Delicious every time! I'm rarely disappointed by anything I've tried at Pretty Good Advice! Huge fan of the Blue Cheese Salad and the chia is marvelous! They usually remember me by name and it's great service! read more

I don't normally write reviews, but when things don't go well I feel people need to know what transpired here. My girlfriend ordered a breakfast sandwich a that we were going to share. The counter service female was very nice and helpful. The sandwich was very good and we've eaten there many times in the past. When we both sat down to eat we noticed that our sandwich hadn't been cut in half. My girlfriend went back to the counter and asked a male kitchen employee behind the counter if he could cut our sandwich in half. The sandwich was completely wrapped in paper and we did not unwrap it at all prior to asking for it to be cut. His response was extremely rude and nasty. He claimed that it was already contaminated despite the fact that it was still completely wrapped in paper. He acted like we were putting him out by us asking him to simply cut the sandwich in half. He accused my girlfriend of "contaminating" the sandwich (in his words) just by touching it despite the fact that it was handled by 2 people before we even touched it. Basically, it was his scolding condescending tone that totally turned us off to ever visiting this place again. It only takes one lazy a--hole employee to ruin a great dining experience. read more

On our way to the Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) sanctuary (reviewed separately), we decided to stop for lunch here. We're glad we did because (1) the food truck at LMB wasn't open and (2) the hiking turned out to be more lengthy and strenuous than we had anticipated. We found the food here to be decent, though it wouldn't qualify as delicious. (The hungrier you are, of course, the more delicious it may seem.) You order at a window outside and the food is ready within ten minutes or so. Selection is good and prices are quite reasonable. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The thin young man with long black curly hair at the window taking the orders had a bit of an attitude, which seemed inappropriate, but this was more than compensated for by the wonderful vibes from the other patrons.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They were so friendly, exchanging greetings and pleasantries, that I felt as if I had traveled back in time to my childhood years ago in the Midwest. I don't know whether this was a function of the town of Soquel or the fact that this was a vegetarian restaurant -- or maybe a combination of both -- but I would be eager to experience it again. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you haven't eaten here before, it may help to know that the main outdoor eating area can be accessed by walking straight right from where the order window is located and then making a left turn.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you don't know this, you may think that the benches near the order window are the only places available to eat (a sign on the door of the building says it is closed). In short, if anyone suggests eating here when you're in Soquel, you can be confident that it's "Pretty Good Advice"! read more

I've been coming here regularly for breakfast and lunch, and it's one of my favorite local spots. The breakfast sandwiches are delicious, the salads with the chicken patty are a go to for me, and the soups, sides, soft serve, and drinks are all consistently great. The only item I'm not a huge fan of is the bean burger, which I find to be on the salty side. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the inconsistency in customer service. Most of the staff are friendly and welcoming, but one dark haired employee with bangs has repeatedly come across as though customers are inconveniencing her just by asking for their food or requesting anything. I always make a point to say "please" and "thank you," but those courtesies are rarely returned. My boyfriend has noticed the same behavior from her as well. There is another dark haired employee who is always kind, approachable, and great to interact with so I don't want to have these two lady's mixed up. I believe the impolite one is older, I don't know their names yet, but I hope management can identify who I'm referring to. I normally wouldn't mention an occasional bad day, but after experiencing this several times, I felt it was worth sharing. As someone who visits multiple times a week and tips regularly, I'd love to see the customer service be as consistently great as the food. If that improved, this would easily be a 5 star place for me. One other suggestion: it would be nice to have a few hot drink options available, especially with the cold summer we've been having. read more

Pretty Good Advice - Lemony artichoke soup and pga salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

this was our stop 2 in Highway 1 roadtrip. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this vegetarian food joint on the way. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is known for its playful, retro roadside diner vibe[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the spot specializes in making incredibly satisfying, affordable vegetarian and vegan versions of classic comfort food. I had the classic cheeseburger, which had a black bean patty, The Absolute best burger I have had in the US. The banh mi we tried was also good; and so was the fries, the coconut caramel coffee and peanut butter ice cream. Pretty Good Advice was founded by chef-owner Matt McNamara, who previously co-owned and was the executive chef of Sons & Daughters, a highly acclaimed fine-dining restaurant in San Francisco that earned a Michelin star in 2012.. After years in the high-end fine dining scene, McNamara chose to step away to live on his family's 83-acre farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He opened Pretty Good Advice with the explicit mission to take that same Michelin-level dedication to flavor, technique, and sourcing, but apply it to affordable, casual, $10-and-under vegetarian comfort food for the whole community. A lot of the seasonal produce, herbs, and citrus used to elevate the flavors in their dishes, sauces, and drinks come directly from his local mountain farm. [[HIGHLIGHT]]So while the setting is a relaxed roadside counter, the culinary backbone definitely has a Michelin pedigree![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Turns out Soquel is one of its hidden gem locations, and it has branched to Santa Cruz as well. read more

Pretty Good Advice - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Pretty Good Advice in Soquel is a fun, unfussy spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Think sandwich-shop meets vegetarian cooking. This was our second [[HIGHLIGHT]]time here, and it's worth a visit. Located off the freeway in a repurposed fast-food restaurant, all dining here is outdoor only (on picnic tables) so try to [[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]visit when the weather is good. Cue up and order the messy vegan delicata squash tostadas with creamy components, a hash brown filled breakfast sandwich, or their vegan burger. We also tried persimmon[[HIGHLIGHT]] lemonade. It's quick, funky and la[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]id-back spot. read more

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Such a lovely experience. The food is super fresh, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]they have a wonderful patio for outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This was the best vegetarian burger I've had in ages! I will definitely be back soon. read more

Limited parking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A restaurant with outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Beautiful plants.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Delicious California burger and Brussels sprouts. I had French fries, which were fresher than those in most restaurants. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Single Bathroom.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely want to come back to try out their coffee and other breakfast and burger options read more

Chef Matt McNamara and crew consistently Crushing it! One of my fav sandwiches, Pesto on Focaccia adding crispy hash brown patty. Amazing, flavorful and always great! Love the tang of the picked red onions! SOLID! read more

" Pretty Good Advice" Soquel is a simple, amazing, dynamite, tasty must stop just 1.4 miles north of the beautiful Capitola village area in Santa Cruz, Ca and 4 hours past Santa Barbara. April - you are a Superstar. You have infinite passion, care, patience, attention to detail and unbelievable multi tasking skills ensuring all 9 customers in line( some with screaming and straying kids) were taken care of in those 5/6 minutes. You came out from behind the counter and viewed the menu board with us making 2 great suggestions. Loved the sunrise tostada and tofu and the spicy boy 2.0 version with the egg. The coffee was lovely. Thank you for making me a fresh special second pot. Love Pretty Good advice. Everyone please make it to this gem any day from 8-6. It is just north of Hwy 1, park your car ( 10 spots) in the private lot; then place your order at the convenient walk up window and pick it up from the other window 5 feet away. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Proceed to the lovely patio in the back with seating for 35.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Enjoy the lovely fare. Make sure the kids get the fantastic ice cream ( horchata was outstanding) and you finish up with the coconut chia pudding with lemons and strawberries. We will definitely be back on our drive back from San Francisco. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute shop with a decently-sized parking lot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's an outdoor patio to eat your food after you order and pick it up at the counter. No indoor seating![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We got a few items to share. The standouts for me were the morning deluxe and cheeseburger, but honestly everything was pretty great. 1. Mike's morning deluxe 5/5 Great tasting sandwich with the egg, hash brown, and house made sauce. 2. High horse 4.5/5 This is a cold sandwich that is packed with veggies. Good flavor and bigger sandwich than the other two! 3. Cheeseburger 5/5 I really liked this one too but it was a tad salty. The party was quite tasty. 4. House fries with garlic rosemary aioli 5/5 The fries had a great seasoning on them. The aioli was the star though! 5. Persimmon lemonade 4.25/5 Very good lemonade but lacking the persimmon flavor! Still a good drink though read more

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Ordered two breakfast Sammies and a drink. One sammie was delish (the pesto), the other was pretty heavy and sat in my tum like a brick (the mike's). The tofu scramble option is delicious. The raspberry lemonade was delish, but a bit too syrupy sweet. read more

Love this place! I always order the final meltdown breakfast sandwich and it is soooo good. The staff is always super friendly too

Such a good GF bun!!! The sauces and aolis are soooo good each sandwich on the menu tastes so much better than any you've had before. Absolute hangover cure. Employees are always kind and friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a nice place to be on a sunny morning.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The patio is pretty large and I love the plants.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I moved out of the area but still think about this place regularly! read more

What a treat! Might be my new favorite spot in Santa Cruz. Food is Farm to Table and you can taste it. Everything tastes extremely fresh and flavorful. God the California burger not realizing it was a black bean patty and was very pleasantly surprised. So delicious I might not ever eat a beef patty again. The Mikes Deluxe was so yummy, the egg was cooked to perfection. Coconut coffee was amazing. Sweet but not overwhelming. Employees were kind and patient. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was so adorable and had an outdoor patio to enjoy the food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Best sandwich I've had in a long time, wow!! The banh mi was absolutely delicious. Such a fantastic selection of options on the menu, it was so hard to choose! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Chill vibes, excellent patio area, and friendly staff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Yum yum yum. I'm only heartbroken they don't have one in my town! read more

I came here for my first time last weekend during the pride parade. + 1 star for having outdoor seating in the shade + 1 star for gender neutral restrooms + 1 star for clearly marking, which items are vegan on their menu + 1 star for having help yourself water out by the condiment bar I really liked the vegan aïoli that they serve with the french fries and the peanut butter soft serve. The rest was just meh. The banh mi was kinda meh. Save your money and get the vegan banh mi from downtown San Jose. The brussels sprouts were sort of disappointing as well. Everyone I was with who ordered a burger said that the burgers we have at burger patch in Sacramento are better. I'm guessing that the only reason this place is doing well is because Saturn closed and new leaf closed and options are just so limited. read more

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We love hitting up this restaurant either in Santa Cruz or Soquel. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Such really good and delicious eats with easy service to go or eat on the patio with your four legged friend.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our Omni friends love joining us when we are in town. read more

Omg! This place is unbelievable. The food was excellent in all respects. Tried the sunrise taco and the Mike sandwich, also tried the caramel coconut coffee. Everything was just too good for words. I wish they franchise and open thousands of chains across nor cal! The food is that good. Everything is vegetarian, that's a huge bonus because most all veggie places aren't able to deliver flavor. But this place surpasses flavor on every dimension. Must try if in the area. The staff is also super friendly and very nice to talk to. They clearly make the food completely fresh (to order). You can order ahead of time or at the restaurant directly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is quite relaxed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's like a small booth - one to place orders and another to pick up.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is some outdoor sitting space behind in the parking lot with chairs, benches etc[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. they also have a home made hot sauce which is deadly good. Overall this place is a 10/10. Please drop everything you're doing and go there right now! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is cute, the vibe is cute and food did not disappoint![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great flavors and just a cool spot to order from and patio to sit at.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Feels more than just a grab and go and dine but more of an experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Happy staff that start conversation and helpful. Will be coming here again! read more

Oh man...this was a gem to find. Mostly vegetarian with vegan options was such a win! Not to mention everything is reasonably priced. The house cut fries with the aioli dipping sauce was the winner of the day and enough to have to visit Santa Cruz just for this alone. The crispy brussel sprouts also a must order. We can't wait to come back to try their breakfast options. read more

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Visited on a Sunday around 1pm with a friend, there were a few other guests ahead of us but wait wasn't too long maybe a 10 minutes to order. Seating is all outdoors, one large table under the umbrella and some bench seating around the tree. Drink: Iced coconut caramel coffee - sweet, creamy with hints of coconut and caramel, nice but a little bit cloying after a while Food: Big Kimmy - nice punchy kimchi flavor, very saucey and wet sandwich, messy to eat definitely grab a bunch of napkins for this one, a nice fried egg with a bit of runniness, liked the add of the hash browns, taste was good but pretty hard to eat used a fork at the end because it was so messy probably wouldn't order again Brussel Sprouts - good, liked the sweet chili sauce paired with this one, hummus added a nice creamy contast but again very saucey California Burger - okay, lots of fresh lettuce and tomato, patty was a bit lacking luster, wish this was a bit more substantial Service was quick, order at the counter and wait for you order to pick up at the window. Overall had higher expectations for this spot, flavors were good but dishes tended to be too saucey and heavy for my personal taste. Maybe didn't order the right dishes. read more

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This is my favorite restaurant to go to whenever I am in the area. I can trust their menu. Items that are vegan are clearly labeled, and the staff are able to answer questions about ingredients if needed. The patio is great, but I did forget to ask if they had heat lamps (per my 2924 review). The chilled corn soup is vegan if you omit the cotija. It would be nice if there was a vegan cotija to substitute, but the soup was fresh and delicious without it. I especially loved having the jicima in the soup...a great addition. The smashed cucumbers with yuzu and ponzo were another new item to try. There was a bit of heat to them as well that wasn't mentioned on the menu. I can't eat spicy items, but everyone else loved them. Hoping that they will have the lemony garlic green beans on my next visit. Had to get the Pretty Good Cheeseburger and the peanut butter soft serve again! Very glad that they always have a vegan soft-serve! read more

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Another mom mentioned this spot when we were at the park, so we decided to check it out. Really good! Good enough that the small parking lot has a constant rotation of cars coming in and out which makes it challenging to find a spot. Plenty of menu options for breakfast and lunch. All items are vegetarian and most can be made vegan if requested. We were a party of 5 that ordered the Lobstah Roll, Yogurt and Granola, Tostada w/ fried egg, Rainbow Beet Salad, Kids Grilled Cheese meal. I also ordered a Strawberry Hibiscus Lemonade that was tasty. As people that eat meat normally, we really liked this and will be back again. I want to try a burger next time! read more

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PGA used to be one of our favorite spots, but it's no longer gluten free as they now cook everything in the same fryer. We didn't know this until one of the workers told us before she took our order. It's dishonest to continue to advertise food as "gluten free" when the cooking method has changed. If you're celiac or gluten intolerant, do not eat here! read more

Had this place bookmarked for a while because I'm a sucker for a good breakfast sandwich. I didn't realize it was vegetarian until taking a closer look at their menu and seeing the plethora of vegan options. Glad to note it is indeed vegetarian too and the eggs are real! I ordered the Mikes deluxe, it was good but nothing life changing. Loved the crispy hashbrown in it, which was very crispy indeed. Kinda wish the sandwich came with 2 eggs so that it was more filling, and also felt like it could've used a little more flavor, maybe some arugula or something. I think next time I'd try to customize my order a little with some addons beaucase they have a lot of fun ingredients on the menu. It's counter ordering through the window, wait to hear your name, then you can enjoy your food on the decent sized patio around the corner. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Food 10/10 ambiance 10/10 service 10/10.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Loved that I could enjoy foods that are gluten free and taste amazing, and also have vegan options . read more

Pretty Good Advice - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

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Always fun stopping my a PGA, since there are multiple locations now. Every single thing on the menu is good- although the buns (especially the Bahn Mi and Crab Sand) get burnt so...maybe say to them "hey please lightly toast the bread or at least don't burn it k thx bye" read more

We were on the way to check in to our Airbnb. I selected a secluded cabin in Soquel to celebrate Gavin's 13th birthday. We were supposed to go during the summer, but we postponed it due to work and our fosters. We couldn't DoorDash it because we were told the delivery driver would not be able to locate the cabin, so they advised against deliveries. We ordered a cheeseburger, a California burger, and two orders of fries from their website and paid. We got there right when they were finishing up our order. Drive slow to ensure you don't miss the place. Parking is tight. Service upon pickup was genuinely friendly and joyful. Gavin and I dug in once we brought our belongings inside the cabin. The burger was juicy and the fries are not on the crispy and crunchy side - which is what I like. Their ranch was amazing!!! Gavin and I both enjoyed his birthday late lunch on the floor of the cabin whilst watching The Simpsons. I wish I can do something like this w/ him once a month. Just he and I somewhere to explore and have a good meal. read more

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My son is an extremely picky eater and he loves the food here at Pretty Good Advice. Specifically the Good Morning breakfast sandwich accompanied with their lemonade and an extra hash brown on the side. The service is always pretty good and accommodating. Whether you call ahead or order there the wait isn't bad at all, it's pretty good. read more

Meat eaters and vegans unite. Pretty Good Advice is the most charming biz on the block. This place is famous for its delicious vegan bites and large outdoor patio. I recently stopped by while staying in Soquel and dove right in to their Bright Eyes breakfast sammie. This menu item was stacked with jalapeño, mushrooms, and tater tots. The meal was 10/10. Would love to see more concepts serve up delicious vegan goodies. Heads up, there's no indoor seating. There's a walkup window for ordering, but otherwise, all seating is on their patio. Here's my advice: you won't want to miss out on this local gem. read more

Pretty Good Advice wasn't too busy when we visited on a Saturday (late) afternoon. I didn't realize at first that the whole menu was vegetarian, with lots of vegan options. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and Spicy Crispy Chick'n Sandwich, and we also got the House Cut Fries with Garlic Rosemary Aioli to share. The food didn't take long and once we picked it up at the window, we snagged some seating on the (dog friendly) patio. There was no interior, so all the seating was outside, and the ambiance was pleasant. I liked the ivy-covered walls and little mural on the side of the building. My Arnold Palmer was tasty and refreshing. The Spicy Crispy Chick'n Sandwich was also great, and reasonably priced at only $8.50. I wouldn't say the protein tasted like chicken, but it did taste very good. It wasn't too spicy, so I ended up trying it with some of their hot sauce, which had the perfect level of heat. The House Cut Fries with Garlic Rosemary Aioli were delicious, and my friends also enjoyed their breakfast sandwiches. Overall, a great spot for lunch - would return! read more

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The food here is super fresh and plenty of delicious options. A lot of their sauces are made in house. They also have a lovely outdoor seating area. I got the overnight oats and even ordered a second one to go. My friends got a few of the breakfast sandwhiches and they also enjoyed them! Def a spot to check out read more

Pretty Good Advice - Tom's Bright Eyes Surprise - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

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I've had this place bookmarked for while- the name itself was enough to catch my attention! It is a vegetarian joint, with veggie sub patties for burgers and sandwiches. Pretty little building where you order at the window, and they have outdoor picnic table and bar seating. Currently no indoor seating, but they do have restrooms. My husband's breakfast sandwich was amazing- with a crisp hash brown and well-done sunny side up egg, and light sauce. Loved the thick layer of sauteed mushrooms as well. Highly recommend! I had the Crispy Chicken (not chicken) sandwich, which was good, but I thought the patty was way too thin, and not particularly better than say a morning star patty. That being said the fresh patty, light sauce made it flavorful. I will say someone nearby was like blown away by the veggie chicken and asking around about what it was made of since she felt it tasted just like chicken. Liked that they had an affordable kid's menu, with sandwiches for $5. I thought the Kid's Grilled Cheese was excellent- again loved the super soft bun. The burger wasn't as good- it's just hard to get a black bean patty to be firm enough, always ends up too squishy for my taste. Get the fries. They have desserts (ie soft serve), and drinks as well (coffee, iced tea, etc) read more

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Great food, easy and fast pick up every time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Just fyi there is no indoor seating at this time, but there is a beautiful patio to sit and enjoy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Pretty nice spot with an interesting take on handheld food items! You order at the counter and they have some nice outdoor seating. Menu seems promising with lots of Santa Cruz locals partaking in the eatery as well. All day breakfast sandwiches is a huge plus! Spicy boy 3.5/5 (would prefer egg cooked medium, needs something more, not spicy in the slightest) Tom's bright eyes surprise 5/5 House cut French fries with garlic rosemary aioli 3/5 (great seasoning on the fries - maybe too much salt, some of the French fries were kinda mushy, rosemary aioli was great) For local reviews or travel content you can find us on Instagram @sunsetourist read more

Pretty Good Advice - Menu - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

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A solid 3.75 stars This is an order-at-the-window, wait outside, and eat-wherever-you-want type of place. There are 3 seating areas: in the front where you order, in the back by the roadside, and indoors (only if it is open). The indoor seating area was closed when I was there, so even though it was cold and drizzly, everyone sat outside. The building is super cute from the outside with the ivy climbing up the walls, and there seemed to be a lot of picnic tables and seating, and except most were occupied before we got there. I didn't mind waiting, ordering, and eating outside if the food was stellar, like I had expected. We ordered 3 things to share: a burger with everything on it, fries, and a salad. The fries were crispy and not oily (Yummo!), the salad was fresh and dressing was flavorful (my favorite of the 3 items!), and the burger was nothing special (a disappointment actually). I would return to get the salad... and I will try the soup or something else. I think overall the concept is great, and the venue is quirky and cool with stickers everywhere. The burger flavor and bread texture are lacking, so I'd skip that next time. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Love this little spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Everything is good, fresh, and reasonably priced. Thank you!

Ryan's Lobstah Roll was awesome. So much flavor packed in a soft but chewy roll filled wth Oyster & shitake mushrooms, and artichoke hearts all perfectly seasoned. The French toast sticks were so good, crunchy and custardy. Be sure to order both the maple & strawberry dips. The Mandarin Sesame Salad was huge and full of great veggies and citrus but the dressing lacked sesame flavor. The Final Meltdown was great too but what a mess to eat! read more

First time here on a Sunday at 11am after doing a local hike. Really easy to park and order. Ordered the Good Morning and the Roasted Pear and Red Leaf salad. The sandwich was freshly made with a crunchy hashbrown and egg. The house hot sauce went perfectly with it! The roasted pear in the salad was also delicious. Ate it on the shaded patio. Perfect post hike meal! read more

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