Solid food and quick service. We ordered a scramble with grits and it was good, the Blueberry muffin was also great. The best part of the meal and experience however, is the excellent service, from the server who was attentive to our drink needs to the awesome waitress. I can't say enough about her, she was charismatic, friendly, warm and any business who is lucky enough to have her should be very, very grateful. We were. Her name is DANIELLA. Owners: DANIELLA is FANTASTIC. read more

This place used to be stellar but the wait is always crazy and the food doesn't feel worth the wait. Nice people but they're so busy running around that things are constantly forgotten. My sons pancakes came out a solid 20 mins after everything else. I won't be going back. read more

We were greeted with fresh coffee, water immediately and our waitress was amazingly quick, friendly and efficient. Food came out quickly. Good thing cause we're hungry! It is cooked exactly the way we requested. read more

See all

We LOVE this place!! So many great things to say: All waitstaff is kind, efficient, knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. I have had many items here, my favorites are Spanish Omelette-perfect blend of cheese, green chili and eggs. Comes with hash browns- I usually sub cottage cheese and tomato. French Toast with berries- sweet, but not too sweet. No whip cream or powdered sugar. However they have super sweet breakfast if you like. I think they have chocolate chip pancakes... Eggs Benedict- they have several variations, one includes salmon, another croissant instead of English muffin. Eggs Florentine! For those who don't know it's a Benedict with spinach- My new fave. The hollandaise isn't too rich- just right. You get the satisfaction without feeling like you are going to have a heart attack afterwards. They have espresso drinks too! This place is usually packed because it's that good. If in town it's a must! read more

This was my fiances & I first time coming to Monterey. On 8/09 We asked around for a good breakfast & this restaurant was recommended. We were served by Mari & the guy cleaning (forgot to ask for his name). They were busy due to it being a weekend day but their customer service was great & never made us feel rushed to eat. We ordered Papas Abuelo & Tahoe Scrambler along with some coffee and hot chocolate. In all, a good spot for breakfast & to be treated kindly (: read more

Long wait to order. Terrible coffee. Breakfast burrito was 90% beans. Weird seasoning on the eggs benedict. Dirty bathroom with no paper towels. Depressing. read more

Food was ok. When we arrived it was busy. Bus person cleaned a table and slammed the menus in the table and motioned for us. The server we had was just not nice. When we needed to pay and get to a conference she wasn't around. My husband went to the counter to pay. The waitress seemed annoyed. Husband noticed we were double charged for orange juice(which was $5). He told her and she handed him back $2. No "I'm sorry" or anything. Won't be back. read more

POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! My husband and I went there one day when the cafe didn't have electricity and the young woman taking the orders by the counter instead of explaining that for us (customers) to know, she was just very short, unkind and not welcoming at all. She would only respond to our breakfast order with: "we don't have coffee"; "the toaster is not working" and finally she said that there was no electricity. I told her that the issue was her attitude towards us who didn't know what was happening and she didn't even apologize or have eye contact.... we decided to stop ordering and left. I understand we all have challenges in life but it is not professional to bring your problems and unhappiness to work. read more

The food and service was good. I got the waffle combo. And other made there own omlette. read more

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

See all

Nice lil cafe , there were only 2 servers but they kept moving. Breakfast burrito was delicious and was able to change hash brown side to fruit. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Breakfast burrito with fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

This is now our go to place for breakfast without a wait. Phenomenal home fries, fresh flavors and good coffee! Did I mention the fab home fries? ! read more

Old Monterey Cafe - Funky decor @ the Old Monterey Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

My boyfriend and I enjoyed our breakfast here! The cafe is very tiny and probably not good for somebody who needs a lot of space and not feel clustered. Despite the set up, service was very fast. We got our food within 10-15 minutes of waiting. Our breakfast was delicious, we will definitely come here again next time when we visit! read more

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

See all

Found this little gem by driving past it while on a quick trip to Monterey. We got a table pretty quick and there were six of us! Drinks came out fast and they got our entire order correct. The pancakes are huge! The coffee delicious! Service impeccable. Highly recommend stopping by and supporting local businesses read more

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

See all

The food at this location was very good. When we passed by and saw this restaurant we didn't see many people in it, we parked and returned, and it was packed. The waiters don't check up often except for like one person. The water is just AWFUL. I would never serve that water to anyone ever. For the amount of money I witnessed this location make during our visit, im sure they can afford a better water filtration system. The food is very good once again, I would recommend this location to anyone looking for breakfast. I ordered a club sandwich and it was great. The only hard thing is parking and standing in line. Other than that; the food was worth the wait. read more

BEST. BREAKFAST. EVER. This place never ever disappoints. The staff is superrrr friendly and sweet and the food is top notch. I've never ever in my life had better hollandaise sauce or eggs Benedict than from here. I always ask for bacon instead of ham but that's just me, I'm sure it's good with ham too. My mom says her cinnamon raisin French toast was the best she's had also. So good. I'm in food heaven. Can't wait to come back. read more

The brunch crew was in complete disfunction today. We were shouted at several times as we tried to adjust and level the outdoor table. The eggs were dry gravel. They were returned. Then they came half cooked and watery. The bill showed $9.00 for the shabby egg(s). The meager ham slice cost an extra $5:00. The sandwich had a huge glop of mayonnaise on it for which we had no notice. The lettuce was old and brown. The water came at the end of the meal after several requests. We asked for one coffee; he brought us two. There was no follow up. Abysmal service and definitely not worth the price was our conclusion. read more

This part of town is sincerely lacking in breakfast joints. How can that be?? After a fall-out at some bougie place a few blocks away that was only serving bread and more bread for brunch, we found our way to the Old Monterey Cafe and joined the line-up out the door. Things thankfully moved fairly quickly and we were seated before my hanger really took over. All I wanted was a standard omelette and hashbrowns meal and that is precisely what I was delivered. Very meaty menu, but we were able to find some vegetarian hits. I added spinach to the Spanish omelette with green chilis. The sweet chili sauce smothering it was a little odd to me, but it did hit the spot. Hashbrowns were perfectly crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. I think I cleaned my plate, and it was a substantial amount of food. J. had eggs with a side of southern-style grits which were buttery and tasty. Staff was harried but attentive, and the line never died down. Very down to earth, no-frills, breakfast-all-day spot that delivers exactly what it advertises. read more

Portions are large food is tasty and served quickly. Never ending coffee topped off frequently. Come early before it gets busy. read more

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

Fast, nice and great food. Good environment, with a lot of interesting things to look at. I will definitely be back soon! read more

Great service. Great breakfast food! The hash browns were awesome! Are outside due to govt restrictions.

Down-home food with a feel of family atmosphere. My omelette breakfast was tasty and comforting.... just like what I would get from grandma's kitchen. read more

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

We came here for breakfast over Labor Day weekend. It was good for the most part but I am giving it one star because the waitress touched my 3-yr old daughter's face. She grabbed her chin to look at her "beautiful eyes." This was our first outdoor dining experience during COVID and this made us very uncomfortable and very upset. I can't believe how careless and inconsiderate she was given the pandemic. This was so inappropriate. We are trying so hard to keep our family and others safe. This experience made me want to cry. I hope management sees this and mandates additional safety training for their staff. read more

Ordered calamari steak and eggs and calamari was very thin, chewy and batter soaked in oil. I used to order this and was nice and tender. Hash browns was too mushy. Not sure if you have a new chef? It's one of the worse breakfast I've had. Service was ok. read more

Came here recently with my husband. Even with certain restrictions on seating with the pandemic we were seen very quickly, and had quick service. The servers were all so friendly and polite! The food was even better! read more

See all

Terrific food.!!Had the Hawaiian omelet with a side of cottage cheese and it was amazing. Had outside seating and the service was excellent!! read more

Food was excellent!! I had the pancakes and the New Yorker scramble. We were here visiting Monterey for our anniversary. Pricing is reasonable and good portion size. May have to stand up to 15 minutes to be seated because the seating is limited. read more

See all

Breakfast was a disaster, both of our orders were completely wrong. Husband ordered bacon and eggs over easy, got scrambled with hash browns. Ordered sour dough toast, got wheat. You get the picture, I won't bore you with the details. my order was also completely wrong. The food itself was mediocre. My mom always says "breakfast is safe, how can they ruin breakfast" Now we know. The host was super nice and the coffee was OK. read more

There are both plenty of options and almost no options when it comes to eating breakfast in Monterey. There is a main street filled with restaurants serving similar breakfast - the portions are big, the food is decent, and you are not going to get much different stuff anywhere else. What makes this place worthy is that it opens bright and early, the service is great, and the coffee is nonstop. I got my own breakfast and stupidly ordered a small children version for my 18 month old. Too. Much. Food. Did I mention the portions are huge? read more

Me and my partner try to come to this place at least once a month. The food is always delicious and the service is always wonderful no matter what time you walk in. I especially love walking in and seeing the server Daniela! She always greets us warmly and remembers my usual orders. I've been coming here for at least 5 years and it's has always been great! :) read more

I cannot say enough positive about Old Monterey Cafe. This is our favorite breakfast spot. Service is always fast and friendly. We don't even have to tell our order anymore. She knows and just confirms anyways. We love the eggs benedict and grits here. Sadly we just moved from Monterey, but we'll be back here when we visit. read more

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

On a Saturday morning, we didn't have to wait longer than 15 minutes, not bad. Generous plate of food. Mediocre food. Good service with a full house of customers read more

Service was very bad. Server disappeared. My parents both got the wrong orders. My moms was taken back and they never brought back her right order. Server had a very disgusting attitude and lied about Apple Pay not working. Phone tap does work. She was a liar and terrible. Did not tip her. read more

Went for a late breakfast while in Monterey for a few days. Very small restaurant but what they lacked in space they made up for in quality breakfasts. We both had a different style of eggs Benedict and both were delicious. We didn't go away hungry! Service was great. My go to spot for breakfast if I am downtown Monterey. Try it... you'll like it! read more

Wait to be seated: We arrived just before the brunch rush hit. They were attentive to our arrival and asked how many in our party (2). Seating and atmosphere: The restaurant is small with the option of inside and outside seating. Even with the limited seating the wait isn't too long. Looks like most people were waiting approximately 15 mins. The decor had an old timely feel with picture and comic book covers as well as antiques. Service: They were very warm and attentive as well with our drink order, food order and refills of coffee. There was never a time I had to try and get their attention. Food and Price: I ate the Tahoe Scramble with grits and biscuits and gravy. The scramble was very tasty and is delicious with their fresh salsa. The biscuits and gravy was unique. Instead of the typical sausage gravy they used ham which added a wonderful flavor. The serving is huge and is well worth the $11 I spent. Cleanliness: They were quick and thorough with their table cleaning. Their was a table next to us with a baby and the floor was covered with food. I didn't even noticed that they cleaned it. The restrooms are very clean even for those who are very nit picky with their restrooms. Conclusion: I will definitely eat here again when I come back to visit. They are well deserving of the awards they received. read more

Old Monterey Cafe - The delicious Tahoe Scramble topped with fresh salsa. Grits on the side. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

2 stars only because the people who work there are really nice. Portlander Omelet - more of a scramble than omelet, way overcooked to a dark brown Biscuits and gravy - tasty, but cold Eggs over medium - way undercooked, whites were runny and clear Hollandaise sauce side - delicious flavor but served cold. Server told us they couldn't heat it more because it would separate (what??? Who eats cold hollandaise??) Coffee was good. French toast and pancakes looked good - If you go there stick with one of those. read more

My children and I stopped in to Old Monterey Cafe for brunch. My Daughter and I were delightfully amazed at how clean the place is and how they were constantly sanitizing as to make sure there are no germs spreading during these covid19 days. Our Waiteress was very nice and she brought our food out to us promptly. The Busser and waitress made a really good team as did all the other employees...this place is number one when it comes to service and the hollandaise sauce. THANK YOU OLD MONTEREY CAFE TEAM!! read more

Beware, they automatically add the tip to your bill! We go to this restaurant 3-4 times a year for breakfast. Always good food and friendly service. Parking can be a pain but go early and we usually can get lucky. Last week my husband went in by himself. He ordered breakfast, ate and they brought him the bill, 15 bucks and change. He put his credit card on the tray and when the waitress returned the credit card statement for signature, he happened to notice the charge on his card was $17 and change, a 15% tip. Had he not paid attention, he would have added a few more bucks for a tip. Feel like they're hoping folks won't notice and add an additional tip. Seems like a shady business practice, hence only three stars. read more

Wilfred Y. recommended this place and I bookmarked it. I loved the friendly, welcoming staff and the retro decor replete w/ random household tools, small framed old movie and radio/TV posters. There were several photos of Marilyn Monroe in that white dress, posters for National Velvet and Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, that sort of stuff. It broke my heart to hear the youngster behind me ask his dad who the Lone Ranger was. The food was not so thrilling. My Joe's Special was way overcooked. Alan was happy w/his scramble but not w/ the side of corned beef hash he ordered to check it out. The orange juice we shared was thin and w/o vitality, not as good as the orange juice we had yesterday at Fresh Awakenings, which was good, but not as good at the fabulous juice we had at Cafe M a few days ago. All fresh squeezed. DGD ordered hot chocolate, which she pronounced "straight out of the packet" and granola, which she said tasted like what you might pick up at Safeway. She has her mother's palate. I had been tempted by a Benedict and am sorry I didn't have it, but I love Joe's Special. I picked out the mushrooms, which were fresh and good. It doesn't hurt me not to finish a meal, but I doubt we'll be back. We like Fresh Awakenings much better. read more

First of all let me say I never give 1 star reviews. Especially for a local business. I have been here four times. Every time it's the same mediocre food and reasonable service, which someone expects from this place. Today just topped it all off for me. . So the menu says you get a fruit cup with most of the items on the menu. I have never received a fruit cup without asking for it after my meal arrives. This time my wife asked for it ahead of time to make sure it was sent out. The waitress told my wife that it already comes with the meal. (We both ordered eggs Benedict, by the way the English muffins are grade F quality and mush). Our food arrives and no fruit. What do you know. My wife asks for hers and the waitress acts like she left it up on the counter...sure. Oh and I never received my fruit :( I then over hear the table next to us ask where there fruit is. The waitress explains their policy of only bringing it out if you ask for it because people usually don't eat it and they waste most of it!!!! I have a friend that used to work there and she confirmed this fruit policy. Just take if off the menu if you don't want to give it out.... There are other way better options for breakfast in the area....maybe across the street at Rosines or a short drive to Red House Cafe, to name a few. Once again I usually don't give ratings like this only when deserved. This place is busy because few choices in downtown for breakfast...tourist trap! read more

I'm not sure if people have just gotten so complacent with bad food or if they just don't know any better. This wasn't the worst place I've had breakfast, but it was pretty bad. For starters, I asked if they used real syrup (rather than the high fructose corn crap that the rood industrial complex uses). Sadly, the answer was no, so that took pancakes, waffles, or french toast off my list. Why people don't demand real food rather than chemicals I'll never know, but that's a different post, I suppose. I ended up getting a veggie omelet with jack cheese, and the "omelet" was actually thin, overly fried eggs folded in half with a slice of cheese melted on top. I thought this might have just been because they originally forgot the cheese, but looked around and saw that all of the omelets were like that. The hash browns weren't bad, although they had a slight vegetable oil taste to them. I was also annoyed that a tea bag was more than $2.00. Really? In my opinion, any restaurant that is too cheap to use high-quality, good ingredients and who can't even make a decent omelet shouldn't be in business. But again, it seems that too many people either don't know or don't care to demand better for themselves. Sad. read more