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    Garden Cafe

    4.5 (663 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Garden Cafe Takeout or Delivery

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    GARDEN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Garden Cafe

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    B.L.T.A., where's the bacon?

    Came here in a Sunday with my daughter. I had the Chorizo Hash, it was as expected. Good but nothing to write home about. My daughter order a B.L.T.A. that was lacking on the bacon. You'd expect more for a $21 BLT (w/ sweet potato fries). It was mostly everything but the B. Service was good, I wouldn't go out of my way for the food. Outdoor seating is nice but faced the Safeway parking lot which made for interesting people watching.

    House Chilaquiles Eggs, Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
    Kimberly A.

    Loved having my birthday breakfast here ! Such great food and even greater people ! Compliments to the chefs they need their ass ate !! And my waiter Franklin such a great guy deserves to get eaten as well ! He knows how to make a conversation going and constantly offering us refills ! He deserves a big round of applause and maybe a pancake or two ! Love it here

    Michelada
    Michell H.

    Absolutely loved our visit! We had a bomb breakfast here -- the crab cake Benedict was rich and perfectly cooked, and the breakfast tacos were packed with flavor. We washed it all down with Micheladas, which were on point, and the lemon water was incredibly fresh and refreshing. Portions were huge, so come hungry! The real highlight, though besides the excellent service, was the garden seating -- super cute, cozy, and such a relaxing place to sit and enjoy a meal. Amazing food, great drinks, generous portions, and a beautiful atmosphere. Can't wait to come back!

    Fish tacos they must try
    Calvin N.

    This spot is an absolute must-visit. The breakfast alone is worth the trip--massive portions and incredible flavor. Do yourself a favor and order the cinnamon roll pancake. No syrup needed; it's perfectly sweet all on its own. The salmon burger is another standout. It's a real salmon fillet, grilled just right and served on a soft, delicious bun. Total yum. Don't skip the fish tacos, either. Honestly, this menu has it all--from hearty breakfasts to filling lunches. Great sandwiches, tasty omelettes, flavorful tacos... whatever you're craving, you'll find something you love here. You won't be disappointed. This place absolutely belongs on your San Rafael restaurant bucket list.

    5 Hour Robert's Corned Beef with eggs over easy
    Chandra H.

    Food was really good and fresh. The 5 Hour Robert's corned beef special was really good. I had it with eggs over easy. The dish comes with O'Brien potatoes. Definitely a hearty breakfast. The restaurant is in a sketchy area and parking can be a challenge.

    Banana Pancakes
    Carole B.

    The motto on the sandwich board says "Come Hungry and Leave Happy!" No lies detected. Came here for breakfast when I needed to break my fast after a medical procedure that required I abstain from food for over 24 hours. What a fortuitous find! The banana pancakes were fluffy and moist with a lovely whipped cream to top it off along with a decorative orchid. We also shared the garden omelette which is just a twist on the scramble. It was chock full of delicious asparagus, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes and myriad other delights along with feta cheese. The service was friendly and fast, and the decor of the patio was sweet and homey. The only less than perfect menu item was the biscuit that was a bit dry. Also, a few more strategically placed heaters out on the patio would have been nice. Minor quibbles for such a great place -- my new go-to for breakfast in San Rafael!

    Wake Up Scram
    Mark B.

    Had a delicious brunch on Saturday at 12:30. 17 minute wait but worth it. I had Wake-up Scram and GF had Chilliquilies. Amazing sauce and flavors. Strong coffee and amazing smoothie. Had to wait for sourdough toast but they were super-busy. Will be back to try other food options. Everything we saw looked fantastic. 5 star!

    Melissa E.

    Like being in your own kitchen only we have servers. Staff is friendly, sweet kind and absolutely attentive. Love this place and you will fall in-love with it too.

    Chorizo Benedict

    8/10. Usually benedict dishes are smaller but they absolutely packed the chorizo on there which was nice. Tasted great honestly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside has a lot of plants so I like the atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Cinnamon Roll Pancakes - soooo fluffy and amazingly delicious. Comes with cinnamon roll frosting on top and maple syrup on the side
    Ariana I.

    Came here for a holiday work brunch and we were seated in their covered, heater filled, patio. The patio even had a water fountain. Super cute. The menu is huge and reasonably priced (about $15-$23 an entree) from several different types of Benedict's, pancakes, French toast, and lots of other specials. They had it all! The portions were also generous so I totally understand why this place is so popular. The service was friendly and efficient too. Parking can be a bit tough but you can snag a spot in the Safeway lot or do street parking (2 hour max on the meter tho).

    Leslie M.

    The food and service were amazing. The smoothies and juices are super refreshing. The fries were freshly made and super crispy but tender on the inside. The sandwich was well seasoned and the veggies were crisp and fresh. The potatoes were super tender and the chorizo was nice and crunchy. It's a brunch spot so lots of chatter but it's lively and the employees are all super helpful and attentive. We are from out of town and found this place and they offer indoor seating or outdoor or patio! They even have a furry friend menu. Super cute!!!!

    Lovely colors
    Elizabeth H.

    Garden Cafe sits on the alleyway next to Safeway in San Rafael. We lucked out and found a parking spot in the alley. There is a small parking lot, but its has signs saying that the parking is for another restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]On a previous visit I was amazed at how roomy the place is, because from the outside it looks as if it might be tiny. There are tables outside under umbrellas, but there is also a large indoor dining area, in addition to the popular outdoor patio seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I remembered that I had enjoyed myself the first time so, I brought my husband. Service is warm and friendly. We were seated immediately, coffee and water came quickly, and there was not a long wait for the food to arrive. One of the dishes that everyone loves here are the Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. But I ordered a bacon, spinach, mushroom, and cheese omelet. It was ok, but the eggs could have used a little more flavor. It seemed as though the bacon, cheese, mushrooms, and spinach were prepared separately from the eggs and then assembled. My rye toast was overdone with a blob of unspread butter on one half of the slices. My husband did say he liked the potatoes. All of that being said, my experience was not unpleasant it just didn't convince me to abandon my usual breakfast spot. I would still like to try the Crab Benedict and the Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, so I'll probably go back ;-)

    Side of Sweet Potato Fries

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    23 days ago

    Great breakfast, reasonably priced, great service, easy to Walt to from almost anywhere downtown.

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    1 month ago

    Just had an xlnt salmon Caesar salad! My friend had the sun valley chicken sandwich. Both sooooo good. Love this place.

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    I stopped by to have breakfast and the restaurant is closed. It's under construction, anyone know when they plan to reopen?

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    The Lodge

    The Lodge

    4.5
    (80 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    I've been going by The Lodge for years and finally stopped in. The only disappointment is that I…read moredidn't stop by earlier. The service was fantastic, friendly and accommodating. I had two tacos that were tasty and full of goodness. They let me get one chicken and one steak taco. The atmosphere is homie and the decor interesting. You run into the eatery before you get into downtown Fairfax, it's on the left and be sure to look out for it. I highly recommend a visit.

    This is a very cool spot very Fairfax, Marin County vibes…read more Casual "hiptituity", laid-back, very chill. Indoor and outdoor seating. A couple of outdoor areas, some under shade with picnic tables. Located in Marin County, California, The Lodge in Fairfax is an iconic, historic establishment built in 1908 by the Arbini and Segale families as The Old Timer's Saloon, serving as the town's very first bar. After years of being utilized differently, the building underwent an extensive two-year restoration. The owners of the San Francisco bike shop Big Swingin' Cycles purchased the property, upgrading its infrastructure, adding a kitchen, and building a large, dog-friendly outdoor beer garden. You get that feeling that you really are at a lodge at the lake in Wisconsin. At least for a minute, it brings back memories. However, in place of the white and red pine trees are the gorgeous redwoods providing shade. Nice tap beer list with healthy portions served. I had the mushroom tacos, vegetarian style with a little salad and chips $10 and a half a beer. My lunch mate had the summer salad with chicken added $25 bucks which is a little steep, but certainly enough for two people. Served in a very large bowl. It's quite impressive. I would forgo the protein and save the six bucks extra. Great spot, great service, great ambience, great food, and beer. Walk,drive your car, or bicycle in. There are a bike racks and some parking on site.

    Photos
    The bar at The Lodge
    The bar at The Lodge
    So good!
    So good!
    The Lodge

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    The Speakeasy

    The Speakeasy

    4.2
    (238 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$

    Fun new beverage menu! I tried Papaya Don't Preach: papaya vodka, limoncello, prosecco, and papaya…read more(!) cotton candy (that melts when you combine it with the liquid ingredients--fun!) The staff is always so friendly and welcoming--you feel like family. We enjoy having small bday parties with themes. Good times. 6.6.26: updated menu!!

    My wife and I had the occasion to stop by The Speakeasy a few days ago. We were just looking to…read morehave kind of hors d'oeuvres and a cocktail and just hang out together, because we found ourselves with a rare four-hour window where the kids were occupied and we could just do whatever we wanted. This was a nice way to spend a few hours. The space is neat. It's as small, somewhat dark ambiance with the windows blacked out. So, you do loose your sense of time a bit inside. That's actually nice as it feels like you went somewhere/somewhen else for a while. We had a Manhattan and a Kentucky Mule, and, additionally, we had three different shareable appetizers. First thought, we ordered and devoured a really exceptional cheese plate. I know cheese plates seem a little meh sometimes, but this was really good! I would absolutely order it again. In fact, I would definitely go there just to have the cheese plate again with a drink, a glass of wine. We also had the three tacos shareable. There were three tacos that were stunningly good. Lastly a dish with some little steak medallions and a shrimp. Each of these was about two bites and the flavor and texture was excellent. All three of the shareables and the drinks were exceptional. I have to call out that, with the cheese board, came a little loaf of bread. That bread was really good all on its own. I would definitely want to eat it. I can still taste it. It was really good, but my wife, she's gluten intolerant. They offered, because she couldn't eat the bread, they offered to also bring her out some gluten-free crackers, so she got to enjoy the cheese board just the same without the bread. They gave her the crackers, and do you know, they just gave her those extra. They didn't ask for something more. They didn't do anything. They just took care of her. I really appreciate that. I have to also give a shout out to the Jessica. I don't know how she did it, but she was taking care of the whole room of tables I think. Nice. We ordred all three shareables at the same time and she thoughtfully said, 'do you mind if I course these out for you?' We said yes and she did. I don't think anybody felt like they didn't have everything they needed, so a shout out to you, Jessica, really well done. We're grateful for the service and the high quality dining experience that you gave us on a moment's notice. I hope we can visit again soon. And, especially we want to check out The Boardroom soon. NOTE: This is in a kind of older looking strip mall. Don't be concerned about that at all! It threw us off a little at first and we did wonder when we pulled in though if we were in the right place. Happily, we were!

    Photos
    Cocktails
    Cocktails
    $2 Oyster Happy Hour
    $2 Oyster Happy Hour
    Lamb

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    Lamb
    The Hummingbird

    The Hummingbird

    4.2
    (618 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    I'm not sure I have the will to go on if establishments like The Hummingbird are shutting down for…read moregood as well. They were such a place of deliciousness and excellence. Not just another breakfast and lunch spot. So many people will miss this Fairfax institution.

    I had to drive to Fairfax to pick up my daughter from camp and she was craving chicken and waffles…read more Not familiar with the area, I looked up a place on Yelp and discovered The Hummingbird, a New Orleans based restaurant. Having visited New Orleans earlier this year, I was so excited to try this place! As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was transported back to NOLA! There were beads hanging and Mardi Gras decorations throughout the restaurant. Since it was a weekday, there was no wait and we had our choice of sitting inside or out. We opted for inside. Our server was warm and friendly, bringing us water promptly. We started off with an order of beignets. It arrived with three big pieces. They were freshly fried and doused in powdered sugar. So good! My daughter ordered the chicken and waffles, while I decided to try the everything gumbo. The chicken and waffles was huge! It came with several pieces of fried chicken that was topped with freshly minced garlic and came with a homemade spicy sauce. My daughter loved it! I tried a bite and thought it was tasty as well. She ended up taking half of it home. The everything gumbo was also delicious! It was a little thin in my opinion, but the flavor was amazing! It was truly authentic and I could taste all the seafood that was in it. I finished my entire bowl! Unlike the chicken and waffle, it was appropriately sized. When I went to pay the bill, there was a sign that said "free beignets if you pay cash." So of course, I paid our bill in cash! Luckily, I had enough cash on me. Can't pass up a deal like that! All in all, it was a very enjoyable meal! If I'm ever in the area, I'd definitely go back to The Hummingbird!

    Photos
    Mmm,mmm,mmm
    Mmm,mmm,mmm
    First kids in the Hummingbird
    First kids in the Hummingbird
    Poached eggs with debris gravy and hashbrowns aka "the Jack Riggs Special"

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    Poached eggs with debris gravy and hashbrowns aka "the Jack Riggs Special"
    Miracle Mile Cafe

    Miracle Mile Cafe

    4.4
    (851 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    What a gem! American classics with Peruvian flair. Im just sad it took me so long to come here…read moreafter living in Marin for so many years. My new favorite place! Ambience: Beautiful outdoor seating, and indoor seating as well. Colorful and bright. Inviting. Service: Stellar! Our waitress was kind and excellent. And 2 men checked on us as well. We felt well taken care of. Food: I had Avocado Toast and it was so good with lots of good flavors going on. My husband had breakfast chilaquiles and they were delicious with a nice spice. My daughter had the cinnamon roll pancake and loved it. Oh and Bloody Marys were fire! Can't wait to come back and try more things. Thanks Miracles Mile! See you again soon!

    Miracle Mile Cafe in San Rafael absolutely delivered. I ordered the sausage and ham omelette with a…read moregluten free biscuit, and everything was outstanding. The omelette was perfectly cooked, fluffy, packed with flavor, and loaded with quality ingredients. The breakfast potatoes were crispy and seasoned really well, and the gluten free biscuit was honestly one of the best I've had at a breakfast spot. What really makes this place stand out is how many gluten free options they offer without sacrificing quality or taste. It's rare to find a breakfast cafe that takes gluten free dining seriously while still making the food feel indulgent and homemade. The service was exceptional as well. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made the experience feel welcoming from start to finish. Between the amazing food, generous portions, excellent gluten free selection, and top notch service, this place easily stands out as one of the best breakfast spots in San Rafael. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    Inside vibe
    Inside vibe
    Miracle Mile Cafe
    Miracle Mile Cafe

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    Sol Food

    Sol Food

    4.2
    (5.9k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    This is my favorite restaurant in Marin county! My only complaint is the San Rafael location is so…read moresmall, if you go during their busy hours good luck finding a spot to sit at! They do have a to-go area where you can place order and pick it up, rather than going into the actual restaurant. My go to dish is the bistec sandwich, paired with their house special hot sauce, it is soooo good!!!! They also sell bottles of their hot sauce and salad dressing which is amazing. I recently tried their plantain burrito and it was also very delicious. My go to drink is their ponche which is super refreshing, especially during their summer months. I always forget to take photos of the food before I eat here because I am so excited to always dig in! I'll aim to come back soon to take photos and update my review. I love that they also have a mill valley location as well as Petaluma!

    If you are craving delicious Puerto Rican food, this is the place to go! They have a few locations…read morebut the one in San Rafael seems to be the largest of the bunch. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. Food comes out fast and hot. I really like the bistec encebollado combo, as well as the spicy creole prawns. The sandwiches are all pretty good as well. I love that they have Pique (the vinegary sauce) at every table. It's soooo good! This place does get pretty packed and there is usually a line but it's worth it!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Bistec Sandwich
    Bistec Sandwich
    Chicken, rice, beans. Plantains and salad

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    Chicken, rice, beans. Plantains and salad

    Garden Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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