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    Sunrise Cafe

    4.1 (288 reviews)
    Closed • 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Sunrise Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    SUNRISE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Sunrise Cafe

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    Broken yolk with corned beef & hash
    Brendon N.

    When I say I've been coming to Sunrise Cafe for a long time, I'm not over-exaggerating. I used to come here every Sunday with my grandma growing up--this was my spot! Not to date myself, but that's in the range of ~30 years ago. We had a usual booth, usual orders, and we saw the same waitstaff and cooks every week. This was a tradition I looked forward to all week long, since it was one of the only times I got to eat breakfast out at a restaurant regularly. While I live up in The Peninsula now, my parents are still down in Aptos. It was long overdue, but I had been telling my wife for years when we'd drive by the story of how I used to go there, and she'd always suggest that we go back one day. Well friends, that day finally came! On a recent trip to visit my folks and a childhood friend, we decided to take a family outing to Sunrise Cafe on Sunday morning for a good ol' nostalgic breakfast. PARKING: There is both street parking, and a dedicated lot in the back. Since the main entrance is located right on Soquel, I definitely recommend using the back for a more private and safe parking option. They also have an entrance in the back so you don't have to walk all the way around! SEATING: You check in towards the front end of the counter, where the register is. Since we came on a Sunday, it was full when we got there. There's a counter with eight (8) seats, as well as a half dozen or so booths on the left as you come in the front, and some other seating on the right. It did appear as if they shortened the tables, as they didn't reach out to the end of the booth seats. We ended up having to wait around 10 minutes, which wasn't too bad. DRINKS: They have a lot of the standards you'd expect to find at a cafe. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juice (apple, orange, grapefruit, cranberry), soda (Coke products), iced tea, and mimosas ($6.50!). A few of us ordered coffee--good, not epic. The OJ is from concentrate, otherwise I would have ordered a glass. FOOD: A nice 3-page menu of breakfast and lunch options. Many of the standards, with combos of eggs and breakfast meats (bacon, sausage, ham, Linguisa, chicken apple sausage). There's a list of scrambles, omelets, eggs Benedict, and "Solar Delights" which has corned beef & hash, country fried steak, and a tofu veggie dish. For lunch they have a variety of sandwiches (hot & cold), burgers, and salads. We went for breakfast, and between the four of us we ordered: Sunrise Special (2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon, home fries & toast or biscuit), French toast, corned beef & hash, and the Western Scramble (Corralitos jalapeño sausage, onion, topped with 2 scrambled eggs, chili beans & cheddar cheese). The food was all solid. The corned beef was chunky and seemed fresher than "from the can". The French toast looked tasty, and my dad said he liked it. My mom enjoyed her Sunrise Special, as a standard cafe breakfast. I ordered the Western Scramble and it was pretty wild; a huge mound of hearty deliciousness. It was enough food that I was able to take some of it, plus half a biscuit home and enjoy it for another breakfast a few days later. The potatoes were one of my favorite things growing up, so I do wish I had ordered a side, or something that allowed me to enjoy them on their own. OVERALL: This was a great nostalgia meal, and I'm super glad I came back. We found out that they changed ownership around four (4) years ago, so while it's not quite the exact same place, it's pretty darn close. I appreciate the friendly and hardworking staff, and will definitely come back on a future visit home! IG: @bbnem.eats

    Menu
    Meeta A.

    What an amazing place. Stopped during a road trip at this all day breakfast kind of place and did not regret. The service was great, the place had a very homely and cozy vibe. Ordered veggie omelette- lived upto its name - so many veggies, cheese, only got egg whites, came with hash browns and choice of toast, delicious and healthy! Friend got Sunny scramble - that was amazing too kind of spanish flavoured with hot sauce, avocado, sour cream, absolutely delicious. Dont think and just go!

    Front entrance.
    John C.

    A solid breakfast place just minutes from Santa Cruz and Capitola. I had the eggs and hash browns, and would happily go back next time I am in the area.

    Alex K.

    Such a cute spot for brunch! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the food was absolutely delicious, and the staff couldn't have been more lovely. Everything we ordered was flavorful and beautifully presented -- definitely a 10/10 experience. Highly recommend for a weekend brunch or a casual catch-up with friends!

    Waffles Combo w/o bacon (I'm pescatarian)
    Esperanza e.

    IT WAS DELICIOUS! Best Waffles in Santa Cruz county! So buttery and so delicious. The service was amazing I love the owners and the waitresses they were so kind and so attentive.

    Tofu Veggie
    Hannah W.

    If I was a local, I'd be a regular here at Sunrise Cafe. I enjoyed my meal and my family enjoyed theirs as well; even converted my little sister to eggs benedict! I ordered: - Tofu Veggie + Turkey: Oh my gosh, it was delicious. Tofu was amazing along with the turkey I asked to be added. Great amount of seasoning and cubed into a pleasant size. Potatoes were immaculate to taste and texture, and I'm picky about my potato texture. Soft yet crispy, yum! The hint of mushroom and tomato was appreciated. The restaurant is in a nice location with reasonable parking in the back, there's even benches outside near a walking area if you want to take your food to go and perhaps have a little picnic. Staff was welcoming and attentive. Thank you!

    The nice bar that was quite full

    What a wonderful diner! Great service, caring staff, great food. Surprise brunch with the family to celebrate a birthday and I was not disappointed. I had the special 'Polenta del Sol' - a unique twist on a classic Benedict - polenta and poached eggs on a bed of sautéed spinach and mushrooms. The spinach and mushrooms tasted just right and the polenta and eggs were delish. Really worth it - 8.5/10. The French toast was very nice - not a strong 'eggy' smell or taste with some butter and syrup 8.5/10. The veggie omelette was large; could do with a little more flavor in the veggies and the potatoes on side but still a 7/10. The staff was particularly attentive in refilling the coffee, including the one decaf in our group. Orange mimosa was refreshing - would have loved it in a glass flute and not the plastic one. Will def go back again with others too. Bonus - street parking is a breeze.

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    1 year ago

    Solid sandwich. Soft bun good flavor. Get napkins it's gooey but was good! I got the chicken w buffalo sauce.

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Very good food. Great service. Went there 3 days in a row. Will definitly go back. Had Country fried steak twice. Yummy

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    1 year ago

    Fabulous omelette, sausage and warm service. Good coffee! First time but not our last!

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    1 year ago

    Family-owned, really great attentive staff, wonderful breakfasts, parking in back. Highly recommend.

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    The Midway - Root Down Farm Duck Breast with Rainbow Chard and. Beets

    The Midway

    4.6(60 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Came by for dinner the other night and it was an excellent world-class experience. Made a…read morereservation and my table was ready upon arrival. Parking was available on nearby surface streets and was pretty easy to find. Service throughout the evening was pleasant although I did get the vibes that I had to hurry on out towards the end of my meal and I was only there for an hour...interesting. Loved the dining room featuring an open kitchen along with a few seats facing the street. The dining room was slightly uncomfortable, as it was quite stuffy and warm, despite the door being wide open. Perhaps, A/C isn't a thing in Santa Cruz? Started off with the avocado and cucumbers and it was excellent. Super light and refreshing with contrasting textures which made this dish an A+. Moved on to the local king salmon, requested medium and it came out medium well+... The crispy skin was the highlight of this. Loved the texture of king salmon along with the accoutrements including the jimmy nardelo and squash. Finished off the meal with the panna cotta which was surprisingly on the bland side. The orange was very fresh and the pistachios were tasty though. ~$90/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

    We (me, husband and baby) came here on a Saturday evening during a long weekend and the place was…read morepretty busy (highly recommend booking ahead!). The restaurant is very cozy. It's got a modern vibe and the service is very friendly. The food was excellent!! We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. The sourdough bread is superb, probably one of the best we've ever had. The lettuce salad was super fresh. The halibut was cooked perfect with a delish broth. The pork belly was delicious but probably too rich, even for a pork belly (we shared the mains so having half the pork belly dish was just right for me). Drinks are interesting - I had a house-made apple cider something shrub and it was tangy with the right amount of sweetness to take the edge off. Loved this place! The logo of the place I must said doesn't scream out to me but when you look inside the interior of the restaurant, it's gorgeous, relaxed and modern.

    Photos
    The Midway - Dinner area

    Dinner area

    The Midway - Blue House Beans (with guajillo, winter squash and brussels)

    Blue House Beans (with guajillo, winter squash and brussels)

    The Midway - Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookie

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    Harbor Cafe - Spicy Machaca

    Harbor Cafe

    4.4(1.7k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    •$$

    There was a short line when we arrived, but they do a great job of keeping things moving and…read moregetting people seated quickly, which we really appreciated. The food here is always fun, fresh, and consistently good. We shared the carnitas omelette with sourdough toast, and it was excellent--lots of flavor and a perfect start to the morning. We also had a couple of Irish coffees, and the homemade whipped cream definitely put them over the top. Another huge plus is the dog-friendly patio. Our little guy Milo was very happy to join us for breakfast--and maybe even happier when some bacon came his way. Great food, friendly vibe, efficient service, and a patio where we can bring the pup. We'll definitely keep coming back!

    Yelp Elite Review: Where the Coffee Is Bold & the Stories Are Even Better…read more Some restaurants serve breakfast. This place serves breakfast with a side of Santa Cruz history. This spot has been around for years, and when my boys were younger, we would come here after a day at the beach. It has gone through a few owners over the years, but the improvements they've made are awesome. The place still has that classic beach-town chill--lots of laughter, good food, and people enjoying life. Parking? Let's just say Santa Cruz and parking have never exactly been best friends. But once you get inside, you have the choice of indoor or outdoor seating, and it's worth the effort. One of my favorite things about this place is the history. For years, a group of local fishermen have been coming here. Two of them are still regulars, sitting around telling fish stories. And if you know fishermen, you know those stories have probably gotten a little bigger every year. My wife and I split the all-meat omelette, and it was delicious. They also do a fantastic job with the hash browns--crispy, hearty, and exactly what you want with breakfast. The coffee deserves its own paragraph. Bold, flavorful, and strong enough to make you believe you can conquer the day. Our server was wonderful. She has worked here since graduating from high school, and you could tell she genuinely cared about taking care of people. Friendly, positive, helpful, and the kind of service that makes you want to come back. There's a wonderful selection of food, but honestly, part of the experience is simply being there. You can almost feel the decades of stories in the walls--families, fishermen, beach days, laughter, and countless cups of coffee. This isn't just a place to grab breakfast. It's a place where Santa Cruz history is still being served--one omelette, one cup of coffee, and one slightly exaggerated fish story at a time. Yelp Elite approved! #YelpElite #SantaCruzEats #SantaCruz #BreakfastInSantaCruz #BeachTownVibes #SantaCruzFoodie #Breakfast #Omelette #HashBrowns #Coffee #LocalFavorites #CaliforniaEats #FoodAndMemories

    Photos
    Harbor Cafe - The open kitchen area

    The open kitchen area

    Harbor Cafe - Carnitas omelet

    Carnitas omelet

    Harbor Cafe - The outdoor seating

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    The outdoor seating

    Linda's Seabreeze Cafe - Huevos Rancheros

    Linda's Seabreeze Cafe

    4.5(1.6k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    •$$

    Came across this cute little breakfast spot while we were in Santa Cruz. And we weren't…read moredisappointed. Was a bit busy so we had to wait to be seated but as soon as we were, the staff was on it. The corned beef hash was amazing! I finished the entire plate. The cinnamon roll was warm and delightful. Had some nuts inside which made it even better. I did try some of my friends waffle and it was so good and the perfect amount. Definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a cute low key brunch/breakfast spot.

    Tried this place out for the first time since it had so many good reviews but in all honesty, I…read moredon't get the hype. We got there about 10 am and had a bit of a wait with people continuously arriving so it's clearly popular. You write your name down and request inside or out or first available. It was a bit chilly so we opted for inside. We were seated after about 20 minutes. It's pretty small inside so the addition of the picnic tables outside is a plus. We all ordered different items, sausage and eggs, bacon and eggs and blueberry pancakes. The egg breakfasts came with a side of either toast, a pumpkin muffin or a cinnamon roll. We ordered a muffin and a roll. The food arrived fairly quickly which was good because after a 2 hour drive we were ready to grub. The egg breakfasts were pretty average in taste and portion. The blueberry pancakes however were good a good size and came with 3. I did think the pumpkin muffin was fire and my bf said the cinnamon roll was excellent so maybe it's their baked goods that are part of what makes this place so popular? I didn't think the amount of food we got was that much of a value as it was a $60 breakfast. Other downsides for me was the parking situation which is common in SC. We found a spot about 2 blocks away. Also, the bathroom is outside and in dire need of a makeover. Lastly, they don't take cards. It's cash or check only. WTH? I haven't seen a restaurant take checks since I was a kid so that's been a minute, lol. Overall I can't really see myself returning other than to get the pumpkin muffin or cinnamon roll. Maybe I just need to try something different.

    Photos
    Linda's Seabreeze Cafe - Merch

    Merch

    Linda's Seabreeze Cafe - Homemade biscuits and country gravy

    Homemade biscuits and country gravy

    Linda's Seabreeze Cafe - Cinnamon roll

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    Cinnamon roll

    The Point Kitchen and Bar - Lava Cake

    The Point Kitchen and Bar

    4.1(91 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    •$$

    Came here for dinner last Friday before catching a movie. We arrived before 6pm when it wasn't busy…read moreyet; there're more people when we left. I liked their causal vibe and Christmas decorations. They even had an upside down Christmas tree! I had pork chop, which came with smashed potato and spinach. Unfortunately, the sauce was so salty making the spinach inedible. The pork chop was not bad after removing the sauce and so was the smashed potato as it wasn't all covered in sauce. Our server, Simone, was very nice and offered to get me another side order of spinach, which saved the day! My husband enjoyed his baked salmon entree, which was recommended by Simone. We skipped appetizers so that we could have room for dessert and the lava cake didn't disappoint. Overall, not a bad dinner experience.

    We had a nice dinner here. Our server Simone was very friendly and gave us good recommendations…read morefor food. I had the baked horseradish salmon, which was cooked very well (not overcooked at all), served very hot, and the spinach was cooked very well also, not limp and soggy like cooked spinach often is. The seasoning on the salmon was nice, with the horseradish seasoning apparent but not overpowering. The sauce was rich, but the right amount was on there to add taste but not make the dish too heavy. My wife's pork was good overall, but she found the spinach too salty for her taste, but Simone was great about offering a replacement plate of spinach which wasn't too salty and also offered other sides as well (but we just took the spinach). The lava cake came quickly, had plenty of ice cream with it, and wasn't overly sweet. The place is fairly casual, being in Santa Cruz/Capitola, and on one hand, the food was above what you'd expect at a fairly casual restaurant. But the prices were close to what you'd find at a nicer-than-casual restaurant (~$30 entrees, $40-45 for steaks), so the rating is measured against expectations for the price point rather than the ambiance. So it was good and we enjoyed it, but at the price point there are a lot of choices where you can get quite good food, so the star rating reflects that.

    Photos
    The Point Kitchen and Bar
    The Point Kitchen and Bar - Chocolate cake

    Chocolate cake

    The Point Kitchen and Bar - Steak

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    Steak

    Johnny's Harborside - The broth alone is a flavor bomb, with fresh halibut, stone clams, mussels, rock shrimp, and plenty of Dungeness crab, and garlic bread.

    Johnny's Harborside

    3.6(1.5k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Wheelchair accessible

    Food is really good! Very friendly service and the view of the harbor is amazing. I will be backread more

    I will give this great place a 5 star rating is because the food is amazing! I stopped in to get…read moresome great food. I asked for a burger (they are amazing) and a side of fries. I asked to get a small portion of fries and salad like I usually do (they would split the portion so it's smaller for each) and the chef/manager denied it. I spoke to him mentioning how this has not been an issue over the past year I have been coming here. The guy asked me to sit down at a table with him to explain portion sizes and the guy had slurred speech and an extremely strong smear of liquor radiating from him. I asked if he is on the clock and he said I will be in a few minutes. Doesn't seem like a good idea to be wasted at work. This guy has created some very good tasting foods (hence why I like to return) and the prices are reasonable. The owner is a super sweet gal and you can tell she's pouring her heart and soul into this spot. It has a perfect view of the harbor while you enjoy some good eats. Even though this guy was wasted today, it won't detour me from returning for the 5 star food flavors! He later came to my table as I am indulging in a burger that explodes with flavor and apologized for being brash. I shook his hand and told him there are no hard feelings. I complimented him on his menu, flavors of the foods, and told him we will still be coming in. Do come check this place out as you'll will leave impressed by the food if you know what good food tastes like.

    Photos
    Johnny's Harborside - Bonito crudo taco, blue corn tortilla made with smoked marrow fat, marinated mango, salsa, diablo verde, oranges

    Bonito crudo taco, blue corn tortilla made with smoked marrow fat, marinated mango, salsa, diablo verde, oranges

    Johnny's Harborside - Fresh Oysters

    Fresh Oysters

    Johnny's Harborside - Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish!

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    Filet Mignon Bone Marrow Taco!!! Delish!

    Sunrise Cafe - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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