Went there before going to the aquarium and hand a wonderful breakfast. Beautiful views, clean restaurant, and caring staff. Quite frankly, the best part was being able to observe how respectfully a regular was treated by the staff: I watched as an elderly gentleman came in alone and the staff greeted him with warmth and familiarity. They kept him company his entire meal, engaged in conversation, and made sure he was well taken care of. When the gentleman got up to leave, a young man, maybe a teenager, checked to make sure he had his cane and was taken care of. This was the best customer service I have ever seen in my life. read more

The food here is always great, as someone from the Bay Area whenever I go down to Monterey I always enjoy coming here and eating the food! I should've taken more pictures but from the pancakes to the omelettes it is ALL good. The food portions are huge so trust me, do not over order unless you want a bunch of leftovers (Win win tho!) They also sell their hot sauce in the front which is DELICIOUS, if you try the omelette give their hot sauce a try it's amazing as a hot sauce lover. They also were able to mix orange juice and pomegranate juice which I appreciated. The service is always great, they make sure you're enjoying your food and check in consistently. The environment is always so lively and great, there's outdoor and indoor seating, though it does get pretty busy the wait is never too long. I love coming here and I hope to come back soon! read more

First Awakenings - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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I was in Monterey for a friend's birthday She wanted to try this breakfast spot. We decided to sit outside. The weather was beautiful. The restaurant does provide shade for the patio area. I ordered the skillet with scrambled eggs ! Loved it tasted amazing a lot of meat! It came with sausage, bacon, ham, potatoes, I ordered sourdough bread to go along with it! The menu is decently priced! read more

First Awakenings - Meat skillet with scrambled eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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. read more

First Awakenings - Two Eggs and Meat - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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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. :) read more

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Came in on Monday after Mother's Day and it was still a 15 min wait time at 9am. Ordered the viva carnitas scramble and it was so big! Definitely a huge portion size worth sharing. Really enjoyed it and the potatoes. Couldn't even finish the plate. They left a water pitcher on our table but it had no ice in it. So it was a little strange but not a huge deal. Big restaurant with tons of tables inside. Down the street from the aquarium read more

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. read more

First Awakenings - Bacado Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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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!!! read more

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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. read more

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The have a large amount of seating inside and outside, making this an ideal breakfast place before the aquarium opens up down the street. I recommend parking further down along the street next to the ocean is the parking becomes free. The food was good. I'll be a little expensive, but that might just be California being in California. I got their special Diablo burrito, which was full of Serrano peppers along with all your normal breakfast burrito fillings the sauce came with was also very tasty. My girlfriend ended up doing one of the gourmet pancakes and it was huge so if you're hungry for a pancake, just get one of those and you're probably good. Service was so-so, just one lady working on the area we were seated in, meaning she stopped by a max of 3 times total and waiting to get the check filled out went way too long even though she knew we had the receipt. read more

First Awakenings - Blueberry Ricotta Cheese Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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Nice breakfast/brunch spot. It is a very popular spot sp expect a wait. You can also get on the yelp waitlist so you dont have to wait too long at the restaurant. Staff were kind. Food was good. Parking can be a but of a challenge during peak hours. read more

First Awakenings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Locals and tourists alike love First Awakenings. The menu is extensive but just short of overwhelming. There is something for everyone. They make a great pot of coffee. There's omelettes, crepes, skillets, traditional classic breakfasts, four or five varieties of oatmeal, a variety of pancakes (at least 8 varieties), French toast, and waffles. The salsa is served on the side, they have Pepper Plant brand hot sauce along with Tabasco and they do not skimp on the plates. My mom and I split the bacado omelette that had bacon, avocado, sour cream, and Monterey Jack cheese. I opted for the Ortega chile on top. Even splitting, there was more than enough and my mother and I could not finish our plates. The prices were very reasonable and serving sizes were large. Great flavors! They knew what combinations to put together to interest their customers taste buds. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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Came here before our trip to the Monterey Bay aquarium! Very cute place and outdoor seating. Everyone was kind and the service was great. The food?? Even better! Big portions. Quick service and all fairly priced! read more

This is a great breakfast joint. The service was a bit slow, but granted it was pretty busy. However, the person who sat us was weird. Just kept looking at us with a blank stare in his eyes and gave us like 1 word answers. The food was truly amazing, everything we ordered! But the sucky part was the outdoor table we had was right at the corner with a slight slope, so the table was wobbly and as my son poured the syrup on his pancakes, the syrup just ran down the plate and side of the table and got on his pants. read more

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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. read more

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Nice place for breakfast. It has a great selection of food, and the service was excellent. Just one note about the Carnitas scramble - The pork was cooked perfectly, but had virtually no seasoning. read more

My hubs and I found this place in Monterey by just driving by as we both were hungry. The host and our waitress were very nice and friendly. The waitress even suggested to us that if we order this and that we'll save a buck or two, so we ordered just as she mentioned. The food came out fast and HOT like we were watching the chefs cook it. We even love the side of corn beef hash. I would come back for more breakfast food as they have a huge variety and the prices are decent. Come by if you're around the Monterey area near the Monterey Bay Aquarium!!! read more

First Awakenings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

We went here for a late brunch. It looks like your typical breakfast diner place which has its own charm. The service was quick but basic. The food itself is pretty good. They have a large menu and have quite a few accommodations for vegetarians and vegans. I got the Joaquin yahoo which is basically their vegetarian frittata with sour cream and cheese on top. It was loaded with veggies and delicious. My friends also enjoyed their dish. It's a nice place to come to before heading down to the aquarium read more

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Such a great breakfast/brunch spot! The portions are huge--definitely come hungry--and the food is absolutely delicious. There's also a wide variety on the menu, so it's easy to find something for everyone. Service was good and kept everything running smoothly. The outdoor seating really hit the spot--perfect for a relaxed and satisfying brunch. Overall, a fantastic place for a hearty meal with plenty of options. Would definitely come back! read more

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Had a ladies' retreat in the Pacific Grove area and decided to have brunch at First Awakenings. We didn't make a reservation, so we had a 45 minute wait for a table, but it was definitely okay because we spent the time in the vintage shop just across the way from First Awakenings. The line was pretty long when we got there, but they were pretty spot on with the amount of time required for the table to be available. Our preference was an indoor table, but we ended up with an outdoor one under an umbrella. The heaters were only available to the tables without umbrellas, so it was a bit cold initially, but the sun was shining and we finally felt the warmth. There were five of us and we shared four dishes family style. There was more than enough food; in fact, we had a lot of potatoes left from our dishes. We ordered the Crab Cake Benedict, the Works Skillet, the Acapulco Express Omelette, and a single Pineapple, Coconut, Granola Pancake. Everything was really good, but we all agreed we probably wouldn't order the Crab Cake Benedict again because the crab was a bit too fishy. Each dish, except for pancake, included an English muffin and homestyle potatoes, which proved to be too much. Service was excellent and our waitress was very sweet and attentive. They left the carafe of coffee on the table for us to refill our own cups, which was great! The also left a water carafe... really appreciated! One other nice touch was a wonderful mixed fruit dish with whipped cream and Oreos that they brought out to help celebrate my birthday; not sure if it was complimentary since I never saw the bill, but it was so nice of them! I would definitely recommend First Awakenings, but you should join the waitlist on Yelp before heading over! read more

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Best breakfast spot to hit before going to the aquarium period, amazing selection of pancakes. Perfectly for baby and dog in the patio area super spacious and really good service read more

First Awakenings - Bananagerm Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Love this place! great portions and very tasty food! weekends are super busy so gotta get there earlier.

Best Breakfast in Monterey. Yesterday we tried Wave street cafe but First Awakenings was much better! We came at a perfect time 11ish and were seated right away. There is seating inside and outside. Here's what we ordered $55 Two coffees , skillet : Carnitas. Delicious , flavorful , cheesy! Omelette: Bacado Biscuits and Gravy Everything looked and tasted delicious. The inside is nice and clean. I loved the plants. I would recommend this breakfast spot! read more

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Super cool ambiance and excellent service. Food was great! We came in for breakfast and my wife kids and myself all enjoyed our meals. Def recommend if you are looking for breakfast or brunch and it's right by the aquarium! read more

First Awakenings - Bacon Benedict split plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

This place never disappoints. We sat outside near the fire pit, which made for a great breakfast with the family. Service was prompt, and we were given our own coffee pot and water. I had the meat lovers skillet with fried Serrano peppers on the side, the blueberry ricotta pancakes were amazing! read more

First Awakenings - Meat Lovers Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

A coworker recommended First Awakenings to me and we first tried it about two years ago. We loved it so much that we now drive from Aptos to Monterey just for breakfast. They are always busy but we have never waited more than 45 minutes and it is always worth it. The staff is kind and welcoming which makes the experience even better. It can be a little cold inside so I recommend bringing a sweater if you tend to get chilly. If you forget they do sell sweaters and they are actually very warm. I know because I ended up buying one. read more

My cousin found this restaurant on Yelp as we were trying to find somewhere delicious to eat for breakfast. There seems to be a long wait anywhere and even though we had our name on the list and it said we'd be next we still waited about a half hour. But the service was quick as soon as we were sat down they brought a strings and we ordered a few minutes later and the food came out very quickly. My husband and I ended up splitting the Mediterranean chicken sandwich with potatoes and a little side salad. We didn't expect them to split it for us. We thought we were gonna have to do it all ourselves, so it was a nice surprise that they brought it out for us in two separate plates. We really enjoyed the sandwich and spreads inside as well as the bun. The potatoes were also delicious, but needed a little bit of seasoning. My cousin, her daughter, and her husband all loved their dishes. read more

First Awakenings - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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This is one of our favorite places to stop when we come to Monterey for a visit. The staff is welcoming and inviting, and the ambiance is much better than your average diner, but still with a chill, family friendly vibe. The food! It's really quite good, in particular the pancakes (shown in my pics). My kids always love getting one of these giant flapjacks, which I usually end up finishing (and I'm GOOD with that!).. I love that there is both an inside and outside option for seating, as well as ample parking right behind the restaurant. It gets crowded, but we've never had an unreasonable wait to get a table. Grab some souvenirs on the way out -- we brought home one of their coffee mugs to remind us to visit again the next time we go to the aquarium. read more

This place is FANTASTIC!! My wife and son went there during Monterey Car week earlier this year and when we returned to Monterey for a short vacation last weekend I got to go there...it is awesome! They only serve breakfast and brunch. * Ambiance: It is very clean and very nicely done inside with car posters and art work. * Service: The service staff was very friendly. * Food: Here is what we got - Sunrise Omelet: I got the Sunrise but I had them make it with egg whites and put into a tortilla (like a breakfast burrito) - it was SO GOOD! - BLTE: My wife had the BLT with the egg...she loved it. - Country Fried Steak: From the picture you can see it was HUGE and my 9 year old finished about 70% of it. - Chocolate Chip Pancakes: My older son got this and it was too much for him but he said it was very fluffy and delicious I am craving food from this place as I write this review!! I will 1000% go here again - I highly recommend it for families. read more

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I ordered the huevos rancheros with scrambled eggs and added carnitas. It was so good! I was most impressed by the carnitas because they were so juicy, flavorful, and crispy at the edges. I enjoyed how everything came together with the beans, avocados, tomatoes. The tortillas were tasty too. There was a crispy one below the eggs and an extra regular one on the side. The potatoes on the side were not as special, but they were nice for having variety on the plate. I also ordered the fresh squeezed orange juice that complimented this meal nicely. Reminder to myself to order this again next time! read more

First Awakenings - Our Huevos Rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Great food, I got the biscuits and gravy and the hot cocoa! The wait can be long depending on when you go, and where you want to sit. Make sure to bundle up because you may have to wait outside in the brisk beach weather or eat outside. The good news is they have heated benches and warmers outside. Service was really good, receiving our check was very slow, but they were very busy so it's understandable. Business speaks volumes of their service and quality of food. I'll be coming back! read more

First Awakenings - Hot Chocolate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Extremely large portions- biscuits & gravy ( gravy was a little too much pepper) country potatoes had onions ( red) which I'm not a fan of, we also got the skillet was huge with big chunks of ham, perfectly cooked eggs & an English muffin read more

First Awakenings - Biscuits & Gravy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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This place was really great. Served us very quickly. Told the server exactly what I wanted and they followed the directions. I told him that we were in early trying to see the aquarium In-N-Out and they did so also, they split our meal on two different plates and made it almost like one meal per person that was really great also, highly recommend coming back this place good food good service great ambience close to the aquarium. read more

First Awakenings - Hot sauce I bought it was good - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

*** Vegetarian Review *** *** Best Pancake Award *** This is my 6th visit, but first to the new location. They may have changed spots, but the food experience is exactly the same. Tips for first timers 1. Make a reservation via the Yelp app. Super easy and a great time saver. 2. Street parking is free in the surrounding area, but pay attention to the time. Depending on how close you park to the restaurant, it can range from 30 minute parking and 2 blocks away, 90 minutes. 3. There is a small dedicated parking lot (about 30-40 cars). Worth a try, but don't let it discourage you. 4. New location is 2 short blocks from the Monterey Aquarium. Let's talk pancakes. Their menu confirms they are always made from scratch and never a mix. The addition of wheatgerm provides a unique texture you won't find anywhere else. You can order a single ($9.50 or double stack ($12.50). Although they've shrunk over the years I've been coming here (they use to overflow the plate), they are still a generously sized pancake. Maple syrup is in a glass bottle on the table. It's a mistake to drown these pancakes in syrup. A little dab will do ya! Blueberry and wheatgerm pancakes (Grade A+) : I added banana to the party and I guarantee this will be the best pancake you've ever had in your life. The crispy edges are even crispier from the wheatgerm. And the flavor is an instant reminder to never go to IHOP ever again. Raspberry, coconut, granola, and wheatgerm (Grade A+) : Tangy with double texture from both the granola and wheatgerm. This feels like a bite of the islands - something you'd find at a local breakfast spot in a small Hawaiian town. Note on other foods, but still giving this place 5-stars. The scrambled eggs were horrible. Embarrassing bad actually in both taste and eye appeal. Rubbery texture and just sad looking on the plate. Next time, I'll definitely order an over-medium egg to accompany my pancake. Bottom line. Best pancakes you'll ever try. Unique texture from the addition of wheatgerm. The waits can be long, but bypass the wait times with a reservation you can easily make on their Yelp page. Service is friendly and attentive. And although you can't park here all day, you'll have just enough time to eat and walk some of that food off with a quick 10 minute walk to soak in the views of the Monterey Bay. read more

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We showed up around 11:30 AM on a Saturday, got on the waiting list, and got a table for two within 15 minutes. This is a very busy place on a weekend! They thoughtfully leave you with an entire pitcher of ice water, and I ordered coffee so instead of coming around with refills, they just left me with a whole carafe of coffee. Love that! Our food was very tasty, and the salad portions were really large and included a lot of avocado and steak for a good price. I mentioned being gluten-free, and they advised me to skip the cheddar on my egg dish since it is cross contaminated with wheat. I got just Monterey Jack cheese instead. They also offered fruit instead of an English muffin. The restaurant is quite large and overlooks a busy street, but it is not overly noisy even on a busy day and there was also an option to be seated outside on the patio. read more

First Awakenings - Joaquin Yahoo with Sour Cream on the side plus fruit instead of English muffin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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This brunch spot is just a 5 minute walk from Monterey Bay Aquarium, so this was our first stop before activities. Going in around 12:45 PM on a Saturday, there was no wait and were we able to choose between indoor and outdoor seating and got seated immediately. There is no parking lot, only parallel street parking. Their menu is huge and varies between sweet fruit pancakes, omelettes, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and appetizers. I ordered the mushroom Swiss burger, and the menu didn't mention it came with a side of potatoes, fruit, or salad, but when the huge plate came out, it was an extremely pleasant surprise! The Works omelette included all different types of meat and also came with an English muffin and a choice of hash browns or county potatoes. Our entrees were roughly $19 each. The dining room was spacious and lots of natural lighting and the bathroom has 2 stalls but was very spacious as well. Service was great and our waitress was very attentive. read more

First Awakenings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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I loved this place for the food it was so goooood the atmosphere the service eating was 15-20 mins when I thought it would be longer and parking wasn't so hard to find! I absolutely recommend. read more

Great service. Big portions and good food! The skillet was yummy. The waffle big and fluffy. The he vegetarian sausages were a bit overpriced for what they are but they went well on the food! Also they have this The Pepper Plant sauce on the tables that was flavorful and went well with the skillet! read more

First Awakenings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California