Came for breakfast. Ordered Cheese omlette with tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and chicken apple sausage. It was decent food. It was more like omlette rolled with veggies and the sausage. I would have liked all of them to be fried with the omlette. So taking a star off. read more

The Big Blue Cafe - Cheese omlette with veggies and chicken apple sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arcata, California

Came around 1pm. Veggie sandiwich was excellent and juicy (from the cheese). Service was great--I got the regular fries rather than the sweet potato fries I ordered, but the guy brought me the correct fries and I got to keep the regular fries free of charge (sadly uneaten). A+ read more

Best breakfast we had in Arcata. Okay, only place we had breakfast, but it did not disappoint. True story- We Yelp'd some locations and headed over here. Didn't look all that impressive. Spouse said let's keep looking. 10 minutes later we circled back here. What they call oatmeal was an offering to the gods. Beautiful presentation, fresh fruit to add and they even warmed up the milk - so you don't mess up the oatmeal. wow! I did notice people came in here looking a bit beat down and left happy and bright. Maybe it's the amazing coffee. Hard to say. Definitely coming back here again someday! read more

Walked in, waiter started to seat us, Jim asked him what the gentleman next to us was having, it looked delicious! This rude waiter looked at Jim and said it's on the menu, sit Down. Jim asked again, I don't know what it is! Please just tell me what it is. He told him, I told you to sit down and it's on the menu. Needless to say we left. If you want people to stay I would fire the rude jerk! read more

This cafe is AMAZING!! From the food, to the scenery to the service. Oh, the service was phenomenal. I loved the hostess and our waiter. He was so cool that he took our order without writing it down. They are very attentive and just an all around great great experience! read more

The Big Blue Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arcata, California

My wife and I ate here on vacation. I thought the menu looked interesting, but was a little hesitant because some reviews said the service was bad - but that was not our experience. Our waitress was great and other employees frequently stopped in to help us out and were all friendly despite how busy they were. Our food came promptly and the drinks were never empty. We received large helpings of very good food, and the quality was very high. I had a breakfast burrito that was stuffed full of great stuff, and my wife had a more traditional breakfast that was very tasty. Overall we had a great experience eating here. read more

I'm very picky when it comes to my breakfast, and Big Blue is so outstanding that I happily hand over 5 stars! They have the.best.pancakes I have ever eaten at any restaurant in my life. There's the huge, plate-size blueberry pancake which is super. But my favorite are the plain buttermilk pancakes. Great flavor, slightly spongy texture due to the buttermilk, not chewy but nicely moist and evenly cooked throughout. Topped with lots of butter (syrup if you must), these are heaven on earth. The "big slam" breakfast is the best deal! (Good coffee too; better tasting than the upscale/uppity place on the plaza corner which charges twice as much.) Note: try not to get seated in the back corridor due to the annoying machine whining noise coming from (I think) their kitchen. read more

Stopped here for a quick lunch on the road. the food was AMAZING. the lunch special was a fried chicken sandwich that had a jalapeño garlic aioli which was absolutely incredible. The fries, potatoes, and everything else we tried was great. The inside was very welcoming and the workers were great. Definitely a must stop if your looking for some food that is to die for! read more

Stopped here for a good bite to eat. It absolutely exceeded my expectations, everything about it was to die for. The ambiance is calm, the music was nice, and the food was INCREDIBLE. would highly highly recommend 10/10. read more

Great little spot. Our server was Jorge, and he was such a kind human to us. Food was tasty, but really the service was incredible!

We have eaten there several times, the staff is cheerful and the waiters are very professional and they KNOW the menu! The food is tasty and they have healthy options. What I loved was several people in our party had special requests and the staff bent over backwards to meet our needs with a smile. . I wanted the ginger beef sandwich but I did not want the bread. So they made me a plate with the meat cheese & veggies, no bread, and a nice leafy green salad with veggies dressing on the side $9.99 Totally worth it! . It was really really good!!! My friend had the turkey sandwich, it was fresh and yummo, and came with potatoes. Also $9.99 Portions are large and comforting. We will go back for sure! One thing, I do wish they had something other than plastic chairs, I like to feel comfortable in my seat when im eating. . read more

Great coffee, delicious food, excellent service. Subtracted one star due to overly loud hard rock at breakfast.

Nice small sit-down place. Good service, family crowd Good breakfast menu, eggs, french toast, etc. I tried to breakfast bagel, it was fantastic. They offer vege plates for non-carnivores. read more

Good for a nice, casual, lunch. They serve quality food at a decent price. They're unique. Can't remember what type of sandwhich I had, but the portions were large. Leftovers! read more

Big Blue is beyond good! The "vegetarian" biscuits and gravy had first caught my interest, since I'm always eyeing my companion's biscuits and gravy with longing, but avoid eating things that had legs...Big Blue's "Country Potatoes" came with vegetarian gravy, two eggs (poached) and a tasty little nibble of salsa. That, and the excellent endless coffee, and the outside table made for a delightful late breakfast. Companion's "Sampler" was replete with the gravy (non-veg), eggs, beans & cheese, and salsa...wowee! The server was spot on, there when we needed him and otherwise elsewhere. Lots of indoor seating, a cheerful blue & white checkered floor, and a comfortable, classic menu, and a view of Arcata's town square. What more do you need? Stop by! read more

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One of my favorite breakfast places in Arcata! Amazing food and mimosas! Their montecristo breakfast sandwich, their pancakes/French toast and basically everything is good there! read more

The Big Blue Cafe - Waiting for my monte cristo sandwich! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arcata, California

We ate here while passing thru on a road trip. It was a mid-Tuesday morning, but it was still very busy. Flexible college life, I guess. We had a great experience. There were 2 recently emptied tables when we walked in. One of which a guy quickly cleaned for us. Yes, in reflection after reading the previous reviews, our drinks and food didn't arrive in a speedy manner. But our waitress was very nice and we weren't in a hurry. I had a bloody mary first (my favorite weekend/vacation breakfast ritual, so I was very excited!), followed by an excellent soy latte. I got the Huevos Rancheros, and while it wasn't traditional (more like a chili becuz the beans were in the sauce), it was yummy! Perfectly spicy & hearty for the cold, coastal morning. My husband had eggs & fixin's and said it was good. He also raved about his latte. If we lived there, we'd go back in a heart beat! read more

I've never had anything here I didn't like. They use fresh produce from the Farmer's Market, and you definitely tell in the food. Also, ORDER THE APPLE JUICE! It's fantastic. The servers are all very friendly and attentive. They get really busy around breakfast time so be advised you might have to wait to get seated. Definitely one of my favorite spots in Arcata! read more

It was farmers market and what a nice surprise We had a fabulous breakfast The service was exceptional read more

Ate here for breakfast while visiting for a HSU graduation. Well first it's a small place which I like being from San Francisco it reminded me of home. The staff was very polite and very quick. We sat outside on the sidewalk with a small table, I thought it was a cute choice. The service was awesome, always had coffee or water refilled. The food wait time was good. My food didn't come too quick that I felt rushed nor was it late that I was left wondering where my food was. And when it arrived it was so delicious. I'll definitely be stopping here again on my next visit in town. read more

I'm giving Big Blue three stars because I really love there food. I grew up on Big Blue. And honestly the staff is so great. But it was a date spot since it reopened this year for my partner and I until we had unfortunately come to the decision that they have made too many careless mistakes for us. We called in an order and paid for some sides that we never got. They told us we could come back but we were already on the road out of town. So we decided we need to eat in the restaurant. I paid to add to my breakfast meat and avocado. They gave my meal to the wrong table and had to remake it. And the girl at the table next to us overheard the conversation and went on a rant about how she's come to terms that every time she has gone in there she is missing something. Which is unfortunate because the staff is great and the food is tasty. But I don't want to spend $5 extra and not receive what I'm paying for. read more

This place is adorable! The wait staff is friendly and fast. I was a tourist and grabbed brunch on my way south to hike in the area, and the breakfast filled me up! It's in the downtown, so the little square and shops are nearby too. Most importantly - the coffee is delicious! I would come back here next time I'm in the area. read more

Probably my favorite thing about this place is the atmosphere. It's a super chill cafe where you can sit back, read the paper or chat with friends, and have a nice, hot drink. A word of advice: the place has seating primarily for smaller groups (2-4 people). They have a couple of larger tables, but it can take a while to be seated if you're party is larger. We had 5 people and it took about 45 minutes for us to be seated. I'm sure part of the wait was due to the lunch rush, but smaller 2-3 person groups were seated before us without a problem. I had the clam chowder and some apple cider. The chowder was pretty tasty stuff, but I wouldn't put it on level with the best I've ever had... although I've eaten clam chowder in Boston, so it'd have to be pretty outstanding. The cider was wonderful! As stated before, it is the perfect place to have a hot drink and chat with friends. I didn't try any of the coffee, but word-of-mouth told me that the coffee was pretty good. Chill atmosphere, decent food, but be prepared for a wait if you're going with several friends or family members. read more

Oh man. When we decided to go to Arcata for the weekend, the first thought I had was "YES!! I get to go to the Big Blue Cafe!" The thing I most remembered was the gigantic mimosas. Pint glasses filled to the brim with deliciousness and only $4. The food, however, is amazing and the service impeccable. I ate an omelet with mushroom, sausage, white cheddar and avocado. They sliced the avocado on top which I appreciated. The potatoes were perfectly cooked and steaming hot. I really can't say anything bad about the place. There was a little wait, but that is to be expected when the spot is so awesome. read more

Another place visited because of Yelp reviews. Hubby and I were in the area for the weekend and hadn't been to Arcata yet. We got there at about 9am and only had to wait a few minutes for a table. It took us a while to get any service though, which was a bit disappointing. However, I heard from several other folks while we were waiting, that this is typical for the Arcata area. I hadn't experienced that yet. The food we had was good. I loved the oatmeal and the french toast I had. The hubs had eggs and bacon which was good, pretty basic. read more

First time here. Really good food, very attentive service, and a popular place. Downside is that it's way cramped and it's VERY noisy. Would rather have more booths and less chairs. read more

The Big Blue Cafe - Big Blue Slam with pancakes, scrambled eggs, avocado, and bacon (ate the bacon :P). Really good :) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arcata, California

We lucked out to get outdoor seating! Dog friendly. Great food I had huevos rancheros yummm. Great people watching awesome service too. Great spot for arcata culture soaking read more

So glad we discovered The Big Blue Cafe in Arcata while visiting the redwoods. Consistently great food and good sized portions at a reasonable price. Try the giant breakfast burrito or Karen's potatoes if really hungry. The Clam Chowder with a side salad makes for a lighter but still satisfying meal. Despite being busy all the time, the staff were always friendly and helpful, and made us feel welcome. We had planned to try other restaurants in the area during our week long stay, but kept coming back to The Big Blue Cafe. read more

Best breakfast place I've been to in a while. The food is good and the service was perfect. Very good place. Had toys for kids and they took very good care of us. Happy staff. read more

The Big Blue Cafe was a great breakfast for my whole family. Very friendly service and some snazzy mugs. I would recommend this cafe to anyone who wants a comfortable and tasty breakfast. read more

Good little place for breakfast! We were in the area for 4 days and ate here twice. Stumbled upon it the first time and was pleasantly surprised at the food. There was four in our group and we all got something diff and it was all good. Loved the biscuits and gravy, French toast, breakfast burrito, and the chicken fried steak. The second time we stopped in we got there early and saw them bringing in fresh croissants and breads. Good coffee and the milk was ice cold, which we loved. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was that my omelet on the second visits had too many veggies, to the point is was soggy. :( But, over all it was really good and I will visit again when in the area. read more

Solid breakfast food. I used to live a few blocks away and it made a GREAT hungover Sunday breakfast place. Finally got around to trying it clear-headed and still enjoyed it just as much. Wait times can get a bit long on weekends, but they're obviously packed and working as hard as they can, so it's forgivable. read more

Great place for breakfast.. food and service was great. 4 of 5 stars.. because on Sunday morning at 10:00 am ( they opened at 9) they were out of biscuits. My son and daughter had wanted biscuits and gravy! ‍ Not sure how that was possible at 10:00 am read more

Food and service is amazing!! First time in Humboldt and I can say that this is one my favorite restaurants here. I plan to come out here more often and this place will always be a must! read more

Service was excellent! Food was delicious! Definitely recommend sharing the biscuits and gravy and pitcher of mimosas!

First off, I have to say -chill out ms. Oakland! It's Humboldt County- embrace the dreads. We stopped into Big Blue about 30 minutes before closing time. It drew me in... The art is beautiful and the feel is super chill but clean and professional. It was a gorgeous day so we ordered our food to go. The servers were awesome. They were very nice and very laid back. I liked the vibe a lot. We waited for a bit, but the food was SO worth it. I got the Oregon Chai (delish) and my honey got coffee (which he really liked.) We both had a really good salad and my cream of mushroom soup was fresh & out of this world. I'm sure we'll go again. read more

Solid basic breakfast joint. French toast - great Pancakes - good Potatoes - good Eggs - perfect (over medium) Biscuits & gravy - good Bacon - good Sausage - ok Coffee - ok read more

5 stars is an easy choice here. Very attentive and kind server. Ordered "The Blue Slam" 2 eggs, pancakes/french toast, chicken Apple sausage/bacon... I ordered: 2 poached eggs, french toast, chicken apple sausage. EVERYTHING WAS EXCELLENT and cooked perfectly! Even the coffee was tasty; which is something you often don't get in a restaurant. read more

Big Blue is one of the better breakfast/lunch place in Arcata. I typically get a salad and a bowl of clam chowder. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Sometimes it is very busy.. but that's not their fault. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars, is that the menu tends to stay the same. Add some new stuff every now and then for us locals! I definitely recommend giving Big Blue a try if you are looking for good breakfast or lunch on the Arcata Plaza, which is a site of its own! Thanks read more

Whatever oil they used for the potatoes was icky and hubby's bacon wasn't crispy as ordered. Coffee was great. Probably won't go back. UPDATE: Gastric system agreed next day that oil was bad. read more