Avenue Café is a quaint breakfast and lunch spot with living room vibes in Capitola Village that serves classic American food favorites with a Latinx twist.
Under new ownership since August, they are currently open Thursday-Monday from 7:30am-2pm for takeout and outdoor dining. The patio is cozy yet roomy, and the indoor space is defined and characterized by an old school stone fireplace. General manager Olaff Balcazar says that the restaurant prides itself on warm and welcoming hospitality with a friendly neighborhood feel, and that the restaurant’s small size allows for every guest to be truly taken care of. GT spoke with him recently about the restaurant’s unique yet relatable menu.
What is the rock star breakfast item?
OLAFF BALCAZAR: The one that people really seem to like the most is the eggs benedict. That’s what we’re known for and we have several different kinds—the most popular is the bacon/avocado. The hollandaise sauce is traditional and housemade, and with everything you can really just taste the chef’s love in the food. Customers often say, “Compliments to the chef.” Our breakfast sides are hash browns, home fries or fruit, or a combination. We are always happy to split plates and make special accommodations. We are here for the guests, and hopefully they come back.
Tell me about your breakfast burritos and quesadillas.
We love to do Hispanic flavors and food, and we offer delicious breakfast burritos and breakfast quesadillas. What I like about both is that guests can pick what goes in them, and they come with sides. They start with a base of eggs and cheese and are totally customizable after that. We also do a great guacamole and a great pico de gallo, and we have a really good variety of other Hispanic options, too, such as chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.
What highlights the lunch menu?
Our B.L.T.A. (bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado) sandwich is very popular, and we also do a great burger that is totally customizable. We have multiple delicious options for sides such as fries, onion rings, salad, soup and fruit. We also have a good steak salad. It has sirloin or skirt steak, and mixed greens, onions, tomatoes and choice of dressing. Also, the shrimp salad is great, it comes out looking like a shrimp ceviche tostada.
427 Capitola Ave., Capitola. 831-515-7559.
