The food here was delicious. I had Thursday avocado Benedict. We didn't have a wait although a line grew quickly after we were seated. The menu had many options to choose from. The staff was very courteous. The back of the menu had a few noteworthy detail about the establishment that were helpful in knowing what to expect. I would definitely go again. read more

I really enjoy good service and this place has it, my coffee cup was always full and the breakfast was great not heavily greasy. I was originally going to have breakfast at Rosines across the street but they didn't open until 9am so I looked around and found the Old Monterey Cafe, so glad I did because this is going to be my go to spot for breakfast whenever I visit Monterey! read more

Friendly, fast service. Good basic breakfast dishes. My friend would've liked his Belgian waffle a little crispier though. Attentive with coffee refills. Nice rustic feel, comfy. read more

Yummy breakfast Delicious coffe Can't complain at all I will go again if I go back to Monterey read more

SO GOOOOOD!!!!!! The service was great, the people were nice, and the food definitely satisfied read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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Grossly crowded seating. Felt stressful to dine there. Slow service except for when the bill was dropped.

The cafe was a cool little place. I ordered the Salmon over Caesar Salad. The salmon was delicious and when you eat it you can taste the healthy omega-3s in every bite. This tells me the salmon is good quality and absolutely fresh. And with the combination of having it over the Caesar salad; Delicious!!! The staff was helpful and friendly, and the food was delicious. The complaints I have are the prices as a little steep and the place is really business so it made it hard to get a seat in the dining area. I would recommend this place for anyone traveling to Monterey, couples wanting to try a great cafe, or for those that just want to get some fresh fish for their meal for the evening. Highly recommended!!! read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Caffe latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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Breakfast. Old Monterey Cafe. What are your questions? Repeatedly voted the best breakfast in Monterey it is located on Alvrado Street near the historic old adobes of this originally Mexican city. Breakfast and lunch are served with breakfast available all day. The menu is overwhelming. Soooo many choices and options. Although they do have simple things like traditional egg and omelet dishes to go along with many variations. For instance, omelets: A four cheese Spanish with green chiles All sorts of meats and cheeses Sauteed mushrooms with bacon and avocado ( I had this with American cheese added and I could not finish it) Artichoke hearts with bacon (Oh my! Add cheese) Bay shrimp with avocado or spinach Chili with cheese and onions Make your own with crab, shrimp, chicken, kielbasa, turkey breast, chorizo. A special that my wife had is the Papas Abuelo ( grandfather potatoes). A heap of russet potatoes sauteed with onions, green peppers, topped with fresh tomato, sour cream, cheese and guacamole. A job to do and what pleasure. She could not finish her meal, either. There are sandwiches, salads, pancakes, french toast biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros and even healthy options like oatmeal, Egg Beaters and fruit. Your choice, of course. Lunches are similarly complex, simple and portioned to satisfy and fill the eater. The dining area cannot be much wider than 12 feet across and it is very casual and comfy. Endless coffee, so sit, eat and enjoy one of Monterey's favorites. read more

A wonderful, adorable, delicious cafe that's a long-standing gem in Monterey. I was here two mornings in a row while in town for a weekend. There's a parking lot in the back, which is great since street parking is a bit harder once the day gets going. But come early enough and parking is super easy. Everything on the menu is delicious. And the portions are huge. Even the smaller breakfasts are really big. One day, I ate at 7am and at 3pm I was a little bit hungry again. So it will definitely keep you going all day! read more

Great place for breakfast. The sizes are big so be warned. A short stack of pancakes are two dense plate sized pancakes. The food is awesome. I highly recommend the Belgian waffle and the French Toast. Also get a fruit bowl. Each meal can feed two people. They also turn tables quickly so you don't have to wait forever. There is a front door and a back door. The line starts at the front door so avoid the backdoor. read more

Came here after reading all of the reviews. The place was packed and we had to wait. It was a quick wait though and we got seated fairly quickly. Our waitress was quick and attentive. She took our orders and brought our drinks all the whole busting her backside. Our food came out quickly. Mine (omelette) was perfect the cook even managed to not cook my eggs to death. The Mr. got french toast. They were a little raw in the middle. The waitress took em right back and had em make it better. That woman gets an A+ for attitude! She was swamped and never once lost her smile. As we were finishing up, we noticed the line had snaked out the door! read more

This is our go-to spot when we visit Monterey. Usually delicious. It's been a year since we've been here due to pandemic. Happy they were open but it was downhill from there. Outside tables lacked attention due to understaffing. Our food was absolutely terrible. Worst ever. Undercooked, wrong items on plate. Wife got chorizo n eggs n there were eggs on the plate with some ground chorizo on the side - who does that? Never in 59 yrs have I seen that anywhere including here in the past. (Have had it here before) Chalk this one up to pandemic I guess but never thought they would fail like this - maybe try once more next time here but a total waste of time n money today, beyond disappointed!!! read more

Enjoyed breakfast here with my boyfriend, brother and sister. I ordered the California eggs Benedict which comes on a fresh croissant as opposed to an English muffin, and avocado and tomato. It was soooo good, would like to try another egg Benedict off the menu in the future. Quick service as well. read more

I went twice while on vacation in Monterey. I was in a hurry both times. The first time I was heading to the Aquarium and the second time was a Sunday and needed to get on the road. Both times I was seated quickly. The main point is how incredibly fast I got my food once I ordered. The food is great, the prices are reasonable and the service is great. Really what more could you ask for? read more

Old Monterey Cafe - View from the counter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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If I was able to leave 0 stars I would leave a rating of 0 stars. Me and my family are never eating here again!! I should of listen to all the reviews they had here posted before even coming to try out the food. It's horrible,nasty silver ware looks like it hasn't been washed properly,they should do an inspection at this place as soon as possible if not I will contact health department my self.I order and had hair on my food! I told them about it and they didn't want to refund me or give me a new plate this is not good customer service! Very disappointed.Staff is not well educated. I don't recommend this place at all. Bad business the owner should focus on setting high standards. Stay away this place is nasty! Go to Lighthouse cafe instead !!! read more

Absolutely delicious! My boyfriend and I go here every time we visit Monterey. The wait can be long, but definitely worth the wait! Their service is incredible. No filter needed for their delicious food! We order and get our food back within 15-20 minutes each time will always support! read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Waffles and French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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Seriously overpriced greasy spoon. The food has very little seasoning. My kid said the best thing he had was the white toast. It's TINY. Big menu. Normal service time and nice enough staff. But it's just not that good. I don't know how they earn the title of "Best Breakfast." Maybe it's self proclaimed?? The gravy is thin and super smokey. Odd. The bacon is really thick and chewy. The Tahoe Scramble is okay. I was wishing I had just gotten ham and eggs instead of the scramble because it was really wet. Maybe from the peppers? But not great. Not the worst ever but certainly not the best. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Kid's meal. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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What a great little diner/cafe! This was our first meal in Monterey, CA and I'm glad it was! Awesome experience here. The Old Monterey Cafe sits on the heart of Monterey and has quaint Main St. storefront appearance. We walked in for breakfast and were seated near the window which was a nice view of the morning street. There were lots of tasty looking menu options, but I ordered a California Benedict, complete with avocados. Thw avocados were in the Benedict and were not overly cooked. They had a nice texture when you cut and bit into them. The meal came with home fries which were nicely cooked as well. The waitress offered the suggestion to use the house salsa on the home fries as many locals like it that way....so, I decided to do it as the locals do (almost always a good idea) OMG! I'm glad she suggested it. It totally made the meal even better!!!! My wife ordered the French toast w/ bacon and home fries. She was equally as happy. I nabbed a bite of her bacon and it was nice thick pieces. The coffee here was excellent to boot. An all around great meal. The service staff was extremely friendly. You won't find this to be a fancy environment, but if you are not looking for a tailored environment, then this is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Amazing, food is great, customer service is awesome, ambiance is special too. Love the staff and the experience. Very special place and the hash browns are simply the best! read more

There was a long line of customers waiting to get in on a Saturday morning but luckily I was able to join another single diner and slip right into this very old-fashioned, small, homey cafe. The eggs Benedict was delicious! And my table-mate ordered an omelet with artichoke hearts and bacon that looked amazing! Skip the coffee and pick up one at Peet's just up the block. But definitely try this cafe's great food! read more

Went to breakfast with the family. Let me start by saying the blueberry pancakes were delicious, but if you are looking for a fluffy omelette (like the menu states) that ain't happening. Mine and my husband's was dry and tasteless, had to drown it with catsup to get some favor. read more

Nahhhh. Service was lacking and the wait for the food wasn't worth it. We waited about 15 min to order, everything took forever in here but I was really disappointed overall. I had bacon omelette with biscuits and gravy and the only thing I really enjoyed was the hashbrown. Great reviews, I'm thinking maybe they had a day off but I wouldn't try it again. read more

this place is Usually spot on, but covid took its tool on it, only outside seating, cold & wendy food was good, service was good, street parking only, can't wait for it to open up again read more

Old Monterey Cafe - outside seating it's a bit windy and cold - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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Great food, big portions and wonderful service! There was a line out the door and the got us in quick. That's a good sign to see that line!

We are staying in Monterey for a couple days and found this place on Yelp. The reviews were great so we gave it a try. This was a wonderful place to eat breakfast. In walking distance from the Hotel, very friendly staff and melt in your mouth pancakes. We also had the crab Benedict that was delicious and to top it off with wonderful has browns. We for got to take pictures. The pancakes are massive read more

They didn't even notice that they didn't take our order, so we had to ask someone upfront for a server. I get restaurants are busy but it gets worst. Rudest servers ever, They mess up your order. There was a miscommunication, could have easily been solved if she wasn't rushing to put the order in and read back my order to me. You tell them they mess it up then They send it back to the kitchen to fix it. But in reality they throw whatever addition they messed up on to your plate and then serve the same plate back to you. Poor service really and unprofessional. Food is also not even that good. This star goes to the guy cleaning tables, he seems like the only employee with manners. read more

Food is delicious and service is superb. I ordered the vegetable omelette with hash browns and toast. Way more than I could finish but it was delicious!! Avocados and artichokes make everything 100% better :) Must visit if you're in the neighborhood. I guess it helps that that weather is gorgeous and they have all the windows open. No music or loudness just the breeze and people chit chatting. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

The works work hard and the food is decent but it's over priced and under-serviced with terribly slow service. The owner should look into hiring more and/or developing more efficient seating and serving practice. The staff is clearly hustling to get the food out but destined to fail with how the business is run Also, no heads up anywhere on the menu of the 3.5% service fee charge they pass on to you, the patron of their business. Slimy business practice. If you're planning to go here, plan for a 90 minute visit, at least. read more

Enjoyed a great breakfast at the Old Monterey Cafe. Restaurant is simple but comfortable and very clean. Wait staff were attentive and helpful. Menu is comprehensive and food was fresh and nicely presented. Overall, a great place to go for breakfast, and we would definitely return. read more

I am shocked that this place has 4 stars. There are so many basic things i expect at an establishment that wasn't done. We sat outside at a broken table. (They all are broken). Sausages dry, biscuits and gravy was awful, toast doesn't come out with the meal, the waitress didn't even know the menu. It was just awful all around. read more

Dropped by while visiting Monterey. The service was good, so was the food. It was as I remembered it. I ordered the crab eggs benidect and Belgian waffles with eggs. Both was good. I would recommend get here early as a friend can form fast. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Belgian waffles with eggs and bacon. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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The staff was not welcoming when my husband and I went there for breakfast while visiting the area. There was a plastic wrapper in my egg scramble I got. Its a cute location and their grits were good, but I was not happy with the service and there being plastic in my food. read more

I visited here on a weekend getaway and found out it's a local favorite. After eating there I see why. Cute location with amazing food and huge portions. The staff was very nice and it was a very friendly atmosphere. I will be sure to eat there again the next time I visit. read more

Wow! Fabulous breakfast! Came back for 2nd day in a row. Tried blueberry pancakes, waffle, eggs Benedict, Tahoe Scramble. All terrific! Felix was constantly refilling our coffee and Lizet was great as our waitress. Both had wonderfully friendly attitudes. read more

Great food and plenty of it at a reasonable price. Every town should have a place like this. Friendly and efficient wait staff. But oh, how I miss Chano. Nicest guy you'd ever wanna meet and Brotherman could fill your cup with his coffee pot from 8 miles high, blindfolded. read more

1st time going to Monterey from SanFrancisco. This Breakfast Cafe was the 1st stop. We like the food and the service. The lady is so friendly. WARRING: pancakes are huge So order carefully. Very kids friendly environment. THE restroom is little bigger than AirPlane's restroom. So if u r over 250 lbs, then do ur business before heading to this place read more

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I have been wanting to try this place out for a long time, and today I finally got to. I loved it! Delicious food and great customer service. I asked the waiter how do the grits taste? and the waiter brought us a sample. To eat I ordered the crab Benedict with homestyle fries and a guava mimosa to drink. There is parking in the back. Everything was delicious. Definitely will be back again. read more

I just had the crab Benedict, a chai latte, guava juice and a side of bacon. It was excellent all around. The bacon and hashbrowns were crispy and the eggs were perfectly poached! The only thing I can complain about is getting more crab on it. read more

Place closes at 2:30 pm.They said OJ was fresh, definitely not fresh. Replaced with hot chocolate. ..much better choice! See picture. Food arrived promptly. Corned beef hash was a little disapointing because it is canned hash, dressed up with potatoes, spices and herbs. Admittedly best canned corned beef. Hash browns and over easy eggs were cooked perfectly. Pancakes were huge! Bring your appetite for them or even better share. Overall, average food that's why rating is slightly above average. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Great hot chocolate! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Food was great service was also great!! At a location like this stick to American dishes that's their specialty. If you want a breakfast mexican burrito you're at the wrong place! Their hash browns were delicious will definitely go back!! read more