Went to visit this place while visiting my kid for school. Can't comment on the food but this is more on the customer service. This seems like a great place for locals but being from out of town, they definitely made us feel like we were outsiders. We got there and gave them our names and we were the only ones waiting then another group came and they asked for their names and how many in the group (which was about the same size). Then cleared a table and sat them down first. They never let us know why or how long it will be even though we were waiting right in front of them. I guess you have to keep your repeated customers happy but business is business and everyone should be treated the same. I definitely wouldn't recommend if you are not a local, there are friendlier restaurants around. read more

Every time I go to Arcata I eat breakfast at the Big Blue Cafe. The staff is friendly, even to a solo diner, and the food is delicious. The prices are reasonable too. Highly recommend. read more

Honestly don't know why this place is rated so high. I had the chicken fried steak with poached eggs, country potatoes, and sourdough toast. The steak tasted like something I could have warmed up from the freezer section at safeway. The potatoes were half burned which left a charred taste in my mouth throughout the meal. The gravy was actually pretty tasty but there wasn't enough to drown the burned potatoes. I definitly expected more. read more

So let me start by saying his is my first yelp review and I am so happy to do so... I wish I could give this place 10 stars... I came for the first time last week and almost left in happy tears (maybe being pregnant had to do something with that.. ) but MY GOD...the prices are great.. the food was DELICIOUS (they cater to the vegans too :) and literally the best latte I have ever had in my life, and I'm a barista ! The coffee itself just tasted soo so divine. The staff was prompt , the atmosphere was chill, and they serve beer too ( so I'll be doing that after birth obviously). I'm so excited his place is in the town where my appointments are because I am going to come here religiously every chance I get !! Thanks for being a restaurant ! -one happy customer read more

This is the little place that can. I have eaten here for years; the menu is truly diverse and pleasing. Here's some perspective on the location and staffing influence. I write this as a fellow foodie who grew up heres, lives here now... The Big Blue is in the center of town. Whether your a tourist, hippie panhandler or student...its at the center of the town action and is thereby influenced by mass crowd influx like any restuarant...during Farmers Market...festivals etc it can get crowded and overwhelmed. Also, this is a college town..it is VERY hard to find good help and slackers are a dime-a-dozen. BUT remember, the food here is made from scratch...good food, made to order, takes time. It is family owned (it's a small town - we all know this bit of info) and is a participant in community activities and donations. I think that stands for something.. the Big Blue..its the whole package that I feel good about supporting. Everyone, probably yourself included, has a bad day once in awhile. read more

Breakfast burrito, Karen's potatoes, bagel sandwich, omelette... You cant got wrong at Big Blue. When I'm away from Humboldt for a while I start thinking about my favorite things to eat when I get home and Big Blue is always on the list. The coffee drinks are good and the staff has been there a long time. It's not rare to see the owners there talking to the customers with big smiles on their faces. read more

The Big Blue Cafe - Great specials. Home made soups. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arcata, California

After getting a tour of Humboldt State, we wanted a nice lunch before beginning our 5+ hour trek back home. We walked into the Big Blue Cafe and were promptly seated. The food was excellent. My "Omnivore" salad was awesome with a perfectly cooked hard-boiled egg. The waiter was prompt and friendly. I will definitely go back if I ever make the 5+hour trek to Arcata. read more

Good food, great service, great atmoshere and total welcome. It is also a great place to watch the square as they set up the Saturday market. There is a great play area for the kids and a couple tables alongside it. I saw some happy 8ish little guys there. read more

Stopped here on the way through arcata. Just lovely. Food was brilliant. Really cheap and very delicious. Has the bagel sandwich with jack and ham. Just perfect. Friends had the buttermilk pancakes and huevos rancheros. The huevos was a stand out. Service perfect, great warm ups and the coffee great. Hope to come again. read more

Great place good atmosphere inside and out considering the location. Locally sourced and food is of great quality. Alot of love and time put into it that's for sure. 5 out 5 for me I believe you will say the same after you've came and went.....definitely worth your time and money!! read more

Goto breakfast restaurant. Excellent chicken fried steak and huevos rancheros. But the biscuits need improvement.

The biscuits and gravy are delish. I recommend ordering a side of the ginger garlic potatoes. They are on the lunch menu, but the cafe will allow you to order for breakfast. So good!!! The coffee is hella strong. In a good way. read more

Nice little cafe. The service was great and food was pretty basic.

Stayed in Eureka on my way up the coast and wanted a good country style breakfast and found this place after weeding out all the vegetarian places. It was delicious!! Had biscuits and gravy with potatoes and eggs, my girlfriend had the butler and it was fantastic! Coffee was great, our waiter was great and friendly. Hope to be back here again. read more

Big Blue Cafe is one of my favorite brunch spots in town! They're priced similarly to The Pantry, but the quality of the food is a step or two above classic greasy spoon diner food. The space is clean and bright, so it feels fresh and vibrant inside. What sets them above the rest, in my opinion, is their mimosas. They're so cheap and SO GOOD. They have 3 different juices you can pair with your champagne or you can get a combo of all 3 (which I recommend). You can get a glass or a pitcher for really competative prices and it at least tastes like the majority of the drink is champagne, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. Anyway, I definitely recommend this place! read more

Community family oriented atmosphere. Service was perfect and food delicious. Would def recommend this cafe!

Big Blue Cafe is a great little spot in Arcata. Most of the food is great. The menu is very simple, but the food tastes great every time. Big Blue has very nice employee's that are patient and kind. Sometimes this cafe can get quite crowded, but the food makes it worth the wait. Never disappointed. Highly recommended to all. read more

Service was nice. Cute place. But the food arriving was anticlimactic. Large plate, small portions. Nothing too special about the flavor either, a bit bland. read more

Please open back up. You're my favorite breakfast/brunch restaurant in Humboldt. What's taking so long??

Such a cute little cafe! We stopped for lunch on our way down 101. The food was amazing, all fresh ingredients and generous portions. The kids were excited that breakfast is served all day and ordered enormous pancakes. The grilled chicken sandwich was amazing and their iced tea was the best I've had! Great place to stop! read more

The best pancakes we've had in a LONG time. Get two and add blueberries. You will not regret it. Plus $10 mimosa pitchers? What more could you ask for? read more

So good! One time I had a very nice server, next time very rushed and no bueno-so it's a hit or miss. Careful if you want to charge your phone or use a laptop, outlets don't work but that'd be an a-hole move on a busy day anyhow-so here's to brunch. I love that they have vegetarian gravy for the biscuits here YUM. Only thing is I wish the eggs & potatoes had more herb options like spinach, green onion, etc. because it was a tad bland-however still very worth it. Will go back! :) read more

Cute cafe/diner with awesome service! They had a kids table with lots of toys and crayons. Ginger and garlic seems to be their thing, so I tried the potatoes. They were very tasty, albeit a bit greasy. Good options for veggie/vegans. I had a tasty veggie wrap on pita. Hubby had a burger. Good kids menu options. read more

Big Blue has good food, but really isn't all it's hyped up to be. You're going to get slightly above-average breakfast food and (on most mornings) lots of waiting. There's also very few gluten-free options, which stinks for a celiac patient like me. For a MUCH wider selection, bigger portions, better prices, less waiting, and more gluten free options, try Golden Harvest up the street. read more

Wow. Best pancake of my life. We got seated quickly, the service was a dream, amazing food and atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anyone. Can't stop thinking about that pancake. read more

How did this place achieve such a good rating? I've had so many bad experiences here that it wold take too long to explain. I don't even recognize it as a place to eat anymore.. Totally off the radar.. read more

I dream about their pancakes when we are apart. When we are reunited I am blissful. Great friendly and accommodating staff. Humboldt is one of the few places where a waiter can call my husband "bro" and get away with it hehe. Great plaza location. Only complaint is that they have plastic patio chairs inside the restaurant at all the tabes. Please people, let's upgrade to match the rest of the awesomeness in this cafe and town. read more

Stopped by for a quick breakfast on the road and was so pleased with the Strawberry, Walnut Chocolate Chip pancake. Reasonable prices, great food, fun service, trippy music--if I lived here I would be a regular! read more

One of my all time places in Arcata. As a vegetarian going to restaurants I'm usually limited. Not here though! All the food is outrageously good! Everything I have had I have liked. The coffee drinks are big and so comforting. They have great specials and a wonderful staff. They also do Togo which is super cool. I like to go during odd times because it does fill up quick with customers. When I have people come from out of town I take them here. read more

1. 1st time I ordered grilled veggie it looked great. My favorite there after that day every time i come back it started looking crapper 2. We waited over 30 mins for food before 3. My food is always filled with grease 4. One time I got my change back and I knew they didn't give me all my change back. I asked. i was told they rounded down?! Are you kidding without telling me . 5. One day we came almost closing last ones there they never gave us our change back. NEVER come here again it takes forever and bad customer service . I am an adult that looks like a child don't dare treat me like one, I am paying read more

Stopped in here on a road trip north to Redwood National Park. Fantastic little spot! The huevos rancheros and the breakfast sandwich were delicious, and the service was so great. We might stop back in here on the way home! read more

Just a solid place for a basic breakfast. Bacon, eggs, home fries and wheat toast (good bread!). Everything was cooked well. Our primary server was pleasant and attentive, but never intrusive. The person who seated us was ok. Not overly friendly but certainly not a downer. Very homey atmosphere... locals seem to like it here and I always appreciate when the regulars are recognized all the way to their usual meals. read more

Big Blue has become one of our top places for breakfast/lunch. Always good food. My only complaint would be that the staff can be unpredictable and grumpy. Otherwise everything is great! read more

This breakfast place was a very pleasant surprise. They had some very unique and delicious looking breakfast items like a breakfast sandwich made with french toast bread that you dip in syrup. I had the biscuits and gravy and I gotta say they were some of the best biscuits and gravy i've ever had. I will definitely come here again on my next visit. read more

My son and I recently had breakfast at this charming cafe. The food was delicious! Our server was very attentive. We would come here again. read more

This is the place where you take your parents who just got in from out of town and aren't vegan, gluten-free, etc., and just want a "normal" breakfast or lunch. This place has a good variety of options, and most everything on the menu is tasty and reasonably priced. It can get very busy, so if you're in a hurry, call ahead, or plan to walk around the Plaza until a table clears up. read more

Everything I've had here is spectacular! Every time I'm in the area I make it a point to stop here for breakfast. BOMB biscuits and gravy and huevos rancheros. read more

Just what we needed. Got into town and wanted a bowl of clam chowder. Service and food was awesome

First time here for breakfast really good food and not badly priced with a very friendly staff

So good. Can't visit the boys at HSU without eating here. I love the huge mimosas and the boys adore the chicken fried steak and eggs. Lunch is very good too. Can be a bit of a wait but so worth it. read more