This review has been 3 years in the making. This place is the best breakfast in town in my opinion and John was an absolute pleasure to be served by. I have always had great service and a good meal. The coffee and water refills are always quick and they even brought out the kids breakfasts 1st which makes life easier on parents with hungry kids. This place is great and I wish I had more time to eat here more often. read more

The best breakfast place in Castro Valley, which isn't exactly saying much - but better than iHop! The omelets are good and the french toast is very tasty... coffee alittle on the weak side but no biggie. You can tell it is the place for breakfast/lunch on the weekends but the wait is not too long and the service is surprisingly good considering how busy they are. read more

I love breakfast at Doug's. Great service and food is delish. They're so attentive and give really big portions. They're on the pricey side but well worth it. The omelette was fantastic! read more

Dougs place has excellent food. The fruit fresh and organic. The seafood was succulent. The service was impeccable. The atmosphere is casual. The choices of seating are varied. read more

Busy on father's day morning, but that's not an excuse for burned hash browns. Saw a cook checking pancake temperature by placing his hands on it. Might not be contaminated but still not the way I do things. read more

Eh. Had a waffle but it was cold though. Came with eegs but eh they were thin. My cousin told me about this place so now I know enough. 2 star. Next time Ill get the sandwich it looked fine. read more

The service was great and and the place had a lively atmosphere which is great for enjoying your first meal of the day. They were quick to serve a hot meal. had the corned beef hash and the country potatoes. The corned beef hash was not like your normal shredded beef but the one that you get in a can and the country potatoes were just fried potatoe slices which i was very dissapointed in, so no, I do not recomend that plate. My wife had the hayward omelette which was HUGE and delicious but the tomatoes in the omelette made it wet and runny. My friend had the chicken fried steak and he seemed to enjoy it. Overall, it was a nice place to dine in and I would love to try their other plates. read more

I came in to place an order to go and was asked to step aside so they could help another customer. The cashier proceeded to ignore me and help numerous other customers as the kitchen staff continuously pushed me out of the way as there was no place to stand. I then went outside to attempt to call in my order and was put on hold without even a hello. Honestly the worst customer service I have ever encountered. Treating the customer like garbage is not a great way to sustain or get new customers. I will absolutely never return and suggest if you want to be treated with respect to avoid this grease kitchen. read more

I had the seafood omelette, it came with country potatoes and toast, I also ordered a Belgian waffle on the side. All were very delicious. The service was friendly. It took an bit to place or order because they were very busy but once we actually placed or order, our food came to our table fairly quickly (like 7 minutes) and we were a party of 4. The seafood omelette was super stuffed with crab and shrimp and cheese. I know that cheese and seafood have historically been know to not be complimentary ingredients, but this omelette just works! It was sweet, savory, and delicious. Would definitely order again. The waffle cam3 just the way I like it. Crispy outside and super light, fluffy, and airy inside. The waffle has a delightful sweetness to it before adding the syrup too. This isn't the cheapest place to grab breakfast but I do think it's worth the price, the food and service were awsome the three times I've visited here. read more

Doug's Place - The chicken fried steak was delicious! Better than Dennys or any other big brand breakfast resturant I've tried. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Castro Valley, California

See all

A buddy of mine was visiting from Michigan last weekend, and the morning after a long night of drinking he suggested getting breakfast somewhere. At first I thought of Sherry's, just because it's your typical diner to go to for drunk/hangover food, but then I thought to myself "Wait... I haven't been to Doug's in years, and I could go for a big ass omelette right about now", so that is where we decided to go. It was on a Sunday around noon, so obviously very crowded. We didn't have to wait though! We were seated promptly and immediately waited on by our server. The #1 thing I've always loved about this place is their service; they are incredibly fast and will always have your glass of water or cup of coffee filled to the rim - even when they are swamped with customers. I honestly don't know how they do it. Excellent food, extremely hard-working employees (who are also very polite), and some really cool vintage posters & portraits on the walls (pictures of James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, etc.). I don't have much to say about their lunch/dinner items since I normally order off their breakfast menu, but they tend to look & sound just as good. As for their omelettes, which I highly recommend ordering, my favorite would have to be the Hayward omelette. Mmm, linguica... read more

Dougs is a great family breakfast spot. My daughters love the pancakes and the biscuits and gravy. My favorite is the Hayward omelette. The service is great, seems like the staff works well together. Water is always refilled and so is coffee. Good ol comfort food :) read more

One of my family FAVS! I started coming here back in 2000 when I worked at the now gone Clothestime. The omelettes are HUGE, just like everyone says. My choice all the time, no questions asked is the Crab Melt & Hashbrowns. No matter what you order here, you'll never leave hungry. Its a extremely friendly environment, perfect for families & groups, or a breakfast with the significant other...really, everyone should just try it! Sundays are super busy, since its the place to be after church. We've never had to wait more then 10 mins (if even that) to get seated & the once we order, the food is on our table in record time! Conveniently, theres a laundry place 3 doors down & Lucky's next door, so while my laundry is being washed, we eat breakfast & when it dries we can stock up on groceries for the week. I only wish the main guy that runs the place (& is notorious for chatting it up with everyone as you come in & out) would remember us since we frequent it so often. This ones a keeper for sure!! Never a disappointment. read more

I LOVE their french toast! I usually stop by Doug's with my boyfriend after a night of poker. Their french toast never fails me! Took my friend here, and he loved it too. A far drive from where I live, but well worth it. Staff is extremely nice too! read more

came here Christmas eve with my fam bam and I ordered the biscuits and gravy with a side of country potatoes.The food was good service was great and the potatoes were yummmmyyyy, the gravy could have been just a tad bit better(sorry I'm picky with my gravy). But I will def be back here. read more

Pretty solid American standard breakfast. Nothing is signature but everything is well made. The service is top notch and everyone is always super kind and welcoming. The decor has a lot of old Hollywood actors like James Dean and Marilynn Monroe. The prices seem fair and you'll won't break the bank by coming here. Overall it's a good choice for breakfast food. I do wish they had a more healthy menu option here. read more

Expensive but food wss good. This visit a group of teenagers was also at restaurant & seem to have forgotten their manners. They were SOOOO LOUD until they were given what appeared to be crayons & coloring sheets. Then it was reduced to sudden loud outbursts periodically. I would have thought someone from the restaurant might ask them to lower their level but NO. Makes me not want to come back, they were sooo loud. read more

Went to Doug's Place Sunday morning for breakfast. Hubby and I have been coming here for years, it's our go-to place for omlelets. We came in around 8:30, got seated right away. I ordered decaf, hubby ordered regular coffee. My decaf came cold. We were not off to a good start. But hey, things happen. I ordered my usual, the Hayward omelet, which comes with linguisa, cheese, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. Typically a very yummy choice. When my meal came, my cottage fries weren't hot, they were maybe lukewarm. (By the way, the cottage fries are normally awesome). The omelet was hot, but contained, as near as I could determine, two small pieces of tomato. This is not a cheap omelet, it's 11 bucks. We paid 28 dollars and change for our two breakfasts. So, I'm giving Doug's three stars for today's experience. I hope it was an abberation and not the new Doug's standard. I hope they pay attention to spreading out the ingredients evenly in their pricey omelets moving forward, and for God's sake, make sure the coffee is hot when they pour it. read more

homemade breakfast, almost like ma always made it. a big pull for this place is the friendliness of the staff. our waiter bill was ever so patient when demanded by my family to take a group picture....about 7 times. will definitely make a stop here next time i'm across the bay. read more

Again, thank you Yelpers for helping me to find another great eatery! Doug's Place was perfect family breakfast place. It really is bigger inside than what you think from first pulling up. Lots of vintage movie memorabilia on the walls, extremely friendly & inviting feeling. Even though it was busy, we waited only about 12 mins for our table. My kids enjoyed their kids sized pancakes/bacon and my wife and I tried out the omlettes. My wife built her own and thought it was delicious (she's a tough critic). Fresh veggies and perfectly cooked crispy hashbrowns. I had the Chatum (with egg whites). Only complaint was the American cheese (standard) made it a bit too salty with the bacon (cheddar or jack cheese would have been better). My hashbrowns were excellent too. Great staff and a definite recommend/repeat. Kids are dying to do the Belgium waffles with strawberries/whipped cream next time. read more

huge portions! came here with mom and i ordered one omelet to share. great fresh flavor, really hot dishes, gorgeous old movie posters!

Dougs place is a staple and goto place for comfort food on a mom and pop level. Very good eating!

Came at a busy day but was seated fast because we were only a party of 2. Like the decor and I ordered the burger which was normal. They forgot about my partners order so he had to wait a while read more

I love Doug's! I'm a huge breakfast food fan, and Doug's doesn't let me down. I almost always go on the weekends, and it can be quite crowded, but for the most part you get seated quickly. The waitstaff is very friendly, and the service is really fast, considering they're so busy. I always bring new friends here, and everybody says it's great! The omelettes are huge (too big for me!) My favorite is the "Light Breakfast," just the perfect amount of food. read more

Through the years I've occasionally had breakfast at Doug's Place. It usually rated a 4. This morning (Sunday) I had breakfast there and will not return anytime soon. Seems the quality of food has gone down. I thought ordering Eggs Benedict would be pretty safe and have enjoyed them in the past. The eggs were the only thing to rave about, they were perfect. However the sauce was bland, Canadian bacon was like eating tough cardboard and the fruit was fresh but way under ripe. So I ate the eggs, enjoyed the company of the people I met there and came away very disappointed. Maybe another choice would have been better. The waiter service was very good, even though they were busy we did not have to wait long and were served right away. One more thing, the interior needs some major work, cleaning and upgrading... it's becoming kind of trashy. Will give them one more chance and maybe stick with the basics, but like I mentioned before, not anytime soon. read more

interiors need to be upgrade. benedict is ok but the price is much more than the Capers restaurant for the same quality of food

They get you in and out and along with your day. Huge breakfast portions and yummy! It seems like this place was once a house since there are fireplaces randomly placed though out the restaurant. This place is nothing fancy but good hometown cooking. read more

My family and I ate at Doug's last Saturday mid morning. We came in from out of town to watch our son run the NCS Cross Country race at Hayward HS. We saw the 3.5 stars but thought we'd give it a try since we were all very hungry. All I have to say is it was FABULOUS! We walked in and it felt like a crowded lodge but we were seated right away nevertheless. Then we were greeted by one of the waiters and he took care of our drinks. I asked for splenda with my coffee and he got it for me right away. Another waiter came by shortly after and cheerfully took our orders. Our food came out quickly considering it was a full house. The omelets were off the hook generous in ingredients and there was no way I could finish so I took 1/2 of it home. They were cooked perfectly, not too hard not too soft. 3 others in my family did the same by asking for to-go boxes. I don't think you can go wrong with the price, the energetic ambiance, the service and the food. For a breakfast cafe, it was really fantastic. Our experience on the day we went was definitely a 5 STAR!!! I wished we lived closer. read more

I LOVE this place. But you have to understand the type of place it is. It can be viewed as "dated" in ambiance, however, it does have that down home feel from the decor, to the menu, to the staff. By the way..best....staff...EVER! Very friendly, always ensures that your coffee is refilled (I've been three times and have NEVER had to call someone over to check on me). The prices are reasonable. Breakfast is awesome. The staff is even more awesome. Its a pretty popular place for breakfast, so it does get crowded, especially on the weekends. Also, heads up that the "waiting area" is very small, so don't be shocked if you have to go in and out in a single file line, but trust that it will be worth it. read more

The very best breakfast place I have been to. We discovered this place almost a year ago. Their omelettes are amazing and so is the chicken fried steak. Honestly I havnt had anything I didn't like. They take your special requests no problem. I miss this place if we don't visit for a few weeks. read more

Nice little breakfast diner and by far one of thee best omelette I've ever ate. I chose the build your own omelette, I added a lot of veggies to my omelette and I must say that all my veggies we FRESH! read more

I love this place... my family and me have been coming here for years!! The have consistent good quality food and great service.... you can order anything on the menu and it will not disappoint .. I love there country potatoes read more

Everything about this place is mediocre. The decor is silly old movie posters, you know the ones every restaurant uses when they have no other style or theme. Bland or burnt coffee. Very greasy food (doesn't matter if its the eggs or the burger). And I know it's silly, but i really dislike their plates! I'm never impressed with the service. Except once. I wish I knew her name, she rocked. read more

Ah dougs a staple of cv one of the best places in the bay to get a good breakfast IMO. Their lunch is fabulous too, service is always fast and nice. I love it! read more

A great place with great atmosphere. The decorations are quite unique and the seating is comfortable. They also have excellent service. ANd of course, they have great food. Get the omelettes! They're huge though, so make sure you're hungry when you come in! read more

I come to this place often and it is amazing. The service they provide is fast and on point. the food is delicious never had a problem with my food never had a empty cup of water or coffee. Its a great spot for breakfast my favorite is the bacon there thick cut and the food taste great. read more

Recently visited here after having not been there for yearssss! Was well worth it! The place was packed as it was the weekend of the Fall Festival. We were seated immediately, our order taken and our food came right away. I wish I could post a pic of my plate! A little pricey but for the amount& quality of food you get (one entree was enough for two people) , it was well worth it! Good Job Doug's! read more

My husband and I have been here a couple times as we had heard from some locals that it was quite good. The first time we were totally unimpressed by the atmosphere, the food, how long we were there, and the disinterested servers. After a couple months, we decided to try it again, thinking maybe that day was an off-day. To our disappointment, it was the same thing. We couldn't hear each other talk due to the volume. We were squeezed into a corner and had zero service. The food was mediocre. Our go-to place in Castro Valley is Jenny's - just up the street on Castro Valley Blvd. The food is great, the service fabulous and the owners are very sweet. Save your money from Doug's and go to Jenny's. read more

My first time there today. Had Doug's omelette w/toast and country fries. WOW. Pretty good. Portions were huge. I usually can finish everything on my plate. But not this time. Service was 10 stars. Very attentive wait staffs. Highly recommend this place. read more

Love this place. Always seated quick, great service, hot food, nice owner and wait staff. Chicken fried steak is the best.

The food was flavorless and greasy. The link sausages were precooked and tasted more like hot dogs. The omelette tasted rancid. The hash browns needed lots of salt & catsup to disguise the greasy flavor. I feel the ingredients were of the lowest quality. The food did come out fast and the service was good. Stunned by the positive reviews Star is for service only. read more