I came here for breakfast and enjoyed it very much. Day by Day has a cozy, homey feel to it. It's very comfortable. On a cold day, you'd probably opt to take your time and enjoy a longer conversation with your meal and a cup of joe. The lay out of the restaurant is kinda confusing if you've never been there before, with its various separate dinning rooms but I think this makes it interesting. The staff was friendly as well. Come with a big appetite, as their portions won't disappoint. read more

Um, no. A recent Saturday morning the 5 of us decide to meet at Day by Day. There is so much confusion and cutting in line at the door I'm already irritated and I haven't been seated yet. Once the 5 of us were smashed into a very tight space, I continue to be irritated. I order a tomato juice, water, the omelette with spinach and jack cheese and rye toast. The juice comes and it's fine - it's juice from a can. The water - never refilled. The eggs, I use the term egg loosely, were rubbery and the cheese was a slice literally melted in the microwave. The toast - cold with weird butter substitute. Could I have said something, sure, had the server come back other than to drop off the check. Overpriced, gross, ish, never again, goodbye, the end. read more

Here from out of town and hotel breakfast didn't start till too late. Great breakfast. I had eggs overeasy, toast, hashbrowns. All were perfect made. Defiantly recommend this place. read more

There are many things about Day by Day I like but the main thing (and I don't think the reviewers below know) it is a non profit. The foundation of Day by Day is to give recovering addicts a place to gain skills to help them after recovery. The coffee is strong (and I believe from Dunn Bros) and the food is good. The Eggs Benedict on Sundays is wonderful and the Tofu scrambler is tasty. Also a side of ham is a good slab off country ham. We tend to go on Sundays and on Easter. They have been great accommodating a large group. read more

Back in the day, the Day by Day was a rocking breakfast spot. A recent visit suggests that things have slipped a bit. First issue was that the place was freezing cold. My daughter decided to keep her down coat on (like the fellow in the opposite booth). Because I am opposed to eating indoors with my outdoor gear on, I took my coat off and shivered. Our server was pleasant if a bit slow paced. Coffee came quickly (the heat from the cup helped warm my freezing fingers) but was weak. My very basic breakfast of eggs over easy, bacon, hashbrowns and toast was Just Fine, as were my daughter's pancakes. The whole deal cost about $20, which had to be paid in cash because the Day by Day accepts no other form of payment. Had the place been a bit more liberal with the heat and payment policies, I'd give 3 stars. As it was, 2 stars about sums it up. As an aside, the Day by Day is next to Sophie Joe's, an above average antique/vintage clothing store, so there's that. My suggestion is that you secure your breakfast at The Downtowner then saunter up to Sophie Joes for postprandial browsing. read more

When my favorite breakfast spot closed, we tried this place and it's became the new favorite. (Even better that the other place.) Their menu has alot of variety. Their coffee (from Dunn Bros) is perfect. Sit on the patio if you can....it's so beautiful! Their food is very good. Buckwheat pancakes are a must try. Otherwise I love their omelets and pretty much every dish I've tried has been very good. Prior reviews have commented on the service. I've always had a great server. Now they probably weren't the most bubbly or biggest on conversation but the service has always been prompt, which is really all I need when it comes to breakfast. Locally owned and cozy feel. It's great for summer or winter dining. read more

Awesome breakfast spot. It's very down to earth and cute without trying too hard to be trendy. I had a Cajun breakfast special and pumpkin pancakes, both were amazing. They have very good coffee and the service was quick and friendly. If you're looking for a solid place to get breakfast with great food and isn't some overpriced hipster coffee shop, this is the place to go. I'll definitely be going back! read more

Meh. The food was bland. Found myself salt-n-peppering everything a lot. Service was fairly efficient, but un-enthused and zombie-like. Some people rave about the "atmosphere", but that's hardly a priority for me when it comes to breakfast. The prices are on the high side and the quality did not justify them. I'll stick with Mickey's. read more

One Sunday in search of hot chow, a friend and I headed over to Day By Day on a strong personal recommendation. That friend with me had been coming here for the last 20 years, and highly recommended this establishment. Settling into a booth we met SARA who would be 'taking care of us' while we dined. Over the next hour we had breakfast items and coffee, and were horrified by the ending of our experience. Ordering and eating well ahead of their scheduled close, we were mindful of the closing time and finished up, just as several other tables did so. Sipping coffee and chatting, SARA appeared after a long absence and stated she wanted us to pay, leaving the check. While sitting there roughly 15-20 minutes, she never returned to collect payment and close out said check. SARA returned to our table full of attitude and wanting to fight, dropping the F-bomb saying "I can't f****** see it behind the seat" as I sat there holding the card, which I should add, I pulled out 15 seconds after the check was dropped off. Fellow staff members looked on in horror and stopped their closing duties, as my friend exclaimed she had been coming here for the last twenty years, one of them recognizing my friend from years past. We looked at each other in amazement as SARA continued dropping F-bombs at us and disappeared, never to be seen again. With our check closed, we left completely aghast of our experience, never to return. Day By Day was founded in the spirit of helping people back on their feet, those who had traversed tougher times in life. Set in a unique space, with many food options, their mission is commendable as an institution of St Paul's West 7th neighborhood. With winter in full swing, and their backyard and water feature frozen up, I could only imagine what it's like in full bloom. This sadly will never happen, as SARA sealed the deal with hostility and expletives, the loss of a 20 year customer, the loss of a new customer, destruction of any referral business, and providing this fully earned review. read more

Day By Day Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

This is the place for breakfast. I love the food! The pancakes are delicious especially if you want to go healthy. You can get buckwheat with granola and blueberries. Though you will pay a hefty price. almost 3 bucks more. They are some tasty cakes. Each time I bring friends there they ask me to take them back. I know it's just eggs but they come up just right each time. I also like the homemade hashbrowns. Not too greasy and crispy on one side. The prices are a not a greasy dive breakfast price but the good food is worth a buck or two more. The Tchotchkes! add to the decor and give you something to look at while you wait briefly to get your yummy food. If your lucky you'll be sitting outdoors where the seating area is fabulous. And the mission of the place is to support people working on sobriety. A cause you can get behind. read more

After a trip to the Saint Paul Farmer's Market this morning with my Mom, she wanted to hit the Day by Day Cafe for breakfast, which was just a few minutes drive. The street parking proved to be a bit difficult, as we arrived at about 9:30 with breakfast service was in full swing. I'm not one to complain about street parking. In fact, a short walk down a quiet little side street on a Sunday morning was quite nice. We were able to get in right away, which is always a plus. Mom chose to sit out on the patio, so we were seated under the shade of the nice large trees out back on the wooden patio that looked to have roughly 20, or so, tables. That estimate could be way off, but I was quite impressed with how large the area was. The tables and chairs/benches served their purpose, but they were really no more than standard home patio fare. In fact, if you're a slightly larger person, like I am, the molded flimsy plastic seats may prove to be a bit uncomfortable, and feel a bit unstable. It felt as if it stared at me as I chose to sit, as if to say, "Oh God, please, just sit on the wooden bench instead." Thankfully the chair and I did just fine. Our waitress was quite attentive, and our food was brought out quite fast. The meal was above average. I had The Environmentalist, if I'm remembering correctly, which was a 2 egg omelet served with onions and hash browns inside, and cheddar cheese on top, along with a side of whole grain toast. The only complaint about my meal would be that the omelet was a bit dry. I think this was due to the cheese actually being on the top versus cooked inside. On top, the cheese seemed to cool and harden more quickly than it would have had it been kept warm wrapped inside. With the inside full of hash browns, it quickly sucked any moisture that would have been there right out of it. This is just a small complaint. It was still quite good. My Mom had the spinach and cheese omelet and was happy with her meal, with no complaint. She had been before and was quite happy with the atmosphere, service, and entrees. Should you go? Definitely. It's a really neat little spot. And if it is nice outside, take a seat on the patio. It's not anything fancy, but it beats sitting indoors on a beautiful day. read more

Yummy! Food was great. Only downfall was that the waitress was swamped and the service was a little slow

Conclusion: Good not great breakfast, ever so slightly overpriced, but you need to go here at least once just to see the place, (But bring cash!) If I could go 3 and half stars here, I would. Extended: I ordered the Two Eggs, Hash browns, and Toast with a Coffee for about 7 dollars. It was good solid breakfast food. Nothing to write home about, but it was good. 7 dollars for the meal seemed reasonable, (If not a bit expensive) but the rest of the menu items seemed pretty expensive. My rule of thumb for diners is, "10 dollars should cover your meal and tip" and for any item with meat or green veggies, this is not the case. The decor is awesome. Unlike Jennifer Aniston in Office Space, this place loves talking about its flair. Day by Day is freaking cool. Every pipe and conduit is painted, there are knick knacks all over the place, yet it avoids tackiness. One last thing. They only accept cash. This isn't too surpising, considering 95% of the diners in the Twin Cities operate this way. Suck on that Uncle Sam! read more

First thing to note... this place only accepts cash and checks. Check? Forgot that it still exist. Anyway, they do have an ATM in case you don't carry neither cash nor check. Second, do not make the mistake of going in through their exit door... you'll get the stink eye. Food was okay, not the best breakfast/ food place in St. Paul but the cafe is cute and great for small groups. It has a very homey feel with the bookcase on the wall, separate rooms with it's own decor and neat wood work. One thing I'd suggest to get is their hot chocolate steamer... compensates for their not so friendly staff. Also, parking can be tricky. Street parking only. This is my 3rd time there and I think lunch is better and breakfast in the summer is nicer because you can have it out in their patio. read more

Warning: This place only accepts checks and cash, it is expensive, the parking can be a challenge, and the decor may overwhelm you. With that being said, I absolutely LOVE Day by Day Cafe! The food is great and they brew Dunn Brothers coffee. This is the type of place that you go to when you want to enjoy the St. Paul atmosphere. You can relax, talk, and eat a good meal and drink good coffee here. I have never been here for lunch and I probably won't ever go. I like to think of Day by Day as a cozy breakfast place. Ordering a sandwich would ruin that for me. Day by Day is not for everyone. If you're looking for a quick breakfast, to pay with a credit card and you don't plan on sitting and talking, don't come here. If you're wanting to enjoy a great breakfast with a cool atmosphere, Day by Day is where you should go. read more

I tried the Breakfast Burrito and the person dining with me had the Huevos Rancheros. The food was very bland. Under-seasoned food can still taste great if it is made of high quality ingredients. Unfortunately, this under-seasoned food did not seem to be too high of quality in my opinion. The environment of the restaurant is its saving grace. It is very cozy, so they do have that going for them. read more

Honestly very disappointed in the service. We were sat at the vary back of the restaurant and the lady attending us looked at us like if we didn't know English. Once we said thank you for seating us she probably thought .. Oh they speak English. Anyways the food was ... OK, definitely needed more seasoning , at least they had ketchup available. I saw the waitress going to other peoples tables more than she came to us. Other waitresses kept looking up where we were eating and gave us a look like they wanted to kick us out when We weren't even half way done with my meal(we didn't do anything but sit there and eat). I would of been more than happy to leave but the waitress took FOREVER to give us the check and FOREVER to run our card. Never again coming here. read more

The best place in the world for Sunday breakfast. If the weather is nice, go sit out on the patio. The #15 is my fave and the coffee never stops. The restaurant is crazy with its decor, your kids will never run out of things to look at. It will keep them busy along with drawing on the placemats and looking out the windows. Again, the food is great and my neighborhood friends always have a great time when we meet at Day by Day! read more

I met my sister for breakfast on Saturday, July 7th. I had their Buckwheat Pancakes, and they were great - very flavorful, and not tough or chewy as buckwheat cakes sometimes are. The side of 'real maple syrup' is worth the price. Coffee is delicious! My sister had scrambled eggs and toast. Not much to say about that. Service is 'challenged'. Our waitress actually took the order for another family who sat down after us, and was polite (if a bit curt) when I mentioned this to her. Eye contact wasn't to be had. BTW: The father and son in the family next to us had honest-to-goodness mullets! Hey, who says mullets went out in the 80's? read more

Wonderful breakfast spot. Our final day in Minneapolis we ventured over to the smaller of the Twin Cities, St Paul, to explore the Science Museum of Minnesota located across the street from St Paul's convention facility, River Centre, host of the upcoming 2008 Republican National Convention. NEEDING BREAKFAST before exploring the museum we discovered a wonderful breakfast spot a few blocks away, Day By Day Cafe, 477 W 7th St, St Paul, MN 55102. We sat on the shaded, quiet back patio of Day By Day Cafe next to a koi pond, relaxed, and enjoyed a home cooked style American breakfast. Parking was available on a residential street behind the restaurant. Service was friendly and efficient. Food was delicious, and the price was excellent. The restaurant interior and back patio were clean. Eating on a weekday before 11 a.m., we qualified for the Early Bird Special of 2 large pancakes, 2 eggs, and sausage for $6.95. (From 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. the Day By Day Cafe offers a VERY Early Bird Special, the same items as the Early Bird Special, for only $4.75.) Bring cash, because Day By Day does not accept credit cards. read more

Hey owners of Day by Day, I want to like this place, I really do! The good: Great outdoor ambiance, looked like some of the waitresses were good, bus boy worked his ass off, koi pond is awesome. Love the recovery article in the window. Needs work: Food is just ok. In a city with a growing competition of great foodies, a little more originality with flavors and some nicer quality items would make a difference. Apparently you guys have REAL maple syrup...we got a sticky bottle of Aunt Jamima's with our pancakes:( On a side note...our waitress had 3 hickeys on her neck...yep we counted. I want to like this place more:) thanks for reaching out about the syrup though...clearly you guys care enough which is great. Sorry to not be more generous with my opinion. read more

I eat here regularly, and the service is consistently good to great all the time. Most of the staff has been there for years, and its easy to form a 'regular' relationship with them, which always makes eating out a little more fun. It's tough to screw up breakfast food, with the caveat ("breakfast cook" was my first cooking job and VERY tough on the timing side of the required skill set) that getting everything on the plate HOT is a challenge and I have never had a temp problem here. Eggs are always right on (OE, OM, SCR, OH), good breads, great sausage patties, and AWESOME french toast made with baguette instead of square bread and it is delicious. As a St. Paul standard, it's true to its reputation of being a "local favorite". As a side note, I have also eaten sandwiches etc here, probably 20+ times eating at this restaurant and have never had a questionable meal. Of course some things have been better than others, but consistent for sure. read more

Love this place!! Have gone here many time and each time was amazing. Not only is the food good the atmosphere is wonderful. It's a cozy little place with little nooks and crannies to sit in. Would highly recommend the breakfast burrito or pancakes. read more

Excellent catfish sandwich. I had the veggies to go with it. The other worker had the cub with fries. The guy taking the order was super nice and cool. He accommodated the requests for both orders. A must go to place read more

Day By Day Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Day by day must have a regular group of followers as I arrived to a line that was out of the door on this Sunday morning. Given the crowd, I was expecting something special, but the food was ordinary; though on the pricey side. My breakfast croissant sandwich was almost $9. I really liked the outdoor patio area though - a nice touch on a busy street. It was the kind of place that you'd want to hang out in for conversations and the wait staff seem to expect that so they let you be after the meal. We were there for at least two hours. read more

After a disappointing trip to Day by Day Cafe this summer, I decided to venture back last weekend. I have to say, our second trip was much improved. When we were here last time our food was greasy and the service was terrible. This time, I am happy to report, our food was much better and we received service with a smile. I ordered the buttermilk pancakes with bananas and they were great. They were light and fluffy and came out hot. My only complaint is that they could have used more banana. My hubby ordered the huevos rancheros with a side of sausage and he ate his whole plate (plus some of my pancakes). We took our niece out for breakfast and she actually ordered what I had last time. I cautioned her that I wasn't a fan, but when her plate came out it looked great. My problem with the dish last time was that it was swimming in grease and butter, but her plate of food looked great! I'm glad to say that Day by Day Cafe has redeemed itself in my book. read more

I like the food here, and the patio would be lovely but on my most recent visit, there were mice running all over the place on the patio. I saw 3. Totally ruined my experience and I won't be going back. read more

Delicious breakfast! Fun eclectic environment. There are a wide array of toys to keep the little ones occupied but they are displayed as decorations when not in use so they add to the overall look. Lovely patio. Great pick for adults and kids alike. read more

Day By Day Cafe - Mickey cake. The kiddo loved it!!!! - Cafes Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Do I dare say that I found a better Burger than shamrocks? God no, but day by day is on a whole Nother level. Medium well burger with brie caramelized onions and delish bun! My friends and I sat outside on the balcony/porch it is so dang nice out I couldn't help it. They have a view that is top notch and a beautiful pond with the fountain. All the staff are really cool and helpful and even want me to work part time there to help out on the weekends, heck yes! anyways back to my food! The burger was super juicy and delicious and the brie was a dang good complement with caramelized onions it melted in your mouth. I love going to day by day not only for the food but because of their awesome work ethic and amazing people. Go check it out you will miss out if you don't! read more

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This place is not fancy-pantsy. It was easy to find parking. The waitress was nice and our breakfast arrived very quick. The food was tasty and hot. Better than a Quicky McEggwich. read more

Day By Day Cafe - Art. - Cafes Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I ordered the Huevos rancheros which came with a plastic cup of watery salsa and freshly chopped avocado. The eggs where covered with cheese. I'm not the worlds biggest fan of hash browns but these were less than impressive is not downright undercooked. I was under impressed by the complexity of the meal. I didn't say anything because I'd heard such great things about the place I thought perhaps it was what I ordered. However, it wasn't the case because the group I was dinning with was equally unimpressed by their order as well. I think if you want breakfast in St. Paul, and you don't enjoy the bells and whistles of some of the trendy spots like I do myself, you still have plenty of better options in the area. I would suggest driving right on by this place unless you really have a thing for ambiance. Note: I didn't ask, but they only have real sugar on the table for coffee so bring your own emergency supply of stevia or splenda if you are in need like I was. read more

The Day by Day is a staple in my weekend breakfast joint rotation. I love the patio in the summer and the library-ish room in the winter. I feel a little guilty just giving it 3 stars, but there is no 3.5 option and unfortunately a 4 seems out of place given a few of my recent visits. The food here is always solid (my father, brother and boyfriend have all accompanied me at some point, no complaints from anyone), my favorite is the huevos rancheros, but I'm partial to any breakfast dish that has avocado. I roasted for Dunn Bros before I sold my soul for a corporate office job and benefits package, so any place that serves it has a soft spot in my heart :-) And now for why I am only giving it 3 stars... the service. Last time I went we walked into a seat yourself sign, which is fine, if your servers are paying attention. We grabbed menus ourselves and sat a table for 10 minutes before someone stopped by. Prior to that I had been sat a table suitable for children during a busy morning, I took a look at the table and said I would rather wait for something bigger to open up, request was denied. The server told me there was a line so it was take this table, or get back in end of line... unacceptable behavior in my book, she could have seen if someone else wanted the table (which I'm sure no one would have, unless there were a few 4 year olds here for their weekly chocolate milk date). read more

A great breakfast for three I was very pleased with the meals we got. It was our last morning in St. Paul, and my friend who lives nearby recommended we go there. I really liked it, and would definitely go again. We sat on the patio out back, which was lovely. Judi had some amazing oatmeal, I had two eggs, hash browns and toast, and David had eggs, sausage and hash browns. Great quality and quantity for the price. Given the choice, I'd go here as opposed to Mickey's Diner for breakfast - everything's better, plain and simple - the food and the ambiance. read more

I have been going to the Day by Day Cafe since I was a kid. My mom and I would make it a point to go every week since it was our favorite place. The patio is absolutely gorgeous and the library room has the coolest collection of old lunch boxes. This place holds great memories for me. I have never gone to the Day by Day Cafe and not enjoyed myself. Some people have given bad reviews on the service. Many people don't know that most of the employees are in recovery and probably don't have waiting experience. I think it is fantastic that the Cafe seeks to better the community. Sacrificing a little service is well worth it. Now on to the food. As I said before, I have never had a bad experience at Day by Day. My favorite is the French Toaste. It is absolutely fantastic! I don't know what kind of bread they use but I want to get my hands on it. You really can't go wrong with anything on their breakfast menu. As for non breakfast foods, the Tuna melt is my favorite. My mother's favorite is the Strawberry Chicken Salad. All in all, this is still my favorite place to get any food really. The atmosphere is relaxed, the food is delicious, and the coffee never stops coming. My only complaint is that they close at 3:00. read more

Service wonderful. Food? Meh. Very busy with a wait at prime times. Odd menu restrictions. Can't order or make a club sandwich before 12:01 pm? When you are ordering at 11:40 am? Odd. BF said the coffee was ok. Was better years ago, now seems dated. read more

Ok, bad news first; I ordered the vegetarian sandwich and it was not so good. It sounded good; vegetables, sprouts, and pepperjack cheese on multigrain bread. Damn, it sounds good just typing that! But, it was just...blah, at best :( Now the good; this is an adorable cafe!! The decor is uniquely cute, the location is good (so to Sophie Joe's Emporium!), the service was good, basically everything but the sandwich was 5 star! Although I was disappointed by the food, I will most likely give it another try, hopefully my second choice menu item will be better! read more

I really liked this place. I was hesitant because of some of the bad reviews but we all enjoyed it. We were seated promptly inside but the patio looks beautiful and most definitely can not wait to come back when the patio is open. What we ordered: Buckwheat pancakes with bananas and walnuts with sausage, Mexican burrito with avocado, eggs, peppers, etc. and another dish similar to a skillet type of dish. Everyone liked their food. i wouldn't say that any of it had the WOW factor or anything but it was all hot, fresh, and tasty. They bring you a pot of coffee for your table..THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! If only other restaurants could follow suit on that one item, servers and patrons would thank management. Server was extremely pleasant, attentive, and we most definitely will add this to our weekend breakfast rotation. read more

Best breakfast I've had out to eat in a while! The service was incredible, and the food was delicious. I got the classic early bird special: muy bueno. The location is fun, but the interior design is not the finest, but it has a personality. 4/5 star experience, I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a quick yummy meal. read more

The person that served my friend and I started off unfriendly and unwelcoming toward us. When we sat down we recognized that he was a lot more friendly to all the other tables, all of whom were white. My friend is half Black and half white and I am Asian. Then my friend and I got our food and their food tasted weird, specifically fruit. Then he hands us the check before we finished our food. But he only got us one check and so we told him we wanted two checks. Then he left for a long time, so I had to go in and ask for the checks and for the to go box. Then finally he comes out and brings out two lids for my friends sauces, but my friend sees him drop the lids ON THE GROUND. Then proceeds to bring the lids to our table anyways. Then when we are leaving, my friend is carrying the sauces in their hands, and asked a different worker for more lids. Our server turns around and asks "didn't I give you some lids?" And my friend responds "you dropped them", to which he responded with "oh". There was no acknowledgement of the disrespect or acknowledgement whatsoever. read more

A fun little pet-friendly place in St. Paul that deals up a pretty solid breakfast. The backside-outdoor patio is something else with plants, a little pond, fish and just an overall fun atmosphere to eat in. Out pup loved the servers who brought him ice water (he was spoiled - it wasn't even that hot). Oh, the food - welp, it's breakfast - pretty typical breakfast. The white chocolate-raspberry pancakes were a hit with the lady friend. read more