Wow, what a difference. Speedy and pleasant service. Great breakfasts. Good coffee and large mimosas. So, nice job. It's back on my Redwoods dining rotation :-) read more

OMG. This place is divine. First- the customer service was so friendly and cheerful. But the food- THE FOOD!!!!! Heaven. I have multiple allergies and the staff was able to make suggestions for an absolutely perfect experience. The shrimp and grits reminded me of the perfect serving I got on the North Carolina coast (ends up the owner is from there). The fried oysters almost made me cry they were so good. The goat cheese appetizer was able to be made with gluten free toast and was the perfect sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy perfection to start off with. I can't wait to go back- I will happily travel halfway across the state to eat here again. read more

Incredible food that is really well done and unique. You can't go wrong with anything on the breakfast menu Enjoy! read more