"Delicious blueberry ricotta pancakes and very generous portions! My mom visited twenty years ago and they are still cooking yummy breakfast/brunch for a great price. Convenient location with their own parking lot."

"This place seemed to be the #1 recommended brunch place. Overall it’s really good. You just have to make sure to reserve, it get’s pretty busy. We got the steak benedict & crab cake benedict (even though it wasnt on the menu.) Everything was good, their coffee wasn’t bad either. We mentioned at the end that it was our little one’s bday, & they happily brought out some fruit with cream & a candle. It was a nice way to end our meal."

"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 lover's itinerary"

"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."

"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."