This is as easy a 5-star review as I can imagine. We've driven by this older, undistinguished establishment several times, but never really noticed it. With the hearty recommendation from two different people we decided to try it out. We found the breakfast-lunch menu the most appealing to our tastes. I ordered a reuben and my wife an omlet. The portions were large to gigantic, the flavors fresh and delicious with the pricing most reasonable. When you add the fantastic service we experienced, the Del Monte Cafe instantly became one of our favorite eateries in San Luis Obispo. Be aware that this was a charming old grocery store at one time and exudes nostalgia. It has about 8 tables inside and some tables adjoining outside. This is one of our best local finds and I'm hesitatant to write it up fearing it may become too popular. read more

This place had a lot of positive reviews which led us here. There is a small parking lot at the back of the cafe, and some street parking along the by streets. The place looks like a nice small diner, with friendly staff and quick service. The staff were nice and patient to get our orders. However the food was a little disappointing, we ordered the bagel sandwich and the mushroom cheese omelette. The bagel sandwich was very bland, it was like it didn't have any salt or pepper added. The same was true for the omelette. The home fries were more like deep fried potato cubes, which were also very oily. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Bagel sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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We were looking for a place in the area to have breakfast recently and were striking out because it was the day after Christmas...we saw that Del Monte Cafe was open and went there. We're glad we did! Here is what we noticed: - There is a very small parking lot and we took the last open spot, however, we did notice a lot of street parking nearby later when we left. - It was pretty rainy so they could only use their inside seating area, which is pretty small, but we were lucky as someone was just leaving. Other people who arrived had to wait a bit in the waiting area located in the far side of the building. - Our server took our order pretty quickly, providing answers to my questions. My two daughters opted for the Chorizo Burrito and the Linguica & Eggs, and I went for the Linguica & Cheese Omelette with avocado added. Apparently, this linguica (a Portuguese sausage) is made locally. After we ordered, we decided to try the pancakes and so we flagged our server down to add that to our order, which ended up being no problem...in fact, we actually got those first! - All the dishes were very tasty. I don't usually order omelettes when dining out for breakfast, but I was glad that I had as it was so full of the sausage. And, the potatoes on the side of our dishes were excellent... nice and crispy and very well-seasoned. - Our server was very responsive. It did take a little while for our food to come out, but not problematic...I suspect that the kitchen in this building can only accommodate so much volume and could quickly get overwhelmed if there are a lot of people sitting at outdoor tables too (not an issue for us on this rainy day). Bottom line: We had a great meal at this quaint little restaurant and would go back for sure...I suspect that your experience could be different, though, on a more crowded day and/or based on what you order. read more

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Small restaurant across from the rail station. 8 tables indoors and additional seating outside. Serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We went for breakfast. First the good: breakfast egg dishes were fine. Solid preparation and tasted decent. Nothing special though. Maybe I should have ordered something more unique or off the daily specials menu. The not great - very slow. We went on Sunday 9:45am. They were busy (Cal Poly family weekend) and clearly understaffed. Our wait for a table was 40 minutes which was fine. After being seated our wait to have our order taken was 20 minutes with another at least 20 minutes before the food came out. We ended up changing our plans for the day because breakfast took so long. read more

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The server was very genuine and friendly, and had plenty to say about the menu and her personal recommendations The food itself is above average, and not all that memorable. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Cute booths, nice dog-friendly patio. Plenty of parking at train station lot across the street. Mostly performative service with glimmers of hospitality. Coffee and water refills consistent. Chilaquiles were pretty but cold; I liked the pickled onions. Potatoes were hot but bland. Have visited twice but probably won't return. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Pretty but cold chilaquiles, hot but bland potatoes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Average spot for a person who loves breakfast. Service: service was great- thank you Martha FOOD: AVERAGE. Coffee- more like black tea French toast- 3.5/5 Oatmeal: ordinary oatmeal 3.5/5 Biscuits n gravy: 5/5 Pancakes:2/5 Eggs:5/5 Ambiance: little country kitchen style spot Would I come here again. No. Nothing stood out enough to make a return trip. read more

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We stopped by for breakfast Saturday morning and were so happy to be seated right away by friendly staff. We chose to sit indoor because it was an adorable older diner vibe. The outdoor seating looks lovely as well, so it's nice to have both options! I ordered the huevos rancheros and my friend ordered the sausage egg combo. My huevos was good, hit the spot, but nothing special. The potatoes o'brien it came with were dry and flavorless. I love potatoes so was surprised that I didn't want to eat them, which is telling. My friend was not that impressed with her meal either. Again she said it hit the spot, was just so-so. We split the blueberry pancakes. They were yummy!! The coffee was not great, not very rich , more like coffee flavored water. Service was phenomenal! read more

Del Monte Cafe - Blue berry pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Great stop! Hubby and I were craving for some good ol' American breakfast. This place popped up on our search; can't resist a cute non franchise local spot!! And boy were we glad! This place was charmingly quaint with delicious food to boot! We enjoyed our meal that we actually cleaned our plates! lol! We underestimated how hungry we were and we were so glad to have our meal here. Overall, a great stop to replenish and stretch one's legs a bit. read more

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Great quick friendly service food amazing definitely returning , best lil cafe love the old school vibe read more

Del Monte Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

This cafe has a very cute diner vibe however the food is very mediocre. We ordered the chilequiles & the stuffed french toast and felt they were okay. The portion of the chilequiles was very small compared to other we've tried and lacked in flavor. The chips were very soggy so they kind of just broke as you ate them. They also make their chilequiles with a scrambled egg which is something I don't particularly like. The outside of the stuffed french toast was good but the inside is stuffed with just a block of plain cream cheese (the kind you put in a bagel). The plain cream cheese stuffing did not complement the flavors or texture of the french toast therefore I recommend to skip out on the stuffed versions and just get the regular french toast. They were however very generous with the amount of fruit they offered with the stuffed french toast. Overall, the service was good as they bring your food out quickly and check in on you often however the food is alright. I would recommend this place if you just want to experience a cute diner in CA. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Stuffed French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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First time trying Del Monte Cafe in SLO and it was delicious! We ordered the 2+2+2 (which is two pancakes, two eggs and two slices of bacon or sausage patties). The pancakes were fluffy and cooked to perfection. The sausage was very flavorful as well! We also got the Fried Egg Sandwich, essentially a BLT with an egg. We love a BLT! It was really good, I think adding avocado or if they added a specialty Mayo / sauce would make it even more exceptional. The fries were super good and for all the Ranch lovers out there this was some of the best ranch dressing I've ever had, hands down!!! The owner was super sweet and took the time to chat with us a bit! The cafe gives off an old school / retro vibe inside and the outdoor is very inviting with the sunshine and foliage! A great stop for breakfast! read more

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Such a cute cafe. Our group got seated right away. I tried the crab sandwich and was delicious. Friends tried the salads and the half size was still huge. Everything was fresh and delicious. Service was great, prices reasonable, and good portions. read more

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Came here for breakfast with my cousins while visiting SLO. Del Monte Cafe is a cute little breakfast place with old style tables and benches and neat decor. Food was really good and tasty. Totally a place that you can come back again and again. Had a great breakfast read more

The Del Monte Cafe is our perennial favorite spot for home cooked American dining. The very name recalls the ubiquitous green cans of Del Monte Fruit Cocktail in the 1940's and 50's.. For a wonderfully nostalgic and delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can not do any better! read more

Nice vintage restaurant. Good food, friendly staff, the restaurant is small so get there early. The prices are great. Good coffee. Good egg scrambles. Good pancakes. It's classic diner food. Nothing to write home about but a solid choice. read more

I tried the stuffed French toast.. I wasn't a fan. There was A LOT of cream which threw off the texture of the French toast. Since texture is a big thing for me, it was hard to eat it joyfully. I went back to try a different item and I got the blueberry pancakes. The pancakes were okay. I was hoping for the blueberries to be mixed into the pancake but it seemed like they just threw on some blueberries. The service was good. There was no wait the times I've been and I liked how vintage the restaurant looked. read more

I wasn't very happy with the customer service, the person who I believe runs that place was kind of abrupt at the beginning, I believe if you want your business to be successful, you need to be pleasant at all times and with everybody, regardless of your beliefs or expectations read more

Went last Sunday for breakfast- nice and warm day so ate outside. Cute little busy place- waitress was not super friendly, didn't smile- perhaps just too busy. I ordered the pancakes, eggs and bacon. Best thing was the crispy bacon. $16 item which wasn't anything special. My daughter had the linguica- she liked the dish. I don't know. I don't think I I will return. Pretty pricey for an ok meal. read more

They need to deep clean the restaurant it was very unsanitary and the seats are sticky not enough napkins

Wasn't too crowded on labor day weekend! It was a bit warm inside, but the waitress was very kind and offered extra water with ice. Cozy interior and great patio seating. Service was fantastic. Didn't wait long to be seated and the food came quickly and was fresh. The food tasted great as well. read more

Del Monte Cafe - biscuits and gravy with 2 eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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You step up stairs then thru a door and it reminds me of home. It's a very quaint and cozy place not too much seating and if you sit in the front, you'll have a view of the trains going by. The food was pretty good. The potatoes were crisp and the eggs were fresh as well as the other Ingredients. The sausage patty was delicious and cook perfectly and seasoned well. The weight staff seemed a little rush, but they could've been short staffed that day. Overall a nice place to have breakfast. read more

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There are no vegan options here, which on its own isn't necessarily a problem. However, when we asked whether any vegan alternatives were available, the response was rude and condescending. The server made no effort to accommodate us or even suggest possible options. Her comment -- "This is a bacon and egg place; we ain't got any vegan stuff here" -- made us feel unwelcome and dismissed. read more

Came to visit Pismo-Slo and this was hands down the best breakfast meal we had in the 3 days we'd been here. Fueled us up before our beach-hike day and didn't take too long to get our food, eat and head out. The drive through the canyon from Pismo was also very peaceful compared to the freeway route. Would've came here every morning if I had found it sooner. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Stuffed French Toast & Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Took my boyfriend who was visiting here, since it was trending on yelp. We loved everything and portions are super huge for their price, we didn't finish everything. The service was so good and they had such a cute outdoor dining spot. Packed and busy but all the food came out so fast. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

A favorite spot to visit for breakfast in SLO proper. This is more of a hidden gem in town with its further proximity from downtown. This establishment has always boasted a vintage/charming interior + exterior, easy parking, friendly service, and good value for the plates of food that they serve. Our personal favorite is to sit at the retro diner barstools and order a split plate of the 2+2+2 breakfast plate with a cup of coffee. Will always have a soft spot for this restaurant and the people behind it ever since our first visit during our days at Cal Poly SLO around a decade ago. Happy to still see this restaurant thriving! read more

Del Monte Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Me and my Hubby's favorite place for breakfast. We love it for the quaint and classic atmosphere but also the yummy and fresh food. He has tummy troubles often when we eat out but at the DelMonte his tummy never rumbles. The service is always fantastic. Love going here on Saturday mornings and getting our favorite booth :) read more

Del Monte Cafe - the DelMonte Cafe (side view) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Very tiny cafe that has fantastic service and food. Portions are generous without being overwhelming. Everyone is working really hard and they care about your experience. read more

Great little local spot with delicious chicken fried steak served piping hot. No bells and whistles but high quality ingredients and friendly (though slightly slow) service. Would come back if I'm in town! read more

Classic and authentic diner from a family owned and operated restaurant that opened in 1981. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner with reasonable prices and friendly service. Nice and clean. Parking can be a little tricky since it's in a residential neighborhood. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

I went to Del Monte Cafe this morning for breakfast. It was wonderful! Great food and such a lovely, old school atmosphere. Del Monte is cute. It takes me back to the 1930's. Or WW2. And it is right across from the Amtrak station. If you sit in a booth and look out through the gingham curtains, you are transported to another era. The food was delicious and as ordered. We all enjoyed our meals. Service was attentive and just the right speed. I will definitely return for another meal. read more

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FOOD: It was okay. Nothing too grand but the sweet potato pork hash was pretty good. Decent home cooked type meals. SERVICE: Wasn't busy during our visit so it was quick. Our server seemed in a rush or cranky though unless it's just a rbf lol but it kinda put us off. Other than that though the food came out quick and in great presentation. AMBIANCE: Cute small breakfast spot. Old house turned resto. Cute little booths. Quiet and snug. Not much booths inside but quite a few tables for outdoor seatings. Not my go to spot but not a bad spot. I would go back just to try other things but nothing too special. But i would definitely recommend the pork hash theres a reason why it's quite popular on the menu! read more

Del Monte Cafe - Southwestern Scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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My fiancé took me on a road trip to the Coast for my birthday. We stopped at several different restaurants and bars from LA to Big Sur & back. Even though the food was delicious, the service was terrible!!! The young lady who sat us was extremely nice, we were hoping she would be our server. But no, we got this very curt, rude older lady who acted too busy to introduce herself or and sent questions. Regardless of how good the food was, she left a nasty taste in my mouth !! read more

i was excited to finally check this spot out for brunch with my family but i'm sad to share that the service was terrible so we ended up leaving. the host was friendly and the wait was short for a sunday but the rest of our time here was frustrating and disappointing. we understand that brunch shifts are busy, so we are always spacious however; even after 10 minutes of being seated, we weren't acknowledged by our server. despite having to pass our table each time, she did not so much as glance our way. she was steadily checking in on all the other table in our section while we weren't even given water to drink. after waiting a few more minutes, we asked a runner if they could let our server know we were ready to order. more time passed until our server walked back to our section. at this point, we were relieved and hopeful that our experience would turn around. and yet again, she did not acknowledge us and helped out the other tables in our section. at this point it had been 30 minutes since we were seated. this final interaction (or lack thereof) was when we could no longer give her the benefit of the doubt and left the restaurant. the stark difference in the experience every other table was having compared to ours made it undeniably clear that we were not welcome. i hope the server can reflect on her actions and take this feedback to heart and that management does their best to ensure no one else experiences this kind of disrespect and lack of service ever again. i recommend they give the host and runner a raise and consider promoting them to servers because their service was excellent and the only redeemable part of our time there. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Whether it's brunch with the gals or breakfast with that special someone, this is the place to go! I loved the outdoor seating and the ambiance it gave. Food was delicious and service was great! Bonus points for good ranch! read more

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I never thought I'd have to write a review where I felt heavily discriminated against at a restaurant and yet that is exactly what happened today. I went for Saturday brunch with my partner and their two cousins. All 4 of us are people of color and we are immunocompromised so we wear masks regularly, so we look for outdoor dining options and we were excited to eat here. The wait wasn't too long and we were seated within 15 minutes of arrival. Our waitress (middle aged blonde haired woman) assisted every table at the outdoor patio area multiple times within 15 minutes but never addressed or acknowledged us. We did not get water or any interaction aside from the initial host seating us. We asked a runner to let our server know we were ready to order and once the server returned to our area, she once again ignored us. By the time we left, we had waited a total of 30 minutes for our waitress, double the time we even waited to be seated. Several people in our party have worked over 5 combined years in food service and so we knew we were being purposefully snubbed and ignored. Every other party outdoors had only white/caucasian guests and were continuously checked in on. Whether the waitress has her own "opinions" with people's various identities (or the fact that we had masks on) we should not have been ignored or denied service. read more

I've been to Del Monte a number of time, the service is usually very good but today was different. I'm a vegetarian of 30 years. I ordered pancakes and potatoes what I order every time I'm there. This time they had a special, pancakes with ham, which I was completely unaware of because I tone anything with meat out. I told a wait staff that I was a vegetarian and didn't order this. She took it back and the waitress comes back attacking me about the order, saying I ordered the special. I ordered pancakes that's it. I didn't trust the food they did bring out because of the bad attitude the waitress had with me. read more

When I am in town and craving breakfast this is my spot. I really enjoy the comfy atmosphere and the delicious breakfast. I like the pancakes, the crispy breakfast potatoes and the sausage patty. read more

Del Monte Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Located at the edge of a residential neighborhood, this cute, pale yellow breakfast place was a little disappointing. Stopped in on a Saturday morning before heading out to the local wineries. The place was packed (they do not take reservations) and the waitlist was several parties deep. We were lucky and avoided the wait by sitting at the bar, which has seats for about 5-6 people. The staff was friendly, but it was quite chaotic. We received our food, but had to wait a few minutes to get someone's attention to bring us utensils. FOOD: Servings were good sized and looked good, but honestly, we thought the food was very ho-hum. The Chicken Fried Steak ($17.75) was served with two eggs, potatoes O'Brien, a biscuit and country gravy. The steak was on the smaller side and the gravy was watery and missing sausage. We also had the Tri-Tip Scramble ($16.75) served with potatoes O'Brien, and choice of toast/muffin. The scramble was under seasoned, the meat a little dry, and the toast was barely buttered. Overall, I might give this place a second chance, but it's hard to say that I'd recommend it wholeheartedly to my Yelp friends out there. read more

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The food was delicious, I got the western omelette and my mom got the bagel sandwich. Both came with solid breakfast potatoes and both of us were happily full after our meals. The omelette was a great size and not too cheesy. The bagel was well put together, not falling apart. The service was quick, they refilled the coffee frequently, and although it wasn't busy I imagine that's how it is every time. The place is very cute and has old fashioned vibes but is very comfortable. Only thing they're missing is classic, real jam/jelly, they only had the welch's little packages. Would recommend! read more