RJ's is a great breakfast and lunch cafe. Friendly Staff and a perfect and consistent breakfast spot! We enjoy looking forward to going there especially after church. You can sit inside or outside. read more

Why would anyone give RJs less than 5 stars!? So delicious! I went with a party of 5 on a Saturday and only had to wait about 15-20 minutes, which was not bad, especially since there's a great courtyard and benches too. They have plenty of seating inside and outside. The location is fabulous, right across from the beautiful views of the Dana Point Harbor. There's plenty of free parking in the front and back lots. I highly recommend the stuffed apple French toast and hot chocolate with a mile high amount of whipped cream! All their breakfast items are delicious. Service was great too. No complaints here! read more

RJ's Cafe - a cup of coffee with whipped cream - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Dana Point, California

Basically hospital cafeteria food near the beach. Overpriced for the quality that you get. Everything tastes like it comes straight off of a Sysco truck. I ordered the cheeseburger with chili cheese fries and what I got was essentially flavorless. Also they charge you extra for pickles and onions on a burger. The patty tasted like it was boiled first or something. I've never had a patty so lifeless. Also the hostess on duty was very rude and said "we can't combine tables" and made a fit about it while another just went and did it for us while the other was complaining. Does she think it's some technically infeasible task? I suspect she was just lazy. I wouldn't go back. read more

Drove an hour to get here so we were determined to try several things. The stuffed French toast with bananas OMG delicious there are no words! The new omelette "The Taco" with the potatoes...very good. Definitely didn't skimp on the ground beef and a splash of tapatio on top was perfect! We also got a side of bacon which was thick and crispy. Lastly was the cinnamon roll French toast. Too stuffed to eat it but had a couple bites and it too was amazing! Would definitely make the drive to come back. It's across from the marina so you can see a little bit of ocean. Plenty of parking read more

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RJ's only serves breakfast and lunch, but it does it all day. The place is really comfortable, you can eat inside or out. They also have take away and I bet they have someone who delivers. All of the seating is comfortable and cozy. The place is spotless. It really is pretty. The service is excellent. The servers are s very nice and they are fast, but do not rush you. I love them. The prices are fair for the great food you get. They have wonderful selections for breakfast and lunch. We have been a few times now. Their French toast is wonderful and if you want you can have it stuffed with all sorts of stuff. I like it plain. The eggs Benedict is great. It has a perfect sauce. You will like it. Their feta avocado scramble is amazing, it has scrambled egg whites with spinach and tomatoes, with feta cheese and avocado. They will give you their homemade salsa but you have to ask for it, but it says that on the menu. It also comes with home-fried potatoes and toast. All of their melts are great. My favorite is the tuna melt on sourdough with soup, salad, French fries or sweet potatoes fries. I don't care for the sweet potato fries but you might love them. Their Steak Sandwich on a grilled French roll with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Served with soup, salad, or fries. I always have just a little mayo. I also ask for my steak rare. It is great. There is just nothing not to love here. Have fun read more

Good portion size and presentation of all of our meals. Dining on the patio was a weird experience with an employee using a water bottle to make the birds go away. I guess that's needed when so close to the ocean. Our server was attentive and nice, but the woman who brought our food out was so cold and harsh. She yelled out our items like a Drill Sergeant while abruptly putting them down. She would be great working the line as like an expo, making sure all items are ready to go. She was a little too aggressive for working with customers. The food was really fresh so I will definitely come back and try again. read more

A recipe for an ideal breakfast: combine alittle Santa Cruz, a little Sonoma County, a pinch of Sausalito, the Pacific Ocean, and some of the best food and nicest people anywhere. The result? RJ's Cafe in beautiful Dana Point. All the breakfast classics are here, along with a few surprises. (Lobster Benedict, featuring tender, tasty langostinos and an otherworldly Hollandaise sauce? Yes, please!) Some of the best breakfast potatoes anywhere. A side order of biscuits and gravy good enough and big enough to have as a main dish. You get the idea. And the cinnamon roll? The best my wife and I have ever experienced. Anywhere. The ambiance? Comfortable, especially in the enclosed patio. The service? Perfectly polite, prompt, and professional. Our server, Julie, was fantastic, and we had a great conversation with manager Obie. He said the chef has been with the business for 29 years. It shows. Deliciously. If you know Dana Point, you're probably already a regular. If you aren't yet, just go, and be reminded just how magical the right combination of ingredients can be. read more

Initially went to DP for Jon's Fish Market's last day operating before permanently closing its doors and was disappointed to hear that they didn't plan well enough to consider the high demand. Oh well, their customer loss is RJ's gain when we drove across the harbor to eat at RJ's. Food, ambiance and service were amazing!! We are definitely coming back to RJ's, next time with our dog. We had great omelettes (the Doheny and Hole in the Fence) as well as their cinnamon rolls. Made for a terrific Sunday brunch outing. I would recommend leaving the sad harbor dining options and making your way to the plaza across the street and discovering the great dining options there. In the same plaza we also went to It's All About the Cake Cafe for desert and coffee -- another awesome DP find! Happy people everywhere!! read more

We have been going here for years but we feel something has changed in the quality of the food. We ordered 3 different items for breakfast and it all came out cold. The toast was "not toasted" preventing the butter from being melted. We asked for crispy potatoes and they were far from crispy. The food overall had no flavor. We feel that something has changed. Is it the management? the cooks? the ownership? It's really disappointing to go to a local restaurant that is not up to par anymore. We will not be back. read more

We came here for breakfast with the family. Seated quickly, and staff was nice enough but I felt like we had to flag down the servers for every little thing - napkins, refills, to add items - I get they were busy and they were super nice, but service was not attentive. We sat on the patio, which was nice and cozy even on a cool morning. The food was very tasty, and portions were generous. We may comeback to try it again, maybe we caught them on a short staffed day??? read more

RJ's cafe is a cute Dana Point cafe, uniquely tucked away in such a crowded area which is part of its charm. The food was diner style, pretty common diner meals were available, such as burgers, melts, omelets, corn beef and hash, etc. Good tasting, nothing I would "write home about" but if you are visiting the area and need a spot for breakfast/brunch it's worth a try. Living in the area I'm not sure I would frequent this spot but again glad to have tried it. The staff were straightforward but nice. I can't speak to the indoor seating since we sat outside but the patio seemed great, outside with plastic enclosure to keep the wind out. We unfortunately were seated outside of the outside patio. We were placed right out front by the hostess stand, which we could have said something but were hungry and it was as good a day as any to have been seated there. I think restaurants should not normalize just throwing tables out anywhere "near" their establishment when eating within the confines of the restaurant you're visiting can be part of the experience. Many dogs, big and small were all over the patio, wagging their tails near the food this should be kept more in check. But while I know this place is a novelty here in DP however the structure and flow leaves me and my family looking elsewhere for our brunch experiences. read more

Riane and Jacob's cafe if I had to guess. I dunno. It's ok food. I'll be back later for breakfast/brunch tomorrow. We will see if JCs coffee spot is on. read more

I cant imagine anybody writing anything but a 5 star review. I have been coming here for over 15 years and it has so much character and great food. The roles are so good but it feels like eating dessert for breakfast. read more

Fantastic cafe. Got here a little too early but she let me in out of the cold and gave me coffee. Ordered the bacon/eggs- everything tasted great and cooked perfectly. Glad I gave it a chance! read more

Super busy at place. Waited about 40 min then 30 min after ordering. Great patio with lots of dogs. No iced coffee. Doheny omelette was excellent. Prices fair. Two restaurants in this complex with outdoor eating. read more

Disappointed. Drove over here and they were closed before 3. Not sure what their hours are but it's incorrect on yelp and google maps. Please fix so people don't waste their time. read more

Been coming here for years but yesterday was my last. Dogs, dogs, dogs. Barking dogs, dog hair in the air, dogs in chairs. Give me a break, grow some and put a sign up. NO DOGS. This is a restaurant not a dog park. read more

The Good: Food was good overall. The ambiance is good too. Extensive menu. Indoor and outdoor seating. The location is very good and it a very cute establishment. The Bad: The food takes millennia to bring out, but that's probably ok on a lazy Saturday morning, as it was for us. The restrooms, 2 of them - one man, one woman - are single person restrooms. For a restaurant of probably 70 patrons, there are just 2 single person restrooms. It was wholly inadequate, and I had to check the restroom many times before it was finally available without a line. The Ugly: Our server, Laura V., had lots of attitude and has no business being in the customer service business. She just kept making one snarky comment after another about how much we were inconveniencing her. It started when we arrived and continued until we were done. She is either having a very bad day or she needs to be fired. read more

This is a great local restaurant! Great food, service and unbelievably inexpensive prices. It's Dana Point, you think the pricing would be double what they charge! read more

Grabbed breakfast after picking my daughter up for a day at the beach. Apple French toast, turkey sausage omlet, shrimp salad, breakfast sandwich and cinnamon roll filled our plates! The service was great and the food hit the spot. The breakfast potatoes needed a little seasoning but overall the food was good. read more

I feel that a lot of locals love this place from what I've heard but I wasn't impressed. It's like diner breakfast quality... not great but not horrible. read more

I have been going to RJ's for about a decade now. This last visit was probably the best experience I've ever had there. The staff are over-the-top attentive and patient and never miss a beat to top off the Almighty cup of coffee. I decided to go big and try a chicken fried steak. I could not believe how forktender and delicious that thing was. The potatoes are always spot on and the coffee though it's from a pot is exceptional coffee even their choice of sauces, jellies, etc. are more than you could ever want if you've been on the fence about RJ's, you need to get down there right now and make a memory that'll last the rest of your life and a good one to boot. Unbelievable service and quality that's what a breakfast restaurant should be all about and they are that and much more. Their head manager, Obie Scott is nothing short of a legend. He knows his stuff and he keeps that place running like a well oiled machine. I'm getting hungry as I write this so I'm gonna head down there and get another breakfast. God bless you RJ's Staff read more

LIVE LAUGH LOVE RJS CAFE! love the biscuits and gravy, midwestern approved! haven't had a bad experience yet, waiters/waitress are very friendly. clean bathrooms, quick service, get vibe especially if you eat outside. inside can get a little loud as it gets packed. read more

RJ's Cafe - stuffed mango french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Dana Point, California

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the employees were nice and efficient. the food was good and plentiful for the price. it appeased my pregnant sister, so that's a win! the location is amazing because of the short walk distance to the harbor. read more

RJ's Cafe - chorizo, egg, and cheese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Dana Point, California

Decided to try RJ's for breakfast when visiting friends in Dana Point. We had to wait about 20 minutes because it was packed with people. The service was very good and all employees helped each other since it was so busy. The breakfast menu was huge and everything was made from scratch. Definitely worth the wait! Would highly recommend RJ's to all my friends and family. read more

Terrible service. Racist waitress called us the "middle Eastern table". She was overwhelmed from being so busy but was rude to us for no reason. They brought two people in our party of 8 the wrong food, and we still weren't upset. We asked to split the bill and she had attitude over that. This was unacceptable. We've been here many times but will never go back. Understaffed and rude servers ruined the experience. read more

RJs Café is one of the coolest/family restaurants that I've ever been to in the area. Kind of has a Hawaii family vibe to it. The staff there was so welcoming and treated our kids and family so well the food here was out of sight. I had the pork Breakfast plate and it was so good the pancakes and other things in the menu you were out of this world. It was a lot of cafés the coffee isn't that great but this place makes amazing coffee. When we go back to Dana point this is the first place we are going to go back to the owner was incredible dog friendly hundred percent highly recommend this place to come and have a great breakfast. read more

Best breakfast spot in Dana Point! Food is great and the amount you get on your plate is huge. The service is always quick and with a smile - they make you feel like you're at home. There is a lovely outside patio seating and inside seating. Great coffee. Reasonably priced menu. Nice beachy vibe. read more

RJ's Cafe - I always get the small plate $9 for a very large pancake with two links of the best sausage!! I always bring home leftovers. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Dana Point, California

10/10. Fast and friendly service, great food, and awesome location. Highly recommend. read more

RJ's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Dana Point, California

We had lunch here the other day. It was somewhat noisy inside but we were able to get a table on the patio as we were with friends. A beautiful day with mild temperatures. The service was very good. Responsive and attentive. I ordered the Cajun spicy grilled chicken sandwich with fries. The fries were delicious. The sandwich was very spicy. Not a criticism, just a comment. At my request they proved a side of Ranch dressing. My wife ordered the hamberger with Swiss Cheese and avacado. She was extremely pleased with the quality and the size of the burger. Overall a good experience. We would go back. read more

Absolutely the best pancakes in town! The food is delicious and like "Mom's home cooking ." Ample and comfortable seating inside and out, very kid and dog friendly. Go early and avoid the wait-especially on the weekend. I'm a local and this is my favorite breakfast spot ! read more

Just recently went to this cafe for the first time , and i LOVE it. Ive even gone back like 3 or 4 times after the first time , it was that good. The food tastes fresh . Im a BIG breakfast person and love their breakfast accompanied with a coffee!! I will say that their stuffed french toast throws me for a loop because its bread with a big chunk of cream cheese in the middle, and i HATE cream cheese. So i stay away from that particular item . The waitresses are always on top of the coffee pours, and super friendly! They have indoor and outdoor seating which makes it all that much more comfortable and accommodating for the weather. They are also kid friendly, and allow pets so thats a big plus for parents! The items are also fair priced in my opinion , especially for the serving sizes you receive. read more

RJ's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Dana Point, California

Staying at the nearby ritz Carlton, we decided to eat local VS at the hotel. one of the valleys at the ritz said that this place is 1 of his favorites, so we decided to try it out. my husband ordered the chicken fried steak and a side of banana pancakes and I had 1 egg, English muffin, with a 1/2 of a slice of ham. all of the food was delicious. the first time we went we only waited 10 minutes to be seated, we went back the next day and unfortunately it was a 50 minute wait for 2 people at 10 AM. Be prepared to wait a while, but it's worth the weight. nice added touch for the season, they had a Santa Claus for everyone to enjoy and he had an authentic beard-it was a great extra touch read more

RJ's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Dana Point, California

This place is great. You can tell from the loooong wait times on the weekends... Great food. If you are early enough, their cinnamon buns are fantastic. All the menu items are great, but be sure to change your hash browns to RJ's heavenly potatoes. Delish! read more

The manager Obie was rude, food was average service was good get ready to wait in line for 45 minutes to use the restroom as well. There is one toilet for men's and women's restroom. There was a long wait to be seated as well just go somewhere less crowded read more

R J's Cafe a great spot across from Harbor to have breakfast or lunch a solid menu all great meals . We had the Eggs Benedict great portions homemade sauces. Potatoes cooked the way you requested. We had a very friendly server she was knowledgeable with the menu our hostess seated us promptly on a busy day . Restaurant was clean and busy ,manager checked on us frequently as well as coffee and water . We will be back soon . Inside seating and a nice patio. read more

I love this place. Make sure to get there early to make a reservation, but they feed you well highly recommend.

I was on a little gateway and stopped by at RJ's Cafe, it's one of those original American Diner establishments which I love, the place is busy during brunch hour, I was a little bit surprised when all the food that came was so so good! I thought it's gonna be just typical diner food with no taste but boy! I was wrong! The service was excellent, server and busser was quick and nice! VERDICT: I WILL COME BACK if I ever visit Dana Point, CA again! read more

RJ's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I have been there two other times, that is why I suggested it the last time we were there, and it will be the last time. I like the restaurant, the lack of caring in preparing and delivering the food is another story. Our server was great although she didn't pay much attention to things ordered. Waters were requested for the entire table. After coffee and orange juice were brought to the table and spilled, the person delivering it said they would return to clean it up and never did. Finally one water was brought to the table. Two orders of different kinds of soups were ordered, both cold. The cheeseburger arrived with no cheese, after telling the server they took it back for the cheese which should have been caught since the top bun is not placed on top. That burger and the turkey burger tasted like absolutely nothing and the sweet potato fries were burned. One of the breakfast items was mediocre and one was at least edible. The toast arrived after asking for it, one piece at a time. I am writing this because it was not a cheap meal and it was so below par. I hope you will make improvements although I will never know. Like I said, we will not return there. Thanks for your time. read more

Really cute lil spot tucked away in the Dana Marina plaza across the street from the Harbor. We got seated right away in their outside dining patio(dog friendly). Started off with champagne and hot cocoa for the kids! They don't skimp on the whip cream;) We ordered the cinnamon roll, veggie scramble, side of bacon, pancakes and chilaquiles-everything was delicious. Can't wait to come back! read more

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