First Awakenings - (Near Monterey, CA)

5 /5 Amanda Reed: Saw this place on a YouTube review and had to try it based on the massive proportions and the good review. Hubby and I dined in for breakfast and it was fantastic. I ordered the biscuits and gravy, hubby had a daily special, habanero omelette: The bill was very reasonable as well. Can’t recommend this place enough.

4 /5 ThanhHa H.: Typically very busy on weekends but we walked in around 9am on a Friday and were able to obtain a table for 2 without any delay. Extensive breakfast menus! Very tasty and delicious omelettes served with crunchy buttery english muffins. Generous portions and expedient service.

5 /5 Terry Sung: When I travel, I make a point of seeking out the city’s most storied breakfast institutions. In Monterey, First Awakenings more than lived up to its reputation. Step through the door and you’re greeted by bright white walls and soaring ceilings—an airy, urban-clean space where chalkboard menus add just enough contrast to feel fresh rather than fussy. It’s the kind of room that puts you in a good mood before the coffee even arrives. I skipped the printed menu and went straight for a special posted at the entrance: the Crab Cake Benedict. As a Benedict devotee, I order some version of it almost everywhere I go, and this one impressed—crab-forward and well-seasoned, with cakes that held their shape yet stayed tender. It’s a rich plate, and those who are sensitive to oil might find it a touch indulgent, but never to a distracting degree. My daughter’s Chicken Apple Sausage Omelet was a standout in its own right. The gentle sweetness of the apple sausage, nicely browned, played beautifully against fresh vegetables for a bright, balanced bite. My wife and son opted for skillets, where the freshness of local produce really shone; the ingredients tasted clean and vivid, letting their natural flavors do the talking. By the end, it was easy to understand why First Awakenings remains one of the area’s most talked-about breakfast spots: a breezy, uplifting room; well-executed classics; and a few specials that feel genuinely worth the detour. A thoroughly enjoyable start to the day—and a worthy entry on any breakfast lovers itinerary

5 /5 STEVE: Place is awesome. I read one post that only gave 4 stars because they said there was not enough vegan options. Well if you want more vegan options go to a vegan restaurant. Us meat eaters don’t want that crap. Also you said the English muffin was buttered perfectly. What kind of vegan eats butter. Hypocrite. The wait was none, we were seated right away. The staff were excellent. The food was plentiful. I am going to go to a vegan restaurant and post that they don’t have enough real meat options. First Awakenings, your place and your food are awesome. And 40.00 for 2 people?? That is unheard of in Cali.

5 /5 Arturo López: Another of my favorite places for a full tasty breakfast in town. The staff is so sweet, the coffee is great and theres lots of parking space. The only thing that lacks is alcoholic drinks like mimosas, bellinis, etc.