The Secret Garden

Food is amazing. Especially the country fried steak it was fork tender. The posole was soo good I ordered a 2nd bowl to go. Service was a bit below average and I never got a coffee refill.

You must come check out the best Brunch Spot called The Secret Garden! They have many varieties of food & drinks to choose from, plus delicious iced coffee, or mimosas. The atmosphere in the lounge is fun, with beautiful decor! In the main restaurant all updated decor, easily accessible for wheelchairs, walkers. They have a main room for parties such as birthday’s or meetings! So come check out for yourself! 2401 E Orangeburg Ave. Suite 20 Modesto, CA 95355

+6

This place took over Ridgeways, and stepped up their game by 100%. Great service, drinks and food. The cooks back there know how to make a dish delicious and presentable for royalty 👑 😋. If you haven't tried it, please do and give them a 5 star because they deserve it!

+1

We ate here last Sunday and it was a fantastic experience. The restaurant is beautiful! The lounge is amazing. I had crab eggs Benedict and it was delicious. So was my strawberry lemonade. It had big strawberries in it. My husband enjoyed his lasagna. Our server was wonderful! She knows the menu, she's courteous, kind, and quick. The best part is they serve breakfast all day! They have beautiful breakfast plates with waffles, pancakes, and so much more. The entire place is very clean and there are many photo opportunities. They have a little selfie wall in the entrance with a neon sign, and the young people were having fun taking pictures of everything. They were nice young people.

+3

I came here on a Saturday afternoon with my family to enjoy some brunch together. First off the decor and the ambience was great. Our waitress Cyntia greeted us and brought us to our table in the back, which was great. We ordered some drinks. I had the Paloma, which was one of the best Palomas I probably have ever had and that's probably because it was so strong! I ordered the crab Benedict, which was absolutely delicious. The only other food I tasted was that Chilaquiles, which I cannot stop thinking about and definitely will have that the next time I go, as far as everyone else in our party everyone loved their drinks and their food. Cyntia was probably one of the best waitresses l've experienced at a restaurant in a while. She was helpful, attentive, and friendly. I wanted to order the espresso martini. She asked me a few questions about how I liked it, and she went to the bar and had them make some type of specialty concoction, which was absolutely delicious! I'm not from Modesto but better believe when I come to town to see my family I am going to go have myself a Paloma and their Chilaquiles!

Magical. Decadent. Tea riffic. Bilingual Need more people to look like a fairy when brunching there. Seniors go all out in the fashion department. Trust me.

Upon walking in the place is pretty cool looking with lots of greenery everywhere, like walls worth! There is a dining area and then a seperate bar area, a restroom area splits the two areas. First time we were there we had our food to go and my husband surprised me and ordered for me which was crab cake benedict. I'm very critical, it was alright but not my favorite and I would not order it again. It was quite different which is im sure what they were going for but not for me. The second time took a different path after staring at the menu for a good while and went for the Croissant Nutella Strawberry French Toast which was amazing! I was quite unsure of what the order because everything looked fabulous, our waitress helped me out to make a good choice! Looking forward to coming back and trying out a fruity pebble item the next time we check them out! Let's just say that you can pretty much know that you have found a good place when the 2nd time you visit you see the same repeat customers there as well!

+1

Came here for brunch, it’s very spacious and we were seated pretty quickly even during the busy Sunday brunch and we were a big group. The cinnamon toast french toast was so good and it came with mini churros10/10. I also got the California eggs Benedict and it was ok, the biscuit was kind of hard but overall good dish 7/10. The mimosa flight looked nice but it all tasted the same. Only issue was that one of the drinks was in a cracked cup. I also added picture of what others are and I heard no complaints.

+3

Finally popped in here with some friends who wanted to check out the new bar(I think that's what was new) immediately upon entering, you're met with a very tastefully decorated interior. Luckily the walls weren't the only thing I found tasteful, as the food was fantastic. Potato salad was some of the best I've had, and the grilled pizza sandwich was delicious.

+6

Enjoy this place. Feel like it’s a kept secret in Modesto. Food is under rated. Family and I come every 3-4 months. Took some friends today and they loved it. But I’m here to share my appreciation for our awesome service by Pablo. Was attentive, engaged with our 6 yr old son, made him laugh and was extremely patient with our large group!

The second time going and the food . The chilaquiles are my favorite and my sons favorite is the fruity pebble French toast. But honestly, everything we have ordered here has been DELICIOUS! This place has not disappointed us. Alongside the great food, food presentations are beautiful and the atmosphere is lovely, a great place for couples, small and large groups.

Fun new restaurant in town! I came here for brunch and everything was delicious! Their chef must be quite talented. Their dishes were also nicely plated. Some have flowers and the country fried steak even had a flag on it. I can't wait to try their other menu items during lunch and dinner.

Came here on a Satuday afternoon after picking up my wedding dress so I was ready to eat! This place is huuuuuuge so when walking in, we were seated immediately. I see that you can make reservations but not on Saturdays (first come, first serve). The outside doesn't match the inside - the outside looks like your run-of-the-mill restaurant but the inside looks super cute. They had an instagrammable entrance so of course, I couldn't help myself & took a picture :) The bar has some IG-worthy spots too - we didn't go to the bar but we peeped out heads in to just check it out. I started with the Secret Garden Mojito which hit the spot - it was so refreshing since it was a hot day. It wasn't that strong for all my lightweight peoples! &&& their cocktails are super cute! I ordered a Veggie Benedict which has portobello mushrooms, sauteed spinach, tomato, onion, and avocado --- it was yums. It hit the spot & I would definitely order again. I'll be back to try more of their cute cocktails & explore more of the menu!

The turkey panini was so good with ranch, I love their ranch. The cheesecake pancakes were just as good and they came with pieces of real cheesecake and the presentation of if all was beautiful. Like my husband says you eat with your eyes first and it didnt disappoint. We also had a chicken quesadilla and that was also delicious, definitely coming back to try more dishes on the menu. The atmosphere was a bit quieter but the decor really makes you feel like it could be a cute date spot or even a girls brunch. I will be introducing my family to this one for sure

We decided to plan a surprise birthday brunch for our dearest friend, and this place turned out to be an absolute gem. They don't take reservations and weren't picking up the phone, so we arrived early Saturday afternoon hoping for the best. Luck was truly on our side, we were seated right away at a perfect corner table with a sign that said "Shh... it's a secret," which felt meant to be for a surprise celebration. Cynthia was amazing from the start. She was warm, attentive, and made us feel completely at ease. Diego later took over and continued the excellent service. We were given privacy in our little corner, never felt rushed, and truly got to enjoy our time together. Restaurant was beautiful and nicely decorated with valentine theme. We started with rosé lattes, mocha, mimosas, and nachos. For the main entrées, we ordered the chicken quesadilla (10/10), California omelet, chilaquiles, churro French toast, and the taco bowl. Everything was delicious. Manager Norma was incredibly kind and attentive, always checking in and accommodating our requests. We came in with zero expectations and left feeling like lifelong customers. This is a perfect spot to celebrate birthdays or any special occasion. We brought our own cake, and the staff helped us set everything up without hesitation. To top it all off, they surprised the birthday girl with a beautiful cotton candy flower cone, such a thoughtful and memorable touch. The staff took our photos (multiple times!) with patience and kindness, making sure we captured every moment. We're truly grateful to the entire team for making this celebration so special. An unforgettable experience from start to finish.

Our First time ever going there, was recommended to go by TikTok. I loved it! Everyone is so friendly! So kind! Worth the 45 minute drive💗 The place looks amazing & decorated beautifully. Don’t get me started on the food! It was delicious! The coffee is to die for!

First time here and everything was so good!! Not really a martini person but it looked pretty haha!! The aesthetic area with the bar was packed and we wish we could go in there next time!!

Adorable little spot. Went on valentines day so it was packed but we still had great food and great service. 👍

We ordered the teddy bear pancake for the kiddo, the churro French toast and the 1/2lb all American burger w fries as an appetizer. The total tab came out to around $56. We visited during late Sunday evening n the restaurant wasn't full but had a good amount of crowd. Overall, the atmosphere is pleasant and the decorations are great. Walk right into a big bar and a long dining room as well as another section towards the right of the entrance as a dedicated dining bar area. The food were great especially my burger. Fresh produce were out on and the patty was well cooked. I definitely enjoyed my $17.00 burger. Stop by if you ever pass by Modesto or in craving a nice breakfast served all day. The menu is diverse but I felt they concentrated mostly on breakfast but that's ok. I didn't know if this place is considered a restaurant or a diner but it was well worth the navigation to get there from HWY 99.

Was busy at lunch but everything was really good. I would recommend 👨‍🍳 💋 Tried the shrimp and grits, fresh chicken wraps, and a bloody Mary!

I had the lox bagel and Mom had the corned beef hash, both were very good. I had been craving a lox bagel and this satisfied it.

So far I’ve been here twice, and it was fantastic both times. The omelettes, biscuits and gravy, and the croissant french toast (one of the best things I’ve ever eaten) are all very tasty. The coffees (caramel macchiato is my fav) are really good too. They bring waters to the table and the earthy floral vibe is wonderful, great for pictures too! Highly recommend this place, not too expensive either (about the same as anywhere else).

My new fav place! It's so cute. The staff is so kind and it feels better than a normal diner. 10/10!

Went with my girlfriend to dine in and just like when my mom used to take me, and every single time, my experience was outstanding! Nothing is ever slapped together in a hurry. Every drink and dish comes out looking exotic, beautiful, and delicious! I haven't had a single bad thing or experience here! I highly recommend this location for any occasion. The staff are super friendly and consistent and good at what they do. I absolutely love it here with all of my heart! Special thanks to our server, Lupe! She was spectacular at knowing the menu, preferred dishes, and had an amazing energy! Absolutely fantastic establishment! The environment is so majestic! There's a beautiful tree, their own back drop with a neon sign, green vines, and fancy lights.

Very beautiful atmosphere. Nicely decorated. Nice chandeliers. The music was nostalgic. Our server was Pablo and he did such an amazing job serving our table—party of 8.

Destinee Baniqued

The turkey panini was so good with ranch, I love their ranch. The cheesecake pancakes were just as good and they came with pieces of real cheesecake and the presentation of if all was beautiful. Like my husband says you eat with your eyes first and it didnt disappoint. We also had a chicken quesadilla and that was also delicious, definitely coming back to try more dishes on the menu. The atmosphere was a bit quieter but the decor really makes you feel like it could be a cute date spot or even a girls brunch. I will be introducing my family to this one for sure

Chibi Fani

Our First time ever going there, was recommended to go by TikTok. I loved it! Everyone is so friendly! So kind! Worth the 45 minute drive💗 The place looks amazing & decorated beautifully. Don’t get me started on the food! It was delicious! The coffee is to die for!

Angelica Ngim

First time here and everything was so good!! Not really a martini person but it looked pretty haha!! The aesthetic area with the bar was packed and we wish we could go in there next time!!

But Then What?

So far I’ve been here twice, and it was fantastic both times. The omelettes, biscuits and gravy, and the croissant french toast (one of the best things I’ve ever eaten) are all very tasty. The coffees (caramel macchiato is my fav) are really good too. They bring waters to the table and the earthy floral vibe is wonderful, great for pictures too! Highly recommend this place, not too expensive either (about the same as anywhere else).

Cherry Verjinski

Very beautiful atmosphere. Nicely decorated. Nice chandeliers. The music was nostalgic. Our server was Pablo and he did such an amazing job serving our table—party of 8.

Naomi Thomas

I had the shrimp and grits and from the time I walk in until I walked out the service was amazing the food was so delicious and everything I asked for they delivered i will definitely be going back with my kids as a family outing💕💕💕

Blue

We ordered the teddy bear pancake for the kiddo, the churro French toast and the 1/2lb all American burger w fries as an appetizer. The total tab came out to around $56. We visited during late Sunday evening n the restaurant wasn't full but had a good amount of crowd. Overall, the atmosphere is pleasant and the decorations are great. Walk right into a big bar and a long dining room as well as another section towards the right of the entrance as a dedicated dining bar area. The food were great especially my burger. Fresh produce were out on and the patty was well cooked. I definitely enjoyed my $17.00 burger. Stop by if you ever pass by Modesto or in craving a nice breakfast served all day. The menu is diverse but I felt they concentrated mostly on breakfast but that's ok. I didn't know if this place is considered a restaurant or a diner but it was well worth the navigation to get there from HWY 99.

Regina

Was busy at lunch but everything was really good. I would recommend 👨‍🍳 💋 Tried the shrimp and grits, fresh chicken wraps, and a bloody Mary!

Dustin Long

They really did a great job making The Secret Garden a breakfast hotspot in Modesto. Its always crowded everytime ive been, but that's a good problem for them. The food is great! The service is superb, and the ambiance is fun! I haven't had a bad experience yet! Love the breakfasts and like the adult beverage selections!

Rebecca Blanco

I had the lox bagel and Mom had the corned beef hash, both were very good. I had been craving a lox bagel and this satisfied it.

Veronica Chan

My new fav place! It's so cute. The staff is so kind and it feels better than a normal diner. 10/10!

solarsystem wolf

Went with my girlfriend to dine in and just like when my mom used to take me, and every single time, my experience was outstanding! Nothing is ever slapped together in a hurry. Every drink and dish comes out looking exotic, beautiful, and delicious! I haven't had a single bad thing or experience here! I highly recommend this location for any occasion. The staff are super friendly and consistent and good at what they do. I absolutely love it here with all of my heart! Special thanks to our server, Lupe! She was spectacular at knowing the menu, preferred dishes, and had an amazing energy! Absolutely fantastic establishment! The environment is so majestic! There's a beautiful tree, their own back drop with a neon sign, green vines, and fancy lights.

Dawn Kelly Gets Real

We ate here last Sunday and it was a fantastic experience. The restaurant is beautiful! The lounge is amazing. I had crab eggs Benedict and it was delicious. So was my strawberry lemonade. It had big strawberries in it. My husband enjoyed his lasagna. Our server was wonderful! She knows the menu, she's courteous, kind, and quick. The best part is they serve breakfast all day! They have beautiful breakfast plates with waffles, pancakes, and so much more. The entire place is very clean and there are many photo opportunities. They have a little selfie wall in the entrance with a neon sign, and the young people were having fun taking pictures of everything. They were nice young people.

Yuli P.

Magical. Decadent. Tea riffic. Bilingual Need more people to look like a fairy when brunching there. Seniors go all out in the fashion department. Trust me.

Diego Lomeli-Katen

Finally popped in here with some friends who wanted to check out the new bar(I think that's what was new) immediately upon entering, you're met with a very tastefully decorated interior. Luckily the walls weren't the only thing I found tasteful, as the food was fantastic. Potato salad was some of the best I've had, and the grilled pizza sandwich was delicious.

My wife and I went to eat for Valentine's Day. I enjoyed an amazing breakfast skillet. It was so alive with flavor and seasoned to perfection. The pancake was delicious as well. My wife savored the French toast with apple slices...so amazing! We can't wait to go there again.

Came in for brunch on Sunday and was seated immediately. Atmosphere was lively but not too loud. Server was attentive and we received our food promptly. They were generous with their hollandaise sauce for the crab cakes Benedict. The bananas Foster’s French toast was amazing. The sauce was flavorful and sweet enough that you didn’t need to use the syrup.

Brunch with three others. Each meal had adequate if not larger than normal portions (expected due to higher end price point). Flavor was mid to good (waffle - scramble - biscuits and gravy). Service was attentive and amicable. Glad to have finally tried this place. Recommend, especially since there aren’t many similar locations with the quality and vibe.

Mixed experiences, I wouldn't recommend it. The place is clean, neatly decorated, the service is fast and good, but the food wasn't great. It wasn't bad or poorly prepared, more like McDonald's, just average, and I was expecting something better. $85 for two adults and two children.

It was a fantastic place to eat, the food looked absolutely amazing. Perfect presentation, it was very visually pleasing. It tasted pretty good. The staff was very nice and timely. They have heavy rushes and a long wait weekend mornings, but even with a full house, they performed satisfactory. Newly renovated location, very clean and enjoyable interior decor. My only complaint would be the slight lack of focus on the restrooms. However, I can understand it's very hard to get to when serving such a large number of people.

Nic K

Mixed experiences, I wouldn't recommend it. The place is clean, neatly decorated, the service is fast and good, but the food wasn't great. It wasn't bad or poorly prepared, more like McDonald's, just average, and I was expecting something better. $85 for two adults and two children.

Daniel Perez

It was a fantastic place to eat, the food looked absolutely amazing. Perfect presentation, it was very visually pleasing. It tasted pretty good. The staff was very nice and timely. They have heavy rushes and a long wait weekend mornings, but even with a full house, they performed satisfactory. Newly renovated location, very clean and enjoyable interior decor. My only complaint would be the slight lack of focus on the restrooms. However, I can understand it's very hard to get to when serving such a large number of people.

**TL;DR:** I’m hesitant to recommend The Secret Garden to friends. I might try it again to explore the rest of the menu, but of the six dishes we ordered, all seemed to lack seasoning. Be prepared to spend more than the food’s quality justifies. As other reviewers have noted, the food's presentation was impressive, but the flavors fell short. The ingredients were high-quality, yet the seasoning was lacking. I ordered the Diablo Chorizo skillet, which was good in terms of ingredients but missed the mark on spiciness and seasoning. Moreover, the skillet wasn’t as hot as expected, which was disappointing. My girlfriend’s California Eggs Benedict had enjoyable eggs, but the home fries and hollandaise sauce lacked flavor. The chicken and waffles were a highlight, with flavorful chicken and a crispy waffle that I’d consider ordering again. For mimosas, I recommend the watermelon or orange varieties and would skip the others. The iced tea also missed the mark on sweetness. On a positive note, the service was excellent. Our waitress was friendly, and the food arrived promptly. Regarding cost, the $19 skillet felt overpriced given its lack of flavor. The $26 mimosa flight offered better value. However, the automatic gratuity for large parties seemed excessive. Although I would have tipped more, being forced to do so felt unfair. It's disappointing that there seems to be an expectation for customers to supplement wages. If the food had been better, I wouldn't mind paying more. At $19 for a skillet, it's reasonable to expect fair wages for the staff without relying heavily on tips.

We decided to try this place out after seeing the photos of the delicious food dishes. I ordered a Classic American Club Sandwich. My wife ordered a Classic BLTA. The food was absolutely delicious. The service was ok. The server had on so much cologne that it ruined our culinary experience. The cologne was very strong!!! Not sure why he was wearing so much but that is a very basic thing that you just don’t do working in a restaurant.

+6

Food was okay for the price the service wasn’t the best…our waitress didn’t check union us & handed me the check before I could order dessert. I let her know I wasn’t done and that we would be ordering some dessert. It took 20+ mint for dessert and I should have left but I had already Ordered it so I decided to just wait it out…the desert was mid and overpriced.

Aight. Let’s get to it. Food was pretty good. I can’t say that I expect more or less. We ordered a bunch of different things. What’s crazy is we let the kids play Yelp roulette and pick the place. lol. Not a bad pick.. ambiance is pretty alluring on the entrance. I kinda wish the aesthetic was the same as the entrance all the way through the restaurant. But it’s not a deal breaker at all. I think this is a great place for breakfast and brunch hands down. Wait staff was very nice and pretty on the ball with things. The wait time wasn’t bad at all. I really wish I would’ve got the mimosas flights though. Damn those look really good. It took all I had in me not to ask my neighboring table if I could snap a few shots of theirs lol. But. All in all I’d definitely recommend this place. I’m gonna come again, WITHOUT the kids this time and really do brunch the adults way.

+6

I went to this place at my daughter's suggestion and ordered breakfast. I had an omelet with bacon, cheese, and bell peppers, along with a side of hash browns. However, the taste was quite dull and lacked flavor, so unfortunately, it wasn't really up to my taste.

My son said his panini sandwich was tasty. That he would come again. Myself, my daughter and her friend not so much. It wasn’t memorable enough to say yes let’s eat there again. I wish I had asked what bread the club sandwich came on because that bread was dry and tasteless. The chilaquiles had a mound of sour cream on them for no reason. The fajitas lacked seasoning. The chicken and waffles were good. Server was friendly. Atmosphere is very pretty and inviting.

Mila Love

My son said his panini sandwich was tasty. That he would come again. Myself, my daughter and her friend not so much. It wasn’t memorable enough to say yes let’s eat there again. I wish I had asked what bread the club sandwich came on because that bread was dry and tasteless. The chilaquiles had a mound of sour cream on them for no reason. The fajitas lacked seasoning. The chicken and waffles were good. Server was friendly. Atmosphere is very pretty and inviting.

My husband and I go here all the time. And it is usually great. Today when we had lunch, we were put in the bar section (which we have never been in before) with our 4 year old. The table was very sticky, but we wiped it down ourself, no big deal. However, the music was extremely loud and was VERY explicit, definitely not restaurant friendly, let alone kid friendly. The food was average this time. I do not recommend the nachos. Overall very disappointed.

I think the decorations were the only good part about this place. Other than that some of the staff need a attitude check. They only focused on getting us out of here, when I tipped 4$ the waitress started talking smack & calling me words in spanish which I understood all of it. If I could take that tip back I could but instead I just chose not to return here because of that experience 😞 My friends have all experienced this behavior from some of the waitresses when they've gone on their own time. I think this business needs a team meeting and more discipline to those who don't show respect. The attitude matches the food.

StrawbyEmma

I think the decorations were the only good part about this place. Other than that some of the staff need a attitude check. They only focused on getting us out of here, when I tipped 4$ the waitress started talking smack & calling me words in spanish which I understood all of it. If I could take that tip back I could but instead I just chose not to return here because of that experience 😞 My friends have all experienced this behavior from some of the waitresses when they've gone on their own time. I think this business needs a team meeting and more discipline to those who don't show respect. The attitude matches the food.

Service was okay. don’t order an appetizer. You’ll get it the same time as your food. The kiwi mimosa was the highlight! Update: Togo order was cold. Did not come with the potatoes. 3 small tacos for $20. Don’t waste your money or time.

Ordered chilaquiles. It was NASTY. They didn’t even put any meat in it. Told the waiter and she brought me a bowl of shredded pork. It was soaked in oil. I lost my appetite after that. Food taste nothing like it did last time I came here. My regular waiter wasn’t there. The waiter I had today had an attitude. Will not be returning here again.

Dah

Ordered chilaquiles. It was NASTY. They didn’t even put any meat in it. Told the waiter and she brought me a bowl of shredded pork. It was soaked in oil. I lost my appetite after that. Food taste nothing like it did last time I came here. My regular waiter wasn’t there. The waiter I had today had an attitude. Will not be returning here again.

I never take time to write a review, but I was treated horribly here when I came with my family. I ordered a carmel macchiato and when I tasted it, it tasted strong as if there was no sweetener added. When I asked the waitress if she could remake it, she gave me a rude look and took the drink away. After we ate she dropped off some boxes and my daughter boxed away her leftovers. I handed the waitress my plate with one piece of club sandwich left with some french fries and she told me “oh you didn’t need the box after all?” with attitude that even my son and daughter mentioned it afterwards. I never asked her for a box, so I was confused as to why she seemed upset I didn’t use the box. I won’t be coming back, I’ll take my business where the service is pleasant.