We came for breakfast again and were not disappointed. The Carmel apple French toast was divine and the server was top notch (she remembered us from a previous visit). Street parking is the only inconvenience at this establishment, but I've been able to find a spot each time I've come. The vibe is like a diner; for what it is, it's perfect. read more

Capital View Cafe - Carmel Apple French Toast - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

The staff were friendly and available. Stopped by our table frequently. Food was prepared quick and tasted great. There is a good amount of space between tables which is a refreshing change compared to many restaurants. Ambience is much like a small town cafe, laid back and quiet. read more

I love this place. It's the perfect neighborhood diner. Good food, great service and reasonable prices. I love the Cajun breakfast. I will keep coming read more

Delicious and great service Flavor mixed but really delicious They have a coffee Apple juice and other juices read more

See all

This place can be hit or miss. I've had amazing breakfasts and not so great (shell in the scrambled eggs). But the service is always great and they will fix whatever is wrong with the meal. It can be really busy on the weekends so the earlier you get there the better. Especially since there is street parking only. read more

A charming little cafe o relooking the south side of the capital city. Get comfort food!

The omelette was right in point the beat omelette I have eaten!!! I go to a lot of cafe to check out the omelettes and this is by far the best!!!!' read more

My favorite breakfast/bunch spot in Saint Paul!! The spot is quaint with ample seating, and a very chill/relaxed vibe. It is Mexican American owned, and the menu features both Mexican and American dishes. I have been twice for breakfast, and the Cajun Breakfast was a delicious, hearty breakfast and warmed me from the inside out. But my faaaavorite was the chicken and waffles. It was so good. When I first saw the chicken strips, I was skeptical; but then they were crispy with a warm and tender inside. Loved it. The waffle was soft inside with a nice slight crunch to the outside. The service was relaxed and offered good recommendations when asked. Will be back again for some Mexican lunch! And more breakfast! read more

Capital View Cafe - Cajun Breakfast, Chicken Waffle, Breakfast Burrito - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Very classic breakfast cafe with big portioned breakfasts at a reasonable price. I ordered The Farmer's and it was delicious! I really liked the small town diner feel for a cafe that's in the city. Nice that they had creamers and coffee cups already at the table too. Service was super friendly. Over all a very solid spot! read more

Capital View Cafe - The Farmer's - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I've lived in the area for a few years and have always wanted to try Capital View but just never got up early enough on the weekend to go out for breakfast. So, when I saw them on Door Dash, I thought it was the perfect way to give them a try. We got the traditional eggs Benedict and enchilada lunch. The enchiladas were supposed to be plain cheese but they came with ground beef. Was expecting the traditional red sauce but got the verde sauce instead. The meat was flavored ok but the sauce had no flavor. The beans on the side seemed fresh, as did the rice, but again, lacking flavor/salt. The portion was a good size and the price was reasonable. The eggs Benedict were a no. The Hollandaise tasted like the powdered McCormick packet you add water to and the eggs were completely done, like hard boiled done. The hash browns on the side had no seasoning whatsoever, not even salt. Again, decent portion for a good price. I would like to think this place might be better on a weekend morning when you just want a big, cheap plate of traditional breakfast food. As for me, I think this was a one and done experience. read more

There really isn't anything better than living in a city but feeling like there are places that are so familiar, it may as well be a small community. We love the CVC and try to go at least twice a month. It's walking distance, has amazing diner coffee and unique diner options (including the standard eggs and such), and we love the family that owns it - and everyone that works there. They're kind, motivated, positive, and just awesome. read more

My husband and I ate a late breakfast here a week or so ago. I almost left before we were were seated because the carpet stuck to my shoes with each step. The waitress asked for our drink order before we were even fully sat down and seemed out when we asked for more time. My husband's entree was ok but non-memorable. My entree had sausage gravy that was pretty much inedible-very thick and gluey, with very little flavor. I would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

Outstanding neighborhood cafe. We came for breakfast and left full and happy. We were greeted and seated promptly and that level of attention continued throughout our visit. We got a churro waffle for the table and it is NOT to be missed. Other standout items were the huevos rancheros, machaca with hash browns, and the Cajun breakfast. read more

Capital View Cafe - Churro waffle - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I thought this place was GREAT! My friends and I went after church today. The staff were friendly and attentive, despite the fact that they had just gotten a group of 40 people in just before us. I ordered the rojo pork and it was DELICIOUS! Great flavor, slightly spicy, and a generous portion. In fact, I would have liked it just slightly spicier, but I'm from the south. The refried beans were rich and tasty, too. We will definitely be back! read more

Capital View Cafe - Rojo pork with rice, beans and corn tortillas - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Really good place for breakfast and even better that it cost next to nothing. Took advantage of my complimentary groupon deal. Luckily, it was for this place. Have always wanted to try it anyway. The place is much bigger than I thought it would be. Plenty of tables, booths and little booths scattered through out the restaurant. Also a little country store attached quaint and not in an over priced cheesy cracker barrel way. Food was great. Service was great! I ordered the country benedict with sausage patties and gravy. Nutrition wise probably not the best, but whatever. It was very good. The american fries were really cooked to my liking as well. J ordered the cajun burger which they subbed with a turkey burger. They use the good kaiser buns. He said it was a good burger. Very cute place. Remined me of something we would see in Elgin or Streamwood, IL Would defintely go back for breakfast or lunch. read more

Food is tasty with good sized portions. Homemade hot sauce very good. Friendly service reasonable prices. Highly recommend. Enchiladas cheesy -- Mexican beans best in town. Friendly ambiance with no rushing -- sit and talk awhile read more

Just went to Capital View to have lunch. The owner asked the waitress to seat us....However when she was away from the owner she proceeded to say, by the way we close in 15 min. We kind of looked at each other like are you saying we should leave? She just sat there looking at us, instead of saying, we can still serve you, so we said we'll then maybe we don't have enough time to eat and she basically shoved us out the door. She couldn't get us out fast enough. Won't be going back if that's the type of people they employ there! Very disappointed. Used to go there a lot. So sad. read more

Everything on the breakfast menu is big enough to share. With, like, three other people. One of my friends lives in West St. Paul and a group of us ended up here a few weeks ago after a sleepover at her place (following a wonderful night of West Side adventures). She smartly brought us here for breakfast. I had the Cajun breakfast, which was totally unnecessary health-wise, but was good idea according to my hangover. It comes with hashbrowns (which I wanted to be crispier), fried onions, green peppers, mushrooms and over easy eggs with hollandaise. I added chorizo instead of andouille sausage because I like it a bit better. Much like chilaquiles, this is one of the more serious hangover helpers... a pile of food that should probably ONLY be eaten during hangovers. Capital View's version wasn't mind-blowing (I like The Uptowner's better), but it was solid. They also have a full lunch menu and Mexican options too. The staff was so nice there and the coffee flowed freely. It's just a warm, neighborhood place. So even though the food isn't going to win any awards, I just plain liked this cafe a lot. read more

Capital View Cafe - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Just an initial word of caution; DO NOT sit on the left side of the restaurant in their larger dining area. It's like the Hunger Games over there except everyone looks hungrier. How far left is too left, you ask? If you see a sign that says, "Where is your God now?" and you hear the distinct weeping that comes with someone making the decision to barter their firstborn child for toast crumb remnants, you've gone too far. That being said... I've been here several times now and I've noticed that, above all, this place's biggest downfall is their lack of consistency. You never quite know if you're going to be treated like a paying customer or a temporary annoyance by the staff. I've walked in and waited twenty minutes for someone to half-ass acknowledge me and take my drink order before. The food, too, alternates between delicious and meh (but it would be good to note that I've never eaten anything markedly disgusting here). Their Mexican offerings are pretty solid and good to start out with if you've never been here. The red pork lunch (or anything with red pork) is nicely flavored and tender. My girlfriend really likes their reubens and tuna melts as far as more traditional fare goes. The Cajun Breakfast is nice (get it with chorizo) and the Dublin Benedict isn't too shabby, either. The steak and eggs breakfast? Meh. The cut of steak is the typical cheap, sinewy variety and the price is higher than the quality. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you're in a rush because of the speed inconsistencies but it's an acceptable place to grab breakfast and lunch every now and again. read more

Great food! I go to a lot of breakfast places and this is one of the best! Service was amazing as well

amazing experience! churro waffle 100% recommend! GREAT customer service as well. very clean bathroom! read more

Capital View Cafe - churro waffle - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

It's been a long time since I've had Eggs Benedict. These were very good. Loved them. I've lived in the neighborhood for 14 years and I've never been in here. I never go out for breakfast or lunch. All my "Old Guy" friends swear by this place. They come here for breakfast on a regular basis and keep asking me if I've been here yet. Now I can say yes. If you get out for breakfast this is a must stop place. read more

This used to be one our regular places for weekend breakfast. We also used to go because of Restaurant.com certificates. They no longer take these, and their food quality has gone wayyyyyyyyyy down. To me, I'd rather get something from a fast food place if this were my only other alternative. In addition to the lacking food quality, the wait staff is highly inconsistent. Once, we were completely ignored after being seated, so we left after 20 minutes. The last two times we went, we had to keep asking for the same things, including portions of our meal, repeatedly. From now on, I'll pass. read more

We have been to this place 4 times already. 2 times, our server was MaryBeth and she was absolutely phenomenal. My family loves her. She is kind, attentive, and doesn't forget anything in regards to your order. However, we are giving it 3 stars. Here is the good and the bad. Pros: The food is great. It's always hot and always fresh. I have never had a bad tasting meal here. The food normally comes out very quickly after ordering, especially on e busy days, ie Saturday and Sunday. Cons: There is no consistency in regards to the food. I ordered an omelette 4 times and each time I got a different portion and kind of potato although I ordered the same American fries. One day the omelet is cheesy, the next day it's not. One day I get 4 pieces of toast with my breakfast, the next day I get 1. Still tastes great, but it sucks not knowing how much food I'm going to get. This right here is the biggest drawback. I hate inconsistency. The left half of the restaurant is very noisy. We are forced to raise our voice when putting in our order. Not cool. All the negatives aside, this place does have good food. Just don't expect to get it the same way each time you order it. Check out Groupon before you go because they always have a 10 for 20 going on. If you can, ask for MaryBeth. She rocks. read more

Capital View Cafe - A double breakfast with the family! Short cakes and a bacon and sausage omelette. - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I love this place. Even during a limited capacity in a pandemic, they always got me in quick. The decor is charming and I love the Tex mex breakfast thingy. read more

You won't find friendlier service. If you're looking for a hearty American-style breakfast with a Mexican flair, Capital View is an excellent destination. They offer an excellent all-day breakfast menu, so I haven't tried anything else. Great eggs and great takes on eggs benedict. I'm generally a fan of biscuits and gravy -- but the ones offered here were a disappointment. The biscuits were small and pasty. The gravy was uncharacteristically bland. Thankfully, there are many other, better breakfast options. read more

Capital View Cafe - The Cajun breakfast warms my belly, my palate and my heart. @yelpmsp - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

St.Paul Classic not uncommon to see local politicians eating breakfast and rubbing elbows here. Great breakfast and Mexican food so get both, pocket French toast is pretty epic too. read more

Capital View Cafe - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Went in on Saturday at 10:30am and got seated right away! People were in and out all morning with a good flow! I had a great tasting french toast and hash browns! The environment is very home like and was normal for a corner shop local breakfast place. I will 100% be going back! read more

Huge ham steak! Enough for 4 people. Delicious food , warm friendly people. Great breakfast spot. Lots of tables in 4 separate rooms so it is cozy and quiet. read more

Capital View Cafe - Huge ham steak! - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I really enjoy coming to Capital View especially for breakfast. They have large filling portions & the waitresses are always wonderful. I feel at home dining here. Typically I order the everything omelette (minus the ham), hash browns & rye toast. Delicious every single time. Its served super fresh & hot. They bring out one slice of toast & inform me if I want more let them know. I love that idea because I won't waste the bread & more ordered would be nice & freshly toasted. The price is right at this place. The taste is perfect. Today I came later in the day. (They close at 2pm) so I ordered a grilled turkey, bacon & swiss sandwich with homemade potato soup. Excellent choice! I live nearby I should come here more often! I'm actually craving an omelette right about now! read more

Capital View Cafe - Everything omelette - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

It may not look like much from the outside, but this place was busy despite the nearby construction. If you are looking for a place to get a good breakfast and don't mind a place that looks a little worn then I'd recommend stopping in. With the many options of meat and etc you can tailor your meal to your desires. I ordered the 3 dish combo lunch with a beef hard shell taco which was very good and the salsa was thick and tasty! Also ordered the tostada with chicken. I thought the shredded chicken was dry and lacked a flavor, but it was still okay overall. The third item was a red meat enchilada that was good, but not great. The star of the show was the Cajun breakfast my wife ordered. Very tasty with a tad of heat and a lot of hollandaise sauce. I'm glad she shared with me! The portions were large and we brought a good portion home with us. As others have said the staff is friendly and helped describe and recommend foods. I had to chuckle a bit when I ordered a Pepsi with a slice of lemon and it came in a can with a Coca-Cola glass to pour it in. They do offer up to 2 refills (cans) if needed. read more

See all

Service was great. I was not impressed with the food! Eggs looked like plastic and tasteless, potatoes were soaked in rancid grease and the muffin how can you ruin an English muffin ! I couldn't even get through half of my meal. Five hours later still cannot get the nasty taste out of my mouth! Seriously disappointed read more

This used to be one of my favorite places for breakfast. Today's experience changed that and I won't be back. Food was greasy, undercooked, missing multiple ingredients, and service was slow. read more

Alyssa R took off of work on Friday, which made this Lunch All-You-Can-Eat Friday Fish Fry possible for us. We packed up Pheona & made our way to the Capital View Cafe. I called ahead, asking what time it is served until and was told 2 PM. We pulled up around 1 and found ample street parking available. They don't have a parking lot. The entrance is in the middle of the place with seating on your left and right. We saw a sign that said to seat yourself, so we choose a booth just to the left of the entrance. Our server came very quickly dropping off menus and welcoming us to the restaurant. I had been here once before, while this was Alyssa's first time here. She dove into the menu narrowing down what she wanted to eat. She was torn between the Cajun Breakfast and the AYCE Fish Fry. When our server came back so we could place our order, Alyssa let her know she was thinking about those two. The server gave a great description of the Fish Fry that influenced Alyssa to go that route. Alyssa also went with a coffee. I did a lemonade. The Fish Fry comes standard with Hand Breaded Haddock, French Fries, and Coleslaw. We took in the place while we waited for our order. It's full of knick knacks on shelves and pictures on the walls. Lots of plants, too. There is plenty of natural light that comes through the windows. They have framed newspaper articles and local folklore highlighted throughout. They had music playing which was mostly classic rock. The place was quite busy. Over half of the tables were filled. Being right by the entrance, I saw a steady stream of people walk in. Some were known by first name. This place is popular. Our wait was just over 10 minutes. My first impression was, "Golly! This plate of food sure looks swell!" Coleslaw was colorful and creamy. Purples and Oranges mixed in. The two pieces of Fish had dill flecks in the breading. Truly looked amazing. A perfect wedge of lemon was included on the plate. The fries were your standard O'rida crinkle cut kind. They house make the tartar sauce, and they give you a huge ramekin of it. We got our fries salted and peppered & our Fish lemoned, and dug in! Great Haddock is cooked here. They hand bread it in a flour mixture with Dill flecks. It fries up perfectly golden tan. Fantastic crust surrounding those full flaky fillets. The Fries were alright. About as good as O'rida Crinkle Cut French Fries can get. It was cute watching Pheona eat 'em. The Coleslaw was a little different. It was highlighted with Green Pepper, but not overwhelming it. It got better with each bite. The house-made Tartar sauce was great. Not too tangy. More of a lemon flavor. Nice and chunky with pickles in it. Our server came back at the perfect time to ask about a reorder. I asked for two, while Alyssa asked for just one. When that arrived, within 5 minutes or so, we got more like 5 pieces. I also asked if everything was AYCE or just the Fish. The server told me that just the Fish is, but if I wanted more Fries or Coleslaw to just ask her and she'd get it. I had to ask for extra tartar, as for that didn't come with the reorder. Lemon did, though. Same great Fish for our reorder. Lots of eye appeal with those flecks of Dill. Steamy, white, flaky Haddock exposes itself when you cut in with your fork. Really great Fish. Our bill came to a total of 24 bucks and change after tax. We paid with our debit card with no issues. The All-You-Can-Eat Friday Lunch Fish Fry costs $9.25. That is an awesome price point. This is a great Fish Fry. If you have off on a Friday afternoon, we think this is a perfect spot to grab some lunch or a late breakfast. read more

Capital View Cafe - American Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Read this complete review, I am recommending this establishment with severe reservations. We ate at Capital View again today. First, the food here is typically very good, and the portions on the large side. We actually like going there. The service is friendly, we like the place. REALLY. HOWEVER... The reason I'm writing today and rating only two stars (I almost went to one star, and I'd really like to give it a four) is that they've recently instituted a cash only policy for food bills less than $50. They will accept a credit card if your food bill is over $50. They've also added an ATM, "for your convenience." Someone who I believe is the owner, saw us hesitate in the doorway as we read the notice. Since he recognized us as repeat customers he called out, "We're just trying to minimize the fees we pay. You can still pay by credit card." The poorly worded and spelled sign in the door, the new policy and how the owner handled it with us really worked its way under my skin while we were there. 1) Why would *any* business (in this economy especially) make it more diificult for a customer to do business with them? One of the goals as a busines is to make it easy for customers to give you their money, isn't it? 2) Merchant rules for both VISA & Mastercard state that no merchant accepting VISA (or Mastercard), whether a mom-and-pop store or a government body like a university, may establish any minimum purchase, maximum purchase, or surcharge for any VISA (or Mastercard) transaction. 3) The ATM on site is not free. It is a fee imposing ATM, from which, I'm sure, the business owner collects a commission or receives a portion of the fees collected. This all adds up to skanky business practicies, is disrespectful of their customers, and just plain wrong. Dear Mr. Restaurant Owner: If you are looking for ways to make more money or cut costs, 1) Watch your waste, 2) Control your portions (I had what looked like 4 scrambled eggs on my plate when 2 would have been more than sufficient), 3) Invite repeat visits, 4) Don't piss off the customer - we have a lot of options out there. I will modify or update this review as things change at Capital View. read more

I love breakfast. There is nothing I dislike when it comes to the breakfast menu, though I will admit that I prefer egg dishes to pancakes. One of my favorite spots to in Saint Paul to grab breakfast is Capital View Cafe. Capital View Cafe is located on Smith Street at the high end of the bridge, and when you arrive it's easy to tell why they call it Capital View Cafe. Right outside its front door is a great view of our state's Capital, and if you walk a block north you have a great view of all of downtown. Now a great view may nourish the soul but it will not fill the belly, so let's talk about the food. Capital View Cafe has all the traditional offerings that any self respecting breakfast joint should have: a solid eggs benedict, great waffles, hearty biscuits and gravy, and big ol' omelets. It also has a couple of tasty variations on the classics, like my favorite- the Dublin Benedict. In this version of eggs benedict, they sub in corned beef hash for the canadian bacon. Wicked yummy. Now you might be saying to yourself, "Sold. This place sounds great, I'm going to try it this weekend." (Which you should) But Capital View Cafe is just getting started. Everything I have mentioned is great, but I really go there for the Mexican breakfast selections. This is not the New Louisiana Cafe (one of the most overrated breakfast spots in Saint Paul) where they top eggs and cheese with salsa and call it Tex Mex. We are talking about authentic Mexican selections like chipotle red pork chili, huevos con chorizo, and machaca (seasoned shredded beef, onions and peppers scrambled with eggs). All of which are served with refried beans, fresh corn or wheat tortillas, and your choice of homeade salsa (I like to mix the hot and mild). They also serve the best Tex Mex burrito I have found in Saint Paul, as well as classic mexican dishes like huevos rancheros. Every time we go to Capital View Cafe, I have a devil of a time deciding on what to order. Occasionally one of the more traditional american dishes will sneak in, though those days are few and far between. I seriously go there for the Mexican options. My only complaint is that the staff at Capital View Cafe may be too friendly. The clientele is largely regulars, and my wife and I have had slow service on a few occasions when the staff is chatting with the regulars. This is a small complaint, and I hate to point it out because I love the food so much. However, if I don't tell you the truth then my opinion won't mean squat. Capital View Cafe is also open for lunch and has free wifi. I can't say that I have made it in for lunch, but if the authentic mexican lunch options are as good as the breakfast options are, then I am depriving myself of a tasty, tasty midday meal. Give Capital View Cafe a shot dear readers, and I promise you will find the food to be exceptional! read more

It was charming at first, but there were too many little annoyances and one big one. The blueberries on my oatmeal were clearly from a can (or maybe thawed frozen berries), the menu promised whipped cream but there was none, I had to ask again for the side of scrambled eggs I'd ordered, and the food took a long time to come out. Then to lower the experience from mediocre to "I won't be back," I took out a gift certificate I'd bought a few months back, and even though it explicitly said it had no expiration date, they declined to honor it. With only the explanation that they'd decided to stop accepting them. Not cool. Not going there again. read more

It's your basic diner, but a little nicer. Place is bigger, food is nicer, and prices are higher (still very reasonable), than your average diner, but despite all that it still feels like a small town diner. I've only ever been here for breakfast, even though they do serve lunch and dinner items. Their french toast and their pancakes are delicious, and as others have said, their coffee is also tasty. The service has always been friendly and prompt when I go. And I'm fairly certain they think the world will end if your coffee cup gets below 50% read more

I don't know how I missed this place, but I rode by and noticed signs offering Mexican food. There's lots of room inside. There were a few specials but the enchiladas with onions caught my eye. They load them with onions. I got a cup of the chili, and even though there were lots of beans in them, they were chili beans, and it was really good on this cold, gray day. A diverse menu for whatever you're in the mood for. They close at 2 every day. I had good service too. read more

This is a great local restaurant in WSP. I have only been here for breakfast, but I have to rate this place as one of my favorites. As Dan S has said, the Cajun Eggs Benedict is fantastic. Probably the best hollandaise sauce I've had in the TC area so far. The menu has a Spanish flair to it, but also has all the normal American favorites. Being that I like this place so much, I keep expecting to have to wait for a table when I get there, but due to its descent size I've always gotten a table right off the bat. I'll add updates to this review if I can ever get myself to order something other than the C.E.B. This is defiantly a must try if you are in the area. And yes they have a view of the capital if you stand in the middle of the street. Just don't' get hit by a car. Unless you like that sort of thing... read more