My favorite breakfast place. Good food, great service, affordable prices, cozy feel.

Very nice staff, and we got our food quickly. Super affordable.

Food was great and the service even better. Portions are big enough to fill your stomach without breaking the bank. Would definitely go there again.

With all the restaurants on Hertel, Cafe on the Ave tends to get forgotten about but it’s an absolute treasure. Cheap prices for quality homemade food. Highly recommend trying their doughnuts (the maple bacon doughnut is 🔥).

Great breakfast/lunch cafe with friendly staff and an excellent cook. Every meal is consistently good, never disappointed.

Went for breakfast on 1/10/23 for the first time and everything was absolutely delicious. Jennifer was great & made sure we had everything we needed. This place is a little hidden gem & I can't wait to come back again.

Received recommendation to go to this place. I was hesitant at first because when I called the gentleman wasn't the friendliest on the phone. Instead of saying your welcome he just says yup. Which isn't too welcoming but we decided to try anyway. The food was great, prices even better. The waitress was super nice and friendly! Would definitely go back. I just recommend being alittle more welcoming when someone calls but thats just me. 😊

What a Wonderful experience!!! I was visiting from Philadelphia and had the Best home-cooked breakfast 😋. The service was fantastic. Our waitress Jen was professional, accommodating, friendly and joyful. Home-cooked food with love ❤️ 😍 Yummy 8

Super friendly service, home-y atmosphere, great food for a good price

A hidden gem on Hertel. Food was incredible! The servers were super friendly and attentive, and food came out really quickly. It's a small and cozy place that feels very homey, definitely will be coming back to try the donuts.

Excellent service and food. Randomly stooped here for the first time and was very pleased. Our server was quick and attentive.

i rarely gave 5 stars to any restaurant but this place deserves every one of them. it has very good burger and sandwich. the freshness of the ingredients is one of the reasons. i must recommend to anyone that visits Hertel street.

I had to try their "Best Skillet in Town"", and I have to say that it is quite good. The staff is extremely friendly even if I may have seemed to be in a sour mood. The price was beyond fair at about $10 after tax. Lastly, the dining area was small but comfortable. Highly recommended!

I cannot believe I have lived 1.5 blocks from here for years and just finally came in for breakfast! I tend to be set in my breakfast ways, and stick with what I know. But on this occasion I wanted to try something new!Right on the Hertel strip, this quaint little restaurant is doing some great things! They have about 10 tables inside, I'd guess. It's quiet and quaint and perfect for a bite to eat while walking around the avenue.

A delicious breakfast quesadilla and a good cup of coffee served by an awesome waitress. After a trip to the zoo it was much appreciated.

Breakfast here is absolutely delicious! Since moving to North Buffalo, my husband and I get breakfast here almost every weekend. Prices are very fair as well.

I was never a fan of old fashioned donuts and this is the first and only place that I can eat them from. Absolutely tasty, and they have different flavors that are they're own. Where else can you go to get a donut that looks like the Homer Simpson donut and is super good, strawberry flavor mmmm mmm! Fresh even before closing time. Breakfast is super and fulfilling also! Big or small. This is a great place to eat, warm feel and nicely kept dining cafe, gotta check it out!!! 😉😊😊

This is a lil gem hidden on Hertal ave. The food is awesome, the waitress remembers you, along with your fav orders. We also buy their ground coffee which is amazing. They also offer breads, doughnuts, ect. If you have a chance you should go. No need to be dressed up, very casual. I even think their better than our fav, Bertha's. No deliveries, sorry.

This place is legit. Great food, homey atmosphere, coffee you never want to stop, and the folks who work there really seem to love it. It's an infectious atmosphere, no matter what time of your you show up.

I dare you to have only ONE cinnamon donut. Not possible. They are that good. Very good food in a no- nonsense friendly restaurant. Food is nicely prepared. Skillets and sandwiches, like a nice BLT are my favs.

I was expecting the worst from the exterior. This place is a great hidden gem. Food was great and the server was very attentive. I really enjoyed my visit to this simple but more than satisfactory neighborhood spot.

This is a VERY decent, affordable place for breakfast and lunch, better than chain diners and somehow cheaper… very friendly staff!

Delicious food and very friendly service.

Small casual diner, very homey, good food, great service! We always love coming here.

My breakfast was absolutely delicious. Two thumbs way up!

Great small place great breakfast and they make fresh doughnuts 🍩 there. Delicious and service is very fast and friendly.

This place is great. Solid food, great service, and a cozy atmosphere. Give them a chance, you won't be disappointed.

My husband and I love grabbing a quick and yummy breakfast from this spot on weekends! But we also recommend hiring them for brunch catering. We recently hosted a post-wedding brunch for 35 people and they did a great job! The food was delicious, looked great and we had plenty to feed everyone! Terry, the catering coordinator, was great to work with and showed up the day before to meet with us and make sure he knew what kind of space he was working with. Highly recommend!

Excellent small spot on Hertel. I ate here about ten times over two weeks when staying in Buffalo recently. Food is freshly cooked and the menu has plenty of options.

Five-stars across the board! Food, service and atmosphere great! It was our first time eating there. We shared how much we enjoyed our experience. Both the chef and the young lady serving us expressed their appreciation. That was so nice and refreshing! We will be returning!

The food is quick to be served. Never had a meal there I.haven’t liked. My favorites are the chicken, quesadilla, the sunrise, quesadilla, the tuna melt, and the mushroom Angus burger. My family is in town for a family reunion from three different states and they all loved the food. Everyone continued to comment on how reasonable the prices are in comparison to other restaurants in the area.

Great skillets, M&M pancakes, amazing coffee! Service is excellent, prices are better. Old School great food!

Went to this place for a Sunday lunch with my girlfriend. We had coffee. She had a burger, which was very large and perfectly cooked. I had a tuna melt and soup which was also delicious. This is a great spot for old school classic diner vibes. The staff were also super kind and friendly. Definitely go here if you want a relaxed and tasty meal.

Got the lumberjack breakfast with banana pecan pancakes and it was delicious. Got some house made donuts to go!

Back visiting Buffalo from NC where there is no good diners and this hit the spot! Ms. Lisa was very nice and attentive! Definitely will be coming back next trip for more delicious food!

Small cozy place. Great service and food. They give you some donuts bites on the house as soon as you are seated. Definitely recommend this place for breakfast.

Went this morning! Great service! Amazing food! Highly recommend!

Very cute cafe, food and service are excellent! Can't wait to come back.

The food was brought out quickly and tasted great. We loved the homemade donuts.

The food was very good and very affordable. In terms of diner experience, it was above average. Service was amazing as our server was attentive and didn't leave much for us to ask.

Really enjoyed this spot! I visited two weeks ago with my partner and friend on a whim for breakfast. We had a wonderful meal outside in the sunshine. Great, solid diner breakfast and those house-made donuts were delicious! Waitress was definitely a master of her craft too--awesome service. We will be back when we visit again!

I was hungry, thus the food was a 5/5. The staff is so nice and patient. Me and my friend went there for a quick brunch and the nice waitress was very patient with our indecisiveness. The atmosphere was idk normal so 5/5. And WE GOT FREE DONUTS WHILE DECIDING WHAT TO GET!!!

We visited this local restuarant this morning for breakfast and it was delicious. My husband had banana pecan pancakes and I had French Toast with Blueberries. Both dishes were very tasty as were the sugar donut bites they provided. Our server was excellent and engaged us in a sincereconversation. I highly recommend this restaurant.

We love going there for breakfast or an early lunch. Food is always great. Nice neighborhood restaurant

Went here because another place was closed. Very happy they were closed! This place has a great breakfast. Wait staff was awesome! I like my eggs over medium and the did them perfectly! Highly recommend if you're looking for a good breakfast!!

Really nice place for proper American breakfast! Our family went and had great time. Everyone enjoyed there food and was very full when leaving. Coffee was always topped up and the service was great. Very nice lady who was funny and very helpful. Would recommend.

GREAT FOOD! Amazing service and the place had a lighthearted feel good atmosphere. The waitresses were super nice and charasmatic!

This place is our go to for breakfast! We are usually here at least once a week. BEST COFFEE IN BUFFALO!!! Plus the food is always amazing and the people are wonderful! We adore Jen and Lisa they are the best! Just love this place!

We stopped in for breakfast on a Monday morning and had the best experience. Service was amazing and our server took great care of us. Food is well priced and we both loved our orders. Would definitely come back !

I popped in on a whim and was seated right away! I got to sit outside on the side patio which was lovely and peaceful. My waitress was so sweet and attended to me very quickly! I ordered the veggie delight which had lots of veggies, eggs and home fries in a skillet. It was delicious and so fresh tasting. I felt good after eating it. I maybe waited ten minutes for them to make it too! Very pleased with the service and food! It's a hidden gem on hertel foe sure.

This was a really nice almost diner-ish little place. The food was exactly what we were looking for, and came out fast. We're very likely to go there again. Edit to add: We went again and the food was as good, and service as good as before. Well worth the trip. Edited for later addition: After a couple more visits, I have to say that things here are constantly good! They've also got things straightened out with the outdoor deck. It's sheltered and on the side of the building, so you're not just out on the sidewalk. And don't forget to check out the daily-made donuts!

Took my daughter here for breakfast. The food and service were perfect! We will be back soon!

Good family vibe family restaurant

Great breakfast, sausage peppers onions scrabbled eggs! Loved the indoor outdoor seating. Had a great waitress and my wife was happy too!

This is such an adorable spot with delicious food! I had the breakfast sandwich and a peanut doughnut - both so good! The staff was friendly and the food was fresh. Definitely recommend!

Honestly, the best diner in Buffalo! The food is delicious and really well priced. Never had a bad plate or coffee in the 5+ times of going. The house made donuts are delicious!!! 5/5 times I'd recommend going!

Maelena Fisher

Definitely come and enjoy some food. Great service, the waitress was inviting and warm, food was delicious and generously portioned, prices very affordable. Love the cozy atmosphere.

Felicia Smith

Asking about atmosphere at a little breakfast diner is kind of unfair. This place is cozy without feeling cramped. Walked in sometime after 1 on an icy, rainy day. Felt like being in someone’s nice, warm kitchen. Service was excellent — she made sure we had everything we needed. The coffee here is great, and they make sure your cup isn’t empty. Fantastic buttermilk pancakes — you can taste the buttermilk, which for some reason is hard to find. Eggs over easy, as ordered. Will definitely be back.

Teresa Thomas

What a wonderful gem of a cafe! The waitress was super attentive, she was on top of every customer the minute they walked in the door. Warm, friendly, down home kind of atmosphere. The food was delicious! If you are looking for that warm local friendly place instead of the big box commercial coffee places, this is your stop!

David Mack

We were there late morning on a Tuesday. The waitress Sharon was very friendly. We started with the coffee. It was very good and I don’t normally drink coffee. It was a cold day in December though. Needed something to warm me up. I got their 10yr anniversary skillet. Highly recommend it. It has scrambled eggs, spicy Italian sausage, potatoes, green peppers and mozzarella cheese melted over the top. DELICIOUS! My wife had the #3 which is scrambled eggs, home fries and choice of meat (she chose turkey sausage) with Texas toast. She said it hit the spot. Definitely going back again.

Wendy Thompson

Breakfast quesadilla was great as was the eggs and grits my husband ordered.

Lynn McKibbin-Moore

Visiting Buffalo. Google didn’t let me down! Fabulous little corner Mom and Pop type place. Really good food, really really fresh, great prices …..wicked combination. Ask for Jen she’s the best. Right from the start… You get told you can have anything on the menu anyway you want. I had a toasted red pepper with spinach, bacon and Swiss cheese on Texas toast . No take home today. Just crumbs left. Real good old-fashioned Customer 🥳 Thank you!

Lex

Me and my kid came here for breakfast today! I got the sausage gravy special & my son got the kids breakfast sampler with a funfetti pancake. It was all very good! My son said he had the best chocolate milk ever as well. Service was very quick and friendly. The cafe was very clean, small but cute with option for a covered outside seating area. We grabbed some donuts on the way out and they are amazing, old school,not tooo sweet,but perfect(especially to pair with a coffee). Everything came out to about $30 with food,drinks,and sweets together, which in 2025 is an AMAZING price. We will be back 🙌🏼

Clement Mainguy

Very cute cafe with amazing food and even better service!

Janet Volk

First time here. Great food, huge portions, friendly and efficient service. My husband had a special..western skillet. I had the croissant bf sandwich and home fries. So deliciously crispy!!! We will be back!

Amber Kallen-Monroe

Truly one of my favorite places to stop in North Buffalo for breakfast or lunch! Feels like home. My kids and I have been dining at Café since we moved to North Buffalo in 2017. And even after when we moved out of North Buffalo - we always come back. It's very inclusive with a homey vibe. We always feel welcome, even when we haven't been there in a little while and we're more like wayward souls drifting in for coffee and breakfast on a cold Buffalo morning. There's always jokes and joviality, the prices are very fair, and the donuts are a delicious treat! Good bottomless coffee and service with a smile! Can you tell I love this place?

Jillian Straw

I had the breakfast quesadilla and it was so crispy. Really great. Endless coffee and great women running the show. I just moved to the area recently and it will be on my regular rotation

Corina Simba

It's a very small diner type of place, it gave us a little nostalgic feeling, we got sat by the fireplace which was nice because it was chilly outside, we got pancakes and our waitress was able to do two different ones so we could each try them out, we got the same plate except for bacon and ham, and everything was delicious, the waitress was so nice and doing so much all at once without breaking a sweat!

Kevin Dao

A very small and cozy brunch place. We went there on a Saturday and had a really solid experience. It seems to be only a two-person team, but you couldn't tell by how efficiently they were working. We ordered a breakfast quesadilla and a breakfast platter with country gravy. The prices on the menu were very cheap. The food came out quickly and hot. The dishes tasted pretty good—typical diner quality. The service was great. Our server was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is nice. Though it is a small space, it doesn't feel too cramped. There's a cute little fireplace that really makes the room cozy.

Fern Lovebond

I think this may be my favorite diner I've ever visited in Buffalo. We arrived around 2:15 pm, and they close at 3 pm, so clearly they aim more for the breakfast to lunch crowd, because the place was empty except us. They offer little donut bits as appetizers, which was a new one on me. Good stuff, too. Apparently all their food is made on premises, including the donuts. The staff (owners I think?) were super friendly & accommodating. The space is comfortable without being run-down, nice without being stuffy. There's also a covered outdoor area, but it was too muggy out today so we stayed inside where it was cooler. The music was just classic rock, and was very background, to the extent that it doesn't impede a conversation, so basically perfect. Mum got the tuna melt, was very satisfied, and I had the veggie skillet with pepper jack, which was tremendous. When asked what kind of cheese, there were 6 options (cheddar, provolone, and so on), so I said "surprise me" because they all sounded good. She narrowed it down: "white, orange, or weird," so I said, naturally, "weird." Which is how I got the excellent pepper jack (which she picked instead of feta, the other weird option). It was also noted that they're very open to mixing up menu items, and that they try to make the specials relevant to area events, like the Italian sausage being available during the recent Italian festival. Also great, the prices were *so* reasonable: the bill only came to $25 & some change, which means $30 for the two of us, which is a really good price for how good everything was, & the charming atmosphere. The location is a little out of my usual range, but I'll definitely have to make special effort to hit them up again in the future. Love it!

+5

Martin J. Wimmer

Hot food. Cold drinks. Warm staff. Cool atmosphere. Eat indoors with a fireplace. Eat outdoors with a breeze. These pics were taken outdoors under the red awning - thus the reddish tint. Will definitely be back.

Conley Brodziak

This is a great new café on Hertel avenue. It's a small cozy place serving up fresh home made donuts and a filling breakfast. The French toast was good and donuts were tasty. The service was quick and they make you feel at home. Definitely go here.

+1

Went for lunch during work and got food quickly. Good specialty turkey sandwich and fries and the donuts were decent. Prices were ok as well.

Enjoyed my first two visits. You want to go to a fun small diner serving breakfast & lunch? If you are on Hertel Ave or in the vicinity you ought check this little gem out.

Excellent place for breakfast. They have their own freshly made donuts, good sized portions and reasonable prices.

Nice, cool, place great breakfast & prices.

Food was good potatoes was not done exactly to my liking but we're still good. Price was good too Will definitely get take out from them next time I want breakfast. I loved it, would highly recommend (I ate it at Timmy's lol)

Cute place. Very friendly staff. Breakfast sandwich was ok. Sausage is pretty nondescript. Looked like it was going to be fantastic. Doughnuts crispy cheam-ish.

Food was diner food. But better then. Dennys or ipod diner food. Wait staff was fine. Overly friendly made lots of dad jokes. Its what ever they were very attentive Its a diner in Buffalo in a not so affluent part of town. Its not bad its not the Ritz. Would definitely go back if I was in Buffalo again.

Jayda Holmes

I would definitely dine here again. I came on a Sunday and it was pretty busy but we didn’t wait too long for our food. I really enjoyed enjoyed the all day breakfast. I ordered the Hertel with French Toast instead of regular toast. The eggs and homefries were delicious! I devoured the whole plate. I would’ve been better off sticking to the regular toast thought because the french toast wasn’t very flavorful kinda just tasted like eggy bread, I like more of a sweet cinnamony taste. Nonetheless, I would still go back and opt for the regular toast. Our waitress was great, she was juggling so many responsibilities at once I believe she forgot about our table at the end but it was okay I just went to the register and paid there. The place had a nice homey feel I enjoyed.

Joel Gerberich

The donuts were unique, tasty, and definitely I highlight! It's a small place with some good grub; nothing too crazy!

I went for breakfast, it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t the best. The service was great and the prices were very reasonable.

Michael Rimpel

The meat skillet is pretty good but it's heavy. You won't eat again until dinner.

Rich Pembrock

Food used cheap ingredients ..under cooked eggs ....wierd sausage ..bland pancakes...looked very good ..buut bland waffles bland chicken ...bad coffee ..despite that the food was still not like gross it was made as best it could be with cheap stuff ..the donuts also are very dry like ...lacking flavor

+1

Unfortunately, my excitement of cafe hopping with family visiting from out of town was disturbed upon entering. Over hearing a comment from a waitress to another staff member was unpleasant. My food was edible. I wished the peppers and onions was cooked before added to my breakfast sandwich. My sons grits was a bit runny and the home fries were big pieces of potatoes. The 15 bean soup didnt have a variety of beans. However, my direct waitress was pleasant and attentive. I will have to pass on returning to this Cafe.

6/24/23 Edit: Im a returning customer but today made me change my mind. I know things are expensive now but I just paid $17 plus a $3 tip for takeout. All i got was a brkfst sandwich that only had TWO pieces of bacon on it, a side of sausage links and an orange juice to go…which she didn’t even fill up all of the way. I wish I would’ve checked it b4 leaving a tip. Times are hard for everyone but this was ridiculous. Tried this place bcuz berthas doesn't do takeout...thanks berthas cuz now i have a new brkfst spot. Staff was kind. Food was delicious. Loved the maple bacon donut. Definitely a new customer here.

I was with a party of 5. I was the only one who liked my food. Everyone ordered breakfast except one person who got the BLT. Although they liked the BLT, the French fries were not edible. I got the biscuits, eggs, and gravy. It was good. Every one else stated their breakfast wasn't good and they'd never come back because of the poor taste. I didn't ask details of them. It was my idea to go here because I like it. I always get the same thing. I tried one of the French fries, it was disgusting. I have no idea how fries can taste so bad. They tasted worse than day-old microwaved soggy fries. Service was good. Nice diner type atmosphere.

Ordered the lumber jack breakfast and a side of homefries through uber eats. They forgot the eggs. The sausage was charred black on one side, the other side never having touched the grill. Ive had old bacon off buffet lines that was less soggy than this bacon. Home fries were flavorless. But you might enjoy their pancakes if you like your pancakes blackened. Do yourself a favor and go to berthas. Even dennys is going to be a step up.

We were a party of 5. As the last 2 were walking in, the head server said to the busgirl “I’m glad they’re not in my section” (shared after we already ordered). Our server was pleasant . However, the undertone was set and we noticed the head server made sure the next tables with people of color weren’t seated in her section.

Poor service from Terry. I dont appreciate feeling like she was doing me a favor to be my server; had a negative attitude. She checked on a different table multiple times and ignored ours. It also took more than 30 minutes to get my check after I was done eating. I won't be going back.

Will 100% not be back. My husband and I went there yesterday, the 17th of June. Decided to go back the next day, the 18th of June with our son for lunch. It was busy, I understand. No tables were bused that would fit 3 people so we went to the outside seating. It was a bit hot, so we went back inside. The one table that would fit 3 in the middle just needed to be bused, no biggie. I was just going to ask the server if it would be okay if we waited for it or if she wanted us to wait outside or something. Before I could even say anything, she threw up her hand at me and said "You're gonna need to wait a minute". Couldn't even get a word in. I was just going to see if she wanted us to wait outside. I understand being busy and/or the only server, but you definitely don't treat people like that. I've been in customer service on and off for years and if I did that, I'd be out of a job. It was fantastic on the 17th when we went, but won't be back after this afternoon.