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Country Gourmet of Mountain View
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Event Planning & Services Caterers American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch, Caterers [Edit]
2098 W El Camino RealMountain View, CA 94040
(650) 962-1700
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 7 am - 8 pm
Sat 8 am - 8 pm
Sun 8 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
204 reviews for Country Gourmet of Mountain View
Review Highlights
"The corned beef hash breakfast was yummy too."
(in 27 reviews)
"they make it with dutch crunch bread."
(in 8 reviews)
"The eggs benedict is also GIANT and very good."
(in 16 reviews)
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204 reviews in English
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Review from Joyce H.
The banana french toast was probably one of the best french toasts I have ever had in my life. I love that their toast slices are incredibly thick with the perfect amount of chewiness, and the crust was crunchy because the bread they use is Dutch Crunch. The maple syrup and melted almond butter mix into a sugary layer over the toast and the caramelized bananas provide the finishing touch. Delicious and would have gotten a 5 on its own.
We also tried the California eggs benedict, but I would have rated that a 2 or 3. We ate it cold, which probably contributed to its low rating, but the benedict was also very plain and a bit heavy on the hollandaise sauce. I would probably not order that again and instead try one of the omelets or corned beef hash or pumpkin pancakes.
Service is veeeeery slow, as the place is self-serve water and self-seating after you order and pay at the register. -
Review from Mike R.
San Jose, CA
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
It seems like this place is good for dinner, but not so much for lunch or breakfast.
We came in around 1pm and I was hoping to get some breakfast-like food. Turns out we were past breakfast time - no problem, I'll just get a burger...
Nope, cant get a burger for some reason. The menu is quite misleading. Not a lot of options and it's hard to figure what is available at 1pm.
I would give it another chance, but the gf said no more! Seems like more of a old person type of joint, anyway.
Food was fine - nothing to write home about. I have a feeling that dinner would yield a higher rating.
Staff was average. -
Review from Harry S.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Zero stars. Please add a "zero star" option, Yelp.
I guess the one star can be reserved for "not expensive" or "friendly staff".
The food is just pathetic. I ordered a traditional breakfast of bland, scrambled eggs, two dried out strips of bacon, and one disgusting-looking whole wheat pancake - topped with a pound of butter. We ordered a side of potatoes because the rest of the menu items almost made me leave the restaurant before ordering. They too were highly over-seasoned and disappointment.
I ate the eggs and went to get food elsewhere. Sorry, I tried. -
Review from Al C.
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cool place. Big tasty breakfast portions. The pancakes were VERY dense...I only ate half. On a "bring-it" day I would have eaten all three hot cakes...but, they were thick. Good food, self-seat and serve. I'd go back.
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Review from Christina C.
Orange County, CA
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
The family and I stopped here for breakfast. I went with the Corn beef hash. Great choice! Except next time I will minus the Hollandaise Sauce. I like hollandaise sauce but I don't like the calories. Big Brother had the p-cakes with the grilled banana. Mmm grilled banana! Sis n law had the same as me..... and yes we lived happily ever after.
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Review from Matthew B.
Glen Cove, NY
1/18/2012
I had one of the worse experiences of my life here. I got the crab quiche, and about 2 hours later, I started experiencing the symptoms of food poisoning. I will spare you the gruesome details, but I had to go to the emergency room because I was so sick. At the ER I was administered 2 IVs to replenish my fluids, and morphine for the abdominal pain. Obviously everybody that eats here doesn't get food poisoning, but I would be very weary of their preparation and cleanliness. I obviously won't ever eat there again.
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Review from Katharine A.
San Jose, CA
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food was pretty bland, but I wanted to try this place since I've driven by it forever and always wondered. Got the spinach omelet which I liked ok. The eggs were fluffy and the cheese inside was good. Got a side of sausage which was sweet and pretty disgusting. Friend got oj which was more like Sunny D than actual juice. Does not make my list for a repeat visit.
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Review from Kaylin G.
Mountain View, CA
12/22/2011
Came here for dinner with my boyfriend and found that the service, as others have noted, is a order-first-choose-your-seat deal. That's not so bad; there are times when I enjoy that, and the service was attentive and prompt.
The food, however, is thoroughly mediocre. There is nothing whatsoever special about their menu offerings, and the unimpressive fare is equally unimpressive in its preparation. The asian chicken salad was tasty, but expensive for something so run-of-the-mill. My boyfriend's crab quiche was palatable enough. Unfortunately, once we got home, he said, "I'm not feeling so great..." His crab quiche was off, apparently, and made him sick to his stomach.
Between the food poisoning and the completely humdrum food, it's safe to say that we won't be returning. -
Review from alan r.
Cupertino, CA
11/8/2011
malia and staff did a rock star job of cateering for our office. The food was on time and fresh and i enjoyed it for our office meetinhg.
Thank you CG and Malia in cateering -
Review from Jennifer L.
Belmont, CA
When a restaurant starts invading my dreams and inspires a home cook like me to elevate my cooking, perhaps it's time to write a review. It's not about the ambiance or service, since you order at the counter and the décor is fairly modest. It's about the varied menu that accommodates so many preferences (holla to my veggie friends!), the quality of the ingredients (many seasonal, local, and some organic), and the taste of the food.
I can't remember everything I've tried here, but some of the more recent dishes include:
* Banana French Toast: Bread dipped in cinnamon egg batter, topped with grilled banana, sliced almonds, caramel sauce and marscapone rum butter. - They outdid my French toast, plain and simple. I am humbled, and have started experimenting with my own French toast recipe at home. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
* Grilled Veggie Burger with tomato, lettuce and Muenster cheese on a sesame bun with polenta - This house made burger is quite satisfying and the side of polenta is perfectly seasoned and screamingly delicious. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
* Angel hair pasta with tomatoes, olive oil, and grilled salmon - Tangy, light dish.
* Spinach Quiche with Fjordland Swiss and organic half and half - Fantastic, rich, and so fresh.
* Crab Quiche with Fjordland Swiss, crab, green onions, white wine - Huge chunks of Canadian Rock Crab. Crazy good. I've not had better quiche anywhere.
* Cinnamon Orange Spice Iced Tea - Naturally sweet and reminiscent of Good Earth tea. I adore it.
I love the salads too, but it's been a while, so I won't try to describe them.
My family and I used to frequent Good Earth Restaurants, which we all miss greatly. Country Gourmet seems like the closest thing, though geographically, not near enough to where I live. This independent business has been owned by the same family for 30 years. You can take your kids, parents, and just about anyone for vegetarian cuisine, Niman Ranch specialty meats, and everything in between. -
Review from Irene L.
12/1/2011
Had the pesto lasagna and raspberry lemonade, both were pretty good and the prices are okay. Service was friendly and food came out quick. Very casual restaurant, you order in the front (& pay immediately), sit down, & they bring you food later. The bathrooms are located outside the restaurant. Would come back to try the breakfast food.
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Review from PiPi C.
Mountain View, CA
10/30/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I'm certainly a regular to country gourmet. They struck a great balance between quality of ingredients, taste, portion and price. Well maybe not perfect on the price, I wouldn't mind $1 cheaper on most menu items. I pretty much always get the country combo with an extra pancake, and my wife gets a half order eggs Benedict and coffee (she made sure to have me mention the hazelnut coffee is really good) total $25.04. I toss down $3 at the end so $28.04 isn't exactly a cheap breakfast but the meal takes us through to dinner for the most part.
It's tasty though! They have a bunch of other goodness on the menu to cover your tastes. But generally are on a sweeter side.
The one thing that keep from getting a 5 star rating is they tend to be a little slow, and when busy you can sit 20-30 minutes before getting to eat.
Oh I should mention I've only eaten breakfast here so this review and rating only applies to breakfast. -
Review from Trent T.
Mountain View, CA
10/30/2011
Not having found a decent breakfast/bruch venue in the area my wife and I had high hopes for this place. I ordered 2 eggs over easy and polenta, she had the eggs benedict.
The place was cafeteria style order at the front and find you own seat. Atmosphere was loud as it was packed with family's. Wife's latte was milky, my OJ was fine. Our food came and I felt really lucky as its hard to fail with eggs! Polenta was ok.
Tried the wife's potatoes and ew - way too much salt and the wrong mix of herbs as the aftertaste was following us later like a zealous zombie. Her avocado was cold like it has just been removed from a refrigerator and the benedict sauce tasted of the can it was unceremoniously evacuated from.
Regrettably the reviews here on yelp are actually pretty good - its's perplexing why people write so fondly of this place.Comment from Malia P. of Country Gourmet of Mountain View 11/22/2011
Trent thanks for the feedback - sounds like we were having… More » -
Review from Jeremy T.
Mountain View, CA
12/11/2011
3.5 stars.
i've only been here for dinner...and with my mom everytime because she comes here by herself if shes looking for above average and yummy amercian style comfort food in a well-lit and comfortable environment. theres a no nonsense approach to this place. you order, pay, choose a table, and they bring your food to you. you can grab bread and butter/olive oil/balsamic and your own water provided with sliced lemons on the side.
i'm quite fond of this place. i once ordered a glass of merlot (looking for a buzz) and the cashier pretty much filled it to the brim. no skimping here. another night, the owner (i assume) sincerely attended to each tables' needs and helped buss any unsightly tables around the restaurant. that shows me pride and attention to detail. if you're in the area (very convenient corner location), tired, hungry, and not in the mood to cook, do dishes, or have an attending waiter, stop by here for a pleasant and casual dining experience. -
Review from Yun C.
8/8/2011
It's not the IHOP or Hobees or Denny's type of a diner it's better with fresher ingredients :) and NOT AS OILY
Price wise.. it's higher than Denny's and Ihop.. I will say comparable to Hobees.
BTW.. both times we went was for brunch.. so I can't comment on their lunch/dinner food.
The spinach egg benedict was yummy and light...love love love the biscuits.. it was so buttery good!! I'm not usually a fan of biscuits..,but this one is crisp on the outside, soft in the inside and you can taste the buttery love in every bite.. yumm!! The bf thought the egg benedict needed more kick and stronger flavor though.. :)
My banana french toast combo came with a cup of fruit salad and two eggs :). The french toast was delicious EXCEPT.. they put way too much almond extract on the almond butter that the butter had a bitter aftertaste.. yuck!
We also ordered a side of their homemade sausage.. waaaayy too much cumin seeds.. it tasted weird and at $3.95 for two small patties.. kinda steep!!
BTW, for first timer... you go to the counter to order your food, they give you a number and you go find a seat (cafeteria style). They will bring the food and utensils to you..you go get your drink from the fountains.
It's pretty busy and they have a small outdoor eating area too. A neighborhood brunch favorite :) -
Review from Heather F.
San Jose, CA
10/30/2011
Had breakfast here today around 11am. Place was not too crowded however waited 45 minutes to get our food. It was me n my fiancé dining. I wasn't impressed with the food or the selection. My fiancé had the spinach omelet and there was way to much sour cream inside. The potatoes were ok nothing special. I would go back to try there lunch but probably won't go again for breakfast.
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Review from Jim D.
Santa Clara, CA
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nearly every table unbussed @ 9am? Eww.
Lg OJ & Denver Omelet, $15,
Excellent OJ, the omelet was OK. -
Review from Lisa N.
San Francisco, CA
6/20/2011
I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Country Gourmet is a simple, casual dining place similar to Panera Bread or Corner Bakery--except they have much more of an extensive breakfast/brunch menu with everything from omelettes and crab quiches to Belgian Waffles and eggs benedict. The food is very tasty. We ordered the crab quiche and banana french toast, which were both awesome. I'd definitely come back here for my breakfast fix!
They are not open on Mondays. -
Review from Debbie D.
Redwood City, CA
8/14/2011
A friend invited me here for breakfast today, and I am glad that she did. I probably wouldn't have found my way here otherwise.
The Country Gourmet is a nice little place with a full breakfast and lunch menu at very reasonable (mostly under $10) prices.
I had the banana french toast, but I asked them to substitute the dutch crunch bread with whole wheat sliced bread. It was absolutely DIVINE. The whole plate was crammed with 8 large bread slice halves, a halved (lengthwise) fried banana, whipped butter, real maple syrup, and slivered almonds. I could only finish about half of it and took the rest home. They didn't overdo the maple syrup, but I was expecting it to be on the side, so next time I will ask them to do so. I like to be aware of and control how much I use.
When you get to the restaurant, you look over the menu, order, and you are then given a number to place on your table. Beverages are self-serve.
There are two sections - the dining room and the outside porch (which is completely enclosed but has tons of windows). The atmosphere is cozy. Tables are pretty much right on top of each other, and it can get pretty loud with lots of lively conversation, but these things all come together and work at Country Gourmet.
I look forward to visiting again. -
Review from Jennifer W.
Mountain View, CA
4/2/2011
This is a great spot for brunch. The decor is very country-homey and they serve a variety of different hearty foods. The portions are big and the prices are good for what you get. We've been here twice and had no troubles finding parking or seating, although both would have been problematic if there had been a few more patrons.
The way things work here is you go up to the counter, order food, get a number, then find a table and put the number somewhere visible. For drinks, they give you a glass and you help yourself. Service is not terribly friendly but it is efficient.
I forget what we had last time, but this time my husband got the Banana French Toast and I ordered the Smoked Chicken Omelette. Be warned that when they say a dish comes with your choice of two sides, it's not the list of sides on the menu. I was super disappointed that I couldn't get bacon. However, the potatoes and the buttermilk biscuit were FANTASTIC.
The portions are big - I only ate half of mine and hubs was barely able to eat 4/5 of his. We were full in a good way - not in that "ugh too much grease and fat" way that's so gross. The leftovers will make a good lunch for tomorrow. :)
I'll definitely go back again. Definitely recommended as one of the few brunch-y places we've found around here.Listed in: SF Bay Area Restaurants
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Review from Eric A.
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had their Turkey Sandwich (posted on their wall) and I thought it was good, it had cucumbers, cranberries, avocado.
I also tried their smoked chicken omelet, but the chicken was a tad dry, but definitely smokey.
it's a good brunch/lunch spot. They also give you a nice portion of food. -
Review from Kathleen M.
San Jose, CA
3/5/2011
I've been intrigued by this place for awhile, mostly because their signs use the same font found in the board game Clue from the 70s. (I'm kind of obsessed with 70s Clue.)
Mystery and intrigue will pretty much be the farthest things from your mind when you enter family friendly and oldster friendly Country Gourmet.
My husband and I split the gut busting banana French toast served with halved bananas covered in chopped almonds, caramel sauce, and macadamia bourbon butter. It was yummy and definitely big enough to split. We also got an order of red potatoes and onions ($3.10), which ended up being overkill since the French toast was plenty of food. Still, I was glad we had it just to have a break from the sweetness onslaught. I shared the the side dish with my 14 month olds who really liked them. It was their first time having potatoes or onions that weren't from a jar.
We sat in the closed-in back porch with a group of 7 (not counting our twins), so this was a good place to go on a weekend for breakfast, as compared to our hour long wait with a group at IHOP two years ago. There was also a kid-sized table and a cabinet full of wooden puzzles for kids. In a year I can let my kids go to town on those while I relax into my diabetic coma, er... banana French toast. -
Review from Jon V.
Mountain View, CA
10/16/2011
Wonderful breakfast, large menu and I highly recommend the Banana French Toast!
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Review from Owen M.
Pacifica, CA
3/2/2011
*************** 3.5 STARS ***************
I think CG does itself a disservice by including the word "Gourmet" in its name. I know that word is supposed to conjure up all sorts of favorable images in diners' minds, but often times the reverse is true. I, for instance, am sick to death of "gourmet" this and "gourmet" that. What does "gourmet" even mean anymore? It's become so overused that it's just a throwaway now. I almost vetoed going to this place the first time just on general principles b/c of its name, but I'm glad I didn't. Also, I'd bet that some folks walking into CG are thinking that they are going to get some absophuckinlutely-fantastic-worth-the-drive-from-t he-east-bay-lunch, and then they see the pseudo-cafeteria style ordering system and wonder what the hell is going on.
So, how about calling it "Country Kitchen" or something? No? Oh well.
GENERAL POSITIVES: They consistently (over the course of a half dozen or so breakfast/lunch visits, anyway) use quality ingredients to make ample-sized portions of good food and, unless you're walking in during the peak of the lunch rush, they serve pretty quickly. IMHO, to the folks who liken CG to "Denny's" or other sit-down fast food chains, I just don't see that as a valid comparison; CG is better in every demonstrable way.
GENERAL NEGATIVES: My biggest negative is that stuff is very often under seasoned here. I had an omelet the other day and if those three eggs had more than 2 stray grains of salt in them I'll eat my shorts. (OK, I'll even eat YOUR shorts). From what I can tell, the crowd is varied but can include a good proportion of "mature" folks who might not want all that salt; guess I'm not so mature! It's hard to make up for the seasoning deficit after the food is cooked, that's all.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The issue of value is gonna vary from person to person, I suppose. Some folks just cannot fathom spending $11-12 on a salad or $8-10 on a sandwich for lunch or $8 on an omelet for breakfast or whatever. That's perfectly reasonable, but if that's the case then go someplace else rather than slag CG for high prices when the portions are generous & the food is pretty good.
Some notes on the food:
The SMOKED CHICKEN OMELET with homestyle red potatoes and sourdough toast was OK, but I wouldn't get it again. It certainly was big - three eggs (technically 3 whites + 1 yolk = dietary police) with loads of cheese, jalapenos, onions and smoked chicken alongside a half-plate of home fries. The eggs were perfectly cooked to a beautiful pale yellow exterior and still-fluffy interior. Even with the jalapenos, though, the interior garnish was a little dull. The potatoes didn't really get much color on them and so they weren't standouts either. I enjoyed the smoked chicken, which you could taste even in a mouthful that contained excessive cheese.
The COBB CLUB SANDWICH tastes pretty much like you'd expect it to, which is a good thing if you are me. Your sourdough bread comes stuffed with well-grilled chicken, lots of bacon, arugula, avocado, tomatoes, loads of blue cheese and a slathering of caraway-mustard mayo. It's a nice sandwich and very filling. I've wanted to get it more than once, but often just say no so that I can try something else. Luckily, my wife loves this one and can rarely finish the last quarter so I get it as dessert! Don't have to worry much about too little salt on this baby b/c of the blue cheese and bacon.
The BBQ CHICKEN SALAD comes with a heap of mixed greens, chicken breast brushed with BBQ sauce (i.e., it ain't really BBQ'ed), cheddar cheese, artichoke hearts, red onions, Kalamata olives and tomatoes tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. In another moment of feeling greens-deficient, I had the SPINACH SALAD topped with grilled chicken, goat cheese, fuji apples, pine nuts, red onions, dates and Champagne vinaigrette. Both salads were HUGE and both came with a nice, crusty sourdough roll. I'm not kidding when I say that each one had a good eight ounces of grilled chicken and more greens than I really wanted. The garnishes were all fine.
Once, essentially for the hell of it and b/c I just didn't want a salad or a sandwich, I tried the PESTO VEGETABLE LASAGNA assembled with sauteed shrooms, spinach, chard and eggplant with ricotta, mozzarella and fontina, and topped with marinara & pesto. It came with a small salad, too. Again, the portion was way more than I could comfortably eat (so, well, I left a little uncomfortable, that's all). Other than lacking enough seasoning, all of the components were fine ... not great, but fine. The end result wasn't something I'd want to get again, though. Personal preference, but it was just too dense and kind of sodden for my tastes. I thought that with all of those veggies it would be a little more, I don't know, deft, I guess. Maybe all that cheese just weighed it down too much.
So, when I'm nearby at lunch time and not hunting ramen, Thai, Vietnamese, sushi, etc., I'll be back. -
Review from Dave B.
San Francisco, CA
10/16/2011
A moderate place with large breakfast and lunch menu. Super busy at weekend brunchtimes.
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Review from Bucky M.
Santa Clara, CA
10/6/2011
perfect name for this restaurant. Whatever images are evoked from the name "Country Gourmet" is what this restaurant is.
Prices a bit on the higher side, but portions are also above average. Ingredient quality above average. Similar to Erik's Deli but larger portions and slightly higher prices. -
Review from Cassie T.
Mountain View, CA
5/29/2011
The flavors were all there, but my eggs benedict was cold. I live literally 3 minutes away. They said it would be ready in 15 minutes. I got there in 10 and it was already waiting on the counter. Stopped at 7-11 and was home in 8 minutes. I think it was all ready 5 minutes after I called and should have been eaten right then. Eggs benedict has to be eaten hot! My bad.
The service is nice and the place looks very homey and welcoming. The home fries are de-lish and my hubs said his San Jose omelet was "okay".
We'll go back on our next hangover since the place is so close and we live too far from the Bashful Bull in San Francisco now. Haven't had a favorite breakfast joint since then, so looking forward to trying it again. -
Review from Cath M.
Updated - 3/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Fighting jet lag and not knowing what to eat... I told the S.O. that I wanted to try this place again. His reaction: really?
We came here around 1:30ish...the parking lot was filled but managed to snag a spot (after a minor scene with another patron that couldn't understand or had no notion of signaling and waiting for a parking... that patron did the hand signal... what a douche!? Talk about ruining our ALOHA feeling!?)
Anyway, we went up front and guess who was infront of us... the douche and his family. S.O and I just laughed...
S.O. ordered his fave: a full order of Eggs Benedict (A buttermilk biscuit topped with ham, poached eggs and our housemade hollandaise sauce.)
Since I was being spontaneous...I decided to order a full order of Spinach Benedict (A buttermilk biscuit topped with fresh baby spinach, poached eggs, tomatoes and our housemade hollandaise sauce.)
We sat...and waited.... and waited... after 30 mins had passed and we saw other patrons that came in after us got their food... I forced the S.O. to check on our meal. He came back and was told that it was coming.
Moments later, I think she was the manager.... came with our food and with a sincere apology for being late... that she was comping our meal.
My spinach benedict was delicious. The hollandaise sauce was just right and the biscuit was buttery and flakey.
Wow. S.O. and I were both shocked. Not only was she sincerely apologetic ... she was comped our meal! Granted we were annoyed and terribly hungry, but her sincerity was really genuine and it made our day.
She also brought our bread pudding (comped!) and again, she apologized and was sincere!
The bread pudding was tasty and the portion was huge! I'm a fan and next time I'll make sure to bring my appetite.
To the management: Please give credit to Jaime (I hope I spelled her name right?) She made our day and made me a fan of this place! She delivered her apology sincerely and genuinely and that made all the difference to us. Yes, you can give an apology but if its not sincere, then what's the point - right? Jamie, thank you for not ruining our aloha Sunday!
Hopefully the next time out... we wouldn't encounter this issue and that I'll finish the meal!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/15/2010
**3.5 STARS**
Came here this past Saturday morning... I'll try to be nice since this is a friend's… Read more »
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Review from Dan B.
10/31/2010 2 Check-ins Here
OK, I'm stumped. Why are old folks the norm here? Is there Metamucil in the food? Is the floor especially designed as a non-slip surface for walkers and canes? Is there a retirement home next door? I don't get it. I'm not an age-ist, but I really just want to know why over half the women here have blue hair.
Maybe it's the above average food for very reasonable prices. Maybe it's the varying menu on the chalkboard; Or perhaps the large portions? But then Country Gourmet isn't the only place around with these traits. So I remain stumped.
Since the other CG in Sunnyvale has good burgers, I had to try it here on my first visit:
-- Country Gourmet Burger: ($8.50). Slightly thin but quality patty on a fresh bun with a huge set of toppings. Very good for the price. I appreciate the polenta option as a side. (much more preferable to fries IMHO; It was tres tasty). 4 stars.
On my next visit I wanted to choose something from the chalkboard menu, which appears to change weekly. They didn't offer the curry dish I spied on my previous visit, but they did have some tacos that caught my eye. Since I was hungry, I also ordered a cup of Tuscan tomato soup on the side
-- BBQ Pork tacos: ($8) Not exactly authentic, but enormous and delicious, with tender, flavorful meat. A great deal. 4 stars. The soup I ordered was very good too, but I didn't eat much since I was already stuffed
The setup here is a little odd - you walk in the door and are immediately confronted by the ordering counter. There's isn't much space to ponder the choices without feeling you're in the way. Once you make your order, you'll be given a number. Then you pour your own drinks and find a table.
There's also a unique sign on the door that says "Use of cellphones is prohibited." What in the hell??...Another stumper (I ignored it.)
Still, I had two very good lunches here, so I'm giving it a B+. And next time I'll wear some bifocals and a bow-tie to try and blend in a little better. -
Review from Shauvik R.
Atlanta, GA
This is probably the best diner I've been to in the bay area!
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Review from Nima G.
Cupertino, CA
2/23/2011
Love the fact that they make whole grain pancakes! And if you want your french toast to be made of wheat bread, they will make that too!!! Loooove their fresh orange juice as well. Great breakfast food!
Only thing is their back seating area gets a little cold because it is sort of open...but as long as you are inside, you should be ok. -
Review from Richard T.
San Jose, CA
1/31/2011 2 photos
After looking through the pictures on Yelp, I decided on the corned beef hash. I've actually never had it before so I didn't know what to expect. It came out looking gooey. Apprehensively, I took a bite of the potatoes. Ok, so far so good. Next I try the egg. Not as gooey as I thought. Hmmm, not bad.
I decided to mix the yolk with some potato and beef. That must have been the secret because it turned out to be the perfect mix of white carbs and cholesterol, my two favorite food groups. I mixed it all up and threw in about a quarter bottle of Tabasco and called it a decent morning. I didn't have much room for the biscuit which was fine because it was a little dry for me. It could have used a scoop of gravy. Strawberry jam did the job though.
It was a little on the pricey side, and the service seemed apathetic, but the food was good. -
Review from Grace C.
2/27/2011
FOOD
Portions are nice and large. I'm totally not a vegetarian, but my favorites are two vegetarian dishes:
- Pesto Vegetable Lasagna: so good! even my husband, who "hates" vegetarian dishes, likes it!
- West Coast Sandwich: hot veggie sandwich with almonds, veggie bits, onions, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes and melted muenster cheese on 7-grain bread -- it might sound kind of weird (veggie bits = vegetarian bacon bits) but it's tasty! it's both crunchy and melty.
- The breakfast/egg/scramble dishes are good, too - my husband always gets them.
SERVICE
Basic. You get and refill your own drinks. They bring the food and utensils. That's about it.
AMBIANCE
Very casual & a bit noisy when it's crowded. Nothing special. -
Review from Caitlin M.
Livermore, CA
2/24/2011
My old physical therapist and doctor are within about 5 miles of here in either direction, so I used to drive right by here at least twice a week. One day I was starving and decided to give this place a shot. Judging from the outside and the inside decor I wasn't expecting anything better than Denny's quite frankly but I was more than pleasantly surprised.
I got the Banana French Toast the first time I came in here and I have stuck with that ever since because it is phenomenal. I would jump through some major hoops for the dish just cause' it is so damn good. I have come here with other people and they've gotten a variety of things and always leave very full and satisfied.
The prices are decent but the overall cleanliness could be improved. If this place was as spotless as I'd like it to be they would have gotten 5 stars.
All in all, fresh food + delicious meals = an extremely happy breakfast eater! -
Review from Katelyn M.
Menlo Park, CA
2/21/2011
Amazing french toast - similar to what I remember from the Ball Street Cafe in Somerville, Mass. Loved the crunch of the toasted almonds. The french toast is definitely a meal to split with someone and not eat alone!
We also ordered the italian sausage omelet, which was good - not great. I recently had a similar omelet at Stacks in Menlo Park and thought it was better. For me, the eggs lacked seasoning. The potatoes were mushy and not prepared to bring out their best flavor or texture (in my opinion) and the biscuit was quite dry.
It was very crowded on a Sunday afternoon (no surprise), but be prepared to wait for a table to open up!
Overall, I might go back for the french toast. -
Review from John S.
San Jose, CA
1/20/2011
As I read the reviews here for Country Gourmet I was gobsmacked by how many people were willing to forgive crappy service for mediocre food.
I ordered the standard bacon and egg breakfast with homefries and a biscuit. The first thing I noticed is that you have to order your food and pay before you sit down! I hated the fact that there were people waiting behind me while I was trying to decide what I wanted. I also don't care for this policy because this means you have to pay the gratuity before you're even served, so I only gave a 15% tip. I'm glad I did too because the service was sub-standard.
I waited too long for the food, the gal brought me toast instead of a biscuit, which itself wasn't warm (Mmm...mm) when it did arrive, and I had to go on a scavenger for ketchup. If you enjoy this kind of thing (and come on who doesn't?), or have blue hair and a walker you will just adore this place!
The eggs were ok, bacon was good, the potato's were cut smaller than I'm used to seeing in homefries but were good. As I was leaving I heard the lady behind me telling the server she had ordered a biscuit instead of toast.
Nothing like paying too much for something I could easily have made at home...if I weren't so dependant on those less skilled than myself.
Bottom line, this is a weird place that did not leave me wanting more. -
Review from Kathy S.
2/2/2011
I ordered the vegetarian burger, it took 20 minutes to make. It was greasy, the bun was plain white sesame bread, NO PICKLES, no salad dressing on the salad, it was overcooked with WAAAY TOO MUCH CHEESE.
Gross. And, why are the bathrooms outdoors? -
Review from Justin s.
Stockton, CA
10/15/2010 2 photos
I liked this joint. It seems like a family place there are lots of 4 seat tables.The Breakfast was great xcpt for the coffee it suckd. There was a huge line but everyone was able 2 get a table.
You have to order and pay, they give you a mug for coffee and a triangle number thingy 2 put at the edge of your table. DUDE what happens if you pay and theres no tables?? U must be gettn that to go.
I like this place, I"LL be back. -
Review from Hope W.
Los Angeles, CA
12/30/2010 4 Check-ins Here
I'd agree with other reviews that the service is a tad slow here, but I was highly impressed by the quality of the food and the handling of an issue that occurred.
Came here on a Monday morning with my boyfriend who had already been a few times. Ordering was quick as there was no line. I ordered the special pumpkin pancakes. ($7.95 + tax)
Our food took quite a while to come out. (30+ min?) My boyfriend said it was the busiest he had seen the restaurant, so they may have been overwhelmed. I suspect our food may have been sitting on the line for a bit, because it came out after 5 - 10 minutes after the order behind us (which had similar items), and my pancakes were fairly cold. I took them back to the counter, and one of the waitresses took them said they'd be out with a new order.
I figured since the original wait was so long, it waited about 30 minutes then went back to the counter to ask about the status of my order. Turns out the waitress I talked to had left and hadn't told the rest of the staff (including the cooks) about the new order. Oops. I had to re-explain what happened to another waitress, but as soon I did she immediately apologized, put in a new order, and told me I'd receive a FULL refund.
Wow. I really didn't expect that. I wasn't even upset, just curious, so I was floored by the response. My pancakes came out in under 10 minutes and were pipping hot and perfect. She also brought out two types of syrup, a fruit garnish, and candied ginger to sprinkle on the pancakes. (All of which had been missing on the first order I received. The other stuff may have been by-request-only, but I think the ginger was supposed to come with the pancakes.)
So onto the pancakes... DELICIOUS. Wonderful, hearty wheat flavor that went very well with the pumpkin. (Apparently their standard pancakes are whole wheat.) I really can't speak highly enough about them - I couldn't picture a better pancake. Just the right balance of pumpkin and earthy with a hint of sweet. Couldn't finish them, despite their deliciousness and how long I had waited.
Despite that set-back, I WOULD return to this place.
TL;DR - They were completely gracious in the way they handled a reasonable mishap, and they've proven their food is worth the longer-than-usual wait. Delicious, hearty pancakes. -
Review from Jenny C.
1/17/2011 1 photo
I'm on a mission to try all the breakfast places in the area and decided this time I'll give country gourmet a try.
There was a bit of a wait to order since it was about 12:30 on a Sunday morning, which is fine coz I had plenty of time to ponder and go back n forth on what I'd want.
I ended up getting the San Jose omelette with a side of fruits (my desperate attempt to make my meal slightly healthy, though secretly I wanted the homestyle potatoes) coz the pictures ppl uploaded here look so good.
It didn't take terribly long for the food to come out. I was slightly turned off by the fact that my SJ omelette was so greasy due to the bacon on it (I never eat bacon, not sure why I ordered this now that I'm thinking about it). It came with 3 slices of avocado and a dollop of sour cream. Despite the grease, I enjoyed it, especially with some Tabasco on it! Though I would've prefer more cheese on it.
The corned beef hash breakfast was yummy too. It's a scramble of homestyle potatoes, veggies Like bell peppers, corned beef hash, cheese, 2 poached eggs & hollandaise sauce...pierce the yolk and mix them together--it was a mess of deliciousness.
The biscuits the come on the side are good too. Not super buttery, though got a bit crusty after it cooled. I don't mind tho coz I like the crunchiness of the crust. Too bad they didn't have gravy for it. But if you have yolky eggs you can totally dip it in there. MmmMmm
Portions are good for what you pay. I couldn't finish mine though.
