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    Avenue Cafe

    4.4 (500 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 2:00 pm

    Avenue Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    AVENUE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Avenue Cafe

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    Menu
    Joy M.

    We found a hidden local gem brunch place in Capitola. It was close to downtown. A cute little house turned into a restaurant. Cozy ambiance. Can seat 2-4 people at a table. Large groups may need to be seated outside. Our son ordered 2 pancakes & 2 sunny side up eggs. I ordered smoked salmon Benedict and hubby ordered Country Fried Steak. Everything was delicious. I was surprised how quickly the food came out. It was nice that the server checked on us several times especially to refill the coffee & water. The staff were very friendly and respectful. The food and ambiance was delicious and inviting.

    Menu
    Jenny N.

    Cute and cozy restaurant on the corner with outdoor covered patio. Decided to stop here passing through on our way up north because of the great reviews. Service is FANTASTIC! We were immediately greeted and seated on a Saturday morning. The staff is friendly and checked on us several times. Food is tasty and came out pretty FAST. French toast andwas fluffy, sausage links were plump n juicy. Turkey avocado omelette was pretty tasty too! Parking was tough for us but one of the servers told us you can park across the street for free at the olive station for 2 hours. Not knowing beforehand we parked quite w ways down the street. Upon leaving we saw there are a few spots at the police station with a sign marked 1 hour parking.

    Eggs and bacon
    Akansha P.

    Great food! Great service! Cute vibes! We went here for a quick breakfast pitstop before heading to the beach and it was a wonderful stop. They have a lot of historic/classic art about Capitola as a city which was a nice touch. Their ALT and BLT sandwiches are filling and tasty. Their bacon and eggs is also a hearty meal, especially since it comes with hash browns. We really enjoyed our meal and would definitely stop by again.

    Dave G.

    The Carnitas Benedict was BOMB. The cooks and staff are all Latino and they had the best vibe and knew exactly what to recommend. Perfect, casual, delicious brunch.

    Annie T.

    Adorable little brunch spot in Capitola! It's worth the wait if there's a line. The portions are ample, the food is tasty, the service is fast. What else do you want? The place is a little tight, but that's what you get with a small house-like venue. There is an outdoor patio too, if the weather permits. It's within a few minutes of the village, so it's just out of the way of the hustle and bustle.

    Veggie Scramble
    Roya J.

    Nothing was bad, but nothing stood out either when it came to our food. The location is fairly convenient if you want something in Capitola, but not in the touristy area with friendly service. Another plus is it's very close to the main parking area.

    Is this French toast?

    If I could leave a 0 I would. This was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. I don't leave reviews, but I wish I would have read this before I ate there. We received undercooked eggs (the whites were still clear), and when we drew attention to it - no apologies, they just flipped over the eggs and gave them back to us. Our waiter disappeared, and we had to ask multiple times for water. They completely forgot an item we ordered, but by that point we did not want it. There was a hair in my sour cream. Nothing we ordered tasted good. The French toast was not French toast, it was toast soaked on one side, and the eggs and potatoes were flavorless. Very cute ambiance, shame the service and food quality are so terrible.

    NY New York Steak and Eggs
    Nancy L.

    We always walk by here when going to Capitola downtown and this cafe always has a long line. This time on a Saturday noon time, the place was actually not busy , so we decided to try it. We both ordered the NY steak and eggs special. Mine with over easy eggs and my boyfriend's with scrambled eggs. We had high hopes but the meat quality was very poor. We couldn't eat it at all. The steak was nicely grilled but the meat was so chewy and tough! There was no seasoning whatsoever, not even a bit of salt to enhance the flavor. My boyfriend said it was not consumable for humans. Hash brown was very good and crispy. Eggs were cooked to perfection . Service also didn't have a clue that we didn't touch the steak and didn't ask why. Don't understand why this place gets such great reviews! Must have had all the negative ones removed.

    Smoked Salmon Avocado
    Everett M.

    This is such a cute and quaint cafe. Discovered it on Yelp while visiting Capitola and am so glad we decided to check it out. I ordered the Eggs Benedict and my wife had the Breakfast Burrito. Both were phenomenal and we both were beyond satisfied with our selections. I also love how fast and attentive the service was. We were really hungry when we arrived, so we truly appreciated how fast we were seated and received our food. I definitely recommend checking out Avenue Cafe for breakfast whenever you find yourself in Capitola!

    Kalani S.

    This is a great hole in a wall type of local cafe in Capitola. Great local ambiance and people are nice. Foods are type of comfort food. Here is my scoring card for this restaurant: 1) Location: ( 5 Point ) - Great location for customer to see and find. Great parking for street parking and back side with parking lot parking. 2) Decoration : (2 Point) - They still have the original decoration. Clean. 3) Price: ( 4 point)- The price is competitive but still a little bit pricey compare to other same stars and type food they serve 4) Quality and Taste : ( 3 point)- The quality is ok, food taste is good and portions are below average . ( must be inflation ) 5) Type of cuisine standard : ( 4 point) - The style of mexican/continental food they serve is pretty close to the way it was prepare locally. Not bad! But some dishes did have slightly modify to cater the customer's need Overall it's not bad and I thinks it's great to give it a try and let me know what you think. Go foodies Total max is 25 Score 18 Stars = 72% round up to 3 stars

    Mimosas
    jennifer p.

    A cute little spot to go to. Always saw it when I was driving on the street and decided to check it out with boyfriend. Food was amazing and fresh. Nice portions and decent priced. We had a pitcher of mimosas and it was delish. Waiter was pleasant and attentive. Nice quiet stand casual spot.

    Jenna T.

    If you're looking for a no-frills, down-home diner experience, Avenue Cafe is your spot. This place is as casual as it gets and the service is friendly and welcoming. Now, I will admit that I wasn't blown away by their hashbrowns. I mean, let's be real - who likes mushy hashbrowns? But hey, everyone has their own taste, so don't let my opinion stop you from giving them a try. What I did love, though, were their benedicts. Holy moly, these things were delicious! They've got a few different options to choose from, including classic, salmon, and veggie, or southern, so there's something for everyone. And their egg was perfectly poached, you know that's my weakness! Overall, Avenue Cafe is a solid choice for a no-frills breakfast or brunch. It's not fancy, but it's got a laid-back vibe that's perfect for a lazy weekend morning. Great walking distance to Capitola village too if you wanna walk off the food afterward.

    B.L.T.A. & clam chowder in a cup!

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    4 months ago

    Great, waiting super nice super quick very good food definitely go back again nice place clean

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    3 months ago

    Excellent food! Very friendly and fantastic wait staff!! Go here for breakfast or lunch you won't be disappointed

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    11 months ago

    I had the green chilaquiles with refried beans, very good. Service was surprisingly fast.

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    9 months ago

    great breakfast or lunch place. Good food & and price. Great service. Walking to the beach.

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    9 months ago

    Very delicious breakfast. Everything I've ordered, is delicious. Highly recommended. Our favorite place to have breakfast, in Capitola.

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    10 months ago

    The food was great, service was quick efficient, small spot but definitely a must have stop anytime we're out there

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Avenue Cafe

    Do they serve gluten-free pancakes or gluten-free waffles?

    We only have gluten free bread. Thanks

    How crowded is it on late Saturday mornings?

    Busy! Sometimes you get lucky tho.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Castagnola Deli & Cafe

    Castagnola Deli & Cafe

    4.2
    (199 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $

    Food: 5 stars. Service: 3 stars…read more The food was excellent and made the visit worthwhile. The staff, however, came across as a bit cold and unfriendly. I get that it's beach time and things move at a different pace, but being a little nicer to customers and visitors would make a big difference. Hopefully next time the service will be as good as the food. EDITED - Saturday, June 20, 2026 I'm updating my review after reading the owner's response. First, I want to clarify that the response appears to be a copy-and-paste message aimed at people leaving negative reviews. If you had actually read my original review, you would have noticed that I never complained about the food, the wait time, prices, staffing, or anything related to the quality of the business itself. In fact, I enjoyed the food and had no issue waiting. I visited on a Thursday, and the café wasn't packed. The owner was clearly working hard, and I respect that. However, when I walked in and said hello, I was completely ignored. There was no greeting, no acknowledgment, and no sense that my business was appreciated. That was the only reason I left a 3-star review in the first place. The response talks about staffing shortages, minimum wage, food costs, and the challenges of running a small business. I understand all of that. Running a business is difficult. But those challenges don't really address the point I was making. A simple "Hi," "Welcome," or even a quick smile costs nothing and goes a long way. I also don't think customers should be made to feel responsible for business challenges such as labor costs or rent. Those are realities of ownership that every business owner has to navigate. That said, after thinking about it, I'm changing my review from 3 stars to 5 stars because the food was genuinely good, and I do support small businesses. My hope is simply that future customers are greeted with a little more warmth and appreciation when they walk through the door. One final thought: when someone leaves a critical review, it may be worth responding directly to their experience rather than posting a generic response. Sometimes there's valuable feedback hidden inside reviews that aren't really about the food at all. I wish you and your business success, and I genuinely hope you continue serving great food for years to come.

    We found this hidden gem by accident while walking. As we walked in, we were greeted by a very…read morefriendly gentleman. I ordered a latte with almond milk, and it was made to perfection--smooth, rich, and nicely strong. My husband had a mocha with almond milk, which he also really enjoyed. He added a poppy seed muffin that was served warm and was very good--a nice touch. The inside of the café is cozy and welcoming. We decided to take our coffee to go and sit by the beach, which is just one block away. We will definitely be back."

    Photos
    A small area for indoor dining (and waiting!)
    A small area for indoor dining (and waiting!)
    CLAM CHOWDER Bread Bowl - 4.5/5
    CLAM CHOWDER Bread Bowl - 4.5/5
    Dining area

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    Dining area
    Walnut Avenue Café

    Walnut Avenue Café

    4.2
    (1.5k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    We came early on a Sunday to celebrate my mom's birthday. The restaurant has a super cute…read moreneighborhood vibe, a clean space, and delicious food! I got a killer scramble, my daughter got the churro waffle (she loved that it wasn't overly sweet), and my mom ordered the chilaquiles. Our waiter transparently let us know they aren't traditional Mexican-style chilaquiles, but mentioned they were his personal favorite--and my mom ended up loving them! Even though our server was super slammed, the rest of the staff stepped in seamlessly to help with drink refills and to-go boxes. All in all, a great experience and a wonderful birthday meal for my mom. =)

    Brunch at 10am and we found a place for nine of us…read more Bae called the restaurant and asked how long the wait currently was for our party and they told him 15-20 minutes. We were less than 5 minutes away walking distance. As soon as we placed our name down, the host said it was gonna be 45 minutes. First of all, the person who answered the call should not had gave us a wait time and kindly ask us to come in to put our name down instead. We waited 45 minutes and probably another 20-25 minutes for our food. Food was great, the only problem was that it wasn't piping hot. As if it was sitting on the counter for a while which should never be the case. As long as the kids were happy and stuffed that's all that matters.

    Photos
    Where the espresso happens
    Where the espresso happens
    Bacon and eggs
    Bacon and eggs
    Cafe Florentine

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    Cafe Florentine
    Venus Pie Trap

    Venus Pie Trap

    3.8
    (92 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Parking can be a problem on the weekends during the summer, since the beach is right next door…read more Most of the pastries are from Companion Bakeshop. I tried two items: - 5/5: The Machiatto is excellent. They serve 11th hour coffee. - 3/5: The Mexican chocolate pie ($8/slice) is too sweet. All I can taste is sugar.

    We came here twice during our stay nearby. The first time was decent. Coffee was good, staff was…read moreok, the food was tasty but inconsistent. (The meat pie and pastry we ordered were not warmed all the way, but the bagel was good) Then inside seating area was also sticky and slightly dirty looking. Our second visit was yesterday 6/20, and it sounds like we weren't the only unhappy customers based on other reviews. I'm not surprised to hear the lady in charge that morning rudely made customers leave because she "needed a reset". We asked about getting pizza around 10:45 am, which we acknowledged was early...but just asking to see what was possible. Instead of a real explanation, we got a snarky look at her watch and just an "um, noooo" with a bad attitude. If there was a real reason, like the dough wasn't ready or the oven wasn't on (it was, we could see the flames) I would understand. However, the lady was complaining to a coworker about an issue with the manager or something while we waited in line so there was already some unprofessional behavior beyond the lack of customer service. We left without getting anything at that point. We won't be back to Venus, The Pixie Deli down the street has good food and friendly service.

    Photos
    Menu & parties
    Menu & parties
    Venus Pie Trap
    Tea latte and a cappuccino. Yum!

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    Tea latte and a cappuccino. Yum!
    The Grove Cafe & Bakery

    The Grove Cafe & Bakery

    4.3
    (162 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $$

    Super yummy sandwiches! The guy working the register is literally the happiest person I have…read moreinteracted with in this kind of role in all of Santa Cruz county, it seems like he really enjoys his job. I figure that means they're treating their employees well, and more of a reason to support them! I wish I had gotten a picture of my favorite, a vegetable sandwich with avocado, sweet potato, and scallion aioli. Lots of seating both inside and outside on the back patio. Please be aware, this place is quite busy most days (for a reason) and there very likely will be a line and a wait. Not the kind of place you go to rush, and I think that's a good thing in this case :)

    Hipster spot. Waited 20 minutes in a line only to get to the…read morefront and be told it would be 20-25 more minutes for 1 breakfast sandwich to be made. Your under staffing is not your customer's problem. Never experienced anything like this. They essentially turned me away after waiting in a 20 minute line. Looked at the menu, prices are absurd as well Ate here one time and the veggie Reuben sandwich was absolutely terrible and dry. Businesses have come and gone from this location consistently for years. This spot will be the same if you don't stop sucking. Update: Jessica, if anyone is speaking outside the realm of reality, it's you. I also grew up here-- and? Try looking at it from your guest's perspective and not your own. Waiting 20 minutes on a line to order a single sandwich for 1 person should not take 20-30 minutes post waiting in a 20 minute line. People value their time. You should consider valuing your customer's time instead of telling them they are lying. Pro tip, and good luck. Update #2: hey fellow yelpers: scroll thru some of the other reviews here: Jessica (the owner) has apparently been rude directly to the faces of many customers..Don't take it from me, there are several reviews before mine calling her out by name for how rude she was. Great example for her staff and really does nothing but solidify my initial review of over priced hipster food with a long line out the door to wait for mediocrity.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Brioche fruit tart! Deeelish!
    Brioche fruit tart! Deeelish!
    Breakfast sandwich

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    Breakfast sandwich
    Shadowbrook

    Shadowbrook

    4.3
    (6.2k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    We made reservations for 4 online for an early dinner so we could enjoy the tram ride down to the…read morerestaurant. We were able to do same day on a Friday. We were able to get dressed a bit since there is a dress code. We were seated right away and had a great view next to a window. The staff was great, our server was very friendly and helpful. Food was amazing - we ordered the baked Brie, oysters, a Cesar salad we all shared, I had the beef bolognese, others ordered the prime rib, gnocchi, and sirloin. We had some drinks - wine, lemon drop, sidecars were all great. Great night of dinner for my bday w/ the family.

    The location of the restaurant was in the side of a cliff which was pretty interesting. They have a…read morelift system if you prefer or cannot take the stairs to the dining levels from the street. Our salad and chowder actually came to the table before our drinks which should have been a sign the timing would be off. When the food arrived, my pot pie came out 45 minutes BEFORE my husband's steak. While talking with the manager, the server justified the lack of timing because the food came from two different kitchens, however, he never tried to manage expectations. It was extremely disappointed that he felt it was acceptable to serve our main courses this far apart from each other. The best part of our experience was the setting of the patio/outdoor dining area. I am not sure we will be back to this location, as it seemed every table experienced the same mismanaged food serving. I will leave a positive note that the manager seemed understanding of our frustration and did not try to make excuses for the service.

    Photos
    Greenhouse interior
    Greenhouse interior
    Spinach Salad
    Spinach Salad
    Chicken Parmigiano

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    Chicken Parmigiano

    Avenue Cafe - cafes - Updated August 2026

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