Finding Bay Leaf in downtown Concord is a little like finding a rare book at garage sale - you don't expect it, but you are so thankful to have discovered it. The food is up a notch from your greasy spoon - a large, diverse American Diner-style menu await. Lots of classic breakfast dishes (omelette's, French Toast, Eggs Benedict, etc.) and plenty of burgers, sandwiches and similar fare. Way cozier, tastier and distinct from vanilla garbage served at Denny's or Mimi's, plus the staff is always willing to modify your order (esp. to make it healthier). Service isn't the fastest, so be prepared to chat with friends before eating. The staff has always been friendly and efficient, for the most part. This place was made for early Saturday mornings before heading out for a day trip, or lazy Sundays when you've had too much too drink the night before. Their counter is great for when you're eating solo and just want a good meal and the newspaper. read more

This restaurant has the best eggs Florentine on their weekend menu. The best eggs Florentine I have ever had hands down. They give off a dinner vibe but the food is so good it is ridiculous. Their hash browns are done perfectly and their hot cocoa is always a delight. I never leave here feeling anything less than completely satisfied. read more

I've been coming to Bay Leaf Cafe for over 10 years and generally really like the food...more times than not, I enjoy a very good meal. The one big weakness is their coffee - it's some of the worst coffee I've ever had. So if the owners are listening...please, please, please switch to a better brand of coffee. Aside for the coffee, I really like this place. read more

A great place to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Came here for brunch, sat outside on the patio & sipped hot tea. Fantastic! The Pesto Chicken Burger was TO DIE FOR - the chicken seemed to have been breaded in egg. The French Dip sandwich was great, just as you'd expect. Ordered macaroni and potato salad, yum! Would definitely come back. Great service, easy parking on the street, and delicious plates. read more

My husband went in with my mother in law and my self for a late lunch. They both ordered meals that in total were about $8.95 each and I ordered a salad for $11.00. He asked for a side of sausages that was about 4.95 When the waitress brought the bill, she had wrote down 60.35. He asked why the bill was so high for what he ordered. All he could see was a bunch of scribbling on the receipt. She didn't have a clue as to what was on there..so he took out his phone and added all the things meals plus drinks. (as she was standing next to him observing) In fact the waitress was trying to screw him over..his bill was actually 45.00. Please pay attention to your bill if you ever decide to go there. Ask questions if you feel something isn't right. If he caught it imagine all the other patrons that haven't. read more

The wife & I enjoy our breakfasts. Like a lot. Whenever we go to the Bay Leaf we come away full & happy. Nothing too outlandish, nothing crazy. Just good solid food served by friendly folks. Good stuff imho. read more

Went here for Sunday Brunch. Plenty of seating Sunday around 11:00. The waitresses were super attentive- My coffee cup was always brimming! The Tuscan Omelet special was delicious!!! The fresh fruit nice and ripe. I will def return next time I am in Todos Santos and craving some breakfast/ brunch. read more

Stopped in for breakfast before work I've never been here and didn't know what to expect. . Tiny menu! The menu says No Substitutions. I wanted the French toast but it came with meat and no hash browns. I acknowledge to the lady that I see there policy buts I'm vegetarian and was wondering of they wouldn't mind. She told me no but it's because of the price?!? A lb of ham is 15.00 a lb of hash browns is 3.50?!? Price? She then tells me I can buy a side for 3.60 if I want hash browns or just not get French toast. NO CUSTOMER SERVICE. Then I get my breakfast and the French toast is tiny with a giant slab of ham. Why would the main course be the smallest part of the breakfast?!? Take my advice and read the reviews first. This place is a disappointment. ** oh and I don't know what they use but is sure isn't butter. read more

Bay Leaf Cafe - Only one piece of French toast tons of ham. Not worth the price. The napkins were the best part. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Concord, California

Great place to came and get breakfast the cooking Hugo and jesus are very friendly and they make everyone have a great day. Next time i am bringing my entery family thank you gays. read more

Bay Leaf Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Concord, California

My friend Kelly and I had breakfast here this morning and it was the first time for either of us. Kelly gets his hair done right down the street, but had never noticed this place before. I wanted to try it since it was featured on my Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining. I ordered the Spinach Scramble and he ordered the Biscuits and Gravy with Eggs. The portion sizes are generous and the service was quick and friendly. I would have given the place 4 stars, however, my friend said the Biscuits and Gravy were nothing special and had little flavor. My Spinach Scramble was okay, but bland. I opted for the fruit rather than the country fries and was pleasantly surprised that the fruit was a good mixture of strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, orange, and watermelon...rather than the standard honeydew and cantalope. A little on the pricey side for a less-than-spectacular breakfast...$24 before tip. I've had a better breakfast at Denny's for half the price. Parking on a Saturday morning was easy, but I imagine it would be tough at lunch. I doubt I'll go back or try them for lunch... read more

I am torn about reviewing this place because I don't want it to become a hot spot. Honestly, though... it has never disappointed me and I've been there at least 10 times now. I love the eggs florentine (on the special weekend menu.) Other delicious dishes I've tried are the turkey apple sausage, chorizo and eggs as well as a few of the omelettes. There is one bad thing about the Bay Leaf Cafe: no back door. So every once in a while you get to watch the full garbage can roll right by your table as you chew your magnificent meal. Kind of an interesting juxtaposition... fitting for a place in downtown Concord. The coffee is great, hashbrowns are great, too. If you choose fruit instead of hashbrowns or as a side you should be pleased with the generous platter of fresh pineapple, melon, apple, grapes, strawberries, etc. To top it all off, the prices are exceptionally low for such high quality, freshly made food. read more

Delicious place with amazing service if it wasn't for me having to wait longer for my appointment I don't know what I would do love it love it !!! read more

this place is so elegant and pretty. the counter's pretty nice itself and the food is certainly fresh. I ordered 1/2 of the short stack with over easy eggs & fresh fruit. It quick and I finished every savory bit. I just like how they have a lot of different food to offer with a great atmosphere. Only thing though -- I'm not a fan of their coffee. read more

Food was good, however.. the service was terrible. Took over 10 minutes to get someone to greet our table, another 5 to get someone else to come by to take a drink order. Since we were sitting for so long already we were ready to place a food order along with our drinks and the waitress just rolled her eyes and walked away. Third person comes to the table to finally take our food order. The servers here don't know their ass from the elbows! Real shame for how conveniently located this place is and that they have cute outside seating. read more

Don't come here on a Saturday. We waited 20 minutes to be sat then a waitress hugged a group of people and sat them immediately. Very disappointing as we have come here many times and been pleased. After walking past us several times with our menus laid down, our waitress then proceeded to take peoples orders who were seated after us. My coffee cup was empty by the time she reached us. It seems to be a much more enjoyable experience on weekdays. Long story short, we ordered to go because the food is bomb but the service needs work. (On a happier note, the waffles are great.) Update: The to go food never came and all the other tables had their food before we left. Absolutely ridiculous we waited an hour and a half for a COFFEE. Will not be back. read more

Came here Saturday morning for breakfast before tackling on the heat for the day. My friend Ron had been here before and had recommended that we come here...good call bro... I ordered the Spinach scramble which consisted of egg beaters with spinach, cheese, and hamburger meat. I thought it was kinda bland possibly from the egg beaters. Im already contemplating my next visit...the spinach and turkey omelet...yum... read more

Came here during my escape-from-Berkeley weekend since it's conveniently located in downtown Concord, near the BART station and the coffee shop Panama Red. A small place, but still surprisingly spacious considering how it looks from the outside. Tried their chicken fried steak breakfast with eggs, hash browns, and toast. It tasted just fine and was a good value for ~$11. The tea and soft drinks cost a quarter more than other places, but come with free refills. Service was friendly and attentive, i.e., they kept my drinks filled. That's pretty much all I need, really, but it's amazing how uncommon it can be. read more

The deal breaker for me??? When I ordered the corned beef hash a few weekends ago and was slightly traumatized by the similarities my breakfast had to the food I feed my dog every night. I still can't understand why the corned beef hash was a pile of mashed potatoes with no discernible meat within it or why it smelled like dog food. I've eaten here on previous occasions, and the food is just plain mediocre if not disappointing. We always leave wondering why we just didn't make the drive to Berkeley or cook breakfast at home. read more

Came for breakfast after months and months of being MIA. Our waitress immediately recognized us and asked how we're doing and commented on how our daughter has grown. It was a nice feeling to know they remembered us. Food was same as always, i got my usual ham & eggs. My boyfriend had the eggs Benedict and didn't how it was made... that's really the only complaint. i'll continue to come here for the service. read more

Met my gf here for lunch on her lunch break. Really good food and they have 1/2 portions on some of their meals for lunch which was killer, good not to overload your lunch intake. Service was good, sat outside in the sun which was pleasant but by the end of our meal we were greated by a couple of bee's so we had to get out of there lol. Price wasnt bad either so I'd definitely come here again read more

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This place was very average for breakfast. Just like any other greasy spoon, they had eggs and bacon. Nothing too special. And nothing too bad. You will not be wowed, but you won't be grossed out either. If you're looking for a great little breakfast place, this isn't it. If you're hungry and want to have a good meal for a good price, this place will serve. read more

We moved to Concord a few months ago and happened on this place one morning simply searching for coffee. Ended up staying fire breakfast and have been regulated ever since! Sit at the bar and watch the cooks master the beautiful spotless grill! Shop fun to watch them and interact with the chefs. And Everyone here is so nice. Feels like you're visiting your family when you come. My boyfriend and i usually make this a brunch date but we have brought the kids a few times and they love it here too! Excellent food and service. I definitely recommend to check this place out! read more

went here today with my boyfriend and we absolutely loved their food the waitress was really nice and she even gave me advice on what to get lol. I definitely recommend getting there strawberry pancakes even tho I got the pancake combo it was so much I couldn't eat it but I did eat my boyfriend's pancakes it was totally worth it and not at all pricey definitely should go here read more

Found this gem and absolutely am so happy! It's small but the food is fabulous and the wait staff are always so friendly! My favorites are the hot chocolate and the 3 cheese breakfast omelette. There are also lots of burger choices and great options. Absolutely worth the short drive there!! read more

We loved the food, it was fresh no processed food. The servings are large and the service was great. She brought water and menu's greeted everyone and was always checking on us along with the staff who made sure coffee was full and drinks too. It is a cozy little restaurant, with a great staff and the food has always been great, if you do not enjoy fast food you will enjoy it here. As to the complaint about a dog it is nothing to me when I lived in Germany it was common to see a animal at a table and in this day and age the animals are cleaner than some of the guests. read more

Delicious food, nice portions, family run, friendly service and varied menu. Great spot for breakfast or after church brunch. Can get pretty busy and sometimes there's a line but it depends on when you go. read more

Quality is suffering....Our Co. orders Brkfast nearly every week, and as of late the quality has suffered; all orders to go, yet, the lack of 'toast' on toast, a scrabmle of 'scorched' eggs vs an omelate that was ordered; orders not accurate, and the prices have increased......;-((( all point to a downhill slide.....'Help Sign' in window is now a bit more revealing....Help thyself Bay Leaf...before we and others exit....stage left... read more

Worst $15 taco salad I've ever had. Went here because of the high rating but was disappointed. Don't get this salad if you want something light. The ground beef was oily and served hot over a bed of Lettuce. The tortilla chips on the bottom were also soggy and oily. I don't understand how this establishment has 4.5 stars. I will not be back. read more

Waffles oh the waffles are so very tasty . I wish they had real maple syrup - I always sneak my own in so that's okay. Coffee - Awesome! I don't know if it is just because I am super sleepy when I go here but the coffee rocks! They just keep pouring and pouring so by the time I leave I am wired up and ready to go. Service is beyond good. Some would say too good because they come around and ask how everything is and if you need a refill every 5 min - I love that! Fill it up :) They don't have soy milk either - bummer, but the coffee is so good you really don't need any milk. read more

Stumbled upon Bay Leaf recently and I'm glad I did. It was a Friday morning. I was able to find a table right away. Someone came right over and took my drink order. The actual waitress didn't come for quite awhile and took another table's (that came after me) order and still didn't get to my table for about another 10 minutes. They have a variety of specials along with a varied full menu. I opted for one of their specials. It came out quickly and was awesome! Everything was so fresh and tasted homemade. I will definitely be coming back. read more

The food is okay. It's a cute concept. Local business and all that jazz. The service? Forget it. You'll like it here if you can filter out the nonchalant staff and just enjoy the food. Personally, it's a sad thing when you have to flag down the waiter to refill your coffee because they're all too busy chatting behind the register or they just don't give AF. I need a new breakfast place. read more

Four people from my office ordered lunch from here and only one was happy ! I ordered a half Sando and half Caesar salad. The turkey Sando was good. The salad was drenched with dressing- way too much that made the salad mushy! There was Parmesan cheese but also mozzarella on it !? It appeared that somebody grabbed some Parmesan and accidentally also grabbed mozzarella and tossed it on my salad! I threw most of it away. Another person ordered a French Dip Sando. That came without the au jus dipping sauce !? What's up with that ? read more

We've been coming to this restaurant for years but have noticed things going increasingly downhill lately- especially when the owners are absent. Orders are not cooked as requested, some items seem stale or old and the coffee is so strong it's almost undrinkable at times. We've noticed this particularly on weekends. During the week it seems a bit better Hope the owners are seeing this review and paying attention We will be going somewhere else until things improve read more

This is the kind of neighborhood place that is called; good ole America, land of freedom and kindness!!! The food and service were amazing but what was even better is seeing our waiter helping a patron who was disabled...!!!!! I wish there were more neighborhood places like this and I'm sure there is but it's rare find for me these days!!! read more

Bay Leaf Cafe - Amazing!!! Waiter helping patron!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Concord, California

Cute little spot with some nice brunch choices. It's near the park so you can take a walk to let your food settle. I came here twice and both times the food took a long time. I was so hungry and they were so busy--not a good combo. What I do like is that you can have a conversation there and you don't feel like you have to rush your intake as you do at many busy places. read more

I ordered biscuits and gravy with wet scrambled eggs. The gravy was flavorful and had a decent amount of sausage in then. I wasn't blown away but I wasn't disappointed either. Prices weren't too bad either. My eggs weren't over cooked either, so I'm giving them 4 stars. read more

Bay Leaf Cafe - Biscuits and Gravy with gravy on the side - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Concord, California

$10 and 15 minutes of waiting later, I received my breakfast order. I don't remember the last time I had a more bland omelet. No egg flavor, no beef flavor in my ground beef, no spinach flavor. The country potatoes had no seasoning, no crunch and a few pieces of peppers. Not sure why I'm not giving this one star...maybe I'm feeling generous. read more

I liked it ok. It was suggested that I try this breakfast nook by a colleague of mine, so my husband and I decided to explore. The menu was full of fresh food, and the owner was behind the counter, manning the stoves. I ordered the huevos rancheros, which were not traditional and that was ok. It was still good. Maybe I'll come back again, but probably not until I've conquered my breakfast restaurant circuit.. I'm on a quest to try them all! read more

This place is about the only breakfast spot in walking distance from my place. The staff is very welcoming and nice. This food was ok... I had the eggs Benedict... the sauce was a little blan and the biscuit was not of great quality. A mimosa would have made it a little bit better, however, I don't think they have a liqueur license to do so. Facts: - Inexpensive - Cozy - Outside seating - Nice sized menu - Only Brunch/Breakfast place around - No mimosas - Good cup of coffee - Comfort food - Sweet staff read more

I took in Bay Leaf Cafe for brunch on a whim. The food smelled great from outside and it looked like a nice place. For the positives, the staff were friendly and helpful. The cafe was basically empty, and the service was not as great as previous reviews state, but I think it was good and pleasant. I'd give the service a solid 4.5 stars. There were some negatives, though. Firstly, the coffee. Wow. It was really, really awful. It tasted like cigarette ashes. Also, the mug was dirty. Not like someone had used it, but like it hadn't been washed. The mug had a tan stain in the entire mug -- higher than the coffee fill line. Stain is too strong a word; the tan residue came off when my spoon touched it. The coffee was zero stars. I can't fathom serving coffee like that and asking patrons to pay for it. I never put sugar in my coffee, but I did here to compensate for the taste. The breakfasts were not meaningfully better. For my, my eggs over easy were perfectly cooked, but cold. The bacon was more like bacon jerky -- cold and rubbery. The hash browns were only cooked on one side and that side was slightly burned. And the toast was served so cold that the butter that came on it didn't melt. But my girlfriend's breakfast was worse. The corn tortillas were like leather, very dry leather. The chorizo filling for it was, like all of my breakfast, the same temperature as the plate. She did get two servings of hash browns, but both were room temperature and BURNED. Not overcooked, but actually burned. Burned. Let's let that sink in a bit. They served food that they had burned but let it sit long enough to cool to room temperature. Could they have re-cooked unburned food in that time? Who knows. Also, the insides of the burned hash browns were mush and inedible. For both of us, the hash browns were basically flavorless. I didn't taste any spices whatsoever in them. The food, in toto, was the blandest food I've eaten at a cafe in a LONG time. It may be the blandest food I've eaten at any restaurant ever, in fact. My feeling is, based on the other reviews for the cafe, most of which are favorable, I may have just gotten there at a bad time or when the cook was exhausted from a long morning shift or who knows. The food they served us was of inexcusably poor quality, but it may well have been a fluke. I'm not sure if I would give them a second chance or not, though. If I were to, it would be at a different time than early Sunday afternoon and I would order something other than breakfast. One other thing that irked the heck out of me -- they charge a split-plate fee ($1.) I think I've split a plate all of twice in the last ten years, but charging a fee for that is pretty obnoxious. No restaurant I frequent charges to split a plate. That's not an accident on my part, either. Service: 4.5 stars Coffee: zero stars Food: one star Price: $20.08 for two breakfasts including tax would have been fair for good food, two stars Setting, ambiance, and so forth: three stars Ease of parking: four stars Overall: two stars (plus one because of the service quality -- it would be a one-star rating if the service hadn't been good.) read more