Harbor Cafe
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Amazing food, amazing drinks and amazing staff. This is a gem of a place. I highly recommend this place for great food and a great time. There's usually a wait but it's worth it! The chicken and waffles were amazing and the Bloody Mary's are always a must for me. Always sub the spicy version. This place is such a vibe.
Stopped in for a snack and tried the hamburger which was good. The only problem was the Bun. For the cost of $21 they need to have a better Bun.
I have 3 words for Harbor Cafe: cute cute cute!!! It's a clean, no-frills breakfast-brunch type diner place with harbor-themed decor and lots of patio seating for great outdoor dining. I love the diner vibe where you get free refills on coffee, except Harbor has an exceptionally special menu with things like Eggs Benedict on polenta cakes instead of bread or California Benedict with thick bacon on croissant instead of English muffins. I did get one coffee refill, but it took a long time to get our order taken, even when we sat down before other tables. It also took a long time to get a box and a check, even after sitting for a long time and then asking for them. So I'd say service could be better, especially for the price. Our meal hit the spot, and the menu had unique items, so overall, Harbor is a win for us.
It was crowded on this warm Wednesday morning, but got seated fairly quickly. Both of our breakfasts were very good. I'm a big fan of hash browns, so that pushed my review to a full 5 stars. The homemade biscuit was very good also.
Classic breakfast with some new twists. I ordered: - The (non-alcoholic) Kitchen Coffee: the horchata whip on top was to die for. The rest of the drink was almost dunkin' levels sweet but it did the job of waking me up - The spicy meat omelette (wasn't listed online): contained eggs, bell pepper, avocado, either beef or pork I can't remember, cheese, and jalapeño. The meat and veggies were a great contrast to the eggs and salty cheese. The side of biscuit was a proper flaky biscuit, not some cornbread style affair Logistics: - Indoor and outdoor seating - Limited parking in lot next door - we ended up parking around the corner in a residential area
What a delicious find! This spot is the perfect place to enjoy your morning fix with family and friends. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and there's plenty of comfortable indoor and outdoor seating, friendly service. They offer a great variety of classic all-American breakfast favorites, along with some creative dishes with a unique twist. Everything we tried was satisfying, flavorful, and perfect for starting the day.
Harbor Cafe absolutely lived up to the hype--and then some. My girlfriend and I stopped by recently, and it honestly exceeded my expectations. She ordered the spicy machaca con huevo scramble, and I went with the country steak breakfast--both dishes came out hot, fresh, and packed with flavor. Everything was cooked perfectly. This place used to be my go-to spot back when I lived in Santa Cruz, and coming back after all this time, it was even better than I remembered. Same great vibe, amazing food, and just an all-around solid experience. If you're in the area, Harbor Cafe is a must. I'll definitely be making it a regular stop again.
Arrive early because there is a line waiting 30 minutes before they open. The staff is great! When it's early, they let you choose exactly where you would like to sit, if it's available. The salmon was perfectly smoked with a quick sear! The poached eggs were exactly how they should be! Everything was exactly what I needed! The spicy bloody Mary was a great pair with my breakfast! Amazing little breakfast spot!
We went early in the morning, and it was nestled in the cutest little spot. We did outside dining, and it was so perfect. The sun wasn't out yet and outside ambience was great. Service here is amazing, and the food is even better.
Harbor cafe is a cute spot for brunch has great outdoor seating area for dogs and pets alike. Inside is a bit small, but roomy. Waitress helped with the to-go order so can't say much other than that. Off to the food review 4/5 - Breakfast Burrito - All around good with everything you want in the breakfast burrito. Egg, hashbrowns, and I added some meat in it to make it all the better. I always feel breakfast burrito needed some meat. The salsa definietly adds acidity to cut down the greasiness of the burrito and adds a nice spice as well. Definitely recommend this. 2.5/5 - Frittata - Not sure what to say about this. Expected a good crunch from the looks of it but just had a stale crunch instead. Feels very heavy on carbs and cheese. Hard to cut with a knife and avacado seem a bit old as well. Salsa and sour cream helped a bit but cannot save the dish. Order something else probably next time
Third time here in five years wish I got the opportunity to come more often. We always have good service and the food is excellent. I'd steer folks towards the Benedicts, especially the shockingly good Polenta and Farmers Benedicts. One of the best biscuits I've ever had.
Great spot for breakfast/brunch! Delicious coffee (get horchata whip no matter what you get), great service, and yummy food options. We struggled to pick what to get, but we both enjoyed what we did get. We came here because it was voted best in Santa Cruz, and it didn't disappoint.
20 days ago
Yelp Elite Review: Where the Coffee Is Bold & the Stories Are Even Better Some restaurants serve breakfast. This place serves breakfast with a side of Santa Cruz history. This spot has been around for years, and when my boys were younger, we would come here after a day at the beach. It has gone through a few owners over the years, but the improvements they've made are awesome. The place still has that classic beach-town chill--lots of laughter, good food, and people enjoying life. Parking? Let's just say Santa Cruz and parking have never exactly been best friends. But once you get inside, you have the choice of indoor or outdoor seating, and it's worth the effort. One of my favorite things about this place is the history. For years, a group of local fishermen have been coming here. Two of them are still regulars, sitting around telling fish stories. And if you know fishermen, you know those stories have probably gotten a little bigger every year. My wife and I split the all-meat omelette, and it was delicious. They also do a fantastic job with the hash browns--crispy, hearty, and exactly what you want with breakfast. The coffee deserves its own paragraph. Bold, flavorful, and strong enough to make you believe you can conquer the day. Our server was wonderful. She has worked here since graduating from high school, and you could tell she genuinely cared about taking care of people. Friendly, positive, helpful, and the kind of service that makes you want to come back. There's a wonderful selection of food, but honestly, part of the experience is simply being there. You can almost feel the decades of stories in the walls--families, fishermen, beach days, laughter, and countless cups of coffee. This isn't just a place to grab breakfast. It's a place where Santa Cruz history is still being served--one omelette, one cup of coffee, and one slightly exaggerated fish story at a time. Yelp Elite approved! #YelpElite #SantaCruzEats #SantaCruz #BreakfastInSantaCruz #BeachTownVibes #SantaCruzFoodie #Breakfast #Omelette #HashBrowns #Coffee #LocalFavorites #CaliforniaEats #FoodAndMemories read more
4 days ago
Amazing food, amazing drinks and amazing staff. This is a gem of a place. I highly recommend this place for great food and a great time. There's usually a wait but it's worth it! The chicken and waffles were amazing and the Bloody Mary's are always a must for me. Always sub the spicy version. This place is such a vibe. read more
20 days ago
Stopped in for a snack and tried the hamburger which was good. The only problem was the Bun. For the cost of $21 they need to have a better Bun. read more
I have 3 words for Harbor Cafe: cute cute cute!!! It's a clean, no-frills breakfast-brunch type diner place with harbor-themed decor and lots of patio seating for great outdoor dining. I love the diner vibe where you get free refills on coffee, except Harbor has an exceptionally special menu with things like Eggs Benedict on polenta cakes instead of bread or California Benedict with thick bacon on croissant instead of English muffins. I did get one coffee refill, but it took a long time to get our order taken, even when we sat down before other tables. It also took a long time to get a box and a check, even after sitting for a long time and then asking for them. So I'd say service could be better, especially for the price. Our meal hit the spot, and the menu had unique items, so overall, Harbor is a win for us. read more
It was crowded on this warm Wednesday morning, but got seated fairly quickly. Both of our breakfasts were very good. I'm a big fan of hash browns, so that pushed my review to a full 5 stars. The homemade biscuit was very good also. read more
4 months ago
Classic breakfast with some new twists. I ordered: - The (non-alcoholic) Kitchen Coffee: the horchata whip on top was to die for. The rest of the drink was almost dunkin' levels sweet but it did the job of waking me up - The spicy meat omelette (wasn't listed online): contained eggs, bell pepper, avocado, either beef or pork I can't remember, cheese, and jalapeño. The meat and veggies were a great contrast to the eggs and salty cheese. The side of biscuit was a proper flaky biscuit, not some cornbread style affair Logistics: - Indoor and outdoor seating - Limited parking in lot next door - we ended up parking around the corner in a residential area read more
2 months ago
What a delicious find! This spot is the perfect place to enjoy your morning fix with family and friends. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and there's plenty of comfortable indoor and outdoor seating, friendly service. They offer a great variety of classic all-American breakfast favorites, along with some creative dishes with a unique twist. Everything we tried was satisfying, flavorful, and perfect for starting the day. read more
Harbor Cafe absolutely lived up to the hype--and then some. My girlfriend and I stopped by recently, and it honestly exceeded my expectations. She ordered the spicy machaca con huevo scramble, and I went with the country steak breakfast--both dishes came out hot, fresh, and packed with flavor. Everything was cooked perfectly. This place used to be my go-to spot back when I lived in Santa Cruz, and coming back after all this time, it was even better than I remembered. Same great vibe, amazing food, and just an all-around solid experience. If you're in the area, Harbor Cafe is a must. I'll definitely be making it a regular stop again. read more
7 months ago
Arrive early because there is a line waiting 30 minutes before they open. The staff is great! When it's early, they let you choose exactly where you would like to sit, if it's available. The salmon was perfectly smoked with a quick sear! The poached eggs were exactly how they should be! Everything was exactly what I needed! The spicy bloody Mary was a great pair with my breakfast! Amazing little breakfast spot! read more
1 month ago
We went early in the morning, and it was nestled in the cutest little spot. We did outside dining, and it was so perfect. The sun wasn't out yet and outside ambience was great. Service here is amazing, and the food is even better. read more
Harbor cafe is a cute spot for brunch has great outdoor seating area for dogs and pets alike. Inside is a bit small, but roomy. Waitress helped with the to-go order so can't say much other than that. Off to the food review 4/5 - Breakfast Burrito - All around good with everything you want in the breakfast burrito. Egg, hashbrowns, and I added some meat in it to make it all the better. I always feel breakfast burrito needed some meat. The salsa definietly adds acidity to cut down the greasiness of the burrito and adds a nice spice as well. Definitely recommend this. 2.5/5 - Frittata - Not sure what to say about this. Expected a good crunch from the looks of it but just had a stale crunch instead. Feels very heavy on carbs and cheese. Hard to cut with a knife and avacado seem a bit old as well. Salsa and sour cream helped a bit but cannot save the dish. Order something else probably next time read more
Third time here in five years wish I got the opportunity to come more often. We always have good service and the food is excellent. I'd steer folks towards the Benedicts, especially the shockingly good Polenta and Farmers Benedicts. One of the best biscuits I've ever had. read more
Great spot for breakfast/brunch! Delicious coffee (get horchata whip no matter what you get), great service, and yummy food options. We struggled to pick what to get, but we both enjoyed what we did get. We came here because it was voted best in Santa Cruz, and it didn't disappoint. read more
14 days ago
Food was amazing!! Churro Belgium waffle and syrup not needed. I came in around 1:15, close to closing and was served with a smile and they gave me water for my read more
2 months ago
A really pleasant brunch experience. Sat at the bar since the wait was 45 min on a Saturday. Really great sausage gravy. Good meal and fun beachside vibes. read more
14 days ago
Amazing food and incredible service! My friend and I just dropped in the area on our way to a tee time in Monterey. They were able to quickly get us in and out on a busy Friday. Highly recommend! read more
Came with the fam and we loved it! Staff was friendly and brought us an extra chair after the table we got didn't fit our family comfortably. I recommend sitting outside if you have the option. It was really nice out there, inside seemed a little stuffy. We ordered: pancakes with a side of bacon and hash browns, orange juice which seemed freshly squeezed- if it wasn't then it was really good for not being freshly squeezed, breakfast burrito was a 10/10 and it's HUGE, regular coffee was bitter 4/10, Cali croissant 10/10- my mom ate the whole thing and she never finishes her whole plate! The kitchen coffee was 12/10! Delicious! Not sure if the horchata whip actually tasted like horchata, it just tasted like cinnamon. We were confused as to why the kitchen coffee was listed under the "non- alcoholic" drink section and not under the coffee section of the menu. They also split our bill 3 ways which was nice. I would definitely come back!! read more
2 months ago
We got right in and the service was great. On the advice of our waitress I got the Polenta Benedict and my husband had the salmon Benedict. Both were amazing and we would definitely recommend this place. Great experience!! read more
I happened to be in Santa Cruz one morning and looked for a breakfast joint with excellent reviews and landed on Harbor Cafe. Went on a Monday morning and got seated right away which was great. I decided to get an orange juice which was fresh squeezed which was delicious! Service was okay as we only got checked on at the end but if we needed something we could have flagged them down I guess. Here is what we got. Country Steak Breakfast - 9/10 Hash browns were good but a bit on the crispy side which I don't mind! I just want some softness at the bottom of them but that's just me nitpicking! Steak had nice flavor and the gravy was delicious. Get the biscuit, super flavorful and soft. Country Benedict- 10/10 Delicious! I mean, I love any Benedict so I'm bias but you wouldn't regret this one! If you're ever in the area, swing by! Super comfy inside and feels like home! You won't regret it. read more
1 year ago
The food is as good as always and I am stuck with the bebedict each time I visit. The services are amazing, the servers are so energetic and always happy. Very family restaurant so the ambience is normal to not too loud Its easy to stop by each times I am in Santa Cruz read more
23 days ago
Harbor cafe was on a list when I went to visit Santa Cruz. It's a cool little breakfast spot and you can tell it's a community staple. Get there early for parking if not, just park a block away and walk. We got seated fairly quickly for a bust Saturday morning. The service was hella quick and always had our waters filled. We ended up getting an omelet, croissant open face sandwich, and mimosas. It was pretty good and rich. The pricing is fair, but you really come here for the ambiance and the feel of old school Santa Cruz. If you're here early enough, definitely worth the trip! read more
Harbor Cafe is my favorite place to eat in Santa Cruz, I've been here three times and I will definitely be back. On the rare occasion we stay in SC more then just a day trip to the Boardwalk we have some favorites we visit and for breakfast/brunch our usual spot is the Harbor Cafe. Everything I've had from here is freshly prepared hot and delicious. This last time the kid got the churros waffles the wife got a club sandwich or Monte Cristo and I got the chicken and waffles (BOMB)! Our server Molly was super friendly and even offered her favorite dish and the chicken and waffles I ended up getting when we were seated. Restaurant and Restroom was nice and clean. I would recommend getting here early they fill up quick and there is only a scant amount of parking even on the street. read more
4 months ago
2 months ago
5 months ago
Food is great, service is fast and Ambiance is surfer vibes it has a very casual cool feeling when you dine in. They have parking lot and price is reasonable. Will definitely recommend it if ur in Santa Cruz area. read more
A quintessential California seaside cafe in Santa Cruz. Rustic surf decor, and great indoor/outdoor seating. It was a busy Saturday morning, we were seated after a short wait. Service was prompt and attentive. Food was casual brunch, ample and tasty. An enjoyable time, Well worth the visit read more
15 days ago
We visited Harbor Cafe for a last minute brunch and it was a good experience. The restaurant was quite busy, so we waited for about 15-20 minutes before getting seated. They have both outdoor and indoor seating available. A few things to note- customer service was friendly and attentive, despite the restaurant being very busy. I ordered the basic, two egg plate with scrambled eggs and hash browns and a biscuit. The scrambled eggs were great and I enjoyed the hash browns, as they were crispy, although I couldn't finish them. The biscuit was good but a little dense. I also ordered a kitchen coffee, and that was quite delicious with just the right amount of sweetness and a sprinkle of horchata flavor. I was a little bummed that they overloaded the drink with ice, and should've requested less ice. They did the same with a soda that we ordered towards the end of our meal. Our server mixed up our order unfortunately, as we had requested fish and chips and they inputted fish tacos accidentally. However, they were able to fix that for us, as we pointed it out immediately. My mom also ordered a side of fruit, and that was tasty and fresh with a good variety of fruit. Pricing for each dish seemed reasonable, and the menu has several options for savory and sweet items. In addition, our server was kind and gave us a slight discount over the order mix up, which was thoughtful and considerate. Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Harbor Cafe and would likely return to dine here in the future. Definitely recommend checking it out if you're visiting Santa Cruz or Capitola. read more
11 months ago
Was in town to visit a friend in the campus and had breakfast in this cute little cafe. Place was packed and service was great! Would definitely come back again next time. We had the country steak breakfast, eggs Benedict & sausage omelette. All tasted good! read more
2 years ago
Had a chance to try Harbor Cafe and this was truly a nice experience. We came here for brunch on a Saturday morning and this place was packed with people. Thankfully I was able to quickly put my name down on the table and was seated within 20 minutes outside. The ambiance was cute and there was an outside heater and some trees around which made it cute The service here was awesome and I felt the person helping really paid attention to make sure we had our best time here! For food we got: * Breakfast burrito with carnitas - this was delicious and absolutely loved every bite. I love how the meat was seasoned and that all the ingredients were mixed up together so every bite was an amazing explosion of flavor. The salsa was also top notch *Nutella French toast with strawberries - this is a yummy delicious dish packed with a chocolatey gooey flavor. Every bite was awesome and we were able to take some home to eat the next day! Overall, great experience at Harbor! read more
2 months ago
3 months ago
What a cute & delish spot!!! Found it by using yelp 4 breakfast suggestion on our sisters trip. There was a line 2 b seated, but it went fast since there tables were open. My sister & I opted 4 a savory & sweet dish 2 split. We got the Cali Benedict which was on a croissant instead of an English muffin & a churro waffle. Both were a hit!!! The hash browns were crispy just like I like them!!! They had the "correct" condiments on the table: pepper sauce & chulula!!! I also enjoyed a hot coco. There was a bar in case u want an adult beverage. My other sisters shared a polenta Benedict & the Nutella stuffed French toast. We all enjoyed our meal!!!! read more
3 months ago
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More info about Harbor Cafe
535 7th Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Directions
(831) 475-4948
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http://www.harborcafesantacruz.com
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Ask the Community - Harbor Cafe
I see reviews of clam chowder bowl from June - but it isn't on the menu. What's up with that?
Do they still offer the Shrimp Benedict? I don't see it on their menu😫😢. Thanks!
Best to call and ask. There menue changes. Not alot but I know it has twice in the six months I tried to get the same thing and didn't offer it.
Any gluten free options?
The kitchen doesn't have strict prep rules so, if you're celiac, it's unlikely this place works for you. If you are gluten sensitive, you should be fine. The Polenta Benedict is a good option.
Any chance a party of 9 could get in at 9am on Mother's Day?
You have to get there super early! Or wait in line a very long line.
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