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    101 Cafe

    3.5 (413 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    101 CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - 101 Cafe

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    Nipsy T.

    Mediocre food. Decent service. Floors were pretty dirty. Oh well. Won't return. Lots a great places to eat in Oceanside so check out other restaurants.

    Travis C.

    We have driven past this place many times. We were staying in Oceanside for the weekend so we made it a point to stop for breakfast. It's a cool little historic spot and definitely has the 50's diner vibes. I had the French toast and it was great. Our server was fantastic. Very attentive and kept our coffee filled. Would definitely go back.

    Rubbery pancakes, limp & flavorless bacon & eggs
    Tracy H.

    Finally checked out Cafe 101. Parking is tight. Arrived around 8:45. Not busy at all, however, it filled up pretty quick once we sat down. We weren't even really greated when we walked in, just told to have a seat anywhere. The place was really cold inside. The tabletops are metal so that made it even colder. The waitress came over with the menus and took our drink order. When she brought our drinks, we placed our order. We went with pancakes with eggs & bacon and Deep South (biscuits & gravy). When our food came, she asked if we needed anything else, ketchup, which she brought. She didn't come back to our table until she brought our check. The food was very poor quality. The pancakes were rubbery. Bacon was limp & flavorless. Weird because the bacon looked cooked. The biscuits & gravy were horrible. The gravy was bland and the sausage was like the size of rabbit s***. The biscuits were so dry. And there was only enough gravy for 3/4 of a biscuit. The hash browns were the only thing good about this meal. Big disappointment.

    Turkey BLT with Fries and OJ Mimosa
    Incredibledible T.

    The food here is fantastic. I ordered a BLT and must say it was very filling. The mimosas are not bad, keep you feeling nice a bit. Should out to Angelica, she has amazing customer service skills and hope that she serves me again when I come back! :)

    Larry N.

    Just what we needed! Meatloaf was actually moist without needing gravy. That's rare enough by itself. But always appreciate a retro 101/road theme diner decor.

    Jes M.

    Good and local breakfast spot that is inexpensive. The service was super quick and had food on table in no time. I'll try the breakfast burrita next time.

    Sara-Marie C.

    My visit to Café 101 in Oceanside was a mixed bag of experiences. Nestled alongside the picturesque beach, this quaint café offers a cozy outdoor patio that's delightfully dog-friendly. The service was warm and welcoming, adding to the charm of the place. It was giving nostalgic hole in the wall on the side of the highway in Vegas Typa feel how you doing? As a breakfast enthusiast, I couldn't resist trying out their all-day breakfast and brunch offerings. The eggs Benedict were a highlight, cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. However, the portion sizes left something to be desired, reflecting the adage that you get what you pay for. French fries were steak fries that were good but my least favorite style of fry if you must. Opting for the ABC omelette, filled with avocado, bacon, and cheese, I had high hopes. Unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. The bacon, rather than the savory strips I anticipated, tasted more like generic bacon bits, overwhelming the dish. The cheese and avocado were scant, failing to balance the flavors adequately. Despite the disappointment with my entrée, I appreciate the variety on the menu and the potential for other options to shine. As a breakfast lover eager to give second chances, I plan to return to Café 101 to explore different offerings. Perhaps a switch to traditional bacon strips could elevate the experience and win my heart. In summary, Café 101 offers a charming ambiance, friendly service, and some delicious highlights like the eggs Benedict. However, inconsistencies in portion sizes and execution of dishes, like the ABC omelette, leave room for improvement. With its prime location and potential, I remain hopeful for a more satisfying breakfast experience on my next visit. We got front row parking, very small lot YAY

    Lunch
    Jus S.

    The sad part is I've lived in Oceanside for a long time and I just stumbled across this place for the first time. I enjoyed a BLT with the crispiest bacon and an amazing root beer float which I have had in a very long time. Serviss was pleasant And attentive from the staff in the ambience has that old-school diner field so that was pretty cool. I got spending about an hour and a half in there just kind of eating while waiting for my tires put on my car. Definitely recommend that anyone passing through Oceanside stop by the diner and grab a BLT and a root beer Float.

    Pancakes with biscuits & gravy

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    Food was not fresh, corn beef hash was mushy and the potatoes were overcooked. The cost did not reflect the quality of food they served.

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    Great mimosa's and the best sourdough burger! Love the little gift shop they have across the way.

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    John D.

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    Page 2 of 11

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    First time here and already a fan. Met a friend for breakfast here and the walk up service was…read moregreat. The girl behind the counter was approachable and patient. It was early enough that we were able to get a seat inside. It's pretty small inside but super cozy, they also have sitting outside so you can enjoy the view. The breakfast was fresh good and it came with their famous coffee cake which is really tasty. Thank you Stratford at the Harbor for your hospitality and tasty breakfast. When we are in the area again we will definitely be back.

    Man, such a disappointment. Health code violations at the end…read more FOOD - meh. Maybe a 3 star at best for food quality and taste. The harbor burrito was fine but nothing special. Berry Crunch French Toast, same thing. Our friends ate the Stratford Scramble and it was just 3/5 as well. PRICE - considering the food is nothing special, I wondered why we are paying a higher price for it. Definitely overpriced unless you really care about eating at the harbor, looking at the water through some dirty glass. SERVICE - their current set up is to take your order, take your money, and give you a number. That would fine and dandy except that the girl who was taking orders ALSO had to play bartender. The line seems to be so long and take forever because she'll take your order, then spend 5 minutes making drinks or doing something else before taking the next person's order. Maybe this is their way to handle the traffic because tables are full and maybe they are down staff members. Either way, I was disappointed at the speed/organization. HEALTH CODE VIOLATION - the cherry on top to all of this happened since I had so much time in line to observe. The girl taking orders would take an order, process payment by touching the POS system, then scoop ice into a glass for the drink she was making (this time was a Bloody Mary), handle bottles of alcohol, and FINALLY, touch the bacon and garnishes for the Bloody Mary all without washing her hands. No doubt there have been many hands that have touched all of those things and contaminated them, all for her to touch food at the end without washing her hands. The POS system is also about 10 feet away from the bathroom so all of this adds up to something that seems risky and needs to be fixed.

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    Highlights! Service is always on point no matter who helps you. The pastries are fresh daily (we…read morealways take about 3-4 home) and their regular breakfast and lunch menu is tasty and filling. The restaurant is self seating after you order and the restaurant is consistently clean, soft music in the background, and rotating artists are featured on their walls. We love coming here (weekly if possible). We like to bring our pups and sit on the sizable patio outside, but there is more than enough room to sit inside too. The front of the house team is always moving (serving, cleaning, welcoming guests, etc.) but they are they are always personable and polite. Thank you to Joey who helped us today; we left the register laughing. I know this may see small to some, but the service here seems to care a little more and that has made a big difference in our experiences.

    I stopped in for an iced vanilla latte and a couple of pastries, a plain Croissant, and Cinnamon…read moreRaisin Roll. I was hoping for a bigger selection of pastries but know item availability can fluctuate. There were 4-5 different pastries. There was a good selection of desserts. I was there on a Friday morning around 9:30. There were several open tables. It was about a 5 minute wait for my iced latte. Both pastries were tasty. The Croissant was buttery goodness. I appreciated that it didn't flake everywhere. I only had a bite of the Cinnamon Raisin Roll. That was my husband's and he enjoyed it. Plenty of raisins. Service is great. I interacted with 3 different employees and all were very nice. Staff is upbeat. They appeared to get along well with each other. It made for a great experience all around.

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    Buccaneer Cafe

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    If you're anywhere near Oceanside, do yourself a favor and stop by this spot. It's a casual…read moreorder-at-the-window setup, which makes it perfect for a laid-back beach morning. I ordered the California breakfast burrito with kalua pork, and wow--easily one of the most delicious burritos I've had. The flavors were incredible, perfectly balanced, and just ridiculously satisfying. I'm honestly a little sad I'm just visiting because I know I'm going to be craving this long after I leave. I paired it with a Mexi mocha, which was also fantastic--rich and comforting, with that nostalgic Abuelita chocolate vibe that makes it feel extra special. On top of the amazing food, the service was super sweet and impressively fast. And the view? You really can't beat enjoying your meal right by the beach. All around, an unforgettable casual breakfast experience. I'll definitely be thinking about that burrito for a long time.

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    They open at 7 am. We were there at 6:50. It was worth the wait.

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    Piper - Piper Exterior with Ocean Views.

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    We loved our dinner here! I was a bit skeptical since it is a restaurant inside a hotel, but we…read morehad a wonderful time. Located in the SeaBird Resort in downtown Oceanside right across from the beach, Piper has that classy beachside aesthetic with light grey and sand wood colors. They have a nice outside area for drinks and lounging, but we ate inside. We had a reservation for a Saturday evening and when we arrived, we were sat right away. Our party of 4 started off with the Prager Bros bread & whipped butter with sea salt and the Grilled Peaches appetizer. The grilled peaches came with burrata cheese and I really liked the two flavors and consistencies together. A friend got the lobster & coconut soup, whipped smoked eggplant, and I had the house-made spaghetti and meatball. It was a beef meatball My other friend got the Steak frites which was grilled prime NY Steak with bone marrow, chimichurri and of course french fries. Also good.

    We had a large group for dinner of 11 people and this restaurant really did not deliver in terms of…read moreservice. We had to ask to even order entrees. The restaurant was not very busy as I saw some open tables. Our waiter really was the worst. He seemed inattentive and then borderline rude when we asked to order. We sat down and got our food 2 hours later. Then we sat around for another hour waiting for our dessert/coffees and finally the check. A total time of 3 hours for dinner and the restaurant itself was flashing lights to indicate it was closing. You would think that would mean they hurried to get us settled out. Nope, the employees were just talking to each other and starting to close down...and apparently forgot about us. Some of our party started to leave because it was way too long to wait. The food was overall fine. Some plates were good and some were lackluster. The decor was sophisticated and obviously going for an upscale vibe. The bill finally came after we asked multiple times and it totaled over $1,000 and it really was dissatisfying. I would recommend everyone take their business elsewhere. There are better spots to blow some cash.

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    101 Cafe - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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