First Awakenings 300 David Avenue, Monterey, CA 93940

"We mapped out a breakfast place in Monterey and First Awakenings came up. 1 hour 18 minute drive into Monterey, and it didn't disappoint. Excellent service, and amazing food. They bring a whole pitcher if water with lemon and a carafe of coffee and leave it at your table. We ordered the chicken fried steak and the meat and egg plates. The eggs were definitely farm raised, you could taste how fresh they were, and the chicken fried steak was fried to perfection. The place was a bit busy for a Monday, but they have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor benches are heated so it wasn't too cold outside. The wait staff was extremely friendly and checked in us often. Definitely a go to spot, and if your out this way, or live near here, you owe it to yourself to try it once."

"We had a delightful experience here with great food and service! If you even remotely like mushrooms, I HIGHLY recommend the Cap, Etc dish. I don’t know what the marinade is (some aus jus/ butter concoction?) but it was amazing! My husband got the strawberry pancake which was very soft, light and fluffy. He also got the spicy sandwich which he seemed to love! We came on a Saturday and it looked like we might have a little bit of a wait but we were able to immediately get sat at the bar. The service was great and we would highly recommend!"

"We absolutely loved this place. The portions were huge and everything was delicious. The atmosphere in the patio made you want to stay there for hours with your friends and family, and the outdoor fireplaces make the patio really cozy. Few tips for your visit: the portions are huge, so it is not a bad idea to share. The orange juice is freshly pressed. The coffee although not so good, it is all you can drink, and they will leave the jar on the table. The salmon is cooked in the eggs Benedict, which we loved, but fyi in case you are looking for lox. I will definitely come back to First Awakenings next time I am in Monterey."

"The service is always very fast and the food is always delicious. Food and pace are important, but what really makes this place stand out is the staff and their customer service. The employees seem to all get along really well and work together as a team to efficiently serve the guests. Everyone is professional and very friendly. They have indoor and outdoor seating, but I normally just sit at the massive bartop. Make sure to ask for Paige, she's one of the best!"