Food was fantastic. Private owned by Julie and family and they buy all their own high quality ingredients included organic free range eggs. Looks like they have very loyal clientele that have been coming there for decades. Some pretty much have their own assigned seats. Menu has expanded a little from the usual Diner fare, and it looks fantastic. I will definitely be back and will be telling my friends. I'm so tired of the corporate places and dealing with an owner makes a huge difference. The decor has been left old world on purpose, as the customers don't want Julie to change it. read more

I love this place! The food is great and the coffee is too. It's a small little place that on first glance you might just pass over, but trust me-it's worth trying. read more

Well all the years I have been in the area, never tried this place. The woman that owns this place is nice and friendly and always laughing and smiling. But if you think you are coming into this place and are going to be able to get any market based hot sauce, ketchup or anything like that, even coffee think again!! Everything she makes here is homemade. At one point I was going to ask her, are your tables and chairs homemade as well? ;-) She has many regulars! What I ordered which was a basic breakfast was really not anything to write home about, I did not care for the bacon nor their homemade sauce nor her mixes of coffee, it just did not work for me. I went with another YELP ELITE colleague, I think they felt the same way. Would I be back, sure I would like to give it another try with perhaps some other plate. I think for sure the owner is welcoming and has had so many people come here for years, perhaps I ordered the wrong thing? I am not sure. I was not that impressed, sorry. read more

Stopped by Village Pantry for breakfast and it had a very low-key, old-school diner vibe. It was so quiet when I walked in that I genuinely wasn't sure if it was open at first. Kind of a peaceful, almost frozen-in-time feel compared to the busier brunch spots around town. If you're looking for a simple, no-frills breakfast and a calm start to the morning, this is a great option. read more

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It's easy to miss this lowkey spot when walking around downtown Los Altos, but if you're one of those people with a soft spot for good old school diner / breakfast places, then you shouldn't miss this spot. It's not going to be mindblowing, gourmet food, but it delivers on that classic diner experience. The indoor space may seem small but they have a spacious back patio area that's great on a nice day. The chef's omelette (I got it scrambled) was tasty - I wasn't sure how well ground beef would work, but it worked. The blueberry crepe I found too sweet and heavy for me. My partner enjoyed his chicken fried steak. read more

You don't find these great locally owned lunch spots around! Great food and friendly staff! If you're in the area stop by. Perfect spot for breakfast , brunch of lunch read more

Looking for delicious breakfast place in the downtown of Los Altos - Village Pantry serves a variety of delicious breakfast options including egg Benedict, omelette, pancakes and waffles. Also, they serve a variety of lunch options including club sandwiches, burgers specials with sautéed onion, and mushroom and more. Fresh homemade soups and salad dressing. Weekend specials (e.g., golden brown fish and chips, blueberries crape, and crab cakes salad) are available. Village Pantry cares about their customers and serves their customers the best way possible. Enjoy beautiful patio dining experience to start your day. read more

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Low key OG diner with the classics - pancakes, waffles, eggs. We generally have brunch at home but when I want a chicken fried steak, this is the place - tasty homemade gravy, crispy hash browns. Homemade split pea soup is also a highlight. Yes, is basic - patio furniture, Smucker's jelly, unlimited coffee. It's no-frill's and does not claim to be otherwise. read more

Courteous wait staff. Enjoyed their outdoor patio which is dog friendly. Menu offered a good variety of items. I had the San Francisco Eggs Benedict. The sauce was tasty but I didn't expect imitation crab meat. Although real crab meat would have been nice, the price was very reasonable (so I should have known they wouldn't use real crab meat). Definitely a great place for weekend brunch. The outdoor garden area was very welcoming. It was quite busy during this time but I did get seating right away. Would love to come back and try other things on their menu. Street parking and public parking lots are available nearby. read more

Village Pantry - Eggs San Francisco - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Altos, California

Friendly service. Family atmosphere with many regulars. Had the blueberry pancakes which arrived with minimal wait. Coffee was good and was topped off often. With photos on the wall you can tell this place has been around for awhile with its cozy ambiance. Seating outside with a few booths and counter seating also. read more

Cute little cafe. Grabbed the veggie omelette but it wasn't to mine or my baby's liking. It tasted very oily and the mushrooms were subpar, there was barely any egg for it being an omelette, and the texture just wasn't there. For a simple breakfast, it's okay, but honestly nothing special. read more

Quintessential old-school coffee shop. Has all the best hits that you're looking for in an OG diner. Great service and super welcoming staff. It's what I needed after a night of drinking and eating at mediocre a Michelin star restaurant that disappointed. read more

When the bill came, I noticed that 3 out of 4 items were quietly marked up by $1 each compared to the menu (Yes. I have good memory). When I contested, the manager (an older Asian lady) acted completely unapologetic, almost as if this was routine. She quickly corrected the prices and returned the check, but the whole situation felt intentional rather than an honest mistake. To me, that's an integrity issue. After checking past yelp reviews, it's clear to me that there is a consistent pattern. On top of that, they only accept cash or Venmo, something they don't tell you upfront. If they're willing to cut corners like this, it raises the bigger question: what else might they be cutting corners on, especially when it comes to the food? I've been to this restaurant a few times over the past year. This visit will be my last. read more

Amazing atmosphere. The owners are fantastic and super friendly! They are very engaged and the food is superb. Recommend the Philly cheesesteak and sub the fries for homemade split pea soup. Definitely coming back! read more

A locally owned restaurant with friendly staff. The food is what you'd expect when coming into a diner. The price is decent for the quantity you receive with each dish! There's outside seating in the back patio, so it's really nice when it's sunny out. Minus one star for being cash only, so be sure to get some cash before you come! read more

We are in Palo Alto because my dad is having open heart surgery at the VA down the street. My mom and I needed to grab a bite before our nerves completely took over, so we searched for breakfast nearby and decided on Village Pantry after seeing a photo of their chicken fried steak. It looked amazing...and it absolutely was. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by the owner, Julie, with the warmest smile. She immediately apologized that it was cold inside because their heater had gone out, but she had already brought in space heaters and even moved one closer to our table to keep us warm. She was kind, attentive, and smiling the entire time. I'll admit, the eclectic decor and unique bathroom setup initially caught me off guard. But don't let the charm and quirks of the building fool you. The food was phenomenal, and the customer service was truly something special. There was only one other customer there, a regular, and it was clear this place is deeply loved. The walls are covered with photos and Christmas cards from families who have been coming here for decades...locals who have become family to Julie and her staff. I ordered the chicken fried steak, and it was exactly what I had hoped for. I haven't had one that good in decades. The gravy was absolutely drool-worthy. Everything is made fresh. Nothing frozen! And Julie comes in early every morning to hand-slice the hash browns herself. My mom had eggs, hash browns, and crispy, mouth-watering bacon. Even the sourdough toast was outstanding. Julie asked why we were in town, and when we shared about my dad's surgery, she prayed for him and gave us a heartfelt blessing. To top it all off, as the regular customer was leaving, he stopped by our table, told us he was praying for my dad's heart surgery, and wished us a Merry Christmas. I teared up. Moments later, Julie came over and told us that he had paid for our meal. I completely welled up. That kindness meant more than words can say. Especially on such a heavy and emotional day. It was exactly the kind of thing my dad would do for someone else, which made it even more meaningful. As if that wasn't enough, we packed up our leftover toast and bacon to take back to the hotel since we don't have much there. Julie actually ran out to our car to bring us forks and napkins. She reminds me so much of my mother-in-law ...always making sure everyone is fed, comfortable, and cared for. If you want delicious food in a place that truly feels like home, please come here. We hugged Julie before leaving because it genuinely felt like we were meant to be there this morning... like it was exactly what we needed to get through a very difficult day. Village Pantry took a hit after the pandemic and doesn't see as much foot traffic as it deserves. Please support this place. Just go. You won't regret it. read more

This place has been in los Altos downtown forever. We stopped by because my fiancé was in the mood for breakfast. He ordered the chicken fried steak and he thought it was just okay. He thought it tasted like something from Costco. I ordered the salmon eggs Benedict. The menu said it was smoked salmon but it turned out to be hot smoked salmon. Service is very courteous but the food is just okay. Items were also kind of expensive read more

Village Pantry - Salmon eggs Benedict - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Altos, California

I eat here every other month! I always get the Louisiana Scramble special with hash browns! The staff is very friendly! read more

Village Pantry - Louisiana Sausage Scramble and whole wheat bread! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Altos, California

This is such a piece of Los Altos History! I have been eating here since I arrived in the Bay Area 30 years ago............The owner always has a smile, the food is nice and fresh and just a comfortable happy place to eat Breakfast or Lunch!! I personally love to eat my Breakfast out back on Archie's patio where I often talk local sports with the other patrons that I have come to know. The inside is a throwback to a turn of the century Main Street diner / cafe. Complete with Bar Stools, classic booths and tables. From the outside, it is a classic welcoming and historic structure that defines the village of Los Altos! Like any other legacy establishment in a town known often as a village, patronize these places, they tell the best stories, the food has been great for decades and we all need to do our best to make sure they are doing well the next time we come around!! Stop in and say hello, grab some pancakes, a Crab Omelette? Or a Benedict of some sort!! read more

We enjoy this restaurant fairly often the menu has something for everyone in our group from Vegan Burge,r to Joe Scramble, to Fish and chips. My (adult) kids love all the breakfast choices. The food is always good and served by the friendly owner. I especially like the fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. Indoor/Outdoor dining. Just remember, they take cash only or Venmo. read more

Went for Lunch Food - 5/5. The country fried steak was tender with a satisfying bite from the thickness. The gravy was rich with a good balance of seasoning from black pepper. Despite the gravy, the batter maintained a substantial crunch to it. Hash browns were a beautiful golden brown and was crispy with a soft center. The oil flavor wasn't too strong and it paired well with either ketchup or the gravy. Eggs were fluffy and the bread was toasted well. Service - 4/5. There was a good "old town neighborhood restaurant" atmosphere coming from the decor and the very friendly demeanor of the owner. Food came out promptly and service was readily available. Value - 3/5. The food is good and the portion sizes are fine but it is on the expensive side with the chicken fried steak being $18. The bills are handwritten and I'm not entirely sure how my total became $20.72. It wasn't too upsetting, but hitting that $20s range for a single breakfast item felt like too much. Parking - Street/Municipal Lot (Free) read more

Village Pantry - Chicken Fried Steak - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Altos, California

Fabulous Food * Courteous, knowledgeable service * Incredibly delicious coffee * Crab salad divinely tasty, super fresh ingredients For SURE, I'm coming back read more

Hidden breakfast and lunch joint with above average food. Our server (Asian lady) was energetic and passionate about her job. I love frequenting places like this especially in Los Altos. We will be back again read more

Came here on a whim, and loved the nostalgia diner feel to this place. Customer pictures on the walls, kids drawings, it was easy to tell that this is a special spot for locals. I was kind of in a rush but saw a tuna melt on the menu and had to get it. It came with fries. The tuna wasn't too heavy on the mayo and had good flavor. It was simple yet delicious. For $11-13 it was on the smaller side without any fixings. I think some lettuce and tomato would be the move. I did try their homemade blue cheese dressing which was good, would definitely eat that on a salad. It's cash only. And they have both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Comforting diner food, with the mismatched chairs and tables on the sunny patio to boot. I ordered the classic breakfast #2 with a side of waffles; my partner ordered the chicken fried steak. The food hits the spot you want a greasy spoon to hit - delectable, pairs well with coffee, and not too expensive. Service is straightforward and prompt. Cash only, or Venmo. Come prepared. read more

30yr old family-owned business :) Super friendly and welcoming ladies. Cash only! Their plastic chairs + tables with plastic covers remind me of casual restaurants in Asia haha. Food here was pretty decent for the price and offers indoor + outdoor dining. Tuna salad - Fresh vegetables and goooood enough of tuna that was really delicious! Can't really go wrong with this simple plate. Crab cake salad - They don't use real crab meat here! But crab cakes had tons of imitation meat, were pretty big, and tasty as well. Chicken fried steak - Chicken was fried really well and wasn't dry thank god. Hashed brown was a bit too burnt but still seasoned really well. So glad eggs were "authentic" = didn't have milk or water added. Salmon Benedict - Each benedict was pretty big but eggs were over-poached so they weren't as runny like I expected. House potatoes were a bit too dry and didn't have much flavor. Appreciated the small bowl of fruit though. Hot cakes - Nothing special about these. Simple and as expected lol. read more

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Village Pantry has been on 2nd street in Los Altos for over 25 years. It's not the decor, which is unchanged since the 40's , with wooden booths, counter stools, and vinyl cushions. It's not the exotic cuisine, despite the ownership which blends Asian and Caucasian threads. It might be the homemade split-pea soup which Julie concocts in a crock pot every week. It might be the amazing fish and chips which bring customers including Chef Chu' s Lawrence Chu back week after week. It might be the perfectly fried, scrambled, or poached eggs. It might be the way Julie greets her regulars and remembers "your usual." It might be the dog-friendly, family-friendly outdoor patio, surrounded by bougaianvillea, banana and fig trees, and holiday memorabilia which hang year-round. At any rate, it's one of our favorites, and might become yours! read more

Went for the first time today with my mother in law and family. Great service, lovely environment, would recommend for good for food and relaxed vibe. Thanks for the friendly service. read more

I have mentioned this before, but The Pantry has the best Garden Burger in town!! Julie makes them fresh daily and gets rave reviews!! This cafe is a throwback from the 60's diners. The outdoor patio is a hidden gem that allows dogs. Big fluffy Archie makes the rounds. Some folks don't like the cash only policy, I find it part of the charm read more

Amazing food and service! Food came out quickly and was delicious!10/10 would recommend for a cute brunch place

Do I not already have a review in this small hometown place. Really enjoy going here , the owner knows everyone and the food always comes out fast and fresh ! Location is good , little off Main Street but you can walk the town easily from here. Has counter space and with both interior and exterior seating Note this place only takes cash , no other means of payment But give it a try !! read more

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I am finding, as I get older, that things like consistency are important. I don't like surprises, especially when I eat!! THIS is why I am so glad I found the gem that is Village Pantry. Not only is the food CONSISTENTLY good, it is fresh, well portioned and always prepared just like I like it. Breakfast being my favorite meal ... the eggs are perfectly prepared whether they are on top of my Waffle or covered in delicious homemade Hollandaise sauce. The bacon, YUMMMM, always crispy and the hash browns??? Fhuggedaboudit. (Did I spell that right?) and the coffee ... let me just share, that bad coffee is a meal killer for me ... never omce has my meal been killed at Village Pantry. The coffee is always plentiful, hot and served with REAL Half and Half! Every once in awhile I treat myself to orange juice, and let me tell you, it IS fresh squeezed and delicious. I had some today (hump day treat) and I can feel the immunity sourcing through my veins chasing away my sniffles! The atmosphere is very folksy. There are consistently (theres that word again) barstools, booths and outdoor seating filled with regulars. No one seems to have to order because Julie (the Owner) remembers the orders even if it was five years ago. Its uncanny. Im hoping to get to that status! Village Pantry is not pretentious, fancy or trendy ... but is IS consistent, delicious, fresh and homemade ... right down to the Hot Sauce repurposed using Tabasco bottles ... and Im here for it!! read more

Great food and excellent service. Cute place to go to lunch. The booths seating is absurdity comfortable, feels like when my family has family breakfast together. I just felt relaxed. read more

My wife and I just went here for the first time on a friend's recommendation. It doesn't look like much from the street, modest inside with a warm family atmosphere including hundreds of pictures on the walls of customers. Our waitress Judy was excellent and knew pretty much everyone that was there including a family with 2 kids in their late teens or early twenties that she's known since the kids were in elementary school. The food was great and served quickly, including the home made hot sauce, we will definitely be back. read more

I really don't like giving unsatisfactory reviews when the owners/staff are friendly. But as a researcher who believes in the importance of capturing feedback on a representative sampling of customers and their experiences, I feel its important to share all the good and bad. The Good - Friendly service - Good coffee with free refills The Not So Good (the food and cash-only/Venmo pay options) - Omelettes On the menu, there is a decent selection of omelettes including custom orders. Not being a fan of omelettes which tend to be overcooked and dry, I asked if I could have my order served as a wet scramble. Our server said that could be done. So, when the dish arrived, I was surprised to to receive an overcooked omelette. I mentioned it to the server and she offered to bring me a new order. I bit the bullet and told her I would eat it as is... as I didn't want to waste food. To my surprise, this simple dish with three added ingredients (mushrooms, avocado, and cheese) did not have any cheese which made it even drier. So, I asked for a new order as a wet scramble. When the new dish arrived, it was probably the most overcooked egg scramble I had ever eaten. The coffee came in handy to wash it down. - Pancakes My wife ordered pancakes and received a couple razor thin ones that were more of a snack than a meal. Not expecting to receive real maple syrup, we were surprised that the fake syrup was served in what looked like a real maple syrup container. read more

Highly recommend for a nice relaxing brunch if you're looking for fantastic classic brunch menu and great service. My husband and I have been coming to Village Pantry for years. They have a large outdoor patio dining area which is perfect for brunch/lunch. Additional plus for being a local family owned business! read more

Finally came here after walking past it so many times and it was delicious! First off, sit outside! It's warm, cozy, and overall such a pleasure. Inside is okay, but sitting outside makes you feel like you're in a different place. The service was great. We had Julie take our order and at first she's fast and may throw you off, but she is good! The food overall was delicious. The omelettes are fluffy and light. I like how the ingredients here and bought locally and is bought fresh. I love love love the hash browns! Knowing that Julie gets up early and makes them at 5am says it all. She truly puts love into it and it sure makes a difference! The price range is typical for Los Altos, if not just a tad bit cheaper. I don't think it's as expensive as other places or maybe it's the same, but I remember that they are in a pricy area so it makes sense for the price to be on higher end. It is cash only for through their Venmo. I had a great experience overall. Definitely stop by here! read more

Man. This place was awful. I'm super surprised by the reviews on yelp sometimes. Got a mushroom burger, a chorizo quesadilla, and a breakfast plate. The burger really was the worst part. No way its a fresh patty. It's gotta be a frozen patty. Takes kindve like a BK whopper patty. Look at how thin it is in my picture. Are like two bites and didn't finish it. The fries are 100% some Oro Ida golden fries. $16 for a whopper like burger. Rather get a whopper. The chorizo quesadilla was SUPER greasy. Plate was covered in a red oil. Not good. Oh, and we sent back a lemonade cause it tasted like the used old lemons. The patio is nice. But the food is low quality. Save your money. read more

Village Pantry - Look at how thin that patty is. 100% gotta be a frozen patty. It's like a whopper patty. Didn't even finish it - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Altos, California

Love the food and the cozy atmosphere. We have been coming here for years and have never been disappointed.

4/1/2021 The Village Pantry 184 Second Street Los Altos, California 94022 Menu Alert! As a recent pandemic customer, I noticed that the menu lacked the Reuben Sandwich, a deli and diner staple which seemed a gap with the VP diner vision. I brought this up with Julie during my last visit and I described the RS and thought they had most of the components already. Julie told me that they would work on creating one. Less than a week later when ordering a Village Benedict, Julie said they have a Reuben now, so I got that also. The short story is that the Reuben was executed well with all the elements tasty and harmonious. Corned beef, home made sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and grilled Rye bread were all perfectly delicious. The Russian dressing was a highlight with a slight hint of horse radish to get your attention. Will definitely repeat the Reuben. read more

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