The best place north of Boston to get old school Home breakfast. Exceptional customer service with a bit of "mom" attitude reminds you that this is not your fru-fru Melrose eatery. Just a damn fine place to have your stomach filled, so much excellent food served, unless you are just literally starving...then you'll absolutely leave satisfied and even then, maybe with a left-over, doggy bag. So generous!! Twenty star service. Always ready with the coffee refill. Before you THINK you need a fill, they are ghostly there at your side with damn fine coffee. Not the sludge they serve at Starbucks or Dunks, but real coffee! Decor is aligned with their name and the history of Wyoming Hill section of fru-fru Melrose. This area was constructed in the 1870's+ to house the multicultural workers who laid track and created the purple-line/commuter rail system of today. The workers lived in the multitudes of homes, then were boarding houses (including my own, I must disclose). Then layer as the town gained citizens, further down West Wyoming Ave, finds the Middlesex Fells reservation at Spot Pond, one of our last and losing Greenbelt designated land conservancy, is what elder Melrosian's who grew up there, incl my former mother in law, call the "Cork" district, the regular home of Melrose's Cork County, emigrated Irish, the city of Malden/later made a new singular city of Melrose,, northern district. These Irish who were kept from maidens public service, instead became the police and fireman of our burgeoning city. Cappys is a hidden treasure, kept close to the vest by the Melrose' s blue collar, including this author. It's the to-go of the cities fire & police depots to this day. What better references do you need? I'm torn between giving an excellent review for their 10 star perfect breakfasts and hearty, but sensibly created...worthy of a Michelin star, or giving a "sucks" review to keep the fru fru with their espresso machines, gluten allergies and perfect (monster) children away. But I can't! Cappys pulls me back and reminds me that great, honest food (and reviews) is what they are really all about. What every food service provider, no matter how many snotty newbies grace their Melrose locations, should take measure of. Now that I've written this, it's time for brunch at Cappys. They close, as all great blue collar kitchens should, at 1:30. It might be late in the day. And a Tuesday, but I'm confident that the food will be fresh, delightfully made, generous in portion, and the coffee freshly brewed as soon as we walk in the door....it's just THAT kind of place. It makes me happy in anticipation. And isn't that what it's all about? From Cappys, to the dozen or so pizza and typical Asian cuisine takes always, to the few upscale but lovely, Turner's and Giacomos should be like?- After having eaten at both, I'd ask that their staff spend a morning with the Cappys staff to learn what customer service and great food from stem to stern means. For now I'm off for hash and eggs. Done just right. With lots of bottomless delicious coffee and fresh squeezed juice. Hopefully without the helicopters of toddler parents that condense and suffocate the cities coffee houses throughout the city! Ah, Cappys!!!! read more

I like this place bc it is within walking distance of my new apt. I went with my boyfriend and we didn't have to wait at all at 11 am on a Saturday. I got the eggs florentine and it came with homefries. My meal was average. My boyfriend for French toast with bacon and I had a bite, it was pretty good French toast. Buttery, but that's how I like it. A table next to us was eating pancakes and those looked really good, I wish I had gotten those. Overall, average diner food, the French toast and pancakes are probably slightly above average. Service is really quick though! We were in and out in a half hour. Unfortunately the waitresses were not as sassy as we had read in another review. read more

This place is definitely worth a trip and serves as a worthy alternative to a boxcar diner. While the food is not culinary masterwork, it's akin to something you'd find in a great greasy spoon or at home. The hash browns are done just how I like them- without over spicing. The eggs were made perfectly to order and the pancakes were great. The service was prompt and professional and the prices are moderate for what you get. The specials seem well thought out and really tempting (cheesecake french toast? Yes, please). read more

Great food in such an unsuspecting mom-and-pop place. Great pancakes! Will definitely return. read more

Cappa's Trackside Kitchen - Egg white omelette w/ feta, spinach, tomato and turkey. Also with home fries and arisen toast. Mmmmm - American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

I really liked this tiny little spot in Melrose. A friend brought me here for breakfast. Otherwise, I would never have known about it. The food is pretty basic in terms of being a greasy spoon diner. I ordered the corn beef hash with scrambled eggs and wheat toast. It was done right and the price was right (under $10). No complaints. Decent service. Decent parking. No frills. Just a good simple meal at a reasonable price. I would go back if I was in the area. read more

Good old Fashioned American coffee shop food is alive and delicious at The Trackside. I love this place and the sweet, sassy ladies who work there. Big potions of simple, well cooked food satisfies the tummy every time. We always order breakfast but good sounding lunch items are available,too. We need more authentic food places like this! read more

I've lived in the area for 7+ years and finally tried Cappa's on Sunday. My eggs were as ordered (scrambled), the rye toast was good and they have a heavy hand when buttering it (yay!), and despite many questionable reviews about the home-fries, they were just how I like them (maybe that means I've lived in the Boston arear too long)--kind of a mess, some real crunchy parts and some squishy potato parts, not these homogenized, perfectly browned chunks. But I get why some might not dig them. My companion's omelet looked great and they even suggested adding spinach to it when he asked for a side of spinach (I guess this was not easily do-able since it's not a common b'fast side dish). We loved the kitschy mis-matched coffee mugs and the coffee was fine. The downside: The service went from generally apathetic to pretty awful after we asked for a couple of things--and no, our requests weren't well timed and weren't grouped into one request for the server, but that's the business, right? It wasn't busy (at least half the tables were empty), so I don't feel like we were being *those* customers. read more

Beware: Showed up this morning at 5 am after a long 3rd shift and starving. Just wanted a meal before hitting the hay. They were not open. Waited until 5:30, still nobody in the place. Maybe call ahead to make sure they are open before stopping by if you are planning on hitting them up early? Edit: I received a message from the owner apologizing for the inconvenience. They stated that the hours posted on here might not always be accurate. Anyway, that's worth an increase of one star in my book. read more

Our experience was very good. It was through uber eats and all of our additional comments were followed perfectly. We asked for ketchup and utensils in the bag as well as for the English muffin of the eggs benedict to be lightly toasted and it was perfection. Though it wasn't the best eggs benedict and omelet we have ever had, it satisfied our early morning cravings. Came in a timely manner and was as fresh as we could expect. If you are looking to fulfill some hunger with some yummy breakfast then this is the place for you :) read more

I have been going to Trackside for 20+ years; this is a great breakfast and lunch spot....local family owned and operated. Although very small and the parking can be a PITA, if you live in Melrose, MA or surrounding cities, it's worth visiting. The best choices: * Eggs Benedict * Pancakes (They have so many different daily varieties, and will make almost any combo on request) * Omelettes (3 Eggs, and like the pancakes, build your own) * French Toast (Plain, Texas Toast, Wheat, or Raisin Toast) * Coffee (the mugs are all 12 oz, Heinz 57 variety...) Keep in mind, this is not the Ritz Carlton; and neither are the prices or service. Very busy; expect 15-45 minute wait to sit on week-ends; and seating is tight with less that 10 tables (2-8 person). Better than average breakfast local jewel; average lunch, excellent variety and handicap accessible. 4+ stars read more

Awesome local diner with everything you'd expect from that happy small town home cooked memory. This place is perfect for all the breakfast greatest hits. Its a favorite stop of mine when I can get away from the city, especially when they are having some delicious seasonal specials. Service is great - definitely that family feel. Food comes out quickly and is huge portions, exactly what I'd expect from such a cute 'lil diner. read more

I love this Place so Much, food is awsome, Im not giving 5 stars because the eggs are not that great without cheese, so I order omletts. Debbie the owner is the sweetest and most caring person you will ever meet. The waitresses are all part of the family, and if you go during the day you will meet the spunky and awesome Caprice! (makes me laugh everytime) Weekends are very busy and the place is small so if its winter time bundle up and be prepared to wait a few minutes for them to clear a table for you. But it is well worth it. Hope you meet the waitress I call bumpy lol. (she will bump your chair and not even notice lol, shes awesome though lol) read more

This place is AMAZING. Took my mother, who was in town there this morning and had THE BEST apple pancakes of my life. I've had them from here to San Diego and these were easily the best. So the food is great, but the feel of the place is so cool. The staff is all the same family and they treat you like a house guest. Wonderful service, and the owner is sweet as the pancakes they serve. I am amazed at the -couple- bad reviews here and have to wonder if they come from the people at the new place down the street because my mother and I had an amazing breakfast. I never review but actually took the time because it was really that good. I'm going back FOR SURE. :-) read more

One of the best breakfast places that I have been at in this area. So yummy all of it. My favorite are Pancakes even the regular pancakes.. read more

Cappa's Trackside Kitchen - Lukey - American Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Just went to Cappas for breakfast this morning and it was a pretty awful experience. They sat us (party of 2) and we placed our orders. 40 minutes went by and still no food. I asked the waitress if the food was coming soon and she muttered something under her breath. After another 15 minutes of waiting we were contemplating leaving and apparently we weren't there only ones. A larger group got up and said they couldn't wait anymore and were leaving. The waitress told the cook about it and she started swearing at the customers demanding that they pay for the food even though they never received it. She continued yelling at them and then threatened to call the police. I have never seen a restaurant staff conduct themselves in such an unprofessional manner. Who yells and swears at their customers like that? Needless to say I'll never be back there and would advise others to look elsewhere! read more

This place is tiny and hidden away, but the food is AMAZING! It's greasy spoon diner food done right; easily the best diner pancakes I've ever had (I had the cranberry + almond), inexpensive, great portions, and friendly staff. It's on the small size, so I wouldn't plan on going with a group of more than 4. read more

We found this place because of Yelp! A co-worker and I were in the mood for some breakfast on a Wednesday. We tried here. I go the eggs benedict and hash, he had pancakes, eggs, sausage. The eggs benedict were pretty good, not the worst I've had and not the best. The pancakes were really good and the hash......... LOVED the hash. Hands down yummy, good enough salt, great crunch, just great overall. Very inexpensive. Decent service, she never came back to the table once we had our food. We needed water but other than that good service. I would recommend going. Parking was a little challenging but work the fight! read more

OMG Cappa's is soooo good! This is the 3rd Melrose diner I've tried and I loved it so much I went back again the very next day. It may not look like much from the outside (or inside), but what it lacks in ambiance it more than makes up for in flavor, value and service. The menu is huge - you can pretty much get any breakfast food you want and then some. I especially love that 'cheesecake' is featured on the 'other breakfast favorites' menu. LOL. Lots more to try (like the banana nutella pancakes), but so far the eggs any way w/ home fries and toast and the spinach, cheese, tomato omelet (also served w/ home fries and toast) have been top notch. While everything is delicious, the home fries are truly the star of the plate. Suuuuper crispy, and not overly seasoned. I also like that their rye toast is marble - I don't see that much elsewhere. Cheap prices for huge portions. They do accept cards but I get the impression they prefer cash. Shrug. There are two outdoor tables if you feel like breakfast al fresco. I believe they close at 1:30p so it's really more of a breakfast place, but they do have a lunch menu as well if that's what you're into. read more

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Very friendly staff and the pancakes are amazing ! All of the food we had were great. The prices are very reasonable. Definitely will be going back ! read more

Been here twice recently and LOVED it. First of all it's not corporate. I mean they *care* about your experience and treat you like family. I've had omelettes both times and left so full and happy I had a glow. I don't normally take the time to review places but this place is seriously underrated. There *should* be a line around the block but it's like a hidden gem in Melrose. No BS, it my new brunch spot. read more

I've been coming here for years. I mean it's breakfast food done right. LOVE the fact that they have Scali toast!!! They have the best French toast, upgrade to the Vermont Maple Syrup. Eggs are cooked perfect meats are always juicy and delicious. I have never left here unsatisfied. The owners are great too and always ask for whoever in my family isn't with me at the time.. This is a Melrose staple . read more

By far the most excellent breakfast dining place on Earth!! Their breakfasts are so amazing and tasty. Their atmosphere is very cozy and home like. The owners are incredibly friendly and honestly feels like family whenever we come in and have breakfast on a Sunday morning! I love this place and I know you will too!! read more

Used to go here after work. Great place. Well went this am. NEVER again. Rude,disrespectful I asked a question and was told I came in with an attitude. Yelling at me from across the room in front of other customers. I would drive miles instead of ever going there again. Very unprofessional. If treat customers that way wont be in business much longer. Have to give a star to pist but I would give a negative 100 if allowed read more

The BEST Breakfast in the North Shore! The omelets are always delicious and their pancakes are amazing! Definitely recommend

I love this place, but recently stopped visiting because I've eaten here way too many times. Here are my tips: 1) Go early, or be prepared to wait a bit. It's a smaller joint. 2) EXCELLENT: Pancakes, french toast and waffles are all incredible, in all varieties. Sometimes they get a little carried away about the toppings, so ask before ordering one with toppings. 3) AVERAGE: Eggs, omelettes, bacon, sausage and the like are all decent. 4) POOR: Corned beef hash, homefries. They also make a mean buttered toast. Really want to give this lovely place a 5-star but those home fries need some attention. For some reason Boston-area homefries come as a big mess of lazily chopped potatoes that stick together into an agglomeration that resembles some sort of freaky potato omelette. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer homefries that are carefully separated into individual bite-sized spud units, and then browned on all sides. Size, shape and texture do not matter but clear separation into individual potato bits is essential. read more

cappas turned upside down due to covid 19. not very busy during the week ... weekends usu busier but with corona virus just a few deliveries.. barely enough to pay the rent read more

Finally, as two breakfast divas, we finally found a place that suits our needs- homey feel, decent prices, and a "to-order" menu that makes me feel comfortable customizing my meal! The service was great, coffee was plenty. I can't say enough great things. read more

This place is my home away from home when I am home. Anytime I am back in the Boston area, I can frequently be found at Cappas enjoying breakfast and reading a book. The family who own the places are really nice, (even the waitress Caprice, who despite having a major attitude, is actually sweet and will grow on you... Kinda like a fungus) and the food is great. read more

Cappa's (or the Pink Place, as my son calls it) is definitely our favorite breakfast place. When we go for breakfast, we're looking for diner-style, by which I mean eggs and bacon, pancakes, and decent coffee. Cappa's has all of that and more - you can certainly get the basics, and they have great omelettes, breakfast subs, french toast, eggs Benedict or Florentine - and you will never go hungry at this place. My husband and I just had breakfast there this morning, and were very satisfied. I tried the caramel pecan french toast, as a change of pace, and it's every bit as decadent as it sounds. :) There can be a bit of a wait for a table - and it's well worth it. read more

I went here today for a chit chatty breakfast with my sister. We sat outside, which was nice. We each got the same exact thing: eggs, toast, homefries, bacon. Food was good; very basic. Totally fine. It also arrived VERY quickly, which was great. I ordered my homefries "extra well done, almost burnt" and they arrived exactly the same as my sister's: normal...not well done. I'm not super picky and may or may not have asked the waiter to take them back to crunch them up, but I never had that opportunity as the waiter dropped off our food and never came back (Interestingly, when I got the bill, I saw that the waiter who took my order had noted, "burnt homefries" on the check, so apparently the breakdown was with the cook). Also, I really wanted another iced coffee, but didn't feel like getting up and tracking someone down. This was a downer, because like I said, we were chit chatting and stayed for a while and I wanted another coffee! An additional downer is that while we were eating, an employee took two cigarette breaks within 2 feet of us and it was awful. I feel badly for smokers because I know it's a bear to quit and that some people just have to smoke, but it really really tainted our breakfast. There was also a pregnant diner in the smoke's wake, but apparently the smoker didn't notice/care. I ranked it two stars only because the bad service and smoking overshadowed other pluses of quick delivery of food and decent food. read more

The food is fine, but half the people who work here are a little mental. Half the reason I go here is because the service is a little weird and I think it's funny. I usually warn people before I take them there. The other reason I go is that the food is consistent, it is fast, and it is cheap. It's not amazing, but it is all right. I hear that the fancy flavored pancakes are good. The omelets are actually really good; the stuff inside is cooked into the egg and the egg is never too dry. I like their crunchy home fries. And the staff, despite being weird, they are all friendly enough. Perfectly good place to go. read more

Great prices!!! Not a ton of seating but I've never had to wait. Food is good with large portions to share. The place has a hometown feel.

Friends took us to brunch here a few weeks ago and we can't wait to go back. Huge amounts of breakfast food, all priced nicely. And AMAZING specials- the Gingerbread pancakes were ridiculous, as were the pumpkin ones. It's a small space and on weekends there's a bit of a wait, but it's totally worth it. (Though, they also offer take-out.)The quirky mugs are a nice touch. read more

Loved everything about this little restaurant. I just moved to Melrose and heard great things about their breakfast. The service was quick and very friendly. The prices were cheaper than Bickford's and the portions were bigger. Got the eggs plate with home fries, hash and toast. Everything tasted like I made it at home, but much better. I also tried my dining companion's pancakes and they were buttery and delicious. We could make this a once a week breakfast tradition for sure :) read more

Rude service, dirty utensils,average breakfast food. FYI: the cook only knows one way to fry eggs, sunny side up. I've ordered my eggs over medium but always receive sunny side up! Coffee is decent. read more

Good service, but the food is thoroughly mediocre. Come here if you are hungry and want an ok meal, but if you want great food, take a pass.

I decided to try this place this morning.... love love love it! The food is seasoned well and the portions are pretty big. I ordered the veggie omelet with 1 pancake. (all omelets come with a side of home fries) Not everyone can make home fries... Cappa's home fries are a perfect mix between crunch and soft potato. This is certainly not a fancy restaurant, but if you're looking for a quick great tasting affordable meal.... Cappa's is the place for you! read more

This is one of the best places to get breakfast in the area. Much better than Ihop or any other commercial place. I love having their omelets and my friends from out of state always demand we go. I enjoy going during the week when there isnt as much of a crowd. Its usually a crowd on the weekends and parking can be a pain, but theres a free lot half a block away. Go! Its worth it! read more

Great breakfast diner! it's so hard to find a breakfast place that cooks your eggs just as you make them at home, has fresh fruit, more than the usual bagel flavors, chocolate chip pancakes, and SERVICE with a WARM ATTITUDE. My husband introduced me to Cappa's when we were still dating and it has such a comfortable, atmosphere with the BEST, normal - real - waitstaff - just like you & me - and quality food. We keep coming back - even for special breakfast dates when we break out of our suburban-try-to-be-healthy eating habits. noncommercial feel, regular place. we need more of this type of business. everywhere. read more

Food was decent, but the place is just too small. Came for breakfast, sat at the counter since there were no tables nor a place to stand and wait. The counter turned out to be a good choice, but it was so crowded that no one knew what was going on, it was difficult to get a refill of water, but the servers were very friendly and didn't make any mistakes which was good, considering how busy it was. The one thing I wasn't keen on was seeing the kitchen and a huge can of hash. It makes me sad when you can see the sources. read more