Very surprised with this restaurant. From the outside I didn't expect much. I like the colors inside as well as the art in the walls. We sat ourselves and were immediately greeted and served drinks. My husband had the breakfast burger. The sausage patty was the size of a regular burger with ample cheddar cheese. The has brown patty and maple syrup made it just like you'd expect a breakfast sandwich to be. He enjoyed the potatoes cooked in bacon grease. I had the secret garden Benedict. The hollandaise was delicious and the poached eggs were perfectly cooked atop a toasted English muffin. Mine had fried green tomatoes which were just average, a bit lacking in flavor but still okay. The cheese grits were deliciously creamy. I barley ate half of my plate because I was full. My husband ate his and the rest of mine but I think that was a bit of a stretch for him. The portions are more than adequate and the prices are fair. Wish they would consider adding smaller breakfast portions to the menu. I'd recommend this restaurant and will come back.
(5)
Sam S.
I came here for lunch after moving to the area and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is cozy and it has a old time diner feel. The waist staff is relaxed, but on top of things. The food was awesome. Everything on the menu sounds delicious so it was hard to even make a decision! I ended up getting the Cheese Croissant with smoked turkey and sweet potato chips. The chips were perfect and the croissant was stuffed with cheddar and mozzarella, a cheesy mess, I loved it. My date ordered the special Aloha Burger and thoroughly enjoyed it. Swiss, pineapple, bacon, all on a bun. The prices were reasonable and I will definitely be back!
(5)
yuliya k.
Really this place has over 100 reviews with four and five stars makes me wonder if these people have tried real food before. To start of this place is pretty much old people paradise. The service was ok but the food was terrible. I brought my six year old who loves Belgium waffles so that's what I ordered, he got with the sausage patty, nothing special about the waffles so I waited for my food to arrive. I ordered the monte Cristo sandwich and boy was it a disappointment way over fatty,greasy with to much jam and the side of fries where also over oily. So if you want something that tastes like Denny's the typical American fast food this is what you get here. Will not be giving this place another shot.
(1)
Cheuk K.
We went here on a Friday morning for brunch at around 10:30am. The place had a few tables, but it was relatively quiet. However, the place filled up pretty quickly with customers and even had a party of 16 that came in. It's a pretty cozy restaurant and has a nice ambiance. The waitress was very nice and attentive even though it got a little bit busy after we came in. We ordered the Really Hot Mess with Gravy and Classic Egg Benedict. The hot mess with gravy was pretty bland, and it tasted okay at best. It probably would have tasted better without the gravy on top, to be honest. With the gravy, I couldn't really tell what I was eating because everything was blended together; I guess that's why they call it a hot mess. On the other hand, the egg benedict was very delicious, and the egg was perfectly poached. I only wish there was one more benedict and less potatoes. It was a lot of food, and we had to get a to-go box to bring the left-over home. Overall, this is a nice place for breakfast, and I would recommend you to check it out.
(4)
Bernadette A.
Ate here on a Friday morning and it was not too busy. Service was adequate. Food was tolerable *Crab cake eggs bene: Looked amazing. Perfectly cooked crab cakes. The English muffin was a bit tough and I am 99% sure that it's the Thomas English Muffin Brand. The homemade hollandaise sauce was good but not memorable. -3 out of 5 stars *cheesy grits: Plain, unsalted, unseasoned grits with semi melted cheddar cheese on top. Not the best. Very under flavored. 1 out of 5 stars *homemade biscuit a bit dry. Hard on the outside and not very buttery on the inside. 1 out of 5 stars Would I come back? No.
(2)
Tiffany H.
This cafe is really nice. The food was good and came out pretty fast for a place that cookes by the order. The staff was really nice too. I will be coming back here for sure.
(5)
Maya C.
This was a spontaneous option for breakfast. I've heard and seen the buzz so u couldn't wait any longer to check this place out. I arrived about a quarter to 11 on a Sunday morning and the place was already hopping. There's no hostess so you just seat yourself. My mother and I seated ourselves in the adjoining room filled with paintings and sunlight. I wondered how long it would take till a waitress came to out table and in less than 3 mins we had one. Mom ordered the egg platter with cafe potatoes and a biscuit while I had the veggie omelette with toast and cheddar grits. In about 10-15 mins out server Wendy was back with our orders and were ready to chow down. Super fast turn-around on a busy day. First off, everything looked delicious. The toast looked like a combination of wheat and rye swirled together in a cool presentation. The veggie omelette appeared runny but that was from the oil in the skillet and the veggies. Tasted like one I would make myself. The grits were simple, topped with finely shredded cheddar cheese. It was all good, like having breakfast over a friend's house. My mother is pretty picky about what she eats but agreed with me. Her cafe potatoes had cherry tomatoes in it which she loves and her biscuit was HUGE. She really liked that. The food, the service, and the atmosphere was great and I will definitely be back for the Bloody Mary bar.
(5)
Tara M.
First time eating here. stumbled upon on it and the food was great! My kids had french toast and we had to order more. Definitely worth a try.
(5)
John S.
Pefect breakfast. I was craving a veggie loaded breakfast. I ordered the hot mess veggie. It was awesome. What a great breakfast spotn everything was perfect. Service perfect.
(5)
Michelle W.
What a delightful breakfast spot. On travel and rushed for breakfast before my flight I called to see the wait times and Francesca answered. She told me not to worry and she'd reserve me a small table no problem. I rushed over and decided to try the Eggs Benedict Secret Garden special with a fried green tomato. Fantastic. I actually don't care much for fried food however it sounded tempting and wasn't the least bit greasy. Crisp flavorful with my egg poached to perfection. I had a hold on the sauce bc I'm not a gravy girl but the breakfast was great. Fruit salad on the side and the farm fresh grapes watermelon and oranges were sweet and perfect. Shout out to Francesca for being awesome and prompt service with a smile. My apologies for inhaling breakfast but the plane was waiting. I will definitely come here again when I'm back in town!
(5)
Thomas C.
Is this place still open? Each time I drive by it looks like a ghost town. I'll admit that I haven't been here since Robert Irvine and crew came in and dropped a bomb shell of truth on them. So this may be an outdated review and you as a reader can feel free to disregard it in its entirety. I came here with a few co-workers for lunch. I got a salad with grilled chicken. The wait staff was either poorly trained or just indifferent. We never got our drinks refilled and my salad which was supposed to come with a dressing never showed up and I had to eat it dry. Ehh, everyone has bad days. If they're still open I'm willing to give it another shot and amend my review. But if it's just based on my one trip, there's better places to go to get what you want.
(2)
Susan S.
OH.MY .GOD.!!! I was recently hungry for fried green tomatoes. I googled to find an awesome place near me in Jax with them and came across this place. Secret Garden Cafe DID NOT dissapoint. I came in for lunch on a Monday, and it wasnt that busy..the atmosphere is laid back..the decor is calming and cute, doesnt feel like youre in a strip mall on Beach Blvd.. I had the fried green tomatoes and fried pickles to start..they were SHUT YOUR MOUTH good!! The batter is light enough that you get great crunch without over powering the flavors, the dips that were served with them were great too..i then had an open face monte cristo that was equally amazing! My server was Francesca..nice enough things can not be said about her..she was friendly and SUPER attentive..the food didnt take long to come out at all and she checked on me several times. Also, i left my fork on the plate i used for my appetizers and she took it away, within less than a minute she came back, apologized and gave me a new one...I really appreciated that attention to detail on her part. The whole place is clean, including the rest rooms, the menu is extensive, and i cant wait to go back and try something else!!
(5)
Lisa S.
I have enjoyed Secret Garden Cafe for breakfast, brunch and lunch. I had to bring my review down a notch after a recent experience with a large group when everyone but me was really disappointed. I had the fried green tomato eggs benedict which is awesome. But they were out of cafe potatoes for a side so I got the grits. It was like trying to eat a bowl of glue with some preshredded cheese on top. There were clumps from an unstirred bottom of the pan that really were awful. So I guess I was only half satisfied with my brunch. Everyone else thought their meal was just ok, which was terrible disappointing since I had highly recommended this place. I will be back but will be a while till my next visit now.
(3)
Waheed B.
A-OK. The decor is really neat and cute and the kitchen staff were all wearing chef uniforms including the hats so I was prepared to rate this establishment much higher. However, the food is a solid A-OK and I will look elsewhere for a memorable brunch meal. When it comes to food, it seems you won't be disappointed if you order the fried green tomatoes according to my fellow yelpers. The egg and Benedict dishes are standard with nothing to set them apart, and I was really hoping they would live up to the star rating. What my dining guest found strange was that there was no veggie option with potato given that all breakfast potatoes are cooked in lard. I don't think you should call anything veggie if a vegetarian cannot order it without a disclaimer being printed in the menu. Service is pleasant and the wait staff are efficient and smiling.
(3)
Jennifer R.
Quick, great homemade food for breakfast! I have gone on several occasions and always get seated right away. The food was awesome and it always comes out very quickly. The "messes" on the menu are great! Different toppings served over potatoes were a great way to start the day.
My sister suggested Secret Garden Cafe when I was looking for a good breakfast place in Jacksonville. I was very happy with the suggestion. Secret Garden Cafe was a project on Restaurant Impossible a few years ago and I can definitely tell that some really good changes were made. The decor was really kitschy. Our waitress was very nice and was really encouraging when I ordered a mimosa at 10 am (gotta love someone who encourages morning drinking). I went for a healthy option but everyone else got crazy breakfasts (hot mess and friend green tomato blt) and we all enjoyed our meals. It was really well priced. If I lived in Jax, I would be a regular fo sho!
(5)
Anthony N.
This was my first time at the Secret Garden Cafe. I have passed it a bunch of times, but never had the chance to go in. Finally stopped in to get breakfast. I have looked at their menu a handful of times online, so I called ahead for a to go order. It was a simple, Belgium Waffle with sausage. Now before going any further, I found about this place on Restaurant Impossible. The owners have changed, but the inside still looks pretty much that same as what they did on the tv show. Now I went around 8:30 am & the place was really empty. Like, the three employees I kinda empty. Place looks really good. It's not hard to keep clean when it's that empty. I hope the lunch crowd is a lot better. On the case near the register, they have what seem to be house-made cakes that look really good. Now the waffle was good. I got it classic which came with Apple Butter & syrup. Now the sausage patty I could have done with out. It was dry and not must taste to it. It had a frozen patty taste and texture to it. Probably wouldn't get that again. I plan to stop by again and taste more of their menu. Hopefully this place can stay open and get some good business.
(3)
Daniel T.
We went for breakfast and it was delicious. Most breakfast places are greasy and poorly made. Everything was so fresh and tasty. The hot mess was a great idea with all of the ingredients in a breakfast plate combined. Biscuits were soft. French toast was delicious. My family and I were very pleased with the meal. The service was great and friendly. Definitely going again!
(5)
Jack T.
Friendly and attentive waitress. Great place for casual breakfast patio dining with by best furry friend.
(4)
David P.
Thank you Yelp for helping me discover this spot while heading to a cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL. Who knew we would go into a place that was featured on Food Network's "Restaurant Impossible" show!! When we first walked in I was immediately relaxed by the unique ambience and soothing olive green walls and custom pottery and artwork. We arrived at 9:15am on a Sunday before some people really stated packing in. I would recommend before 9am to ensure you beat the crowds. After reading the reviews here I went with the Eggs Bene and the pecan French toast!! SCORE!! These were the best eggs Benedict I have EVER had and the hollandaise sauce was perfect and the bacon and fried green tomato brought something new to it that made it FOREVER memorable!! I am a connoisseur of French toast, I have tried it around the world and my favorite is still the cap'n crunch French toast at the blue moon cafe in Baltimore, MD BUT this Caramel Pecan French Toast is a close 2nd. It will not disappoint. I plan on coming here again, one of the best breakfast restaurants I've eaten at in a LONG time!!
(5)
Gerald R.
Great place to have breakfast or lunch i had the Open Face Monte Cristo & it was great... Makes me want to order 2 next time.
(5)
Jerry M.
Excellent service, very clean and great atmosphere. The food is absolutely wonderful. We had the Secret Garden Benedict. It was fabulous. When we return to Jacksonville we will definitely come back.
(5)
Jennifer S.
This was the first time I've been here and it's my birthday! I could not have picked a better place for brunch! This place is so modern and beautifully decorated! Our waitress was Alex! She was very sweet and I was so please with the whole experience! This place is a must see! Loved it and will be back!
(5)
Reese S.
This little place is great! We went for brunch and the food was awesome. I had the crab cake egg benedict.. Yum!! I would definitely go back.
(5)
Benedict H.
Another first for us...and we are definitely coming back! The staff is very welcoming and friendly. The food...well, it speaks for itself! We ordered the Open Faced Monte Cristo and the Fried Green Tomato Salad....we couldn't get enough, haha! If and when the German Chocolate Cake is available...please have some, you will not regret it!
(5)
Robby B.
high prices for the portion sizes. the environment is clean and the dining room is nice and welcoming. deserts are good though.
(2)
Meredith R.
Found on yelp while traveling through Jacksonville. Very clean, nicely decorated, waitress were very nice, order the Crab cake benedict delicious! $12.95 of course the most expensive thing on the menu. You got two on your plate and the Crab cake had a good amount of crab in it with home fries or grits with cheese. Place never got crowded but it was sunday before church got out. 830am.
(5)
Kevin W.
I occasionally watch Restaurant Impossible, and when I found out that a restaurant on the show was so close, I knew I had to try it out when I was in town. My fiancee and I arrived for breakfast at about 9am. When I walked it, I immediately recognized a lot of the decor from the show. The makeover was about two years ago, and from what I could tell, they kept all the decorations up from the renovation. I had the Eggs Bene and my fiancee had the Egg Platter. Both our dishes tasted very fresh, and you could definitely tell they were made from scratch. I really enjoyed the hollandaise, egg, bacon, and english muffin combination. The cafe potatoes were pretty good also. No complaints about my fiancees dish. Pretty plain and simple but well done. From what I could tell, the fried green tomatoes made several appearances on the menu. It seems to be quite a popular pairing with a lot of the different dishes, and I can tell why. They were quite delicious. Overall I enjoyed my meal and would definitely come back. Definitely a place you want to check out if you are in the area.
(4)
Tana M.
Just had lunch here for the first time. It was outstanding. We had the BLT with fried green tomatoes and the chicken salad sandwich with sweet potatoes chips. Great service too. We will be going back soon.
(5)
Lara K.
Husband and I are food network junkies and try to visit local places that have been on the food network. This place is amazing Robert Irvine was here 3 years ago he may have helped (I remember this particular overthrow :-) ) but they have done the hard work of keeping it clean, friendly and food is AMAZING. I got the chicken and biscuits best chicken pot pie meal I've ever had husband had some french toast Monte Cristo (I wasn't paying attention to the name when he ordered) and he ate it down like he never ate before.
(5)
Yelena K.
We're going to the zoo and I am HUNGRY. Go to Yelp. Search for Breakfast. View on Map. SecretgardencafeBAM! The decor is super cute -- not expecting that from a place in a strip mall, the service was friendly, and the food honestly surprised me. I feel like such a jerk for expecting it to suck, but am very happy it did not. I got the Crab Cake Bene and it was scrum-diddly-umptious. (See picture. Seriously, look at it. Right now. Look at it. Do you see how FAT that crab cake is? That crab was the bomb.) It tasted extremely fresh and was obviously made with care. Super satisfied. My bloody mary was somewhat lacking and it did take a little while to get our food. But every crab cake should be like this one! And that's enough for me.
(4)
Beverly H.
Robert Irvine come back and save them. Went here for Brunch with my parents. The food was tasteless, the ambiance was okay nothing special, prices were decent for brunch and the service was sub-par. My parents thought the same thing. Won't ever be back. I recommend you don't waste your time on this one. By the way we were very surprised at how small the servings were. I think the pictures on this make them look a lot bigger than what we were served.
(1)
Wealthy H.
Amazing food, the crabcakes are the best ! The pecan french toast was good. My sister had the veggie hot mess and she really enjoyed it. Will definitely come back.
(5)
Anne-Marie B.
The Saturday Breakfast adventures continue as I've discovered a new strip mall gem. Never mind the fact that this restaurant was featured on Food Network so I share this "secret" with a few million cable viewers, I stand by my vast experience as a Breakfast Guru and recommend this restaurant for your weekend morning outings, provided you heed the following: 1) The kitchen is small. Food is cooked to order. I recommend taking a leisurely attitude and other people with the same. Don't show up expecting to leave within the hour. It isn't happening. 2) The sausage gravy will make you want to slap your momma. Don't bring her. 3) A mostly empty restaurant doesn't necessarily suggest poor quality of food. On the bright side, you'll have a vast array of table selections and you get one-on-one time with your server...yay! I'd say this place has a few kinks to work out, but the atmosphere is cute, and the food is cheap and yummy.
(4)
Athena B.
I never would have known this place existed, had it been for my girlfriends recommendation. The service was suburb and the food was delish. We went for brunch and I ordered the Classic Belgium Waffle while my husband ate the Crab Cakes Benedict. Both were cooked to perfection. The Bene was absolutely amazing. We will return soon!
(4)
Amanda N.
How have I not reviewed this place?!?! I've been here several times. It was on restaurant impossible. Shrimp and grits is amazing. Nice consistency, not too liquidy. Hearty and flavorful. Also love me some fried green tomatoes. Their homemade desserts are delicious. Wish they would have kept the wknd buffet like he suggested on the show. Nice place to enjoy brunch.
(4)
Raul R.
Mother's Day brunch at this place was a disappointment. This restaurant was in a strip mall. We waited 45 minute in the heat outside the door. When we got seated by the hostess, it took another 10 minutes before the server could get our drink orders. We have to ask for silverware. --- ("we ran out of teaspoons"). Our food came after about almost an hour. I must have drunk 3 cups of coffee before our orders came. Food didn't taste anything different from a fast food and drive through place. Service would have been faster had they hired a few more servers and cooks.
(1)
Elizabeth M.
So me, my sister and daughter came here for breakfast only to find out that there is no breakfast during the week! I honestly wanted to leave but we didn't want to cause a scene especially since we had my daughter with us. We ended up ordering lunch food and I ended up getting a daily special which was some hamburger with mashed potatoes and gravy on it. I can't complain the burger was actually very tasty! We also got some cakes to go, while my sister liked the cakes I have to say they were not that impressive. To give you an idea of how un-impressive, the cakes went bad in my fridge because no one else in my family liked them either. Maybe when I go back to this place for breakfast ill do another review but until they get tastier desserts and serve breakfast during breakfast hours I'm not sure when that will be.
(3)
John D.
There are no if's, and's, or but's about it. This is a great place for brunch. The make your own Bloody Mary Bar is a unique feature in this gem.
(4)
Sally F.
we ate at this establishment many sundays after church. several times our food was over an hour getting to us. we ordered breakfast so there was no excuse for this. we were never offered anything for the gross tardiness. we decided to try it again after eating at other restaurants who cared about their customers. we ordered breakfast again, each of the two of us ordered veggie omlettes without green peppers. again, the place was not crowded. after waiting over 45 minutes for our food and seeing the table of 4 receiving their food after arriving after us; i got up to find our missing waitress. she was hanging around at the back of the restaurant. she said she was getting our food as fast as she could and would put our order in next! next??!!! after waiting 45 minutes for eggs to be cooked? we waited another almost 15 minutes and finally got our meals, with green peppers which we told her i can not eat! she took 40 cents off the meal because of the green peppers. i will never eat at this restaurant again. the food is mediocre and not worth waiting for. the waitresses only want to take care of tables that have large parties hence their larger tip. they never offer any apology if you have to wait for your food for an extended time and....this has happened to us atleast 4 times! shame on us for returning after the first time! wont be back and have already told many people about the very bad experience, too many other great places to eat!
(1)
Ed M.
We had a perfect brunch today at Secret Garden. We had a mix of lunch items and breakfast, ie chicken salad, really big mess and veggie omelet. All of it was great and the light, fluffy biscuits were amazing. Good coffee too. Our server was great. She actually listened closely to some special requests and came back to ask it the request applied to the salad as well as the sandwich. Very thoughtful and attentive. Just what we needed this rainy, winter day..
(5)
Amanda N.
Fantastic food. The service was a little slow, but the atmosphere was so relaxed and the food so delicious that we didn't really mind. Next time we will definitely be trying the Male Your Own Bloody Mary bar. This time I got the turkey, apple, goat cheese sandwich, and all I can really say is WOW. It was just as tasty as I hoped it would be. All of the ingredients also tasted incredibly fresh. On a non-dining note, the bathroom was very nice, which is always a plus in a restaurant. We will be back, and soon!
(5)
Rj M.
Went in here with a friend. I got the fried pickle burger which was pretty big for a good decent price. It's was a bit of wait but it was well worth it. I highly recommend this place if your looking for a good brunch.
Wonderful attentive service to us and all the tables around us!!! Food was incredible
(5)
Dennis D.
Let me start by saying this place is bistro-ish...nice ambience, nice feng shui vibe. I was hungry and decorated artsy food doesn't satiate me. I went here strictly for the shrimp and grits and what I received was not exactly what I was expecting. Mind you, it was beautifully displayed in a geometrical masterpiece, I just don't like my grits in an isosceles triangle shape? My wife enjoyed her fried green tomatoes however. (but she's kinda a human garbage disposal). shhh....don't tell her I said that. I really wanted to like this place and I'm willing to give it another shot, but I won't be eating the shrimp and grits there again
(2)
B A.
I have eaten here a few times and enjoy their very different "breakfast entrees". I like the casual atmosphere and the upscale cuisine! I like their vegy omelette and their crabcakes, fried green tomato's and everything I've ever eaten there is really good!
(4)
Younjin L.
Service was GREAT! Shrimp Grits is my favorite dish of all. Whenever I am down in JAX, I will make sure to visit again!
(5)
James D.
Not too shabby! I only ate breakfast here and it was not too bad. It's good to dine at a local spot as opposed to the chain places. I had the breakfast bowl and it was good. The mimosas were great. They are $5 a piece, however they use decent champagne and make it right. Good spot for a brunch date. Previous reviewer mentioned come with patience. Please be patient. This is not a one hour brunch spot. I was here for two hours with some friends and had a blast. Service was good too.
(4)
Lisa C.
The food is pretty great here.. However the service was extremely lacking.. We had a relaxing breakfast but the server didn't really understand the concept of keeping drinks in our glasses. Other than that.. This is a little gem, it's very pleasant inside and the food is excellent. He had the really hot mess.. Which surprisingly is pretty amazing. It's potatoes, eggs, bacon, cheese, and sausage gravy in a bowl.. And I had the breakfast croissant which was top notch. I will be going back.
(4)
Chelsea S.
The food and coffee were hot and fresh. I ordered the eggs bene, which is eggs Benedict topped with a fried green tomato. The tomato added a speed crunch appeal to a typically savory breakfast dish. The grits weren't my favorite, but I am from the north so I don't know too much about what makes good breakfast grits. I will be returning.
(4)
Brad M.
This place was on the T.V. supposedly Robert Irvine fixed this place up and now it's fantastic. NOT SO MUCH! He needs to come back to get their food back up to par. Because this hype is not right. The food was awful. i had a sandwhich and it was just mediocre at best. There was no difference from the food I ordered, my wifes food, and my mother in laws food. It was just blah at best. Inexpensive. but I expected more from these reviews. However I will not be going back and I recommend someone call Robert up right away. They need help AGAIN.
(1)
Julie A.
I'm with Ayanna. Brunch on Saturdays should last at least till 2pm if not the entire friggin day! Plus, the brunch choices here are much better than what they offer at Dennys, and as tempting as it sounds to roll out of bed and walk to Dennys, I'd rather make the trip to my little secret. Because that's how we should keep it. Just kidding. Tell everyone about this place! The fried green tomatoes ($7.50) have never failed me, and since I was one of the TSG veterans in attendance at this particular get-together, I wanted to share them with everyone. Appropriately there are 4 tomatoes in a stack and 4 of us. Winning! I also made the mistake of ordering the crab stack ($13.95), and I'm on a non-red-meat/non-pork diet for the Lent season, so I did think I was going to die when I accidentally ingested Ms. Piggy!! wtf... D= Service was Miami-waiter-style on this occasion. Odd, because I usually get really friendly and helpful service here. But for whatever reason, the server just wasn't feeling it that day. No bienvenidos a Miami or Yacksonville. Nope, not until we started ordering. I wonder if they thought we were chillin there like panera/starbucks style, because they completely had the wrong idea. We were just waiting for the rest of the group to show up. Someone said they might have realized we were down with the Y and that's when the attitude changed from Miami-waiter back to friendly. Who knows... I wonder if someone pulled up our photos on Yelp. I saw a "Yelp loves us sticker" as I was leaving. Yes, TSG you can thank me for that. I was the second person to review this spot. Mwahahaha
(4)
Ninjosh A.
It's incredibly rare to find a restaurant that makes a decent French toast. If that's what you're looking for, keep looking because this place certainly doesn't. Meanwhile, the rest of the food we tried was acceptable, everything tasted fresh, better than most chain places. Still, friendly. Quick, service made up for the mediocre offerings. The French toast was really bad. Just bread, really, no effort at all. Stunningly bad.
Had lunch at Secret Garden for the first time since they moved out of the antique mall years ago--I wish it was as good as I remembered. We both had the roast beef with homemade sour cream and horseradish on ciabatta. It was the special on Saturday, and so popular they sold out of it. So they brought it back today. It was an ok sandwich. Not great; not bad. The special came with a side. My date had the fresh mix salad with homemade dressing that she enjoyed. I had the broccoli salad. It was too heavy on mayonnaise.
On the rare occasion that I have a day off to spend with my sister, we'll usually plan out an entire day--starting with breakfast. On one such occasion, during the week, we decided to go to Secret Garden Cafe, having been enticed by promises of southern style breakfasts with biscuits, shrimp and grits, french toast, waffles, etc. We arrived well within the hours allocated for breakfast by the restaurant's website (Monday -Friday 7 am -11 am), only to be told that they no longer served breakfast on Weekdays. Seriously!? I guess this was what they meant by "Secret," because apparently it was one we weren't privy to prior to our arrival. If we had we would have gone elsewhere to satiate the need to my favorite meal of the day...Instead we were faced with an uncomfortable diner dilemma. Save face and stay to eat an unexpected meal---or make a scene by getting up from our table (with a toddler in tow) and try to find a new place to break our fast. Had the toddler not been with us, we would have opted for option number two, but alas, we stayed--feeling misled the entire time. The food was actually really good. The fried green tomato on a juicy burger is every bit of delicious as it's made out to be by any of the other reviews you may have read. The desserts are an amazingly delicious southern selection of whatever they baked that day or the day before (Hummingbird cake? Why, yes please!) Call me a drama queen, but I just cant shake the rancorous feelings I get, knowing that this is the place where I got tricked into staying for lunch when I was craving breakfast....
(3)
Allison B.
I went for lunch with a large group on a Saturday. I love that they serve brunch the whole time they are open, which is only for breakfast and lunch. The atmosphere is nice. Supposedly a modern take on the secret garden book. Mostly that means the paint is green. Since we had a large group and a reservation, we had a private room with a cool natural wood table. I ordered the eggs bene and enjoyed my meal. We also had the fried green tomatoes appetizer and the chips with blue cheese. I liked both of the apps. Our service wasn't fantastic. The waitress actually came by and gave us a pitcher of water so as she said, she wouldn't have to come by so often. At the end, our bills were not correct, but we made due instead of having them corrected with such a large group. 3 stars overall. Good food, nice ambiance, so-so service.
(3)
Ruby A.
I'm happy they serve breakfast until 2pm. I love how we're immediately greeted, seated, and drinks orders taken. I love the Martin coffee they serve. I probably had like 3 cups, which is unusual for me to drink so much. We ordered the FGT, but it came out differently (see my photos for the before (2011) and after (2012) pictures. FGT is always good, but I really miss the way they used to prepare it. My bf had the country eggs bene w/ a side of grits. He loved it, but the only thing I really liked from his plate was the sausage gravy and tomatoes. The grits were gross, not creamy at all... too gooey. I had the crab cake bene with a side of potatoes. Mine was delicious! I ended up taking 1/2 my plate to go and never made it to dessert. Oh well, there's always next time :)
(4)
Mike B.
Best fried green tomatoes around. I found this place thanks once agin to Yelp and it did not disappoint. Cool place to go have breakfast or lunch, the staff was friendly and the food was great, big portions and full of flavor!
(5)
Jen B.
I had no idea this place existed until trying to find a place for brunch that was open new years day....I am so glad they were open. The decor was new, modern. They weren't all too busy when we got there at 11am so they place seemed pretty quiet, like our conversations could be heard by everyone. It got busier as time went on and that improved. They had a lunch and breakfast menu available, not an overwhelming selection but some classics with a twist. I ordered the eggs bene without hollandaise (I just don't like it), it came with the english muffin, egg, bacon, and a fried green tomato slice. I had never had a fried green tomato...it's sweet and fried. I finished the first half but was feeling guilty about it's friedness by round two so I picked it off. It came with some potatoes. I no longer live in Jax but with their selection and prices I would definitely go back when in town for a brunch.
(4)
Erica H.
Great breakfast! The waffles are amazing and the service is always great. I highly recommend!
(5)
Jessica B.
Great Brunch! I had the Eggs Bene and my husband had the Pecan Waffle. All very great tasting food. Service was spot on and we enjoyed sitting on their front patio. This restaurant would have received 5 stars but the coffee was a little weak in my opinion. I recommend to everyone.
(4)
Kathy C.
We just went for a lunch after a long break from going to the Secret Garden (due to our recent schedule). Upon walking in, we were surprised by the big change in decor. Our server told us about the episode on Restaurant Impossible. Anyways, I have to say, the many times we've been to the Secret Garden, we always thought the food was great and service excellent. Our lunch today, was just as good. We had our usual soup, two sandwiches to try/share, and a slice of cake for dessert. Our server was pretty new, a bit akward. BUT, he was enthusiastic, prompt, and super friendly. Again, a very satisfying lunch.
(5)
Katie C.
After hearing so many great things from Yelp and friends alike, I decided to drive out to Secret Garden Cafe for my Sunday brunch outing. I've worn out all my favorite beach spots and I'd heard that SGC underwent a massive makeover from Food Network's reality show Restaurant: Impossible. I arrived with a plan to massively overdose on calories and spend the rest of the day watching the Jags from the couch. This would require some satisfyingly indulgent breakfast platters, and Secret Garden's menu easily accommodated with a bevy of benedicts, grains like french toast and Belgian waffles, and other indulgent breakfast staples. My friend and I decided to share the Shrimp and Grits and an order of Smothered Biscuits. (aka biscuits and gravy!) As we waited for our food I sipped on some black coffee (it was strong!) and scoped out the atmosphere a little more. I immediately liked the light, open feel of the space. High ceilings, funky, green paint and floral touches made for an inviting, lively feel despite the dreary weather outside. No wonder people love coming here! It's a fun escape from the bland, strip-mall vibe of Beach Boulevard (even though its in a strip mall on Beach Boulevard!) A live musician strummed sleepily on his acoustic guitar for the brunch crowd, and his light, instrumental versions of Beatles and James Taylor songs added to the happy ambiance. Our dishes came out piping hot and HUGE! The Shrimp and Grits were unmistakably cajun with a creamy, tomato bisque poured over juicy shrimp and fried grit cakes. Wow! It smelled heavenly. The Smothered Biscuits were in a word, decadent. Seriously chunky sausage gravy with peppery, oniony bits was piled high on two open-faced and oversized buttery biscuits. I dug in for my first bite of them immediately and was surprised by just how much flavor was packed into that warm, creamy gravy. A lot of places play it safe with this classic, but SGC is not one of them! Theirs is a unique, peppery blend with a sharp bite of smoked sausage flavor that I found delicious. Switching to a spoon, I jumped over to the Shrimp and Grits and scooped up a big bite of bisque, cake and shrimp and chowed down. YUMM! This dish also packed a punch! The grit cake was crisp on the outside but warm and so soft in the center. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and the bisque was a creamy, peppery Cajun concoction reminiscent of an etouffee sauce. Bon temps! We gave a valiant effort to finish our oversized dishes, but they were so generous and rich we decided not to overdo it. (After all I can't watch football in a coma!) Our server, Maggie, efficiently checked us out and offered us to-go Cokes and coffees which we were happy to accept. I left so glad that I had ventured out to the Secret Garden Cafe today. Now I just need to You Tube that Restaurant: Impossible episode to get the inside scoop on how Jacksonville acquired this great little spot! :)
(5)
A J.
Cute, clean little place. Had bacon, eggs and grits. Everything cooked perfect very delicious. Staff very friendly and attentive. A little on the pricey side for breakfast but the fast friendly service is worth it. Will definitely be going back.
(4)
Ayanna B.
Yummmm! Gorgeous decor, delicious food, the desserts looked amazing (I'll hit them up next time). I had a turkey and bacon club sandwich and it was ridiculously delicious for such a simple concept. And it was more food than a reasonable person could want to eat in one sitting. My only complaint was that breakfast ended at 11am. ON A SATURDAY! What the heck is that? I'm barely awake at 11am on the weekends. Whatever, the menu looked promising. Will update next time, as I'm positive I'll go again. Go there BEFORE 11AM. Otherwise, get the crab stack. You'll die. DIE!
(4)
Michael R.
Stumbled upon this place while in the area visiting my son at UNF. Did not realize it was featured on Restaurant Impossible until we arrived. Enjoyed a great breakfast--we ordered eggs bene and the country bene. Both dishes were obviously made from scratch, nicely seasoned, and full of flavor. The biscuits in the country egg bene were light and flaky. The hollandaise was lemony, light and nicely seasoned. The smoky bacon and fried green tomatoes were a great compliment to the eggs bene. The sausage gravy in the country dish was perfect--big flavors (sage, fennel seed?) Great, friendly service in a nice clean setting at great prices. Highly recommended!
(5)
Jeremy C.
Thanks Yelp for guiding me to the Secret Garden. Great spot for a tasty breakfast. I got the omelet with bacon, cheese & tomatoes, cheesy grits and a biscuit. The biscuit was at least 4" tall, the sign of a stately biscuit. The omelet was great. Nice decor, friendly staff. I'd come back again for sure.
(4)
Tracey L.
The burger was REALLY good, and great value for the price. The service was a little lacking, but I'll give it to them as it was after 2:30 and that's when they close. If I come back it will be for the coconut cream cake. No room today! We stopped on our way to visit friends in St Augustine.
(4)
Rachel D.
Secret Garden is a quaint little cafe in which sandwiches and breakfast with items such as eggs benedict and english muffins are served. Ive had the opportunity to try the fried tomatoes which and the turkey sandwich as well as the delicious shrimp and grits. The service and overall quality of the food was delicious. However the only down fall was breakfast ending at 11 am. Secret Garden Cafe is known for their delicious breakfast. For improvement, brunch should be offered and breakfast should at least be served til 12:30. In that case four stars were given.
(4)
Alan F.
Went Sunday after GA-FL game and looked closed but they were open serving Mimosa's and Bloody Mary's!! We both had the veggie omelet with home potatoes and it was good although could have contained more veg inside considering it was 3 eggs. Service was good and would recommend if you are in the area.
(4)
Polly H.
I love this place, the food is great, beautiful decorated and the staff is always nice. I will recommend the shrimp & grits, eggs Benedict's, the waffles so yummy. I really enjoy to go to this place for brunch on Sundays.
(5)
Kristie S.
We eat at Secret Garden quite often during the week and I've never had a bad meal! The BLT Deluxe with fried green tomatoes is amazing. I've eaten many of the salads as well and love to try the daily specials. I don't particularly care for the breakfast; Metro Diner beats them. Lunch is excellent!
(4)
Amber A.
Great fried green tomatoes and home made chips. They usually have a fewvegetarian options and are willing to accomdate requests.
(4)
Ria P.
Checked this at Yelp and heard about Robert Irvine from food network visited this place for a total re-make. It didn't disappoint from the service and food. Pick the first 4 from the lunch menu. And you will be lucky of Ellen is working as your server, check it out!
(4)
Patricia L.
Did Sunday brunch here with my boyfriend. He had smothered biscuits and I had an omelette. The food was good, service was even better. Nice atmosphere. All around great place to try.
(4)
Justin T.
Great breakfast and brunch....... Quiet place to catch up with loved ones
(5)
Troy W.
Seems to be dying a slow death. Came in on a Saturday morning. Quiche? On the menu, but you can't order it. Side of fresh fruit? They don't have any fruit. Used to be packed on weekends... maybe the above explains why it's not anymore.
(3)
D Y.
How come weve never been here before? Our server was exceptionally attentive in such a busy breakfast on Sunday. Definitely try the Hot Southern Mess. Hubby tried the poached benedict on a buttermilk biscuit with the fried green tomatoes. mmmm.....! Food was great! Restroom was very clean. Service was excellent. Prices were reasonable. Everything we want in a place! We're definitely going back!
(5)
Allison D.
I found this place randomly on yelp while on vacation with my family. We absolutely loved it! Our waitress was friendly and the food was delicious!
(5)
Rick E.
I came here on a sunday and they only served breakfast! I was hoping for lunch! The breakfast menu was decent but i finally decided to get the Cheese filled croissant with turkey. It was a good size sandwich for $7 and the side potatoes were good too. They used red potatoes. I would come back for this meal, it was buttery, warm, and satisfying.
(4)
Randy H.
This is the second time we have eaten here. Both times we have enjoyed the food and the service. The portions are big and the food came out quick even though they were fairly busy. I had the hot mess which was very tasty and my girlfriend had a breakfast platter. We will go back again.
(4)
Amanda J.
I definitely am going to rate this place a 5 of 5 star rating and it's not just because I'm still reeling from the fantabulous breakfast the hubs and i had there this morning. I've been kind of fearful that there'd be a line out the door because of it being such a secretive and well reviewed place, but at 10am on this Sunday it worked perfectly! we've even talked about heading back during the week or for that special once a month dinner I read and heard about. We were greeted and seated as soon as we walked in the front door, and only had to wait a few minutes for drinks and to be told the daily specials. I ordered the egg plate with fried bologna and a biscuit with a coffee and juice, and the hubs had the Belgian waffle with bacon and a diet soda. Simple fare , right? These guys kicked up the flavor and presentation to the "nth" degree for just regular old bfast food! We were amazed!! I don't think I've been this excited about cheese grits ,biscuits and fried bologna in ..well, ever. This is the FIRST time I've ever seen the hubs not use any syrup at all on a waffle- he just ate it with the cinnamon butter and toasty pecans (with powdered sugar and caramel sauce). The grits were fantastic, didn't need salt or pepper for anything, and the biscuits were reminiscent of the ones my Grammy and momma used to make- big ole fresh cat-heads! I was super impressed with the level of personal attention and service we got, as well as the other patrons, some of which were called by name! I absolutely love that! we got a slice of mandarin orange cake( I'm still dreaming about it and mourning it's demise) to go which didn't last long sadly. I would definitely recommend this place to others,but only hope that they stay in business for ages, and there's always a table for me there.
(5)
Michelle M.
Did you know? Secret Garden Cafe has eggs benedict with a southern flair -- they use fried green tomatoes. I came here on Saturday morning for breakfast with a couple of friends. Of course I had gotten the eggs benny with fried green tomatoes and it's pretty good. It's crunchy, juicy, and the eggs were perfectly poached. It came with a side of soft potato hash which had some kick with the use of some cayenne pepper. It wasn't bad for $7.95. My other friends got the hot mess, french toast, and the omelette which all looked really good! It's a good breakfast place and I'd eat here again. The decor is a little bit weird though. It's all secret garden themed with black gates and dim lights on the walls, but then there's GA/FL football paintings, which are aggressive, flashy, and just plain weird. I think they should consider replacing them with something that matches their fresh lillies on the table.
(4)
Jacque K.
Fantastic Lunch! Secret Garden Cafe has the most amazing Southern infused lunch menu! I went with a party of 11 and we were promptly seated and our fantastic server, Justin, was on his game! Someone with us had a very specific food allergy and they were able to accommodate the allergy without making us wait. Cant wait to go back! ( I hear they have a kind of "secret" dinner menu that they only open on certain nights, cant wait to try that either)
(5)
Kristen O.
Living in the vicinity of such a large city, I'm always on the lookout for great places, especially ones tucked away somewhere. Though this great little find sits right on busy Beach Blvd, I'm so glad I happened to notice it one afternoon. My first few meals I ordered to go, but it was such a treat to find a place that offers up tasty sandwiches with sides like healthy salads and homemade dressings to fully crafted and delicious dishes. In addition to that, I'm always greeted by friendly staff and usually cared for by one of the owners working the counter himself. Made pleasant conversation while I was waiting. Last time I was in, I actually got to sit and enjoy the courses. Though I was eyeing the fried green tomatoes, we started with the crab cakes, of which I'm usually not a fan. But I have to say they were quite scrumptious. I ordered the Shrimp and Grits and savored every bite of the fried grit cakes under a creamy bisque with sauteed shrimp and veggies. As I know they always have a fabulous homemade dessert selection, we finished with a sinfully delicious chocolate torte. My only wish is that I lived closer so I could enjoy this secret more often.
(5)
Lauren K.
I have driven by this little cafe for the last three years and never had stopped in until yesterday for Sunday brunch! Wow was I missing out on a delicious fresh breakfast!! What a cute restaurant and I was surprised it had as many tables as it did because from the street it looks really small. Service was prompt and very friendly! I had the wonderful Eggs "BENE" with bacon and fried green tomatoes. It was probably the best benedict I've had in a long long time! The potatoes on the side were very well seasoned and cooked perfectly! My boyfriend had the omelet with grits and biscuit with a side of gravy He really enjoyed his choice as well. The biscuits are huge, moist and delicious! I did try a little bit of the gravy and must say that was awesome too! I will definitely be back soon and will go try the lunch too! Very reasonably priced and perfect size portions!!
(4)
Jenn S.
My husband & I decided to try this place after reading all of the amazing reviews. I'm a sucker for good brunch. I mean -- how many awesome brunch places are there in Jacksonville? Very few.. The first time we tried to visit The Secret Garden Cafe, they were closed due to renovations from the show "Restaurant Impossible." We came back a couple weeks later to check out the new decor & taste their amazing food. I got the Eggs Bene & my husband got the Shrimp Grits with 2 slices of bacon. The bacon is a little steep in price at $2.00 a slice, but I will say -- it's worth it. Thick cut & HUGE are the best words to describe the best bacon that we've ever had & I like to think I'm a bacon connoisseur. I preferred my husband's food over mine. Though the Eggs Bene was good -- I think I'll try something the next time we go back. The Shrimp Grits were heaven in a bowl! We tried to recreate it, but it wasn't happening. We cannot wait to go back! I love this place. It is such a gem. I feel like most food on Beach Blvd. isn't amazing.
(5)
Robert L.
Intresting and creative menu ... Not just "same ole, same ole". You can experiment here with a degree of confidence that it will be not only different, but also tasty! Like other reviewers, i really enjoyed the eggs bene and also the BLT ... both nice with the fried green tomatoes. Service was outstanding ... Greeted as sonn as you walk in, menu and drink arrived promptly. Amd, if you are lucky enough to get KATHY as your server, it is not only prompt but also helpful withninformation about the choices, enthusiastic and attentive.; add great smile, great attitude and interesting conversationalist and it adds to the overall experience. On ambience, I agree with some other reviewers...you would likely expect lee along Beachk Blvd in that area. Somehow, it comes off feeling unique and "cool" due to the uniqueness of the food offered and seeing that it has some devotees there elatedly ordering, chatting and enjoying their meal at Secret Cafe.
(5)
Jordan B.
Had lunch there on Saturday and got the Sirloin Burger on ciabatta. It was awesome and it was insanely well priced. I've been there before and the food was great, but this burger was delicious and the price was outstanding.
(5)
Alan S.
Whaa. We love this place. Would have given it 4 or 5 stars but service was slow, slow, slow last Saturday. Food is still great. Had the fried green tomatoes and Jerk Pork Loin. Really good. Crab stack is also a winner. Sorry SGC...really like you guys...but gotta tell it like it is. We're going again this weekend just so we can update our review! For anyone considering this wonderful place, be forewarned that they are only open for dinner on certain days. Call in advance.
(3)
Nate G.
Just ate here for the first time today and it was really great. The staff was attentive, the food looked and tasted great, and one of the owners even stopped by our table to chat a bit. Split a sausage biscuit with my dining companion and managed to get in a good amount of the yummy French toast while also sharing a few bites of quiche. Everything was swell and I will be coming back soon!
(5)
Lindsay L.
I think Secret Garden Cafe is a secret no more. After reading so many great reviews and finding a coupon in the Mint Magazine, I decided to give SGC a try for lunch. I was glad I did! I'd glanced at the menu online before hand ( secretgardencafe.net ) and knew that regardless of the other appetizing options, I'd end up ordering the Alabama Meatloaf sandwich. I'm a sucker for meatloaf sandwiches. Oddly enough, I saw three other patrons order the same thing! (It was also kind of funny that all of them were older gentlemen, but I guess I just like what I like!) The meatloaf was a good slice - not too big - and was placed on large slice of french bread. It was topped with bbq sauce, cheddar cheese and coleslaw. The meatloaf and toppings were great, however, the bread needed to be grilled or toasted. It just sat under the meatloaf, looking bored and lonely. The true stars of lunch were the salad dressings. My lunch date had the gorgonzola bleu cheese and I had the sun dried tomato vineagrette. At first I was a little disappointed that my "side" salad was just a plate of field greens with one (literally, just one) grape tomato, but once I sampled the dressing I understood the lack of other salad ingredients. It was simply the most tasty vinagrette in town. I really think they should bottle and sell it. Unfortunately, my coupon was only for Tuesday to Friday, but it was great food at a great price. I'd recommend it for a great alternative to the regular sandwich lunch options. (They had rooms off to the side that you can reserve for special events as well. Our server told me that they do events quite a bit. I think it would be a good place for a small company lunch or a more casual rehearsal dinner.)
(4)
Ann C.
Be aware, they've moved! The neat little eatery that was once tucked inside the Avonlea Antiques building on Beach Blvd has moved into its own space about a mile west in the Peach Shopping Center, on the north side of Beach before you get to Southside Blvd. The big draw for me has always been the rotation of homemade soups and desserts, but the new Secret Garden has an updated menu that features more salads, sandwiches, wraps, and entres. They now have full table service instead of order-at-the-counter. Save room for cake!
(4)
Kate R.
I went here with my boyfriend and our friend after reading good reviews and each of us loved it! We were greeted immediately, and the service was friendly and nice. We ordered the Fried Green Tomato sandwich, the "Hot Mess", and the Eggs Bene, and each one was delicious. Also the coffee was delicious and didn't burn my mouth. Definitely coming back!! :)
(4)
Jskilicious S.
Wish this place had remained a secret. Dinner menu was not dinner. Expect lunch options. Pizza tasted like the crust was store bought. No flavor. Sandwich was something u could make at home. Service was poor. Will not go back.
(1)
Tim P.
After seeing the "Restaurant Impossible" episode featuring the Secret Garden Cafe, we decided to check it out ourselves by going for the Sunday Brunch with our friends, for a total of 7 people. When we got to the restaurant, it was packed, which seemed like a good sign. After a few moments of observation, it was clear something was wrong. The staff were running around completely disoriented, and we were left waiting for a table. After about 10 minutes, we were seated. One of the waiters from the show took our drink order, then never came back. Another server came by and asked again for our drink order, and we told her one of the waiters had already taken it. Her response was, "I'll take it again since he probably forgot". Not a good way to start. After everyone decided what they wanted, the server took our order. And we waited....and waited....and waited. After what seemed to be over 30 minutes, our food arrived, except for one of our party's dishes, which was French Toast. Apparently they'd "burned the first one" so they had to make another. Strike 2, in my book. Fortunately my friend took it well and shared with his brother until his food arrived. I'd ordered the Crabcakes Benedict. It looked pretty, but to be honest, I wasn't impressed. It was really bland. Overall, I think the owners just used Restaurant Impossible to get a free re-model. The food was less than impressive, and the service was slow. I would like to say nicer things about this place and rate it higher, especially after all they went through with Chef Irvine. But, I just can't honestly say it was worth the trip.
(2)
magic g.
Sorry to have misses bfast, but Monte cristo w egg salad instead (no jam) was an amazing food orgy!
(4)
Craig L.
Great breakfasts! Southern style! Only suggestion is to add lite versions, egg beaters, no oil cooking, no cream sauces, etc but everything on the menu was top drawer.
(4)
Jeff P.
I have been coming here for years have tasted everything on the menu and this place is consistantly awesome. Food is fresh and tastey with something for everyone the newly updated decor, look for it on food network, if you have not tried it GO!
(5)
Eillen B.
The food is good. Try the shrimp grits! Chicken salads sandwich and soups are tasty.
(3)
Jax G.
The egg salad the first time was awesome. The second time---- no!! Staff was friendly but the Light skin African American manager on duty guy on Saturday, 9/29/2012 wasn't very friendly. He just stood around. He didn't even say thank you for coming like most managers do! Hardly any customers at 1:00 p.m.
(2)
Fred O.
I decided to stop and try this cafe after finding it in Yelp and seeing they served fried green tomatoes. Even better was that they had eggs benedict with the fried green tomatoes on top......so yummy!! The service was great and they even helped me find a great spot to try at the beach for lunch. I definetely recommend.
(5)
Jessica L.
Love this place, have never had a bad dish here...eggs bene is my favorite. Definitely give it a try you won't be disappointed!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
l b.
Very surprised with this restaurant. From the outside I didn't expect much. I like the colors inside as well as the art in the walls. We sat ourselves and were immediately greeted and served drinks. My husband had the breakfast burger. The sausage patty was the size of a regular burger with ample cheddar cheese. The has brown patty and maple syrup made it just like you'd expect a breakfast sandwich to be. He enjoyed the potatoes cooked in bacon grease. I had the secret garden Benedict. The hollandaise was delicious and the poached eggs were perfectly cooked atop a toasted English muffin. Mine had fried green tomatoes which were just average, a bit lacking in flavor but still okay. The cheese grits were deliciously creamy. I barley ate half of my plate because I was full. My husband ate his and the rest of mine but I think that was a bit of a stretch for him. The portions are more than adequate and the prices are fair. Wish they would consider adding smaller breakfast portions to the menu. I'd recommend this restaurant and will come back.
(5)Sam S.
I came here for lunch after moving to the area and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is cozy and it has a old time diner feel. The waist staff is relaxed, but on top of things. The food was awesome. Everything on the menu sounds delicious so it was hard to even make a decision! I ended up getting the Cheese Croissant with smoked turkey and sweet potato chips. The chips were perfect and the croissant was stuffed with cheddar and mozzarella, a cheesy mess, I loved it. My date ordered the special Aloha Burger and thoroughly enjoyed it. Swiss, pineapple, bacon, all on a bun. The prices were reasonable and I will definitely be back!
(5)yuliya k.
Really this place has over 100 reviews with four and five stars makes me wonder if these people have tried real food before. To start of this place is pretty much old people paradise. The service was ok but the food was terrible. I brought my six year old who loves Belgium waffles so that's what I ordered, he got with the sausage patty, nothing special about the waffles so I waited for my food to arrive. I ordered the monte Cristo sandwich and boy was it a disappointment way over fatty,greasy with to much jam and the side of fries where also over oily. So if you want something that tastes like Denny's the typical American fast food this is what you get here. Will not be giving this place another shot.
(1)Cheuk K.
We went here on a Friday morning for brunch at around 10:30am. The place had a few tables, but it was relatively quiet. However, the place filled up pretty quickly with customers and even had a party of 16 that came in. It's a pretty cozy restaurant and has a nice ambiance. The waitress was very nice and attentive even though it got a little bit busy after we came in. We ordered the Really Hot Mess with Gravy and Classic Egg Benedict. The hot mess with gravy was pretty bland, and it tasted okay at best. It probably would have tasted better without the gravy on top, to be honest. With the gravy, I couldn't really tell what I was eating because everything was blended together; I guess that's why they call it a hot mess. On the other hand, the egg benedict was very delicious, and the egg was perfectly poached. I only wish there was one more benedict and less potatoes. It was a lot of food, and we had to get a to-go box to bring the left-over home. Overall, this is a nice place for breakfast, and I would recommend you to check it out.
(4)Bernadette A.
Ate here on a Friday morning and it was not too busy. Service was adequate. Food was tolerable *Crab cake eggs bene: Looked amazing. Perfectly cooked crab cakes. The English muffin was a bit tough and I am 99% sure that it's the Thomas English Muffin Brand. The homemade hollandaise sauce was good but not memorable. -3 out of 5 stars *cheesy grits: Plain, unsalted, unseasoned grits with semi melted cheddar cheese on top. Not the best. Very under flavored. 1 out of 5 stars *homemade biscuit a bit dry. Hard on the outside and not very buttery on the inside. 1 out of 5 stars Would I come back? No.
(2)Tiffany H.
This cafe is really nice. The food was good and came out pretty fast for a place that cookes by the order. The staff was really nice too. I will be coming back here for sure.
(5)Maya C.
This was a spontaneous option for breakfast. I've heard and seen the buzz so u couldn't wait any longer to check this place out. I arrived about a quarter to 11 on a Sunday morning and the place was already hopping. There's no hostess so you just seat yourself. My mother and I seated ourselves in the adjoining room filled with paintings and sunlight. I wondered how long it would take till a waitress came to out table and in less than 3 mins we had one. Mom ordered the egg platter with cafe potatoes and a biscuit while I had the veggie omelette with toast and cheddar grits. In about 10-15 mins out server Wendy was back with our orders and were ready to chow down. Super fast turn-around on a busy day. First off, everything looked delicious. The toast looked like a combination of wheat and rye swirled together in a cool presentation. The veggie omelette appeared runny but that was from the oil in the skillet and the veggies. Tasted like one I would make myself. The grits were simple, topped with finely shredded cheddar cheese. It was all good, like having breakfast over a friend's house. My mother is pretty picky about what she eats but agreed with me. Her cafe potatoes had cherry tomatoes in it which she loves and her biscuit was HUGE. She really liked that. The food, the service, and the atmosphere was great and I will definitely be back for the Bloody Mary bar.
(5)Tara M.
First time eating here. stumbled upon on it and the food was great! My kids had french toast and we had to order more. Definitely worth a try.
(5)John S.
Pefect breakfast. I was craving a veggie loaded breakfast. I ordered the hot mess veggie. It was awesome. What a great breakfast spotn everything was perfect. Service perfect.
(5)Michelle W.
What a delightful breakfast spot. On travel and rushed for breakfast before my flight I called to see the wait times and Francesca answered. She told me not to worry and she'd reserve me a small table no problem. I rushed over and decided to try the Eggs Benedict Secret Garden special with a fried green tomato. Fantastic. I actually don't care much for fried food however it sounded tempting and wasn't the least bit greasy. Crisp flavorful with my egg poached to perfection. I had a hold on the sauce bc I'm not a gravy girl but the breakfast was great. Fruit salad on the side and the farm fresh grapes watermelon and oranges were sweet and perfect. Shout out to Francesca for being awesome and prompt service with a smile. My apologies for inhaling breakfast but the plane was waiting. I will definitely come here again when I'm back in town!
(5)Thomas C.
Is this place still open? Each time I drive by it looks like a ghost town. I'll admit that I haven't been here since Robert Irvine and crew came in and dropped a bomb shell of truth on them. So this may be an outdated review and you as a reader can feel free to disregard it in its entirety. I came here with a few co-workers for lunch. I got a salad with grilled chicken. The wait staff was either poorly trained or just indifferent. We never got our drinks refilled and my salad which was supposed to come with a dressing never showed up and I had to eat it dry. Ehh, everyone has bad days. If they're still open I'm willing to give it another shot and amend my review. But if it's just based on my one trip, there's better places to go to get what you want.
(2)Susan S.
OH.MY .GOD.!!! I was recently hungry for fried green tomatoes. I googled to find an awesome place near me in Jax with them and came across this place. Secret Garden Cafe DID NOT dissapoint. I came in for lunch on a Monday, and it wasnt that busy..the atmosphere is laid back..the decor is calming and cute, doesnt feel like youre in a strip mall on Beach Blvd.. I had the fried green tomatoes and fried pickles to start..they were SHUT YOUR MOUTH good!! The batter is light enough that you get great crunch without over powering the flavors, the dips that were served with them were great too..i then had an open face monte cristo that was equally amazing! My server was Francesca..nice enough things can not be said about her..she was friendly and SUPER attentive..the food didnt take long to come out at all and she checked on me several times. Also, i left my fork on the plate i used for my appetizers and she took it away, within less than a minute she came back, apologized and gave me a new one...I really appreciated that attention to detail on her part. The whole place is clean, including the rest rooms, the menu is extensive, and i cant wait to go back and try something else!!
(5)Lisa S.
I have enjoyed Secret Garden Cafe for breakfast, brunch and lunch. I had to bring my review down a notch after a recent experience with a large group when everyone but me was really disappointed. I had the fried green tomato eggs benedict which is awesome. But they were out of cafe potatoes for a side so I got the grits. It was like trying to eat a bowl of glue with some preshredded cheese on top. There were clumps from an unstirred bottom of the pan that really were awful. So I guess I was only half satisfied with my brunch. Everyone else thought their meal was just ok, which was terrible disappointing since I had highly recommended this place. I will be back but will be a while till my next visit now.
(3)Waheed B.
A-OK. The decor is really neat and cute and the kitchen staff were all wearing chef uniforms including the hats so I was prepared to rate this establishment much higher. However, the food is a solid A-OK and I will look elsewhere for a memorable brunch meal. When it comes to food, it seems you won't be disappointed if you order the fried green tomatoes according to my fellow yelpers. The egg and Benedict dishes are standard with nothing to set them apart, and I was really hoping they would live up to the star rating. What my dining guest found strange was that there was no veggie option with potato given that all breakfast potatoes are cooked in lard. I don't think you should call anything veggie if a vegetarian cannot order it without a disclaimer being printed in the menu. Service is pleasant and the wait staff are efficient and smiling.
(3)Jennifer R.
Quick, great homemade food for breakfast! I have gone on several occasions and always get seated right away. The food was awesome and it always comes out very quickly. The "messes" on the menu are great! Different toppings served over potatoes were a great way to start the day.
(4)Donna S.
Well sadly we got off to a bad start. Walked in... No greeting. No sign seat yourself. Stood there for a good minute and decided to grab my own menu and go to the register. Stood another good minute...no greeting until I started staring the servers down. It was only a medium busy for a Saturday morning. I decided at this rate, I better get it Togo. I order a kids size (not that hungry). Almost got coffee but that was $2.50 for regular coffee. I can get better at Starbucks. At this point, I haven't even gotten my food yet and I'm already unimpressed. Too bad too because it looks like a cute place. The prices weren't to bad. Maybe when I have a bigger stomach I'll come for the French Toast. Well on a basic breakfast it was yummy. I really did like their home fries (café potatoes). They had sautéed Cherry tomato halves with them. Creative. I may come back. I just hope the service is better.
(3)Katy S.
My sister suggested Secret Garden Cafe when I was looking for a good breakfast place in Jacksonville. I was very happy with the suggestion. Secret Garden Cafe was a project on Restaurant Impossible a few years ago and I can definitely tell that some really good changes were made. The decor was really kitschy. Our waitress was very nice and was really encouraging when I ordered a mimosa at 10 am (gotta love someone who encourages morning drinking). I went for a healthy option but everyone else got crazy breakfasts (hot mess and friend green tomato blt) and we all enjoyed our meals. It was really well priced. If I lived in Jax, I would be a regular fo sho!
(5)Anthony N.
This was my first time at the Secret Garden Cafe. I have passed it a bunch of times, but never had the chance to go in. Finally stopped in to get breakfast. I have looked at their menu a handful of times online, so I called ahead for a to go order. It was a simple, Belgium Waffle with sausage. Now before going any further, I found about this place on Restaurant Impossible. The owners have changed, but the inside still looks pretty much that same as what they did on the tv show. Now I went around 8:30 am & the place was really empty. Like, the three employees I kinda empty. Place looks really good. It's not hard to keep clean when it's that empty. I hope the lunch crowd is a lot better. On the case near the register, they have what seem to be house-made cakes that look really good. Now the waffle was good. I got it classic which came with Apple Butter & syrup. Now the sausage patty I could have done with out. It was dry and not must taste to it. It had a frozen patty taste and texture to it. Probably wouldn't get that again. I plan to stop by again and taste more of their menu. Hopefully this place can stay open and get some good business.
(3)Daniel T.
We went for breakfast and it was delicious. Most breakfast places are greasy and poorly made. Everything was so fresh and tasty. The hot mess was a great idea with all of the ingredients in a breakfast plate combined. Biscuits were soft. French toast was delicious. My family and I were very pleased with the meal. The service was great and friendly. Definitely going again!
(5)Jack T.
Friendly and attentive waitress. Great place for casual breakfast patio dining with by best furry friend.
(4)David P.
Thank you Yelp for helping me discover this spot while heading to a cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL. Who knew we would go into a place that was featured on Food Network's "Restaurant Impossible" show!! When we first walked in I was immediately relaxed by the unique ambience and soothing olive green walls and custom pottery and artwork. We arrived at 9:15am on a Sunday before some people really stated packing in. I would recommend before 9am to ensure you beat the crowds. After reading the reviews here I went with the Eggs Bene and the pecan French toast!! SCORE!! These were the best eggs Benedict I have EVER had and the hollandaise sauce was perfect and the bacon and fried green tomato brought something new to it that made it FOREVER memorable!! I am a connoisseur of French toast, I have tried it around the world and my favorite is still the cap'n crunch French toast at the blue moon cafe in Baltimore, MD BUT this Caramel Pecan French Toast is a close 2nd. It will not disappoint. I plan on coming here again, one of the best breakfast restaurants I've eaten at in a LONG time!!
(5)Gerald R.
Great place to have breakfast or lunch i had the Open Face Monte Cristo & it was great... Makes me want to order 2 next time.
(5)Jerry M.
Excellent service, very clean and great atmosphere. The food is absolutely wonderful. We had the Secret Garden Benedict. It was fabulous. When we return to Jacksonville we will definitely come back.
(5)Jennifer S.
This was the first time I've been here and it's my birthday! I could not have picked a better place for brunch! This place is so modern and beautifully decorated! Our waitress was Alex! She was very sweet and I was so please with the whole experience! This place is a must see! Loved it and will be back!
(5)Reese S.
This little place is great! We went for brunch and the food was awesome. I had the crab cake egg benedict.. Yum!! I would definitely go back.
(5)Benedict H.
Another first for us...and we are definitely coming back! The staff is very welcoming and friendly. The food...well, it speaks for itself! We ordered the Open Faced Monte Cristo and the Fried Green Tomato Salad....we couldn't get enough, haha! If and when the German Chocolate Cake is available...please have some, you will not regret it!
(5)Robby B.
high prices for the portion sizes. the environment is clean and the dining room is nice and welcoming. deserts are good though.
(2)Meredith R.
Found on yelp while traveling through Jacksonville. Very clean, nicely decorated, waitress were very nice, order the Crab cake benedict delicious! $12.95 of course the most expensive thing on the menu. You got two on your plate and the Crab cake had a good amount of crab in it with home fries or grits with cheese. Place never got crowded but it was sunday before church got out. 830am.
(5)Kevin W.
I occasionally watch Restaurant Impossible, and when I found out that a restaurant on the show was so close, I knew I had to try it out when I was in town. My fiancee and I arrived for breakfast at about 9am. When I walked it, I immediately recognized a lot of the decor from the show. The makeover was about two years ago, and from what I could tell, they kept all the decorations up from the renovation. I had the Eggs Bene and my fiancee had the Egg Platter. Both our dishes tasted very fresh, and you could definitely tell they were made from scratch. I really enjoyed the hollandaise, egg, bacon, and english muffin combination. The cafe potatoes were pretty good also. No complaints about my fiancees dish. Pretty plain and simple but well done. From what I could tell, the fried green tomatoes made several appearances on the menu. It seems to be quite a popular pairing with a lot of the different dishes, and I can tell why. They were quite delicious. Overall I enjoyed my meal and would definitely come back. Definitely a place you want to check out if you are in the area.
(4)Tana M.
Just had lunch here for the first time. It was outstanding. We had the BLT with fried green tomatoes and the chicken salad sandwich with sweet potatoes chips. Great service too. We will be going back soon.
(5)Lara K.
Husband and I are food network junkies and try to visit local places that have been on the food network. This place is amazing Robert Irvine was here 3 years ago he may have helped (I remember this particular overthrow :-) ) but they have done the hard work of keeping it clean, friendly and food is AMAZING. I got the chicken and biscuits best chicken pot pie meal I've ever had husband had some french toast Monte Cristo (I wasn't paying attention to the name when he ordered) and he ate it down like he never ate before.
(5)Yelena K.
We're going to the zoo and I am HUNGRY. Go to Yelp. Search for Breakfast. View on Map. SecretgardencafeBAM! The decor is super cute -- not expecting that from a place in a strip mall, the service was friendly, and the food honestly surprised me. I feel like such a jerk for expecting it to suck, but am very happy it did not. I got the Crab Cake Bene and it was scrum-diddly-umptious. (See picture. Seriously, look at it. Right now. Look at it. Do you see how FAT that crab cake is? That crab was the bomb.) It tasted extremely fresh and was obviously made with care. Super satisfied. My bloody mary was somewhat lacking and it did take a little while to get our food. But every crab cake should be like this one! And that's enough for me.
(4)Beverly H.
Robert Irvine come back and save them. Went here for Brunch with my parents. The food was tasteless, the ambiance was okay nothing special, prices were decent for brunch and the service was sub-par. My parents thought the same thing. Won't ever be back. I recommend you don't waste your time on this one. By the way we were very surprised at how small the servings were. I think the pictures on this make them look a lot bigger than what we were served.
(1)Wealthy H.
Amazing food, the crabcakes are the best ! The pecan french toast was good. My sister had the veggie hot mess and she really enjoyed it. Will definitely come back.
(5)Anne-Marie B.
The Saturday Breakfast adventures continue as I've discovered a new strip mall gem. Never mind the fact that this restaurant was featured on Food Network so I share this "secret" with a few million cable viewers, I stand by my vast experience as a Breakfast Guru and recommend this restaurant for your weekend morning outings, provided you heed the following: 1) The kitchen is small. Food is cooked to order. I recommend taking a leisurely attitude and other people with the same. Don't show up expecting to leave within the hour. It isn't happening. 2) The sausage gravy will make you want to slap your momma. Don't bring her. 3) A mostly empty restaurant doesn't necessarily suggest poor quality of food. On the bright side, you'll have a vast array of table selections and you get one-on-one time with your server...yay! I'd say this place has a few kinks to work out, but the atmosphere is cute, and the food is cheap and yummy.
(4)Athena B.
I never would have known this place existed, had it been for my girlfriends recommendation. The service was suburb and the food was delish. We went for brunch and I ordered the Classic Belgium Waffle while my husband ate the Crab Cakes Benedict. Both were cooked to perfection. The Bene was absolutely amazing. We will return soon!
(4)Amanda N.
How have I not reviewed this place?!?! I've been here several times. It was on restaurant impossible. Shrimp and grits is amazing. Nice consistency, not too liquidy. Hearty and flavorful. Also love me some fried green tomatoes. Their homemade desserts are delicious. Wish they would have kept the wknd buffet like he suggested on the show. Nice place to enjoy brunch.
(4)Raul R.
Mother's Day brunch at this place was a disappointment. This restaurant was in a strip mall. We waited 45 minute in the heat outside the door. When we got seated by the hostess, it took another 10 minutes before the server could get our drink orders. We have to ask for silverware. --- ("we ran out of teaspoons"). Our food came after about almost an hour. I must have drunk 3 cups of coffee before our orders came. Food didn't taste anything different from a fast food and drive through place. Service would have been faster had they hired a few more servers and cooks.
(1)Elizabeth M.
So me, my sister and daughter came here for breakfast only to find out that there is no breakfast during the week! I honestly wanted to leave but we didn't want to cause a scene especially since we had my daughter with us. We ended up ordering lunch food and I ended up getting a daily special which was some hamburger with mashed potatoes and gravy on it. I can't complain the burger was actually very tasty! We also got some cakes to go, while my sister liked the cakes I have to say they were not that impressive. To give you an idea of how un-impressive, the cakes went bad in my fridge because no one else in my family liked them either. Maybe when I go back to this place for breakfast ill do another review but until they get tastier desserts and serve breakfast during breakfast hours I'm not sure when that will be.
(3)John D.
There are no if's, and's, or but's about it. This is a great place for brunch. The make your own Bloody Mary Bar is a unique feature in this gem.
(4)Sally F.
we ate at this establishment many sundays after church. several times our food was over an hour getting to us. we ordered breakfast so there was no excuse for this. we were never offered anything for the gross tardiness. we decided to try it again after eating at other restaurants who cared about their customers. we ordered breakfast again, each of the two of us ordered veggie omlettes without green peppers. again, the place was not crowded. after waiting over 45 minutes for our food and seeing the table of 4 receiving their food after arriving after us; i got up to find our missing waitress. she was hanging around at the back of the restaurant. she said she was getting our food as fast as she could and would put our order in next! next??!!! after waiting 45 minutes for eggs to be cooked? we waited another almost 15 minutes and finally got our meals, with green peppers which we told her i can not eat! she took 40 cents off the meal because of the green peppers. i will never eat at this restaurant again. the food is mediocre and not worth waiting for. the waitresses only want to take care of tables that have large parties hence their larger tip. they never offer any apology if you have to wait for your food for an extended time and....this has happened to us atleast 4 times! shame on us for returning after the first time! wont be back and have already told many people about the very bad experience, too many other great places to eat!
(1)Ed M.
We had a perfect brunch today at Secret Garden. We had a mix of lunch items and breakfast, ie chicken salad, really big mess and veggie omelet. All of it was great and the light, fluffy biscuits were amazing. Good coffee too. Our server was great. She actually listened closely to some special requests and came back to ask it the request applied to the salad as well as the sandwich. Very thoughtful and attentive. Just what we needed this rainy, winter day..
(5)Amanda N.
Fantastic food. The service was a little slow, but the atmosphere was so relaxed and the food so delicious that we didn't really mind. Next time we will definitely be trying the Male Your Own Bloody Mary bar. This time I got the turkey, apple, goat cheese sandwich, and all I can really say is WOW. It was just as tasty as I hoped it would be. All of the ingredients also tasted incredibly fresh. On a non-dining note, the bathroom was very nice, which is always a plus in a restaurant. We will be back, and soon!
(5)Rj M.
Went in here with a friend. I got the fried pickle burger which was pretty big for a good decent price. It's was a bit of wait but it was well worth it. I highly recommend this place if your looking for a good brunch.
(4)Amanda C.
I was very pleased with my decision to go to Secret Garden Café this Sunday! I originally learned about it from Restaurant impossible, and tried it once with my dad. Came back today when I was looking for breakfast options and was reminded of this place here on yelp. I came in around 12:45. The food was good and coffee was strong and hot. It came out quickly and the service was pretty good and friendly. **Bonus! On Sun. ( and I think Sat too) $5 make your own bloody marys!! What a great idea. They also have Mimosa's and Poinsettia's Sat and Sun. brunch all day! I love places that understand eating breakfast later!
(4)Lynn F.
Wonderful attentive service to us and all the tables around us!!! Food was incredible
(5)Dennis D.
Let me start by saying this place is bistro-ish...nice ambience, nice feng shui vibe. I was hungry and decorated artsy food doesn't satiate me. I went here strictly for the shrimp and grits and what I received was not exactly what I was expecting. Mind you, it was beautifully displayed in a geometrical masterpiece, I just don't like my grits in an isosceles triangle shape? My wife enjoyed her fried green tomatoes however. (but she's kinda a human garbage disposal). shhh....don't tell her I said that. I really wanted to like this place and I'm willing to give it another shot, but I won't be eating the shrimp and grits there again
(2)B A.
I have eaten here a few times and enjoy their very different "breakfast entrees". I like the casual atmosphere and the upscale cuisine! I like their vegy omelette and their crabcakes, fried green tomato's and everything I've ever eaten there is really good!
(4)Younjin L.
Service was GREAT! Shrimp Grits is my favorite dish of all. Whenever I am down in JAX, I will make sure to visit again!
(5)James D.
Not too shabby! I only ate breakfast here and it was not too bad. It's good to dine at a local spot as opposed to the chain places. I had the breakfast bowl and it was good. The mimosas were great. They are $5 a piece, however they use decent champagne and make it right. Good spot for a brunch date. Previous reviewer mentioned come with patience. Please be patient. This is not a one hour brunch spot. I was here for two hours with some friends and had a blast. Service was good too.
(4)Lisa C.
The food is pretty great here.. However the service was extremely lacking.. We had a relaxing breakfast but the server didn't really understand the concept of keeping drinks in our glasses. Other than that.. This is a little gem, it's very pleasant inside and the food is excellent. He had the really hot mess.. Which surprisingly is pretty amazing. It's potatoes, eggs, bacon, cheese, and sausage gravy in a bowl.. And I had the breakfast croissant which was top notch. I will be going back.
(4)Chelsea S.
The food and coffee were hot and fresh. I ordered the eggs bene, which is eggs Benedict topped with a fried green tomato. The tomato added a speed crunch appeal to a typically savory breakfast dish. The grits weren't my favorite, but I am from the north so I don't know too much about what makes good breakfast grits. I will be returning.
(4)Brad M.
This place was on the T.V. supposedly Robert Irvine fixed this place up and now it's fantastic. NOT SO MUCH! He needs to come back to get their food back up to par. Because this hype is not right. The food was awful. i had a sandwhich and it was just mediocre at best. There was no difference from the food I ordered, my wifes food, and my mother in laws food. It was just blah at best. Inexpensive. but I expected more from these reviews. However I will not be going back and I recommend someone call Robert up right away. They need help AGAIN.
(1)Julie A.
I'm with Ayanna. Brunch on Saturdays should last at least till 2pm if not the entire friggin day! Plus, the brunch choices here are much better than what they offer at Dennys, and as tempting as it sounds to roll out of bed and walk to Dennys, I'd rather make the trip to my little secret. Because that's how we should keep it. Just kidding. Tell everyone about this place! The fried green tomatoes ($7.50) have never failed me, and since I was one of the TSG veterans in attendance at this particular get-together, I wanted to share them with everyone. Appropriately there are 4 tomatoes in a stack and 4 of us. Winning! I also made the mistake of ordering the crab stack ($13.95), and I'm on a non-red-meat/non-pork diet for the Lent season, so I did think I was going to die when I accidentally ingested Ms. Piggy!! wtf... D= Service was Miami-waiter-style on this occasion. Odd, because I usually get really friendly and helpful service here. But for whatever reason, the server just wasn't feeling it that day. No bienvenidos a Miami or Yacksonville. Nope, not until we started ordering. I wonder if they thought we were chillin there like panera/starbucks style, because they completely had the wrong idea. We were just waiting for the rest of the group to show up. Someone said they might have realized we were down with the Y and that's when the attitude changed from Miami-waiter back to friendly. Who knows... I wonder if someone pulled up our photos on Yelp. I saw a "Yelp loves us sticker" as I was leaving. Yes, TSG you can thank me for that. I was the second person to review this spot. Mwahahaha
(4)Ninjosh A.
It's incredibly rare to find a restaurant that makes a decent French toast. If that's what you're looking for, keep looking because this place certainly doesn't. Meanwhile, the rest of the food we tried was acceptable, everything tasted fresh, better than most chain places. Still, friendly. Quick, service made up for the mediocre offerings. The French toast was really bad. Just bread, really, no effort at all. Stunningly bad.
(3)Eli Z.
I was very pleased with Secret Garden Café. I had the red pepper and Gouda cheese soup, and it was delicious. Server was super friendly and the place is very clean. Filled with proper people and it seems like this place is under good management.
(4)John S.
Had lunch at Secret Garden for the first time since they moved out of the antique mall years ago--I wish it was as good as I remembered. We both had the roast beef with homemade sour cream and horseradish on ciabatta. It was the special on Saturday, and so popular they sold out of it. So they brought it back today. It was an ok sandwich. Not great; not bad. The special came with a side. My date had the fresh mix salad with homemade dressing that she enjoyed. I had the broccoli salad. It was too heavy on mayonnaise.
(3)Chuck A.
I discovered Secret Garden about 6 months ago via Yelp. Ever since, it is my go to place for Sunday Brunch. The Shrimp Grits are amazing and very different from your traditional shrimp and grits. They start with fried grit wedges and cover them with sautéed shrimp in a very flavorful shrimp bisque with shredded parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes on top. Once you have these all other shrimp and grits dishes will pale in comparison. And the Crab Cake Bene's are incredible. They come with poached eggs and crab cakes on an english muffintopped with real and fresh hollandaise sauce. I like the café potatoes as a side with these. I usually don't have room for dessert after one of these two great dishes, but on the rare occasion I have tried there desserts, I've never been disappointed.
(5)Martha S.
On the rare occasion that I have a day off to spend with my sister, we'll usually plan out an entire day--starting with breakfast. On one such occasion, during the week, we decided to go to Secret Garden Cafe, having been enticed by promises of southern style breakfasts with biscuits, shrimp and grits, french toast, waffles, etc. We arrived well within the hours allocated for breakfast by the restaurant's website (Monday -Friday 7 am -11 am), only to be told that they no longer served breakfast on Weekdays. Seriously!? I guess this was what they meant by "Secret," because apparently it was one we weren't privy to prior to our arrival. If we had we would have gone elsewhere to satiate the need to my favorite meal of the day...Instead we were faced with an uncomfortable diner dilemma. Save face and stay to eat an unexpected meal---or make a scene by getting up from our table (with a toddler in tow) and try to find a new place to break our fast. Had the toddler not been with us, we would have opted for option number two, but alas, we stayed--feeling misled the entire time. The food was actually really good. The fried green tomato on a juicy burger is every bit of delicious as it's made out to be by any of the other reviews you may have read. The desserts are an amazingly delicious southern selection of whatever they baked that day or the day before (Hummingbird cake? Why, yes please!) Call me a drama queen, but I just cant shake the rancorous feelings I get, knowing that this is the place where I got tricked into staying for lunch when I was craving breakfast....
(3)Allison B.
I went for lunch with a large group on a Saturday. I love that they serve brunch the whole time they are open, which is only for breakfast and lunch. The atmosphere is nice. Supposedly a modern take on the secret garden book. Mostly that means the paint is green. Since we had a large group and a reservation, we had a private room with a cool natural wood table. I ordered the eggs bene and enjoyed my meal. We also had the fried green tomatoes appetizer and the chips with blue cheese. I liked both of the apps. Our service wasn't fantastic. The waitress actually came by and gave us a pitcher of water so as she said, she wouldn't have to come by so often. At the end, our bills were not correct, but we made due instead of having them corrected with such a large group. 3 stars overall. Good food, nice ambiance, so-so service.
(3)Ruby A.
I'm happy they serve breakfast until 2pm. I love how we're immediately greeted, seated, and drinks orders taken. I love the Martin coffee they serve. I probably had like 3 cups, which is unusual for me to drink so much. We ordered the FGT, but it came out differently (see my photos for the before (2011) and after (2012) pictures. FGT is always good, but I really miss the way they used to prepare it. My bf had the country eggs bene w/ a side of grits. He loved it, but the only thing I really liked from his plate was the sausage gravy and tomatoes. The grits were gross, not creamy at all... too gooey. I had the crab cake bene with a side of potatoes. Mine was delicious! I ended up taking 1/2 my plate to go and never made it to dessert. Oh well, there's always next time :)
(4)Mike B.
Best fried green tomatoes around. I found this place thanks once agin to Yelp and it did not disappoint. Cool place to go have breakfast or lunch, the staff was friendly and the food was great, big portions and full of flavor!
(5)Jen B.
I had no idea this place existed until trying to find a place for brunch that was open new years day....I am so glad they were open. The decor was new, modern. They weren't all too busy when we got there at 11am so they place seemed pretty quiet, like our conversations could be heard by everyone. It got busier as time went on and that improved. They had a lunch and breakfast menu available, not an overwhelming selection but some classics with a twist. I ordered the eggs bene without hollandaise (I just don't like it), it came with the english muffin, egg, bacon, and a fried green tomato slice. I had never had a fried green tomato...it's sweet and fried. I finished the first half but was feeling guilty about it's friedness by round two so I picked it off. It came with some potatoes. I no longer live in Jax but with their selection and prices I would definitely go back when in town for a brunch.
(4)Erica H.
Great breakfast! The waffles are amazing and the service is always great. I highly recommend!
(5)Jessica B.
Great Brunch! I had the Eggs Bene and my husband had the Pecan Waffle. All very great tasting food. Service was spot on and we enjoyed sitting on their front patio. This restaurant would have received 5 stars but the coffee was a little weak in my opinion. I recommend to everyone.
(4)Kathy C.
We just went for a lunch after a long break from going to the Secret Garden (due to our recent schedule). Upon walking in, we were surprised by the big change in decor. Our server told us about the episode on Restaurant Impossible. Anyways, I have to say, the many times we've been to the Secret Garden, we always thought the food was great and service excellent. Our lunch today, was just as good. We had our usual soup, two sandwiches to try/share, and a slice of cake for dessert. Our server was pretty new, a bit akward. BUT, he was enthusiastic, prompt, and super friendly. Again, a very satisfying lunch.
(5)Katie C.
After hearing so many great things from Yelp and friends alike, I decided to drive out to Secret Garden Cafe for my Sunday brunch outing. I've worn out all my favorite beach spots and I'd heard that SGC underwent a massive makeover from Food Network's reality show Restaurant: Impossible. I arrived with a plan to massively overdose on calories and spend the rest of the day watching the Jags from the couch. This would require some satisfyingly indulgent breakfast platters, and Secret Garden's menu easily accommodated with a bevy of benedicts, grains like french toast and Belgian waffles, and other indulgent breakfast staples. My friend and I decided to share the Shrimp and Grits and an order of Smothered Biscuits. (aka biscuits and gravy!) As we waited for our food I sipped on some black coffee (it was strong!) and scoped out the atmosphere a little more. I immediately liked the light, open feel of the space. High ceilings, funky, green paint and floral touches made for an inviting, lively feel despite the dreary weather outside. No wonder people love coming here! It's a fun escape from the bland, strip-mall vibe of Beach Boulevard (even though its in a strip mall on Beach Boulevard!) A live musician strummed sleepily on his acoustic guitar for the brunch crowd, and his light, instrumental versions of Beatles and James Taylor songs added to the happy ambiance. Our dishes came out piping hot and HUGE! The Shrimp and Grits were unmistakably cajun with a creamy, tomato bisque poured over juicy shrimp and fried grit cakes. Wow! It smelled heavenly. The Smothered Biscuits were in a word, decadent. Seriously chunky sausage gravy with peppery, oniony bits was piled high on two open-faced and oversized buttery biscuits. I dug in for my first bite of them immediately and was surprised by just how much flavor was packed into that warm, creamy gravy. A lot of places play it safe with this classic, but SGC is not one of them! Theirs is a unique, peppery blend with a sharp bite of smoked sausage flavor that I found delicious. Switching to a spoon, I jumped over to the Shrimp and Grits and scooped up a big bite of bisque, cake and shrimp and chowed down. YUMM! This dish also packed a punch! The grit cake was crisp on the outside but warm and so soft in the center. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and the bisque was a creamy, peppery Cajun concoction reminiscent of an etouffee sauce. Bon temps! We gave a valiant effort to finish our oversized dishes, but they were so generous and rich we decided not to overdo it. (After all I can't watch football in a coma!) Our server, Maggie, efficiently checked us out and offered us to-go Cokes and coffees which we were happy to accept. I left so glad that I had ventured out to the Secret Garden Cafe today. Now I just need to You Tube that Restaurant: Impossible episode to get the inside scoop on how Jacksonville acquired this great little spot! :)
(5)A J.
Cute, clean little place. Had bacon, eggs and grits. Everything cooked perfect very delicious. Staff very friendly and attentive. A little on the pricey side for breakfast but the fast friendly service is worth it. Will definitely be going back.
(4)Ayanna B.
Yummmm! Gorgeous decor, delicious food, the desserts looked amazing (I'll hit them up next time). I had a turkey and bacon club sandwich and it was ridiculously delicious for such a simple concept. And it was more food than a reasonable person could want to eat in one sitting. My only complaint was that breakfast ended at 11am. ON A SATURDAY! What the heck is that? I'm barely awake at 11am on the weekends. Whatever, the menu looked promising. Will update next time, as I'm positive I'll go again. Go there BEFORE 11AM. Otherwise, get the crab stack. You'll die. DIE!
(4)Michael R.
Stumbled upon this place while in the area visiting my son at UNF. Did not realize it was featured on Restaurant Impossible until we arrived. Enjoyed a great breakfast--we ordered eggs bene and the country bene. Both dishes were obviously made from scratch, nicely seasoned, and full of flavor. The biscuits in the country egg bene were light and flaky. The hollandaise was lemony, light and nicely seasoned. The smoky bacon and fried green tomatoes were a great compliment to the eggs bene. The sausage gravy in the country dish was perfect--big flavors (sage, fennel seed?) Great, friendly service in a nice clean setting at great prices. Highly recommended!
(5)Jeremy C.
Thanks Yelp for guiding me to the Secret Garden. Great spot for a tasty breakfast. I got the omelet with bacon, cheese & tomatoes, cheesy grits and a biscuit. The biscuit was at least 4" tall, the sign of a stately biscuit. The omelet was great. Nice decor, friendly staff. I'd come back again for sure.
(4)Tracey L.
The burger was REALLY good, and great value for the price. The service was a little lacking, but I'll give it to them as it was after 2:30 and that's when they close. If I come back it will be for the coconut cream cake. No room today! We stopped on our way to visit friends in St Augustine.
(4)Rachel D.
Secret Garden is a quaint little cafe in which sandwiches and breakfast with items such as eggs benedict and english muffins are served. Ive had the opportunity to try the fried tomatoes which and the turkey sandwich as well as the delicious shrimp and grits. The service and overall quality of the food was delicious. However the only down fall was breakfast ending at 11 am. Secret Garden Cafe is known for their delicious breakfast. For improvement, brunch should be offered and breakfast should at least be served til 12:30. In that case four stars were given.
(4)Alan F.
Went Sunday after GA-FL game and looked closed but they were open serving Mimosa's and Bloody Mary's!! We both had the veggie omelet with home potatoes and it was good although could have contained more veg inside considering it was 3 eggs. Service was good and would recommend if you are in the area.
(4)Polly H.
I love this place, the food is great, beautiful decorated and the staff is always nice. I will recommend the shrimp & grits, eggs Benedict's, the waffles so yummy. I really enjoy to go to this place for brunch on Sundays.
(5)Kristie S.
We eat at Secret Garden quite often during the week and I've never had a bad meal! The BLT Deluxe with fried green tomatoes is amazing. I've eaten many of the salads as well and love to try the daily specials. I don't particularly care for the breakfast; Metro Diner beats them. Lunch is excellent!
(4)Amber A.
Great fried green tomatoes and home made chips. They usually have a fewvegetarian options and are willing to accomdate requests.
(4)Ria P.
Checked this at Yelp and heard about Robert Irvine from food network visited this place for a total re-make. It didn't disappoint from the service and food. Pick the first 4 from the lunch menu. And you will be lucky of Ellen is working as your server, check it out!
(4)Patricia L.
Did Sunday brunch here with my boyfriend. He had smothered biscuits and I had an omelette. The food was good, service was even better. Nice atmosphere. All around great place to try.
(4)Justin T.
Great breakfast and brunch....... Quiet place to catch up with loved ones
(5)Troy W.
Seems to be dying a slow death. Came in on a Saturday morning. Quiche? On the menu, but you can't order it. Side of fresh fruit? They don't have any fruit. Used to be packed on weekends... maybe the above explains why it's not anymore.
(3)D Y.
How come weve never been here before? Our server was exceptionally attentive in such a busy breakfast on Sunday. Definitely try the Hot Southern Mess. Hubby tried the poached benedict on a buttermilk biscuit with the fried green tomatoes. mmmm.....! Food was great! Restroom was very clean. Service was excellent. Prices were reasonable. Everything we want in a place! We're definitely going back!
(5)Allison D.
I found this place randomly on yelp while on vacation with my family. We absolutely loved it! Our waitress was friendly and the food was delicious!
(5)Rick E.
I came here on a sunday and they only served breakfast! I was hoping for lunch! The breakfast menu was decent but i finally decided to get the Cheese filled croissant with turkey. It was a good size sandwich for $7 and the side potatoes were good too. They used red potatoes. I would come back for this meal, it was buttery, warm, and satisfying.
(4)Randy H.
This is the second time we have eaten here. Both times we have enjoyed the food and the service. The portions are big and the food came out quick even though they were fairly busy. I had the hot mess which was very tasty and my girlfriend had a breakfast platter. We will go back again.
(4)Amanda J.
I definitely am going to rate this place a 5 of 5 star rating and it's not just because I'm still reeling from the fantabulous breakfast the hubs and i had there this morning. I've been kind of fearful that there'd be a line out the door because of it being such a secretive and well reviewed place, but at 10am on this Sunday it worked perfectly! we've even talked about heading back during the week or for that special once a month dinner I read and heard about. We were greeted and seated as soon as we walked in the front door, and only had to wait a few minutes for drinks and to be told the daily specials. I ordered the egg plate with fried bologna and a biscuit with a coffee and juice, and the hubs had the Belgian waffle with bacon and a diet soda. Simple fare , right? These guys kicked up the flavor and presentation to the "nth" degree for just regular old bfast food! We were amazed!! I don't think I've been this excited about cheese grits ,biscuits and fried bologna in ..well, ever. This is the FIRST time I've ever seen the hubs not use any syrup at all on a waffle- he just ate it with the cinnamon butter and toasty pecans (with powdered sugar and caramel sauce). The grits were fantastic, didn't need salt or pepper for anything, and the biscuits were reminiscent of the ones my Grammy and momma used to make- big ole fresh cat-heads! I was super impressed with the level of personal attention and service we got, as well as the other patrons, some of which were called by name! I absolutely love that! we got a slice of mandarin orange cake( I'm still dreaming about it and mourning it's demise) to go which didn't last long sadly. I would definitely recommend this place to others,but only hope that they stay in business for ages, and there's always a table for me there.
(5)Michelle M.
Did you know? Secret Garden Cafe has eggs benedict with a southern flair -- they use fried green tomatoes. I came here on Saturday morning for breakfast with a couple of friends. Of course I had gotten the eggs benny with fried green tomatoes and it's pretty good. It's crunchy, juicy, and the eggs were perfectly poached. It came with a side of soft potato hash which had some kick with the use of some cayenne pepper. It wasn't bad for $7.95. My other friends got the hot mess, french toast, and the omelette which all looked really good! It's a good breakfast place and I'd eat here again. The decor is a little bit weird though. It's all secret garden themed with black gates and dim lights on the walls, but then there's GA/FL football paintings, which are aggressive, flashy, and just plain weird. I think they should consider replacing them with something that matches their fresh lillies on the table.
(4)Jacque K.
Fantastic Lunch! Secret Garden Cafe has the most amazing Southern infused lunch menu! I went with a party of 11 and we were promptly seated and our fantastic server, Justin, was on his game! Someone with us had a very specific food allergy and they were able to accommodate the allergy without making us wait. Cant wait to go back! ( I hear they have a kind of "secret" dinner menu that they only open on certain nights, cant wait to try that either)
(5)Kristen O.
Living in the vicinity of such a large city, I'm always on the lookout for great places, especially ones tucked away somewhere. Though this great little find sits right on busy Beach Blvd, I'm so glad I happened to notice it one afternoon. My first few meals I ordered to go, but it was such a treat to find a place that offers up tasty sandwiches with sides like healthy salads and homemade dressings to fully crafted and delicious dishes. In addition to that, I'm always greeted by friendly staff and usually cared for by one of the owners working the counter himself. Made pleasant conversation while I was waiting. Last time I was in, I actually got to sit and enjoy the courses. Though I was eyeing the fried green tomatoes, we started with the crab cakes, of which I'm usually not a fan. But I have to say they were quite scrumptious. I ordered the Shrimp and Grits and savored every bite of the fried grit cakes under a creamy bisque with sauteed shrimp and veggies. As I know they always have a fabulous homemade dessert selection, we finished with a sinfully delicious chocolate torte. My only wish is that I lived closer so I could enjoy this secret more often.
(5)Lauren K.
I have driven by this little cafe for the last three years and never had stopped in until yesterday for Sunday brunch! Wow was I missing out on a delicious fresh breakfast!! What a cute restaurant and I was surprised it had as many tables as it did because from the street it looks really small. Service was prompt and very friendly! I had the wonderful Eggs "BENE" with bacon and fried green tomatoes. It was probably the best benedict I've had in a long long time! The potatoes on the side were very well seasoned and cooked perfectly! My boyfriend had the omelet with grits and biscuit with a side of gravy He really enjoyed his choice as well. The biscuits are huge, moist and delicious! I did try a little bit of the gravy and must say that was awesome too! I will definitely be back soon and will go try the lunch too! Very reasonably priced and perfect size portions!!
(4)Jenn S.
My husband & I decided to try this place after reading all of the amazing reviews. I'm a sucker for good brunch. I mean -- how many awesome brunch places are there in Jacksonville? Very few.. The first time we tried to visit The Secret Garden Cafe, they were closed due to renovations from the show "Restaurant Impossible." We came back a couple weeks later to check out the new decor & taste their amazing food. I got the Eggs Bene & my husband got the Shrimp Grits with 2 slices of bacon. The bacon is a little steep in price at $2.00 a slice, but I will say -- it's worth it. Thick cut & HUGE are the best words to describe the best bacon that we've ever had & I like to think I'm a bacon connoisseur. I preferred my husband's food over mine. Though the Eggs Bene was good -- I think I'll try something the next time we go back. The Shrimp Grits were heaven in a bowl! We tried to recreate it, but it wasn't happening. We cannot wait to go back! I love this place. It is such a gem. I feel like most food on Beach Blvd. isn't amazing.
(5)Robert L.
Intresting and creative menu ... Not just "same ole, same ole". You can experiment here with a degree of confidence that it will be not only different, but also tasty! Like other reviewers, i really enjoyed the eggs bene and also the BLT ... both nice with the fried green tomatoes. Service was outstanding ... Greeted as sonn as you walk in, menu and drink arrived promptly. Amd, if you are lucky enough to get KATHY as your server, it is not only prompt but also helpful withninformation about the choices, enthusiastic and attentive.; add great smile, great attitude and interesting conversationalist and it adds to the overall experience. On ambience, I agree with some other reviewers...you would likely expect lee along Beachk Blvd in that area. Somehow, it comes off feeling unique and "cool" due to the uniqueness of the food offered and seeing that it has some devotees there elatedly ordering, chatting and enjoying their meal at Secret Cafe.
(5)Jordan B.
Had lunch there on Saturday and got the Sirloin Burger on ciabatta. It was awesome and it was insanely well priced. I've been there before and the food was great, but this burger was delicious and the price was outstanding.
(5)Alan S.
Whaa. We love this place. Would have given it 4 or 5 stars but service was slow, slow, slow last Saturday. Food is still great. Had the fried green tomatoes and Jerk Pork Loin. Really good. Crab stack is also a winner. Sorry SGC...really like you guys...but gotta tell it like it is. We're going again this weekend just so we can update our review! For anyone considering this wonderful place, be forewarned that they are only open for dinner on certain days. Call in advance.
(3)Nate G.
Just ate here for the first time today and it was really great. The staff was attentive, the food looked and tasted great, and one of the owners even stopped by our table to chat a bit. Split a sausage biscuit with my dining companion and managed to get in a good amount of the yummy French toast while also sharing a few bites of quiche. Everything was swell and I will be coming back soon!
(5)Lindsay L.
I think Secret Garden Cafe is a secret no more. After reading so many great reviews and finding a coupon in the Mint Magazine, I decided to give SGC a try for lunch. I was glad I did! I'd glanced at the menu online before hand ( secretgardencafe.net ) and knew that regardless of the other appetizing options, I'd end up ordering the Alabama Meatloaf sandwich. I'm a sucker for meatloaf sandwiches. Oddly enough, I saw three other patrons order the same thing! (It was also kind of funny that all of them were older gentlemen, but I guess I just like what I like!) The meatloaf was a good slice - not too big - and was placed on large slice of french bread. It was topped with bbq sauce, cheddar cheese and coleslaw. The meatloaf and toppings were great, however, the bread needed to be grilled or toasted. It just sat under the meatloaf, looking bored and lonely. The true stars of lunch were the salad dressings. My lunch date had the gorgonzola bleu cheese and I had the sun dried tomato vineagrette. At first I was a little disappointed that my "side" salad was just a plate of field greens with one (literally, just one) grape tomato, but once I sampled the dressing I understood the lack of other salad ingredients. It was simply the most tasty vinagrette in town. I really think they should bottle and sell it. Unfortunately, my coupon was only for Tuesday to Friday, but it was great food at a great price. I'd recommend it for a great alternative to the regular sandwich lunch options. (They had rooms off to the side that you can reserve for special events as well. Our server told me that they do events quite a bit. I think it would be a good place for a small company lunch or a more casual rehearsal dinner.)
(4)Ann C.
Be aware, they've moved! The neat little eatery that was once tucked inside the Avonlea Antiques building on Beach Blvd has moved into its own space about a mile west in the Peach Shopping Center, on the north side of Beach before you get to Southside Blvd. The big draw for me has always been the rotation of homemade soups and desserts, but the new Secret Garden has an updated menu that features more salads, sandwiches, wraps, and entres. They now have full table service instead of order-at-the-counter. Save room for cake!
(4)Kate R.
I went here with my boyfriend and our friend after reading good reviews and each of us loved it! We were greeted immediately, and the service was friendly and nice. We ordered the Fried Green Tomato sandwich, the "Hot Mess", and the Eggs Bene, and each one was delicious. Also the coffee was delicious and didn't burn my mouth. Definitely coming back!! :)
(4)Jskilicious S.
Wish this place had remained a secret. Dinner menu was not dinner. Expect lunch options. Pizza tasted like the crust was store bought. No flavor. Sandwich was something u could make at home. Service was poor. Will not go back.
(1)Tim P.
After seeing the "Restaurant Impossible" episode featuring the Secret Garden Cafe, we decided to check it out ourselves by going for the Sunday Brunch with our friends, for a total of 7 people. When we got to the restaurant, it was packed, which seemed like a good sign. After a few moments of observation, it was clear something was wrong. The staff were running around completely disoriented, and we were left waiting for a table. After about 10 minutes, we were seated. One of the waiters from the show took our drink order, then never came back. Another server came by and asked again for our drink order, and we told her one of the waiters had already taken it. Her response was, "I'll take it again since he probably forgot". Not a good way to start. After everyone decided what they wanted, the server took our order. And we waited....and waited....and waited. After what seemed to be over 30 minutes, our food arrived, except for one of our party's dishes, which was French Toast. Apparently they'd "burned the first one" so they had to make another. Strike 2, in my book. Fortunately my friend took it well and shared with his brother until his food arrived. I'd ordered the Crabcakes Benedict. It looked pretty, but to be honest, I wasn't impressed. It was really bland. Overall, I think the owners just used Restaurant Impossible to get a free re-model. The food was less than impressive, and the service was slow. I would like to say nicer things about this place and rate it higher, especially after all they went through with Chef Irvine. But, I just can't honestly say it was worth the trip.
(2)magic g.
Sorry to have misses bfast, but Monte cristo w egg salad instead (no jam) was an amazing food orgy!
(4)Craig L.
Great breakfasts! Southern style! Only suggestion is to add lite versions, egg beaters, no oil cooking, no cream sauces, etc but everything on the menu was top drawer.
(4)Jeff P.
I have been coming here for years have tasted everything on the menu and this place is consistantly awesome. Food is fresh and tastey with something for everyone the newly updated decor, look for it on food network, if you have not tried it GO!
(5)Eillen B.
The food is good. Try the shrimp grits! Chicken salads sandwich and soups are tasty.
(3)Jax G.
The egg salad the first time was awesome. The second time---- no!! Staff was friendly but the Light skin African American manager on duty guy on Saturday, 9/29/2012 wasn't very friendly. He just stood around. He didn't even say thank you for coming like most managers do! Hardly any customers at 1:00 p.m.
(2)Fred O.
I decided to stop and try this cafe after finding it in Yelp and seeing they served fried green tomatoes. Even better was that they had eggs benedict with the fried green tomatoes on top......so yummy!! The service was great and they even helped me find a great spot to try at the beach for lunch. I definetely recommend.
(5)Jessica L.
Love this place, have never had a bad dish here...eggs bene is my favorite. Definitely give it a try you won't be disappointed!
(5)