Old Monterey Cafe
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Hours
Sun
6:45 AM - 2:30 PM
Mon
6:45 AM - 2:30 PM
Tue
6:45 AM - 2:30 PM
Wed
6:45 AM - 2:30 PM
Thu
6:45 AM - 2:30 PM
Fri
6:45 AM - 2:30 PM
Sat
6:45 AM - 2:30 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Details
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CUISINES
American, Cafe
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch
features
Menu
Does this restaurant have tables with seating?
Details
CUISINES
American, Cafe
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch
FEATURES
Takeout, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
674 reviews
Excellent
410
Very good
188
Average
45
Poor
21
Terrible
10
MollyWood
United Kingdom13 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
Fantastic breakfast which matched our high expectations having read previous reviews. I had the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon which was delicious and very well cooked. My wife had an omelette with fresh fruit which she also really enjoyed. Two excellent plates of food, with quality fresh ingredients simply cooked. Coffee was also very good and better than most other places we tried locally. Service was excellent. Only criticism was that it was quite pricey, but to be fair this seems to be typical across Monterey which isn’t a moderately priced place to eat if you’re planning to visit
Written July 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edward D
419 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
Reasonable prices. Place was crowded (and tables are kind of close to each other). The strongest point was the SERVICE: they were on it, moving as quickly as they could while remaining helpful and considerate.
I thought the pancakes above average: you tasted the buttermilk! Eggs were fine, my husband liked the hash browns. I had the grits, which had a generous amount of butter on it (a plus), but were a little lukewarm and a little lumpy. My biscuit ... there are many kinds of biscuits, this one was more compressed and also could have been a little warmer but was good.
This is a handy place if you're downtown. My guess is there are more remarkable breakfast places, but if I was in this neighborhood I might go back.
Oh, it's not the restaurant's fault, but parking is a bit of a pill.
Written December 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DRMSR2014
Nashville100 contributions
May 2022 • solo
This is without a doubt my favorite breakfast spot in Monterey. The service is and food are excellent and served very fast. The portions are massive. one could easily split breakfast with someone else and be completely satisfied The omelets are excellent and so are the pecan pancakes. If you prefer bacon and eggs you can't go wrong there either.
Written May 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debra B
5 contributions
Sep 2024 • family
Enjoyed food but not tacked on extra charge. My omelette said it came with avocado, broccoli and shrimp but I was charged 3.50 for the vegetables. Service ce was fine. Lady behind us wasn’t happy with her skimpy sandwich for 19.00 can’t blame her. Food is good but not a fan of paying extra and I knew it wasn’t going to get fixed when I asked. Guess they lost my return business. Tourist trap city
Written September 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
50plus3
Los Angeles12 contributions
Sep 2022 • none
We decided to stop here for an early breakfast on Sunday morning. The food looked good and there seemed to be a few people inside enjoying breakfast.
The food was average for a breakfast place. The service was an entirely different story. The person busing the tables and passing out coffee and water an older gentleman seemed to set the tone for the service we received.
One of the coffee cups had a stain inside. We mentioned it and the older man switched cups from another table, no problem. It took 15 minutes for the waitress to take our order, the café was not overly busy. The waitress seemed strained to give a smile. We asked for water followed by another 10 minute wait. The food as I stated was not bad and not exceptional.
All in all if I decide to visit Monterey again I will give this café a pass based on the quality of customer service for fairly average food.
Written September 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cheryla477
Los Angeles17 contributions
Apr 2022 • none
Our experience did not match the hype. Coffee was awful, eggs crumbly, waffles were good, but the banana pancakes were regular pancakes with several large banana chunks in them, which were not what my companion expected. We requested hash browns crisp or "nearly burnt" and got mushy, undercooked ones.
Lightning fast busing the table when we finished eating, but when we asked for a napkin and water for spilled syrup, it took forever. The wait staff were nice and the bacon was good, but there were a lot of underwhelming aspects to this breakfast.
We really wanted to love this place, but our experience there was disappointing.
Written April 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Evelyn K
33 contributions
Apr 2023 • solo
It’s a combination of many elements that make for a perfect meal. So many times I’ve gone for breakfast in a local place and one or two elements are really good, but the others really are not. Sometimes the coffee is great, the food is bad, vice versa. Then, it’s the service that is either lacking or great.
This place has it all. Just looking at it from the outside you wouldn’t expect it to be quite as perfect as it is, but it is.
Coffee was served from a pot, that made me nervous, but it was just fine. The breakfast was two eggs over easy, sourdough toast, a few sausage links on the side, and grits. I had to remove the huge dollop of butter that was in the middle of the grits, and that was no problem, because the taste was already there. I won’t go into details to why each of these elements were so perfect but they were. You can’t take anything for granted these days, and I was knocked out, not only by that, but by that gracious, but not overly-done friendliness of the staff. That means a lot, especially when you’re eating alone.
Written April 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen B
Fountain44 contributions
Mar 2022 • couples
We had breakfast here the first day of March 2022 and we both loved it. My husband had the thick French toast with two eggs and I had an omelette with spinach and onions and feta cheese. Both of our meals were huge. Service was excellent. We will definitely go back
Written March 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryan K
Marina5 contributions
Mar 2024 • solo
I have been searching everywhere for a “breakfast” restaurant that has a traditional Monte Cristo sandwich on their menu and I found it at this downtown Monterey restaurant! Excellent food & service! Don’t know why it took me so long to try Old Monterey Cafe👍✅❗️❤️
Written March 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roberts69
Northampton18912 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
I always love a hearty All American breakfast when I am travelling in the USA and the breakfast I had at the 'Old Monterey Cafe' in Monterey, California ticked all the boxes. Welcoming atmosphere, a great breakfast menu, friendly efficient staff, reasonable prices, great mugs of coffee and generous portions of American comfort food. The restaurant was busy (full to capacity) at 10am on a Saturday morning but the wait for a table was not too long at all. I had the 2 Eggs with Corned Beef Hash and it was just what I needed to start my Saturday. The cost was US$16.53 (inc Tax) for my breakfast with a mug of coffee and it was worth every cent. I would recommend this great Cafe for anyone after a proper 'American' Breakfast.
Written March 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Smoltman
Courtenay10771 contributions
Nov 2022 • couples
This little cafe was very busy and the servers were hustling!
Lots to choose from the menu and we started with a coffee and a tea.
My wife who is more into whole food had the oatmeal with blueberries - she really enjoyed it.
I had 2 eggs, hash browns and the grilled calamari . It was fantastic! Itzel was our server and she did a great job.
Good pricing, good food and good service. The perfect trifecta!
Written November 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J Z
2 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
While the food was very good at Old Monterey Cafe, the service was far less than ideal. The servers were surly and the coffee refills were slapdash and almost landed in our laps. Our elderly aunt passed on a coffee refill because she was afraid she'd get burned with hot coffee. If they don't have enough staff to adequately serve the patrons, they need to cut down on the tables and provide better service...and do it with a smile. The single bathroom was filthy (pools of urine along the back of the toilet & on the floor...it was in dire need of attention). I cringed when our elderly aunt needed to use the bathroom. Will not be back as there are so many other restaurants in the area of Carmel and Pacific Grove that serve good food, take care of their bathrooms, and provide the kind of service that let's you know they appreciate your patronage.
Written November 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bajafishing
Los Banos77 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
Haven’t been there in 15 years and the food was just as good yesterday as it was 15 years ago. The workers share all the work so you might have three or four people serving you. Fast service and great food. Asked for a side of gravy for my country potatoes and she replied”if we have it in the kitchen you can have it”.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosemary L
10 contributions
Mar 2020 • family
Excellent Breakfast. Don’t be fooled by the line you will be seated fast and the food is well worth it. They serve breakfast and lunch. Cute cafe. French toast is excellent and comes with eggs sausage or bacon. Eggs Benedict are wonderful.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marti B
73 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
If you are staying the the "downtown" area of Monterey, this spot is and easy walk from places like The Marriot, The Monterey Hotel and Casa Munras.
The menu is big so take a minute to review the choices. I really like that there are a bunch of options including egg whites, grits, and fruit. Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice is even an option. I didn't see any vegan specific items but there are some vegetarian options for sure.
The service is quick and efficient. Everything was tasty and just what we needed to fuel up for the road trip home.
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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