Tucked into a strip on Brookside Avenue in Redlands, California, Carolyn’s Cafe is the kind of place where the parking lot fills up before the sun gets comfortable. 🌅
It’s a Mom-and-Pop breakfast and lunch spot that has somehow turned a warm slice of coffee cake into a full-blown local obsession.
You don’t need a fancy reservation system or a celebrity endorsement to pack a dining room every single morning — sometimes all you need is one killer recipe and a whole lot of heart. ☕
How Carolyn’s Cafe Won Redlands Hearts
Nobody handed Carolyn’s Cafe a loyal fanbase — they earned it one breakfast at a time. 🏆
Established in 2005, this little spot grew so popular that by 2016, the owners had to move to a larger location with double the seating capacity just to keep up with demand.
That’s not a coincidence — that’s a community voting with their forks.
The magic formula here is refreshingly simple: generous portions, honest prices, and a staff that genuinely seems happy to see you. 😊
Reviewers on TripAdvisor consistently rave about servers going out of their way — even for large groups of 11 — making sure everyone feels taken care of in a packed, fast-moving dining room.
One visitor from the East Coast put it perfectly: “Despite how crazy busy they are, the staff were incredibly friendly — Carolyn’s Cafe will be a wonderful memory we’ll take back with us.” 🥰
But the real anchor of their reputation is the now-legendary fresh baked Coffee Cake, served warm right out of the oven and smothered in melted butter.
That single item has become a cultural touchstone for Redlands — people drive from neighboring cities, plan their weekend mornings around it, and rarely leave without ordering a slice (or two). 🍰
It’s the kind of item that turns first-timers into regulars and regulars into evangelists.
The café also earns serious loyalty points for being accessible to gluten-free diners, a crowd that is often underserved at small breakfast spots.
By making everyone feel welcome — families, solo diners, large groups, visitors from out of state — Carolyn’s has built something that’s hard to manufacture: genuine community trust. 🤝
Food Highlights 🍽️
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Fresh Baked Coffee Cake: The undisputed signature item — served warm straight from the oven and topped with a generous scoop of whipped butter, it hits that perfect balance of sweet crumble topping and tender crumb. Yelp reviewers call it “the best coffee cake you’ll ever eat,” and honestly, it’s hard to argue.
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Biscuits and Gravy: A true blue comfort dish done right. The portion is so massive that even hungry diners admit they can’t finish it — pictures truly don’t do it justice, according to one TripAdvisor reviewer. 🫶
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The California Scrambler: Two eggs scrambled with crispy bacon, topped with sliced avocado and Jack cheese, with salsa on the side. This is feel-good West Coast breakfast energy in a single bowl. 🥑
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Breakfast Enchiladas: A crowd favorite that leans into the region’s deep Mexican food influence. One TripAdvisor reviewer said they had “such a great authentic taste” — high praise for a breakfast café. 🌶️
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Deep-Fried Coffee Cake French Toast: A wildly indulgent twist on two classics, this mashup earned its own insider tip mention from a TripAdvisor reviewer who called it “surprisingly light and super delicious.” 🤤
Atmosphere
Carolyn’s Cafe has the warm, unpretentious energy of a place that has never needed to try hard. ☀️
Think cozy booths, a dining room buzzing with conversation, and the smell of fresh-baked goods floating from the kitchen to the front door.
It’s casual and homestyle — nothing fancy, everything comfortable — the kind of spot where locals linger over coffee and tourists quickly realize why the wait list is always full.
Reviewers consistently note that even when every table is full, the space never feels cramped or chaotic — just alive with the good energy of people eating food they genuinely love.
Bottom Line
Visit Carolyn’s Cafe because:
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The coffee cake alone is worth the drive 🚗
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Portions are enormous and prices are reasonable 💰
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The staff is warm, fast, and genuinely friendly 😄
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It’s a true Mom-and-Pop gem with real community roots 🏡
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It’s ranked among the top restaurants in Redlands on both Yelp and TripAdvisor ⭐
Address: 1150 Brookside Ave, Ste A, Redlands, CA 92373
📞 (909) 335-8181
🕔 Mon–Sat: 6:30 AM–1:45 PM | Sun: 7:00 AM–1:45 PM