I looked up reviews online. I should have looked at Yelp first. I was rushing to work this morning. Needed a breakfast to go. Ordered on their web site. Paid. Received a receipt via email. When I arrived the store did not look open. The lady was just setting up. She looked surprised when I said I was there for a pick up. She said she had no order. I couldn't wait so asked for a refund. It took as long to refund me as it probably would have to have just made the food. Hard to review the food since I didn't get any food. But the whole experience was poor. She was arguing with some service on the phone about not receiving orders. Poor and uncomfortable experience. And the restaurant looked dirty. read more

I had a veggie panini for delivery from here for a work lunch. It can be made vegan by omitting the cheese and mayo. The sandwich was fairly small and there was barely any filling. The bread was advertised as focaccia but it did not look or taste like focaccia, nor was it very good. read more

Menlo Cafe - Veggie Melt Panini (made vegan) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Called a week in advance to confirm hours. They said 8am website said 8am asked about reserving space they said not needed. Arranged a meetup today at 9:30, got here at 9 to setup and they are closed. Checked the website, notices etc all said 8am. Called them and they said opening at 10am as a "today thing". Not a good look. Place ambiance also looks super casual compared to everything else that's cute on the street. Will move meetups elsewhere moving forward read more

Menlo Cafe - Hours - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Pros - Great little cafe here. Like the new design in the front. Avocado toast is my fav here and sometimes hot oatmeal's during breakfast! Tuna sandwich is also nice. - I love the merchant offers here. Cons - espresso drinks turn out to be too bitter with almond milk; they need to check how they make espresso drinks / capaccino with almond milk at Peet's coffee! Every time I tried espresso drinks (cappuccino, latte) here I had regrets! read more

How have I never been here before!!???! I've driven and walked by this little spot for years and for some dumb reason, never have walked in.....until today. For Menlo Park the prices are amazing and the portions were huge. I ordered the Chicken Pesto Panini (I subbed the provolone for cheddar and added red onions) and they did not skimp on anything. The bread was perfect (Not too thick and not too thin) and very, very tasty. It was loaded with fresh veggies and grilled chicken. It was huge! Unless you are an extremely large eater, this is really a sandwich for two people. This is the kicker.....it was only $11 AND....all sandwiches include any can soda or can drink you choose!!! WHAT!? The sandwich was delicious and the people running the business are super sweet and kind. This is truly the hidden gem of Menlo Park! By the way.....Yelp has their hours listed incorrectly, they are open M -F from 8:00am to 4:00pm and Sat/Sun from 9:00am to 2:00pm. read more

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Omg that white mocha is so good and the vibe here is so chill and great here too it's really soothing. I love the sounds of the coffee machine too. They have a window here for people watching. It's a great view. This is a frat place to read the paper or whatever you like to read read more

Menlo Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Ambiance is lacking for sure here. It was cooler outside. Came in at 3:30 on a Tuesday and ordered a turkey prosciutto panini on foccaccia. Sounds good, right? Well, after 20 minutes, I went in to find out why it was taking so long. Another 10 minutes and the single sandwich I ordered was ready. Now the bad news, they were out of foccaccia, so I got a Dutch crunch, which is ok except that it ended up really chewy. Then they told me my salami prosciutto sandwich was ready. My wife told them it was a turkey, prosciutto, and the lady argued with her. I had walked down the street be ause I got tired of waiting so wasn't there to show them the note that the young man had written was turkey. I tried the sandwich, and it was so salty, as you can imagine, I just threw it away. What a waste of time and money. Worst experience ever! read more

What a gem! I eat at Menlo Cafe about once a week since I work downtown. Sandwiches are always made with care, and they are a very good value in an otherwise crazy expensive area. I really love the swiss cheese vegetarian sandwich, which might sound bland, but it's really quite perfect on toasted sourdough. My colleagues and family members all have their favorites at Menlo Cafe (Menlo waffle, chicken pesto panini, Chinese chicken salad), but we also just love supporting a local business run by a lovely family who care about their customers. I've never had occasion to use their catering services, but I would call them in a heartbeat if I ever need a good group lunch. Support your local small business, and give Menlo Cafe a try! (And seriously, that swiss cheese vegetarian sandwhich is really good!) read more

The first and last visit. My party and I needed to grab a quick lunch after some errands downtown. We walked by Menlo Cafe on our way to McDonald's and decided that we wanted to support a local business, as they weren't busy. The menu was extensive and I did have a hard time deciding what I wanted. I ended up getting a turkey club. In hindsight I probably should have gotten it on traditional sliced bread. But I have a hard time resisting Dutch Crunch when it's available and offered. The Dutch Crunch was what I call blond, having no color whatsoever. The rest of the sandwich was just a total miss, indescribably just bad. I have never complained about a meal all weekend like I did with this sandwich. One in my party got the Chicken Pesto Panini, the other got the Apple Chicken Salad sandwich. The panini had no pesto flavor and came with a hair on the plate. The chicken salad didn't have much discernible apple or chicken. Such a shame to know I won't be able to patronize this local business again. read more

I had basic turkey club sandwich. The sourdough roll was really fresh and tasty. Overall the sandwich was solid and for $11 including a bag of chips, really good bargain these days. read more

It's been over 10 years since I've ventured a meal on Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park. I was a fixture there for years when my office was on Menlo Ave. At one point, I believe I had dined at every restaurant on the main and side streets Yesterday I was getting a haircut and decided to have lunch. With so many choices I decided to start walking up the street to see what caught my fancy. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a blast from the past....the Menlo Cafe. This little hole in the wall (serious it can't be bigger than 200sft) was my go to sandwich place years ago I was surprised that the same menu was up on the wall and they still had my favorites, egg salad with cashews and tuna salad. I asked the young lady if this is the same owner and same recipe, she said yes. Unable to decide I ordered both. Did not disappoint. Same yummy taste that I remember over 10 years ago. The cashews give the creamy egg salad just the right texture and the tuna salad reminds me of my grandmas. If you are looking for a great egg salad, it's the best. I suggest having it on wheat toasted with lettuce and tomatoes. read more

As others have mentioned, this is a no frills, simple sandwich and coffee shop. It's a solid spot for those who are looking to grab a quick meal or coffee, and there are seats inside if you'd like to hang out for a while. The staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable, and the food and coffee are both pretty good. For those not interested in the "trendy" coffee shops that charge $5 for a black coffee, this is a great alternative. A final note: Menlo Cafe is located in the Downtown Menlo Park area on Santa Cruz Avenue, which makes it easy to grab a coffee to-go and take a stroll down the main street. read more

Good place, friendly service. I had a panini tuna melt, which was very nice. It arrived promptly.

Great location with plenty of parking. The latte no foam was perfect. I took a star off because the savory scone was terrible. Besides being on the dry s ide it lacked flavor. Go for the coffee pass on the scones. read more

Great breakfast options! Loved the oatmeal as well as breakfast burrito. Definitely recommend.

Stopped in w/friends for 1st time here. VERY friendly staff. The 3 paninis we ordered were excellent and just the right size. Prices are low compared to other breakfast/lunch places. Everything was wonderful except the very loud scraping chairs around the small tables. We'll be back! read more

Cute little spot for coffee or lunch. I got the chicken pesto panini ($8.75 after tax), plus, it came with a free drink today. They also have outdoor seating, which is awesome for this area because the weather is always perfect! Location: Right across the street from Bank of America; Next to Quiznos. read more

Menlo Cafe - Chicken pesto panini - it's really good! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Menlo Park, California

If you just need to grab and go, and aren't looking for an over-the-top budget-breaking sandwich, or a trendy space to sit and enjoy your lunch, then Menlo Cafe can be that for you. I ate here a handful of times while working in the area from 2018 to late 2019. They have decent prices and service is ok (if you arrive well in advance of closing time), but there are really much better food options in the Menlo Park area, in environment, food offerings and service. read more

The Menlo Cafe is a great spot to grab a quick breakfast or lunch. They have a decent amount of seating, or you can just order to-go. There is a nice assortment of breakfast items (yum waffles!) and lunch choices (turkey and club sandwiches and paninis). The chicken pesto panini and the veggie paninis are both great!! Give this place a try! read more

I love Menlo Cafe! I worked around the corner for the last 4 years and I would come here at least twice a week. My go-to's are the chicken pesto panini and the breakfast burrito. Great food and friendly service. I will miss coming here! read more

I work just up the street from this cafe and I love that I can just walk down a couple of stores and grab a easy bite to eat! I've had a variety of their sandwiches and salads and so far no complaints! Reasonably priced for the portions you get and sometimes if you're lucky they'll give you a free side - chips or a cookie, an added bonus! I do normally have to wait 10-15 minutes for my food to be prepared so if you're in a rush this might not be the best choice for you but if you have some time definitely give it a shot! Since I frequent this place often (atleast twice a week) I'm familiar with some of the sweet ladies who work there and am always greeted very warmly and feel very welcomed at this shop! read more

Cute place and they've got their tuna salad recipe down to a science! It's so flavorful and light, while also filling and fresh-tasting. Try it in the tuna melt... With the cheddar cheese, the spinach, and the tomato it's unbeatable. They also have garden salsa sun chips and diet coke... the three components of my favorite lunch for all of undergrad. Yummmmmm read more

Please update your hours if you're going to turn people away before the stated close time. I arrived at 2:48pm expecting to be told that I could only order cold food to go, which I would have been fine with, but was flat out told that they were closed. That being said, the food is fairly decent and for a good price, especially for the area. read more

My co-workers and I rushed over here during our lunch break. We were all so satisfied with our meals. I got the chinese chicken salad and it was AMAZING. They both got sandwiches; tuna and club. It was delicious, the service was fast and friendly, and we got a free bag of chips. (it's the small things...). Definitely coming back! read more

My mom and I came here for lunch one day and it was super unfortunate that we did because the sandwich we ordered was not good whatsoever. It was filled with soggy, steaming vegetables and cheese that did not taste good. We left feeling queasy and unhappy. Definitely won't be coming here again... read more

No frills, no thrills, but exactly what you want in a hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop. Get the nutty chicken salad or have a breakfast sando. You can't go wrong. read more

Finally! A place in the bay with an omelette thats not $16. Food was great, got a custom omelette, massive and delicious biscotti, and some chai for around $20. Staff were kind and courteous, and the view and ambiance were very relaxing for a breakfast bite. read more

First time trying this spot. I decided to go through with Uber Eats and give them a shot because it is a local spot. I was not amazed by the food. It was ok. I ordered three items. One was the chicken sandwich with rye bread, they gave me white bread that did not taste amazing. I feel like they should have honored my request for rye bread, this is considering eating restrictions. Whatever, I could live with that. Not a huge deal, but still annoying. The chicken tasted overcooked and dry. It did not have any seasoning at all none. I also ordered a pesto chicken panini. The panini was small. The pesto was lacking flavor. It was decent, not bad. Not tasty either. It was edible and ok. Then my last item was the cesar salad and it was decent, not bad, but the chicken once again had no flavor. Very mid. The croutons tasted good, but the dressing was not amazing. Once again edible, but not worth ordering back. Sorry, but I expected a little more. read more

I love coffee. Made the mistake of coming here. Ordered the Wake up call because I was told it was their house coffee with a shot of espresso. My husband ordered an iced latte. My coffee tastes like the espresso and coffee beans were recycled! So gross! His latte tastes like nothing but milk. Will never come here again. We had breakfast at Stacks and have a 5 and a half hour drive home so we naturally wanted something for our trip...we were very disappointed read more

The food and the prices at Menlo Cafe are very good, but I want to especially acknowledge the great service three of us received when we had lunch there today. The young woman behind the counter was so friendly and knowledgeable when we ordered, and then she later came to check on us several times while we dined outside. Always smiling and asking if there was anything else we needed. She was the same with an elderly couple that sat at a table near ours. She's a great representative of the cafe and we felt she should be highlighted in this review! read more

Menu, food, and drinks here is a home run !!! Friendly service, great quality ingredients, relaxed setting. Had their Veggie Panini and Chai Tea with Soy. Way better than some other sandwich/lunch spots in the area. Very happy customer :) read more

The "Wild & Nutty" sandwich/salad is delicious!! The sourdough roll is fresh and warm. Love egg salad sandwich too. Breakfasts aren't anything extra special but great variety and good prices. Overall a great, dependable stop!!! read more

Not to fancy but not to bland...a good outside sit for an afternoon coffee. If in the area, I'll be back. P.S. Excellent choco doughnut read more

Menlo Cafe - Americano, cappuccino &chocolate doughnut - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Menlo Park, California

I've been going to Menlo Cafe for the past two years and I love their chicken pesto panini! Their Coffee and customer service is great!

Their sandwiches with wild nutty turkey salad, egg salad with cashews & apple curry chicken salad are all delicious. Panini are tasty, too - my coworkers recommend the pesto chicken & the veggie melt (which isn't standard veg fare, but has a variety of veg). It's a homey spot in downtown Menlo with a back parking lot, open for breakfast & lunch. read more

Didnt care for either the tea nor the sandwich nor the setup /ambiance. I The sandwich I ordered was an avocado sandwich on dutch crunch bread and it was just sliced avocado on a dutch crunch stale bread. It was a like a 5 year old made it. Considering this is Menlo Park I wonder how this place will survive. read more

This place could have so much potential. Yet, as many other promising cafes, this place is only as good as the staff who run it. Meaning, this place blows. The 1 (one) employee working when I went this morning made it more than clear that she did NOT want to help me. It took her 15 minutes to make me a toasted bagel - nothing else - when no one else was in line. Come on! If they improve their staff and get people (not just one person) who give a shit, this place will improve. read more

Limited baked good options. My bagel was stale enough to hammer nails with. Coffee in Thermos's was scalding hot. They only had a single, unlabeled pitcher with creamer, i.e. no lower fat options. Lots of breakfast items including waffles and other warm dishes. At 8:30 in the morning on a weekday with ample parking street side, I expected more customers, but it was actually kinda dead. Anyone who did come in was just grabbing a coffee and maybe a muffin. I could tell it was very local and they were trying hard to be everything for everyone. To be successful, I think they should get rid of the clutter and focus on doing fewer things right. read more

Never got here before because I'm always seeing and being seen at Cafe Baronne down the street. $1.85 for a good sized hot chocolate. That don't suck (I am never going to make Yelp Elite writing like this). Eh hem, that value ratio is encouraging to the discerning and frugal palate. Round tables are a bit too small for two people to spread laptops but it's good for going solo. read more

My expectations were not super high walking in but I was pleasantly surprised! The two kids (teenagers) working the day Hubster and I sauntered in were a bit...lax. Not necessarily lazy, just a little slow and considering we were only the 2nd and 3rd people in there, a bit annoying. I got a menlo waffle, which was advertised as strawberries and bananas on a waffle but they were out of strawberries (not the right time of year) so they offered me raspberries instead. Hubster got an egg sammich (no pork products for him). Took about 5 minutes for Hubsters sammich (I don't care what you other yelpers say about using the word "sammich" I like it and have used it forever, ain't going to stop now!) to come out and a wee bit longer for my waffle...my *glorious* waffle. Seriously, this thing was gorgeous! Perfect golden waffle (not an eggo by any means) with perfect slices of bananas topped by luscious whole, *fresh* raspberries. I gobbled that up like I hadn't eaten in years, it was divine! Way exceeded my expectations. Hubster said his sammich was "good." They forgot the apple cider I ordered and we had to remind them of it. It came out steaming hot, I was in Oakland before it cooled down enough for me to drink. It was pretty good, nothing spectacular though. Think this place could be *really* good if they just perk up the staff a bit , maybe give them some coffee? read more