Hidden gem in corner of strip mall, next to State Park. Ample parking. Exterior door is not automated, regular pull to enter. Outside seating is available on occasion. Interior seating is booths along one wall that can sit four comfortably, and 2-4 top table and chair seating for rest of area. Restroom is available, but not very ADA and small child friendly. Zoe took care of us. The food and drinks were good. We enjoyed the gluten-free peach French toast, a grilled chicken wrap with fries, a pistachio chai tea, a colada cooler. Food was displayed on plate wonderfully. Portions are ample. All tasted fresh and delicious. Definitely would order from and dine in here again. 9/10 read more

My husband and I went for the first time today. Waitstaff was very friendly and the food was good but when offered a side I specifically asked if it came with the sandwiches we had ordered and was told yes. But when the check came, we were charged $3.50 for each side! I didn't want to make a fuss, so I just paid it but after reading other comments it seems they make a habit of sneaking in additional charges. Very disappointing and we won't be back. PS: They also charge for credit card use. $45.57 for lunch seems excessive. read more

Amazing food and top-tier service! Our server, Zoey, was so kind and helpful--she even warned our party of five that we were ordering too much, but we couldn't resist. Every dish was delicious, especially the Harissa toast, omelet, yogurt bowl, and the shrimp my niece ordered. The real star, though, was the coconut lemonade--one of the best drinks we've ever had. We'll absolutely be back read more

Everything food was awesome service top notch!!! Love it hidden gem!! Great coffee cute atmosphere read more

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My daughter's boyfriend recommended Morningstar Cafe. Liked the vibes as soon as I walked in! Great 80's music playing! Local artists's work of arts displayed in the walls! Love that! Greeted by Server Kathryn E! Loved her pink hair! Ordered caramel hot latte and the vegetarian omelette. Latte was good, strong coffee and lots of latte foam, not do much latte! Very small cup. I typically say I like my eggs well done, not runny! Well. I forgot to say that! :( When I got the omelette, I thought to my self oh there's a sauce! Nope, I basically had an easy over omelette and the raw egg was runny, all over my plate! I could not eat the omelette. My bad, on not specifically asking for well done omelette. Loved the sour dough bread and the smashed cheesy potatoes. Ordered second coffee- APHRODITES LOVE POTION- rich espresso, steamed milk, vanilla. Small portion, didn't taste the vanilla. A regular customer came in with a friend who was there for the first time. The regular customer commented he treats himself once a week here and ordered a coffee and french toast. Friend ordered the same and raved about the breakfast . So I would definitely come back and specify how I want my eggs or order the French toast and large latte! :) Kathryn thank you for the amazing service!! read more

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Beautiful experience, good customer service, food quality is amazing!! I ordered a steak Sando (MR) and it was absolute HEAVEN!! I also got an iced late but i forgot the name of it but it was also very good it was a good balance between sweet and bitter. Highly recommend for either a date day with partner/friend or a group of friends , they offer regular table seatings and booths and the paintings are on sale and they're beautiful. read more

Morningstar Cafe - STEAK SANDO - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toms River, New Jersey

New WOW! Just WOW! This little jewel of a tiny hidden spot! You would never think. Needs to be on TRIPLE D! Brunch like you can't imagine! Food impeccable, great menu, mouthwatering even just reading it! We love healthly food; they have that and indulgent food choices abound! WHAT A FABULOUS variety!!!! Service was excellent and smiles from everyone! I asked the server if the owner; the chef, went to culinary school because the pairing of foods was soooooo imaginative and on point! " Yes, he did,"DEFINITELY coming back! You gotta check this out!!! read more

I had a really disappointing experience here. When we arrived, the hostess told us there would be a 30-minute wait. After waiting that long, we checked back and were told it would be another 30 minutes--despite multiple open tables clearly visible. When we asked about the empty tables, the hostess seemed annoyed and dismissive. She eventually agreed to seat us, but told us we'd have to wait a long time for food. If I hadn't been there to catch up with friends, I would have left at that point. Once seated, it took 20 minutes for a waitress to even come over and take our drink order--and this is a very small place with only about 10 tables. From the time we sat down, it took over an hour for our food to arrive. While we were waiting, a staff member walked through the dining area carrying a bag of eggs from the dollar store next door, which didn't exactly inspire confidence. We weren't the only ones frustrated. Another table ended up leaving after complaining about the long wait. The food itself was underwhelming. I ordered the Peach Melba French Toast, which turned out to be basic French toast topped with cold canned peaches--nothing special at all. I would have been more understanding if the staff had been honest and transparent about delays, but instead they came across as rude and dismissive. Overall, not a good experience. I wouldn't recommend this place and won't be returning. read more

Food was very good! Nice selection. We had the deep fried cauliflower for the table with truffle Parmesan. It was delicious!

I ordered the Gluten Free pancakes. I have been GF for 20 yrs. I have had GF many times. The GF pancakes at Morningstar Cafe had a very chemical/ metallic taste. The waiter returned at the end of the meal and saw I only took a bite and said "you didn't like it?" I told him about the awful taste. He " sorry you didn't like it. We use tofu in the mix. There's no chemicals." Never offered if I would like something else. Never took it off the bill. Just said "Sorry you didn't like it." Like my tastebuds were the problem not the food. Stay away! Never felt so disrespected at a restaurant in my life! read more

relaxed delicous breakfast for a birthday celebration. many choices - the blueberry French toast and the Harissa Avacado were yummy. Staff were pleasant and so helpful. Will be back read more

First time here for breakfast, ordered an omelet it was so runny and completely uncooked, it came with potato's but looked like a side of mushrooms, we also ordered the French toast which was interesting it was wedges that were deep fried.but hollow inside. Excited to try the coffee and unfortunately this too was a disappointment. We wanted to give more stars but just couldn't sadly, we love to stay local and support smaller family owned business but unfortunately this was a disappointment. read more

Stopped in for lunch with my daughter. I had the wonderful Morningstar burger, my daughter had the BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato )sandwich. Everything was so good. The fries were delicious and well seasoned. The double burger patty w/ bacon on a potato roll was juicy and enjoyable. I need to get back soon, it's been a few weeks. read more

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Always the best food! Coffee is excellent! Love love love this place! Staff is thoughtful and atmosphere is just what you need.... Calm & inviting read more

We have been frequenting Morningstar for approx. 2 years now. Loved the food and loved Chef Alex. My husband was a chef for 15 years and I am a self-proclaimed gourmet home chef and we are FOODIES----been all around the world eating the best of the best and Morningstar was no exception. We were so happy to have this little gem in our neighborhood. Went to brunch after church every Sunday, dinner (their original pre-fixe) once or twice a weekend for a while, invited friends to try all the way from Trenton area, friends booked birthday parties for 20 plus people and many other referrals on our request. This hurts us to leave this review, but we were so upset by our encounter at brunch last Sunday. We went after church and found a pretty full restaurant. So nice to see Chef Alex and Company doing well. We ordered some soup, omelet and grilled cheese, some specialty coffees, etc. The coffees came out and we each got the wrong one. Our soup, sandwich and omelet all came out together and was quite cool. Even the soup was slightly warm. We never said anything--every restaurant has an off day. We asked if Chef Alex was in the kitchen and she was. Last year's pre-fixe dinners were off also. We would go, mostly to an empty restaurant, and they would be out of everything we asked for. From starter, to main, to dessert. This happened 3 times until we left the last time. This past Sunday we came with $150 in gift certificates we received from friends and family since they knew it was our new favorite place. Unfortunately, our mom passed away 6 months ago from a malpractice surgery. With this being so unexpected and the family reeling, we had not been to Morningstar in a bit. When giving the waiter the $50 gift card to pay, he returned telling us it expired. I did not even see an expiration date on the card. The other card for $100 expired less than a week before and they still would not accept it. We were shocked!!! We were told the accountant said it could not be done. Who's restaurant is this? Me being in the financial industry and my husband being a chef prior---absolutely anything could have been done. A voucher for a future dinner, and updated certificate, something offered on the house in the future. Anything! We were patrons when no one came to this restaurant and spend significant amounts of time speaking to Chef. We were there when WRAT gave a radio review and we sang their praises. Now that the restaurant is busier, the early patrons are forgotten I guess. Like any celebrity, personality or musician, a Chef is only as good as their customers. Famous Chef Geoffrey Zakarian told me that personally---so sad this happened. With a restaurant on every corner and such competition, some excellent locally; Xina, Piccolino's and some a short drive and so worth it; Buttered Biscuit for Brunch in Bradley Beach and Cafe Bistro in Avon, we will not be back. Happy New Year to all and Good luck to Chef in her future endeavors and may they feel the customer is always important. read more

Another really nice brunch here on Wednesday. I dont remember her name, but she was a fantastic waitress and so helpful. The grilled cheese with Brie and onion jam on sour dough was my Jam and it was excellent! It doesn't even need the bacon. read more

Went there to celebrate a friend's birthday. Was seated at a table in very close proximity to other filled tables. There were 4 empty booths on the other side. My friend explained to the staff that she had just had a chemotherapy treatment the day before and was uncomfortable sitting so close to others. We asked if you could sit at a booth. We were told sorry NO since they keep those open for groups of 3 or 4. I have never been in a restaurant that would not accommodate their customers. We told them we were leaving. They said sorry and again told us the booths are for 3 or 4 people. Again there were 4 EMPTY booths. We left and will never go back. read more

Food is good nice menu, but really unhappy when we bought a gift card for Xmas, and was charged credit card fee, charged $2.00 take out fee and then charged tax on the $2.00. So we let it go but we're not happy. Bad marketing, but the worst of all was we just went again, ordered two coffees and breakfast and were charged .20 cents for cream. Come on, really. We are done. That is very bad business. read more

Small room but large platters. Pleasant atmosphere and gracious server. Waited long for our meals because they are made to order, but worth it. I had the Shakshuka, a dish that I never heard of. The tomato sauce didn't taste homemade, it was not very filling and overpriced for 2 eggs. In contrast, the french toast and pancakes were very hearty and my friends enjoyed these dishes. I think that the chef is creative and they should think about finding a larger venue. This is a popular cafe and restaurant for the locals, and I would return to try a lunch entree. read more

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What a cute little brunch place hidden in the far corner! Highly recommend. The service was great, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. we were gabbing for a while and never felt rushed. I had a Pumpkin Spice Chai latte and Portobello Truffle Frittata. The food was yummy and there were so many unique options. They have a whole menu of coffee drinks with various dairy and non-dairy choices (thank god for oatmilk). I will be going back to try to shakshouka next! read more

We stumbled upon this gem by chance and are so glad we did. The food was excellent! Everything was so fresh. Chicken was crispy and juicy. My husband had an omelet with crispy fingerling potatoes on the side. He really enjoyed it. Our waitress was very friendly. Cute place with great food; highly recommend! read more

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One of the best breakfast meals I've had. Was a party of four with a toddler and we just gave him a little food from all of our plates and he loved it all (a rare feat). A great menu with slight twists on familiar classics makes you want to try it all. read more

Wonderful food, wonderful service, wonderful atmosphere. Can't wait to go back! The menus are creative, food is fresh, warm inviting atmosphere. We need to keep this place open, it's quite a gem--go check it out for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner! read more

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This spot is a little off the beaten path, but totally worth seeking out. The ricotta eggs were perfectly executed, and the side of pancakes for just $6 is an absolute steal. I loved the local art on the walls and the killer playlist playing in the background. Service was friendly and on point. Do yourself a favor--plug this place into your GPS! Highly recommend. read more

Food was amazing and the service was great. Very kind and attentive servers. The chai was great! Have been on the hunt for a good chai for a couple years now (i have high standards lol) and I'm so glad I found it here. Banana bread pancakes were also spectacular!! 10/10 would definitely recommend read more

Ambiance is art work supporting local gallery. Food was excellent. Had the Queen's Tea. French press with notes of lavender! Second time here. Had the Shakshura and sis had Chicken and waffles. One waitress. Long wait time. But overall a gem. read more

Every once in a while you stumble in to what is the true definition of a hidden gem and the Morningstar Cafe embodies that definition. Tucked in to the corner of a strip mall off Fischer Blvd., next to a hardware store, with barely a sign over the door, this spot is an amazing find. My wife and I came here for breakfast after a boat ride and actually came because the Yelp reviews were good and it was close by. Boy are we glad we did. It was one of the best breakfasts we've had. Small inside but cozy and warmly decorated our friendly waiter seated us at a table for two and after perusing the menu, I saw the Chicken & Waffles that I had read glowing reviews about and had to give it a try. Well, all I can say is it was amazing. The chicken, in a crispy buttermilk batter was delicious. A perfect crunch on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, it went perfect with the wonderfully light and fluffy Belgium waffle. To make things even better, the chicken was topped with a creamy egg and on the side was a tasty sweet & spicy harissa honey syrup. All of this made for one amazing meal. My wife went with another amazing breakfast dish, the Peaches & Cream Belgium Waffle, served with a fresh, whipped, mascarpone cream and fresh peaches. Just another home run, my wife loved it. We can not wait to come here again as there are more great breakfast dishes on the menu we've got to try. Not to mention, they serve lunch and a prix fixe menu dinner here with some amazing dishes on those menus as well. Also, we got to speak with chef/owner, Alex, she was so nice and it turns out she's worked at some high end restaurants and is a master chef. To say we're excited to try some of her other dishes is an understatement. Looking forward to adding on to this review. read more

Morningstar Cafe - Peaches & Cream Belgium Waffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toms River, New Jersey

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My cousins and I went on a girls trip just a few weekends ago and were lucky enough to get Kat as the person attending to us. She was kind, fun, helpful, and filled with personable energy. After finding out it was our first time, at what feels like a small, local, cafe, she made sure to give us suggestions on her favorite meals, which then became ours for the weekend. The ricotta egg scramble was so fluffy and tasty, the pancakes were gorgeous, and she'll tell you when you get there but they had this really good spicy-esque mayo that we couldn't get enough of. Kudos to the chef. We were so pleased with the staff, playlists, art on the walls, and vibe, that we ended up coming back the next day. Thank you, Kat, for making us feel right at home. Until next time - 2 Hot 2 Iced! read more

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Very good service and food. A real surprise, hidden in the Corner next to Kens hardware.

This is my favorite restaurant ever! My husband and I come here at least once a week, and the service and food are amazing! The stuffed French toast is to die for! The foraged frittata is my husband's favorite. We took my father-in-law here and he loved the shakshuka. Plus the brie grilled cheese is heavenly, better than what we had in France! The servers are top-notch, we love Juan and Kat. I don't drink drink coffee, but my husband got the nocciola, which he said is the perfect combination of chocolate and coffee. Plus, the space is cute and cozy. Try it, you won't regret it! :) read more

We tried this place for Restaurant Week and it did not disappoint. My table enjoyed Avocado toast, Ricotta toast, Breakfast burritos and sandwiches. All delicious! read more

Everything I have eaten at morning star has always been amazing so tonight i decided to try new dishes. Not something I'd do most places. Of course did not disappoint!! The flavor and fresh ingredients of the soup and the feta garlic bread.....definitely will be ordering both again soon. After a long stressful week to sit and enjoy the cozy warm environment, friendly service and an amazing meal is just what was needed read more

Morningstar Cafe - Feta garlic bake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toms River, New Jersey

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Very unprofessional, was seated & waited 15 min & no one came to even say hello. Others that came in after had drinks & orders were taken. We got up & left. Then the waiter chased us out saying he just saw us. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! THE PLACE HAS 10 TABLES!! NEVER AGAIN read more

We went Wednesday for breakfast. It was top notch! Very clean. Server was kind and friendly. The food was amazing. The corn flake French toast is a must! The breakfast potatoes were the best we have ever had . People are always saying they want better restaurants in Toms River but yet there are always lines at CHAIN restaurants places. Do yourself a favor and go to a local small business and get the best breakfast you have ever had. read more

The food is very good, but when they get busy, they cannot handle the amount of food coming their kitchen, but the food is delicious

If you want a little Asbury Park vibe in Toms River, this place is for you. Besides the vibe, the food is amazing. Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, Chef Alex will not disappoint! Service is great, specialty coffees and the hot chocolate are dessert like. Dinner is by reservation only. Always amazing. This cafe is a hidden gem but well worth the search! read more

Excellent! This is a hidden gem next to Ken's Hardware on Fischer. Great selection on teas , coffees and lattes. Many delicious varieties of toast toppings and a nice selection of lunch options! Service was impeccable! read more

We were disappointed. We arrived and the place was almost empty. People started to come in later. We ordered the salmon toast, the banana bread pancakes and the peach waffle. They told us they were out of salmon toast. We saw people that had arrived later than us getting salmon toast way before we got any of our food. The banana bread pancakes were not special pancakes, just regular pancakes. Everybody got served before we did and somehow we ended up leaving when the place was again almost empty. read more

Foodies out there ,I Just finished brunch and had a delicious frittata with Jersey local mushrooms,cheese and truffle oil. It was freaking amazing! If you want great food prepared by a great chef , this is the spot! Chef Alex is the best , Best breakfast and coffee in Tom's river. And don't forget dinner Friday or Saturday night the menu and food is wonderful and a nice atmosphere as well !!! Rick read more

Have been 2 times and will be back! I've had the strawberry ricotta toast, and the chicken and waffles. Absolutely amazing. I loved both. You get so much food. The chicken was juicy and cooked perfect. The waffles are fresh and fluffy. The drinks are always made great as well! I highly recommend! read more