We were the first customers in at exactly 6:45 when it opened. There was one person working and she was working hard to set up the tables for the day. As a result we were left waiting a little, but could see she was hurried and working by herself so we didn't mind. We had a mug of coffee while we ordered and waited for the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict. The coffee ought to be made stronger as it tasted like Farmer Brothers which is bland stuff. I would recommend a French Roast. Nothing wrong with the coffee except it was on the mild side and bland. There didn't appear to be anyone else working at the time and the waitress did her best to get us our breakfast order and smile for the next couple of customers who came in while we were just starting to eat, as well as she had to finish putting out the table settings. The Eggs Benedict came with a huge order of hash browns. Very nicely cooked. The only thing I would suggest is to toast the English Muffins so they have a crispness to the top of them. I do not care for plain English Muffins. These were warmed but had no brown on them. Again she was doing all of this by herself at the start of the day so I commend her for being so efficient. Another person, a guy, maybe an employee (?) came in after 7 AM. I think she could have used the help much sooner but she did a great job and we really enjoyed our breakfast, it was substantial read more

Food was good but the waiter had a bad attitude. I ordered the Tahoe scramble and my wife had an excellent special with a pancake. The eggs were fresh and cooked perfectly, so were the hash-browns. Sucks that the waiter was rude because the table busser was nice and the didn't have cash to only tip him. read more

Service was terrible. So not worth eating there at all. My plate had old salad on it and just took a long time to get food. If you're looking for good food and service eat somewhere else. read more

Everytime we visit Monterey, this is our breakfast spot. Never fails us. Best coffee too

I've been wanting to try this spot for a while, but it's always busy which makes sense now that I've finally had the chance to visit! I stopped by on a weekday and got to fully enjoy the experience without the usual crowd. The interior is beautifully decorated with old vintage signage, giving the place a cozy and nostalgic vibe. It's clear they've put a lot of thought into creating a welcoming atmosphere. the staff made us feel right at home. They greeted us immediately and were on top of their game with customer service, it's clearly a priority here. The food was absolutely amazing! We ordered the chorizo with eggs and eggs Benedict, and I was blown away by how generous the portions were. They don't hold back when it comes to serving up a full plate! Every bite was delicious, and you can tell they use fresh, quality ingredients. If you're in the area, this is a must-visit breakfast spot. If going on a weekend then plan to arrive early since they're very busy on weekends. read more

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

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A great location for a restaurant that serves classic breakfast fare. We were able to sit with our dog in the front outside which was a huge plus! The menu had the typical breakfast staples we were looking for, and the vegetarian in our group had a lot of options to choose from. The food maybe won't win any awards, but it did its job and was delicious! read more

This place is always a hit for us. Food, service, and ambiance- we like a comfortable down-home atmosphere, friendly people and they know how to make grits! read more

Food was good, and the service was quick and efficient. The experience felt a little rushed, though still smooth and straightforward. Person serving us was polite and did their job, but didn't say much. read more

Gets the job done but service is sub par and food is around 5/10. We came on a Sunday around 9:45 and were able to get a table for two right away but it got busy fast and gets pretty loud in there. read more

Over rated! Cute spot, lack of service, didn't even refill our waters. Order the abuelo potatoes average. The pancake looked nice, fluffy but a little under cooked and the huevos rancheros would not order again. Definitely better spots across the way or next door. Food had no real flavor. read more

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First timer - came in for breakfast this week. Food was amazing, coffee was great, service was good, and the decor was super cute. I do wish there was a gluten free bread option, even for the pancakes/waffles. I did really enjoy my meal nonetheless. I did also wish they had different flavor coffee creamers rathen than just packs of half/half. read more

Okay café in downtiwn Monterey for a simple, no-frills breakfast. My mushroom-avocado omelette was generous portion-wise, but lacked any seasoning (not even salt). Hashbrowns were okay, but ketchup made it taste better. Complementary coffee was just-okay, but it did the trick. Service was efficient, albeit not overly friendly (but that's okay-- mornings are hard for everyone)! For a quick fix, Old Monterey Cafe does the trick. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Mushroom-avocado omelette with hashbrowns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

If you want an overpriced plate with barely any meat this is your go to place. Worst huevos rancheros I've ever had. Who covers half the plate with a salad at 9 am? Btw, when they ask if you want jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole etc - they mean for an additional price, not on the side as advertised. 3 bucks for chorizo, two fifty for guacamole, buck seventy five for jalapeños and the stalest biscuits that you could throw like a frisbee down at csumb. read more

We came here for my daughters birthday. We didn't have to wait. The food was great. I ordered French Toast, Bacon, and scrambled eggs. I was drinking Orange Juice. The food tasted so good. They bring you warm syrup also. My Husband ordered Corned beef Hash, sunny side egg, French fries. He was drank water with no ice. He said the Corned beef hash tasted like hash browns. He liked his food over all. My daughter ordered scrambled egg, hash brown and white toast. she was happy with what she got. We all agreed we would come back to eat her again when we are in Monterey. read more

The cafe itself is small, so the tables feel crowded and close together. I like the decor with all the fun paintings and frames. The food was pretty good. We came around brunch time, and I ordered the Old Monterey Club with a side of soup. It was a lot of bread for the sandwich in my opinion, but I liked the soup - very warm and hearty. read more

We also went to this cafe because the reviews seemed very favorable. The gentleman who seated was hustling, as the place was very busy for 10 am on a Monday morning. He was very pleasant to us, but the sole waitress working was so overwhelmed, she did not & would not make eye contact with us to save her soul. She was very unfriendly! When the second waitress arrived, she came right out and took the orders from at least 4 tables that were all patiently waiting. Thank you! Regarding the food, it was OK. Honestly, we cook better at home. I ordered a crab eggs benedict, I mean, why not, this is Monterey, CA - - - but it was very disappointing. The crab was definitely from a can. I was afraid to ask because I didn't want them to lie to me. My husband's omelette was alright, but nothing to write about. (He actually deleted the photo he took of it, as it didn't look all that appetizing.) All in all, it was OK, but we don't feel the need to return the next time we're in Monterey. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Crab Eggs benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Breakfast was eh. Service was horrible. We had to ask to have our order taken (after 2 couples had their order taken that were seated after us) and the waitress looked annoyed. I had to ask for my husband's biscuit and gravy (if you want to call it that). I wanted to leave a $2 tip, but my husband talked me into leaving $3. read more

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

Great breakfast in a cafe with a local, homey feel. Had the French toast special - bacon was crispy and over easy eggs were actually over easy - not medium or hard. read more

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

I ordered the worst "guevos rancheros" i've ever had. Soggy hash browns, half plate full of warm lettuce, raw tortilla below one egg and raw tortilla over the egg. Flavorless salsa. The tostada bowl with beans was stale. The only thing edible was the $3 avocado piece. Waste of time and money. They voided my meal but my husband's grits and son's pancakes, were barely edible. Again, this is NOT guevos rancheros!!! try again! read more

Old Monterey Cafe - THIS IS NOT GUEVOS RANCHEROS! Terrible! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Avoid Tea had floaters very dangerous if they're not cleaning Hash browns cheap and tasteless Tahoe scrambler minimally acceptable read more

We had the Chocolate Chip Pancakes, the Southwest Benedict, the patty melt,and the kids Chocolate chip pancakes. First, the Chocolate Chip Pancakes were good but it had too much chocolate. Second, was the Southwest Benedict. I thought it was amazing and I ate all of it. It came with hash browns or grates on the side, but I had the hash browns which were amazing. But, the egg yolk wasn't that runny and a little overcooked. Next, the Patty Melt, it was very good and the fries were nice and crispy the melt itself had a little too much cheese. It could also use a sauce on it. Last, I got the kid chocolate chip pancakes with a side of melon. The chocolate chip pancakes were really good but had a lot of butter. The side of melon was delicious but it would be better if it had more than one kind of melon. But overall, the food was really good! The service was amazing! They gave us our food and drinks really quick for how many people were at the restaurant. The vibe was very nice it was a old timey place with a lot of antiques. The location was okay but I will defiantly consider coming back here if I am near. read more

The food is not only delicious but also a great value for the quality and portion size. It feels like a hidden gem--a charming, local spot with a great vibe. The service is quick and attentive even when they're busy. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

Excellent little breakfast place that I now make a point to visit each time I'm in Monterey after discovering it a year or two ago. The chicken apple sausages are really good! Service was excellent. They kept our coffee cups topped off and checked on us often. Great little place to get a filling breakfast before heading out for the day's adventures. I'll be back next time I'm in town. read more

Quick: okay food/unfriendly staff Service wasn't that pleasant. Snappy waitress with an attitude. The place wasn't even that busy. A few tables rotating in and out. The power went out momentarily. The staff announced its going to be a cash only operation until the power comes back on. Power comes back on within 2 minutes. This place is mediocre at best. Went to an awesome place in the area a few days later. read more

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

Horrible service. I alerted the server when she took our order that we were missing utensils (son missing knife and daughter did not have any utensils at all). She acknowledged it but didn't bring the missing utensils. When the food came, I reminded her about the missing utensils. She dropped a couple forks on the table (no knives) and ran away. Daughter had ordered a Belgian Waffle, described on the menu as dusted with powdered sugar and served with hot syrup and butter. Daughter was served a plain, dry waffle with a tiny dollop of butter (no powdered sugar, no hot syrup). I told the server about the missing powdered sugar and missing syrup and still missing knives. She said she would bring it but she waited 8-10 minutes before doing so. She settled in front of her register doing bookkeeping. After several minutes, I tried flagging the other server, but he just shook his head "no" as he rushed by and pointed to our server. So I just sat at our table staring at our server doing her bookkeeping as our food sat on the table getting cold as the minutes ticked by. When she finally came to dust my daughter's waffle with sugar and bring her syrup, she again didn't bring the knives. I lost it at that point. She said she didn't have anymore knives, but she finally grabbed some off another table. Totally lost our appetite. The food was cold. read more

No frills dining on Alvarado street! Very kitschy Americana atmosphere, friendly staff and basic but solid food if you're in the mood for a classic American breakfast consider Old Monterey Cafe! read more

Old Monterey Cafe - French toast! Three slice option. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Wholesome. Quick service. Decent food. Family like establishment. Second time being here, just finally thought to review. read more

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

Looking for a local spot for breakfast any day of the week? Old Monterey Cafe is the place to go! They had more options on the menu than my stomach can handle. They don't only serve breakfast but lunch too! I ended up ordering the Tahoe scramble and added kielbasa to it as well as an upgraded side of biscuits and gravy. I was too hungry to take a picture but the biscuits and gravy filled me up quick! The scramble came with a hefty side of hash browns too! read more

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Good service and fast food, but the gravy on the biscuits was rancid, the grits were sour, and I got an egg white omelet when I asked for whole eggs. read more

Ita been awhile that I've been there. But the last time I was there I remember the whole brunch style breakfast was beyond perfect! I can't wait to go there again soon!! read more

We love ourselves a good old fashioned diner with walls filled with icons of pop culture from years past. They've got the comfortable environment down pat and the smell of coffee will draw you in anytime of day. I had the omelette with hatch chiles that was pretty tasty as well as the house potatoes. My partner had a build your own omelette of which they offer lots of ingredients to satisfy your taste buds. Our coffee was refilled regularly and the food tasted like home cooking. The staff was kind and helped us fit the stroller inside. Service wasn't too fast or too slow. Great way to start off a weekend morning. Would visit again next time I'm in the area. read more

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

Quick service and good waffles very fluffy. The vibe is antique and homey. Didn't know you had to wait to be seated since we entered from the rear door. read more

Tasteless food, poorly cooked. This was our favorite restaurant 3 years ago, but they have changed management and the quality of the food has suffered from it. I had a poor experience there about one year ago, but I decided to give them another chance. I am not going back. read more

I was a little hesitant on coming because of the star rating but it was 10/10. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated and got drinks right away and was served super quickly. Food came out HOT and AMAZING! California eggs Benedict was perf and pancakes were amazing and old fashion style. read more

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

This place was spectacular got seated right away, food came out so quickly and everything was delicious. Service was excellent they were very attentive and offered more coffee and made sure everything was good. I ordered the California eggs cooked to perfection. Thank you my beautiful red rose on Mother's Day read more

Food came super fast (it is a diner, packed at 8am, after all), our meals were delicious (post my request for non-firm egg-yolks in my real-crab Benedict--- yeah that was just weird--), with my daughter stating that the hot chocolate served was the best she'd ever had. One of the waiters grunted at everyone as well, which only added to the charm. Seriously though, it's a good breakfast diner resto. read more

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Food was delicious, service was great. A good breakfast spot when you are in the Monterey area. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Joe's Special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

The pancakes were amazing. The kids portion was huge but my son hardly left anything on his place. Good, fast service and a clean place.

Wanted to get off the Pebble Beach golf campus and explore the town a bit and went to the Old Monterey Cafe per a recommendation. It was perfect We snagged a table just outside the restaurant on a beautiful morning. I got a latte to start and a build-your-own omelette, choosing onions, green peppers, and bacon. The portions were HUGE. My omelette was full of toppings. Yum! My side was toast (2 huge pieces of bread) and crispy shredded hashbrowns. It was so good but so much to eat. Service was a bit slow and I heard the manager say that they were short on staff so things were taking a bit longer. That said, our food came out piping hot and we weren't in a hurry, so no worries. Parking was on street and easy to find. Lots of puppies and patrons visiting and passing by. Great people watching. Great stop. read more

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So once again we visited this restaurant with high expectations. To start off the bus boy that sat us down was not friendly at all, he just looked at us and waved us in with his hand, no smile, no nothing. He asked "coffee"? But again, no smile, no people skills at all :( We started sipping on our coffee, oh man oh man! Their coffee is so delicious! Not strong but not weak, just perfect! The waitress came and took our order, she was semi-friendly. Since it was a cold morning we asked if they could close the door, to which she replied she needed to ask her boss. They ended up closing the door about 15 minutes later which it was really appreciated. We started our breakfast with some croissants. We asked the waitress if she could bring those first. We completed our breakfast with huevos rancheros with avocado, chorizo and jalapeños. The croissants were warm, cut in the middle and toasted. They came with a side of butter; they were crispy and delicious!! The huevos rancheros were good, the mound of chorizo for the extra fee was not worth it at all. There were tiny pieces of chorizo here and there. However, the extra fee for the avocado was totally worth it, it was a half of a ripe perfectly green avocado. Since the plate came with salad I asked the waitress for some Italian dressing, the dressing was totally flavorless. The black beans lacked flavor (which in this case I think it was salt??) Overall I think we might have to think twice before returning. I don't pay and tip so people treat me poorly and to get okay food. I pay and tip so I can get tasty food and great customer service. To the owner: what happened to Chano? He was so friendly and knew how to treat customers. We used to tip him even when tipping the waitress as well because he was that good and nice. But this new guy, nah! read more

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