Great local spot in downtown Grass Valley. The food and service is consistently good.

Pepe's Cafe is a super cute, classic diner right on the Mill Street Downtown Promenade. It's a pedestrian-only zone, so it's a nice walk, just be ready to park a block or two away. We got there right as they opened at 10 AM. The vibe is really cozy and they have cool paintings from local artists for sale on the walls. The menu has some great Mexican-inspired options too, like Huevos Rancheros and frittatas. The morning was a bit of a free-for-all, though. Even with a 'Wait to be Seated' sign, the locals just grabbed menus and sat wherever they wanted, so we did the same. Service was definitely on the slow side--at one point, one of the locals actually marched into the kitchen to demand her food, complaining she'd been waiting over an hour for some eggs! On the bright side, my orange juice ($3.66) was amazing and tasted freshly squeezed. Unfortunately, I waited about 40 minutes for my house salad ($13.07), and while the orange and avocado slices looked great, the salad itself was a soggy mess by the time it arrived. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It's a charming spot, but between the long wait and the food quality, it was a bit of a mixed experience. read more

Pepe's Cafe - House salad - Cafes Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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Heard great things and finally made it in. Had a very delicious bacon cheddar frittata on hash browns with homemade cornbread. Service was excellent! The vibe is simple and clean. Definitely a great option if you're shopping Mill Street or Main. read more

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This wonderful little place is a step back in nostalgia when small breakfast/lunch counter restaurants existed in towns across America. Located in the heart of Grass Valley it is nestled among other restaurants, pubs and retail spaces. You could walk right by and miss it but the windows are big and people seemed to be coming in and out constantly. Peering in a folks sitting and eating by the window the food looked good! We decided to try it for lunch and glad we did. It was really good. The service was friendly and top notch, the place super clean, and either counter or table seating. We slid into a table for two. The menu is typical for a cafe/diner with a few standouts, for either breakfast or lunch. We ordered hot coffee since it was so chilly out. The mugs were refilled often, which was nice. We both decided on sandwiches, although they do have an array of burgers, salads, soups, etc. I got the Andouille sausage sandwich that came on a Hoggie type bun and Ed had the chicken pesto on a burger bun. For the side we both upped the price for garlic fries for me and sweet potato fries for him. My sandwich was delicious with lots of meat and melted cheese. It was a bit messy and greasy to eat, but that's part of parcel of this type of meat sandwich. It was quite filling and the fries were tasty, and came with a Ranch dipping sauce. Ed seemed content wirh his choice as well. They don't seem to carry or push any desserts, which is fine with us as we rarely get it. This is a great little place and I would definitely go back. read more

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Delightful.the eggs were cooked to a runny perfection and the sauce elevated the rancheros. Everything was fresh, even the OJ. Pancakes were a little undercooked and could have been fluffier. Who doesn't love downtown grass valley! A lovely outdoor seating area on the walkable street, love to people-watch there. read more

Pepe's Cafe - Huevos rancheros - Cafes Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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(3/5) Stopped in for huevos rancheros and left with mixed feelings. The space itself is a real plus -- clean, comfortable, and well-kept (even the bathroom was spotless, which always says something about a kitchen). Service was genuinely great too; attentive and friendly the whole visit. The food is where there's room to grow. The huevos rancheros came out pretty bland -- the salsa they did put on it had nice flavor, but there was only the one option, and no fresh house-made hot salsa or habanero to build it up further. Just bottled hot sauce on the table, which isn't quite the same. A dish like this really leans on the sauce to carry it, so more depth there would go a long way -- a proper, slow-simmered tomato sauce as the base, with the onions and other veggies browned down first to build real flavor rather than something thrown together on the fly, plus cumin and other warm spices toasted in early to bring out their full flavor, a good hit of true Mexican oregano to round it out, some acid to brighten it, and then a hotter fresh option on the side for those who want to add heat. Flavor and spice level don't have to be the same thing -- just give people the option. One more note: I ordered the eggs poached medium, hoping for that hot, runny yolk that really makes a dish like this work, but they came out well done instead. A softer yolk would've added a lot of richness that the plate was missing. Nothing here that a menu tweak couldn't fix. Good bones, good service, just needs more punch on the plate. Would try again to see if it's improved. read more

Pepe's Coffee Shop was the perfect stop while walking downtown in the rain. It has a classic diner vibe. It was warm, relaxed, and welcoming, which felt especially nice after being out in the weather. I had the cheesesteak, which was filling and comforting, and the French fries tasted fresh and crispy. My partner ordered a bacon burger that was cooked exactly how he asked for it. Our son got a grilled cheese, and it was simple and perfect, definitely kid-approved. Everything came out hot and well prepared. We were seated by the window, and it was actually really nice to sit and watch people walking by outside while staying dry and comfortable inside. The waitress and servers were genuinely kind and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. It's the kind of place you stop into by chance and end up really enjoying. We'd definitely come back next time we're downtown. read more

Pepe's Cafe - Philly Cheesesteak - Cafes Near Me - Grass Valley, California

The food is consistently high quality fresh, flavorful, and made with care. What really stands out is the customer service. You're not just treated like a guest, you're treated like family. Even if I didn't know them personally, I'd still be recommending this place! Highly recommend giving them a try! read more

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Basic breakfast options and some lunch options. My coworker and I were able to sit right away and the waitress was with us quickly to take our orders. The menu does not have too many options. I didn't see eggs Benedict which is my go to for brunch. I had the 2 egg breakfast with potatoes and bacon... so yeah, basic but good. Try it if you want something quick for breakfast or lunch read more

Service was great, we were there for brunch/lunch. I had the Avacado toast and my friend had the BLT Very nice, will be visiting again soon read more

This is a classic breakfast and lunch cafe with some nice extras. The menu included the standard breakfast and lunch fare with the addition of Huevos Rancheros, Baskets, and Frittatas. We selected the Bacon & Cheddar and Pit Ham Frittatas. They were delicious. The service was attentive and friendly. The coffee came from Caroline's, a local Grass Valley coffee roaster, and it was excellent. We'll be back to try some of the other extras. read more

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So we decided to do the outdoor Christmas thing last night, came across Pepé's Cafe, they didn't have a wait and got a nice table in the back. Service was great super friendly and attentive, food was on point my cheese burger was perfect and the garlic fries rocked, my wife ordered the Ribeye steak sandwich wanted it rare, nailed it! It was a great meal, on par price for the meal. It's a nice place, they were open late because of the craft fair so that was a plus. It's a diner so the was pretty much perfect! read more

Friendly little diner serves modern versions of traditional diner fare. If you're ordering breakfast, check out the section of "baskets." These are "egg in a basket" dishes (egg fried in the middle of a piece of toast) with assorted toppings. My BBQ Bacon Basket had perfectly cooked bacon and was delightful and filling comfort food. The iced tea is made with real tea. Prices are very reasonable. read more

Pepe's Cafe - BBQ Bacon Basket. Those two disks of sourdough on top are the most perfect toast you will ever experience. - Cafes Near Me - Grass Valley, California

I was able to get a delicious breakfast that was gluten free! I ordered the Tacos with crispy homefries and great homemade salsa. The wait staff was prompt and friendly. read more

Excellent food. Really good pancakes. I can't think of much more to say than that but if I continue to type eventually I'll be able to post my review read more

Soo good every time. Burger delish, Philly cheese steak amazing, and the huevos rancheros taste pretty authentic is really good! Also the fry's are my favorite of all time. Service is great everyone is super nice and it's super cute inside. read more

My husband and I went to Pepe's Cafe on Saturday 1/4/25 for the first time ever. Suffice to say, we will definitely be going back! I had a bacon cheeseburger and fries. The burger was juicy and cooked perfectly, and the fries were excellent. My husband had a Philly cheesesteak, which he really liked a lot. Service was friendly and efficient, and the ambience was casual and comfortable. Can't wait to try the breakfast items. Highly recommend! read more

The avocado toast is great with the home made salsa It's good until 2025 but if she takes you to get a California ID, that would be good, but I'll be good . Here is a rhyming poem about Pepe's Café: At Pepe's Café, where the morning light shines, The breakfast is special, the service divine. The host and hostess, so gracious and kind, Welcome my brother-in-law, Phil, with open minds. The aroma of coffee, the sizzle of fare, Invites all who enter to linger and share. The flavors of Mexico, the warmth of the heart, Make Pepe's a place where memories start. From the first sip of juice to the last bite of toast, The experience at Pepe's is one to boast. So if you're in need of a morning delight, Head to Pepe's Café, where the welcome is bright. read more

Eh, it's ok. Prices are comparable to Toffeneli's, and food is the same quality. Ok for a quick breakfast.

This was a delicious place to have lunch!! I got the burger and sweet potato fries and my sister had the chicken sandwich. Both were really good! It was as the meat came right off a BBQ grill from your backyard! Next time you are shopping in GV on Mill St give this place a go you won't be sorry. read more

Was in town with family for cornish Christmas, after walking all through the event we were getting hungry and saw that pope's was open, immediately greeted by two of the waitstaff who were amazing and friendly, one of our group had the strawberry pancakes, anorher had the classic cheeseburger with a side of garlic fries and the third had the bacon cheeseburger. None of us had any complaints the fries were cooked perfectly especially if you're someone who likes crunchy fries or fries that dont get soggy in 2 minutes, the burgers were all cooked perfectly as well. Definitely somewhere we all agreed we would go to next time we are in the area. This is definitely a dont miss spot. read more

We got seated pretty quickly the food did take a few minutes. The outside seating perfect it wasn't too hot or cold. Over all a good experience. read more

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Jack PePe's Cafe is Located on the walking street in Grass Valley,Ca; I just left PePe's Cafe after having a very disappointing Hamburger. I asked for the Hamburger to be medium rare and what I was given was a very well done with French fries that were also very over cooked. The Hamburger came topped with Bacon that was so overcooked that I could not chew it. I look at PePe's reviews and believe that location and breakfast hungry tourists have managed to keep the cafe's doors open. read more

I've only had breakfast there and have always had great service and great food and choices. Barry S read more

Very midsy. Completely unseasoned. And extremely overpriced. Watery Refried beans from a can.

The service was good. The prices are high. The food was pretty good. The biscuit and gravy was different but good. I ordered the biscuits and gravy and was told they only had 1 biscuit left. So I had to get something else. I was offered the biscuit and gravy on the side, which I paid dearly for, which was just a tiny biscuit. I would try it again to give it another chance. read more

Four of us enjoyed lunch on the patio. Service was very good and food was delicious. Salads were fresh with generous portions. Grilled chicken sandwich was excellent. read more

Went to the car show 8:30 this morning. My sausage was red and raw food was okay besides that. Then I had lunch soon as I bit into my burger. It smelled and tasted like fish. French fries tasted like fish. Very bad that was at 1:30 p.m. now it's 6:00. I'm throwing up. Seem like nice people but I don't know about the food. First time I ate there will not be going back. I even wrote on my receipt that they have food tasted like fish. read more

Good LORD the pancakes here are heaven on earth. I don't even care about pancakes but I'm so glad I tried theirs. I genuinely dont know how to explain how good they are. Just trust when I say they are special. Service was very friendly and not a long wait for food. Ambience is great; simple but not boring, cozy diner decor with local art. read more

We've been to Pepe's a few times and always have a nice meal. It's a diner feel, a little elevated from the typical. And like most restaurants on Mill St outdoor seating is available. I haven't had lunch there yet but their breakfasts are great, I usually get a frittata. This is a good addition to downtown GV. read more

A lovely little Grass Valley diner with absolutely delicious food. My daughter got the chorizo tacos. The chorizo and the salsa were so flavorful. I got a gluten free basket with andouille sausage and absolutely loved it! The service was warm and lovely, and the restaurant itself is neat and tidy. A lovely experience all around! read more

Our experience here was awful couldn't get a simple breakfast order right not sure how you translate frittata into a burger well we didn't mind the wait we just wanted food I took a bite to find a hair in the middle of the burger. Our waitress seemed to be dunk or high couldn't get a order right and was acting weird management did nothing to help but act like highschoolers talking and staring at us not only is the restaurant dirty the management physically looks dirty! Worse place I've spent 100$ an American fast food would have been a better route that's sad read more