We go here almost every weekend for breakfast and have never been disappointed. They always have great specials on top of their awesome regular menu. Longest we've ever had to wait for a table was 30 minutes, but we were fine with the wait as long as it meant we got our Parkside breakfast! Highly recommend. read more

The Parkside Cafe - French toast - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

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Parkside Cafe makes the best breakfasts I've ever had. I've been to Parkside dozens of times and never once had a bad experience. I almost always look no further than the specials menu, for unique selections that have included kiwi french toast, cannoli pancakes, crepes with various fruits and sweets, bacon pancakes, peach infused french toast, spicy breakfast burritos, Philly cheesesteak omelets, pumpkin pancakes, and many other creations. The rest of the menu also has some great selections too. The garlic home fries are delicious. The head chef and owner JR is an excellent host. I've almost never had to wait, except on some busy holidays like Mother's Day. Parkside Cafe is definitely worth your business, time and taste buds if you are in Bristol! read more

Good food, atmosphere, and service! Can't ask for much more. We shared one of the brunch specials, Raspberry "stuffed" french toast and also a regular menu item, a breakfast sandwich, called the "Hot Mess". I was expecting the raspberries to be inside of the toast, but were instead between the slices, along with a raspberry sauce. This is certainly not a complaint as it was delicious regardless. The "Hot Mess" wasn't messy at all and was quite delightful. Served with standard home fries. Parkside cafe seems to a family owned local business. The owner was very friendly. He seems to introduce himself to everyone who enters the restaurant and asks them how they like the food and service. He was very friendly, funny, and made us feel welcome. I would definitely return. read more

The Parkside Cafe - French toast stuffed with raspberries. - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

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Awesome menu and a genuine and nice staff. The owner is a special kind of person who has come up with some very tasteful dishes. Apple cinnamon crepes I love. Fried egg, avocado mayo BLT is excellent. There's something else in a hollowed out pineapple that has to be seen and then eaten. Motor on over. You won't be disappointed. I didn't expect to find this place here. Happy Guy read more

The Parkside Cafe - Happy Guy after breakfast - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

Visited the new location of this Bristol eatery on a Friday afternoon. Extensive menu, all day breakfast features. Went with a chicken Caesar salad and a bowl of Yankee bean soup. Both were freshly made and prepared to order. I skipped the croutons. Companions lunch was also well made. Prompt and friendly service. 25 % tip and total was just over $30. read more

The food is good the price is good service is fantastic. They have GF bread and options. It can be a touch loud in there.

Looks like a bank from the outside, but it was a busy place inside. Really enjoyed our food.

When I tell you that you are about to walk into one of the best breakfast places that has kissed the earth, well call me an egg and scramble me up, because this was delicious. The ice coffee hit the spot as I inhaled my corned beef hash with the eggs and home fries. The lady got the hot mess, as it fits, and she was the happiest lady on earth after that. We got a short stack of French Toast and I was in heaven. One hundred percent coming back so I can work my way around that menu. The staff always was very pleasant read more

I have the desire to visit the Parkside Cafe! I have never been there but I want to commend its owner for his kindness to feed anyone who is in need, and is hungry, free of charge. His remarkable act of kindness serves as a true example of what we all should be doing to whatever degree we are able. I will go there to dine and want to meet this remarkable gentleman! Please YELP, please post this evaluation of the Parkside Cafe. This wonderful owner deserves the praises and recognition for his kind acts! God bless him! BTW, when we visit for breakfast, I will also write a review and post some pictures of my food. Everything I've seen so far looks really delicious! Can't wait! read more

This place should be on diners, dives, and drive ins. The waffle was perfect, crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside with a hint of vanilla. We also tried the "hot mess" sandwich . Let me just say tho is the BEST breakfast sandwich I have ever had . You get a balance from the pesto and a bite of the Munster cheese with a perfectly fried egg and crispy bacon... to top it all of you have a perfectly grilled buttered slice of Texas toast on both sides. The home fries were delightful. The seasoning was amazing and did not taste like they were sitting around which seems to be a common issue at other places . Overall very very good spot to eat ! read more

The Parkside Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

The food is always awesome, the staff is professional, polite and attentive always. The kitchen staff is incredibly talented. The owner J.R. is friendly and great. This is a one off breakfast special he created for me. It looks incredible and tastes fantastic! Once again he and his kitchen staff have created a culinary masterpiece! read more

The Parkside Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

We had a very enjoyable lunch here today. BLT's, sweet potato fries and onion rings, all delicious. Lots of bacon on the sandwiches and buttery Texas toast. The onion rings and sweet potato fries were cooked to perfection, not greasy at all and large portions. The atmosphere is quaint, the decor is warm and welcoming. Overall a very good lunch! read more

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Fresh ingredients lovely staff . Good spot for everyone . Definitely comeback for more read more

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The Parkside Cafe is one of a kind! I've visited this lovely little diner twice now and I've always left with a very happy belly. I wish it wasn't all the way in Bristol or I'd definitely be visiting here more often! This diner offers a wonderful atmosphere. The walls are beautifully decorated with little odds and ends that really bring the place together. It's been very busy each time I've visited, which I have since come to understand! Plan on coming early or be prepared for a long wait. They have an extensive breakfast menu with really fun names for their signature breakfast sandwiches. During my first visit, I got Da' Goodfella ($8.99), sausage patty, fried egg, red roasted pepper, and provolone cheese on a grilled hard roll with home fries and my boyfriend ordered Spanky's Revenge ($9.99), kielbasa patty, pepper jack cheese, fried egg, tomato slices, red onion and southwest aioli with home fries. Both of our sandwiches were really tasty. His was especially unique and something to get if you're looking to try something new. We split an order of lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes (one of their specials of the week). The lemon ricotta pancakes were to die for! I wish that was an option on the menu every time. The pancakes were perfectly soft, sweet and zesty and topped with warm butter. We came here for a second visit after craving their lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes. To our dismay, it was no longer on the specials list. Our waitress told us that the specials are constantly changing and to call ahead next time to see what they're pfferomg, so I'll definitely do just that. I really wanted something both sweet and salty again, so my boyfriend agreed to split another sweet item with me on the menu. For my meal, I ordered #4 One egg, bacon, home fries and toast ($4.99) and my boyfriend got a Breakfast Burrito ($9.99), 3 scrambled eggs, onion, tomato, peppers, cheddar cheese and sausage with fresh salsa and home fries. He also got a coffee ($1.99) and I had one of the Harney & Sons Tea ($1.99). The friendly waitress brought over a box with all the teas, so that I could pick a flavor. My favorite flavor is definitely Hot Cinnamon Spice or Paris! For our item to share, we chose another one of their specials of the week, Crepes with Strawberries and Cream. My simple breakfast was delicious and a great deal for the price and my boyfriend really enjoyed his burrito. The crepes failed to impress us though. They were very soft but a little bland and the cream it seemed was just yogurt, but it still served its job to satisfy my sweet tooth. We can't wait to come back to the Parkside Cafe again! Maybe this time they'll have their scrumptious lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes on the menu. If that's ever an option, don't pass it up!! read more

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Hospitality? Check. Food quality? Check. Taste. Freshness. PORTIONS. Check check check. The owner personally came by and introduced himself and once he found out it was our first time at his cafe, he asked us what our preferences are then made us our very own supersized burrito, which is not an item on the menu. It tastes even better than it looks. He went above and beyond, this was one of our best brunch experiences, highly recommend! read more

The Parkside Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

Service is wonderful, food is great, and the interior is amazing. No wonder this place is packed every weekend. I'm also so glad they added turkey bacon as an option! read more

Such a cute place! Would never have expected it when we saw the outside but we trusted yelp and went in. We had a great (very late) breakfast. Service was a bit slow but it was 12/23 and many people seemed to be out and about. They probably hadn't expected such a crowd. Waitstaff was very friendly and food was delicious. read more

It says it right on the wall. "Enter as strangers- leave as friends". There's a reason this place is always chosen as the best; go see for yourself. read more

I've been to this place twice. The first time was only so-so and that was only because the waitress was great. This time will be my last time coming here. I asked for no tomato on my sandwich and it came with tomato. I asked for the home fries to be well done and they were not. To make up for it though they gave me a free hair in them. When I alerted our waiter to it, he did apologize and offered to bring me new home fries. I did not really want them but he was persistent. The new ones were cooked slightly more but still wouldn't qualify as well done. I didn't eat them. Honestly, I would have expected my meal to have been taken off the bill because of the hair but it wasn't. I have no problem paying for my order ordinarily but come on, two things were not made to order plus the hair. A manager didn't even come talk to us to apologize. read more

We absolutely love the food and the atmosphere in the Parkside Cafe. The delicious creations for both breakfasts and lunches will delight anyone palate. It's really a special place that we highly recommend. You will want to go back again and again. read more

The Parkside Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

We arrived at 11:30 on. Sunday morning and there were a large number of patrons waiting ahead of us. This was mentioned in several reviews but they also said it was worth the wait. One of the waitress staff told us that the place gets full when a neighborhood church lets out at 9:00 AM and then again at 10:00 AM. For someone like me who doesn't eat eggs, there seemed to be lots of choices including crepes, waffles and of course my favorite blueberry pancakes. After a half hour wait we were seated at a small table and waited another 10 minutes for a waitress Lauren, to take out drink order. The coffee was very hot and very good. The blueberry pancakes were loaded with berries, tasted a little like potato pancakes and were crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. The bacon was perfectly done meaty but thin and the side of berries fit the bill. The wife ordered a breakfast burrito that she loved. We were very surprised when they took off $1 from the burrito bill since the wife did not want meat in it. The real syrup was $.99 extra which is a bargain and the small cup of berries cost $4.25 which is understandable since berries are expensive. We will definitely return to try their waffles and crepes. We met the owner JR for the first time. He is very friendly and jovial. When he saw me eating blueberry pancakes he gifted me a sample of his special pancakes in return for my opinion. They were very good but more dense and heavier than the regular pancakes that I adore. I hope I didn't hurt his feelings but the regular blueberry pancakes also have a lot more berries. read more

Cute little cafe with old vibe to it, but the food is delicious. I had the pulled pork eggs Benedict which was mindblowingly good, highly recommended! read more

While it is definitely a popular cafe, the food quality fell short for me--sorry, Parkside. I wanted to like this place very much, but I walked away wondering why there are so many praises. I got a custom crepe--with peanut butter, bananas, cinnamon, and honey--in a full stack. (Like pancakes? I was confused, but the server said two was a half stack and three made a full stack). I also got a chai and a cappuccino, of which the chai was not drinkable and the cappuccino was average (not the best I have tasted). The crepe, when it finally came out, I could not tell how many crepes I actually had, but found three mounds progressing from lightly cooked to pretty crispy from right to left. I dug in on the right, soon finding that the bottom of one and a half crepes to be too crispy and borderline burned. In actuality, these are not really crepes--more like thinner pancakes with that cake-like texture. I scraped off the peanut butter and picked out the bananas, pushing the crispy parts to the edge of the plate. There was a good amount of peanut butter (sparing pieces of bananas and little honey or cinnamon), and the properly cooked area of the crepes was pretty good, melting in my mouth (though I question if it was raw). Overall, though, I spent most of my time figuring out which part to eat (which was about half of the entire dish), so I was glad I opted for the full stack as I could have a relatively decent amount to eat. What struck me most was the price of my crepe: $11.99. Twelve dollars for something I pretty much had to pick which parts I ate? Really? What happened to the inexpensive cafe? I did not see how it could be so expensive, with it essentially being $4 per crepe. I've had much higher quality crepes in Boston that cost a total of $4 with more to them than the ones here at Parkside. With everything that I got, the total was $20 (not inexpensive at all, particularly with the quality of my crepe). Add it up for Parkside: - Decent service - Beautiful, clean cafe - Good location Take it away for Parkside: - Crispy/almost burned crepes - Undrinkable craft beverages - Steep prices My overall understandings of this cafe: Parkside is more of a breakfast place with eggs, toast, omelets along with the basic straight coffee and orange juice for beverages. Go anything beyond that and you're challenging yourself to get something good. The service was good and I appreciated the willingness to make a custom crepe, but the quality of my food and the prices have me hesitant to return any time soon. read more

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Bristol finally has some great places to eat. Great food and staff! Can't recommend enough!!

This is definitely my new Bristol breakfast joint. The menu is reasonably priced and the atmosphere is sunny and welcoming. I had the "Dizzy Bull" breakfast sandwich..... grilled rib eye steak, sauteed onions & peppers, fried egg and american cheese on a grilled hard roll. The roll was very fresh/soft and the steak was cooked to a perfect medium. I asked the waitress for some hot sauce and she brought 5 or 6 different bottles to our table to choose from (this scored huge points). Service was quick and friendly. I'll be back! read more

Not that great. We waited forever to be acknowledged when we arrived to put our name down. Took forever to be greeted at our table. Server took a long time to get our order, and the entire process was just annoying trying to flag down a waiter for anything. After reading all the great reviews we were pretty excited to try it out, but it definitely fell sort of anything fantastic. We must have came on a bad day! We were really hoping for better service! Also, parking in the area was pretty difficult. read more

Best breakfast in Bristol. J.R. Rusgrove's first endeavor has become a local staple for a good reason. The food is fabulous.

My sisters and nieces came here for the first time this weekend and we were so satisfied! We all thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast, and ate almost everything on our plates. I got the veggie benny, best I've had in CT - the roasted tomatoes were such a wonderful touch. My sister and I also split a cinnamon roll pancake and it was to die for! We will definitely be visiting Parkside again ! read more

I loved my espresso so pretty and so good. Service was slow but food was pretty good for breakfast, will come back more often to support a local business read more

The Parkside Cafe - Brisket benedict - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

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After weeks of taunting me on Bristol's Yelp homepage, I finally made my way to Parkside Cafe, and I wasn't disappointed. The place was pretty crowded for Sunday breakfast/brunch, but that was to be expected. The inside is very quaint and homey, the walls being adorned with an eccentric mix of photos, paintings, and a bunch of other knickknacks. The food that my group of three ordered was enjoyed by everyone. I got what was essentially a breakfast BLT with a fried egg and avocado mayo. I'm not a huge fan of tomatoes, so I had to take off one of the two thick-sliced pieces off my sandwich, but it was very good overall. The home fries, while I typically enjoy more crunchy and fried to their softer method, were very nicely flavored. The biggest downside for me is their location. While the actual building and where it's located isn't that bad, there is a major parking issue in that particular part of town. It's a street parking situation, with a narrow side street essentially turning into a one-way with all the cars lined down with patron's cars. There's no room in that area for any type of parking lot, so it's just something you'll have to deal with, particularly during breakfast time on the weekends. With a decent mix of breakfast, brunch, and lunch items, I'll definitely be back! read more

I came here on 8/26 and had their blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes (I think it was a special but not sure). It was one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life. Amazingly delicious. Crispy edges and just super delightful. I also had the home fries special with scrambled eggs. Super good. The 5 stars is definitely for the food. Our waitress was just okay. I did notice another waiter who was very peppy and seemed to be a little more into his job than our waitress was. But oh well, I'm there for the food! read more

The atmosphere is very nice here. Ther service can be very slow, especially for breakfast. I feel like the chef always has good ideas but, they aren't executed in an expert way. For instance, one time I had a totally unseasoned, dry as can lobster omelet. Another time, I had great French Toast! It's really hit or miss whether or not the chef will actually be able to prepare correctly the things that he has put on the menu. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! The food is amazing, the staff is incredible, the interior, décor and cleanliness is impeccable!...If you are ever in Bristol, CT....THIS PLACE IS A MUST!!! read more

I have been going to breakfast more frequently since they moved to North Main. Love the Eggs Benedict, I had a veg omelet that was very good. Too many times when I order an omelet it is very dry, but this one was not. Everything I have had has been very good read more

A quaint breakfast or lunch spot. This cafe has an enjoyable atmosphere that would make anyone want to go back. The food has never failed me, and I have eaten there numerous times. The specials are always fun and exciting especially for breakfast. One Saturday morning I ordered a yogurt parfait that had fabulous fresh fruit.. And did not lack in size! The only thing holding me back from 5 stars is the wait for food. Please come and enjoy but try not to come in a rush.. It usually takes 30-40 mins for your meal.. Although it is well worth the wait, sometimes with an impatient child waiting seems endless! But I highly recommend a quaint spot that gives decent portions for a little on the higher price side! Sandwich specials are delicious as well!!! Please help out the local business and enjoy!!! read more

By far the best breakfast I've had in the area. Their specials are seasonal and always changing. I had the french toast with strawberries and kiwi... Amazing. Also tasted the home fries which are very well seasoned. The crêpes were very good as well. Cozy country atmosphere. Will be going back very soon... Can't wait to try something new. read more

The Parkside Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

Popular cafe but the food wasn't wow for me. It definitely is mom and pop and you can tell it's well loved by the community. It just.... isn't that special among small town america. read more

Everyone in parkside cafe make me and my family welcome and the food is fantastic we love to go there.

The Parkside Cafe was such an amazing find. My boyfriend and I ate there and split the Greek omelette and the strawberry banana crepe. First let me say that the prices are amazing. You can get 2 eggs and toast for $2.99 Very family friendly! But if your a real foodie like us you have to try this place.. And it's not far from ESPN headquarters. Ok first, Holy moly the home fries are ridiculous. I mean insane flavor in the crisp parts and not greasy! The omelette was so light and best quality ingredients and it had a little sweetness from the vidalia onion and garlic. The rye bread was the real deal! So nice to have fresh bread and not crap butter. Now about the crepe. It was put your fork down and take a minute, good. We could barely finish it but had too. Each bite was too good to waste. The mascarpone cheese and light crepe dough was creamy but not too sweet. It was loaded with bananas and strawberries. No sugar or syrup needed! It was literally perfection in my mouth. The homemade whipped cream just took it over the top. If these two items were so good I want to try the place for lunch and dinner!! read more

The Parkside Cafe - The Greek omelette. - Cafes Near Me - Bristol, Connecticut

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The meal I had here is in my top 5 meals I've ever eaten in a restaurant in my entire life. Random back story, I stumbled across this place while my husband and I were in the area to pick up a Craiglist find. It was late morning/early afternoon so I yelped restaurants in the area looking for something pretty basic, maybe brunch. Parkside Cafe popped right up and it had great reviews, so we figured why not? The cafe itself is small and the parking isn't that easy, but it's oh-so worth it. The staff was very friendly and the service was quick. We both had coffee, which was delicious. I chose a crepe from their specials menu, I believe it was called a black and blue crepe or something to that effect. It was a crepe with blueberries and blackberries. This is what was hands down one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten. The flavors were perfect, it was cooked excellently, I cannot even put into enough words how great this crepe was. I had home fries on the side, which were shockingly fantastic as well. Nothing run-of-the-mill about them. They were cut larger than normal home fries I am used to getting, and the flavor was outstanding. Go to this cafe. Seriously. Don't think twice, just go. read more