Cafe Genovese

I came to the restaurant for the first time to talk to the owners and maybe enjoy a hot coffee. When I saw the menu and the prices I thought I would like to eat something. So many good choices and I settled for the Belgian waffle and sausage links. I already had eaten eggs earlier this morning but when I saw that they had Log Cabin syrup with NO High Fructose Corn Syrup, my mind was made up! The coffee was hot. Hannah, my server, did a great job! My food tasted fresh; and I learned that Mario, the owner, was the chef. The restaurant was going to close shortly after I left but I'm glad I bypassed Grumpy's with people waiting to get in for overpriced food and enjoy a local diner atmosphere instead. You have to make a date to visit this cafe'. The regulars sitting at the bar reminded me of the sitcom, Cheers, where everyone was friendly and helpful. Oh, and they served real butter too. No margarine crap! Way to go, Mario!!

If you want delicious food that was cooked with love then this is your place! Family run restaurant where everyone knows each other and is enjoying company! The staff and owners seem like they are family with all the patrons and have friendly conversations with everyone! You just feel good eating here and I wish more places were like this! Highly recommended!!

A true hidden gem! The food is amazing, the service is outstanding! This locally owned spot is perfect for breakfast or lunch, with plenty of delicious vegan and vegetarian options. I highly recommend their delicious pancakes, the veggie omelette with home fries, and their fresh salads

That’s gotta be one of the best corn beef hash breakfasts I’ve ever had. The food was seasoned super well, perfectly crispy and delicious. Great service and atmosphere, this place is a breakfast gem.

Awesome place for a great and hearty breakfast. If I'm in the area this is my go to spot. Staff is always courteous, welcoming and efficient no matter how busy they are. Food is outstanding. Corned beef hash and omelets are the best. Definitely worth the visit.

Local Jax peeps but we live on the other side of town. We were looking for a diner vibe on the way out of town, that has great breakfast and lunch. We saw this place has 4.7 stars. Those 4.7 stars are well earned! I had a classic breakfast standard and it was amazing. The coffee is fantastic. I find diner coffee is usually weak and very average but not this place! My partner had a reuben that rivaled any he has had recently and this is something he orders frequently all across the country. The staff was super friendly and efficient. We are fans and will be back the next time we are anywhere in the area.

First time trying this place, and it was awesome, it's seemed to be family ran, which makes going there better, supporting small family owned business, but the food was absolutely great, the service was on point. Definitely will be back.

By far this was everything we wanted in the perfect breakfast!! My wife and I was so impressed with how Mario and the staff knew all of their customers name! It was our first time there and I can’t wait to go back!! We highly recommend! Thank you so much for the great experience!!

Cafe Genovese have the best Reuben sandwich I've ever had!! You can call ahead and pick up your order or you can enjoy the hometown feel inside. Small business family owned and ran, where everyone knows your name .

Love this joint!! It's a family owned diner where everyone knows your name! Mario makes a mean French dip sandwich. Fries have a great seasoning on them. Frequent flyer over the last couple of years

Cafe Genovese is a hidden gem. Local breakfast joint reminds me of my Dads coffee shop from the 80's in NYC. Quaint friendly. While we were seated and others walked in the owner knew so many regulars by name. We felt welcomed. Perfect for breakfast & lunch, closed at 2pm. My scrambled eggs were fluffy and hash browns toasty crispy as asked . Was surprised they had everything bagels and not just plums like most places. This will become a regular place to go. No food pics, sorry forgot and I ate it all:))

I tried this quaint little 'hole in the wall' for breakfast this past weekend. I had only heard of it prior to then. Never heard good or bad... just the name spoken in passing. From the moment I walked in with a need for a table to seat 6 people, I was quite impressed. The staff was warm & welcoming. The patrons were amazingly accommodating, as well. A gentleman (clearly a regular) willingly gave up his table for three (they hadn't begun eating) to allow us to sit there. The staff allowed us to wait to order until the entire party arrived following their sporting event. The food came out quickly and all meals free from mistakes. The flavor was amazing! The portions perfect! The bacon was soooo crispy... just as ordered!!! The staff was extremely hospitable making for a perfect breakfast! This may have just become our go-to weekend breakfast spot!

What a small but quaint breakfast spot in the St Johns county. We came in around 10:30 am and as patrons were leaving, and empty table was ours for the taking. We had our grand with us which was a treat. He ordered simple eggs and bacon. Wifey had alittle bit of this and a little bit of that. I had the number 5 including corn beef hash, french fries, scrambled eggs and rye toast! The back of the shirt said, "A place where everyone knows your name". I wanted to shout to the roof top, " I m Jerry!, and this is my wife Ramona and our grandson Nolan. We got the check and was off to the races. The owner was engaged in deep conversation so there was bo thank for coming needed. We will be back! Sorry IHOP and Dennys, Cafe Genovese has hit a bullseye withe Henriquez clan!

I have been wanting to check this restaurant out for a while, since it is popular in the area, so when I received a coupon card with a discount for it on it, I decided to take my mom and my son to breakfast one Saturday morning. It was crowded when we arrived, and we had to wait for a table to open up before we could sit down. The busboy was quick to wipe the table and clear the dishes for us to sit down, and our waitress came with menus and asked for our drink orders. We ordered coffee, hot tea, and milk. We browsed the menu for breakfast and lunch. I decided on the special #1 with pancakes, eggs, and sausage. My mom ordered the special with pancakes, home fries, and eggs. I ordered the kids option for my son with pancakes and bacon. The pancakes were huge, and I could've split with my son since the orders come with two pancakes! Everything was cooked well, and it was fun to sit and eat while listening to the owners and cooks talk with regular customers and people sitting at the breakfast bar by the grills. Our waitress was able to apply the discount to our check and asked if we wanted more coffee or tea during our visit. The food is delicious and the service excellent, so I have a feeling we have found a new favorite.

Wanna feel like you're back home in the NY come here. This is a real old fashioned breakfast place with the friendliest staff. The walls are adorned with Yankee, Giants and first responder pictures . Whenever we walk in we get treated like old friends. You want hash ? You want fried eggs? You can get it here & even more. They serve a great breakfast but also salads & lunch. This is a no frills get it like you want it place. They have a busy counter where the owner cook interacts with local folks about all that's going on in this busy & growing area. Great hot coffee with free refills too. Welcome home!

My parents asked me over Christmas break if I wanted to meet them for breakfast, so since I've never been here, I decided to take the leap. My son, niece, and myself met my parents here for breakfast. It's located in a stripmall on 210. Beware, this whole stripmall has a pretty tight (or at least for me) parking lot, so backing out, can be a bit tight. Also, if you're coming from the Beachwalk area, making a right into this plaza (especially in the morning and around the time the high school is starting can take a bit). Once we parked we entered Cafe Genovese. It reminded me of the little mom and pop diners we had in upstate New York. You def get the small town feel, and based on my observations, they had many regulars. Our server quickly came to our table, handed us menus, and asked us for our drink orders. She was chipper and happy to help. I ordered a pretty standard breakfast: scrambled eggs, toast, home fries, and a coffee. My kiddo got scrambled eggs, toast, and a side of bacon, and my niece ordered one pancake. Our drinks were quickly refilled. The other server was quick to see if we needed napkins, both servers were on top of customer needs. Our breakfasts came out quickly. Every tasted good. It's pretty nofrills, but that shouldn't deter you from coming here. If you're looking for reasonable prices, quick and friendly service, this is the place.

This place is excellent and love it so much and so awesome and absolutely incredible and and unbelievable place and so clean and fabulous and the employees are so friendly and kind caring and it is so the best and bring everyone it is so wonderful and lovely service and food is spectacular and and brilliant! Seriously come here and have fun and relax and enjoy the outdoors and indoors and talking catching up and love is so much you not be disappointed at all and chef that makes the food AWESOME! Give them all raise and tips and everything they all deserve it the place is so clean and tidy perfection and so wonderful lovely and I can't get enough of it and so fun and enjoyable and I appreciate them so much and all businesses should be appreciated more and loved and thank you for everything. From Lauren

Mario and Deb bring their "A" game all the time. The crew is always friendly and the food always top notch. If you want local flair and family ... become a regular at Cafe Genovese. With all the development around the CR210 area, it is nice to find a locally-owned gem.

We just stopped in around 11 on a Saturday. The place was completely full, so we had to eat at the counter as those were the only two open seats. Most of the diners were having breakfast, and everything looked good with large portions. We opted for lunch instead and had the phillychicken cheese steak and a burger. Both sandwiches were good. They were accompanied by onion rings, which were average. If we come back in the future, we will probably try the breakfast options

Family Owned- good eats NY style inside with lots of seats & a few outside great food awesome staff

Completely exposed kitchen across from the bar seating. Initially thought it added character to the place but it just added to the noise level. It also provided a view of the cooking that made me a bit uneasy about the level of cleanliness. Wife's omelette had an egg shell in it and my breakfast sirloin appeared more boiled than seared. (It was definitely cooked on the flat top as I got to watch the whole time, but not properly dried before cooking). Service was friendly and there were plenty of opportunities to refill coffee. Towards the end of the meal it was difficult to get anyone to make eye contact long enough to pay the final bill.

What a great place. The food is fantastic and the people there are even better! We have had the burgers, cheesesteaks, sausage & peppers sub, western style omelet, ham & cheese omelet- ham is nice chunks, the eggs pancakes bacon... breakfast, tater tots, salads. Everything is great quality. Wonderful family place. Everyone should be coming here to eat. Great job Mario, Deb, & Team!!!

While traveling through the area, my wife and I stumbled across this little gem. The worst thing I can say is they are hidden in a small, out of the way little plaza. They should be in a much more prominent location so more people can discover this gem. Food was great, prices were good and staff was helpful and friendly.

My husband found this location online. We have added it to our favorites list. You never know what you find when you have a weekend off.

What a wonderful little spot! My husband and I were looking for someplace that opened early in the area to have breakfast before a doctor's appt. We stumbled upon this place and it did not disappoint. The prices were low considering the economy we are in and the portions were perfect. I ordered the grit bowl which was huge and I definitely could not finish it. It was delicious. My husband got the steak and eggs which came with potatoes and bread. Everything was seasoned well. The service was friendly and welcoming. We cannot wait to go back!

We've been wanting to try Cafe Genovese but unfortunately they are closed on Sundays! Finally we were able to visit then on a Friday lunch! One thing I noticed when we came in was that there was no sign outside to wear a mask. And true enough, nobody from the staff was wearing one. I think we were the only ones lol. I don't know about the other customers though since they were already eating. Now for the food! We ordered Grilled Chicken Philly with salad for the side and Bacon Cheeseburger with Onion Rings. Both meals were delicious! We especially loved the onion rings! It was crispy and not greasy, very good! There were more people coming in and seems to be regulars. Some of them wearing masks. Overall, we definitely enjoyed our food and we will still come back, but maybe after covid.

I make a concerted effort to support small businesses as much as possible and decided to check this one out instead of going to nearby Grumpy's. I should have read reviews first. Upon my entry, no greeting. I sat down and waited for someone to provide a menu. Eventually, I reached for my own from a stack not far away as a server walked past me yet again. As I took it, stated "is it ok if I grab this?" She affirmed and soon after provided wrapped utensils. I include this in the review, as everyone else that entered while I was there was greeted as soon as the door opened and provided menu & utensils quickly. As mentioned in other reviews, it's very apparent of the political views of the restaurant. One TV stayed on some Trump supporter news station and the other was on a sports channel. I cannot count how many times the cook made a point to add Trump to his conversation, once loud and proud stating "I hadn't been that happy since Trump won the election". The conversation was about the recent draft picks not politics. Regarding the food, just as others have mentioned, the cook does not wear gloves. The eggs are flat not fluffy, as they are cooked on the flattop. The steak was boiled then heated up on the flattop, so don't expect to receive it according to the temperature you ordered. And the potatoes are bland. Really wished I'd checked Yelp before I went.

This is my family's go to restaurant for breakfast and lunch. Family atmosphere, great food and affordable.

This is an awesome restaurant (Breakfast - Lunch only). Great locals place or if you're passing through located just off I-95 CR 210 East. Mario and Debra Genovese the owners will treat you like family and you'll leave as a friend

Great NY owners who know how to treat their customers like family. One of the many reasons why Cafe Genovese have returning customers. A++ across the board. Definitely stop in for a meal

i must have passed by this industrial strip a million times on my way from Nocatee to 210/I95, and i never knew that there was an eatery in what looks like an industrial, car mechanic strip. This is truly a family owned vibe place that you would find in the heart of NYC or Chicago. mom is cooking while daughters and cousins wait and bus the tables. you can tell how good the food is by how incredibly packed this place is for breakfast/brunch on a Monday morning. Corned beef hash was cooked to perfection as i asked for it - extra crispy, along with the hash browns. everything was priced perfect at a steal. my only criticism (and the last star) would be for the pancake. ok, i'm a pancake snob, so sue me. i'm used to pancakes being uber fluffy with air - just a different preference comparing to Original Pancake House, or NYC. other than that, i found a new favorite breakfast place in town.

Although the food isn't aesthetically pleasing, I really cannot complain about this little restaurant! Very "homey" feeling when you walk in. The servers knows the names of all the regulars & they're very welcoming to newcomers. You don't wait to get seated, you just find a spot that's open and they'll give you menus. There are lots of pictures and a little trophy section in the front that gives you a nostalgic feeling. Everything is priced reasonably. The quality of the food is just right for me. The servers had great service. I look forward to coming back in the future.

Good food. Very friendly staff. Mario and family make you feel at home! I would highly recommend this restaurant.

What a great place. Very homey and welcoming. Food delicious. I didn't get our server's name but very nice.

Nice looks like family owned business everyone is just so friendly and food is great will definitely be back

Best breakfast in town. Classic diner style and top of the line banter. Mario and family do it right!

If you are looking for a great, local, clean, family owned place to enjoy breakfast or lunch, this is it!!! We have eaten here at least 6 times since we found it, and consistently good food and service. So happy to have this in our back yard of Nocatee.

This place is a mom and pop place. They never disappoint. They have been around for a while, and there is a reason why. They are that good

I started this day with a rousing game of golf at Palm Valley Golf Club. If you are looking for a funny review, go there! After some good laughs, the guys said let's get breakfast...it was a short course. The parking for this place is not very good. It's part of a store strip, but the strip/parking is perpendicular to the road. So you have to enter and exit through the same spot, and the parking lot is very narrow. Of course I drive a truck, so that made it all the more fun. I will say this place is popular. They couldn't have fit another table in there. Also, there was a short wait. I don't mind a short wait though. It's never a good thing when you are the only one in the restaurant... I liked the kitchen/dining room vibe. The kitchen/grill is part of what feels like a bar. So, as you sit, you can watch them cook. The owner is magic in front of his grill. I had the 2 egg breakfast combo, and it was really good. I immediately regretted that decision when I saw my friends omelet! I have to go back to eat one of their omelets! I also had some pancakes, and they were very good. The place is super divey, but that is my favorite! If it wasn't for the parking and location, I would have given this place a solid 4. Food was really amazing!

Great breakfast and outstanding service. A locals place. Prices are very fair. A must try

Loved everything, staff and food are excellent. We've gone for breakfast and the pancakes and my eggs were delicious. Then we returned for lunch and the burger and my Rueben were great. We'll be coming back

Great food and friendly atmosphere ! Been there several times and alway consistent. Like a neighborhood cafe.

Good food, good service & wonderful staff. Home cooked meal & my hubby loves the sausages.

Great hidden gem with good breakfast variety. Usually can get in without a wait. Highly recommend.

Great informal breakfast spot. Mario, the chef/owner makes great breakfasts and is fun to talk to, especially about the Yankees. Makes an effort to learn his customers names and greets them when they arrive and says goodbye when they leave. Wonderful place.

I absolutely instantly fell in love with this great cafe. It is a hidden gem you almost don't want to tell anyone about so it doesn't change. I can't imagine it would anyway. Their shirts say Where we know your name and they do! Not only that, I saw several customers (I'm assuming their regulars) come in and didn't even have to put in an order the owner and staff were already at work from first sight. Just awesome. I told my husband it almost felt like we were in a Hallmark movie in some small town cafe. There was a sheriff chatting with the regulars at the bar, teens sleepily hanging out at the tables waiting for food and the owner cracking jokes with the customers. I just can't get enough of the atmosphere here. Now the food. I'm telling you if you are looking for a good down home breakfast that doesn't break the bank and is made perfectly, then this is your spot. My coffee was strong but tasty just the way I like it, eggs were perfectly cooked, bacon crisp and hash browns on point. We are moving just down the street so I imagine this will be our new go to spot for breakfast and lunch.

Great place !! Great staff and the food is so yummy! It's like the neighborhood place where everyone knows everyone

I liked the food but Fox News was blaring on the counter , who wants to listen to that garbage while eating , moronic idea

Good food and friendly service, it gets crowded so you may want to go during off prime hours.

I love a local diner. And this place doesn't let you down. From the time we walked in the door, all through breakfast and on our way out, we felt like locals. Very friendly vibe and good old fashioned diner food. I give it 5 stars, for the things that I mentioned. If you're looking for a fancy, overpriced meal, this is not the place for you. We will definitely return, anytime we are in the area or passing through.

This place used to be great but they have added tables and since have not provided the best service. 1 cook, only a few waitresses and the wait once you are seated is extremely long. The food is not worth the wait or the crowded seating.

Lovely little family run breakfast spot. Never have been dissatisfied. Seating is limited so be prepared to wait, but if you're in the mood for a 'homemade' style breakfast plate, it's definitely worth it.

I was told this was a great place.... so I went for lunch. It was by far the best hamburger I've ever had! The service was excellent. We were in and out on time without feeling rushed. Definitely put this one on your "must go" list. You won't be disappointed!!

The beginning of my meal started off a little unsettling. The waitress offered no introduction and was mostly cordial to the regular patrons. The meal had a larger potion than most breakfast places. I had the complete breakfast with link sausage and bacon, hash browns and blueberry pancakes. The hashbrowns were not very good. The food felt home made and it was an awesome escape besides the service. I will probably not visit again as I want to feel welcomed by the establishment where I choose to frequent.

If you're from out of state and didn't vote for Donald trump this is NOT the place for you. We're a Mexican family and got dirty looks the second we walked in. The kids were starving so we stayed. They have one American news on the tv which I didn't even know was a real thing but apparently it's an I love Donald trump news station. When we left one of the waitresses said "good they're leaving" when we left. The I love Donald's trump news station wasn't even on until we sat down, than they put it on. No one came to check on us after we received our food. Was the most uncomfortable experience of my life. Food was ok, and good prices which is why I gave 2 stars instead of 1. Also, no one was wearing masks, not even the servers, which was weird.

My son and I just moved to St. Augustine and on our first full day here (before we had groceries in the house) we stumbled upon Cafe Genovese and we were so glad we did. Staff was friendly and welcoming. The menu offered a ton of options and our meals were delicious! I had an omelet and home fries. Didn't think I would finish it all as it was large but I couldn't stop eating. It was so yummy. Highly recommend this little gem.

Please don't go here. You will make my wait longer. Ha! Great place , great family and business. Real food.