Avenue Cafe — Restaurant in Capitola

April 2, 2023. Based on some new posts about the Avenue Cafe in Capitola by the Police station we decided to try late breakfast on the way home from Costco. When they changed hands about 2 1/2 years ago, we gave them 3 tries, and decided never to go back again. They were amazing, then they were awful. So the good news is that service is way better, main parts of meals is mostly better. I ordered smoked salmon and avo eggs Benedict. My wife ordered scrambled eggs and a sausage patty. I took one bite of the hash browns and immediately sent them back expecting to get something edible. Both my wife's and my hasbrowns were basically mush. Like fried mashed potatoes. I poked into my eggs and the yolks were entirely cooked. I summoned a server and she had the audacity to say they are supposed to be like that. Now that is OMG frustrating. Fortunately they came back immediately with properly cooked eggs and the entire dish was delicious. As far as the hash browns, they came back just as bad or worse than before. I talked to the guy who seemed to be in charge and showed him the potatoes, and he apologized and said they should never be like that ever. I was a bit surprised he didn't knock a penny off the bill, but whatever. Just surveying around the establishment, the plates with hashbrowns seemed to have basically uneaten hashbrowns. I don't like home fries, so I try not to go to places that don't do good hashbrowns...

We had A group of 5 who wanted to sit outside. That was nice. The issues are I Am a retired chef of 50 years in the Industry. I asked first was the chicken fried steak made from scratch including the gravy. Sever was honest and said it was a great frozen product. Then I asked if the hollandaise was from scratch: home made he said it was. Ordered the bene and hash browns. Sauce was from a mix and tepid, hash browns looked golden but cold. No garnish on plate. Other guest were lookwarm as well. I was supper hungry waiter didn’t come back and ask how it was, I would of sent it back. Waited and waited more. He showed up with the check. I said the H. Sauce was not home made, his response I don’t eat that and people seem to like it. The home fries were deep fried. Not developed on the fat top. It was totally disappointing. The patio did have a doggy water bowl, but not going back again, to many other places take more pride in...

Avenue Cafe, at 427 Capitola Ave. in the Capitola village, is a delightful, gleaming restaurant set in a 100-year-old house. It's located about two blocks from the Capitola Beach.

The owner keeps Avenue Cafe spotless, and the shiny yellow walls and charming paned windows give a cheery, inviting appearance. Credit cards are accepted; there is no outdoor seating.

Luci N. & I arrived before 9am on a Sunday morning, and before long the little cafe was nearly full. We enjoyed a small bowl of surprisingly appealing fruit, freshly cut, compliments of the owner.

We ordered the smoked salmon avocado & eggs benedict ($15), poached eggs on English muffin, with smoked salmon, avocado, Hollandaise sauce. Standard ingredients and assembly, perfectly executed.

I'd recommend the Avenue Cafe to anyone interested in a breakfast/brunch spot while in Capitola, and while you're at it, take a walk around and check out...