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    Start Fresh Cafe

    4.4 (447 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 2:00 pm

    Start Fresh Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    START FRESH CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Start Fresh Cafe

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    Breakfast burrito

    The Service and food is amazing and fast I usually go for the breakfast burritos but my family and I have liked anything else we have tried as well

    Angel C.

    It was our 1st time here. Lots of space for parking and sitting. Was pretty busy, but didn't take long at all. The food was fabulous. Totally recommend. Will be back with my husband.

    Biscuit n gravy- so delish. Gravy had sausage bits
    Leo C.

    I'm sad I am just now finding this place. Def a gem- this lil cafe has all the best options from homemade biscuits, to cinnamon rolls to pies! Me and my company only ordered breakfast but the lunch options on the menu sounded just as delicious as the breakfast options. I had to try the stuffed hash browns and it did not disappoint! We all also tried their biscuits- mine came w gravy and we were in consensus that the biscuits were super good. The coffee was tasty and the servers were great with filling the coffee every few minutes. Food came out really quickly and the ambiance was very homey. I didn't try the pies but they looked amazing and I'll be back to try em! We all def recommend this place.

    Honey Bunches of Oats French Toast
    L C.

    Stopped by this place while on a road trip with a POF date. She wanted breakfast. I already had breakfast. So we went here. Because her relative recommended it. Since Honey Bunches of Oats is ny absolute favorite cold cereal, I was shocked to see Honey Bunches of Oats French Toast. Omg I ordered that with the quickness. I forgot what she ordered. But it contained some nice fluffy pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. As you can see from the pics, I ate everything, except for most of the bananas. Well, I was full already . She didn't eat her scrambled eggs. Because she doesn't like scrambled eggs. Not sure why she ordered them that way. Parking lot parking was available on short notice. So we were able to swoop in a decent working space. Waiter was attentive and nice. I don't know how much it was. Because I didn't pay for it. Everything was ok. But the flies . Maybe it was the weather or whatever. But we had to fan away flies from our food and we were inside. They weren't on our food. They were just flying around us.

    Meatlovers Omelette
    Jose O.

    This a one of Oceanside BEST breakfast spots! They have some really delicious omelets and scrambles, as well as some yummy biscuits and gravy. My personal favorite is their country omelette! The staff are always super friendly and it's one of my go to locations.

    Country Stuffed Hash browns and Chicken Fried Steak. With a side of biscuits and gravy. Delicious!
    Samantha D.

    Wanted to take my mom out to breakfast and all of the other breakfast joints were too packed. Seen this place and wanted to try out. This place did not disappoint. The staff were very friendly. The food was absolutely delicious. A must try!

    Vegetable Omelette, steak and eggs, cinnamon roll
    Katie D.

    This place will make you feel at home! Friendly staff, delicious food and large portions. We love to sit on the patio. Try the cinnamon roll and take a pie home!

    Archie A.

    A good morning when you start your day at this local breakfast spot. This is my third visit and haven't been disappointed. I truly enjoy this establishment for the home vibe to the bloody Mary's. No alcohol today but I highly recommend their drinks. Today I enjoyed a Denver omelette with hash browns. By far the best in town, large portions, and very fluffy. The dinning room was bouncing with conversations and everyone seems happy and content. Today's service as always was professional and attentive! An Oceanside staple, I highly recommend a visit.

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Food is seasoned just right and the portions are a good size. Staff is friendly and service is great!

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Some of the best food, great service! Biscuits n gravy was amazing the fish n chips are terrific and the cinnamon rolls are the BOME!!

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Good food, good service. Visiting family in California. One of the only places we stopped that had real service!

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    8 years ago

    Always a great go to for a hungry fix! Fast service and good food with large portions.

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    This place is great! Customer service is amazing. It's one of my favorite breakfast restaurants.

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Great breakfast. Loved the stuffed hashbrowns, my friend liked the biscuits and gravy

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Excellent food and reasonable prices. Had the stuffed hash browns,big j's omelet and what's with toast and fruit. Would come here again!

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    9 years ago

    If your Ever in Oceanside with big appetite and appreciate genuine family ran business, go check this place out! Must go

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

    I love this place. I love ordering from their daily special. If I don't order that I go w the monte cristo

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Coming here for months now love the food and the staff super friendly! Had the green chilaquiles it was bomb!!!

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Great place! Delicious food and fast, friendly service. I will definitely return when in the area.

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    10 years ago

    Service was pleasant although slow even though they did nit seam to be busy. French Toast was room temp at best and dry. : - (

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Food and service was awesome! Chilaquiles for breakfast were perfect. Fresh avocado and pico de gallo. Highly recommend!

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    Page 11 of 12

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    Stopped by this little fish spot on the harbor in Oceanside and had such a great experience. The…read moreatmosphere was relaxing and perfect for enjoying seafood near the water. The servers were incredibly friendly and patient, especially when I was trying to decide whether or not to order the calamari. They were helpful with recommendations and made us feel really welcomed. The fish baskets were HUGE and definitely worth it -- plenty of food and everything tasted fresh and crispy. The clam chowder was absolutely perfect too, creamy and full of flavor. It really hit the spot by the harbor breeze. Between the great customer service, generous portions, and delicious seafood, this ended up being one of our favorite stops in Oceanside. We'll definitely be coming back next time we're in town!

    Man, such a disappointment. Health code violations at the end…read more FOOD - meh. Maybe a 3 star at best for food quality and taste. The harbor burrito was fine but nothing special. Berry Crunch French Toast, same thing. Our friends ate the Stratford Scramble and it was just 3/5 as well. PRICE - considering the food is nothing special, I wondered why we are paying a higher price for it. Definitely overpriced unless you really care about eating at the harbor, looking at the water through some dirty glass. SERVICE - their current set up is to take your order, take your money, and give you a number. That would fine and dandy except that the girl who was taking orders ALSO had to play bartender. The line seems to be so long and take forever because she'll take your order, then spend 5 minutes making drinks or doing something else before taking the next person's order. Maybe this is their way to handle the traffic because tables are full and maybe they are down staff members. Either way, I was disappointed at the speed/organization. HEALTH CODE VIOLATION - the cherry on top to all of this happened since I had so much time in line to observe. The girl taking orders would take an order, process payment by touching the POS system, then scoop ice into a glass for the drink she was making (this time was a Bloody Mary), handle bottles of alcohol, and FINALLY, touch the bacon and garnishes for the Bloody Mary all without washing her hands. No doubt there have been many hands that have touched all of those things and contaminated them, all for her to touch food at the end without washing her hands. The POS system is also about 10 feet away from the bathroom so all of this adds up to something that seems risky and needs to be fixed.

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    Highlights! Service is always on point no matter who helps you. The pastries are fresh daily (we…read morealways take about 3-4 home) and their regular breakfast and lunch menu is tasty and filling. The restaurant is self seating after you order and the restaurant is consistently clean, soft music in the background, and rotating artists are featured on their walls. We love coming here (weekly if possible). We like to bring our pups and sit on the sizable patio outside, but there is more than enough room to sit inside too. The front of the house team is always moving (serving, cleaning, welcoming guests, etc.) but they are they are always personable and polite. Thank you to Joey who helped us today; we left the register laughing. I know this may see small to some, but the service here seems to care a little more and that has made a big difference in our experiences.

    I stopped in for an iced vanilla latte and a couple of pastries, a plain Croissant, and Cinnamon…read moreRaisin Roll. I was hoping for a bigger selection of pastries but know item availability can fluctuate. There were 4-5 different pastries. There was a good selection of desserts. I was there on a Friday morning around 9:30. There were several open tables. It was about a 5 minute wait for my iced latte. Both pastries were tasty. The Croissant was buttery goodness. I appreciated that it didn't flake everywhere. I only had a bite of the Cinnamon Raisin Roll. That was my husband's and he enjoyed it. Plenty of raisins. Service is great. I interacted with 3 different employees and all were very nice. Staff is upbeat. They appeared to get along well with each other. It made for a great experience all around.

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    I had a memorable experience at the Buccaneer Café, largely because of the incredible staff who…read morewent above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and cared for. From the moment we arrived, Sierra greeted us with her kindness and attentiveness. She was warm, welcoming, and genuinely present, checking in at just the right moments without ever feeling intrusive. It was clear she truly cared about creating a positive experience, and that level of attentiveness made a big difference. Bryce was equally impressive in his approach. What shined was his care and attention to detail, especially when it came to accommodating my allergies. He made a point to ask questions before taking action, ensuring that everything was handled safely and thoughtfully. I appreciated how realistic and transparent he was about what could and couldn't be modified, which helped build trust and made me feel more at ease navigating the menu. His professionalism and awareness were evident throughout. Drea also made a strong impression with her calm and reassuring presence. She approached everything with a sense of patience and understanding, and I felt genuinely understood and validated in my requests and concerns. Her demeanor helped create a relaxed environment, which is especially meaningful when dealing with dietary needs. She balanced efficiency with empathy in a way that felt very natural. As for the food and drinks, my friend really enjoyed the Buccaneer smoothie and even went back for a second cup of drip coffee, which they said was smooth and satisfying. I had an avocado, egg, and tortilla burrito, and I especially liked the house brown sugar coffee, which had a rich, slightly sweet flavor that came through as a highlight for me. Overall, while navigating modifications can sometimes be challenging, the staff made the experience feel manageable and supportive. Their kindness, attentiveness, and willingness to accommodate made a lasting impression, and it's clear that the team truly values customer care. I appreciated the window so we could order outside, sit outside, be right by the ocean and have access to restrooms.

    If you're anywhere near Oceanside, do yourself a favor and stop by this spot. It's a casual…read moreorder-at-the-window setup, which makes it perfect for a laid-back beach morning. I ordered the California breakfast burrito with kalua pork, and wow--easily one of the most delicious burritos I've had. The flavors were incredible, perfectly balanced, and just ridiculously satisfying. I'm honestly a little sad I'm just visiting because I know I'm going to be craving this long after I leave. I paired it with a Mexi mocha, which was also fantastic--rich and comforting, with that nostalgic Abuelita chocolate vibe that makes it feel extra special. On top of the amazing food, the service was super sweet and impressively fast. And the view? You really can't beat enjoying your meal right by the beach. All around, an unforgettable casual breakfast experience. I'll definitely be thinking about that burrito for a long time.

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    Piper - Piper Exterior with Ocean Views.

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    4.0(485 reviews)
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    We loved our dinner here! I was a bit skeptical since it is a restaurant inside a hotel, but we…read morehad a wonderful time. Located in the SeaBird Resort in downtown Oceanside right across from the beach, Piper has that classy beachside aesthetic with light grey and sand wood colors. They have a nice outside area for drinks and lounging, but we ate inside. We had a reservation for a Saturday evening and when we arrived, we were sat right away. Our party of 4 started off with the Prager Bros bread & whipped butter with sea salt and the Grilled Peaches appetizer. The grilled peaches came with burrata cheese and I really liked the two flavors and consistencies together. A friend got the lobster & coconut soup, whipped smoked eggplant, and I had the house-made spaghetti and meatball. It was a beef meatball My other friend got the Steak frites which was grilled prime NY Steak with bone marrow, chimichurri and of course french fries. Also good.

    We had a large group for dinner of 11 people and this restaurant really did not deliver in terms of…read moreservice. We had to ask to even order entrees. The restaurant was not very busy as I saw some open tables. Our waiter really was the worst. He seemed inattentive and then borderline rude when we asked to order. We sat down and got our food 2 hours later. Then we sat around for another hour waiting for our dessert/coffees and finally the check. A total time of 3 hours for dinner and the restaurant itself was flashing lights to indicate it was closing. You would think that would mean they hurried to get us settled out. Nope, the employees were just talking to each other and starting to close down...and apparently forgot about us. Some of our party started to leave because it was way too long to wait. The food was overall fine. Some plates were good and some were lackluster. The decor was sophisticated and obviously going for an upscale vibe. The bill finally came after we asked multiple times and it totaled over $1,000 and it really was dissatisfying. I would recommend everyone take their business elsewhere. There are better spots to blow some cash.

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    Start Fresh Cafe - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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