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    Brighter Side

    4.5 (250 reviews)
    InexpensiveSandwiches, Salad
    Closed Closed

    Brighter Side Photos

    Business Info

    BRIGHTER SIDE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Brighter Side

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    Polish sausage sandwich
    Jennifer B.

    My husband and I finally made our way here and we will be back again another day. Delicious sandwiches; the whole menu looked great. We got there on a Friday just around 11:30 and just beat the lunch rush. The decor reminded me of the sourdough sandwich spot in San Jose.

    Amy-no cheese, add sprouts

    Called in the order, the lady that picked up the phone was SO sweet! Food was great, I did not realize they were cash only until i got there but that wasn't an issue, just something to keep in mind when visiting. Definitely recommend.

    Cup of cream of broccoli soup
    Cory N.

    Cool little hole in the wall spot. Fast service with hot sandwiches. Eclectic decor with inside and outside tables.. make sure you bring cash! #spicemeister approved!

    Chef salad w/ ranch
    Amy V.

    I got a chef salad that was super delish! It originally also includes mushrooms, beats, bell peppers, and garbanzo beans but I was able to order without those and it was still a big salad(this is a small). The ranch is really good too for any ranch lovers out there.

    Outdoor dog friendly seating!!!
    Ashley Q.

    the tuna fish sandwich is delish. Pure white Tuna. homemade clam chowder was bomb. had a taste of fresh fruit salad and was on point!! this is a modesto icon to visit. Dog friendly. Inside or outside. They even gave my Olive some turkey and roast beef slices as a snack!! they said they do it for all the fur babies. locally owned and operated. Prices are very fair.

    Pastrami on white.
    Sherri H.

    Finally tried them after years of hearing about them. Very good sandwiches, personable staff, reasonable prices. There seemed to be many regulars come in while I was there, and everyone knew everyone by name. They accept cash & checks only.

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Smelt like an ashtray and why would you have a cat on the counter where people pick up their food. Also, one employee was rude as hell.

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Living in Georgia now, I miss the Brighter Side so much. Christine on whole wheat. Yum!

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    9 months ago

    Interesting atmosphere, especially with the cat on the counter (that was a bit of a turnoff), but food was good and people were friendly.

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    3 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was great. Didn't know that they don't accept cards only cash. Next time we know.

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great food! Great customer service! The ladies are so sweet and David and Larry are the best! Will come back!

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great place to pop in for a delicious sandwich and a conversation with Larry! Reasonable prices and cool setting with a cute patio/garden.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Nice "Bay Area" feeling spot with really good food. Cash only... or check. Perfect patio for the sunny days.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Awesome place owner is super cool, food is great and very affordable. It's a Modesto original for a reason and everybody should get it.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Excellent long time business. Great selection and order preferences. Quaint, relaxing dine in or take out. Friendly staff.

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    3 years ago

    Best Sandwiches and Salads in Modesto been going here for years The Jason is the best

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Like a little piece of Santa Cruz in Modesto. Great food and ambiance, just make sure you bring cash!

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    4 years ago

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Brighter Side

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    Delicioso Bistro

    Delicioso Bistro

    4.3
    (265 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Haven't been in here in a while and I am slapping myself for not going more often. I took my sons…read morehere for brunch and it was amazing. We had the country fried steak which was probably the best one I have ever had in my entire life! My sons had chorizo and eggs and the other one had chocolate pancakes, ham and eggs. We also got a Nutella Crepe because my youngest had never had a real crepe before. The food was all amazing. We cleaned every plate between a 47 year old, 13 & 8 year old! We couldn't stop eating!! The place was clean and for such a busy brunch we were sat very quickly! Service was amazing as well! The staff was so accommodating, friendly and professional! They were so hard working turning those tables over and checking on tables all the time. We didn't have to wait for plates to be cleared or refills of Iced Tea!! Like I said I can't believe I haven't been back to this place in such a long time but that is going to change!! I will be back as much as I can! Especially to support a local family owned restaurant!

    Tasty or WasteY???? Totally tasty !!!!…read moreI love everything about this place. I always get the Chilaquiles with green sauce. My husband gets different things on the menu when we go and he enjoys all of them. The only problem I have is it is so loud in there because it is such a small and confined restaurant. And I enjoy the live music being played. It's just such a tight confined little place. And you have to yell to talk to one another therefore everybody else here's your conversation. This is not a good place to go on a date or to get to know somebody over conversation. That's why you have Galletto's or Tresetti's down the street. But if you wanna go and have a quick breakfast, then this is the place. Though wait waitresses are always very, very nice. And the prices are great.

    Photos
    Delicioso Bistro
    Chorizo and Eggs
    Chorizo and Eggs
    Delicioso Bistro

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    Commonwealth

    Commonwealth

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    First time here since moving in the area. Met up with some friends and got some good foods and…read moredranks. Came in around lunch time and it wasn't busy. Staff were friendly and there were menus for the drinks and food. They also had indoor and outdoor seatings. Majority of their menu were handhelds and shareable which is understandable since it's more or a brewery/bar setting. I got the Caesar salad with no chicken as well as the truffle fries. Truffle fries were very good and seasoned. Caesar salad was okay, most of the lettuce was already soggy but i should have asked for the sauce on the side. It seems like their tacos and handhelds are really popular so I'll try that next time. Overall good foods and good times. I'll come back.

    Sadly disappointed…read more My friends and I stopped by Commonwealth on a Saturday afternoon for a late brunch. It was a beautiful day so it was busy for both indoor and outdoor seating. Here, you order your food, grab a number, and find your own seat for the food to be brought out to you. We sat at a table outside to decide what to order. There were no menus available so we just had to search for it online before heading inside to order. Despite being third in line from the register, we had an extremely long wait to order. There was only one person running the register who also had to make the drinks, meaning the service incredibly slow. We wanted to order the five taco platter, garlic fries, chicken Caesar salad, and mimosa pitcher. Sadly, we were only able to get the pitcher and salad. The cashier told us "sorry, we aren't doing fries right now." Not doing fries? Every plate in the vicinity had fries on them. She said that because it was brunch hour, only food on the brunch menu could be ordered. We looked at the brunch menu again and literally saw garlic fries as an option as a side for the burgers/sandwiches. No where did it specify that you can't order off the other menu and both were available online. What bothered us about this is that we placed this order at around 1:50pm, and brunch ended at 2:00pm. I understand that we are not entitled to things on the lunch menu during brunch-time for items like the tacos, but considering the menu swap was less than 10 minutes away and they were quite literally were "doing fries" at the time, it didn't make much sense to us. The only food that we ended up ordering was the Chicken Caesar Salad. This one dish took a super long time to receive. By the time it was brought out, the three of us nearly finished the Mimosa pitcher. The waitress noticed we had no silverware and said she would go grab us some. Because of how the service had been going thus far, we placed a bet on whether or not the waitress would come back with the silverware. Surprise, surprise. She didn't. We had to go inside later and search for silverware ourselves. We weren't even able to get sharing plates which was upsetting since the waitress asked us if we would be sharing the salad. The salad itself looked delicious, but was bland. The dressing was missing that zing and zest that a Caesar dressing typically has. I do appreciate that is was a chopped salad, had avocado, and seasoned croutons. It is just unfortunate that it was lacking any flavor at all. The food prices are quite affordable for the quantity of food you receive though. This experience was disappointing because I was so optimistic about the place. The menu looked good, it had fun and casual vibes and a cool crowd of people. If Commonwealth worked towards better service practices, it would have been a more positive experience.

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    Commonwealth
    Commonwealth
    Commonwealth

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    Churchkey

    Churchkey

    3.7
    (539 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    WOW FACTOR? Yes. The server was excellent at getting us on time to the Gallo Center. First time…read moreever, a server took the initiative to bring us the bill right away so there was no delay in paying. Thank you! HAVE AGAIN: Try other burgers next time. Glad they have 1/3 lb burgers. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The Gangnam burger was good, but the combination of burger, bacon, fried egg and kimchi did not blend well together.

    Came here on a Thursday evening and it took a little while to be greeted by anyone however we…read morelocked eyes with a number of servers who didn't say anything. It wasn't packed but there were some people. A server eventually came from behind the counter on the left and greeted us. We chose to sit at the bar where again it took a while for anyone to say anything to us. The bar tender finally came over and handed us waters without saying anything and that's when my husband said hello how are you and the bartender responded with good. Energy was clearly very low 2/10 in the service department. We order the jalapeño pizza and poutine. Both were sooooo greasy! I had to blot my pizza bc of the amount of grease sitting on top of my pizza. Food was about a 4/10. The only reason I'm giving this place a 2/5 is because our drinks were good. However that certainly isn't enough to make us want to return.

    Photos
    Churchkey bar area
    Churchkey bar area
    Borracho Nachos - good but needed more flavor (Big - $18)
    Borracho Nachos - good but needed more flavor (Big - $18)
    We ended up doubling down on the micheladas absolutely worth it

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    We ended up doubling down on the micheladas absolutely worth it
    Mike's Grillhouse

    Mike's Grillhouse

    4.3
    (1k reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$

    Let's start with the negatives... First time we attempted to come by they were closed. So we had to…read morewait to try Mike's Grillhouse. Staff was super friendly, went out of their way to make sure the tables were tidy, and refilled drinks really quick. The restaurant is smaller than you expect it to be, but it is cozy, friendly, and not overly loud. We only had a 10 minute wait when we arrived and they were packed. Our waiter Kyle was on point, introduced himself and dropped the special of the day with gusto. If I hadn't already had a ton of carbs for the day I would have gone with it. Ended up ordering the scallops, and fried zucchini appetizers. Scallops are served almost like a soup. The sauce in the bowl was to die for. I'm thinking white wine, and lemon were the major components. It was phenomenal. Fried zucchini was super tasty and is coming home with us. I'd swear it was enough to feed 4 people. For mains, we ordered pot roast and fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. Wife loved the pasta and chicken. Surprisingly enough she ate it all, none to go which is super rare for her. Pot roast was fantastic. Mashed potatoes were on point, the mixed vegetables were amazing. When you get broccoli and carrots on the same plate and neither have a mushy texture it makes me happy Will definitely be back again in the future.

    I had to go to Kaiser so on the way home we saw this restaurant. From the outside it looks big but…read morewhen you get inside, it is a quaint place. The noise is a little high but not too bad. You can hear the music they are playing. Our server, Kyle, came out to let us know the special. He put our appetizers in before even thinking about our food. They were spaced out just right. He was also Johnny on the spot with refills and kept checking on us. Ok now onto the food. It was delicious! Hubby had scallops as an appetizer and pot roast for his main dish. I had fried zucchini and then fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. I like my chicken on the side so I only add what I want. This place is just down from the freeway exit and is only open for lunch & dinner. If you are passing through Modesto, get off and come eat some good food. It is totally worth it!

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    Seating
    Seating
    Cherub bites that are absolutely amazing
    Cherub bites that are absolutely amazing
    Everything was good!

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    Everything was good!
    The Secret Garden

    The Secret Garden

    3.9
    (471 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    We came to eat here one random weekday after work. We've been here before for breakfast, and it's…read moreusually packed. However, on a late afternoon weekend, we found plenty of parking and ample seating. Staff was amazing and incredibly attentive. The pasta was okay, and I really regret not sticking with breakfast. Service: 5/5 Food: 3.5/5

    Came in on a Sunday at 11:30am and there was only a 15-minute wait for a booth for three people…read more The staff was nice and quick. The food was just your typical diner type, greasy spoon kind of place. I got an egg white omelette with ham (looked like cut up pieces of thin sliced deli meat) and asked that fresh potatoes be boiled in water or steamed in water due to food allergy. What I got was fried potatoes. When I questioned the server he just said that's how they come. Do they not have raw potatoes in the back they could have boiled for me?? The taste of the omelette was meh and I only ate 4 bites. I obviously didn't eat the potatoes. The English Muffin felt oily, like someone touched it with greasy hands. I had asked for it to be dry and with no butter. So basically I didn't eat any of my food and will not be back (this was my third time here and none of the other experiences were any better.) Such a shame because it is only 5-minutes from my house. My dad ordered the chicken fried steak and my mom got the taco salad and both of their meals were inedible too. The food here is just BAD. I told the server I didn't like my food and he didn't even answer me. He took away three plates of uneaten food and no one asked if there was an issue and no manager bothered to come over to even talk to us or try and make it right. What a HUGE waste of money. Don't bother eating here...so many other places to eat that are so much better. This place was packed and no real waiting area...everyone just squished together. This is a hustling and bustling place, so if you are looking for a quiet spot, at least don't go when we did. Best part of this place is their wall for taking pictures. I think they care more about making things look IG worthy, than the quality of the product they are serving.

    Photos
    The Secret Garden
    Cinnamon Toast Crunch French toast
    Cinnamon Toast Crunch French toast
    Margarita flight. 3/10- you can barely taste any alcohol. Tasted more like juice.

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    Margarita flight. 3/10- you can barely taste any alcohol. Tasted more like juice.
    Harvest Moon

    Harvest Moon

    3.7
    (717 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Breakfast does not have to be complicated to be memorable…read more The sausage, egg, and cheddar English muffin was everything you would hope for--fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked, and miles beyond the fast-food version. After a few bites I added Tabasco and Cholula, and it took an already great sandwich to another level. The homemade chicken soup was flavorful and comforting, and a cold Corona with salt and lime rounded everything out perfectly. One thing I really appreciate about Harvest Moon is the atmosphere. It is peaceful--almost tranquil. You hear conversations around the room, but they are the kind of quiet chatter that makes a place feel alive without ever feeling loud. It is comfortable, unhurried, and the kind of environment where you can simply enjoy your meal and be present. A special thank you to Johnny in the kitchen for putting together such a great meal. It shows when someone takes pride in what they do. Shout out to Lindsey for the friendly, attentive service. She made sure everything was just right without ever making me feel rushed. And thank you to Lyssa behind the bar. She was so busy I actually had to ask who Lindsey was, but despite juggling everything going on, she still took the time to make me feel welcome. Good food, genuine people, and a peaceful atmosphere are a hard combination to find. Harvest Moon continues to get all three right. Easy 5 stars.

    Im usually a brunch and mimosa cat but today I wanted pasta…read more To the chef that whipped up my pasta, excellent job on the cahoones sauce, spicy kick should evict worms and any other unwanted guest that have outstayed their welcome. Sundays beer on tap is only $3 Modesto. Always a pleasant experience at Harvest Moon.

    Photos
    Harvest Moon
    Cajun Pasta
    Cajun Pasta
    Harvest Moon

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    Brighter Side - sandwiches - Updated August 2026

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