Amazing pancakes! Also had the chicken fried steak and was not disappointed! Don't forget about the Bloody Marys!

Everyone already knows about this place but I had never been. We arrived just before 10 AM on a Sunday morning, barely missing a rush of hungry folks coming in. It's a hole in the wall so you know it's gonna be good. The chicken fried steak was like a grandma core memory, if I had a grandma. The meat was so tender I could have cut it with a spoon. The gravy was scratch made with plentiful ground sausage bits and a little leftover sausage grease, a total Wow. Delicious, simple thin sliced fried potatoes were a great side. They're busy nonstop, so maybe don't expect to become besties with the waiters, but they'll keep your coffee cup filled while also taking the order in the next booth and wiping down a free table. Tip well. They earn it! read more

This place is definitely a locals kind of place. We told Jules, who greeted us when we walked in, that we were new to the area and she warmly welcomed us. We sat at the counter and could see Curtis cooking - I love an open kitchen. As I scanned the menu, I could see many of the breakfasts came with potatoes and biscuits, etc. I didn't want that much carbs - it's not healthy for me - so I asked Jules if there was anything else I could have. She graciously offered grilled vegetables, which I took. My husband and I both ordered chicken fried steak - he liked it; it was just okay. The sausage gravy was impeccable, but when I saw that it was a frozen meat patty, I had my doubts. My husband loved everything; unfortunately, I could tell that it came out of the freezer. We'll definitely go back- definitely for the biscuits and gravy and great service! read more

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Made a pit stop at this little hole in the wall diner! What a pleasant surprise. I had the deluxe bacon pepper jack burger with fries. . So good It was around 11:30am and it started getting super busy. By the time we finished it was a full house. They have counter seating also available so don't be afraid to stop by. Parking is out in front of the diner, so super convenient. All the people who work there are very friendly. You need to stop by if you're in the area read more

Mary Ettas Cafe - Bacon cheese burger & fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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We are big fans of vintage restaurants. This cafe has been in operation since 1949. What a lovely place! From their decor and old photos on the wall to the wonderful wait staff and management it was a delightful experience. The food was SO delicious and fresh, real sausage gravy on their biscuits, great chicken fried steak! We will definitely be back! read more

My kids declared it was the best breakfast of their lives. This is a small, lovely, local joint. The posted hours are 8am-2pm. There's a jolly gentleman on the grill and friendly ladies waiting on the tables. It's the kind of food you'd make at home--except better because it all comes out hot and on time! I'd imagine most of the diners are locals. They also have an extensive drink menu--screwdrivers, screwberry, and "east county Paloma." All in all we had a lovely breakfast and would recommend this place if you want to be transported back in time and get a small town feel. If you want vegan and such this might not be your spot. :) read more

Mary Ettas Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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When you pull up.. it's literally a "where tf am I?!" moment. It's right off of Olde Hwy 8. We got there at opening so we were one of the only people there. It's a super small cute establishment with 3 booths and a row of seating at the counter. The decor is super cute and old school. You really feel like you're at home. Our waitress was amazing and it was her birthday today! We ordered a pancake combo and biscuits and gravy. She told the cook and he immediately got to work. We watched him scramble the eggs, so you know they weren't fake. We made our entire breakfast fresh and had it on our table super quickly. The eggs were perfect. They were thin but not overcooked. The bacon was super crispy and salty. It jolted my whole body awake. I definitely got my sodium intake and won't have to worry about electrolytes after my workout. The pancakes were the star of my breakfast. They didn't taste like the super sweet, overused pancake mix at most diners. These babies were so good. They were slightly underdone but not like super soft. They sent me immediately to when we'd make pancakes in a rush in the morning. They were absolutely delicious. The biscuits and gravy... goodness. Let's discuss the sausage. However they make the sausage.. true winner. It's flavorful. It's straight up country sausage gravy. The country potatoes were sliced extra thin and were super yummy. This small little establishment sure knows how to knock all the bigger ones out of the park! We can wait to come back. read more

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Marietta's Café is wonderful. The food is consistently good. From the white selection of breakfast is to the hamburgers. It's all good. They're too good regular waitresses in there. They are very sweet. The ambience is just like a regular American café. That is very fun, upbeat and comfortable to be in. . read more

Mary Ettas Cafe - BLT fantastic - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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I like to experience different breakfast places, and decided to try out Mary Ettas Cafe. The service was horrible, waited 5 minutes to be offered water or Coffee. Then the food followed, with raw scrambled eggs (terrible) did not eat them, I also ordered pancakes with blueberries, tasted okay but my request for whipped cream was missing and I got no butter or syrup, and an order of bread was also missing. In all I had to flag down the waitress at least 5 times to request something ordered and missing. The sign they have outside stating "open since 1949" is the reason i decided to try it out, been there that long must be good, guess what it was not. I just learned the business was sold, so it is no longer family tradition. They did not even bother to provide me with a copy of my paid bill! Big disappointment. read more

Stumbled upon this place on accident and I am so happy we did. The staff were extremely friendly, the environment was cozy diner vibes. And the food was so good! We got the burger and you could tell immediately it was fresh not frozen. The fries were so delicious, crispy battered fries. Not sure why there are so many bad reviews on this place, don't let that steer you away because we had a great experience! read more

I'm all about country cooking. This place is great for home cooking. Service is sweet and friendly. Ambience is warm with cozy fresh food. read more

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it is sad that i have to update my review, but stopped in my (what used to be my favorite) breakfast place, only to be greeted by a whole new staff and alot of changes.... found out that the business has been sold i won't go into much detail . but i am a big fan of family owned AMERICAN businesses.... this is no longer the case with this business. we will NOT be going back. read more

First time here today, and I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of this small town Cafe. Friendly faces took our order, and the food was very reasonably priced and tasted amazing. This is the only cafe that I've ever seen allow me to order a chicken fried steak à la carte. This made me so happy because I never eat all the sides and I feel like it's a waste. Plus, 8 dollars for a good meal? That's a better price than McDonald's right now! Excited to come back. Their gravy is delicious. Thank you!! read more

I had breakfast because of the FALSE review on YELP,the eggs grease and the home fries horrible no flavor burned on one side ,presentation very poor ,and very expensive ,I DO NOT SUGGEST THUS PLACE 'service is the only good thing here ,food is horrible and expensive read more

For a small out off the way restaurant you wouldn't expect the kind of food that this place cranks out but..... it's amazing the caliber of the breakfast I got from this place. Omg I've never had a better breakfast experience in my entire life than I did here. If you're looking for a good place for breakfast on a Saturday or weekday morning you'd be hard pressed to find a place better than this. It's small but the coffee was hot and the omelette and gravy perfect and just what I needed. Go there you won't regret it read more

The food was amazing and the people working made it even better. I will always come here when I'm in the area.

The best food in the world. I have been eating at this restaurant since 98 and everytime is never a disappointment.

The ambiance was cozy and inviting, with soft lighting and a warm atmosphere. The food is always delicious! The flavors were well-balanced and the presentation was beautiful. My server was friendly and attentive, ensuring I had a great experience. The only minor issue was the wait time for our appetizer, but it was worth it for the main course. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a delicious and enjoyable dining experience. read more

Staff was super sweet and Curtis cooked up the BEST breakfast!!!! Thanks Mary Etta's!!!!!! read more

Mary Ettas Cafe - Biscuits and Gravy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

This is a great breakfast cafe !! Our food was amazing had pork chops special ( Delicious ) biscuit and their gravy is amazing. Customer service was excellent Thank you read more

You ever watch that old show, Alice? Old greasy spoon diner out in Phoenix or something. This is that place. Well not actually but the characters that run this awesome spot will make you wonder. Everything on the menu is good but I suggest the chicken fried steak if you want to make your mouth happy. read more

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They sure don't make em like this anymore! Old school vibes, friendly people, awesome food. Fantastic country fried steak & burgers. Jules: awesome server/cook Curtis: great cook read more

Tucked between the mountains of Flynn Springs on old business 8 lies a treasure of San Diego that has been there since the late 1940s. This little red cafe serves the best country breakfast we have ever found. John the chef will delight your senses every time, making the only regret to be finishing your plate. With the portions that are served, we have never found that to be an easy task. The servers Jewels and Sue have one thing in common. Their hospitality will make you feel like you are family that has traveled a long way to come home. read more

Boy this place used to rock , now it's just another high priced run of the mill , off the beaten track , cafe . Nothing special . Portions used to be HUGE , now they're just mediocre. Taste ok but again , nothing special. Service is alright . Parking can be tough . read more

I love this place. It's pure yum every time! Yesterday, I sat at the counter between two very nice ladies completely enjoying their food. One of them was having a foodgasm with every bite and dancing a lil jig while sighing uuummmm. It's great to see and hear people who appreciate good food with good service. I had french toast (which could definitely use an upgrade to the type of bread used ... BUT) it tasted great! and 2 eggs perfectly cooked as ordered and bacon OH MY ... the bacon!!! Nothing to share with the doggie from my plate! Their coffee is lip smacking the BEST! Thank you Mary Etta's for the glow to my morning! read more

After reading reviews, I also experienced the racist vibe. Had a friend (of color) with me and people who arrived after were getting their food first. Waiting some 30 minutes, I asked the waitress what's going on. She was embarrassed, knowing I was right. Never going back. Seems to be the norm there. No room for that behavior in today's world... BYE BYE ! read more

Definitely eat here! My mom, cousin and I found this little gem while visiting. Everything we ordered reminded us of our grandma/mom's cooking. I had perfectly cooked, over-easy eggs and biscuits & gravy. My cousin had an Ortega burger and my mom had a beautifully grilled ham & cheese. The burger patty was nice, thick & juicy. It's small with 4 or 5 booths and counter seating, so there might be a wait. Luckily there was an open booth and we sat right down. All the staff were friendly, warm and attentive. Just like being back at Grandma's house in the 1970's. read more

Mary Ettas Cafe - Ortega burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

This is a cozy little cafe with an old-timey vibe that matches its long history on the Olde Highway 80. They have photos hanging on the wall that show what the cafe looked like back in the day, which I thought was really cool. The food reminds me of something grandma would whip on a Saturday morning when you spent the night at her house as a kid. It's nothing fancy but it's made with care and hits the spot. If you're passing through the area, definitely make a stop and don't pass up the homemade salsa! read more

Mary Ettas Cafe - BLT & Fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Cosy little cafe that is my favorite new breakfast place. Our waitress was funny and service excellent. Feels like breakfast at home without the clean up. read more

Nice folks, yummy food. I don't know what else to say, but if you're nearby, would you like a grilled ham & cheese? Then go to Mary Etta's Cafe. read more

Everything and everyone was great!! Good was delicious and customer service was amazing. Coming back soon!

What a great little restaurant right down the street from home. Been wanting to try this place for years, glad I finally did. Great chicken fried steak. The cook, I thiiiink his name was John, was so sweet! Server was great also! Will be back soon. read more

The food and service was excellent. A great place to go off the freeway a bit but worth the drive (2 mi) for us. We missed the first exit. Family business for 50+ years and we saw why. Coffee refilled without asking. Tables kept serviced as we finished. We love it and will be back every time we can. Closes at 2pm so make sure you catch it. read more

I've been coming here for over 30 years. The food is great. I love the Small Boy omelette. The outdoor patio and service are terrific. read more

Mary Ettas Cafe - Small Boy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

On our way out of SanDiego we stopped by this cafe and it's a gem on road. I had the country fried steak and it was delicious. The service was great but their award winning salsa is a must. Clean three people restaurant. The cook the waitress and the dishwasher seemed to have it all together. Very nice local restaurant. Forgot to flake a picture of our food. read more

Thank you Mary Etta's for making me a delicious omelette for breakfast. I wanted a Denver omelette, but they made me the next big thing, the Small Boy Omelette which came with country chopped ham, onions, red peppers, American cheese, and mushrooms topped with a mild salsa. On the side, they serve some thinly sliced griddle potatoes, and I had wheat toast for $9 and some change. The egg portion of the omelette was well made with good seasoning and a soft fluffiness. I loved that they used quality country ham. It was tender and flavorful and came in good little chunks and not that thin sliced deli ham. The red peppers were great and the American cheese melted all through the omelette. I would of preferred freshly chopped sauteed mushrooms, but the can variety ones they used here were not bad. I liked the skinny skillet potatoes. They had a crispiness about them ad also were tender. The mild salsa a top of the omelette was mild as advertised and had good flavor. It went very well with the potatoes. This place is a no frills dinner. They have parking right out in front and can be easy to miss if you are cruzing down Old Highway 80. All the staff members were friendly, including the cook, whom you can see cooking away if you sit at the counter as I did. read more

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Such a cute cool little cafe on the side of the original highway with plenty of parking. The food was amazing and the prices are good! Ms Badpenny and I had breakfast there. read more

This was a great find. We used Yelp to find breakfast before heading home. Once again Yelp didn't disappoint. We walked in to a busy little place. So we decided to saddle up to the counter. Our waitress was very friendly. I was next to the pick up for take out orders. So we got to hear and talk to a few locals coming in for their food. We met a nice snake catcher ( Tom). The owner was friendly and helpful. I had the corned beef and eggs. They were delicious. Apparently they make the corned beef fresh to order. My husband ordered a stack of pancakes. We intended to share with each other. Once he had some of the hash I had trouble getting my plate back. The pancakes were fluffy and tasty. I'm told their coffee was good. We will definitely be back when we're in the area. read more

Mary Ettas Cafe - The fresh made corned beef. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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There used to a friendly vibe there from the old owners. That no longer exists. No matter how good the food is, if you don't feel welcomed, you can't enjoy the foodm We will no longer patronize this place and will not recommend it to anyone. read more

Described to me as a country greasy spoon joint ( which already had me sold) I stopped in for breakfast and had a great experience. I couldn't decide on what I wanted so I ended up changing my order three times. Jo and Nora were nothing but the nicest people ever. I wanted to hug Nora after she cooked me an amazing bfast. Everything was PERFECT! Hot coffee, crispy cfsteak, eggs , potatoes cooked to perfection and the gravvvvyyyy omg (drool) Can't wait to make it out here again. Thx ladies! read more