Came for the coffee cake and stayed for the food! Carolyn's make an amazing coffee cake, and have astounding customer service that will never leave your coffee cup empty. Their menu expands both breakfast and lunch and their food is equally as delicious as their coffee cake. They do get busy and you can expect a small wait to be seated. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and they are located in a large shopping center with plenty of parking. This is a fun place for morning brunch, and definitely don't skip the coffee cake! read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Carolyn's Famous Coffee Cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

The food rocks! The service rocks! This was my 2nd time here and I'll be back! They seat you quickly and even if there's a wait they make it go very smoothly. Quick, efficient and friendly service read more

This is hands down our family's favorite breakfast spot. We come to Carolyn's Cafe for birthdays and special occasions because it always feels special. Our go-to is the breakfast enchiladas with the extra spicy green sauce -- so good. And you absolutely cannot leave without the famous coffee cake The butter they add on top makes it next-level. Funny story: the first time my husband and I came, we thought the butter was ice cream and asked for ice cream on the side The waitress kindly told us it was butter -- and honestly, it's perfect just the way it is. Trust me, you've got to try it. Oh, and all staff is always quick and friendly. read more

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Carolyn's Cafe is one of those spots that just never misses. I've had most of the menu at this point, and the food is always amazing -- no matter what you order, it comes out fresh, flavorful, and exactly what you're hoping for. It's that classic, comforting breakfast and lunch spot that just hits every time. The ambiance is just as great as the food and service -- it has that warm, cozy, small-town diner feel that makes you want to sit back, relax, and actually enjoy your meal. It feels welcoming the second you walk in, like a true neighborhood staple. The service is top-tier. Everyone who works there is extremely friendly and genuinely makes you feel welcome. They go out of their way for you, and you can tell they care about the experience, not just getting you in and out. It's a true IE classic -- the kind of place that's been doing it right for years. There's usually a bit of a wait, but it's 100% worth it every single time. And you have to try their famous coffee cake -- it's a must. Perfectly moist, sweet, and honestly one of the best things on the menu. Never disappoints. A true oldie but goodie. read more

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The service is great and the food is good. We go every Sunday the waitress that helps us she is amazing.

Amazing! Coffee cake, big portion, shared a plate. Love this place. It's worth the wait. read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Breakfast, Gravy biscuits with egg on top and hash browns. Coffee cake. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

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Went to Carolyn's Cafe for breakfast and ordered a cup of coffee and the biscuits and gravy w/two eggs & potatoes, while my wife ordered the bacon & eggs. The service here is pretty good and the place is kept clean, which I like. The ambiance/atmosphere leaves something to desired it, it doesn't feel as homey and welcoming as some other breakfast cafes. When the food arrived my wife's plate was colder than preferred but it tasted fine. My order was decent but could have been better. The price was about average compared to other breakfast spots. Overall, I would like to come again and try the French toast and their famous coffee cake, but for now I give 'em a 3.1/5 read more

OMG I can't say enough good things about Carolyn's. But I will say, order ahead by calling the restaurant to receive a link to order through their online system. You must call the restaurant, and follow the prompts to receive the link. Unfortunately, you can't order directly through the website (You'll get a "Sorry, page not found error". Trust me, it's worth it!!!!! On to the food: Cinnamon Roll pancakes are the best pancakes I've ever had!!!! I've had them several times and every time, best ever! These are not the extra fluffy type of pancakes, these are a bit thinner and have the most amazing texture. To me it's almost like a cross between the best crepe and the best pancake. If you don't like crepes, please disregard the previous statement and just order you some damn flapjacks...lol The absolute friendliest pack of servers you'll find, the most reasonable prices, homemade biscuits and coffee cake, you absolutely can't go wrong. This PLACE is BUSYYYY! Come early or expect to wait. They're only open from 7am-1pm. Did I mention they make the best home fries? Get the $9.75 biscuits and gravy meal, and order you two pancakes on the side. Important Note: I came here many a day when my uncle was in a hospital nearby. Although a very trying and difficult time for my family, the EMPLOYEES and the FOOD at Carolyn's lifted our hearts and spirits more than what any "restaurant " is supposed to do, and more than they would ever know. Several employees would regularly ask how my uncle was doing, and one even sent an extra piece of his favorite coffee cake for him. With all that I can muster, I want to thank every single person at Carolyn's for what you do. THANK YOU! read more

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This spot is the quintessential neighborhood diner--cozy, welcoming, and just the right size. Inside, there's a spacious dining area, and they offer outdoor seating. We came back for a second visit because we couldn't stop thinking about their incredible coffee cake! This time, I had the Eggs Benedict with hash browns--delicious. My daughter went with the two-egg breakfast and a pancake, which she really enjoyed. We decided to take the coffee cake to go so we could savor it later without feeling too full. Both times we've visited, the service has been outstanding. The staff is attentive, quick, and clearly hardworking. Even when the place is bustling, they keep everything running smoothly. We genuinely enjoy coming here--even if it means a 30-minute drive for breakfast, it's totally worth it. read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Coffee cake with whipped butter...amazing! This photo does not do it justice. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

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Best breakfast spot! The service was great very friendly! We had the homemade fried chicken breakfast absolutely amazing! Coffee cake is a must! read more

Everything was great service was excellent, I would recommend this place to everyone

Love a good meal! Easy to access, service was fast, not too many crowds but enough for the crew to eat and head out! Ambiance is welcoming! read more

The food is so good. So far this is my second visit. First time the chile verde omelette. Oh my so tasty. The coffee cake warm and fresh. Second visit the Beef dip with a side of pickles and pepper jack cheese. (My choice). This sandwich didn't disappoint. Meat pirtion was perfect and grilled red onions yummmmmmy! I will definitely get this again. Service was good. We sat outside it was a nice day to be outside. read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Beef Dip with Pepper Jack cheese, Fries, side of pickles. Onion rings & fries. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

coffee cake is everything you want in a coffee cake! so delicious, moist, buttery, flakey and one of the best I've had! Would definitely come back just for the coffee cake and the reason for the 4 stars! The food on the other part was just okay. My mom's sun side up egg whites were clearly undercooked and chilaquiles were just fine. read more

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Their own special coffee cake is the bomb! Now they went over the top. They made the coffee cake into French toast. Definitely a sugary tasty treat!! read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Coffee cake French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

Can't believe it's been over 2 years since we've been back but am very blessed that there's a church event in Redlands 10 minutes away so here we are again and we missed you so much :) I realized I should of checked in on Yelp as that's the system they use and Saturday around 10:00am the wait time for 3 people was 45min to and hour! We ordered steak (medium) and eggs (over medium), eggs Benedict (my wife's fav) and Chili verde omelette. For sides we all got country style potatoes and coffee cake :) I also ordered a whole coffee cake to go!! I am not leaving without one of those cakes! Everything was sooooo good!!! The coffee cakes came out first and we totally remembered it goes really good with milk so we ordered two large and also a hot tea. I can't get enough of the coffee cake. Everything tasted exactly the same as before but this time I got the steak instead of the chicken fried steak and am so glad I made the switch! Too bad you're so so so far away from me or Id be a regular here for sure! Overall: great service! Our lovely waitress was super attentive and eager to assist and came back frequent and got everything we needed! The coffee cake is a must try and a must have! This is my go to spot if I'm anywhere near :) read more

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It's been about 2 years since we last eaten here. Mostly cuz of my husbands work schedule. But he had a day off during the week, and we're had time to wait for bomb food. We waited about 30 min. But it's totally worth the wait. I really don't care for coffee cake. But man oh man every time my husband gets his I'm always sneaking bites of it. He always tells me to get my own. So I brought one home lol. I'm not waiting another 2 years to come back. read more

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Mixed experience, I really wanted to love the food because of all the great reviews on Yelp, but it didn't quite live up to the hype. The coffee cake was definitely the highlight... moist, flavorful, and a nice treat to start the meal. Unfortunately, the chilaquiles felt more like breakfast nachos with no sides, and the country fried steak breakfast lacked flavor. Service was solid, our waitress was kind and attentive. The location itself is super busy, even on a Tuesday midday, though we only waited about 15 minutes. Overall, not a bad visit, but not amazing either. read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Carolyn's Famous Coffee Cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

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The service is awesome. The food is amazing too. Coffee cake is out of this world! You have to try this place out. Outstanding!

There's always a wait. Just be prepared for the wait times. Food is typically served to order The coffee care is of course the reason we go 10/10 for coffee cake!!! read more

Carolyn's Cafe is a full plate of love. Inside our outdoor dining available and if you come on the weekend you have to join the waitlist on Yelp....otherwise if you just show up expect a minimum of a 2 hr wait. Service is great and welcoming. Food is plentiful and delish. And the coffee cake smothered in butter-remember to order for the holidays read more

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Amazing for breakfast. Coffee cake a classic. It's why there's always a wait if you don't have reservations. Local favorite. Not much on style inside but okay. read more

Just great food and kind service. Don't forget the coffee cake. The portions sizes are great and worth it. The only part that is hard is getting there before they close. read more

Anytime there's a restaurant or establishment with over 3000 reviews on yelp it peaks my interest. Especially when its well above a 4 star review. I just had to come try this place out. They close at 1pm, but when we arrived at 12 this place was still busy. And by 1230 people were still coming in. They have several small tables outside and lots of seating inside. Customer service is really friendly. The waitresses here are quick. They joke. They are attentive. Always topping off our coffees before they reach half cup. The biggest problem we had was deciding what to order as their many is extremely expansive!! Everything sounded so good and I wanted a little of everything. The food too comes out quickly. And are extremely large portions. Most importantly though we were in and out in about an hour without feeling rushed! I ordered their country fried steak breakfast with potatoes and their famous coffee cake. It was large enough portions that I didnt have to eat the rest of the day!! The country fried steak was gathered in graveyard. But it lacked a bit of salt and flavor. The potatoes were good. Some charred and burnt bits, really added to the crunch. And you get 2 eggs your way also. It was a very hearty meal. The coffee cake was amazing!! Moist, warm, decadent, rich, not overly sweet. It was pure awesomeness. They provide you eith some syrup, but the crazy thing is the syrup is warm!! Never had that before. Not room temp but actually warm, which really kept the integrity of the warm coffee cake. That and the cup of hot black coffee would be enough for a nice little treat next time. The pancakes were OK. You can upgrade the regular buttermilk pancake for any of their specialty pancakes. The cinnamon taste of the cinnamon pancake was just lost in the sugary drizzle. The lemon blueberry poppy seed pancake was slightly better. You taste the nice subtle flavors of the blueberry and the lemon. The Pan in Gardena I feel has far superior pancakes. Overall a good establishment for breakfast and brunch. Their coffee cake is a must try, even for those who dont like coffee. There's something there on the menu for everyone. The food is very filling. I kinda didn't like how it made me feel after. I was stuffed!! Its been 18 hours since I ate and im not even 1 bit hungry. read more

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As always, the visit to Carolyn's was delightful. The service is ALWAYS wonderful. With friendly and attentive servers. The food is super delicious with the cooks always nailing special order instructions. {I always get the chorizo scrambler with my breakfast potatoes extra crispy and it's delicious!! Cooked to perfection} But the reason we first came and what brings us back every time? The coffee cake!! To die for. With the perfect amount of butter added to the top, served warm. It never disappoints. And fingers crossed, you'll get a corner piece!! read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Coffee cake, with butter on top!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

Their breakfast never misses. I tried the chilaquiles today and this is the best thing I've had on the menu. The service continues to be great and I love the ambiance. read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Banana Pudding Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

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Rolled into Carolyn's Café around 8 AM and the lot was already packed--always a good sign. Parking? Surprisingly easy. Inside, I was greeted right away by a friendly team that let us take our time with the menu. The insider tip here is the coffee cake, and trust me... don't skip it. Crunchy top, fluffy sponge center--it's a slice of perfection. Honestly worth the visit just for that. I went with the smothered burrito covered in gravy, and wow--it was huge and packed with flavor. Comfort food at its finest. A friend tried the chilaquiles, but heads up: they're not traditional Mexican style. That said, there are plenty of hits on the menu. Pro tip: Come hungry, save room for the coffee cake, and maybe bring a friend to help tackle those massive portions. Carolyn's Café is an easy 10/10 for me--friendly service, generous plates, and that legendary coffee cake that lives up to the hype. Definitely a must-stop in Redlands! read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Coffee cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

First time and won't be my last. Great food! I enjoyed that I never had an empty cup of coffee the service was impeccable. The only downside was the restroom situation, only one and a long line, so don't wait for the last minute. read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

Came here for the famous coffee cake... always delicious. I got churro French toast from the fall menu. It was pretty good. A little too sweet with the icing but good nonetheless. The eggs were a little too watery and the sausage a little dry. But I still enjoyed my meal. Can't say the same for my husband's burrito. He was very unsatisfied with it. It tasted like canned sauce. The service was fantastic, we sat at the bar and our waitress was on it! This place is always packed with a wait l, it's also super loud. But I think it can be worth the wait if only for the coffee cake. read more

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Tried out this brunch place on the way back from a Big Bear trip, and it was amazing and so worth the wait!! The yelp waitlist was closed (probably due to it being so popular), so we arrived there and checked in. We had a group of 7 people + 1 dog, so we requested outdoor seating. We were quoted around 1-1.5 hour wait, but we got seated in around 40 minutes for an outdoor table. The food is delicious - great flavors and portions!! Most of their dishes come with your choice of country potatoes, hash browns, or fruit, and your choice of toast, pancake, or their famous coffee cake. I ordered the California Scramble with turkey bacon with country potatoes and coffee cake. Their coffee cake definitely lived up to the hype. It was so flavorful, buttery, and had some crunch and nice texture! The service is also amazing!! They checked up on us frequently and were quick when we asked for things. They refilled our coffees and waters frequently as well. I would definitely come back if I'm in the area. read more

Carolyn's Cafe - Carolyn's Famous Coffee Cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Redlands, California

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Amazing food! (Thank you, Matt) Amazing service! (Thank you, Claudia) One of our favorite places to eat - hands down! read more

Best coffee cake I've ever had. Breakfast burrito amazing. Mix gravy with salsa for a fabulous dip. Fried French toast should be shared with friends. The decor is cute. The service is above and beyond. Can't wait to go back. read more

I like Caroline's Café very much but they can improve. Their customer service is amazing. The only thing that I can say is, I wish they would improve on the quality of meat that they put. Sometimes I get grisly meat weekly in my scrambles or omelettes. Their food I think used to be better but I still like going there. I don't mind paying good money for something as long as the quality is good there's could be better. read more

The food was good- but definitely not worth the hour wait. I would go again during the middle of the week and be fine waiting 15 minutes!

Our favorite "diner" breakfast spot in town. Their corned beef hash with potatoes O'Brien is delicious! Their portions are insane, my husband and I usually have enough leftovers for a second breakfast. And it's pup friendly! read more

If you have a 4 year old that's hungry and wants to go out to have a breakfast with his dad please do not go here. I was treated badly and as a matter of fact it was my first time and they sent me off my seat twice. I won't be going back there. read more

coffee. cake. need i say anymore? went on a monday and it was still so busy. anytime i'm in Redlands Carolyn's is a MUST

Love how they give you a stir stick for your coffee! The loaded breakfast burrito was covered 1/2 in gravy and 1/2 in a green sauce..great combo. You can tell the tortilla chips are made fresh for the chilaquiles. The crunchy corn flakes and almond chunks was a nice touch on the French Toast. We did try the famous coffe cake. Yee haw that cake was delicious with its heaping scoop of butter plopped and all melty on top! We dug into it so fast we didnt take a photo LOL. Servers are friendly and come around to top your drinks often! Outside seating is comfy and the inside is cozy! read more

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Great food! Excellent menu. Outstanding service always! Great Family ambiance! I love Carolyn's!

We stopped in today for brunch and it was a packed house. Highly recommend getting in line on Yelp or making a reservation ahead of time. There was In And outdoor seating available. Plenty of breakfast and lunch options with a good number of vegetarian options. Clam chowder was good but nothing to write home about. Coffee cake was good but I think the butter made it a tad too salty for me- I think a sweet cream unsalted butter May be better?! Not sure but I'd order it on the side as it melts all on the plate soaking into the cake. I ordered the veggie hash. 3/5 too many potatoes which were flavorless. They veggies however were good, egg was supposed to be cooked medium but came out quite easy and the whites still runny. My significant other ordered the Florentine Benedict which he enjoyed but the muffin it was served on was dense. Served with a side of potatoes or hash browns- came with enough hash browns for 2 . Service was quick and the waitress was pleasant. I also notice the waitress speaks sign language which I feel is so useful and awesome seeing her interact with the couple who needed her skills. Place was casual, home style and nothing fancy. Overall I'd say 3.5 is my rating based on the food. 3 for ambiance . 5 stars for service . read more

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