Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Shelly's Cafe

    4.6 (573 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Shelly's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    SHELLY'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Shelly's Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - Shelly's Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Beep-Beep.
    Pietro M.

    The menu is small but that allows them to ensure that all of the dishes are always consistent and tasty. We both ordered Shelly's French toast and it was just perfect. The French Toast was cooked to perfection with no soggy spots. The food came out pretty quickly as well. I noticed that even though there were a few open tables, they still had people waiting which shows me that they're managing the pace to NOT overwhelm the kitchen staff. Again, this was evident with the quality of the food and the speed at which it came out after ordering. This a a great spot for a casual meal, nothing fancy about the place so don't expect violins and a sommelier.

    Shelly's French Toast. Freshly made and absolutely delicious!
    Kameron C.

    A local gem and a must visit for breakfast. Splurge and get the Shelleys fresh fruit version of Pancake or French Toasts, and make it into a combo for a savory and sweet delight. The place is not fancy but has a calm and breakfasty-vibe. The servers treat you like its a family joint - welcoming and warm. You will enjoy this!

    Mellissa D.

    I was driving home through Tampa, starving! I asked Siri for breakfast places near me. I like to try 'hole in the wall' places because they are typically the ones with the best-tasting food. Upon arrival, the area of town was quite sketchy! It looked to be vacant & rundown. Can't really blame that on the business owner, tho. There were people standing outside the restaurant waiting to be seated. I stepped inside the door expecting to be greeted by staff. That was the first mistake -- expecting anything! I locked eyes with two of the three visible employees, so I know my party was noticed. Not one of them approached me for any reason. After about three minutes, I decided to go to the counter and ask what I needed to do in order to be seated. Apparently, patrons must walk to the back counter, find the yellow steno pad and add their own name to the list. How would anyone unfamiliar with the restaurant know this??? I was told there was a 20 min wait... it ended up being about 35 mins JUST to be seated, which included 2 sets of guests leaving before their party was called. After being seated it took another 15-20 mins just to have our order taken. The food AND beverages all arrived together another 30 minutes after the order was taken. When the food arrived, it WAS appealing to the eye! It was flavorful & precisely prepared. The drinks were canned soda --- so absolutely NO reason they couldn't have been served in a more timely manner! Our waitress was very polite but seemed quite disorganized and spread extremely thin with all she was doing. The table next to me had to ask for a to-go box 3 times for a to-go order that she also forgot to have prepared for the customers at said table. While the food was tasty, it was absolutely not 'to-die-for! The service was lack-luster at best. The cleanliness left A-LOT to be desired (literally saw the person bussing tables wipe the food left on the table onto the floor instead of into the bus pan. Patrons had to walk on/over the food in order to leave the restaurant. And the bathroom --- disgusting..... overflowing toilet, rust, and mildew all around the sink! Not sure I'll ever visit again.... But if I were you, I'd wait until they have more or at least better staff before visiting.

    Toast, home fries, sausage, fried eggs
    Kim W.

    The food is always delicious and the service is pleasant. There 8s chatter and laughter which gives it a warm feeling.

    Shelly's French toast
    Alex B.

    Read the reviews and Shelly's Cafe was a must try. Their breakfast is the best! Service: Upon entering, we were greeted. The entire staff was very friendly and welcoming. Such a wonderful diner experience and highly recommend everyone in the area to try. Will be back!

    Delaney A.

    Shelly's is our go-to spot now. It gives a mom and pop vibe in a little strip mall. From the first visit we were hooked! I'm not a pancake person usually for breakfast but I dream about these pancakes every single weekend. They are perfectly soft in the middle, crisp on the edge, and not too sweet. My MIL who is a FIEND for pancakes loves them too! My wife always gets the chicken and pancakes and it's always consistently delicious. Also, if you are like me and pine for the days of Sweet Tomatoes, come here and get the strawberry lemonade!! It will speak to your soul! Prices are super reasonable and we don't normally have to wait unless you get there in the early morning on the weekend. But they have quick turnaround so even if we do have to wait, it's not long and it's VERY worth it.

    Chocolate Chip Pancakes
    Samantha Q.

    Love that they open 7:30am on the weekends. I stopped in Saturday morning with my nieces and they had plenty of seating still available and also plenty of parking spots out front. Our server was super nice and attentive. I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes which were so yummy. They put the chocolate chips on top which I really like because on warm pancakes they melt and spread so good with the syrup.

    The child added the extras to her meal
    Dana M.

    Using yelp for breakfast near me we located Shelly's. When we arrived my daughter reminded me that we had been there before. What can I say - the food was once again awesome

    BLT
    Tasha B.

    We arrived there was a short wait. As we were seated, order beverage request were taken. As we waited we were asked to switch tables, because of a 6 person reservation. I wasn't pleased with the request however my sister said sure. As we sat at the new table for 4 close to the restroom, the party of 6 never arrived. A couple was sat at our previous table. Anyway .... Let's talk about why I rated it 4. The server was nice, the restaurant was clean & the food was served fast. I enjoyed my omelette & the coffee was good. The server kept my cup full. The BLT looked like plenty of bacon. However the bacon appeared extra crispy.. I would return.

    Chocolate chip pancakes
    Chandani S.

    This was my first time visiting Shelley's Café. When I arrived, there was no one at the front or any signage about seating, so we stood by the entrance for a bit until someone noticed us. Once we were finally seated, I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes with scrambled eggs and extra crispy bacon. The bacon was perfectly crisp, which can be hard to get right, and my little one had the home potatoes, which were surprisingly delicious--he ate every bite! The atmosphere was pleasant, and the staff were friendly, although the place was packed, with every seat taken. When it came time to pay, we had some trouble flagging someone down since it wasn't clear who our server was. We assumed we could go to the counter, but were told someone would come to us. Despite the slightly higher prices, I would return because the food was really good.

    THE SOFT SOFT PANCAKES! THE GORGEOUS FRIES! THOSE AMAZING EGGS! And an empty plate that had fries for the table aka for me!
    Jayvyn S.

    The food was so good I can't even describe. The pancakes,The fries, The chicken, The fruit salad, THE BACON?!?!?!?! OMG I was in my chair dying for more! The bacon was crispy with NO FAT STUFF... IT WAS CHEFS KISS the pancakes were as soft as my bed and my bed is not even that soft! THE PLACE AND A GOOD ONE HOUR NAP?!?!?!. This place deserves a Gordon Ramsey visit ASAP! I should gatekeep this but ITS TOO GOOD!!! 100000000/10

    2 Egg Combo with a Side of Sausage.  Subbed Bread for Fresh Fruit for an upcharge.
    Cindy G.

    I do enjoy a weekend brunch and Shelly's Cafe in Tampa has become my go-to place... I've visited many times over the last year that I've been in Florida and they are consistently serving up farm fresh everything! Aaand their fruit bowl is as beautiful as it is fresh and delicious! If you're looking for a locally owned and operated breakfast cafe, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed! In fact, when my high school besties came to town for a girls weekend, this is where I chose to bring them for breakfast. They loved it as much as I do.

    Pancakes, toast, and sausage

    A really good small place to have breakfast at! The employees were very welcoming and attentive as well. I definitely would recommend the pancakes, they just remind me of home-style pancakes, nothing too low quality and nothing too fancy, just perfect normal style pancakes! I didn't get to try the French toast but my boyfriend said they were good :)

    Menu

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Zoe G.
    0
    23
    31

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sherry H.
    42
    39
    11

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 1
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Keith B.
    31
    765
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kaitlyn S.
    3708
    559
    15821

    6 years ago

    Helpful 68
    Thanks 0
    Love this 75
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Megan W.
    1123
    578
    1005

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Such a good breakfast spot! French toast was amazing, and the staff was super friendly!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nishant N.
    1161
    1241
    7807

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Al L.
    73
    64
    107

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Polo D.
    196
    52
    75

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Really good service and great food. Even our toddler ate really rare which almost never happens

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The service was good and the food came out fast. However, the portions weren't nearly worth it for the price and the food was quite bland.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tracy M.
    0
    125
    34

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 17
    Thanks 1
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The food was great. The service was good. There was a large variety of sandwiches for lunch and we enjoyed our experience. We will be back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 15

    Ask the Community - Shelly's Cafe

    You might also consider

    The Perfect Press Coffee - Watermelon Matcha (seasonal) and Praline Latte

    The Perfect Press Coffee

    4.5(64 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I stumbled upon this coffee shop by chance and decided to give it a try. Boy, am I glad I did! As…read moresoon as I walked in, I noticed the lovely and tasteful decor. The coffee shop is actually connected to some kitchen store and there is a nice little gift shop to browse while you wait on your beverage being prepared. The line to order was to the door, but the staff took orders quickly and efficiently. I'm a huge fan of drip coffee and always judge a coffee shop by how they prepare this simple, yet flavorful beverage. The Perfect Press Coffee lives up to its name- their drip coffee is smooth, bold, and flavorful. I love it!

    If you're driving on north Dale Mabry in Tampa... and you see the Carrollwood Village neighborhood…read moreentrance- make a safe uturn and head in. Inside this winding housing development, you'll find a small shopping plaza-gasoline on one end, dry cleaners on the other... and in between those bookends, a string of small businesses. And behind the door with all the flowers around it: Perfect Press Coffee. It's a hopping and popping kind of place. I've been there twice in the last year-and it's busy. It's a fun mix of neighborhood moms with strollers-people stopping on the way to or from work-and a few remote work workers-who thrive in the happy buzz of a booming business. To the right when you walk in: coffee, tea and sweet and/or savory small bites. There's bench seating along the wall, several small tables and two little couches in the middle. The decor is cute, cozy, modern and slightly caffeinated. It's not a huge place but it's super popular. There are tables out front on the sidewalk, too. It's busy, but the skilled baristas keep things moving. On this most recent trip, I tried the ube matcha-my first. I liked it! There were lots of tempting pastries, etc-but I had a lunch date coming up, so I stuck to just the beverage. If you decide to stop in, bonus: this business shares space with a fun kitchen store that has everything from gourmet salts and oils-fun towels and mugs-and all sorts of other items. I should have bought the cola flavored candy bar. Next time! Yes, the parking lot is a little hectic-but be patient, it comes and goes in waves-you'll get a spot. Oh! And really nice restrooms. This is worth a stop and shop. I'll be back for round three.

    Photos
    The Perfect Press Coffee - Waffle Croissant? Croissant Waffle? I forget the name, but it's delicious.

    Waffle Croissant? Croissant Waffle? I forget the name, but it's delicious.

    The Perfect Press Coffee - Love the presentation here

    Love the presentation here

    The Perfect Press Coffee - Lattes for here

    See all

    Lattes for here

    Felicitous - These gyoza (pan fried dumplings) are AMAAAAAZING!!!

    Felicitous

    4.0(46 reviews)
    2.8 miUSF
    $

    Great coffee. Service is great. The owner is super nice. We came here during a menu popup. The food…read morewas soooo yummy! We even had to order the gyozas again because it was so good. This place is unfortunately far from our house, but I would still come back here for other special events.

    I found this place because I couldn't find buddy brew coffee, not from here just getting treatment…read moreat Moffitt so trying the local coffee shops around here. The parking is very funky, water to walk to. If homey is what you are looking for for this is the place. I prefer outside cafes and enjoying the sunshine. The inside of this home is pretty cramped, nowhere to stand while waiting for drinks. If one of the employees actually told me I could wait outside and they have a window they can call your name and give you your order that way, that would have been stellar customer service. Also know that if you would like a nice ceramic mug like I do, they won't ask you for here or to go, they will just give you a paper cup. I asked if they ever make drinks in mugs and the kind gentleman said yes if you are staying inside. He didn't ask so I didn't know. Miscommunication problem here on the business side. But whatever. The outside could be more pleasant and comfortable and almost return business from me if they actually had their employees CLEAN THE OUTSIDE TABLES AND CHAIRS! It wasn't enjoyable to hunker down with a table full of bird shit, ( I love nature and ima free hugger) I tolerated it to try to enjoy the I e vanilla latte. I asked if they use real extracts or puréed pumpkin as most establishments just use simple sugar syrups and I was hoping g that because they weren't big corporate chain they would strive for less processed especially because of the price of their drinks. There seemed to be a lot of downtime after a rush so there's really no excuse for not cleaning up crumbs or bird shit off the surfaces where their customers are supposed to eat and drink. For me to return here, I would really love to see clean outside, one more shade screen they don't cost much, and more hanging plants and flowers on tables or plants in general would make this space beautiful, add some bamboo for privacy and voila I might show up again. For now, I'll stick to businesses that stem e not only for friendly customer service but a clean environment as well. Bummer wanted to support local. Quemaria coffee does it right!!!! Boho but clean and nice global music playing, that would be nice here as some peoples conversations are loud. Something to drown out the traffic as well. They could add a few more tables just purchased from thrift store. I wanted to LOVE but this place is probably best for students that don't have higher expectations.

    Photos
    Felicitous
    Felicitous - Spicy Dan Dan Ramen is really good!

    Spicy Dan Dan Ramen is really good!

    Felicitous

    See all

    Lunar Coffee - Summer seasonal drinks

    Lunar Coffee

    4.7(64 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    Finally! A cozy cafe with an ambience like no other place in Tampa! I was so excited to try out…read moretheir coffee. They have unique flavors and blends that are absolutely delicious. The cafe itself was easy to find. Parking lot is large and easy to find. As soon as I walked in, you can sense a feeling of calmness and peace. They played classical piano instrumentals and it honestly gave me the best experience. This says a lot about a place because it's not just good coffee it's also having a quiet clean cafe that's good on the eye. And the music ?- YES ! Now the coffee. I can simply say after traveling all over the world and being incredibly picky with my coffee, Lunar coffee is 10/10 and rated the BEST in Tampa. My go to spot now.

    I made two mistakes while I was at this super chill spot in my old stomping grounds of Temple…read moreTerrace: 1) I didn't check the seasonal offerings before I ordered (and the menu was right there!) and 2) I took my chai tea latte to go. I should have stayed... and soaked up the zen vibes. But I had errands to run, for my third and final Christmas party (I know, in mid January) (!), so I dashed. But this just means I have to go back. Lunar Coffee is in the end unit of a two story building, with a big gorgeous tree out front. It's shady and peaceful- you forget busy 56th Street is right out there. There's a private parking lot with lots of spaces. It's a little tight-and there are lots of businesses that share that lot. Don't let it scare you off. It's worth it. The shop is so clean-with lots of table seating and some high counter seating at the front. There was soothing music on when I was there, on a cool Thursday morning. There were lots of customers but it didn't seem frantic or hectic. It's like everyone just leaves their stress at the door. You feel it sort of roll right off you. I had the most pleasant gal take my order. She was very sweet. I should have asked her more questions about the treats I saw in the glass case and about the menu. I should have taken more time. Now I know better. There's a lot to like here-and I'll be back to enjoy it.

    Photos
    Lunar Coffee - Caramel cappuccino  This is such a great place to work

    Caramel cappuccino This is such a great place to work

    Lunar Coffee - A cup of hojicha latte at the Lunar Cafe counter

    A cup of hojicha latte at the Lunar Cafe counter

    Lunar Coffee - Fine Italian espresso

    See all

    Fine Italian espresso

    Shelly's Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...