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    First Awakenings

    4.3 (4.1k reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Waitlist - First Awakenings

    Waitlist closed

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    First Awakenings Photos

    FIRST AWAKENINGS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - First Awakenings

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    Reviews With Photos

    Country Fried Steak
    Jadah J.

    My husband and I showed up right before the restaurants morning rush. We only had to wait 3 minutes for a table for two. Everyone working was extremely pleasant and all had a smile. The food was 10/10. The portions were pretty big size. Everything was extremely fresh and super flavorful. We were both contently full till dinner time. We definitely will be returning any time we take a day trip to town again.

    Blueberry Pancakes, Cinnamon Bread French Toast, Omelette Ole, Coffee
    Alondra R.

    I kept seeing First Awakenings all over TikTok, so I knew I had to try it while I was in Monterey--and it definitely lived up to the hype! I'd recommend getting there early if you're planning to walk in because it fills up fast. By the time we arrived, only the outdoor seating was available, which was completely fine. They had heaters outside, so even though it was a little breezy, we were still comfortable. The staff was so friendly and positive, and the food tasted incredibly fresh. It's the perfect classic breakfast spot. The pancakes were absolutely amazing and definitely a highlight of the meal. The atmosphere was great too. Inside, it has that cozy diner feel that makes you want to stay awhile. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in Monterey!

    Entrance
    Jeff H.

    We went with a party of seven. Wait time was 20 minutes, with reservations. This is solidly reasonable breakfast restaurant. The staff was friendly, they adapted to our needs. Drinks and meals were ordered. Drinks and meals were delivered as they came out of the kitchen. The experienced members of our party got their house favorites. The menu presents standard meals, and variations in the same categories. Overall it was very good and I recommend it for anyone wanting to have a lasting good experience.

    Two Eggs and Meat
    Ella G.

    I didn't take many pictures because it was a pretty busy day and we didn't go into the full dining area. We sat close to the front and had a nice view of the road and ocean. The service was great and super fast too. I love how they leave the coffee pot to refill yourself and a pitcher of water as well. The coffee was pretty good, the portions were great for the price. The only thing I didn't like were the potatoes way too much seasoning and some weren't cooked all the way through. I wish they offered hash browns and toast instead of only have the option for an English muffin. We stopped in because we wanted breakfast to start the day and I came across this place on Yelp based on my location and the reviews are outstanding! And I'm a sucker for a good spot, my mom loved her food and finished the whole plate. I would try it again if I was in town.

    Big gourmet pancake!
    Andy L.

    The 4,000+ reviews are pretty substantial but I would say after our experience-- they could be better. Maybe some things have slipped, because they know their rating will keep the business going. Not a terrible experience by no means-- but not worth that many stars. This was our first time at First Awakenings and my Mom's second or third time. The place was busy at the morning our as expected for a Diner. Definitely a popular place. We ordered the gourmet pancakes, omelette, and crepe. All of them were just-OK. Not like anything tasted wrong but the scrambled eggs were pretty over cooked, and therefore -- so was the omelette (you know that rubbery texture of over cooked egg?). The gourmet pancake was nice and big! It wasn't gourmet-like though so I was expecting a little more flavor or fluffiness. The crepe was alright too. Lathered with yogurt and cut fruit, almost dumped into the crepe. Anyway-- it's a diner :) Just expect the basics. Service was fine though, routine, and a touch apathetic. But knowing the food (eggs especially) isn't cooked with care, I think our family will go somewhere a little more appetizing. This does look like it accommodates big groups pretty well here though. So there's that. :)

    Bombero Burrito
    Jayanna C.

    We have been coming here for many years and it is always a pleasure! Our most recent visit was for our ten year anniversary and we definitely had to cross this one off of our to-do list. The service is always great, very friendly staff; and the food always hits the spot! It's not a far walk from some cool local spots, close to a thrift store and not far from cannery row. Super cute cafe. We will always be back next time!

    Egg Eggs Benedict Your Way
    Shahid S.

    Really delicious breakfast. Service was awesome and ambiance is great too. Must visit place.

    Bacado Omelette
    Christina Z.

    Solid spot for breakfast with big portions - we were lucky to be seated right away since we came early on a weekday, but other times we walked by later than 8:30/weekends, definitely expect a wait. I had the Cornucopia because I was looking for something lighter, and it hit the spot - lots of veggies mixed in with the egg whites and a big bowl of fruit, but wish it had a bit more flavor. My husband had the Bacado omelet which was a huge portion and came with an English muffin and potatoes. It's a bit on the pricier side but not surprising since it's so close to a lot of the touristy spots.

    outdoor patio
    Elaina V.

    So impressed with this place!! I came on a Saturday for brunch and there was a 20+ minute wait. Staff were kind and helpful. Food: The cinnabon pancake special was AMAZING. I wasn't expecting it to be the size of my plate, and it was honestly the best pancake i've ever had. I'll be thinking about it until I'm back in Monterey. Also ordered the "the works" omelette and it was pretty great. The potatoes were delicious and the english muffin was nice toasty and buttered. No complaints! The apple juice was pretty great too. You can tell it's quality from real apples, and not some kind from a juice box! It was a chilly afternoon and we got outdoor seating, but the benches were HEATED and they have outdoor heaters too! Made my experience so pleasant!!!

    Abigail Joy Y.

    This place was only a 5-minute drive from our hotel, and I've tried the location in Salinas, so I already have an idea that the food will taste amazing! The interior is nice, clean, and well-maintained. We opted for outdoor seating, and it was nice fresh air. The food portion was generous and well-seasoned. Employees are nice and the service is superb. They have their own parking space, and street parking is also available. I'll definitely come back when visiting Monterey.

    Mike S.

    First off, this location gets extremely busy as it is in the old location that the carrows restaurant used to be as it moved from its smaller location on Cannery Row. For those of you trying to use the Yelp waitlist, please keep in mind that their communication system does not communicate great with yelps waitlist, and so times are often not accurate as it took us over two hours to be seated after joining the waitlist even the walk-ins were seated before. Overall, the food is good and you get plenty of it for the price which makes a good value, however, you are paying for it in time unless you get in right when they open. Service is super friendly and the restaurant gives off dirty spoon diner vibes. Overall, it's an OK location and experience given the terrible wait times, as there are other breakfast spots that may be better.

    side of eggs and potatoes, always cooked perfectly.
    Kevin S.

    Visited First Awakenings again and as always they never disappoint. We had the Crab Cake Benedict, and I chose a bunch of sides to try a variety to include Blueberry pancake, French Toast, Side of scrambled eggs, side of country potatoes and side of Calamari. Actually the a french Toast was a replacement for the pancake which tasted as of the flour was off, disappointing but quickly remedied with a swap of the French Toast which was delicious. The eggs and potatoes are always great but the Calamari was a new discovery. I expected it to be Calamari strips but surprisingly it was two large Calamari breaded steaks. And coupled with the lemon and tartar sauce they were delicious. Was far more than we could eat but was great the next morning for leftovers at breakfast. The service, friendly staff, clean establishment and experience were great. It was a busy weekend and like most in Monterey parking was limited despite their large parking lot but still worth the challenge.

    Merch
    Jean T.

    This was my second time visiting and the experience was somewhat more pleasant than the first visit because I at least knew that it was going to take a super long time to be seated. We were aiming for around a 9 AM brunch on Sunday and joined the Yelp waitlist at 8 AM because the projected wait time was about 30-40 minutes. The estimated wait is massively underestimated. The first visit took nearly 3 hrs for a table of 4 that I don't even remember how the food was because I was just so upset about the wait time. This time for a Yelp waitlist for a party of 5 it was about 2.5 hrs wait time (seated around 10:20 am). I got the corn hash skillet and it was good, not too salty. Both times I came we were seated in the back room with the large blue seating area. ~~Parking: There's a few street parking spots in the front and a fair amount of parking spots in the dedicated parking lot in the back. Even if that's out you should be able to find street parking somewhere, but it can be difficult due to the Aquarium crowd. ~~Service: Organization in terms of the waitlist & front waiting area management needs some work. The wait staff inside the restaurant is super friendly though, just enough check in times. ~~Best Part: Prices. ~~Worst Part: The wait. ~~Tips: Make sure you check in at the front if you originally join the Yelp waitlist. TBH the Yelp waitlist is kind of a scam. They have 2 separate lists: a join in person and Yelp and at that point you need to have one and not the other. I've been to multiple restaurants where it's just the Yelp waitlist or you have to write your name on a clipboard, but the dual lists makes it feel very unfair. ~~Return: Not to dine in. I would order take out because the food is affordable and of decent quality.

    Blueberry Ricotta Cheese Pancakes

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    Page 1 of 104

    First Awakenings Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - First Awakenings

    What are the best vegetarian items?

    Wheat germ pancakes!

    Will you be open on New Year's Day?

    Is it dog friendly?

    Yes, they do allow dogs in the outdoor seating area.

    Are reservations required?

    They don't accept reservations, but you can join the waitlist ahead of time via YELP.

    Are you open on Christmas Day?

    no:/ we went and they were closed

    Is breakfast served all day?

    They close at 2 pm on the week days & they close at 2:30 pm on the weekends. They are known for their brunch & breakfast.

    Is this the old First Watch before becoming First Awakenings?

    I believe it is.

    Do they have vegan gluten free option?

    Vegan yes. I assume they would also have gluten-free choices, although it would be best to call ahead and confirm.

    Is it pet friendly?

    I've seen pets there in the patio area. I'm sure they allow it

    Do they have bottomless mimosas?

    No! In fact they don't serve champagne at all!! Mimosas would send this place over the edge. My advice is to smuggle in a couple mini bottles to pour into your OJ. 😉

    Do they take reservations?

    No they don't

    Do they have gluten free options?

    Yes they do!

    Is this restaurant BYOB?

    I don't think so.

    Do they serve mimosas here?

    It's not on the menu under list of beverages only juices. I like mimosas too but for some reason I ordered coffee that day, I can't remember if I asked and it's possible that they don't serve mimosas.

    Do you serve gluten free french toast?

    no but they have gf pancakes

    Are vegan lunch options offered here?

    My wife is a vegan and she enjoys their very large salads and her favorite is the caps they offer which is good for breakfast or lunch. Mushrooms in wine and garlic and light cheese. It's the best!

    Do they serve breakfast all day?

    Yes.

    Is it dog friendly seating on the patio?

    Yes!

    So they take reservations?

    No, but you can call and add your name to the waiting list and it gives you an advantage.

    View All 21 Questions

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    Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel And Spa On Del Monte Golf Course

    Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel And Spa On Del Monte Golf Course

    3.1
    (1.4k reviews)
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    Quick two night stay from Friday-Sunday. Didn't really use any amenities so can't comment on that…read more The hotel is great if you're driving to nearby Carmel or Big Sur. Check-in was easy and prompt. It was quite busy for a Friday check-in but there were 5-6 workers checking people in so it went pretty fast. They were providing water bottles to those who were waiting, and also let people know that there were s'more kits to use at the outside fireplace facing the golf course. You may have to drive to where your room is as there are various buildings in the hotel, so perhaps wait to get your luggage out of your car until after check-in. There looked to be quite a few kids at the property as well as they had some ping pong tables and life size chess available near the main building. The room itself was really spacious and clean. Nothing was really wrong in the room. Perhaps the AC wasn't the best (maybe we were using it wrong), but there is a fan right above the bed which was VERY cool/strong once turned on. WiFi was a bit spotty throughout the stay. TV in the room had Google cast which was nice.

    I am a hyatt member and my mother and I have been staying at Hyatts all over the be world…read more Unfortunately not only did this miss the mark but it completely ruined my nervous system reset and health trip. I left the comforts of my beautiful home in Calabasas to see the beautiful beaches and forests of this area. My partner and I have auto immune conditions that our doctor and therapists told us to get away and go to nature to reset our nervous systems. We drove up and arrived around 9pm after several hours on the packed road. I was so excited to stay at this property. Upon arrival I asked if Hyatt members received perks. Instead as my card was charged $700+ I was told we get two free bottled waters and 5 points toward the stay. We were then told to drive to our room carry our bags in. No bellman no assistance nothing. We were sent to the farthest room in the entire establishment, in building Z by the loud freeway on the first floor. The room was awful. We were met with a cracked sink rusty bathroom fixtures hair in the shower and wifi that did not work. The bed sheets and comforter were thin the wood was chipped. I called the front desk and spoke to Priscilla who was very kind and completely understood and was empathetic. She moved us to another room and said security could help us carry bags. By the time new keys and security came it was 10:30pm and we were sick and exhausted. We went to our new room which wasn't much better. There was something on the wall the sink was rusty but the worst part were the kids upstairs making noise all night. Someone called security around 11;30pm/12am I did not get to sleep until 12:30am. Unfortunately we were then woken up by the same kids very early. I called down to front desk again. Taylor was the front desk supervisor at the time and she apologized and asked me what I would like her to do? Did we want coffee? No we want to get out of here and be refunded for this completely stressful and disappointing trip. We could have stayed in Calabasas for this. I truly hope someone from Hyatt makes this right. I would hate to leave a review for my large social media following and never stay in a Hyatt again.

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    Another angle of seating
    Another angle of seating
    Lobby facing golf
    Lobby facing golf
    Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel And Spa On Del Monte Golf Course

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    The Butter House

    The Butter House

    4.5
    (2.4k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    this place was definitely one of my bf's and my favorite meals in monterey since everything was…read moresuper yummy! we came here on a thursday morning and the place was crowded but there was no wait. also, the waitresses were so kind and attentive despite it being so busy, continuously asking us if we needed anything else or refills for water. much appreciated !!! foods: - lumpia: came out HOT and crispy! we had to cut it to let it cool down, but it was really good and crunchy and paired well with the sweet and sour sauce! it can get a bit oily, and we did see a bit of oil just pooled on the plate, so i'd probably limit to just one if you're not a big fan of oily foods. - pork belly fried rice: the pork belly was crispy and savory and paired so well with the fried rice and egg! the fried rice has bell pepper in it, which surprised me bc i'd never eaten that combo before, but i still enjoyed it! this was my bf's favorite dish and he kept talking about it the rest of the day LOL - lemon curd & blueberry pancakes: i absolutely LOVED this !! i'm usually not a big fan of sweet breakfast items, but this one was perfectly not too sweet and the lemon curd added such a nice tanginess that helped cut through the sweetness. i also loved how the pancakes were filled with blueberries and had more blueberries on top, so there was no skimping! we were surprised that we finished it all bc we usually don't eat all of our pancakes, so that really says how yummy it was hehe.

    What is it about this spot that people like? Because, for me, it just isn't the food…read more We've been here a few times now, and every visit has been pretty much the same. The food just lacks flavor, and there's nothing that really stands out. Honestly, it's the kind of breakfast I feel like I could make at home. The pancakes were just okay, and while the French toast was probably the best thing we tried, it was way too sweet for my taste. The portions are pretty good, and the service has always been friendly and fast, which I definitely appreciate. But overall, I just don't think it's worth the wait or the price. I really wanted to understand the hype, but after giving it multiple chances, it just wasn't for me.

    Photos
    Croissant Breakfast Sandwich with sausage patties, fried egg, cheddar cheese and house made aioli.
    Croissant Breakfast Sandwich with sausage patties, fried egg, cheddar cheese and house made aioli.
    TBH Benedict
    TBH Benedict
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    Wave Street Café

    Wave Street Café

    4.3
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    The ambiance is beautiful, overlooking the bay and bit of cannery row. Not too many restaurants…read morehave a view this good anywhere. The service was very, very good. You waited for things but not long at all. The food is very good for what this place is. The corned beef is shredded and the flavor is excellent. It is not greasy or wet. My wife asked for poached eggs and they came out perfectly done. The tuna melt was very good as well. The bread seemed house made and had the perfect crunch, the tuna was the show, clearly fresh with not too much mayo. Had a little dill, celery and some tomato. Very nice indeed. Even the onion rings were above average. I certainly will recommend and return

    The vibes here are immaculate! The unobstructed ocean view from the patio area can't be beat. The…read moreservice is fast and the menu offers diverse options. It's a calming place to eat breakfast and chill for a minute. The food was also spectacular. The Norwegian Salmon Benedict hit the spot. The Hollandaise stood out in the best of ways. The potatos with a little hot sauce made the perfecting pairing, too. My wife enjoyed her simple-but-scrumptious combo breakfast plate and we walked away full and at peace. I only knock this down to four stars due to the steep prices on the menu and bitterness of the coffee. It needed immense amounts of milk and sugar to be edible and I'm not much of a black coffee snob; I usually drink most anything. Still highly recommend if you're visiting and can splurge on vacation!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
    Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
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    Breakfast Burrito with chorizo

    First Awakenings - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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