I had great hope for this restaurant but when we ordered two waffles with two pieces of fried chicken the chicken was good inside but the breading was actually burnt and had a strong burnt flavor. All I could think of was they should go to Kentucky or Popeyes get a piece of chicken, put it next the their's, and they would be shocked at what they are serving. The waffles were two very small squares, cold and soggy. And I drink strong coffee but their coffee was too strong. The people were helpful and nice- I think at times cooks don't taste their own food and really don't realize what they are serving. Must be a lack of good management to let that be served. I am going to go back and try a traditional breakfast and see if that might be better. read more

Food was delicious and service was great! Coffee was fantastic! Great selection of choices

Not ideal for dinner. Don't get the fish and chips. There was barely one piece that was edible. My dad enjoyed his burger but he will eat anything. Onion rings were good. Kids foods was not great either. Frozen chicken nuggets and an overcooked quesadilla. BUT the people who work here are so nice! read more

I made a stop to visit a friend nearby and Esau's was a short walk. We were there for breakfast and after looking at some of their many breakfast options I went with their California burrito, tri-tip with eggs, sounded great. The menu said that it comes in a giant tortilla and it was. Big burrito and looked forward to it. You know when you overstuff a burrito at say, Chipotle and everything kind of just blends together? Very similar here, I'd get a little bit of tri-tip but the eggs were on the greasier side and would just drown that out. I'm not even sure if I had a french fry in it like it said. It was filling and ok, something I'd consider getting again if I was in the mood but I might try something else if I come back again. read more

Esau's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

We were in Carpenteria for a meeting and found Esau's cafe for a bite. What a great old fashioned diner, great food. Great menu so much to choose from . My husband had biscuits & Gravy which he devoured I had ham & eggs. The ham steak was delicious the eggs cooked perfectly & great service Run don't walk to this special place will definitely go again. Hopefully we will be living close by but my brother in law lives in Santa Barbara so I'm sure we will be back soon read more

This is one of my favorite cafe in carp. You should try cinnamon rollyum yum There is a public parking close to the cafe read more

Esau's Cafe - Outside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

This was our first time here we really enjoyed our food i had the ham steak with eggs and hashbrowns every thing was great our server said I made the right choice pancakes were great my grandson said they tasted delicious if we ever visit again we will go back read more

Esau's is a must stop for brunch in Carp! Fast, friendly and such a HUGE variety on their menu. Everyone can find something to eat here. Plus, it has that small diner field, but with plenty of seating. You can sit at the high countertop or down in a booth. You can sit outside or inside. They have old surfing TV shows on which are kind of fun to watch and plenty of coloring for the kids. I'm partial to so I always get something that has to do with breakfast and I've never had a bad meal. Enjoy! read more

Great food and great bloody Mary's!!!! Homemade biscuits and pastries and a great selection of breakfast and lunch choices.

I have two rules for choosing a restaurant. Actually dozens, but only two that are applicable to this conversation. 1. Any place that calls themselves World Famous is to be avoided; and 2. A good restaurant has both Crystal and Tabasco hot sauce on the table (at least back south anyway). If they're really classy they'll have a bottle of pepper sauce too. Esau's Cafe brags that they are World Famous since 1939. They also have Tabasco, Tapatio, and Cholula on the table (good alternatives to Crystal on the Left Coast) . These are contradictory signs and I wasn't sure what to think. I was greeted with huge portions of good, fresh food. The biscuit was gigantic. Their New Orleans Scramble wasn't bad (especially with Tabasco), and the home fries were perfect. The Breakfast Burrito was devoured by my better half. Well, only half devoured. It was huge! The staff was very friendly. Service was a little slow, but it was packed and the waitresses appeared to be overworked. The place is pricey, but not out of line for the area and location near the beach. read more

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We usually eat at the same place when we come to Carp but decided to try something new - glad we did! Ordered a chicken sandwich that was not on their regular menu but a special menu. The sandwich was really good - the chicken breast was thick and juicy and even though it had breading, it was not oily or fatty; bun was good along with the sauce and it had alfalfa sprouts which was a nice touch. It came with fries which were perfectly cooked and not greasy. Service was great and our server seemed to know the menu well and was good at describing some options to us. Close to the beach and great outdoor seating. Will definitely be back! read more

Esau's Cafe - Chicken sandwich on their special menu - so good! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

Wasn't sure what to expect from this hole-in-the-wall looking type of spot where most of the seating was off the sidewalk. Turned out to be one of the most memorable breakfasts that I've had! I got the basic breakfast ($14) which came with eggs, bacon and two sides. For the sides I chose the house potatoes and biscuit. All I can say is wow. I loved the house-made biscuit and jam that came with it. Also the house potatoes were amazing, salsa was also house-made. The ambiance isn't much to write home about, a quiet side street with a makeshift outdoors dining area, but it is walking distance to the beach (watch out for tar). And parking is plentiful in the area. Service was attentive and you can tell it is a locals spot. Definitely hitting this place up the next time I'm in the area. read more

Service/food is amazing. 10/10 would recommend. Loved eating both inside and outside.

So good.... Old school surf diner with tasty homemade rib stickin meals. Love it! A must visit in Carpinteria. read more

Esau's Cafe - Mannnnn oh man, green echicken enchiladas with poached eggs. Yummo. That hit the spot!!!!!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

We loved coming here for sandwiches. The French dip was good but the meat was a little chewy. We did really enjoy the BLT. The bacon was cooked to perfection. We will be back next time we are in town. read more

Esau's Cafe - French Dip Sandwich Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

The rumors were spot on! We put our name on the waiting list, and I did take a while to get seated as it was busy, but the food was excellent. Hefty portions left enough to take home as we were quite full. The server was attentive and polite and we got to enjoy some morning sun on the patio. It was a pleasant experience and we left more than full. Prices were reasonable. We will definitely be returning. read more

Esau's Cafe - California breakfast burrito! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

How do those AT&T commercials go - ""Just okay is not okay"? That sums up my feelings about our meal at Esau's yesterday. There are some positives, but I felt a general lethargy in the town of Carpinteria, and Esau's was no exception. I understand that there's some shellshock in the ongoing Coronavirus situation, but all the more reason to treat your guests as well as you can. We waited at the front door to be seated outside, as requested. They weren't that busy, but no one came for a period of time that was starting to be awkward. They've added sidewalk/streetside tables out front, marked by plastic guardrails, softened with bamboo fence rolls. It's not elegant, but it gets the job done. Our server tried to take care of us, aided by a young helper who made sure to clean the tablecloth as we were settling in. All the employees wore masks, and signs abounded on proper social distancing and use of face coverings. Only outdoor seating allowed. The server seemed distracted, though, and not that involved in the process of enhancing the meal. Speaking of food, Dear Hubby went for the breakfast side of the menu, opting for a giant breakfast burrito. I'm trying to go with a more pescatarian track, so ordered the Baja fish tacos. Sigh. First the server reported that they had run out of the fish. I asked if shrimp would be an option. Yes, but not grilled. Unfortunately, she apologized, they come pre-breaded, and could only be fried. Secret exposed - they use pre-packaged seafood supplies. Apparently, not the place to come for fresh fish/seafood. I wasn't feeling a breakfast vibe, and a burger wasn't what I wanted, so I stayed with the tacos. The plate came sporting a nicely laid out selection of two tacos, a cup of pinto beans garnished with crumbled cheese, and a cup of rice. DH's burrito, while massive, came unadorned with any garnish, but had a nice chunky salsa on the side. Sadly, both the rice and beans on my plate were cold. The server came to check on us, and I reported that fact. She apologized (poor lady, she spent a lot of time apologizing for the kitchen's lackings!), and did bring heated replacements. By then we were mostly done, so had a few bites, and brought the rest home. Overall, the meal was underwhelming and overpriced for the quality, at least mine was. DH did enjoy his burrito, but would have preferred it to be a bit smaller with a side of potatoes and maybe a slice or two of fruit. I'd say that Esau's is about offering rib-sticking food, mostly. They do have some salads, but they sounded large, and I wasn't that hungry, and not in the position to refrigerate a leftover salad, either. My advice - go hungry, very hungry, as you won't find light bites here. read more

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If I could this place would get more stars. It's good for its word. Great food, service was amazing. Freshly brewed ice tea, yes! My husband and I split this breakfast and it was perfect! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! read more

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Had a wonderful breakfast. The dishes are delicious and generous! Became our favorite breakfast location. read more

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Came here on a Sunday morning around 9am with my husband and were seated outside right away. It was quiet and calm, families and groups of friends. Service is excellent - our waitress was very nice and bubbly and servers came around making sure everything was okay. We ordered a Gnarly burrito and chilaquiles rojos (red sauce). The burrito was delicious! The chilaquiles rojos were a bit too smoky for me, I think they use chipotle sauce - next time I'll try the chilaquiles verdes (green sauce). The home potatoes were really good - perfectly crispy. More than enough food to share for two! read more

Esau's Cafe - Gnarly Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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The have indoor and outdoor seating. Staff was attentive and friendly. They serve El Salvadorian coffee. It was bold but not bitter we enjoyed the Java. We ordered the Spanish omelet. Serving is big enough to share so we did. It was the best omelet I've ever had. Lots of veggies, just the right amount of cheese. We had both red and green sauce on top. Yum! It's served with guacamole and toast or tortillas. Will definitely come back. read more

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Okay, I wasn't drawn to this place at first because I wasn't sure what they served. After looking at the menu and seeing they had clam chowder and plenty of outdoor sidewalk dining, we decided to have lunch. I had one of the BEST bowls of clam chowder, if not the best, I've had in years. Bonus that it was served in a sourdough bread bowl. My husband really enjoyed his club sandwich and 50/50 fries and onion rings. read more

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Just about the best breakfast I've had in awhile. I had the Chile relleno omelet. Hubby had the chicken fried steak. Both of us got full and had food to take home as the portions are big. The home fries were crunchy and not over seasoned. The salsa, both green and red, was warm and just the right amount of spice. The pico de Gallo was fresh. Coffee was hot and refilled frequently. The wait staff were friendly and attentive. We will definitely return. read more

We were on Linden to visit the candy shop then decided this area was super cute and wanted to wander around a bit and head to the shore. We just happened upon Esau's and I knew I'd spotted this cafe on the Julia Child's Guide to Santa Barbara that I was recently looking at for some new spots in the area to try. We hadn't had brekke yet and were actually going to eat in Montecito where we usually do when we decided we were happy and excited to try Esau's. The vibe was super chill and inviting, exactly what I needed. We walked in and snagged a perfect little booth for two immediately. I asked the gentleman who brought our waters and took our drink order what his favorite item on the menu was and he told me the baja fish tacos. Well, I've never been one to shy away from a fish taco even if it was breakfast time but I still took a fairly decent view at the menu. Really, everything seemed pretty good. I ordered a coffee and a mimosa and I'll say the mimosa is hands down a 5 STAR mimosa, made exactly the way I like - arrives looking orange in color, but mainly champagne with just the right amount of oj to turn it orange. Even with gaining some pounds recently, I felt this drink ASAP - just the way I like my mimosas :) turning brunch into a relaxed vibe and making a nice time even better! It was delish! I ordered the baja tacos upon suggestion of our drink order staff member and my friend ordered the corn beef. I can say, my dish definitely won. It was the most robust platter with rice and beans, salsa and lemon. I obviously shared half with my friend. It was enough for two and we still didn't finish all of it. I really liked this menu item and I'd surely order it again. The batter isn't really seasoned, it may be but if it is it's lost on me Queen of heavily seasoning everything but still good but not the sort of batter where you're like, oh yumm this batter really has great flavor, just a standard dare I say it, bland batter but still good once you hit it with a ton of lemon and salsa. The salsa isn't spicy but it's still tasty. The rice is just plain rice, but the beans OMG they are insane yummy with the cheese sprinkled atop. I tried a little bit of my friends leftover remnants of corn beef and it seemed ok, but presentation alone my dish was far more abundant. Service was great and the place filled in quickly with nearly every indoor seat being taken. If it was a little warmer maybe we would have sat on the outdoor patio but I wanted to cozy up indoors. Really, really like this spot. Love the decor and casual, friendly, beach vibe feel. I'm fairly certain I'll be adding it to my breakfast rotation out this way. The menu was so plentiful I'd love to return time and time again. If you're looking for a meal in this area I'd definitely suggest Esau's. Perfect way to start the day or a mid day lunch break spot if walking up from the beach. Fantastic! read more

Giant portions for affordable prices. The food is simple but good. I usually get a few meals out of whatever I order for breakfast and the coffee is decent and even when busy they do a good job keeping it full. Love that they have some outdoor seating now. read more

Food is always fantastic but this time I must have had either a bad coffee creamer or a burned coffee. The coffee taste was pretty bad and I only drank half a cup but asked for a new cup and the second cup also tasted burned. I had a bad stomach reaction to it. Again, it was the coffee and not the food. I love the service and the quality also! read more

Great food and friendly staff. Dog friendly restaurant the parking was easy worth driving down here from Santa Barbara.In Carpenteria and most of Santa Barbara there are more dogs than people! Every single couple brought their dog with them on vacation and the dogs are in every park, hotel and restaurant. Kind of a downer for people who don't want to be surrounded by others pets. Food was good read more

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5/5 stars strictly for service. The service was amazing. The staff all worked together nicely and seemed to work well as a team. I loved the atmosphere here. Nice. Friendly. Welcoming. The food is on the pricier side of brunch food... $10 a mimosa $15-18 a plate and $2-$4 up charge for things like side of gravy, sub a muffin, things like that. The food was 3.5/5 The omelets was overdone for my liking and hash browns are bland. The jam was delicious. And biscuit was dry. It wasn't a bad experience by any means but for the price I was expecting... more flavor. I would bring friends back because the selection is big! If you have picky eaters and or people who don't love breakfast (they have a lunch menu served all morning) this so definitely the place to go. Lots of options! Service was great. read more

Esau's Cafe - 3 Egg Mexican Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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I have eaten fish and chips on 4 continents over the past 50 years. This was without doubt the worst fish and chips that I have ever had. The batter was dark brown, thick and greasy, the chips were cold and the slaw was limp and flavorless. I had to ask for the table to be cleaned to remove the toothpick and cheese shreds left by some previous diner. All in all this was a bleak experience. The coffee isn't bad though. read more

The food is delicious!! The service is really good and outside it's perfect for take a breakfast.

Service was great, quickly received cafe quality coffee. Cup was kept full throughout the meal which is a big plus for us. Staff all came across as friendly as well as very diligent in providing good service. Some good vegetarian options including Tofu 'scramble', basically tofu mixed with lots of vegetables served with feta cheese and salsa topping (actually pico de gallo, but I could not tell you the difference). Really good, nice to have a breakfast option that did not include eggs. Hash browns were perfectly cooked. Partner had Spanish Omelet which was also enjoyed. Outdoor seating with well spaced tables. Surprisingly (to us anyway), the indoor seating was completely packed when we left with outdoor seating still available. It would have been nice to have plant based "sausage" options to complete what was already a very, very good vegetarian meal. read more

This place is a little gem. Had breakfast with my wife and we both loved it. The staff is super friendly. Definitely coming back soon!!!

Wish I could give this place a proper review, but I really don't have much to go on. Lots of people waiting and lots of empty tables. Clearly they don't have enough workers. Go here if you aren't hungry and don't mind standing on the sidewalk staring and listening to people's stomach growling. Don't waste your time. read more

Best breakfast spot in Carpinteria! Dog friendly huge plus for us! Great portions, exceptional service and delicious food! Just wish they had the biscuits the two days in a row we went easy parking at the lot by the train a big plus read more

If you have two hours for breakfast and like to hear your waitress complain about the other diners, this is the place for you! The food is good, thanks to the talented cooks. But, just be prepared for a less than stellar overall experience. No wonder their waitlist was blank. read more

Food was delicious, service was good, atmosphere was nice. We sat outside at umbrella covered tables. Will definitely be back! read more

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Esau's never disappoints. I used to go to their location on State Street but now we head down to Carpinteria about once a month. Their service is prompt, friendly and efficient. Their menu has something to offer for everyone and the food is delicious and served quickly no matter how busy they are- I don't know how they do it but they do a fantastic job. read more

Great home cooking. Great selections and service is wonderful. I highly recommend this place. Get here early because it closes at 2. read more

Esau's Cafe - Greek Omelet? Oh so Good! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

We enjoyed our breakfast here. Delicious cappuccino, excellent huevos rancheros, and fluffy well-cooked pancakes. Really appreciated the house made jam, muffins, verde sauce (they gave us a small side to try on our huevos rancheros) and more. Tasted like homemade food in all the best ways. Service was great--waitstaff made thoughtful suggestions as we were ordering that made our breakfast even better. Plenty of outdoor seating even for a party of 5. read more

Esau's Cafe - Huevos rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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I'm giving this establishment one star to get the attention of the owner/s, we're visiting Carpentaria from OC, we had breakfast here for two mornings, reasonable and delicious, service was awesome. My issue is the bathroom, GROSS very small, you walk in toilet to left, next to it small cabinet then a urinal , in the middle of room is a baby changing table how disgusting especially the urinal, it appears you have a very successful business so why not improve the bathroom? The restaurant looks awesome, please upgrade your bathroom. Disgusted customer read more